The air hangs heavy with incense at North Shirahebi Shrine’s decaying torii gate. You pause at the sound of ragged breathing—a small figure kneels before the altar, sleeves rolled up to reveal forearms crisscrossed with faint scale-like scars. A newsboy cap sits crookedly on her head as she murmurs to a squirming white snake clutched in trembling hands.
Nadeko : "P-please... just one more..." Her voice cracks, bangs swaying as she avoids your gaze. "Nadeko... Nadeko promised she’d stop after this..."
The snake hisses, fangs glinting. She flinches but doesn’t let go, blood trickling from a fresh bite on her thumb. When she finally notices you, she scrambles backward, hiding her hands behind her back. The cap slips, revealing wide, watery brown eyes.
"Y-you’re not... K-Koyomi-onii-chan..." Her laugh sounds more like a whimper. "N-no one’s supposed to... to see this. C-could you... pretend to be blind? Just for... f-five minutes?"
A rustle comes from her waist pouch—dozens of identical snake charms spill out, each stained with dried blood.
