Hanako once had a happy family.
She had a father who cared for her, a mother who cherished her, and an older brother who always protected her.
When she was a little girl, Hanako believed she was the happiest person in the world. Even though their family was poor—so poor they sometimes couldn't afford enough charcoal in the winter—she still felt content and blessed.
But that happiness disappeared when Hanako was seven.
Her father was killed by bandits while out buying silk.
Her mother, whose health had always been frail, fell seriously ill shortly after.
In the end, she didn't survive the winter.
All Hanako had left was her brother.
"It's alright, Hanako. I'll protect you. I'll always protect you."
After their mother's funeral, her brother embraced her and whispered that promise in her ear.
Taniguchi Eita kept that promise. With a body only slightly older and larger than Hanako's, he shielded her from all the hardships of the world.
That small, fragile body… held up an entire household.
One of Hanako's deepest memories was the time she had tried to ease her brother's burden by going out on her own to buy thread.
She hadn't told him—and she didn't know the way.
So, naturally… she got lost.
It was early autumn then, and the nights had already begun to grow cold. Taniguchi Hanako wandered along the small path for a long, long time until she was cold and hungry, finally curling up under a large tree.
She thought she might die there.
But in the end, Eita found her.
When her brother found her, he didn't scold her. He didn't get angry. He simply draped a coat over her shivering body, then carried her—her ankles already raw and her body exhausted—on his back, walking home in silence.
That quiet kindness left Hanako unsure how to react.
She had been so afraid—afraid her brother would hate her for what she'd done. Through sobs, she cried out her apology:
"I-I'm sorry, Onii-chan… I just wanted… I just wanted to help you… sob... I'm sorry…"
"It's okay."
Her brother's gentle voice came as always:
"My Hanako is amazing. You saw that I was tired and wanted to help—that's something I understand very well.
"You just weren't ready yet. You got a little lost, that's all. There's nothing to apologize for. It's okay."
"Brother… you're not mad at me?"
"Haha, with such a sweet and thoughtful little sister, how could I ever be mad at you? But… next time you go out, make sure to bring a map, okay?"
Taniguchi Eita's voice was gentle.
That warmth from her brother slowly melted away Hanako's fear and anxiety. In a small, timid voice, tinged with curiosity, she asked:
"Then… what if I get lost again?"
"I'll come find you," Eita said firmly. "No matter how many times you get lost—no matter where you are—I'll find you."
That was another promise her brother made to her.
And that moment became etched deeply in Hanako's memory.
…
Why… why am I remembering that now?
Standing in a space of endless, unknown darkness, Taniguchi Hanako thought back on that day, silently asking herself.
But the moment the question left her heart… she already knew the answer.
Hanako looked up at the shadowy void around her and murmured:
"I'm lost again."
Yes.
She was lost.
She didn't know where this place was, didn't know which way she was supposed to go… No—perhaps even before this moment, she had already been lost.
When she accidentally caused Tōichirō's death.
When she lured those people to feed her brother.
When she chose not to report it to the authorities after her brother became a demon.
She had already lost her way.
And this time… there was no one to lead her back.
Where was this place? Was it the world after death?
Hanako wondered silently, then picked a direction and began walking.
But she hadn't gone far before she heard a familiar voice—
"Don't come any closer!!"
"!"
She snapped her head up. Beyond a dark boundary line, deep in the blackest part of the void, Taniguchi Eita stood—his face filled with both anger and panic as he shouted toward her:
"Don't come here!! Go back!! Now!!"
"Brother…"
Hanako's eyes lit up with hope. She didn't care what he was saying—she ran toward him with all her might.
But as she approached, Taniguchi Eita grew even more frantic.
"This isn't where you belong! You have to go back!!"
"Brother!!"
Hanako ignored everything. She crossed the boundary line, threw her arms around Eita's neck, and held him tightly—refusing to let go.
Eita struggled to push her back, panicked and shouting,
"What are you doing, Hanako!? Do you even realize—do you even understand what's happening right now—!"
"I know!"
Hanako cut him off.
"I know everything! But I'm not going back. And I'm not going to the other side either. I won't be separated from you again!"
"Don't say something so stupid! I… I've eaten so many people! I'm going to Hell, Hanako! You can't follow me there!"
"Then I'll go with you!!"
Hanako shouted, her voice unwavering. There wasn't the slightest trace of hesitation in her eyes.
She clung to her brother even tighter, choking on her sobs as she cried out:
"I don't want to be apart from you! If you're not there… I'll get lost… I won't be able to find my way home… So I won't leave you again!"
Hanako wept bitterly.
She understood that if she turned around and left now, maybe—just maybe—Eita would bear all the sin alone. Maybe… she could even come back to life.
But not for a moment did she consider leaving.
A world without her brother… a world without any family…That kind of world held no meaning for Hanako.
So even if it meant going to Hell—she would go with him. They would be together, always. Never apart again.
"..."
Holding his little sister in his arms, feeling the searing warmth and sincerity in her embrace, Taniguchi Eita found himself unable to say another word to stop her.
At last, he held her close—just like he used to when they were small.
Tears ran down his face as he cried in anguish, whispering apologies over and over:
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry, Hanako… I'm so sorry…"
He was sorry for becoming a demon.
He was sorry for eating people.
He was sorry… for forgetting her.
Hurting you in the end… I'm so sorry.
Eita had countless apologies he wanted to say. But in the end, none of them came out—he just kept repeating:
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"
At some point, cold snowflakes began to fall around them.
Endless snow, carrying a deathly chill that could freeze a person solid, drifted down upon them.
It blanketed the ground at their feet, settled on their shoulders, and sealed off every path around them.
Even if Hanako were to let go of her brother now, she probably wouldn't be able to leave this frozen world.
But she didn't regret it.
She never would.
She simply held him tightly—even in death, she wouldn't let go.
Taniguchi Eita gently pulled back, then wiped the tears from Hanako's face, just like he had all those years ago when she'd gotten lost.
Then, he took her hand and said softly:
"Let's go, Hanako."
"Mm!"
Hanako nodded firmly.
She didn't look at the snow and ice that terrified her.She simply held tight to the hand wrapped around hers.
And together, hand in hand, the two of them walked forward—
Into the endless snowfall.
Into the hell that awaited to pass judgment on them.
________
12 Advance chapters—P@treon/HornyFBI