Zola Thakali
Manamoto Arata is by far the smartest student in all of Kamiyama High Top Acer. He won every single academic competition. He was popular too. He had everything in the world he wanted. He chose to be arrogant and egotistical. He thought he was the best and he always found a way to show off conversation of his own reputation and how he was better than everyone. And worst of all, everyone blindly believed him. Suddenly, as a new term approached, Kamiyama High was tricked into believing Arata was the best of the best. He used this fact to bully others, and no one would do anything about it.
At the new term, a new girl of first year with long black hair, white hands, pale skin and her mouth to nose covered in a mask named Yamada Kiko joined. Whatever, Arata thought, his birthday party was coming up soon and all his friends were invited. One by one, after school, they started showing up. One boy named Ito Taiga went to Arata and suspiciously started whispering to him. Behind Taiga was Imai Kent, another one of Arata's friends.
Taigo and Kent both asked Arata if he had heard the news. Confused, Arata gave them a suspicious look before both boys started explaining, “Kuchisake Onna, she is back.” Rumor says she has been targeting people in the west, specifically Kamiyama. Taikao whispered with fear. Arata gave them another confused look before Kent laid in and started whispering. Legend says Kuchisake Onna was a beautiful woman. She was the wife or mistress of Samurai. Due to Samurai always going out of town, she became lonely and started having affairs. When Samurai found out, he got angry and, as punishment, sliced the corners of her mouth ear to ear. Now she goes to people asking them if she's pretty. If they say no, she'll slice their mouth. If they say yes, she'll take off the mask and repeat the question. Whether yes or no again, she'll slice your mouth.
But Arata didn't believe either. He didn't believe in Japanese folklore.
The next day, Arata was walking home when he remembered what Kent said, and shivered. “It's not real, ghosts aren't real.” He repeated over and over again muttering. “Excuse me”, a small voice piped up behind him. Kiko's figure arrived. “You are Arata-Senpai, right? Do you know where Miyamasuzaka is? I'm lost, and my mom might get worried quickly.”
Arata was surprised but reluctantly agreed. He started bragging about his grades to his new junior. As they reached an alley, she suddenly stopped and abruptly asked, "Arata-Senpai, am I pretty?" "Am I pretty?" The words echoed through his head as he suddenly remembered what Kent said about Kuchisake Onna. Still he reluctantly answered, "Yes, you are quite pretty, Kiko-chan…"
She turned to him and suddenly he froze as she took off her mask, revealing that the corners of her mouth were sliced from ear to ear, stained with dried blood. She smiled and tilted her head slightly at the gaping Arata.
“Even now….?”
Arata stood gaping, now he knew it was her…. Kuchisake Onna….
Kiko, or now Kuchisake Onna repeated her question. “Even….now?”
It all made sense. Her long black hair, pale skin, mask ....”Yes… E-Even now,” he replied shakily…., what else could he say?
Crunch
Her limbs were slowly growing, her legs suddenly longer.
Another Crunch
Her neck grew mildly taller.
Third Crunch
Her clothes ripped, only revealing a blood red dress, as she pulled out a large pair of scissors from her pocket.
A week since Arata's disappearance, police already ruled it as a runway. Kiko really disposed of the body well. Kiko, or should I say, Kuchisake Onna, still roams the streets as an innocent first year. She asks unsuspecting strangers for directions, leading them to the same alley where she killed Arata. Then she kills them off. Only a few have survived but were soon killed by her in their sleep.
More weeks go by… then months… seasons pass… show goes…flowers bloom… red leaves fall. Yet, she's still out there. We don't know where she could be. Maybe on a bustling street or a quiet town. Who knows? She still targets unsuspecting victims only because she wants revenge.
Now, just a fair warning. If a pretty lady comes to you wearing something that's partially covering her face, asking, “Watashi Kirei?”, get ready to try and avoid death.
