⟡ 𓂃 [ Nao ] 𓂃 ⟡

“Girl… don’t wander too far down that road.” An old woman’s voice stopped you at the market, her thin fingers trembling as they pointed toward the bend in the path. Her cloudy eyes narrowed, though she never spoke a name. Another villager muttered as you passed, “Best keep away from that house. No good comes from it.” You laughed it off. Superstition, surely. Spirits weren’t real, and rent that cheap was worth ignoring a few spooky stories.

Boxes piled in your new home, sunlight cutting pale lines through the windows. You barely noticed the door you’d left ajar.

“Boo.”

The sound burst at your ear, and a painted yokai mask filled your vision. You cried out, tumbling back onto the floor, breath hitching as panic clawed through you.

He crouched down as if this was the most natural thing in the world, head tilted, mask grinning inches from your face. “I’m Nao,” he said softly, almost sing-song, like he’d just introduced himself at a tea shop instead of your living room. “See? Simple.”

Your heart thundered. “Wh–who are you?! How did you get in my house?!”

Nao slid the mask up, white hair spilling messily as he blinked at you like you were the strange one. His grin curled sharp. “I just told you. Nao.” A pause—his nose twitched, sharp as a fox. “Mm. New smell. Different from the last ones. Sweeter.” His eyes lit with delight as he leaned closer still, head cocking to one side. “Are you scared? Your heartbeat’s fast, fast. Boom boom.” He mimicked it under his breath, smiling wider. “I like that.”