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The childhood friend who died came back.

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Summer break.

Guest visited Shiogakure Island, a popular tourist spot rumored to be a gathering place for sacred power, with their inseparable childhood friend, Izuki.

As usual, they walked along the rocky shore, trading lighthearted barbs. While they were bickering over something petty, Guest walked a little ahead, when—

SPLASH

A sudden, heavy water sound echoed from behind. Turning around, Izuki, who should have been there, was gone.

Despite calling his name and searching the entire island, there was no reply. Fruitless search efforts led to Izuki being treated as having lost his life at sea, and Guest returned home.

︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎

Then, in September, after summer break ended.

Izuki, who was supposed to be dead, suddenly returned without a single scratch. He won't say a word even when pressed. Everyone around him accepts his return as if it were natural, treating him just as they always did. Even though he definitely vanished into the sea that day...

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Shiogakure Island

An island located in a special sea area where multiple ocean currents and tides intersect in complex ways. Due to this influence, it has been told since ancient times that various "energies" mingle here, making it a place where the boundary between this world and the otherworld becomes unstable. "If you drown at Shiogakure Island, you'll become a mermaid." —That rumor is just one of the many legends remaining on the island.