We played until dinner time.
It seems we still have a few hours left before closing time. But to be honest, after wandering around so much, I’m a little tired.
And out of all three of us, the one who looks the most tired is Kagami.
Nirlas hasn’t left this world, but he hasn’t died either. And some traces he left behind still remain here.
Koko and I are those traces.
Not a complete person, but a being mixed with incomprehensible existential elements from beyond.
Most of the “flesh” has almost disappeared, and now only Koko and I remain. If we were to die here, it might be a bit troublesome to come back again.
Well, to be precise, a small resurrection might be possible. Just like how Koko was able to maintain her gigantic nose shape, and how she was alive even when just a head remained.
Maybe if we slightly empty out the insides, we could maintain our appearance. The outer part might just feel like a balloon, though.
……I should be cautious.
To be honest, I really like my appearance. I like this position of being “Kurosawa Koto Ne.”
If possible, I want to stay in this position of Kurosawa Koto Ne for a long time. I want to know my friends for as long as I can, play hard, study, and travel while living.
I think it’s best to avoid accidents. I wouldn’t want parts of my body to burn and change my form.
“……”
I glanced at Kagami, who was sitting with a proud expression.
As time goes on, Kagami will grow older too.
Not just Kagami, but all my other friends as well.
Everyone I know will age. Wrinkles will begin to appear on their faces, and gray hairs will start to show.
Someday, in a distant future, after our hair turns white, will we all be able to gather together and leisurely share stories? I wished for that to happen.
And I hope that in such a gathering, I would still be aging alongside them.
Well, by that time, I might have cut off this long hair. In fact, I might not even need to cut it. Strictly speaking, this isn’t even “hair” anyway.
Putting a little here and there, it won’t be too noticeable since I already have a somewhat slender body.
But because of that…
……Can I also grow old?
What if time flows for other kids, but for Koko and me, it comes to a standstill?
Some might envy that.
But not for me.
I have already lost precious people.
I’m afraid of dying. If possible, I want to live long without dying.
But it wouldn’t mean anything if it were just me. I want to live leisurely for a long time, knowing and being together with those I cherish and love.
That’s why I was scared.
What if, far in the future, only the two of us meet?
Some might say I can create new connections… but connections are not something you can easily replace. The special people engraved deeply in my mind will remain those people even as time passes.
Time may flow and become dull. Memories may fade.
But that’s why memories are always beautiful.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Maybe it was because I’d been staring for too long.
Kagami was looking down at me.
“……Live long.”
Without realizing it, I said that.
Kagami blinked.
“……Are you worried that I might die first?”
“……”
I’m worried.
Isn’t it obvious?
Even now, I’m scared. In a way, I might be more afraid that Kagami is scared I will disappear.
I thought Kagami would take that playfully.
I expected she would pull me into a hug and reassure me that there was no need to worry.
But Kagami looked at me with a somewhat shocked expression.
“Is that so?”
Then, as if she realized something, she turned away and gazed straight ahead with a somewhat bitter look.
There were people over there.
People busily wandering around the theme park.
Among them were couples who looked like lovers, but there were many families as well. Couples holding hands with a little kid in between or carrying a child or pushing a stroller.
Some parents were eagerly chasing after an energetic child who was running ahead.
“I haven’t been able to look at Koto Ne for such a long time.”
Kagami said that and raised a hand to gently pat Koko’s head.
“Uu?”
Koko reacted to Kagami’s melancholic voice, tilting her head.
“Even if I try to do everything now, the time that has already passed won’t come back.”
“No, I didn’t say that for that reason.”
I said, but it was unclear if Kagami heard me or not, as she continued to scold herself.
“Even if we spend time together from now on, the entire childhood…”
“I was still sleeping all that time.”
I cut her off feeling somewhat frustrated.
“Even if you say you were looking after me, I wouldn’t have responded or done anything. I have never lived as a ‘child.’”
“……”
As for Koko…
Let’s be honest. It’s honestly a stretch to recognize Koko as a “kid.”
Even if she looked like a proper person, meaning if she had a proper face, arms, and legs where they should be, we could at least recognize her as a ‘baby’ for Kagami to feel attached to her.
But Koko is, quite literally, just flesh.
And that’s combined with other pieces, so I can’t even imagine how painful it must have been each time she was born.
Of course, this isn’t something I can forgive. Someday, when Koko can properly accept her situation, then we might begin to share stories.
I’m not saying Kagami is wrong for feeling that way. There’s definitely something wrong. Even regarding my and Koko’s relationship, and also beyond that.
For the long time ahead, I hope to fix things one by one. I don’t know if that will be possible, but now that we’re “family,” I intend to help with all my heart.
Above all, I’m not a perfect person either. There will be many things we all need to improve on together.
“And that isn’t the meaning of what I’m saying.”
I said firmly again.
“I just want you to live long.”
“……Is that so?”
Kagami replied in a somewhat softened tone.
I hesitated for a moment on whether or not to say this, but I decided to just go for it.
“Koko and I… in a way, you can’t say we’re perfect humans.”
“Koto Ne and Koko are—”
“So biologically.”
I said that and touched my hair.
It felt just like before. The texture itself hadn’t changed from the hair I was familiar with.
I see the world with my eyes, hear sounds with my ears, and feel with my sense of touch. This feels completely normal. The only time I dismantled my body was when I fought against Nirlas.
Skin, eyebrows, hands, all feel just like how I know them to be. So by appearance alone, no one could tell that we carry the blood of something that isn’t human.
But still, it is completely different.
I can still move my hair. I don’t have any intention to try, but it would also be possible to change my body’s shape. Not just to alter my appearance but to absorb impacts like some kind of slime.
So still, I’m not human biologically.
“So, if possible, I want to live long. So we can know each other for a long time.”
I said that and awkwardly turned my gaze away out of embarrassment.
This was something I couldn’t say to the other kids.
Why could I say it to Kagami?
Is it because she’s ‘Mom’?
Well, maybe it’s due to the age difference.
Kagami didn’t grow up like other kids either, and there’s a somewhat awkward side to her, but still, an adult is an adult. Sometimes she can really be an adult. Education and experience are separate matters after all.
Above all, though it may sound a bit apologetic, she’s someone who has experienced both what to do and what not to do.
So perhaps this was just something a child like me shouldn’t have said.
Since she’s the only adult I can trust.
“Aha.”
But as soon as Kagami heard my words, she seemed relieved.
I frowned and looked up at Kagami.
“Aha?”
I asked back in a somewhat annoyed tone. I was quite seriously in thought here; isn’t her tone too light?
To be honest, for a brief moment, I thought Kagami felt reassured knowing how long I would definitely live.
However, the next words from Kagami were somewhat different than what I expected.
“Well, you don’t need to worry about that.”
Kagami said as she lifted her arms and embraced us both tightly.
“Are you worried because the half-blood isn’t human?”
“……Yeah.”
“In that case, there’s really no need for concern. Half-blood means human blood.”
“…….”
When I silently looked up at Kagami, she kept smiling as she spoke.
“God lives forever, so even if you share a fraction of that, if you think that’s forever, that would be a mistaken thought.”
“Then?”
“Since blood flows through us, we can’t surpass the limits of humanity. That’s the nature of divinity… Do you not understand why my older sister, Kosuzu, made such plans? If people could continue living eternally by changing their bodies, Kosuzu would have definitely chosen that route. Plans, when laid out too broadly, are bound to have holes in them.”
I listened to her talk in silence.
“Honestly, she could have simply lived eternally, gradually invading society. Because in reality, those under her influence were enchanted by that power. And that power lent credence to her outrageous plans.”
“So, that means?”
“There are limits to the human body. No matter how much divine power one receives, it will eventually collapse. In fact, those who desired too much ended up losing their lives in the end.”
That… sounded exactly like a story written by Lovecraft.
Especially one of the brothers in “Dunwich Horror” could not fully take in that blood and eventually broke down and died. Maybe similar tales have been passed down in this world too.
“Of course, my sister succeeded in using me to create Koto Ne, but… I’m not so sure.”
Kagami closed her eyes, deep in thought.
“Now that the being responsible for that has left this world, doesn’t it feel a bit more reassuring? Other than the abilities she has now, she’s just human.”
It was a challenging concept to accept.
Since Kagami isn’t me, she doesn’t know everything I know. So she might not be able to fully grasp the concerns I have.
But even so, her words did give me hope.
They aren’t completely wrong. If this is something written down, then it wouldn’t be dismissed as mere fiction in this world.
“When Koto Ne entered the temple…”
Kagami whispered softly into my ear.
It wasn’t because she was afraid of others overhearing, but simply because she was hugging me tightly, which meant I could hear her.
In a gentle, comforting tone.
“Koto Ne’s body didn’t fall apart. I’m confident of that. Surely the inside was just like a human. If she really had departed this world, and thus was cremated, even the bone fragments would have remained unchanged.”
“Could that really be?”
“It’s an incomprehensible power. But perhaps precisely because it’s incomprehensible, we can think everything could be too perfectly complete.”
Could it be that?
I still felt somewhat murky about it all.
But at least, it brought me a sense of relief.
“So, don’t worry too much. Even if that were the case, it’s too early to be concerned.”
That’s right.
It’s too early to worry.
“There’s still plenty of time left.”
There’s still so much time left.
We may have let quite a bit of that time slip by, but yes. There’s still plenty of time. At least several decades. And for people, several decades is akin to a lifetime.
“Is that so…?”
“Well, I like this Koto Ne too.”
Kagami said with a smile.
“It seems just like a problem that a teenager would have. I could almost say you’re like a daughter.”
I briefly deliberated whether to poke her in the side or not.
*
After resting for a while, we met Yuuki and his family again at the entrance of the theme park.
Mr. Mori and Mr. Yamashita still weren’t attached to one another.
However, that scene seemed strangely fitting somehow.
So, why is it that the ‘Yakuza wife in a kimono’ seems to give off that vibe? Standing in the background, arms crossed, looking polite and still.
Sure enough, Mr. Mori didn’t give off the impression of a typical woman who would be walking around with her boyfriend’s arm around her.
It seemed like Mr. Yamashita’s face was looking a bit less uncomfortable than earlier.
He still had cat ears on his head though.
…Is he actually enjoying this?
Could it be that he’s actually a softy for his daughter?
“Today was really fun.”
Kagami said, bowing politely.
“Thanks to you, we were able to spend some cozy time as a family.”
If it wasn’t for Kagami, I believe she would’ve thought of another place as a cozy place to spend time together, but still, we wouldn’t have been able to come this far without the help of the Yakuza.
“No, considering the help I usually receive, this is just too little.”
Mr. Yamashita graciously returned the gesture.
“Rather, I had a bit of time to think today, thanks to this.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, really. Thank you very much.”
Mrs. Mori smiled slightly and bent at the waist.
Then she took a look at me, Koko, and Kagami once each, and said,
“I would be truly grateful if you could attend the wedding.”
“Oh my.”
Kagami smiled.
“Has it already been decided?”
“……Miho.”
As soon as Mr. Yamashita called Mrs. Mori, she stuck her tongue out slightly.
“If you call for us, we’ll definitely come.”
“…….”
As that conversation continued, Yuuki stared right at me.
What is it?
Oh, is he perhaps waiting for a chance to greet me?
Just as I was about to open my mouth to greet Mrs. Mori first…
Yuuki smiled brightly at me and blurted out,
“……Can you sing at the wedding?”
And just like that, he asked.
“……Huh?”
“You sing well. You and Koko both.”
“Oh my.”
Mrs. Mori didn’t miss that opportunity, and she touched her cheek while laughing.
“In that case, I would be grateful.”
“Yes, our daughters sing so well.”
“Songs are great!”
“…….”
With Kagami and Koko chiming in one after another, it seems I’ve been pushed into the role of the wedding singer without even a chance to refuse.
“You don’t need to feel too much pressure. We have plenty of time.”
…Well, three years is plenty of time.
Ultimately, I couldn’t help but nod in agreement.
Yuuki smiled at me again.
So that’s how it is.
I’m definitely going to remember this.
Well, it’s true that I won’t be able to forget even if I want to for the next three years. The closer we get to the wedding, the more this topic is bound to come up.
In that time, I’ll get my own revenge.
Thinking like that, I didn’t even feel any displeasure.
On the contrary, I felt a bit happy.
It’s nice to have a friend I can interact with like this.
And that I can play an important part in one of the most important days of that friend.
…Outwardly pretending to be troubled, unwilling, and grumpy.
I truly hope for it.
That I can intertwine more with my precious people.
That more annoying and somewhat absurd things happen. Hoping that when I look back, I can laugh over them.
That events like today happen over and over again.
That is what I wish for.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.