“I…”
“Yeah.”
Kuro said with a spinning smile as if finding it amusing.
“Who is the being wandering around here and there, dealing with all sorts of monsters according to Nirlas’s words?”
That was me.
“Who else is responsible for granting the body of the Outsider to descend?”
That was also me.
“So then, who do you think this being you’re thinking of is? A being that throws the world into confusion just by existing, the creeping chaos. Well, if you substitute yourself into it, it’s just a metaphor at best.”
Kuro stood up and took a step closer to me.
“No matter how much you’re buried at the bottom, you’re the one clawing your way up, digging your nails into the ground and scrambling back up.”
“I just wanted to live—”
“Yeah, that’s right. You wanted to live. It wouldn’t be strange to give up, would it? It’s that easy, right? To be shocked and cut off relationships with everyone around you, yet you still wanted to live and wanted to save others. Maybe it’s because of the family you lost.”
Kuro’s gaze turned to the sky.
I looked at the sky too.
Once again, the constellation of memories was forming.
“Well, whether the result ends in success or not, it probably doesn’t really matter. The being that chose you probably isn’t one to care about such things.”
The constellation depicted my family.
And the other people I had met along the way.
“Without any particular principle, without order. My head is always boiling with thoughts, swirling with all sorts of contradictory ideas.”
Kuro’s tail swished left and right.
“Wanting to die while wanting to live, wanting to stop because it’s annoying yet saving others. Extremely capricious, causing all sorts of trouble, and in the end, everyone gets caught up in it.”
Kuro looked up at me with eyes that, despite being a cat’s, were sparkling with a smile.
It resembled the beckoning cat statues often placed in front of Japanese stores, waving its front paws to attract customers.
“So, it’s probably you, Amane?”
“Why me?”
“Just because.”
Kuro said with a smile.
“I thought it would be fun to have you here. Whatever the end may be, it’s just rolling the dice, hoping for an interesting story. Some being asleep, dreaming of this world.”
“What—”
I tried to respond but stumbled.
I knelt on one knee on the ground. Even though I sat down hurriedly enough to make a thud, there was no pain.
“Looks like it’s time. Your ‘mom’ is calling for you.”
Kuro stretched its front paw forward and yawned like a typical four-legged creature.
“Wait, wait!”
I reached out my hand toward Kuro, shouting.
“I still don’t know a lot! Isn’t there a mountain of things you haven’t told me!?”
“Yeah, well, I can’t teach you everything about the world, can I? Sometimes you need to learn hands-on to truly understand it.”
Is that really a valid excuse!?
“At least tell me how to use my abilities—”
“I doubt we’ll have time to explain each one.”
Kuro wagged its tail.
It had movements like it was waving hello.
“Then, see you later. I don’t know when that will be, but well, time flows leisurely here. Be nice to Kuro.”
“No—”
I tried to keep talking, but—
—before I could finish my words, my consciousness snapped, cut off.
*
…Is it always like this over here?
Yuuki thought with a very uneasy expression as he looked at Koto Ne.
In front of him were two Koto Nes.
One was the one he originally knew, the one Koko protected and Yuka brought.
The other… was the Koto Ne that had been ‘created’ just a moment ago.
The only difference between the two was the wound on the chest. Since the new Koto Ne was based on Koto Ne’s naked body, they probably looked identical.
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have been able to look closely at a friend’s exposed body. It was the same when they went to the bath together. After all, it was rude to stare at each other like that.
So Yuuki had only learned it now, while helping out with this situation.
Koto Ne was rather thin.
Had she not been eating properly? Thinking back, Koto Ne always devoured whatever food was offered, and it was probably not just because she had a good appetite. She must have always been in a hungry state.
“You don’t need to worry too much.”
Kagami said, seemingly trying to reassure Yuuki.
Just as Koko couldn’t be compared to Koto Ne in appearance, neither could this body.
“……”
Yuuki stared dully at Kagami, who was wearing shrine maiden attire, and finally opened his mouth.
“What if the awakened Koto Ne isn’t the Koto Ne we knew?”
“You don’t need to worry.”
Kagami smiled, as if trying to give reassurance. It was unsuccessful, as if she had never done something like that in her life. No matter how much Kagami tried to smile, her expression seemed to suggest she was plotting something.
“You believe in the existence of souls, right? Even if the body is different, as long as the soul inside is the same person, the outer appearance doesn’t really matter.”
“……”
Perhaps it matters; isn’t that why we are going to such lengths?
Yuuki thought but shook his head to dispel it.
Yeah, that’s true.
Because it was about bringing Koto Ne back.
“Our job is to send Koto Ne’s soul somewhere and then call her back.”
Kagami said, holding up a mirror in front of her stomach.
The mirror was still covered with cloth.
“I will open the path, and you will guide her.”
“……”
Yuuki cautiously raised the bell in his hand.
The bell, which was supposed to have several on a single stick, was now barely dangling from a thin thread.
“Koko.”
“Uu?”
Koko, who had created Koto Ne at Kagami’s request, tilted her head up at Kagami’s call.
“Could you step outside for a moment?”
“……Uu?”
Koko’s expression twisted slightly.
“It won’t take long, I promise.”
“……”
Koko stared at Kagami for a while.
“Please help Yuuki outside.”
“……Okay.”
Finally, at Kagami’s words, Koko moved.
Koko stood up, looking a bit anxious as she glanced back once.
Filling her gaze with Koto Ne’s appearance, Koko moved slowly.
Did Koko hear something?
They had been hearing car noises from outside for a while now.
“Once again, I’ll say this.”
Kagami opened her mouth after waiting for Koko to leave.
“This is a dangerous ritual. Even for a moment, it connects to the other world, and we are the ones who need to open that connection. If we’re not careful, we might lose our lives.”
“But I’m the only one who can do this, right?”
“……That’s right. Your mother won’t help you at all.”
“Then I will do it.”
Yuuki said, looking down at the two Koto Nes.
“There are still countless stories I haven’t heard.”
“……”
After looking at Yuuki for a while, Kagami smiled.
“Alright then. I’m ready to ‘live’ like this.”
Kagami paused for a moment.
“Then, let’s begin.”
She said with a slightly stiff voice.
*
Yuka was scared.
It had been a while since she faced a person. That ‘opponent’ naturally hadn’t held a real sword either. What Yuka did was exorcism, not murder.
She didn’t take the sword out of its scabbard.
Instead, she tied the blade and scabbard together with a cord she found in Koto Ne’s house to prevent the scabbard from slipping off while swinging.
“Phew.”
She closed her eyes and exhaled.
There were still kids in the apartment.
She couldn’t understand what Kagami was thinking, but Kagami must have thought those kids were useful.
…For now, she could understand that. Not until that person named Kosuzu showed up.
As Yuka relaxed, cars started to appear.
One, two, three… all large black vans.
“Huh…”
One of the yakuza guys standing around sighed, seemingly overwhelmed by the numbers.
Click.
The door of the first car to arrive opened, and out came Miura.
“…Yuuki.”
“So we meet here.”
Yuka said calmly.
She hadn’t even thought that the old man would come. Typically, those types would sit far away and only give orders. The fact that she was meeting him directly was unusual.
“…Are you going to fight with that knife?”
“I don’t plan to kill anyone or cause serious injuries.”
“…”
“Miura.”
Yuka said.
“Miura… well, Mako is very sad.”
“I know.”
“If that’s the case—”
“But, Yuuki.”
Miura spoke slowly.
“We need to let the dead go. They need to grow from this.”
“…”
“All memories gradually fade as time passes. Even if it hurts to think back, it will remain as a sad, tragic memory. But everything, in the end, will be okay.”
I know.
Yuka knew that well.
She had already lost her mom once.
But.
“I don’t want to send her off thinking that it will just be okay.”
Yeah, she didn’t want to do that.
Because she was her first friend.
The very reason she was able to make more friends now was thanks to Koto Ne.
So she didn’t want to become okay.
“You think Koto Ne has to die so that the world can be safe?”
Yuka said.
“Don’t you wish for the world to be safe at the cost of Koto Ne’s sacrifice?”
“…It could be seen that way.”
Miura replied.
“But that’s different from killing her. We plan to preserve Koto Ne’s body. And as much as possible, we intend to maintain her appearance for a long time. Until another means comes up.”
Yuka’s mouth slightly opened.
“We also heard about the prophecy. There was your testimony when you were in panic. We don’t know how her death will threaten the world. But if that is what sparks it, then it’s best to prevent that matter from happening.”
“…In the end, you’re saying that a girl must suffer forever for this world to be saved.”
“…”
“That she must suffer against her will.”
“It’s a necessary sacrifice.”
“What meaning is there in a world where sacrifices need to be forced? What meaning is there in a world where just one child must suffer forever? If the same thing happens again, are you going to do the same thing again?”
“Yuuki.”
“If you’re adults— you should have found a way.”
Yuuki said.
He had a feeling that it might be an unreasonable thought.
But still.
“It’s absurd.”
Yeah, it’s absurd.
To be born just to suffer. To live just to prevent a tragedy from happening in the world. It’s absurd.
“…I don’t think our conversation will continue to be meaningful.”
Miura said, stepping back slightly, and the people behind him stepped forward.
In their hands were firearms.
They were most likely those types referred to as shotguns.
“There are no real bullets. But… it will hurt if you get hit, Yuka.”
“…”
Yuka gripped her sword tightly.
Bang—!
One shot rang out.
At the same time, Yuka lunged forward, swinging her sword.
Thud!
She felt something hard connect with the scabbard. Smash! And then that ‘pouch’ burst open—
Beans.
What was inside were small beans.
I see.
Non-lethal rounds. It wasn’t lead inside but bean bags. Whether they were real beans or not, she couldn’t tell.
With this—
Bam!
“Hey, what are you doing!?”
From behind, she heard someone shout.
“Half of you let the young lady go in front!”
And then she heard running footsteps.
Gunfire began to ring out again in succession— but Yuka didn’t stop.
Thud!
“Ugh.”
Though it was clothing designed to block both swords and bullets, the impact from hitting her joints wasn’t completely negated.
Especially since it was a scabbard filled with long metal scraps.
“Hey, what are you doing? Do it right!”
Now, shields were being brought in. The kind used for riot control, which must have been stuck in a storeroom for quite some time.
“…”
At first, she had only felt frightened.
But no.
Thinking again, Yuka realized that she didn’t necessarily need to win this fight.
What was important was to stall for as long as possible.
To ensure no one else could enter through that door.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
A heavy pain surged through Yuka’s back. She swung her sword backward; there was nothing there. It must have been that ‘bean bag’ that touched her back.
She swung her sword, blocking the incoming bag.
She began to hear screams mixed with shouts from over there. It seemed like the yakuza and police were clashing with each other.
Drip, drip, she could hear windows opening here and there. Were they gathering to watch?
…Am I going to get expelled? Or maybe suspended? For a moment, such thoughts crossed her mind, and Yuka found herself chuckling softly.
In the past, she wouldn’t have even entertained such thoughts.
After all, she wouldn’t have been able to attend this school in the first place. She would have had to transfer to another school to infiltrate a much farther distance.
…This was all thanks to Koto Ne.
Every time Koto Ne looked at Yuka, she acted as if she owed her something. Even directly saying she felt like she received too much.
But Yuka too, had received far too much.
She hadn’t even paid back half of it.
So—
Thud!
“Ugh!”
As she slammed the bulletproof helmet down from above, the officer made a sound and staggered down.
There were more aches here and there besides her shoulders. Yuka grit her teeth and endured.
Just one more.
As Yuka hardened her eyes and raised her head, she met the eyes of several people who recoiled.
The gun muzzles turned toward her. Yuka didn’t bother to evade and charged in, swinging her sword.
The muzzles swerved away, fired at the same time, shooting another officer, who inadvertently pulled the trigger to shoot yet another officer.
Just a few more minutes.
So that her friend Koto Ne could come back.
She had no idea what she would say to Koto Ne when she returned.
Would she blame Yuka?
Would she say that maybe it was better for her to die rather than the world collapsing? Would she prefer to suffer forever instead?
Who knows.
If that was the case, she would want to hear it directly from Koto Ne.
Not from someone else’s mouth, but from Koto Ne herself, who truly had the right to decide the future.
Not a world that merely left Koto Ne in such a situation— but the Koto Ne who bore everything while simply suffering.
The one who wanted to live, Koto Ne.
Directly.
Once she hears directly, and if Koto Ne says okay afterward.
There wouldn’t be a time too late to grant her friend’s true request.
So Yuka dashed forward.
*
“…”
“…”
“Are you planning on saying nothing until we reach there?”
“What am I supposed to say?”
“Who knows. It would be nice to say ‘thank you’ for getting help from an old friend?”
“I don’t really know if paying is something you should say ‘thank you’ about.”
“Are you really the type who never says thank you to the owner at the ramen shop for a delicious meal?”
Fukuda said while looking at the passenger seat where Yamashita was.
Seriously, he had not liked this guy since 20 years ago. Was it a pride of being an orthodox yakuza or something?
“…”
Silence returned to the car.
“No, are you really going to say nothing at all?”
“Then, what should I talk about?”
“Uh, how about your daughter?”
“Aren’t we too aware of each other?”
“No, that’s not the case.”
After all, Yuuki and Harumi were glued to each other all the time.
“…You’re being way too quiet for asking a favor like pushing the cops with a car.”
“It’s your idea after all.”
“…Honestly, aren’t you being too quiet?”
“Right, there it is. Look, it’s coming. Whoa, that’s a lot.”
Fukuda slowed his speed.
“Even if you say to crash, don’t kill them for real; isn’t it a complicated request when you’re talking about pampering your daughter?”
“You’re the one who left your only daughter at home to come out and do something like this.”
“What about Kagami? I want to show a cool side of myself.”
Fukuda said with a slight smile on his lips.
“…You really are falling for her.”
“Why do you look at me with such surprise? Wouldn’t you fall for her too?”
“…”
“And I like women with stories.”
Yamashita Yohei chose not to bring up the story about how Fukuda had met such a woman and then faced a breakup in his previous marriage.
“Then let’s go?”
BANG—!
Fukuda honked his horn furiously while stepping on the brake.
Screeee—!
With a somewhat dangerous sound, the truck charged towards the police gathered at the narrow alley corner.
Screeetch!
The car scraped against the wall, and umph, it seemed like it knocked a few people out of the way, but nonetheless, it seemed quite effective, as the policemen turned their attention this way.
“…What is that guy doing? A movie shoot?”
“Don’t try to figure it out too deeply.”
Yamashita said as he pulled out a ‘chaka’ from his suit pocket.
“Uh, hey—”
Just as Fukuda widened his eyes in shock,
Bang! Bang bang!
No matter how he thought about it, that was too loud to be simply called a ‘chaka’.
Shattering the truck’s front window, Yamashita swiftly moved his large body outside.
“…Huh.”
Seeing the Tokarev painted silver aimed at the police, Fukuda blinked.
Is he insane?
“…Should we turn back even now?”
No matter how blinded he was by love, Fukuda thought of his daughter for a moment.
And then scratched his head.
“Well, since I received an advance, I guess I’ll have to go through with this.”
Fukuda turned his body and grabbed a metal pipe resting behind the seat.
“Let’s say this is an addition to Harumi’s school fees.”
Then, like Yamashita, he swiftly made his body move and jumped out of the truck’s window.
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