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Well then, it's raining, but I'm off to do some shopping. Off I go, off I go.
I had a feeling that last time was full of all sorts of resolutions, twists and turns, and the bittersweet drama of life, but with a force that screamed, “Nope, not at all!” I was reunited with Maa-chan so easily—or rather, I succeeded in snatching her back from that detestable “Yatsu”—that it was almost anticlimactic. What am I supposed to do with this ridiculously abrupt, glossed-over development? My life is going so well that I’m starting to worry about my fortune for tomorrow. I’m the kind of person whose mood can be swayed by the completely baseless zodiac horoscopes on the morning news. When things wrap up as smoothly as they do in a cancelled manga, even I get a little anxious.
Right now, Maa-chan is fast asleep, her eyes shut tight. It’s less a peaceful slumber with gentle breaths and more like her body has solidified in sleep. I debated waking her for a moment, but in the end, I decided to carry her on my back. For now, I figured it was best to get away from the apartment building as quickly as possible. “Yatsu” would probably be back soon. I still wanted to avoid trouble, so I tried to leave the room right away.
But, as I was putting on my shoes at the entrance, I stopped and quickly padded back.
“I should probably pack a change of clothes for Maa-chan.”
It would be inconvenient to leave empty-handed and then have to run out to buy a girl’s clothes myself. Personally, I would happily scrutinize and select anything for her, be it socks or underwear, and say “I’ll take these, please” to the clerk. In fact, I’d love to try it. But a world that doesn’t know the circumstances would surely mistake this behavior of mine not as affection, but as lust. Far from being a false accusation, it’s an act that should be met with thunderous applause. How frustrating.
I gathered some of Maa-chan’s clothes from the bedroom closet. I tossed in some underwear and socks at random. I’d laid Maa-chan down on the bed, but she showed no signs of waking.
What should we talk about when she wakes up? The thought runs through my head, and my nostrils flare. Well, probably. I haven’t checked my face. After I finished packing, I once again lifted Maa-chan onto my back. The weight of a person who is completely asleep is not to be underestimated, and getting her on my back was quite a struggle. But I managed to slip on my sneakers, crushing the heels, and stuffed Maa-chan’s shoes into my pocket. This time, I made it out into the hallway for good.
I rehearsed a few greetings in my head for if I ran into a neighbor, then got on the elevator. I briefly considered what would happen if I ran into “Yatsu” coming up, either in the elevator or the lobby.
“I’ll protect Maa-chan, no matter what… huh, in this position, that’s a given.”
It wasn’t a very bright future, so I stopped imagining it, pressed the button, and felt the lurch of gravity shake me. The side of my head, which I’d leaned against the wall, vibrated along with it. It was like a core, or a rod, deep in my brain vibrated, making my molars feel numb. For some reason, I like this feeling in an elevator, this sense of defying gravity. In a small apartment building like this, though, it’s over in an instant. I stepped out into the lobby. Maybe because I was carrying Maa-chan, my footsteps were dull. They didn’t echo, just thudded heavily, like I was rolling a boulder. If I said something so cheerful, she’d probably strangle me a little. Maa-chan’s so light—light as a virus. Then she’d squeeze my neck tight again.
Once out on the street, I looked left and right, wondering which way to go. This next step felt important. You never know what trivial choice in life will end up completely repainting your future. I had learned that lesson keenly throughout my life so far. It might be the only thing I’ve learned. Because I learned it through pain, my understanding is deep.
“...Alright, then.”
I looked up at the sulky, overcast sky that seemed ready to rain at any moment and made my decision.
For now, until this is all over, I need to stay away from any place “Yatsu” might show up. But even with that effort, a confrontation with him is probably unavoidable.
Me and “Yatsu” are bound by a fate as strong as Andou and Inukai’s. …Well, probably.
It’s not cute, or kind, or venerable, or noble, though.
It’s like how the second hand of a clock will always mark one second, then two, the same way, every single day.
It’s the kind of clash of wills that is prepared for everyone, one or two times in their life.
“The world is a strange place.”
I muttered it under my breath, my throat a little dry. I sometimes feel afraid that I’m surrounded by nothing but strange and mysterious things. I don’t know the mechanics of the phone on my desk, nor can I explain how the cars that race down the road with their lights on are able to go so fast. We’re given only the information on how to use them, and it makes me feel like we’re the ones being used.
I know nothing, and yet I go on living.
But I wonder why the one thing I do understand is what happiness is.
Around the time the date changed, it started to rain, and the night view from the business hotel window began to fill with sound. The sound pressed in, as if the water level were rising with the downpour. Still, what a dark city.
Even at night, the cityscape was lacking in lights. You’d want to think this wasn’t the area in front of the station. But sadly, it is, which just goes to show how rural this place is. Lately, partly due to the bizarre murders, it feels like the number of people walking or riding bikes outside at night has plummeted. I closed the curtains.
“A hotel… It feels nostalgic, and yet, like a very recent memory.” A strange sentimentality welled up inside me, and I gave it a deeply unpleasant half-smile.
When I turned on the bedside lamp, Maa-chan finally woke up. This girl is pretty strange herself, all things considered. She rubbed her eyes and stretched her bent knees two or three times. Her heels slid swish-swish over the surface of the bedsheet, and then, finally, she looked at me.
Being looked at by her, I felt a sense of relief.
“Hi, Maa-chan.”
“Mii-kun?”
I gave her a little wave. Still half-asleep, Maa-chan stretched with a “Nmuuu~” and rolled back and forth. Hey, hey, where are you going? She was about to bump into the wall, then about to roll off the other side. I scooped her up in a princess carry with a “Hup!” to prevent both. “Mmhuhu,” Maa-chan giggled mysteriously.
“You’re pretty capable, Mii-kun.”
“I am honored by your praise. So, how are you feeling?”
“Suuuper good.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me with all her might. “Whoa, hey—!” I staggered backward. My center of gravity shifted in an instant, and the bones in my lower back felt like they were twisting out of place. I almost groaned, “You’re annoying,” but I held it back, spun around, and fell backward onto the bed. A relatively soft whump sounded between my back and the bed, and a puff of air rose up. However, the impact I felt on my own body was not something that could be dismissed with a mere “whump.”
“Megyagyaaa—”
“Eee-hee-hee.”
First, Maa-chan’s knee, as she landed on top of me, slammed into my thigh. Then, with her arms wrapped around it, my neck made a painful crack of bone against bone. Finally, a series of kisses rained down on my cheek. Well, that part was fine.
“Hey, hey, don’t suck.”
Contrary to the peaceful scene, there was a quiet pop-pop sound, like my skin was being gently ripped apart. Just how hard was she sucking on my skin? I started to get a little worried, but being able to watch Maa-chan’s happy face up close as she sucked away made me decide not to care. Then, Maa-chan, who had been smiling so hard her eyes were closed, suddenly opened her eyelids and noticed her surroundings. She pulled her lips from my cheek with a soft pop and looked around the room, her eyes darting about.
“Whoa, where is this place?!”
“A hotel. There are… some circumstances, so we can’t go back to the apartment. Is that okay?”
“Anywhere Mii-kun is is Maa-chan’s apartment!”
Hahaha, that makes no sense. But somehow, I found myself nodding along. “I see, I see.” It’s strange.
Done looking around, Maa-chan now tilted her head, peering at me from my right. Heh.
“What is it?”
“Nnn-nnn. It’s nothing.”
“Brrr, it’s cold.”
While still lying on top of me, she started bouncing. Boing, boing. Ugh, guh. Occasionally, her knee would dig into my stomach with a pain that felt like my world was turning inside out, but I’m doing fine.
The bed is soft, and Maa-chan is by my side.
I’ve been feeling awful lately, but I think I’ll be able to sleep well tonight.
“With Maa-chan, everything’s A-OK.”
…That’s only after Maa-chan, full of energy from a good night’s sleep, has tired herself out from playing, though.
The next day, I woke up before noon. While Maa-chan was still asleep, I took care of some miscellaneous errands and came back to the hotel. The rain, which hadn’t shown any sign of stopping since last night, had left me soaking wet, and my hair was plastered to my head. I casually fixed the hair on the sides with my fingers, then sat down on a white chair in the room. I placed the sandwiches and other things I’d bought for lunch at a convenience store on the desk, then let out a long sigh.
I hugged my damp shoulders, shivering at the coldness of the droplets running down my back. I reached for the wall to turn on the heat, but then considered that Maa-chan, sleeping wrapped up in the futon, might find it uncomfortable, and stopped.
I have to leave this hotel tomorrow. I don’t have the money to stay for several nights. I wonder about Maa-chan’s finances. I don’t remember her bringing her wallet, so she’s probably penniless.
“In that case, a park, maybe? The apartment is a bad idea, after all.”
Come to think of it, I left without even locking the door. I’ll be more careful next time. And I hope there won’t be a next time. No, no, things like being security-conscious or careless with locks aren’t that important right now.
“…The important thing…”
Is what “Yatsu” will do. I can’t just let him run loose forever. But at the same time, I want to avoid confronting him with Maa-chan in tow. What to do, what to do.
“...Ah well, it’ll work out somehow.”
Because Maa-chan is by my side, I tend to get overconfident, or rather, careless. This is bad, I thought, scratching my nose, but the sense of relief won out, and I kept yawning. Maybe it was because I stayed up late messing around with Maa-chan last night, but my eyelids were heavy. The fact that my body temperature was low probably made it worse.
Should I sleep without pushing myself, or should I force myself to stay alert and awake?
While I was debating, my head started to nod off on its own. I wonder what shore I’ll visit in my dreams this time.
When I woke up from my doze, my hands and feet were tied. …Oh? At first, I just stared blankly, trying to wiggle my bound limbs to see if they would move, but gradually, panic began to set in. The back of my brain grew hot, and I was tormented by the sensation of sweat trickling from my hairline. What was going on?
Since I was tied to the chair I was sitting in, it had the air of a punishment.
“Ah, Mii-kun’s awake.”
The culprit who tied me up (probably) peeked out from the direction of the bathroom. Oh, how cute. First, I face that reality head-on. Next, I wonder what this is all about. I’m tied up by Maa-chan. The fact that it doesn’t sound so bad when you write it down might just be a defect in my brain. What a problem.
“Maa-chan, what is this?”
“Nufufu, you look so surprised.”
“Well, yeah.”
Maa-chan came closer and poked my forehead. Zubishi. Her nails seem a little long; I’ll have to cut them for her later. With a hand on her hip in a triumphant pose, she leaned forward gleefully.
“According to Maa-chan’s brilliant deduction, Mii-kun is all wet.”
“Uh, yeah. You’re right.”
“Which means you ditched Maa-chan and went outside!! Nyagyaaa!”
She raked her nails down my cheeks. Scritch, scritch. I became a substitute for a scratching post and let out a scream. “Gyaaaah!”
Though walls don’t scream. They can’t scream even if they want to. Notice their screams… what is this, some kind of ad?
“And with that, today has been declared Mii-kun Day, in its entirety!”
“...What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means all of Mii-kun, in his entirety!”
You just repeated yourself. Besides, I’m always in my entirety. I don’t get separated into parts.
“Meals, bath time, brushing your teeth. Maa-chan will take care of eeeverything for you.”
Pat, pat. She patted my head, looking incredibly pleased with herself. Maa-chan ruffled my hair roughly, and the remaining water droplets fell plip-plop to the floor. As I followed the droplets with my eyes, I glanced at the clock and saw that it was just past two in the afternoon. I hadn't been asleep for very long. As if conscious of that, another yawn escaped me.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, but, Maa-chan. I can see the other two, but a bath is a little, you know…”
With her hair still a mess, Maa-chan hummed a little tune as she rummaged through the lunch I’d bought. She rustled the plastic bag and pulled out a plain tuna sandwich. She’s going to feed me store-bought food. Should I be sighing in relief? More importantly, is the situation really so carefree that I can just sit here, tied up by her, being coddled like a baby?
“...Nn!”
I shouldn’t be doing this.
The moment I thought it, that accusatory feeling flickered at the corner of my mind. I closed my eyes for a moment to gauge how deep it ran. …And just like that, such a noble thought vanished.
What, it wasn’t a big deal after all. Can’t even hold on to a precious resolution for a day or two? Oh well. I guess this is what it means to live in the moment. Probably.
“Here you go, Mii-kun. Open wiiide.”
“...Ah, guh.”
The instant I opened my mouth a little, the tip of the sandwich was shoved in. Even though the bread was caught on my front teeth, Maa-chan’s hand pushed from behind, forcing it forward. I decided to open my mouth wide and accept the sandwich completely. And then, without any hesitation, more and more bread was stuffed into my mouth—
“Nngagaga!”
The sandwich reached the back of my throat. Only then did Maa-chan’s hand let go of it. On the verge of suffocating from the sheer volume of stuff in my mouth, my eyes darted around in a panic as I tried to chew it all up. I consciously moved my jaw, grinding my molars together in a way they normally wouldn’t.
Maa-chan stood in front of me, watching my desperate struggle with a wide grin. She was looking at me as if I were something adorable, and for a brief moment I struggled with how to react. Hahaha, this is rough. Towards the end, I got tired of chewing and just swallowed it, followed by a spectacular gag. Snot ran from my nose and my eyes burned. But since I was tied up, I couldn’t even bend forward, which made me feel like I’d really been captured. Or maybe kidnapped and confined. I looked up at Maa-chan and laughed with just my mouth. “Ha… ha…”
“Yes?”
“After you eat, we have to wipe you clean!”
Maa-chan was holding one of the hotel’s bath towels. She draped it over my head and shoulders and started scrubbing me roughly. “Scrub, scrub.” The pulling made the roots of my hair ache fiercely. Through the towel, Maa-chan’s fingers pressed into my shoulders, my biceps, painfully kneading my muscles.
“Hey, ow, that hurts.”
I tried lodging a complaint. Of course, it didn’t reach Maa-chan’s ears. She was happily polishing me up. I wonder if she feels like she’s become my mother. Wanting to act like a grown-up, like a big sister. Maa-chan’s way of trying to be mature is so endearing that no matter how horribly she treats me, I can’t help but want to forgive her.
“Rainy-rainy Mii-kun, wet-wet wipe-wipe. Get all better soooon.”
I’m already fine, though, for a normal person. A little excessively so, by Mii-kun standards. I had that opinion, but I’d already given up on arguing or resisting, and just surrendered myself to Maa-chan’s fingertips and the towel.
I predicted that by the time she was done, my hair would be as dry as if it had been washed with bar soap, and my skin would be red and raw.
A few minutes later, I was released from Maa-chan’s wiping. All the moisture had been wrung out of me, like I’d been forcibly stuffed into a dryer. Maybe from being messed with for so long, my ears were ringing faintly. My face was hot and shiny, and it stung. It was awful.
“Mii-kun, which one do you like, this one or this one? Maa-chan’s declaring she’s a good girl! I’ll let you eat the one Mii-kun likes!”
Maa-chan tossed the bath towel aside, rummaged in the convenience store bag again, and pulled out two savory pastries. One was a shrimp cutlet roll, and the other was an egg bun. I wonder which one Maa-chan liked.
Ignoring that question, I voiced a thought that had been lingering from before I fell asleep.
“I wonder what a shrimp feels when it’s being cooked.”
“Hmm? I dunno.”
Maa-chan’s reply was instant. She sounded like she truly couldn’t care less and started unwrapping the shrimp cutlet roll. It seems she took my question as an answer for which one I wanted. It’s fine either way, but…
I would just sometimes get a complicated feeling watching the packs of live shrimp they sell at the supermarket. They’re packed in so tightly, all those shrimp squirming their legs. What do they think, seeing themselves and their friends unable to move in there?
As their friends gradually stop moving, what does a shrimp think? Does it pray for hope, or feel despair? The world really is full of things I don’t understand. I don’t even understand the human heart, let alone a shrimp’s.
Though in a way, Maa-chan is easy to understand.
“Mii-kyun, open wiiide.”
She’s hard to understand.
This time, I opened my mouth wide from the start, bracing myself. The roll was longer and thinner than the sandwich. As I expected, she thrust it in with a gagaaa. I took it all in with a “Gugaaa.” I closed my eyes.
I fought back the urge to gag as the back of my throat was poked over and over. Leaning my weight against the back of the chair, I repeated a self-hypnotic mantra in my head—I have a hobby of putting long, thin things inside my body, this is a joyous occasion—and somehow endured it. My mouth was so full I couldn’t even taste anything.
As I chewed the roll and the collection of shrimp corpses that had somehow fit in my mouth, I narrowed my eyes as if glaring at the wall. In the corner of my vision, Maa-chan was nonchalantly nibbling on her egg bun.
On the one hand, I think, I shouldn’t be doing this.
On the other, I wonder if there’s any ideal greater than being immersed in a world where only Maa-chan and I exist.
Isn’t it fine if I can live my life like this, mostly at the mercy of Maa-chan but finding my own unique fun in every moment, avoiding contact with other people as much as possible?
In the first place, let’s say I did get involved with “Yatsu,” fought him, and brought everything to an end. What would I gain from that? Self-satisfaction. It’s not like I’d gain eternal life with Maa-chan, or be praised by everyone in the world. Wealth, fame, lifespan—none of it matters.
It just means it will be over. To be sure, if I just spent my life clinging to Maa-chan, it would still end. No matter what, we die in the end. I know that well.
But how it ends is important, right? At the very least, you can assume that people other than yourself almost never judge others by the outcome alone. The indignation felt when someone dies in an accident is completely different from when someone is murdered. Even the sense of loss should take a different shape. Though the result is the same, people want to look at the process. Was there foul play? Was it just? Are there any regrets?
A teacher at school once said that life isn’t just about the results, and they were right. The process is like a driver’s license. Even if you have the result of being able to drive a car, you’ll be punished if you don’t have the process of getting a license.
Defeated a bad guy -> If you don’t depict the process of how “bad” that bad guy was, the hero of justice will be met with a storm of criticism. But, no matter how much you flesh out the process, if you die, that’s still the end from an individual’s point of view, isn’t it? There’s that perspective too, and it fills the act of living with mystery.
Ah, the number of things I don’t understand has increased again. It’s true that there’s a pleasure in understanding something you didn’t know, but there are too many things, and I get irritated trying to decide where to start.
“...And since my hands and feet are tied right now, it’s even worse.”
Clank, clank. I leaned my weight back and lifted the front legs of the chair. I was too scared of falling to lean back very far, and the legs quickly returned to the floor. How long do I have to stay like this? She did say something about it being for the whole day, so does that mean I’m stuck until tomorrow?
…What am I going to do about the bathroom?
“Oh, right! I just remembered!”
Maa-chan, having finished her bread, clapped her hands together cheerfully. I had a terrible, terrible feeling, and my cheeks twitched. Bracing myself for being burned at the stake or subjected to water torture next, I looked up and saw her leap onto my lap with a bright smile. Wait, did she leap? Boing, pyon, gyaah.
“Tadaa!”
“Oof.”
Her airborne knees dug into my thighs. The gentle, sweet torture continues. The innocent Maa-chan, who had just pounced on me, swayed left and right on my lap. You’ll fall, that’s dangerous, I thought, but didn’t say it out loud.
Because Maa-chan started talking first.
“You know, Mii-kun.”
“Uh-huh, uh-huh.”
I nodded obediently, hoping that if I acted like a good boy, she might untie me a little sooner.
Wow, that’s a hope thinner than ice over a puddle. One that Maa-chan would stomp right through.
“Maa-chan has a place she wants to go. Let’s go out together tomorrow, okay, Mii-kun?”
“A place you want to go?”
“Yup! It’s a sweet memory!”
“Sweet, huh? Hooo.”
Hahahaha Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Haha Hahahaha Hahahaha Ha Ha Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Haha Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk Haha Ha Ha Hahahahahahaha Ha Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk Haha Hahahahaha Haha Ha Ha Ha Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk Haha Hahahahahahahahaha
Haha Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Haha Haha Haha Tsk tsk
Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk
Haha Haha Hahahahahaha Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk Haha Hahahahahahahaha Ha Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk Hahaha Hahahahahahahahaha
Ha Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk Ha Hahaha Ha Ha Ha Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Ha Tsk tsk
Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk
Tsk Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
I have no idea what she’s talking about.
Of course, as long as I’m Mii-kun, I had no reason to refuse. But, still.
“...How about today?”
“Nope. Today is all about Mii-kun.”
In the Rain
“Mii-kun slidiiiing.” Thud. I couldn’t tell if it was my own head or the back of the chair that made the sound.
…Man, being Mii-kun is tough. It really is. A thorny path? Maybe so. Zzzaaa, Maa-chan fell. I was sandwiched between the chair and Maa-chan, breathing out with difficulty.
But surely, at the end of this dream, a beautiful flower that can only be found there is blooming.
She hugged me tight. Squeeeeze. The chair tilted backward, and we both fell over.
Haha Tsk tsk
Tsk Haha Tsk tsk
Ha
Hah Hahhahhah
Hahahahahahaha Hahahahaha Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk Hahahahahahaha
Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Tsk tsk Tsk tsk
Tsk
Tsk
Tsk
Tsk
Haha
Haha
Tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk tsk
Tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk
Tsk tsk Tsk Haha
Tsk
Tsk
Tsk
Haha Haha
Tsk tsk Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Tsk tsk Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Tsk Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk Haha Ha Tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk Hahahahahahahaha Haha Hahahahaha
Tsk tsk Tsk Ha Ha
Tsk tsk
Ha Ha
Hhahhah
Haha
Tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk tsk
Hahahahahaha
Tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk tsk
Hah Hahhahhahha
Haha Haha Ha
Tsk tsk Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk Haha Haha Haha Hahahahaha Tsk tsk tsk
Tsk tsk Tsk Haha Haha Haha Tsk tsk Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Tsk tsk tsk tsk Ha Ha Ha Ha
Tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk tsk Hahahahahahaha Haha Haha Haha Haha Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk
Haha
Hahahaha
Tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk tsk tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk
Tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk tsk Tsk
Tsk
Tsk Tsk
Tsk
Hahhahha
Hahhahhah Hahhahha
Hahhah Hahhahhah
Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Hahhahhah Hahhahhah Hahhahhah Hahhahhahha
Hahhah Hahhahhah Haa
Hahhahhah
Tsk
Chapter 7: memories - Time Machine -
Shopping with Yuna-oniichan. When I called her oniichan, she pinched my cheek.
When I was humming with my big sister in the rain, she laughed and said, “Hey.” I know a lot about what’s going on outside lately. It’s supposed to be really bad.
There’s a murderer in town. We had one in our house too, right, Natane?
I said it so loud the person who passed by got scared.
And the big sister who just came to our room is in a really bad spot, too. That makes me happy. Not that I can do anything to help her. I’m going shopping with Yuna-neechan.
I’ll go with her to the supermarket. But not anywhere else.
They say it’s even dangerous to go shopping right now. What a weird town.
But Yuna-neechan isn’t worried. She’s always smiling and grinning.
I guess, for me, nothing’s really changed.
My big sister always tells me I’m a lucky girl.
That’s why I win the lottery at the supermarket and never get caught up in anything dangerous. That’s a problem. I want to be with Yuna-neechan forever and ever.
I wish that other big sister would just solve everything, poof.
When I sang that, Yuna-neechan pinched my cheek again.
“You’re just so carefree,” she said.
Oh, there’s that big sister from before.
I waved at her, like, “Do your best!”
Putting aside the premise.
I sometimes read what’s inside my own head. The source of imagination, which can so easily transcend time and space. Memories are the most accessible kind of time machine, and thanks to them, it’s very easy for us to avert our eyes from reality. For better or for worse, perhaps a moderate amount of time travel is essential for maintaining one’s mental equilibrium.
I wonder if dreams are also a kind of phenomenon that transcends time. The people who died right before my eyes appear as if it were the most natural thing in the world, behaving and moving about as if they possessed their own will. It’s terrifying, and yet I can’t look away.
The dream I had last night, as I slept tied to a chair, went something like this.