I Created Urban Legends in Parallel World
[Original – YakuMan]
[TL – MiT7]
[PR – Spades]
Chapter 11: Straw Doll?
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1 a.m. Kamihara Shinji sat at home, browsing the 2ch forum post about the Hell Girl urban legend.
In just one day, the replies had exploded.
The reason? A moderator had commented, saying the post was auto-pinned—he couldn't even manage it.
That sparked a wave of intrigue and skepticism.
Of course, some dismissed it as a hacker's prank.
Most treated urban legends like this as mere stories—no one truly believed in Hell Girl's existence.
But Kamihara Shinji knew exactly how many had already encountered her.
He opened the notebook. The subpages under The Gaze from the Cracks had reached 36.
Flipping to the second main page, the blood-red words "Hell Girl" stared back at him. The subpages behind it recorded those who'd met this urban legend.
Anyone who'd come into contact with Hell Girl had their experiences documented in text on these pages.
Once their target of resentment died, a period would mark the end, closing the record.
Just like The Gaze from the Cracks.
Page one: Aida Daichi, the first to meet Hell Girl.
Page two: Hase Reiya, a girl, the second to encounter her.
Page three…
Page seven…
Page thirty-six…
Thirty-six people had met Hell Girl between midnight and 1 a.m.
He skimmed through them.
Thirty-six pages in just one day. If it spread further, wouldn't it easily surpass The Gaze from the Cracks?
Kamihara Shinji let out a quiet sigh.
"If you can't fight back yourselves, let Hell Girl erase your grudges for you. Hopefully, once they're gone, you'll find some change."
He wasn't some saint, but while harvesting Legend Points and Good/Evil Points, lending a hand to others was something he could manage.
The next morning at the Aida household.
"The shop's busy today, so I'm heading out early to help," Masashi said, watching her son eat breakfast. Something about him felt different, though she couldn't place it.
Aida Daichi bit into his fried egg, nodding silently.
Masashi hesitated, then left without pressing further, grabbing her things and heading out.
Aida Daichi watched her go, his expression complicated.
Since he was eight, his mother had raised him alone. As a kid, they'd been close. But as he grew older, with his own secrets and pride, he'd distanced himself.
But…
Aida Daichi shut his eyes, pain flashing across his face.
After a long moment, he pulled a dark, almost bluish straw doll from his backpack. The red string around its neck swayed on its own, eerie and unnatural.
"It's all real!" He slapped his cheeks, dark circles ringing his eyes. After meeting Hell Girl last night, he hadn't dared sleep.
He was scared—scared it was all fake.
To avoid waking up and finding it a dream, he'd stayed awake all night.
Clutching the straw doll tightly, he stared at the red string. One tug, and the person he resented would be sent to hell instantly.
*"When the contract is fulfilled, your soul will also fall to hell."*
The words echoed in his mind. He fell silent, then laughed—a wild, unhinged sound.
He went to the kitchen, returned a few minutes later, and got dressed. At the door, he opened it.
"I'm heading out."
The words slipped out instinctively. Too late, he realized his mother had left earlier.
Locking the door, Aida Daichi walked in silence.
Soon, he reached the familiar Aoshiro High. The school gate had students milling about, but it was as quiet as ever.
He was used to this scene.
But… after today, everything would change.
Head down, his thoughts churned, making his heart race with unease.
*Thud!*
He bumped into someone.
Panicking, Aida Daichi bowed hastily. "Sorry, sorry!"
"Sorry?"
"Straw doll? Wait, no… a curse doll?"
"Pfft, haha! Yuto, you've screwed this guy up so bad he's resorting to curse dolls to get you!"
"Whoa, this red string's tied tight—can't even pull it off."
Hearing this, Aida Daichi—curled up, bracing for a beating—looked up. His pupils shrank. The straw doll was in Iwakuro Yuto's hands.
"Give it back!"
Sprawled on the ground, Aida Daichi roared, lunging to snatch the doll back.
The outburst startled the trio and froze nearby students.
Most glanced over and hurried into the school. Some delinquents lingered, watching with interest, occasionally clapping and jeering.
"Damn it, you looking to die?!"
"You scared the hell outta me!"
"Cursing me with a doll? You must be tired of living!"
Iwakuro Yuto grinned menacingly. He crouched, eyeing Aida Daichi clutching the doll with a sneer. He slapped his face lightly, whispering something only Aida could hear. "—"
Aida Daichi's pupils contracted, but he stayed silent.
After the trio walked off, snickering, Aida Daichi slowly stood. He didn't brush off the dirt. Looking up, the once-blue sky was now cloaked in dark clouds, threatening rain.
Something solidified in his heart. His gaze hardened with resolve.