Professional Documents
Culture Documents
But this is
still going to continue, as it seems."
She said so to me, standing in an empty room almost like the eye of the cyclone that was made free by the other
students.
She didn't call herself 『Aya Otonashi』 anymore, like she did in this repeating world.
Fair enough. There's no need for her to be the illusion 『Aya Otonashi』 anymore.
I wonder where the girl is, that once said this to me?
I wonder where the girl is, that lamented at her first 'School Transfer'?
Therefore, I don't know how to call 『Maria Otonashi』 who's standing in front of me.
The phone disconnected.
My heart beat didn't seem to calm down a bit, so I dived into my bed and buried my head in the pillow.
It's not like I don't like him. If I didn't, then I wouldn't be troubled to begin with.
But I considered him a friend. In my mind I had already drawn a distinct line.
In that case, he should have said it earlier. He should have said it before our current relationship would break and get
bitter.
"......gh!"
It's not like I didn't consider this possibility, since we're male and female.
But nonetheless, I was convinced without foundation that this wouldn't happen with Kazuki.
Despite this, why of all things did he get captured by this foolish feeling?
Contents
1 Novel Illustrations
2 April 29
3 April 29 (Wednesday) 00:02
4 April 29 (Wednesday) 23:57
5 April 30
6 April 30 (Thursday) 00:00
7 April 30 (Thursday) 12:37
8 April 30 (Thursday) 12:43
9 April 30 (Thursday) 22:38
10 April 30 (Thursday) 23:18
11 May 1
12 May 1 (Friday) 08:14
13 May 1 (Friday) 08:31
14 May 1 (Friday) 09:32
15 May 1 (Friday) 11:00
16 May 1 (Friday) 12:00
17 May 1 (Friday) 12:17
18 May 1 (Friday) 13:00
19 May 1 (Friday) 14:00
20 May 1 (Friday) 15:34
21 May 1 (Friday) 16:00
22 May 1 (Friday) 23:22
23 May 2
24 May 02 (Saturday) 00:11
25 May 02 (Saturday) 00:31
26 May 02 (Saturday) 07:06
27 May 02 (Saturday) 07:34
28 May 02 (Saturday) 08:11
29 May 02 (Saturday) 09:05
30 May 02 (Saturday) 09:14
31 May 02 (Saturday) 10:00
32 May 02 (Saturday) 11:00
33 May 02 (Saturday) 11:47
34 May 02 (Saturday) 12:00
35 May 02 (Saturday) 14:00
36 May 02 (Saturday) 23:10
37 May 3
38 May 03 (Sunday) 07:12
39 May 03 (Sunday) 08:45
40 May 03 (Sunday) 10:06
41 May 03 (Sunday) 21:04
42 May 03 (Sunday) 21:32
43 May 4
44 May 04 (Monday) 07:49
45 May 04 (Monday) 10:01
46 May 04 (Monday) 11:02
47 May 04 (Monday) 12:06
48 May 04 (Monday) 12:35
49 May 04 (Monday) 13:00
50 May 04 (Monday) 14:00
51 May 5
52 May 05 (Tuesday) 02:10
53 May 05 (Tuesday) 06:15
54 May 05 (Tuesday) 21:42
55 May 05 (Tuesday) 23:00
56 May 05 (Tuesday) 23:56
57 May 18
58 Author's Notes
Novel Illustrations
I knew already who the person I was facing was. But since I haven't accepted the 'box', I
cannot recall this scenery deliberately except in my dreams. I don't know when we had this
conversation, either.
"Do you remember what I told you previously? About the matter that for some reason I
can distinguish you, although your kind doesn't have individualities."
I don't know. I have a hunch that I heard about it while also having a hunch that I haven't.
"With the events recently, I began to recognize the reason for this. Why can I distinguish
you? The reason for this. This might be because, while rejecting nothing, you don't accept
anything."
"In the first place; the 『everyday life』 you mention all the time is different from the
『everyday life』 that is perceived by the other people. You also include not minding to
lose something in your perception of 『everyday life』, don't you? This is, in fact, different
from the perception of 『everyday life』 of the others. The other humans are unable to
take it as it comes."
"Every single human is distorted. And their 『everyday life』 gets distorted according to
their values. You could say that the 'box' forces this distortion upon others. You are
sensitive to these intentional distortions of the 『everyday life』 by the 'box' of others - and
you find them repulsive. Am I wrong?"
I really have not the slightest idea what he's talking about. Let me be already.
"This time your body was attacked directly. And even so, you didn't let yourself be put off
by the values of the 'owner', and kept retaining yourself. That is because you automatically
recognize the distortions by others as distortions. And it's only natural that you can't
accept it, as soon you know it's distorted. But you know? The fact that you can find those
distortions separates you from the ordinary people. Therefore――you cannot accept
anything."
"Seen from me, your field of vision is terribly small. But still you have those abilities. Aah,
I see. You might――resemble me, I suppose."
Please stop.
I considered him to be disgusting.
When I said so to him, he laughed and changed his shapeable appearance to someone
familiar.
'0' who looked like no one else but me, Kazuki Hoshino in person, spoke.
April 30
Lunch break.
The reason for my yawn might be the mysterious call I received at six o' clock this morning.
The call had got disconnected before I was able to say anything.
What the...?
It was the last day of April, and with being the Golden Week, our consecutive holidays were
drawing near. I went to the corridor and waited for Otonashi-san like always. We're eating in the
school cafeteria every day, but it's the first time she makes me a boxed lunch.
The noisy ones arrived. Kokone went around me, and beside her was Haruaki with a grin.
"...Haruaki, indeed I have told you not to say it because it's going to get bothersome?"
"Kazu-kun, what's the deal with this nice event?! Please explain in all details!"
"...well, I don't quite get it, but this morning suddenly a phone――"
"Wake-up call..."
"Good morning..."
The small girl with short hairs that was addressed with this strange name by Kokone is the
freshman Riko Asami. She is Otonashi-san's classmate and member of the Maria Otonashi fan
club that flourished after the school entrance ceremony. Usually the two of them come together,
but as it seems she went ahead today. For some reason her expression and voice seemed even
darker than always to me.
"...err?"
"I heard it. You get a boxed lunch from Maria-san, apparently."
"Y-Yeah, seems like this."
Asami-san didn't say anything and just kept staring at me when I had replied.
"......if only the batteries of your mobile phone would explode... if only you would use batteries
that are as suspicious as the ones sold in this certain country for an oddly low price... swell
batteries, swell...!"
To wipe away the unrest in the air, Kokone cut in with a smile.
"Thanks to this, Kazu-kun gets some scary glances from the boys recently, doesn't he? I've heard
he's at the top position in the 'if there's something I'd like to kill him by feigning an accident'
ranking!"
"What's this deranged ranking... who on earth would say something like this..."
"I did."
"Of course I handed in a vote! I can't stand you being all lovey-dovey with Maria-Chan!!"
My strength drained.
I'm sure Haruaki is just joking, but the glances of the other boys got certainly scary recently. But
I don't think Otonashi-san is the only cause of this――
"......nothing."
Is she really not self-aware? About the fact that talking with her so collegially is probably a
cause as well.
Kokone tilted her head to my attitude. Unlike during March that I almost continued for an
eternity, she was now wearing her hairs with her ponytail bound at the side. Is this called "side-
ponytail"?
"Say, say, I've been wondering; how did you manage to tame Otonashi-san?!"
"Let's see... for example you saved her from a pervert that attacked her―― Mh, this is quite
possible! The pervert... 『Hey, hey, your navel fluff smells so good... Wha! There's scab around
there! B-But I don't care!!』 - while saying something like this, the pervert came attacking but
you saved her from his evil claws, right!?"
"I wouldn't have the guts to oppose such a 'real' pervert... and in the first place; we aren't going
out, you know?"
"Sooo, how do you explain this happening at the ceremony, I wonder? Mh? Mhhh?"
"T-That was――"
The 『war proclamation』 at the school entrance ceremony. I know as much as how this was
misunderstood. I have to explain this somehow in order to make her stop that big grin.
"――I am strange?"
Maria Otonashi.
Seeing her face, I reflexively stiffened up. No, it's not like I broke out in cold sweat because of
her blaming words. I merely stiffened up because I saw this unbelievably pretty face of her
without having prepared myself.
I am not yet used to her detached personality and beauty. I can't help but to petrify. I counted up
to three in my mind as I do usually. I did the preparations to talk to Otonashi-san.
I've been together with Otonashi-san for the time span of a human's life. I'm aware of that. But
I've lost the 'feeling' that I did so.
"Why are you stiffening up? Did you perhaps think I'm angry? I wouldn't get angry because of
such a bagatelle, would I?"
"Y-Yeah."
While I was being bewildered, Asami-san toddled wordlessly around Otonashi-san to her back.
"...mh? What is it Asami?"
Asami-san did not answer and just continued to stare at me. Haruaki opened his mouth instead.
"She's a bit strange today. Maybe she's worrying that Maria-chan gets taken away by Hoshii
because of this decisive 『boxed lunch』-event."
"......to call her 'Maria-chan' is much too over-familiar. You ought to append a 『sama』..."
Asami-san let again out her words with a half-opened mouth and down-cast eyes.
"Why can't you get it at the point of time I told you that I would make you a boxed lunch? Isn't it
clear that I did so because things are unfavorable at the school cafeteria?"
We met every day at the lunch break. In order to discuss the 'boxes' or '0'.
Well, but it's not like there's new information every day, and there's almost never anything that
mustn't be heard by strangers. Or rather than 'almost never', 'never' since Otonashi-san had
entered school. Therefore, the school cafeteria has never been a problem.
"So that's the reason for this boxed lunch. ...but isn't there bread at the store?"
When I murmured so, Otonashi-san drew suddenly near to my face and whispered into my ear.
"...I got fed up with the bread from there during the 'Rejecting Classroom'. You understand, don't
you...?"
Ah, well... I can understand that you don't want them to hear the word 'Rejecting Classroom', but
if you draw this near in front of Asami-san, she might think we want to show off, you know?
I sneaked a peek at her, and as expected, her glance seemed a lot more sharp to me.
Otonashi-san grabbed my arm and started to walk away. Haruaki said something like "Hyaa~~"
without reading the mood.
When I turned around due to uneasiness, she was murmuring something with cast-down eyes.
"......if only a female cockroach with swollen abdomen would enter your mouth, lay her eggs
inside your stomach, breed, and eat you from inside...!"
The back of the school building is a place where we had quite some talk during the repeating
world.
Apparently Otonashi-san didn't plan to wallow in reminiscences, shot a glance at me and handed
over a boxed lunch she took out plainly from her bag together with the cloth around to me.
"...t-thanks."
"You're welcome."
I untied the packing and opened the cover. It looked ordinary. Somehow this was a bit
unexpected.
The first dish I tried was the asparagus bacon. I took it in my mouth.
...as I thought!
I checked the insides of the boxed lunch. If it's like this, then the potatoes, meat balls, dumplings
and the mixed vegetables are all without a doubt frozen food, too.
"Don't make a strange fuss about it. There's no need to praise me frantically."
"...say, Otonashi-san. Did you never cook inside the 'Rejecting Classroom'?"
Otonashi-san told me that she tried numerous things, beginning with martial arts, inside those
recurrences.
"It's like this. ...I don't really mind, though. I did cook, in fact. I'm good enough to cook some
quite refined dishes. But I couldn't get me to like doing it. I was unable to find the same pleasure
in cooking as I felt by pursuing various martial arts."
Whoops.
I got a glimpse of Otonashi-san's expression. ...well, she doesn't seem angry in particular.
"...err, but say. You aren't interested in cooking, so are you perhaps also not interested in food
itself?"
"Strawberry tarte. Basically all confectionery that uses strawberry―――hey, why did you grow
stiff with the meat ball still in your mouth?"
"Ah, no――"
Such a cute favorite dish? I could still understand if it was something like sweet-potato paste, but
I don't think strawberries suit her at all―――I was about to say this aloud, but could bear it
somehow. Whew, dangerous.
"Hohoo, you have some nerves to claim to others that their favorite dishes don't suit them."
"I still cannot really find any pleasure in savoring my own cooking myself. I can't help but to
perceive it as work."
I see. Naturally there wasn't anyone that would eat her cooking for her in this repeating world.
I've almost never cooked until now, but I know that seeing someone eat one's own cooking is one
of the pleasures of cooking.
Therefore it feels suddenly like work if there's no one she can let eat it.
"...That doesn't matter. It's not like I called you to the back of the school building to have a chat
about such a thing."
"Y-Yeah."
Saying so, Otonashi-san searched her bag and took her mobile phone out.
"A mail?"
When I had asked back, she held the display wordlessly out in front of my eyes.
『I was able to grant my earnest desire. Now I can go out with you.』
Err... what's this? The mail of a fresh couple... or so it looks like. Err? In other words, Otonashi-
san started to go out with someone? This Otonashi-san?
When I looked at her she was smiling wryly at my reaction.
"Well, I understood with your reaction when we met today, though. ...Kazuki, take a look at the
sender."
"Eh?"
――『Kazuki Hoshino』.
So I was the one that sent this mail? ...no, no, no, that's impossible. I have not the slightest
memory of this. But since it was indeed sent...?
"At first I thought it was a forgery. But that's unlikely since the mail filter is turned on. It's safe to
assume that this mail was sent by your mobile phone."
"Then how about checking your outbox? It should still be in there if the box wasn't emptied."
I nodded and took out my mobile phone. When I checked it, I found the mail.
『I was able to grant my earnest desire. Now I can go out with you.』
"T-That's――"
I turned pale.
"Rest assured, Kazuki. I gather from your look at least that this mail wasn't sent with your
proactive will. But if it really was done by someone other, then he must have used your mobile
phone after 02:00 at morning and sent me this mail."
The date of the mail is April 30. In other words, 02:23 this morning.
At this time, my mobile phone was beside my pillow. I woke up because of Otonashi-san's phone
call today, so that's beyond doubt. So that means, someone broke into my room late at night?
What's this? Why would someone go so far...?
"Kazuki."
"...?"
"It has something to do with this subject. 『I am a 'box', thus I could slip in』――I told you this,
but that doesn't explain directly the reason why I could slip in, does it?"
"I am able to percept 'boxes' and can find them. And then I can slip into this 'box'."
"...yeah."
"A method to send a mail from your mobile phone to mine after 02:00 at morning. Alternatively,
a method to make us think so. There are probably numerous ways to do so, but I considered
following."
――a 'box'?
"Well... I wonder? I mean, why would someone specially use a 'box' just for something
like――"
"Kazuki, didn't I mention it? I am able to percept 'boxes'. ...Aah, as you say, this mail might have
nothing to do with it. But I can say one thing for sure."
Not because of her words, but because of her straightforward glance, I finally realized what was
about to happen to me.
It happens again.
"A fact...?"
What could this mean? Otonashi-san didn't really start going out with the 'owner' as far as I can
tell.
"Maybe it's some kind of metaphor. Or this future was set definitely using the 'box'... but just this
is beyond question:"
Right, it's like that. Or else there's no reason for him to send such a message from my mobile
phone to Otonashi-san.
"It's beyond question that a 'box' is used. I have to find out how this 'box' is used and grasp its
nature. I want you to assist me with this. You're sensitive to slight changes of the everyday life,
aren't you? Hence, you might notice some abnormalities in the everyday life I don't notice."
"Please do. I'll contact you, too, when I come across something."
I was going to start eating again since I thought our talk was over. But then I noticed that
Otonashi-san still had her chopsticks stopped and stopped myself.
"It's trifling, really, but there's something that bothers me. And it's unpleasant. Therefore I'll tell
you."
"Eh?"
It bothered me, but I decided to think that it was really nothing of importance and continued
eating.
Slight changes of the everyday life. I tried thinking about it while sitting on the writing desk that
I had been using since primary school, but nothing came to mind. Change. There are changes
everywhere.
While she did seem even a bit more thinner than usual, there was no pitifulness at all. She was
showing the peace sign in the hospital with a smile like a sunflower.
I closed my mobile phone in a hurry when I heard the voice of my three-years-older sister.
"I-I didn't!"
My older sister, Ruka Hoshino, climbed on the upper bunk of our bunk beds with a broad
grin. ...And again she's only wearing her underwear, Ruu-chan. Geez... despite being almost 20
years old, she's still tottering around in this appearance all the time. She should be aware that I'm
for the time being a second year high school student in his teens.
"Aah, let's guess, you looked at a picture Kasumi Mogi-san, didn't you~?"
"Wha――!"
"w-Wait a sec! To begin with, why do you know about Mogi-san... Ah! Don't tell me you looked
through my mobile phone arbitrary?!"
"I didn't~. I just saw her name when she called you once, really. I just tried to comment the
picture with something random~... but then again, aren't you a bit perverted for looking at
pictures of girls while grinning?"
To avoid her seeing my disturbance, I embraced my mobile phone and dived into the lower stuck.
"So what's your relationship, then? Or else, how does she think of you?"
"......err..."
Well, she did confess to me inside the 'Rejecting Classroom' and the fact that she sent me this
picture means that she has more or less favor for me... probably.
But more than this... to be honest, I don't know. My feelings from inside the 'Rejecting
Classroom' aren't here anymore. It's likely that we had been affected to each other. I have some
memories that imply this. But right because of this, I'm unable to view her from a brand new
standpoint. I have no idea how proper those feelings of mine are inside this everyday life.
Although this was the answer I got after thinking desperately, she didn't reply. Strange... - when I
thought so and perked up my ears, I heard her sleeping while breathing calmly.
Come to think of it, I haven't replied to this mail yet. When I noticed this, I began typing a reply.
『22:59』
I was in the midst of typing the mail.
May 1
Though she usually drops in arbitrarily in our talks, today she was queerly distanced and talked
with other classmates instead. But despite this, she sneaked peeks at me from time to time. And
this with a lightly scary face.
I don't know what's the reason. I have no idea why she suddenly started acting like this. Since I
wasn't in the mood to chat happily with my other friends in this state of things, I tried to look
unapproachable by eating a cheese-flavored Umaibou.
As expected from Daiya. He ignored my delicate signs completely and came asking point-
blankly.
"...Dunno"
Does he perhaps know the reason for Kokone's strange attitude this morning?
"It's about when she had the first periodic test in the first year in junior middle school. She was
eager to get good marks - since it was her first one - and learned almost all night. Because she
did so, she fell asleep during the test in the third lesson. It would have been no problem if she
just slept silently, but no, she talked in her sleep inside the silent classroom. If I remember rightly,
it was something like 'Aah, this plug suit is too tight, I don't fit in...'."
"What I'm talking about? About her weak point. She doesn't dislike others so easily. This is your
chance to get away from her by getting on her bad side. Tell her this now and you’re out of the
game!"
"Uhm, I don't want that, you know...? And I think that story is pretty cute, at this."
"No, it stays cute only until there. It gets funny starting there, you know? From there on starts
Kokone's Drool Legend."
Because I had a bad premonition about this, I blocked my ears wordlessly. But Daiya grabbed
my arms.
I looked in the direction Daiya was pointing. Otonashi-san and a male student were facing each
other and were talking something. With a quite serious expression.
The intellectual male student with glasses with black frames on his long slit eyes is the class
committee chairman Ryuu Miyazawa. Unlike Daiya, who was elated for this position in the first
year just because of his grades, he does his work with awareness of his responsibility. Being a
honor student but not a wonk, he is popular as a reliable chairman with all.
I approached them unwillingly. To be honest, I have troubles dealing with Miyazawa-kun's self-
confident attitude.
"...What's wrong?"
"Oh, Kazuki. Well, I was going to enter the classroom but then this guy stopped me."
"Isn't that natural? Why do you enter the classroom of your upper classmen unbothered? It's not
even lunch break!"
Which reminds me, Otonashi-san comes here only seldom when it's not lunch break. Maybe she
was considerate to the rules to the lowest degree.
"I bet you're planning on carrying Hoshino off to somewhere again, am I right?"
"Oh it is my business. I'm committee chairman for the time being. I have the task to manage the
students of this class. Can't you see that the first lesson is about to start? If you carried him away
now, you wouldn't be in time for the beginning."
"I couldn't care less. We have something to do that is more important than anything else."
At first I didn't know what she meant with that, but after thinking about it, I realized that there
was only one thing.
This is, also for me, a task that's more important than anything else.
When I said so, he stared at me with a critical frown. I reflexively stepped back from this frank
gaze.
"What a pathetic guy you are. How about having your own thoughts instead of being ordered
about by a girl?"
"Hey, I can't overhear that. With this phrasing it sounds almost like Kazuki wouldn't have his
own will."
"Yeah, sorry. Were you offended by your loved being badmouthed? Ah, or else, did it stick in
your craw that I implied that he's ordered about by your selfishness?"
"You"
Otonashi-san scowled coldly at him. Miyazawa chuckled.
"Just because you're committee chairman is a too weak reason for meddling in our affairs. What
is it all of a sudden, though you didn't show any signs of being concerned up to now? What's
your intention by approaching us forcibly? Did you plan to set a suitable pretext to be able to
deal with us from now on?"
"Very well in that case. It just caught my eye because I'm in a situation where I have no other
choice but to get sensitive to my environment. One can't be too careful, and if it wasn't just my
wrong guess, then it should shy you away a bit."
I watched their giving and taking in mute amazement. What did Otonashi-san say all of a
sudden?
"Ah, yeah..."
Miyazawa-kun was looking wordlessly at my grabbed arm with a faintly stiffened face. Certainly,
it may be a little strange that he comes get involved with us, although he has usually nothing to
do with us.
When I was pulled out of the classroom, Haruaki, who was on the toilet apparently, and Asami,
who chased after Otonashi-san, were standing there.
Asami-san listened to Haruaki's inconsiderate words and looked with a sticky gaze at our joined
hands. After that, she raised her gaze slightly and looked with narrowed eyes at me. ...scary.
"Mh? Really?"
"...Maria-san."
She said so, peeking at her once, and turned around. Asami-san seemed struck by this attitude
and cast her eyes down.
"......if only the underground board of this school would get spammed with slander of Kazuki
Hoshino and pictures that ruin his dignity from the stump..."
I swallowed my saliva and nodded to her question while she was leaning against the wall. I
suppose she had new information about the 'box' that's currently in use.
"Okay."
"Why? ...well, because being by my side is convenient for you, isn't it? Since you're likely to
meet '0' this way."
"...exactly."
"That is you see! ...no, never mind. Right, there's no way you'd say something like this with
halfhearted feelings. I have to answer you earnestly. I just wanted to get away from this. Kazuki,
I――"
"Wait a sec!"
"S-Sorry... but what on earth are you talking about? Wasn't it about the 'box'?"
"About the 'box'...? What are you saying? The 'box' is important, sure enough, but it should be
obvious that I called you because of your call yesterday?"
"Call yesterday?"
"Yes, yesterday’s――"
There she stopped her words, opened her eyes wide and took a breath.
"...I see. The mail from the day before yesterday. No, but that shouldn't... what do you think how
much time have I spent together with Kazuki. No matter if via phone..."
"Otonashi-san...?"
Confession?
"You announced to me over phone that you would confess again personally tomorrow――or in
other words today."
"I―I didn't――"
"Yeah, you wouldn't do that. Right, thinking about it, right."
"Of course I wouldn't! W-Why did you suddenly claim that I did such a――"
Being told so in a calm tone, I nodded, took out my mobile phone and confirmed my dialed calls.
«Maria Otonashi»
That's impossible. I should have slept at that time. I don't remember having called Otonashi-san.
"Yesterday... no, date-wise today. Annoyingly you gave me a call at two o'clock deep in the
night and confessed to me. This is the state of affairs as of how I know it."
There's no way I'd do that. But on the other hand, Otonashi-san wouldn't lie and make such a
play just in order to tease me.
"Wasn't it maybe somebody's prank? I don't know the means to do so, though."
"A prank...huh? So in short, you're telling me that someone used your mobile phone to confess to
me as a prank or the likes?"
It may sound unreasonable, but that's the only thing I can think of. When I was about to nod,
Otonashi-san continued.
"---Huh?"
"As long you don't have a twin brother from whom you were separated at birth, I shall assert this.
This was without doubt your voice, Kazuki."
"Y-You just heard wrongly! You just mistook the caller for me because the call came from my
phone number... probably..."
"Kazuki, I have spent a human lifetime together with you. It is not possible that I would mishear
your voice."
Her expression was filled with conviction. I don't think she mistook somebody for me either.
But that means that I must have been the one that confessed to her? No, that's not possible either.
If Otonashi-san is convinced that it was my voice, then I shall also be convinced that I didn't
confess to her. But there was a call, in fact.
"It's contradicting..."
Right.
I suppressed my chest automatically when I heard the word 'box'. Though I still don't know
what's happening, my chest already hurt with fear.
"We have to hurry up and find a counter measure. The 'owner' is obviously targeting us. And this
with ill will at that."
"Let's think... I need some time to sort out the situation. For now, please wait until I have an
answer. I'll decide on how we're going to act."
I nodded wordlessly.
Otonashi turned around with these words and left without looking back.
When I returned to the classroom after I had waited for the first lesson to end, Kokone was
already standing with a daunting pose beside the door. For some reason she scowled at me when
our eyes met. Her face was slightly red. Maybe because she's angry?
"Huh?"
"Despite this you rather skipped the first lesson together with that girl! What's with that! I don't
get it! You're being cryptic, Kazu-kun!"
In my view, the reason for Kokone getting so agitated was cryptic, but for now I decided to keep
quiet.
But this behavior of mine seemed again to irritate her, so she pressed me against the wall of the
corridor while grumbling "Nh~~~~".
Kokone drew even closer to me, while I couldn't help but to get bewildered.
"Or do you want to apologize?! Do you want to make it undone by apologizing?! Isn't that
cruel?! W-Well... that would save me, though..."
"Why don't you get it, I wonder?! That is! T-That is... you see..."
The reddening of her face proceeded even more, and now she was red up to her ears.
If it's as I expect, then I don't want to hear it. Kokone, however, whispered into my ear after she
looked around in the vicinity.
I lost my words and became speechless. Kokone came looking at me with upturned eyes.
"Well... I..."
I don't know exactly how she interpreted my behavior, but she cast her eyes down. She chewed
her words for a while, but then began to talk.
"I'm sorry... I-I don't know how I should react... I mean... I considered you a friend, and thought
all the time you'd think so, too... And then... he hasn't anything to with it, but still... there's
Daiya"
She clenched her fist as if to muster the courage and looked at me.
"...please wait. I don't know yet when I can give you my answer, but please wait until
then. ...Sorry."
She seemed really painful---which made my heart almost break. That confession wasn't done by
me! I wanted to say so, but such an explanation would be completely meaningless. I must
absolutely not say this.
Kokone grasped this painful expression of mine in a different sense and formed the same
unhappy expression as me.
Then she turned around and trotted back into the classroom.
I waited until she completely disappeared into the classroom and murmured.
I clenched my fist.
Then a thought suddenly occurred to me. I took out my mobile phone and examined my dialed
calls. ...Why didn't I notice when I looked before? The timestamp is May 1, 01:29AM.
Below the name «Maria Otonashi» was the name «Kokone Kirino».
Right in front of me was Daiya's face. At point-blank range. I have not the slightest idea what's
going on.
What's this?
Unambiguous hostility was dwelling in Daiya's gaze. Directed at whom? No question. I was the
one reflected in those eyes at point-blank range. In other words, he was looking at me as hostile.
Then I was attacked by a delayed pain. The region around my cheeks and mouth was aching.
Both my hands were aching as well.
We're in the music room. Although I am, in fact, supposed to be in the third lesson, which is
history, I am currently in the music room, which we should go to only in the fourth lesson. Blood
is stuck to my uniform. Who's blood? ...probably my own. After all I've been feeling an iron taste
in my mouth since just now. I have a scar in my mouth. Apparently because Daiya hit me.
"Daiya... what's---"
"Don't open your mouth, Kazu. If you say more than you already did, I'll crush this mouth of
yours."
The hostility in his eyes is serious. Those plain sounding words aren't exaggerating, so I bet he
would really use violence if I said more unnecessary things.
So this is reality.
The first sensation I got was understanding. I see. So that's why Daiya isn't stopped by her even
when it escalated to this situation. The next sensation was a question. Why Kokone?
And then again the next sensation that expanded was horror.
---no way.
I confirmed the current situation. Kokone was crying and Daiya was in a rage. So who made her
cry? So who made him angry? I am in the music room. Hence it should be the fourth lesson now.
I don't have any memories of what happened during this time. But still I'm here. At another place
than I was before. In other words---
For example, like I sent independently a mail to Otonashi-san and confessed to her.
For example, like I confessed independently to Kokone and destroyed our relationship.
For example, what if I did independently something that hurt Kokone, and what made Daiya get
angry about?
Does this mean I did something that's worth getting mounted and suffering one or two punches?
Daiya let go of my hands by throwing them to the ground and stood up slowly while still
scowling at me. And then almost like to take the occasion---
"Ugh!"
---he trod on my stomach with all his heart and turned his back on me.
I squirmed with pain. I saw the faces in my surroundings. Everyone - my classmates, the music
teacher and even Haruaki - were looking at me as if to look at something unidentifiable. Kokone
pressed her face against Daiya's chest and cried even louder.
I tried to rise. I wasn't successful right away because of the pain. But nobody lent me a hand.
Why do I have to go through this? Why is this treated as if it was natural? I don't know what
happened. But I do know the origin.
Right, the 'box' is to blame. It's not my fault. I haven't done anything!
I'm aware of it. No one would know that this is the fault of the 'box'. Hence, no one tries to come
in contact with me. No one approaches me. No one addresses me. No one. Daiya, Kokone and
even Haruaki don't. No one. No one. No one no one no one---
I formed a smile. The surroundings had frozen on her appearance - probably because it's still in
the midst of the lesson. But I didn't wonder a bit.
"...Maria."
Upon hearing me calling her real name without thinking, she opened her eyes wide while
standing ahead of the door to the music room. But she concealed this expression again instantly
and rushed to me.
Ignoring how no one approached me before, she stood in front of me, drew as near that I could
see her eyelashes and touched gently my swollen cheek.
"First of all let's have your wounds treated. Follow me to the infirmary."
"...Okay."
The crying grew louder as soon I had left the classroom. At least it seemed to me like this.
When she had realized this, Otonashi-san looked at the affected part, touched it and then she
arbitrary took a medicine box out of the shelf and started treating my wound with skillful
movements.
"But I never thought I would come upon such a disastrous scene when I went to you because I
had some thoughts concerning the 'box'."
She asked while disinfecting my wound.
I nodded. For some reason she seemed horribly annoyed and sighed.
"It's really always the same with you since the 'Rejecting Classroom'. I'm starting to have enough
of that, you know?"
While saying so, Otonashi-san reached out for my head and applied a gauze.
"I've watched from the part on where Oomine trod on you. Do you also not remember what
happened before that?"
"So you have not the slightest idea why he hit you?"
"Kazuki, do you have your mobile phone with you right now?"
Received Calls, Dialed Calls, Inbox, Outbox. None of them had changed in my view. I opened
the data folder.
«Voice Folder»
There was one file named with 12 digits. I guess the digits state the time the file was created. If it
wasn't edited in specific since, this file was created at March 1, about 2AM. Or in other words,
yesterday deep in the night.
What's that?
I paused the file reflexively. Why is the voice of some unfamiliar guy recorded on my mobile
phone? Why does this guy talk to me?
I wasn't able to answer her, and pressed again the play-button with trembling fingers.
«Well, doesn't matter I guess. After all you don't care about such a detail either. What you care
about who I am, isn't it? Ah, right right. You know the 'box', right? '0' explained it to you, right?
So there's no need for me to explain that to you?»
«You should have noticed already that your everyday life started to get destroyed. Yeah, that's
very good. After all I'm doing that on purpose. Why, you ask? To eliminate you, Kazuki
Hoshino.»
With gap between his casual sounding voice and the content, my heart beat quickened.
«I will eliminate you. I will destroy everything you value. Having obtained the 'box', I will steal
everything from you. I can easily do so. After all I am---»
The voice got interrupted. No, that's not quite exact. I merely dropped the mobile phone.
"Ah---"
There was obviously hostility. The other party has obtained the most powerful weapon - the 'box'
- and proclaimed to bring me destruction.
Otonashi-san picked the mobile phone up and opened the voice file.
"This is---!"
She raised her eyebrow and was absorbed in listening to the voice.
After a while she flipped the mobile phone shut, returned it wordlessly to me, crossed her arms
and lost herself in thought.
"Kazuki."
She opened her mouth finally and called my name unpleasantly clearly.
"Having been pondering all the time since the case this morning, I had some vague ideas as of
how to proceed. But I still couldn't come to a conclusion. But after hearing this voice recording, I
made up my mind."
"---huh?"
I opened my mouth like an idiot since I didn't get the meaning of her words.
"You've also noticed by now, haven't you? This time's 'box' seems to use its power directly on
you. You've already fallen into the hands of the 'owner'. Thus I cannot trust you."
"Eh?"
"But are you really Kazuki Hoshino? Or are you the 'owner'?"
"W-What do you mean by this incomprehensible talk, Otonashi-san? The 'owner' is the person
that recorded his voice on there, isn't he?"
"...did you not finish listening to the voice? No, even when you did not, you should have at least
recognized this voice."
"Otonashi-san, did you find out who's voice it is? So we do already know who's the 'owner'? So
you're acquainted with the 'owner'?"
"...well, I suppose it's not impossible that you don't recognize the voice right away. In fact,
you've never heard the voice as is, and the way of speaking was too different as well."
Otonashi-san didn't answer to my question and murmured this instead. She then turned her back
on me and was about to leave the infirmary.
She stood still. But she did not turn around to me.
"Kazuki, try listening to this voice once more when you regained your composure."
I listened once again to this voice and, hearing this voice I'm constantly hearing though I've
never heard it, I understood.
"Hahaha..."
I let out a laugh unconsciously. Fair enough. It's only natural that she can't trust me like this.
"---sh..it"
I was sitting on my chair. Though it was supposed to be still time for lunch break, I was suddenly
there.
I confirmed the time. It's fourteen o'clock, so the fifth lesson is about to end.
I looked around hurriedly. Kokone and Daiya's seats were empty. Perhaps the two of them left
early. The others were concentrating on the lesson more or less. For now, I couldn't discover any
abnormalities. Textbook, my notebook and my writing things were placed on my desk. As it
seems, I haven't written any notes.
Two humans exist in this body. Apart from [me], there's [another me] whom I cannot perceive.
And just now this [another me] had controlled this body.
The break's starting now, but because of what happened in the music room, nobody approaches
me. Everyone just looks at me from far away.
I suppose this is also a state that was caused purposely by the [another me]. After all the [another
me] proclaimed to eliminate [me]. This is his attack.
What should I do about this [another me]? Now, that I was even abandoned by Otonashi-san.
"Hoshii"
His expression was clearly different from his usual joking one. Haruaki asked me with a serious
face that didn't suit him.
I shut my mouth. There's no way I'd be able to answer this. I don't even know what «that» is.
"You know? I don't think you said that without reason, Hoshii. Therefore I think that you have
had a proper reason and that I'm just unable to hit upon this reason. But still, if it stays like this I
won't get it! So please tell me!"
Would Haruaki believe me if I told him that I am controlled by [another me]? ...if it's Haruaki, he
might believe me. But---
I mean, my own understanding of the situation is still in a muddle. I wouldn't be able to provide
an explanation that's enough to make him believe me.
I'm sure he would really want to complain, but Haruaki suppressed this and stayed brief. And
then he went away silently.
I'll wait. Haruaki said so. Therefore I mustn't talk to him until the time comes. I will lose him if I
address him uncarelessly.
And I won't be able to retain the everyday life when I lost Haruaki, my last fortress.
...Yeah, I gathered what I have to do now. I have to learn more about this 'box' and the [another
me] as quickly as possible.
But how can I do so? I mean, I can't even communicate directly with him.
"......Ah"
Right. To begin with: how did I learn of his existence? That is because he addressed me.
I left the classroom to the corridor and took my mobile phone out.
In order to send the [another me] a message using its My Voice function.
Of course it's not sure if the [another me] will answer me. But it should be worth trying, no
matter if it's going to succeed or not.
"I started comprehending that you share the same body with me! But I'm still in confusion. I
wish you to tell me more about this 'box'. And I wish you to reveal who you are."
Will he answer to my questions if I pose them this directly? After all he's trying to eliminate me.
"But I don't care whether your reply or not. Whatever your reply was, it wouldn't affect my
behavior. I don't care whether you feel pure hostility against me, or have a noble goal, or have a
reason that should make me pity you."
I was surprised myself by my unusual, but naturally welling up, hostile words. But I had the
feeling that it had to be said.
I cannot permit this, can I? There's no way I could. Letting myself be stolen by someone.
My legs had started to tremble and I had leaned against the wall without realizing. Probably
that's because my body couldn't keep up with the first distinct hostility I felt in my life.
In front of me was the face of an unknown female student. In surprise, I let go of the strap I had
been holding and fell over. While bearing the giggling of the surrounding people, I stood up and
analyzed the situation.
No need to even think about it. My body was again controlled by the [another me].
I took out my mobile phone right away and discovered a new voice file.
«I see, so you can use this as means to communicate. I was just thinking that it'd be boring if
things happened one-sidedly. Therefore I'll answer to your questions!»
«I accepted the 'box' and let a certain 'wish' be granted. That is, to become you---Kazuki
Hoshino!»
I held my breath.
«An really, when I did so I took you over... but look, can you really call this state 'taking you
over' when I'm just able to steal some of your time temporarily? Rest assured! That's only
temporal. The taking-over process will be completed one week after I used the 'box'. As soon as
the date changes to May 6, in other words to the last day of the Golden Week, your soul is going
to leave this body. With only mine staying in here.»
So in other words I have to destroy his 'box' within a little more than the remaining four days.
«Is that sufficient as explanation of the situation? Well then, you asked who I am. Huhuhu, this is
indeed a difficult question! Who may I be? To be honest, I don't know exactly myself! I mean,
I'm Kazuki Hoshino, actually. But I don't think you accept this answer, do you? Because it can't
be helped, I thought of an alias to distinguish between us! You may call me---»
«---[Yuuhei Ishihara].»
«Well then, so let me tell you my impressions. You don't permit my existence, you say? Sorry,
but I broke out in laughter! You cannot even meet me. At most you can blow your voice into
your mobile phone, like you did now, right? So how do you plan to do as you announced?»
«Because I pity you, I'll teach you just one way to get rid of me. More than half of Kazuki
Hoshino is already mine. Therefore it's simple---»
He spoke.
His voice settled down and the final words of [Yuuhei Ishihara] were replayed.
«Oh, one other thing. There was a mail from one of your friends! Just in case, since you might
have not noticed yet.»
A friend...?
I swallowed my saliva and opened my Inbox. The name «Haruaki Usui» was displayed at the top.
Though I don't remember having opened it, the mail was marked as already-read.
What---
I took a deep breath. But I couldn't calm down and chewed on my lips. It's vexing, but my hands
were trembling.
Aah---
Like this, the last fortress that was retaining my everyday life broke down.
I'm having the same dream that I have had several times already.
May 2
I got up from the bed, took the mobile phone, which was the origin of that sound, in my hands
and looked at the LCD screen.
«Maria Otonashi»
Maria Otonashi? Why does she phone me? She calls me even in this state of affairs, so does this
mean that «Kazuki Hoshino» hasn't told her what is happening to him? ...no, I guess he couldn't
tell his lover this absurd story about the 'box'. But I think she should notice his change, even
when he hasn't told her... whatever.
I mean, how should I resist the desire to talk with the girl I admire?
"Hello."
I validated my situation.
Using this 'box', I'm able to take over «Kazuki Hoshino» completely within one week. To
accomplish taking him over, it would be best to refrain from doing anything. Naturally it would
be better to have no contact with Maria Otonashi.
The thing I want to do---that is, to torment Kazuki Hoshino so much to make him scratch his own
neck sore, to make him succumb so heavily that he submits his own body with the words "Please
do with me as you wish" while genuflecting, to steal his body perfectly by making him an empty
shell by May 5, that only exists to surrender his body to me. That is my desire.
Why do I have this desire? That is, because by doing so I'm able to feel that I am Kazuki Hoshino.
If I don't feel that I'm Kazuki Hoshino, then it's like I'm just freeloading him. Then everything's
meaningless.
I guess that I have to share this body with [Kazuki Hoshino] for a while is also because I
wouldn't be able to gain the feeling of being Kazuki Hoshino else. Gosh, this 'box' is really well-
made.
Maria Otonashi is without doubt an important existence for Kazuki Hoshino. If he loses her, he's
going to suffer tremendous damage.
Therefore, [Yuuhei Ishihara] will steal Maria Otonashi from [Kazuki Hoshino].
This is absolutely necessary in order to fulfill this absolute desire of mine.
Based on Maria Otonashi's phrasing, I gather that Kazuki Hoshino visits her room on a daily
basis.
«Are you trying to get pampered? It isn't a distance you couldn't overcome by bicycle, is it?»
I tried to deceive her randomly. I don't know where she lives. Therefore I'll be in trouble if she
doesn't come for me.
«Geez, while being the male of us you still want me to come for you? Isn't it the other way
around normally? ...well, whatever. I'll come by bike, okay?»
Damn! There's no way Kazuki Hoshino wouldn't know of Maria Otonashi's bike.
"Ah, y-yeah."
That was close! ...no, there's no need to get nervous, after all it's not like she saw through me just
with this. But I'm getting nervous just because Maria Otonashi is the other party.
«Come to think of it, I'm not even old enough to get a license after all.»
You're unlicensed?! So it was rather the right decision to not pretend poorly to know about it.
"...Kazu-chan, who was that just now? Judging by what leaked to me, it was a girl, right? And
anyway, why didn't you go to the veranda?"
A girl in underwear---probably Kazuki Hoshino's sister---said so. I see. Kazuki Hoshino doesn't
phone inside when his older sister's here. I'll remember that for the time being.
"Come on."
Maria Otonashi threw a helmet to me. I caught it, but didn't know what to do. Because she stared
silently at me, I put on the helmet for now.
"What are you idling there with the helmet put on? Hurry up and get on."
I sat down behind here as she said. After some hesitation I clasped her waist. Maria Otonashi
didn't say anything. A slender waist. The waist of my adored Maria Otonashi.
After less than 10 minutes she stopped the bike in front of a 5-storey mansion. At first I was a bit
reluctant to let go of her, but nonetheless I alighted the bike uprightly and inspected this building
after taking off the helmet. It was made of bricks and seemed to be quite high class. And there's
even self-locking. The rent might be quite expensive.
It's unlikely that she would bring her lover, on top of that deep in the night, into the mansion
where her family lives. Probably she's living alone. And now she's leading her lover into this
room. In other words... it's *that*. It has to.
My heart beat with an intense roar. She, however, didn't seem to care and got on the elevator.
When the elevator had stopped, she opened the door of room «403» at last.
The instant I entered the room, I smelled a light touch of peppermint. It was a studio apartment
of the size of 10 Tatami mats. I guess it's because there is almost no furniture that it feels
extremely big.
"Why are you looking around so curiously? Nothing has changed since you were last here."
"...Yeah."
I tried to appear calm and sat down on a cushion. When Maria Otonashi had observed this with
a side glance, she opened the closet and searched for something.
"Well then Kazuki, hurry up and stretch out your hands."
Stretch out my hands...? Does she plan to kiss the back of my hand or something?
Maria Otonashi stretched out both her hands. I imitated her as told.
click*
What's this sound? - at the same time when I thought this, I felt a tightening sensation on my
right wrist. I looked at the corresponding wrist.
Handcuffs.
"Joke? I give this question back to you: what kind of joke is this? We're doing that every time,
aren't we?"
"What? So you're in the mood today to do a resistance play? Geez... you really are beyond help."
"O-Ouch!"
Maria Otonashi twisted my hands forcefully behind my back with skillful hand movements and a
bewitching smile, and applied the handcuffs also on my left wrist. She then applied foot cuffs to
my feet and made me lie on the ground. I tried moving lightly. I'd probably be able to stand up,
but except this I can't move freely.
Maria Otonashi took out a black cloth, which was then wrapped round my eyes. My field of
vision was blocked.
What a situation. My body is almost completely in restraint, my field of vision is blocked and I'm
rolling on the floor like a hornworm. Almost as if I was captured by the enemy.
Maria Otonashi should have noticed that something is happening to Kazuki Hoshino.
There's no way she would still do things that are done between lovers.
So, assuming this --- as whom is Maria Otonashi currently treating me?
"Well---"
I see.
This means that everything up to now was just a play to constrain [me].
"Huhu..."
Brilliant. As expected from Maria Otonashi. That's the reason for my admiration for her. I'm
really glad that I didn't have to abandon this illusion.
"Why are you laughing? It seems you're not aware of the situation you're in."
Aah, so it was useless after all. But right because of this, my laughing doesn't stop.
"You're an inscrutable guy. Why are you so joyful, although I just deceived you completely and
constrained you?"
I understood with her frank statement. Not just the reason why she saw through me, but I also
understood why she is a special existence.
"But even when you know about the 'box' and even when you heard this message, isn't that too
little to figure out whether Kazuki Hoshino is [me] or [Kazuki Hoshino]? Since when did you
know it's me?"
"Kazuki answers the phone with «Yes?». He doesn't use «Hello». Of course I wouldn't have
taken heed of that if it wasn't for this situation. But I do know that Kazuki is involved in this 'box'.
It's natural to be skeptic. What remained was to confirm. It was enough to talk purposefully until
you made a fault. I'll tell you something good: Kazuki has never been in this room."
Because it would be unforgivable for someone pathetic like Kazuki Hoshino to visit the room of a
noble lady like Maria Otonashi frequently.
"In other words, you deceived [me] and confirmed whether I really existed."
"There's no need to confirm such a trifle only now. I wanted to confirm whether you share the
memory with Kazuki or not. Huhu, and as it seems you don't have Kazuki's memories."
"......"
I admit that this is an important point. If [Yuuhei Ishihara] and [Kazuki Hoshino] shared their
memories, then all information would leak when she tried to work out a plan with [Kazuki
Hoshino]. She wouldn't be able to cooperate with [Kazuki Hoshino].
"I'm not messing around with you. I am Kazuki Hoshino. A being that was determined to become
so, using the 'box'."
"I'm talking literally. My 'wish' was «to become Kazuki Hoshino». The 'box' grants any wish,
doesn't it? Thus, I am Kazuki Hoshino. I can't call me any different."
"...«to become Kazuki Hoshino», you say? What an oddball... Why Kazuki of all people? I don't
think «Kazuki Hoshino»'s body is so desirable actually?"
"Because you're by his side."
I answered immediately.
"------I am?"
"Yeah, I admired you. This admired Maria Otonashi will be at my side. Just this was reason
enough for me to take him over."
"...I never would have guessed that I am the main reason that made you want to take over
Kazuki."
She complained like this, but regained her composure right away. Then she spoke to me.
"I understood that you insist on being Kazuki Hoshino. However, I can't call you Kazuki."
"[Yuuhei Ishihara]? Never heard of that name. This isn't your real name, or is it?"
"Who knows?"
"Hmpf, whatever. But you have to tell me just one thing: how do you switch with Kazuki?"
"I am amazed that you can say this in a state of having your hands and feet bound together."
"You can't deceive me! You can't do anything to me. After all, using violence against me is, in
fact, violence against Kazuki Hoshino's body."
"There are countless ways of torture that have no impact on the body...but, I cannot use violence
anyway..."
"No, nothing. ...leaving that aside, you don't plan to tell me, do you?"
"Mh, let's see. To be honest, I don't mind either way, but I won't tell you."
"Well, yeah. After all you're forced to do something about the 'box' or else [Kazuki Hoshino] will
disappear when it's May 6. Could you alleviate the condition in any way when I told you such a
triviality? I will absolutely not tell you how to take the 'box' out, you know? Or will you try
killing me? Kazuki Hoshino would die as well, though!"
How's that, Maria Otonashi? This situation is more hopeless than you would have ever imagined,
isn't it?
"Huhuhu..."
"...why are you laughing? Is the situation so hopeless that you can't help laughing?"
"Hopeless? This is? Huhu... This menace is just like a mosquito bustling about, compared to the
rejection we set once against. The only menace I'm faced with right now is that you won't tell me
how you switch with Kazuki, right? How is this hopeless?"
"The only solution is to kill Kazuki Hoshino - that's how I explained it to you, but did you
perhaps not understand?"
"That's the reason for my spontaneous laugh. After all --- that's a lie."
I lost my tongue.
"I understand that you want to exhaust me, but I'm afraid I can't be deceived by such a lousy lie."
"You said it yourself. You said that you're Kazuki Hoshino. But Kazuki Hoshino doesn't have the
'box'. In brief, he can't be the 'owner'."
"What's this word play? You can't escape from reality with this!"
"You still don't get it? Okay then, I'll pose you a question."
"Do you really believe it's possible for a soul to dwell in the body of another human?"
"W-"
Well---
Aah... damn.
I don't know why. I don't know why, but it seemed to me like a bad mistake that I had become
speechless in this timing.
"The 'box' grants 'wishes' completely. A person that thinks more or less rational is unable to fully
believe that his 'wish' gets granted. And as I thought, you don't believe from the bottom of your
heart either, judging from your reaction to my question. The 'box' incorporates the doubts when
it grants a 'wish'. Hence, the 'owner' was not able to take over Kazuki Hoshino."
"......"
"Which means that the 'owner' exists as before without having taken over Kazuki Hoshino's body.
---separately from you."
I couldn't answer.
"If you don't know, I'll say it for you. You are an artificial being that came forth by the distortion
of the 'wish'. You're just the fake imitation of the 'owner'. Right, to name it --- a «fabrication»"
"And since you're just a «fabrication», you are not the 'owner' I'm supposed to search for."
"Hahaha"
But so what?
To begin with, I put this 'wish' into the 'box' because I wanted to throw away such a bastard as
myself anyway. I'm not even the 'owner'? I'm a fabrication? I'm rather glad of that!
"Huhu, does that really matter? However, there's something I want to ask. So I am a fabrication.
I'll admit that! But who are you who could see through that?"
"Why are you brooding like this? Actually, I'm just asking because I want to know why you're so
knowledgeable about the 'box'."
When she comprehended my intention, she regained the usual firm tone in her voice.
"I am a 'box' myself. And since I am a 'box' myself, I am naturally versed in the characteristics of
the 'box'."
A 'box', huh? If she's telling the truth, then that would really match perfectly.
"By the way, there was something I had to tell you, wasn't there?"
"Oh? Didn't I tell you properly? Yesterday night, that I'd say it to you tomorrow. Since the day
finally changed, I'll say it now!"
I then spoke with a smile that was so broad that I felt regretful for only being able to show her
half of it because of the blindfold.
I think that matches perfectly. I really think that matches perfectly; for being an object to obtain
and for being my enemy.
May 02 (Saturday) 07:06
"......err.."
My head didn't work properly since I had just awoken. A white room. I smelled a pleasant odor. I
heard the sound of a shower. My back was hurting. A Futon was laid out. But I had also foot
cuffs applied.
Wait.
What is this?
My sleepiness was swept away at once. I tried hurriedly to stand up, but tumbled again.
While holding my two arms under my hurting nose, I sat up and looked around again. There was
a semi-double bed, a table, a notebook and speakers on the table, a difficult-looking book. On the
whole, there aren't much things. Looking at the sailor uniform at the edge of the closet, I noticed
that I was probably in the room of a girl.
The sound of the shower stopped. After a while I heard the sound of a hair drier. I assume it's the
occupant of this room who's in the dressing room. Which means, a girl...?
So a naked girl is on the other side of this wall...? What's this situation... And anyway, what on
earth have I, no, has [Yuuhei Ishihara] done to this girl?!
The sound of the hair drier stopped and the door to the dressing room opened.
"U-Uwa!!"
Seeing the appearance of her only wearing a white shirt, I hurriedly averted my eyes.
My thought process stopped at a blow upon hearing this extremely familiar voice.
"Eh?"
"Ah, Otonashi-san...?"
Then I suddenly noticed that I was actually staring at her in only underwear and a thin shirt and
averted my eyes hurriedly.
"S-Since you know that I'm here, be a bit more careful please!"
"What is there to panic? About this much is nothing to fret about, is it?"
...this is just wrong as a statement of a girl. That was something that Haruaki would likely say
when he sexually harasses Kokone.
- When I was about to tell her this, she preempted me with a outrageous words.
"To begin with, haven't you seen much more of me than just underwear, yesterday? Is there still
the need to get nervous just by this?"
"......Eh?"
"I never would have thought you would do *that* as soon you enter my room despite the well-
behaved face you made at first. Geez, you really got me there."
But the current situation implies that she's telling the truth. After all this is her room, she just
took a shower and walks around in scanty clothing---
I asked timidly.
"Huh?"
"...uh-huh, I see. So you're [Kazuki Hoshino]. This idiotic reaction when you open your mouth
gaping wide is quite hard to imitate, after all."
What may this unbearable feeling be that's emerging in me although it was a joke as I wished...?
"......Otonashi-san. Say, the fact that I'm here before I knew means in other words that you talked
with [Yuuhei Ishihara], ri--- huh?"
While I was speaking, Otonashi-san had come up close to me that was lying clumsily on the
ground. She was so near that I could smell a pleasant odor from her long hair... probably
shampoo or some treatment or something.
"W-What is?"
A clicking sound made me realize that Otonashi-san was removing my foot cuffs. ...well, that's
good, but she could have at least told me briefly.
When she had finished removing the foot cuffs, Otonashi-san kneeled up in front of me.
"Umm..."
She is Maria Otonashi. I can answer so without hesitation. But why is she asking such a question
in this situation?
"Eh? ...ah!"
Now that she mentioned it, I could recall a scene where she let me write her name similarly to
now.
At the time, Otonashi-san asked for her own name to have someone write «Maria» - a name
which could only be known to someone who retained their memory.
For the sake of distinguishing me. Otonashi-san is asking for this to distinguish [me] from
[Yuuhei Ishihara]. Because if I say a name of her which only [I] can know, she's able to identify
me as [me].
"---Aya Otonashi."
Therefore I spit out this name. The name she had once spoken out in the 'Rejecting Classroom'
which only [I] can know.
But that she asks for this means that she doesn't know which one I am right now? I have to go so
far to make her recognize that it's [me]?
"No, you're right. I just didn't expect that you would be able to answer this clearly. That's all."
"For the time being, yeah. I think you know already, but I grasped the overall situation by now. I
have also already heard the voice file [Yuuhei Ishihara] recorded."
"Okay."
"Ah, but wasn't he ferocious? After all you had to apply foot cuffs."
"Of course I considered this possibility and thus applied them. No, it's more correct to say that I
rather applied them for you, Kazuki."
"...huh?"
"How did you react when you realized that you're constrained? What actions did you take?"
"No. I thought I could observe the second when [Yuuhei Ishihara] switches to [Kazuki Hoshino]
by waiting for this agitated reaction. In the end I missed the scene, though, because I was taking
a shower. It's a real pity that I couldn't see this funny reaction of yours."
So she wanted to bully me eventually!
"...huh?"
"Eh?"
"Hah..."
We only have at the second and fourth Saturday off in our school.
"What are you saying? You don't even know how to reach your house from here, do you? Can
you go back home alone? And anyway, you wouldn't make it in time by foot. I'll give you a ride
on my bike."
"O-Okay."
I mean, it wasn't by choice but I slept over without permission. How would it look to them
seeing me come home at early morning? I tried checking my mobile phone and saw, as expected,
several incoming calls from my mom in the message history. This is bad. If there was in addition
a girl of the same age by my side---
"Um, Otonashi-san. Could you please hide yourself when we reached my home...?"
"Why?"
There is nothing else for it but to slip into the house and prepare myself without mom noticing.
May 02 (Saturday) 07:34
Otonashi-san murmured while walking towards the station after having parked the bike near my
home.
"......indeed."
That can't be helped. I properly understand that mom had to get angry at me since I stayed out
overnight without any notice. It can't be helped, but---
With the time passing, Otonashi-san got naturally tired of waiting in front of the house.
And as expected, mom concluded that the suddenly appeared Otonashi-san was the origin of me
staying out and stared at her. Surprisingly, Otonashi-san reacted with a soft smile to this gaze and
spoke as follows.
"It's not like Kazuki was out in the nightlife. He was merely together with me all the time until
morning. I haven't called any other people to my room. We were completely alone, so please be
at ease."
...no, this is not what you should say in this situation, is it?
My mom petrified so clearly she was almost pitiful as she isn't what one can call a mother that
had managed letting go of her children. Otonashi-san didn't comprehend this attitude and
continued with a frown.
"...? As I said, Kazuki didn't go anywhere and just slept in my room. There is no problem with
this, is there? Aah, but sometimes I was a bit rough, though."
Mom looked silently at my wrist. There were still the reddened traces of the handcuffs.
"The bike?"
"I gave you a ride on the bike, right? Including [Yuuhei Ishihara], two times even. I called this a
failure."
"Try imagining what would have happened if [Kazuki Hoshino] and [Yuuhei Ishihara] switched
while riding. It wouldn't be surprising if you let go of my waist and fall down just like you did
when you were surprised by the handcuffs before."
"Ah"
"What a careless failure, considering it's me... I'll be careful from now on."
"Yeah. ...by the way Otonashi-san. Could you tell me now what happened when you were with
[Yuuhei Ishihara]?"
"------"
Otonashi-san stopped.
Expressionlessly.
"Eh...?"
"W-Wh---"
She did tell me. I indeed heard those words before. There's no way I'd forget. But---
After all it's not anymore like the time when we didn't know the state of affairs. Otonashi-san
understood the reason for my inexplicable behavior.
"Don't revoke that on your own accord. You didn't get anything, did you? To begin with, we
don't know how much truth is in [Yuuhei Ishihara]'s words. Maybe he does in fact have the
memory of [Kazuki Hoshino] and uses both of those personalities for his benefit."
"T-That's unreasonable!"
"Indeed, I might be overthinking it. But there's still nothing that proves it."
"But---"
"Let's assume that the characteristics of the 'box' are true as [Yuuhei Ishihara] told us. Even so---
"
"Now assume that the shifting occurred in this instant. I have no means to ascertain this. So I
would be talking to you as [Kazuki Hoshino], not noticing that you switched to [Yuuhei Ishihara]
really. We don't know when you switch. A important plan might leak to [Yuuhei Ishihara].
Therefore it's dangerous. It's basically the same as the case with the bike just now."
"But what if you were someone that's convinced of being [Kazuki Hoshino]?"
"That's im---"
'That's impossible' is what I was about to say, but then I kept silent.
I am [Kazuki Hoshino]. I won't mistake this. I will absolutely not doubt this.
"This was just an example. Don't think too deeply about it. But Kazuki, you understood why I
can't trust you, right? I have yet to comprehend this 'box' - the 'Sevennight in Mud'. Until then, I
can't trust the personalities that dwell in Kazuki Hoshino."
So when is it that this 'Sevennight in Mud' gets clarified and I'm trusted again? Won't this be as
long as [Yuuhei Ishihara] is occupying me?
I am not trusted.
I stopped my steps.
"Why are you standing still? There's not much time left until the train arrives."
"...why do I go to school?"
I forgot because I was together with Otonashi-san. If this was the everyday life, I would naturally
go to school. No, even if it was not, I would still go just to offer resistance. But if I go now, I'll
destroy my place to be completely, although one could say I've lost this place already.
"To collect information about [Yuuhei Ishihara]. There's no doubt that he is someone near to us.
In the first place, only the students of our school have contact with both you and me. The
importance of collecting data in school should be obvious."
She said.
She said that she doesn't care if my everyday life gets destroyed in order to obtain the 'box'.
But that's not true. I mean, Otonashi-san isn't together with me to save me, but to meet '0' and
obtain a 'box'.
"...Kazuki, I understand that going to school must depress you. But you gather that this is the
best action to take, don't you? Not acting while being aware of this isn't like you."
However, since I'm neither able to see [Yuuhei Ishihara], nor to oppose him directly, I'm
dependent on a supporter. And no one comes to mind except of her.
To trust my supporter in this situation is just like to entrust him with my life. I have no other
choice but to believe the words of my supporter blindly. If Otonashi-san wanted to ruin me, she
could easily set a trap for me.
She proposed various things to which I agreed. She had easily thought of effective plans as
anticipated, but exactly because of that I'd be afraid if she... betrayed me.
"Instead of «Otonashi-san», I'm going to call you «Aya» from now on. [Yuuhei Ishihara] doesn't
know of that name, so he won't call you like this for sure. Therefore, calling you «Aya» proves
that I'm [me]. How is this?"
She agreed. For some reason she seemed slightly unpleased, though.
«Aya Otonashi» was the name of an illusion that doesn't exist within the everyday life.
I realized that the air had frozen right when I entered the classroom together with Otonashi-san.
Daiya did naturally not, but neither did Haruaki. Kokone's seat was still empty. Maybe she's
going to be absent today. Because of me? ...Of course.
I guess even Otonashi-san did not expect my situation to be this bad. She darted a sad glance at
me. But then she pulled herself up, focused on my classmates and clapped her hands two times.
"Listen everyone!"
Their gazes focused on her immediately which is probably because they paid attention on us
anyway.
Otonashi-san said that the possibility is high that the 'owner' would be one of my classmates.
Since it would not be logical to seek an unknown person's body so much as to use a 'box', I
suppose she's right on that point.
But isn't the 'owner' the [Yuuhei Ishihara] inside me? Or does she mean that there exists another
one separate from him?
However, for the time being I do think it's effective to just ask the class about the name «Yuuhei
Ishihara».
Miyazawa-kun sneered at us and replied with something that was unrelated to her question.
"Why can you two still be together like this, after «such a thing»?"
I looked at my other classmates. Anger dwelled in their eyes. This anger has probably come forth
of some kind of righteous indignation against me.
In other words, those classmates cannot forgive me for being together with Otonashi-san?.
I was stuck for an answer since I didn't know why they cannot forgive this. And I mustn't ask for
that «thing» that [Yuuhei Ishihara] had done.
"Whatever. I won't broach that subject again! ---This is going to be personal now."
"The de facto husband of my mother... ah, this might be out of context. Yuuhei Ishihara is the de
facto husband of my mother.."
A sudden acknowledgement.
"We have our reasons. Isn't the fact that I said the name 'Yuuhei Ishihara' reason enough to tell
me more?"
Miyazawa-kun frowned, but agreed even so reluctantly with a "...okay, got it".
Because of the delicate subject, he urged us to change the place to the corridor.
His parents divorced when he was in the first year of middle school. Reason was the change of
the emotions of the spouses. Both of them found new lovers and chose to live together with them.
And in the case of the mother, the new partner was Yuuhei Ishihara.
Both Miyazawa-kun's true father and his true mother didn't want to take him along into their new
households since he was a symbol of their past family life. They didn't show this bluntly, but
since it was not something one can hide, Miyazawa-kun sensed this somehow.
He doesn't know why this happened to his parents. But for him, as their son, those circumstances
do not matter. This was without doubt betrayal, and something that cannot possibly be forgiven.
Eventually after some argument, his father took upon the parental authority for him. But also for
him it was unthinkable to build a new household with his father and the new mother. When he
had refused to live together with them, he then started living alone in an apartment in the second
year of middle school while receiving only living expenses from his father.
As it seems --- during middle school he considered himself to be the unluckiest human on earth,
being in this unhappy family which appears often in cheap dramas, but is only seldomly seen in
reality with one's own eyes.
Thus he naturally bore a grudge. Against his parents who were responsible for this environment,
against his new mother, against Yuuhei Ishihara.
"I understand your feelings, but you shouldn't say such things."
"...Yes. I'm thankful that you spoke with us about this delicate subject."
While returning to the classroom, Miyazawa-kun darted me a glance for the first time since we
began the discussion about Yuuhei Ishihara.
"Don't get me wrong. The fact that I answered Otonashi's questions doesn't mean that I forgave
what you've done. I cannot forgive you."
The other class members smiled at him to praise his straightforwardness against me.
Probably he said it while walking back purposely in order to make the others hear those words,
too.
"Kazuki, I'll return to my own classroom. You haven't forgotten what I told you on the way to
here, right? Try doing it."
I raised my head reluctantly, took my mobile phone and sent Otonashi-san an empty mail.
Otonashi-san checked the mail and nodded. I then erased this sent mail from the outbox.
By doing so, she's able to probe the switch between [Yuuhei Ishihara] and [me].
That is because [Yuuhei Ishihara] doesn't know of this instruction and will hence not send the
empty mail.
But well, since we don't know all characteristics of the 'Sevennight in Mud' yet, we can't call it a
reliable method.
"Nope, Aya."
Otonashi-san looked astonished for just a second, but in the end she didn't say anything more and
left the classroom.
I sighed.
...Yuuhei Ishihara is Miyazawa-kun's mother's de facto husband? This person is the [he] in my
body? Somehow it didn't stand to reason that a foreign adult would desire the body of «Kazuki
Hoshino».
Suddenly, my mobile phone vibrated inside my pocket. I took it out instantly and opened it. A
new mail arrived. I opened the mail inbox.
Hm, did she perhaps forget to mention anything? Ah, or was it something she can't speak out
loud?
There was only one line of text in the mail. A very simple line, which was probably written with
the possibility of me being [Yuuhei Ishihara] in mind.
«Don't believe»
Ah, that.
Why does Miyazawa-kun interfere with us since yesterday? There is one reason that comes to
mind right away:
Because of that, he came approaching us forcedly. In order to tell [Yuuhei Ishihara] about us.
I mustn't believe Miyazawa-kun's words, since he might be in this position. I guess that's what
she tries to say with this mail.
Sure enough, I don't really think that Yuuhei Ishihara is the same person as the [Yuuhei Ishihara]
in me. But on the other hand, I don't think that all he has told us is a lie either. Those feelings that
he showed while speaking about his family affairs cannot be fake.
I returned my gaze to my mobile phone. I read her simple mail once more.
«Don't believe»
...Ah, maybe she means something different. Maybe she does not mean "«don't believe» «what
Ryuu Miyazawa said»".
I can only find out about what [Yuuhei Ishihara] has done while controlling my body, by hearing
about it from others. But I have no allies among those others. Even Miyazawa-kun, Haruaki,
Kokone, Daiya and Aya Otonashi aren't my allies.
I erased the mail. I'm instructed to delete any mail from Otonashi-san immediately.
I clenched my fist.
"---why"
Surprisingly [Kazuki Hoshino] was taking classes. I was sure he'd still be constrained with cuffs
in Maria Otonashi's room. It honestly astonishes me that [Kazuki Hoshino] came to school
despite this terrible scene at school.
Did Maria Otonashi make him do so? Because she wants to gather information? If so, then she's
heartless.
Well, whatever.
After all I arranged things so that Kazuki Hoshino's everyday life is going to get destroyed just
by being together with Maria Otonashi.
Why did I confess to Kokone Kirino? Of course to destroy Kazuki Hoshino's everyday life.
But the reason that I chose specially this method is just a nuance of revenge. I mean, can this be
forgiven? To have a such intimate female friend while being blessed with a lover like Maria
Otonashi?
I got smacked by Oomine. To tell the truth, the statement from me that brought this situation
forth was not even made with the intention to offend her feelings.
I merely said:
But Kirino got a shock for some reason and broke out in tears. To which Oomine reacted
oversensitively and smacked me.
Why did this happen? I didn't understand at the time, but thinking about it now, it's simple.
[Kazuki Hoshino] and [Yuuhei Ishihara] don't share their memory. For example let's assume
that Kirino has already given [Kazuki Hoshino] the reply to the confession. Now I asked her this
question. How would she have perceived those words? I can't say for sure, but I believe they
would have hurt her feelings.
I still don't know why Oomine reacted oversensitively, though. I heard rumors about him having
special feelings for Kirino. I couldn't see anything of this by observing his attitude, but those
rumors might be true.
I haven't seen myself what I'm going to tell now, but I have noticed this later on after listening to
Haruaki Usui.
As it seems, at the point in time when I was attacked by Oomine, most of the members of the class
2-3 were assuming that this was a quarrel that started because Kazuki confessed Kirino.
Kazuki followed her without hesitation. As if to cling to her. Completely ignoring the emotions of
the crying Kokone Kirino - the girl he had apparently confessed to.
And even after this, Kazuki Hoshino kept being together with Maria Otonashi as if nothing had
happened.
It's only natural that his classmates get mad with anger when he deserts the popular Kokone
Kirino like this. However, since Hoshino has no other choice but to rely on her, he cannot act
separate from her.
I informed the teacher that I'd go to the toilet and went to the corridor. When I had done so,
Maria Otonashi already awaited me. She opened her mouth with a frown.
She could make out that I'm [Yuuhei Ishihara] just with this?
No, that's not what should astound me. She rushed to the classroom 2-3 right after the shift.
"Follow me."
"What are you saying? Didn't you announce the destination yourself?"
"Hah?"
"You really don't mind? If people found out that you're here with Kazuki Hoshino, wouldn't this
become a serious matter for the two of you?"
"...he"
Maria Otonashi sneered at me when she had seen me entering mindlessly.
What on earth is she thinking? Certainly, the restrooms on the third floor of the second building
are hardly ever used since there are only special classrooms here. Even less during classes. But
even so, I don't get the reason why she brought me specially to such a place.
"I guess so. We'd get suspended from school. We'd get pointed at by our classmates."
"You're already somewhat out of despair? If so, shall I make some noise as you wish?"
She said relaxedly and sneered at me. ...Apparently she saw through me that I had no intention
to do so.
Kazuki Hoshino's current environment is going to become my own. I may have harmed his
everyday life more than planned, but there's no way I'd long for an even more cumbersome
situation.
"...why so suddenly?"
"Open the image. The third one from above in the data folder."
This aroused a feeling of resistance, but since it won't do any good to pick a quarrel here, I
obeyed her honestly.
I opened the image. It was the picture of a lovely girl in pajamas, which was probably taken by
herself.
I looked at it again. An unknown girl. Telling her honestly that I don't know this girl would
probably be to my own disadvantage, I suppose.
I shifted my attention to the background. This is without doubt a hospital. Come to think of it,
I've heard of a big accident about two months ago in the vicinity. Is she maybe the victim of
then? The name of the victim was... I don't remember.
...I don't know anyway. So let's venture a guess.
"'Kasumi Mogi'."
I tried saying the name I had priorly heard from the underwear-girl, Ruka Hoshino.
"It's a lie."
"Hah?"
"It's a lie that you were wrong. It is indeed Kasumi Mogi. But you have never seen her as it
seems."
"What is unfair? You are too naïve to think that it would work out somehow by guessing right.
Well then, I'll pose another question. How are Kazuki Hoshino and Kasumi Mogi related?"
I have no clue what's the point of those question. Well, I guess it's also on purpose that I don't
understand her intent.
"......they're friends."
"And?"
So Maria Otonashi doesn't let me get away with such an answer, after all.
"How should I give you a better answer when I don't know Kasumi Mogi?"
This is a natural consequence. An obvious answer since I've already told her that I don't know
that girl. There should be no problem with this answer.
"Yeah, you've never seen her. You said that. But how is 'never seen' equivalent to 'do not know'?"
"...You're being cryptical. I have never seen her, so there's no way I'd kno---"
"I see. With this, I grasped your true identity fairly well. You are no student of the class 2-3."
«Kasumi Mogi» has probably not come to school because she's hospitalized. Thus I have never
seen her. Students of the class 2-3 do, however, know her even when they have never seen her.
It's only natural that they would mind the name of the person who's seat is always empty, and
they would have an occasion where this name is mentioned, no doubt.
Right, the intention of those questions was --- to narrow down the suspect.
"Hmpf, to be honest, it appeared likely to me that Ryuu Miyazawa was the 'owner'. But since
you're not a student of the class 2-3, it seems I was wrong."
Ryuu Miyazawa?
Don't tell me that he acted on his own accord because I was unable to give him instructions
today, being captured by Otonashi-san?
"You... no, to be accurate the 'owner' has to be someone who's not our classmate but knows us
well. I don't think that there are many people that know well about us. He is a person Kazuki and
I can think of easily, right?"
"Further, I have one more thought. It's about Yuuhei Ishihara. Ryuu Miyazawa called Yuuhei
Ishihara the de facto husband of his mother. When searching for the reason he told us about this,
following reason comes naturally to mind. Right ---"
I held my breath.
"This name was random from the start. But either you or Ryuu Miyazawa thought about using
this to your advantage. You contemplated to conceal the identity of the 'owner' by making us
think that «Yuuhei Ishihara» really exists, right? And you chose this complicated relationship of
a de facto husband because it would be hard to investigate this matter like this, no?"
He doesn't exist, hence we can conceal him --- huh? I see. She's almost right.
But she's wrong. Yuuhei Ishihara is indeed the de facto husband of Ryuu Miyazawa's mother.
However, we can say that he doesn't exist anymore.
I guess she became cautious because of my sudden question. Maria Otonashi scowled.
"It should attract your interest, I think! Perhaps it's even something you searched for with all
your might."
Looking at each thing that entered my sight, I collected data and regained Kazuki Hoshino. The
sky. Concrete. The ground. Sand. Maria Otonashi. My hand. Kazuki Hoshino. This place is the
back of the school building. I am --- me.
I got used to it, since I switched for quite a few times so far. But exactly because I got used to it,
I noticed:
I completely vanish during the time when I'm not myself. I don't even dream. This is a «death»
that approaches me step by step. If I don't destroy the 'Sevennight in Mud' until May 05, I'm
going to disappear forever. In other words, I'll «die».
"Kazuki?"
The girl in front of me asked. I nodded silently, but noticed that this won't suffice and thus added
"Yes, Aya".
It's quite an old one, but since the strings are properly changed to new ones, I suppose that this
guitar is still in regular use.
"I fiddled around with it in the 'Rejecting Classroom' to kill time, you know."
Otonashi-san picked the electric guitar up and started to play. She did so skillfully, much better
than me who can hardly hold down the F-cord. She stopped her performance immediately and
held the guitar out to me.
"Eh?"
"I don't care. Play the guitar all the time while I'm speaking. If you do so, I know it when you
switch to [Yuuhei Ishihara]."
I'm a very poor player of the guitar, so it's kind of embarrassing, but still I started playing a
famous song of an older rock band that was in the practice book.
"I'm surprised you know that I've got the guitar of my older sister."
"...Do you not forget things from the 'Rejecting Classroom', Aya?"
This question came suddenly to mind, so I asked her while playing the guitar clumsily.
"Mh well, I remember everything. ...no, to be exact, I surely forgot some things since it was such
a long time of similar happenings. But basically I remember most of it."
Hearing those words of mine, Otonashi-san opened her eyes wide and stood completely still.
"Ah, no ---"
Seeing her obvious disturbance, I myself got perplexed all the more.
"So you remember almost nothing of what we did together in the 'box'?"
"W-Well, yeah."
"I..see---"
Otonashi-san kept silent for some reason. Waiting for her to continue, I gazed at her, but she
averted her eyes hurriedly.
"Now that you say it, it's plausible. There's no way you'd remember like I do. Because you aren't
a 'owner'. I see, it finally makes sense. So that's why---"
"Eh?"
"Nevermind."
I hurriedly started playing again. Since I forgot until where I played, I started the song again
from the start.
"Geez, because you babbled nonessential things, I couldn't enter the main subject, could I?"
"...mh, let's see. Since I don't know yet whether I can believe in [Yuuhei Ishihara]'s words, I'll
leave that our for now. I want to talk to you about this time's 'box' while I'm still convinced that
you're [Kazuki Hoshino]."
I nodded and suggested her to begin.
"To tell the truth, there are different kinds of 'boxes'. It might be faulty to express it like this, but
to explain it simply, there are 'boxes' that operate to the inside and there are 'boxes' that operate
to the outside. While the 'Rejecting Classroom' was more of an inside-type, this time's
'Sevennight in Mud' is more of an outside-type."
"The inside-type 'box' is for the case when the 'owner' considers his 'wish' to be impossible in the
real world. For example, Kasumi Mogi, who was the 'owner' of the 'Rejecting Classroom', didn't
believe that it's possible to redo the past. Hence she created a space, removed from the real world,
where she could believe in her 'wish'. Mogi crammed herself and her classmates into this 'box'
where she could believe that her 'wish' is possible."
"And then, the outside-type 'box' is for the case when the 'owner' considers his 'wish' to be
possible in the real world. The 'owner' of this time's 'Sevennight in Mud' seems to perceive his
'wish' to be grantable if he had the power of the 'box'. Indeed, to take over a body may seem
possible to occur in reality. Which means that there's no need to specially create an unreal space.
The reason that I can still not properly perceive the 'box' lies also somewhere in that area."
"I don't really get it, but so if one can't believe that the miracle of the 'box' can occur in the real
world, it becomes a inside-type, and if one can believe in it, it becomes an outside-type?"
"Yeah, pretty much. If we scored them with numbers and a maximum value of 10, the 'Rejecting
Classroom' would get an inside level 9 and the 'Sevennight in Mud' would get an outside level 4.
The higher the outside level, the more it will affect reality."
It's obvious that the influence of last time's 'Rejecting Classroom' was almost nonexistent, since
the involved classmates cannot remember.
But so that means that, this time's 'Sevennight in Mud' isn't like this? "Ah---"
I'm currently scorned by all my classmates. Furthermore, my relationship with Daiya, Kokone
and Haruaki have all been destroyed.
It won't return? My everyday life won't return? My everyday life was corroded and is beyond
remedy now?
The second I realized this, my sight turned black as if all breakers of this world had been turned
off at one blow. I mean, I have no goal anymore. There's no meaning in destroying the 'box'. I
completely lost sight of everything.
I started walking away unsteadily. Otonashi-san said something, and I replied with something. I
don't know what she said nor what I replied, but I don't care.
I want to scream.
I was in a convenience store for some reason. In my hand I was holding a weekly Manga
magazine. I checked the time on Kazuki Hoshino's mobile phone. Actually I should be taking the
third lesson right now... so why am I in a convenience store?
I had the doubt that this might be a trap, but I couldn't let go of this chance to get in contact with
Ryuu Miyazawa.
I typed his phone number by heart. The call sound resounded for a while. Well, he should be in
the classroom, so he wouldn't be able to answer the phone right away.
I aborted the call and cleared the outgoing calls history. He immediately called me back.
«...Is that so. So, you have something you want, don't you? What is it?»
"I think you have classes now, but you don't mind?"
"Is it okay to say that as class committee chairman, I wonder? But I'm happy you say so. Okay,
I'd like to discuss how we're going proceed..."
«I don't think we should talk about that at school. Won't you come to my apartment?»
"I don't mind... But you do realize that I can't say whether 12:00 is my time or not, right?"
«That's why I proposed my apartment. We just have to restrain [Kazuki Hoshino] at my place
before it's 12:00. 13:00 is your time again, isn't it?»
"I see. So let me teach you a nice way of restraining! It's actually how Maria Otonashi tricked
me, you know---"
«Cuffs, huh? Sounds good. So can you buy some before we meet?»
"Sure."
I disconnected the call and cleared the call history with fast movements.
Now that I think about it, this is the first time I'll be there. Up to now I restrained myself from
going there. What an irony that I'm first able to go now that I got into this body.
Ryuu Miyazawa's apartment was in a wooden two-storey building which seemed two levels
below the mansion Maria Otonashi was living in. It wasn't self-locking either. I walked to the
door on the second storey and rang the bell.
Saying so, I handed a brown paper bag over to him. A pair of handcuffs and footcuffs were in it.
Ryuu Miyazawa accepted it with almost no change in his expression.
I took off my shoes and entered the room. The room was about of the size of six Tatami mats. The
room was very small, but he had been keeping things tidy and in order. While being amazed at
how much place the computer takes, I sat down on the floor.
"Ah right, I've been wanting to complain to you. You acted on your own accord and told Maria
Otonashi unnecessary things, didn't you?"
"That girl got wind of your attempt of concealing. It seems she noticed already that you and me
are working together."
"...I don't get you. So you revealed on purpose that you're my assistant?"
"Maria Otonashi doubted me just because I tried to come in contact with Kazuki Hoshino. We're
up against such a gal. Therefore I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't be able to deceive her."
"Otonashi will stand in your way without doubt before you can do so. Because you cannot attack
[Kazuki Hoshino] directly. In other words, you can attack [Kazuki Hoshino] only via Otonashi.
But as you know, she's bright. So your attack via Otonashi would be parried easily."
"Therefore I came up with the idea that you just need someone who can attack [Kazuki Hoshino]
directly, instead of doing it via Otonashi. Of course I'm the only one possible."
"...I see."
"For this sake it's the best to make clear that I'm your assistant. But if I had revealed it to her
openly, she would have been on guard. That's why I did like this!"
A wry smile floated over my face spontaneously. I didn't think he'd considered things so far. I
already considered him reliable, but he is even more than I thought.
"Tell me more."
"Do you really think we can make him fall into despair with that? Well, of course he'd get a
shock when seeing a corpse, but well..."
"'You killed this person just now.' How about telling him that?"
Ryuu Miyazawa declared so, ransacked the bag and threw the cuffs to me.
Who is the guy in front of me? I peered at him and noticed that it was the sharp gaze of Ryuu
Miyazawa without glasses.
Why is Miyazawa-kun...?
I was hand- and footcuffed in a small room I had never seen before. The seriousness of the
situation was clear to me.
What did I do again, before I switched? ...I can't remember. When I had been told that my
ordinary life won't return, my sight became black --- and then I was here before I knew.
"Why, you ask? Didn't [Yuuhei Ishihara] explain it to you? To make you surrender."
In other words, Miyazawa-kun doesn't act for his own sake, but for the sake of [Yuuhei
Ishihara]?
"Hoshino. Has Otonashi told you about the details of this box?"
I shook my head.
"So she kept it secret, huh. Well, which is an appropriate decision, admittedly. [Yuuhei Ishihara]
said that he had told her with the expectation that she'd inform you, you know?"
Come to think of it, I think she was about to tell me something that she had heard from [Yuuhei
Ishihara].
"I'll explain it to you instead! ...haha! It really is less cumbersome now that I revealed my
enmity."
"...enmity? What?"
"Nothing. ...so, you know that this box will erase your existence within one week, right?"
"What is it?"
"I cannot trust your words. After all you're my enemy, aren't you? I can't just believe your
explanation since, in fact, you have been trying to deceive me already."
"Quite right."
Miyazawa-kun accepted my words readily and didn't show any unrest whatsoever.
"I myself started wondering if I have a talent as a swindler. That's a new discovery for me. But
I'm only going to tell you the truth now. Feel free to make sure whether it is true or not. If you
don't want to listen, just block your ears. ...Well, you wouldn't be able to because of the
handcuffs, though."
Miyazawa-kun said without emotions, approached me and handed over a cut-off piece from a
notebook to me.
00- 01- 23-
1st day
01 02 24
09-
4th day
10
5th day
6th day
Which means that [Yuuhei Ishihara] wrote it. His handwriting was surprisingly neat with
rounded letters.
«09-10» was all that was written on the fourth line. Though there were always three number
pairs, on this line was only one. There were none from there on, either.
"Hoshino, have you not noticed that your time decreases day by day?"
"...Huh?"
"[Kazuki Hoshino]'s time gets stolen by [Yuuhei Ishihara] bit by bit everyday! This note is a
listing of the hours that have been stolen from you. For example, «00-01» means that the time
from 00:00 until 01:00 has been stolen from [Kazuki Hoshino] by [Yuuhei Ishihara]."
I looked again at the note. The number pair «09-10» at the date mark of today. Which means that
[Yuuhei Ishihara] controlled this body today from nine o'clock until ten o'clock. Indeed, I wasn't
conscious at that time.
"But then he just steals three hours of my day? It doesn't get more for him!"
"...hey, you ought to think a little more before you speak. I said 'the time gets stolen'. The time
isn't stolen for only that day. This times stays in the possession of [Yuuhei Ishihara] thereafter.
For example, the hour that has been stolen from you between 00:00 and 01:00 won't be [Kazuki
Hoshino]'s again."
"Gosh, do you still not get it? Mh... maybe it's easier if you divide one day into 24 blocks and
imagine having three of them stolen every day. Your blocks decrease to 21 on the first day. 18 on
the second day. 15 on the third day. And on the seventh day, there will only be 3 left. The
moment the date changes to the eight day, none remains. In other words: Game Over."
I finally understood.
I also understood why he explained this to me. To teach me about the 'Sevennight in Mud'
becomes a disadvantage for [Yuuhei Ishihara]. The reason why he taught me anyway is ---
"Ah, seems like you noticed. You get it, right? Therefore this can't be a lie. A lie yields hope
when you realize it's a lie. On the other hand, when you feel that a cruel fact is reality, you fall
into despair all the more. And you realize that this is reality if you think back a little of what
happened to you, right?"
"Shall I calculate for you? [Kazuki Hoshino] has 7 blocks left today, including the time now. 9
tomorrow, May 03. 6 at May 04. 3 at May 05. 24 altogether. Do you get it? You don't even have
one day's time left!"
"To corner you by telling you the truth. This is the reason why [Yuuhei Ishihara] reveals this fact.
Thus, this is nothing but the truth."
'I still have four days left'. I certainly had been thinking like this. But this was a big mistake. The
progress of the battle has already inclined clearly towards [Yuuhei Ishihara].
When just considering the time we spend in this body, [Kazuki Hoshino] has already become the
irregular existence of us.
Now that he mentions it... Despite this hopeless situation, I was calm.
Which is... plausible.
After all, I've already fallen into despair, even without this.
"What is it?"
"You wouldn't assist him if there wasn't a quite important reason, would you? Furthermore, if
[Yuuhei Ishihara] told you that he's in my body, you wouldn't believe such a thing readily.
Right?"
"How about such a reason? For example --- you yourself are [Yuuhei Ishihara]."
"That's right."
"---Huh?"
"Honestly, I was tired of it already. I would have never dreamed that hiding this would exhaust
me like this. So I want to tell you my circumstances to find some relief."
"...There is."
Maybe «There was» would be more accurate. My everyday life was destroyed after all.
"So you may understand my feelings. In my opinion, a really important thing is not something
you take care of with utmost devotion nor something you concentrate your lovey-dovey love-
love on. I think a really important thing is something that becomes your stem. Therefore if it gets
lost, you break as if your spine was removed and turn into an empty shell. Therefore, a really
important thing is --- equal to oneself."
"Your «That's right» just now didn't mean that you yourself are [Yuuhei Ishihara], huh?"
"Of course not. If I was him, I would never allow such a detestable conduct."
But he is supporting [Yuuhei Ishihara] who does so. Because [Yuuhei Ishihara] is really
important to him.
"If he wishes for this, I'll do it. If it's to protect him I'll do anything. Even if it's not right to do."
This attitude was neither proudly nor stubborn. He was bitterly biting on his lips and his eyes
showed resignation somewhere, but were without wavering.
"...I understand what you mean! But why is [Yuuhei Ishihara] such an important existence to
you?"
"Probably... no, not probably. I'm sure of it. The reason why he is so important to me, that's---"
"Older brother? Huh?" I couldn't comprehend those sudden words right away. "So the
relationship between you and Yuuhei Ishihara was a lie? ...huh? But...eeh..."
"...umm, so, Yuuhei Ishihara and [Yuuhei Ishihara] are completely different individuals to begin
with?"
"Yeah. Using this bastard's name made it a bit complicated, but it's like you say."
"So not Yuuhei Ishihara but your younger brother's inside me..."
"All of it is true, except of the fact that I concealed being his brother. My life until then was
destroyed with the divorce matter. Children have to rely on their parents, don't they? But those
parents say «We don't need you!». That I'm a hindrance. That I'm trash. That I'm a mistake of
their past. Everything was destroyed for me. It may sound clichéd, but this was total despair. I
wasn't a human anymore at the time."
"But I wasn't the only one that was no longer human. He, who was taken charge of by my mother.
This other non-human was what saved me. I guess it was a mistaken dependence. But I returned
to life thanks to this dependence. He became my stem and, like my spine, I cannot live without
him."
"I don't want to return to when I was no human. I will protect --- me."
"How is it real happiness when [he] becomes Kazuki Hoshino? I also don't think that this means
protecting him. I think that he has to find the right way being himself."
"So---"
"Don't spell it out! I know. I know all of that. But it's already too late!"
"...Huh?"
I was again in an unknown home. It was a normal living room without noteworthy features.
The corpse of a middle-aged woman. With the head split open. The cerebral matter scattered
around and the shape of head changed into a crescent moon.
The corpse of a middle-aged man. This was probably the real Yuuhei Ishihara.
His head was split open like the woman's corpse. But not only that. His limbs were bent in
incredible directions as if his joints were completely ignored. A gruesome scene, that let one feel
that someone had an enormous grudge.
"Aah---"
The stench made me observe the corpses calmly, whereupon my thinking made a leap. Why --- is
this here?
"This murder was committed using the body of Kazuki Hoshino. You know what that means,
right? As long you're Kazuki Hoshino, you won't be able to get away from the sin of murder.
When you get caught by the Police, Kazuki Hoshino will undergo punishment."
His voice resounded already from far away and didn't reach my head.
"......which was the scenario we planned to use to corner you, but let's scrap that. As I told you
before, despair that was born of a lie will become hope when the truth is revealed. Those corpses
are the cause. The cause that made him want your body."
"The cause...?"
What if murdering those two was the trigger that made him want to steal my body?
Based on Miyazawa-kun's statements, I suppose [he] considers himself to be in misfortune. What
would [he] 'wish' if he obtained the 'box' after causing such an incident? I don't think he would
want to regain his lifestyle.
He wouldn't want himself. Therefore he would want to steal another one's body.
"...I understood why the 'owner' came to have such a 'wish'! But.. I don't really get the reason
why you'd support him in realizing this 'Sevennight in Mud'. Wouldn't it be better to recommend
him to destroy the 'box' and deliver himself up...?"
"If he went to prison, I wouldn't be able to be by his side anymore, would I?"
Indeed. But still, going to prison or becoming another person. Isn't the former one still the better
choice...?
"You look like you can't comprehend me. ...ah, I see. Surely, you wouldn't know. Say, have you
never wondered about this? If he's inside you, where is his original body right now?"
Come to think of it, I never thought of this. I was assuming that he vanished since he's inside my
body.
"I'll give you the answer to this question! Take your phone out."
I understood with just this. I took out my mobile phone, opened the data folder and checked the
voice files. There was a new one.
I stopped breathing.
So [he] committed suicide after killing Yuuhei Ishihara and his mother? Why such a foolish
act...!!?
«I mean, wouldn't it be a hindrance? I have no need for that body - I'm not that kiddo anymore!»
"It's too late; got it? I cannot protect the person I want to protect anymore."
"I have no other choice but to make the 'Sevennight in Mud' come true anymore."
He spitted out those words so plainly that I immediately understood that he was choking his
emotions. He spoke distinctly anyway.
He slowly raised his pale head; his eyes were --- blank.
"But I can't be at ease with just this. Because there's Maria Otonashi. So I've been thinking.
Making you surrender and stopping Maria Otonashi. I've been thinking about how to accomplish
both at the same time."
"Yeah. Think about it: if we capture Otonashi and confine her until May 06, we're out of danger
from her - which is obvious, though. If Otonashi doesn't move, the 'Sevennight in Mud' won't be
averted."
"So let's move on to the execution. ---Hoshino, I'm going to confine you in my room now and I
will use you as a trap to capture Otonashi. I'll take you with me, no matter how much you resist. I
won't flinch from using violence. Well, no resistance will be of use as soon you switch again,
though."
......I see.
Miyazawa-kun took some knuckle dusters out of his pockets and put them on. His eyes told me
clearly that this wasn't a bluff.
Should I betray?
What is there to betray? We don't trust each other to begin with. Also, Miyazawa-kun might not
have noticed yet, but I don't feel like resisting anymore, since I came to know that my ordinary
life won't return.
Should I fight against Miyazawa-kun? No way. Why should I choose the painful path to no
avail?
"------"
Why not? I don't get it. Nothing will change if I don't say it. I have already given up and when
the time for the shift comes, I'm going to get confined. The outcome won't change. And still,
when I try to vocalize my betrayal, my chest gets attacked by a burning ache.
"M-Miyazawa-kun, say---"
Bam.
"---Ugh!"
Miyazawa-kun performed violence. I prostrated without being able to even raise a proper voice.
Miyazawa-kun's expression was still blank when he looked down on me. He won't possibly lend
my words an ear. He will strike with no mercy when I show any sign of resistance.
So why ---
Why does my heart seem to break just by speaking those words out?
I'm dreaming.
May 3
I woke up. It wasn't the sensation of switching, but the normal sensation of awaking.
I was lying on the ground of Miyazawa's room with cuffs applied to both my hands and feet.
Miyazawa-kun was sitting on the bed. Dark circles were under his eyes. Maybe he hadn't slept
properly in the last days.
When he had noticed that I've awoken, he took out a washcloth and wiped my face. The menthol
in the washcloth wiped away my sleepiness.
"You will restrain Otonashi by handcuffing and footcuffing her and demonstrate your will of
betrayal by doing so. You just need to do that. Simple, isn't it?"
"...for real?"
"Ah?"
[He] is free to judge how he wants to. He might not be able to accept this as 'surrendered' and
request an even worse absurdity.
"He said that he'd be satisfied when he just can steal Maria Otonashi from you."
"Steal...?"
«I was able to grant my earnest desire. Now I can go out with you.»
Seems like [he]'s mistaking us for lovers. Thus he's under the impression that he could go out
with her when he completed the 'Sevennight in Mud'.
But this is unreasonable. It's impossible to obtain everything from me just by taking me over.
«I can.»
«I am Kazuki Hoshino and no one else! Hence, I'm able to obtain her like this.»
The voice originated from the speakers besides the computer that was controlled by Miyazawa-
kun.
«Do you think this is absurd? Do you think I cannot become Kazuki Hoshino because you are?»
Of course. Only [I] am Kazuki Hoshino, no one else could be.
«So tell me, what makes Kazuki Hoshino? At the very least you can't notice the difference by the
personality. After all you would still recognize someone you haven't met in ages as the same
person, even if this person's atmosphere and personality have changed completely, right?»
Hearing [his] words, I recalled the words I had once heard from that person.
«So tell me: when you see someone acting a bit unusually, would you think right away 'This is
someone else. Someone took him over.'?»
"------ugh!"
Indeed, Daiya, Kokone and Haruaki have all recognized [him] as Kazuki Hoshino. Even
Otonashi-san, with whom I have spent more time together than with anyone else,---
«Even Maria Otonashi cannot distinguish [Kazuki Hoshino] from [Yuuhei Ishihara], does she?»
"...uh"
«Well, but since she knows of the 'boxes', she might perceive [Kazuki Hoshino]'s vanishment as
vanishment of Kazuki Hoshino's existence as a whole. Therefore I'll teach her that Kazuki
Hoshino won't disappear when I become him. Doing so, Kazuki Hoshino will continue to exist in
her.»
As long the looks stay like Kazuki Hoshino, he will be recognized as Kazuki Hoshino, even
when the inside changed. This is certainly true. Therefore I don't think he's talking complete
nonsense.
"Hoshino, what would you do if you learned that an important person to you had split
personality?"
"Eh?"
"......Could be."
"Thus, it doesn't really matter whether the inside is [Kazuki Hoshino] or [Yuuhei Ishihara]. If she
accepts that I'm Kazuki Hoshino, her emotions will be maintained. It's not [your] personality
what Maria Otonashi considers important. I'm sure, it's rather ---"
He smiled wryly.
"You might have not noticed since you're the person concerned. But I know. Otonashi is
dependent on you! Therefore it will be hard for Maria Otonashi to endure the loss of you when
your personality disappears. She will then try to make up for this loss with something. It's
obvious what she would use as compensation, isn't it?"
"Not exactly. It's Kazuki Hoshino who does certainly still live, though slightly altered."
"That's why [he] will obtain her eventually...? This is only your suitable guess. Why can you be
so convinced?"
"Eh?"
"Because I'm depending on someone like Maria Otonashi does. That's why I easily know that's
she's going to do."
I finally understood the reason why there's such a power in his words.
Miyazawa-kun knows it. He knows the sensation when an important person disappears and turns
into something different.
"Stop being so nitpicking. You just have to betray Maria Otonashi. If you do so, she will start
mixing up [Kazuki Hoshino] and [Yuuhei Ishihara]."
"...Why so?"
"Otonashi would never dream of [Kazuki Hoshino] betraying her. Even if you were the one that
handcuffed her, she would think it was [Yuuhei Ishihara]. But in fact it was [Kazuki Hoshino]
who did. Consequently, she will become unable to distinguish the two of you confidently. The
borderline between [Kazuki Hoshino] and [Yuuhei Ishihara] will disappear."
And then she's going to consider [me] and [him] as the same.
If she's like this by May 06, Otonashi-san will accept it with no resistance, even if [he] steals
everything from me. That's what Miyazawa-kun is saying.
"...Wait a sec."
I interrupted him.
"What?"
"What do you plan to do when [he]'s not convinced of having stolen Otonashi-san completely
from me?"
We aren't going out, after all. Hence, it's not possible to steal her from me. It can't go as [he]
planned.
"Won't you cause her suffering? Won't you still use me?"
Miyazawa-kun kept silent for a moment and admitted it by saying "I guess so".
"So what?"
"'So what'...? U-Under no circumstances could I... do that. I surely decided to betray her. But that
doesn't mean that I want to trouble her so---"
I don't care if I have to suffer. In that case, I merely have to endure the pain.
But I absolutely do not want that someone has to get hurt because of me. This has nothing to do
with her being my ally or not, I just cannot accept it.
He observed me for a while, but in the end he just sighed regretfully for some reason.
"......with what?"
"If there's no meaning in violence, then we just have to use another kind of threat, you know?"
"How so? If it's for your sake, this idea is natural. And anyway, you are the one that executes it,
aren't you?"
"Do you think this underwear-girl will obey me politely? If not, she'd be pitiful."
Ryuu Miyazawa returned shallow words, almost as if he had no interest in what's going to
happen.
For him, who wasn't able to do anything against that incident, all other things might have
become indifferent. This theory had no basis, but I thought so for some reason.
It's a matter of course, but I opened the door without ringing the bell.
"I'm home."
«N-NOOO!!»
I heard a scream from the phone. I recognized the owner of this voice immediately. After all it's a
voice I hear virtually every day.
"Ruu-chan...!!"
"Ah---"
"But Ruu-chan has absolutely nothing to do with it! So why did you do such a---!!"
"Because she has nothing to do with it, you suffer. Exactly because of that we're doing that!"
Having heard those words, I spontaneously tried to throw myself upon him --- but failed and fell
unsightly to the ground. I had forgotten that I was restrained with footcuffs. Miyazawa-kun
stepped on my crawling body and pressed the mobile phone against my ear.
"Uuh..."
Since I wasn't even able to cover my ears, I closed my eyes reflexively. Though this would be to
no avail.
"Huh...?"
«Kazu-chan, why do you want me to say such things? Big sis has become anxious about your
future.»
Miyazawa-kun removed his leg from my body. I sat up while keeping my gaze on him, who still
didn't show any expression on his face.
"Eh?"
"This were sound files recorded with the 'My Voice'-feature. It's not real time. What if I reversed
the order of those files? Maybe the sound file you just heard happened before the other one?"
"Y-You can't...!"
"Just joking!"
"Ugh..."
"Geez... what are you swinging from joy to sorrow and back all the time. It's not the problem
whether she was actually hurt or not, is it? The problem is that Ruka Hoshino's completely
guardless against [Yuuhei Ishihara]'s actions. "
"[Yuuhei Ishihara] will become Kazuki Hoshino. Can you imagine just how much of a hindrance
the existence of a sister is then? Heck, you're living in the same room! Of course she'd notice
Kazuki Hoshino's change and it would be impossible to terminate this relationship since you are
siblings. She's the person that may become the greatest barrier. That seems to be the reason why
he's indecisive. How should he deal with her?"
Having said this, Miyazawa-kun made a double click and started another voice file.
«You will betray Maria Otonashi for us, won't you [Kazuki Hoshino]?»
If I handcuff Otonashi-san, she might end up hurt. But If I don't, Ruu-chan might have to die.
There's no way I could decide on one! ---However, Otonashi-san won't be killed. Also, if it's for
her, she might be able to overcome the situation with her skills. No, of course she will.
"Otonashi does take so long to arrive here...? Quite surprising. I was sure she'd know the place
right away."
Miyazawa-kun said.
"Well, she might be unable to notice that you're being confined. [Yuuhei Ishihara] went home
once, after all. However, she ought to sense something since her calls are blocked... say, Hoshino,
did you have a big quarrel that would justify blocking her calls?"
I couldn't answer. Because I didn't know anymore how I parted from her when my sight turned
black in despair.
That he didn't do anything until now was because [my] today's time had not been clear until
19:00 was stolen from me. But my time window is settled now. It's settled that today's time is
going to be [mine] until 23:00.
Having said so, Miyazawa-kun took out a packing tape and stuck two layers on my mouth. Since
I had been handcuffed already, I was naturally not able to take it off.
"Hello?"
The room was silent. I, too, could hear Otonashi-san's voice clearly.
"Ryuu Miyazawa!"
«...Miyazawa, why do you call me from Kazuki's mobile phone? What happened to Kazuki? I
knew that you were [Yuuhei Ishihara]'s partner, but---»
"Partner? As if I'd help out that piece of shit! He merely grasped my weak spot and threatened
me."
What is he saying...?
"Yeah. I didn't support him, he grasped my weak spot and used me. But I've had enough of it!
And fortunately I hit upon a simple and good solution strategy."
«A solution strategy...?»
"If it's for you, you should easily be able to think of it. It's really simple."
Miyazawa-kun spoke indifferently without putting any weird emotion into his voice. I then
finally noticed that he was just making up this story. But his performance seems just too natural.
Even I, knowing the truth, thought for a second that he might be telling the truth there.
Therefore I don't think Otonashi-san would be able to see through this made-up story.
«...What are you saying? I don't know what kind of weak spot he grasped of you, but the risk is
just too high. I didn't know you were so silly as to make such a choice?»
"You're easy to see through. Seems you are surprisingly bad at deceiving someone."
«......»
"Murder is indeed a risky gamble. It wouldn't be worth it. But this risk doesn't apply to Kazuki
Hoshino right now. You should know why, don't you?"
"Haha, don't play dumb! Okay, then I'll tell you. The answer to the riskless murder is 'just take
advantage of the moment of the shift'."
Otonashi-san had noticed it as well, I suppose. After all she told me this morning that it would be
dangerous if I switched during her driving. If one took advantage of this logic in a more certain
way, it would be dead easy to feign an accident or suicide.
"If I'm able to put an end to his threat, I'll do as much as this."
"There is at least someone you'd like to shoot if you had a bullet that would never be found,
right? But using this bullet, I'll also erase someone I have no grudge against. Since he would be
just too pitiful, I thought I might allow him to speak to his lover a last time at the very end."
"Oh? Hoshino has only a few hours left, you know? He's as good as dead! But rest assured; I'll
kill him when he's [Yuuhei Ishihara]. I'll quasi conduct euthanasia for him. Isn't it rather
fortunate that he can die before being taken over completely by this scumbag?"
"This only what you think, isn't it? No one would be able to look at things so positively in such a
situation!"
«Gh...»
"Well, that's it. Okay, I'll let you hear his last words."
Of course he didn't remove the tape from my mouth when he had said so.
He moved the mouse and made a double click. My voice resounded from the speakers.
«---Aya!»
Why does he know this name...? They don't know the 'Rejecting Classroom', so they should not
be able to know this name.
No... they might know. I have used this name in the classroom of 2-3. Surely, Miyazawa-kun
noticed that this name had to be some kind of code and reported it to [Yuuhei Ishihara].
But she, who doesn't know that those words belong to [him], can't notice this fact. Therefore---
«You should have made this call just before he would switch to [Yuuhei Ishihara]. Now's 21:12.
You can act at 22 o'clock at the earliest. There are 48 minutes until then. I'll defeat you and take
Kazuki back in this time.»
Not knowing that her words don't unsettle him, but rather calm him down.
And then she came. Not even 20 minutes had passed since the call.
The window was broken up and its splitters scattered about in the room. She had smashed the
glass with her sneakers and was now standing in the center of the room in her normal clothes.
"...That you arrived this quickly means that you had known my whereabouts?"
Miyazawa-kun was looking at her from the corridor right in front of the entry and was pressing a
kitchen knife against me.
"Do you really think it was hard to find out? You'd never make such a phone call in public.
Hence you'd likeliest be at home, don't you think? After all no other places would come to
mind."
"I had already known your residence at the point in time when you revealed being the partner of
[Yuuhei Ishihara]. ...Come on, isn't it enough already? Remove your hands from Kazuki. Didn't
you say yourself that you don't want to take the high risk of murdering? If you stab, this isn't just
a risk anymore. You're sure to get punished for inflicting bodily injury or more."
"Shut up."
"There's no need to cause hysteria just because it didn't go as you planned. Isn't the point that you
don't want to get threatened by [Yuuhei Ishihara] anymore? Hand Kazuki over to me and I
promise to stop those threats!"
Miyazawa-kun is acting out the generic enemy role and tries to set up the stage to make my
betrayal more impactful.
Otonashi-san is going to defeat the enemy, Miyazawa-kun, and will save me. Of course she will
feel relieved and pleased.
Thus, for the sake of this 'drop height', Miyazawa-kun must not release me readily right now.
"Don't ridicule!"
Sure, his knife is currently pressed against my throat. But this is a meaningless threat. Miyazawa-
kun would never stab me since (in this setting) he wants to commit a riskless murder to do
something against being threatened.
"I have valued you as a firm person with logical thinking, you know?"
That she said those words means that she knows that he doesn't plan to stab me.
But indeed, she cannot exclude the possibility that I get stabbed. Miyazawa-kun would perhaps
lose his temper and mistakenly stab me.
Does she not make a move because she's not completely sure whether he does not harm me?
"......"
No way, huh.
I don't know the reason for now, but Otonashi-san doesn't make a move. It's a deadlock.
Miyazawa-kun poked my flank hidden from her gaze, with his left hand.
......I know!
I have also received instruction for what to do in a deadlock. I don't want to act actively, but
seems I have no other choice.
He had told me not to hold back, because otherwise she would notice that it's just a performance.
I swallowed my saliva once and proceeded to action.
"...Uwaa!!"
This scream was not acted, but a proper reaction to the pain. Miyazawa-kun dropped the knife
completely natural as arranged beforehand.
A six Tatami's size room. In the next moment, she was already in front of our eyes. She rushed
towards him and butted her head against his nose bone. She stepped into the space between
Miyazawa-kun and me and drove him back by hitting his chin while he was holding his nose.
She then quickly picked up the knife and threw it away out of his reach.
Otonashi-san, too, stepped slightly back from him and started speaking.
"Give me the keys to the hand- and footcuffs, Miyazawa. I'll let you go with this much."
"You could have as well just choked me. Doing so, I would have had to give you the keys."
Because of those words, I remembered. Right. Otonashi-san does not like to use violence. She
was able to just because she had to in order «to save me». But she would never be able to choke
someone only to make him give her some keys.
And then he jumped at her to seize her. But at the moment he touched her, Miyazawa-kun's body
flew through the air.
"Wha---!!"
It happened so quick he couldn't even perceive his defeat. This was a magnificent shoulder throw.
"It's no wonder. After all I'm just a White Belt. ...Well, I have defeated several Black Belts
already, though."
"Ugh..."
She searched Miyazawa's pockets with her free left hand. She found the object in question in no
time and threw it to me. The objects that fell with a metallic sound on the floor were the keys to
my hand- and footcuffs.
"...21:39."
"So there's no problem. Kazuki, take your mobile phone immediately and escape over the
Veranda. I'll cut after you in five minutes. Until then I'll make sure he's unable to move."
Miyazawa-kun took a quick peek at me. Don't worry, I won't follow her instruction.
But because of the Kesa-Gatame, I'm unable to handcuff her. What should I do? I can't restrain
her like this.
I dropped my gaze.
I hit upon the worst, but just because of that meaningful, way to betray her.
Aah, if I do this I'll become the absolute enemy of Aya Otonashi. I have already decided, so I
was already assuming it may end like this. But this is just too bad.
The keys don't fit. The appropriate keys were in my possession from the start.
Being freed from the handcuffs, I picked up --- the kitchen knife Otonashi-san had thrown to me.
"Aya."
She will recognize right away that I lack the guts to stab. But that doesn't matter. It does not
change the fact that I betrayed her.
And---
"Eh...?"
She had opened her eyes wide and stopped breathing just because I pointed the knife at her. I
have never seen her looking this defenseless.
Using this chance, Miyazawa-kun freed himself from her lock. But she stayed petrified.
I approached her with the knife, crouched and handcuffed her. When she had let both her hands
get restrained with no resistance, she finally opened her mouth.
"Betrayed...? There's no necessity to do so. Kazuki cannot do anything against the 'Sevennight in
Mud' without me. He would only betray me when he surrendered to you and gave up. But this is
just not possible. Therefore he would never betray---"
"So this means that Hoshino surrendered to us and gave up, doesn't it?"
"Hu"
"Huhu, ahahahahaha! What's this sad sight, Otonashi? Stop it please! I had a relatively high
opinion of you when I fought against you, you know? But just how delicate are you to get this
shocked just because your lover betrayed you! This is plainly disappointing!"
"Kazuki."
Otonashi-san did not even deign to look at Miyazawa-kun, who was laughing like this. Otonashi-
san was gazing at me all the time.
"Is this true? Have you really surrendered to [Yuuhei Ishihara] like he says?"
"......I have!"
I wringed out.
When she had heard this, Otonashi-san looked down, hiding her face, and started trembling.
"Whoa, wait a sec! Why are you trembling? Don't tell me you started crying! Oi, oi, don't
overact! Honestly, stop it, this is just too hilarious!!"
To this much more than expected outcome, Miyazawa-kun continued to raise his laughter.
"Ah right, Otonashi. I'll tell you something good! This guy is without doubt [Kazuki Hoshino].
He's not [Yuuhei Ishihara]. The guy that betrayed and handcuffed you is without doubt [Kazuki
Hoshino]!"
"......I know."
"What?"
"I'm very well aware that he is [Kazuki Hoshino] and no one else."
Otonashi-san was still looking down, but stood finally up. I could still not see her face. She
approached me swayingly. I stepped back with the knife in my hand reflexively because of her
odd behavior. She was approaching me though I was holding a knife and she was restrained with
handcuffs. I stepped back further. I bumped into the wall.
She pounded the wall above my averted head strongly with her restrained hands.
She spoke in a deep, intonationless voice. I shrugged my shoulders and peeked carefully at her.
"You, the sole one who inflicted a defeat on me since I have become a 'box', surrendered to a
half-hearted and frail bunch, you say? Do you want to insult me...? You want to tell me that I'm
lower than those lame bunch of losers, huh...!"
"Don't mess around with me, honestly, don't mess around with me! Don't talk such utter
nonsense! There's no way your belief would be broken so easily by such a bunch....!!"
She swung her restrained hands down again. I closed my eyes reflexively. The wall clanged. A
loud sound above my head. I opened my eyes slowly and found her snarling face that had
reddened in vexation right in front of mine.
"O-oi! What's wrong, Otonashi? Have you gone insane because of the shock that he betrayed
you?"
"You be quiet."
"...I felt that something was wrong since the call. But I was convinced you'd never cooperate
with them. That's why I believed Miyazawa's words. Yet, you're like this... Shit! This is just
bollocks!"
Otonashi-san looked down at my knife as if she had just now noticed, and sneered even more
with an amazed expression.
"...What's with this kitchen knife? Will you stab me when I don't obey you? Haha, very funny.
Go ahead, stab me! My guard is full of openings. Come on! Come on come on! As if you could!"
"Uuh..."
"Ruu-cha --- my sister was taken hostage. I have no other choice than to obey them."
"You are a man who was prepared to make his beloved girl get run over by a truck."
I held my breath.
"No, you see, shouldn't you deny that he's [Kazuki Hoshino] since he has done such a thing to
you? So why are you convinced that guy's [Kazuki Hoshino]?"
Right, Miyazawa-kun cannot ignore this. His aim was ab initio to make her mix up [Kazuki
Hoshino] and [Yuuhei Ishihara].
"You say quite strange things, don't you? Kazuki is Kazuki of course. There's no way this would
change."
"Why on earth can you distinguish them!? ...ah, I see. You're persuading yourself. Because you
believed that the voice that appealed for help belonged to [Kazuki Hoshino], you're maintaining
this mistake all the time and don't doubt him."
Miyazawa-kun frowned.
"Don't lie! Do you mean you recognized that it was a recorded voice?"
"No."
"So why on earth would you notice that it's not [Kazuki Hoshino]!?"
"------Ah."
I remembered.
I remembered the name I called when I was mounted and hit by Daiya, all alone in the music
room.
Exactly, she's right! I could never call her «Aya» when seeking seriously for help. I mean, this is
the name of the person I have once fought against.
"If it was as you explained, saving [Yuuhei Ishihara] would be the same as saving Kazuki."
"...Wait a sec. Wouldn't this mean that you're perceiving Kazuki Hoshino as [Yuuhei Ishihara]
right now?"
"Yeah, I actually did. But I know that it's [Kazuki Hoshino] by taking a glance at him."
"......Oi, oi! You're totally lying now. In actual fact, you weren't able to distinguish them until
now!"
"This was only about the timing of the shift. I just need to observe the movements of his facial
muscles for about three seconds to see the difference. I can now recognize Kazuki as Kazuki."
"Why?!"
"Because I have been together with Kazuki longer than anyone else on the world."
"Ah---"
I let out a voice involuntarily and put my hand on her shoulder. She turned around to me
astonishedly.
"What's the matter, Hoshino? You surely aren't about to remove her handcuffs just because of
this clichéd nonsense, right? You know what happened to your sister if you do so, right?"
"Umm, Otonashi-san."
If I say it, I won't be able to turn back anymore. But I have already decided, even though I
wavered.
"You don't even need to ask. I couldn't hinder you even if I wanted because of the handcuffs."
Despite having pounded against the wall without fearing the knife, she said so.
"------Ah."
I was thrown to the ground of the sea. The second time I see the ground of the sea. It's an
unchanging scene in which everyone looks happy. However, it's just a lie that everyone can be in
happiness her. Someone is crying in the midst of them. Someone who knows that this bliss is just
a lie and cannot join them. I have already heard this crying.
It's grueling.
Because I know that I cannot do anything against this utter solitude of her?
"------I'm sorry."
Why did I only think she was using me as a mere bait for '0'? Why did I only think she was
making light of my everyday life?
There's no way she would do such things - she, who puts everyone else first.
She believed that I would be able to fight against the 'Sevennight in Mud' even alone. That's why
she didn't seek contact with me after I rejected her.
"I'm sorry."
I said it once more. She averted her eyes, seeming a bit awkward.
"...No, I might have not considered things enough. I arbitrarily had high hopes of you, without
considering that you forgot all the happenings inside the 'Rejecting Classroom'...
maybe. ......umm, I noticed just now, so please forgive me."
"I'll tell you something I didn't tell you before because I thought you'd grasp it on your own.
Kazuki, your everyday life won't return. However--"
She returned her glance, relaxed the corners of her mouth slightly and said:
Aah---
I am... me.
I took the keys out from my pocket. I inserted them into the lock of her handcuffs.
"...what are you doing, Hoshino!? You abandon the life of your sister just to be fancied by your
lover?! You really are horrible..."
"No. Sure enough, I decided. But it's not like I abandon my older sister."
"So what? If you don't obey, Ruka Hoshino is going to get killed!"
"She won't."
"It's simple."
I don't need to obey them anymore. I don't need to restrict myself on the choices they prepared
for me.
I turned the keys round. The handcuffs opened and fell to the ground. I grasped her free hands.
She looked at me, I looked at her.
When I did so, she, really just for a split second, ---
"I may not need to say this specifically. I believe that you will fulfill this condition anyway.
However, I, too, feel anxiety and it quite hurt me. So please let me say it."
Maria averted her eyes once. Then she looked again at me and said clearly:
Aah... I see.
I became alone pointlessly, but it wasn't just me that had to suffer because of this. At the same
time I let Maria all alone and made her suffer.
Since this 'Rejecting Classroom', Maria was always [Aya Otonashi]. She is trying to be the 'box'
itself. Her real self, [Maria Otonashi], isn't anywhere.
Right, I am the only one who can call her «Maria», because I am the only one who witnessed her
first school transfer.
If I forget, [Maria Otonashi] will be forgotten by really everyone - probably even by herself - and
will vanish.
"Stop it already!"
"Isn't this ridiculous? Collude or not, it doesn't change anything! Kazuki Hoshino will be taken
over and his sister, Ruka, will be killed. Or do you perhaps think you could just enter your
imaginary world?"
"You cannot win! After all, [Yuuhei Ishihara] has killed himself. You can't possibly find a dead
guy! Of course, you can't destroy the 'box' either. How will you solve this problem? Come on,
tell me!"
He is... right.
The 'owner', Miyazawa-kun's younger brother, isn't here anymore. We can't do anything against
this fact.
Miyazawa-kun opened his eyes wide for a second after hearing Maria's words, but then he saw
her low spirited expression and curled his mouth up.
"Huhu, well understandable. You cannot possibly find a dead person after all!"
......Oh?
What is this strange feeling? I feel something's terribly wrong with Miyazawa-kun's delight.
What...?
«It's too late - got it? I cannot protect the person I want to protect anymore.»
He did say so. That he helps to complete the 'Sevennight in Mud' is because it's the only way to
protect 'himself'. Because his «younger brother» that was just this important to him had died.
I see.
"------That's a lie."
When I murmured this, Miyazawa-kun turned around to me right away.
"You said he's dead, but that's a lie. It's a matter of course if you think about it. You'd never do
such a thing, nor would you allow it."
"......What are you babbling, Hoshino? Don't try to wrench the meaning in your favor!"
"Yeah."
"So you would never talk about his dead with a laugh, right?"
Of course I just thought it was unnatural, so it doesn't really count as evidence. Hence, if
Miyazawa-kun evaded my question composedly, he would have deceived me again.
But---
I said this line. He himself had once told this to me. I continued my talk when he had raised his
head.
He opened his eyes wide and opened his mouth. I looked silently at him, but he clenched his fist,
grinded his teeth and scowled at me.
"------Sh... it...!"
He then started walking unsteadily and passed by in front of us. He stretched his hands out
towards the desk and picked the mobile phone up.
He operated the phone wordlessly, pressed it against his ear and listened to something.
"I should have been able to save him before it happened. If I had noticed his pain earlier, I could
have averted it. And yet, I was intoxicated with my own unhappiness and overheard his scream
for help, although he was supposed to be my important person. This is the outcome of it."
"I know it's already too late. I know I can't make it in time anymore. But you know? He's still
screaming! I don't want to... hear this scream anymore."
"I will stop his tears. For this sake I'll bear up any sin and any punishment. I have just this much
resolution! If you have complaints, just tell me!!"
Maria declared.
"You stopped your thinking. You have not chosen anything. You're just trying to cover your ears
because you don't want to hear this scream. You're just enjoying the pains of fighting
meaninglessly against us."
She dropped her gaze once, but then she spit out the next words.
".........So, what?"
"Will you undo this outcome full of corpses, or what? You wouldn't be able to. I cannot acquire a
bright future, no matter how much I struggle. So I want to at least grant him what he wishes for.
That's all. So---"
"Maria!!"
Maria grabbed his outstretched right hand quickly and twisted it. Miyazawa-kun cried out faintly
and dropped the stun gun.
"Ugh---"
I picked up this stun gun. Maria is able to restrain him, but she can't use more violence than this.
Therefore, it's my turn.
I accepted his scowl without averting my eyes. I won't back off. If he points enmity at me, I have
to follow suit.
"Sorry."
"Okay."
But when I was about to leave the room, my right leg was grabbed.
"---!"
I turned hurriedly around. Miyazawa-kun had grabbed my right leg in collapsed state. But with a
strength I could easily shake off.
"......Sorry."
What...?
"Sorry for not making it in time. Sorry that I wasn't able to save you in time. I'll get stronger... I'll
get stronger for both of us... so please, give me just one more chance...!"
Aah, no.
I bit on my lips and lifted my right leg. I was easily able to shake his hand off.
I turned on. His head fell down silently and stopped moving.
---Sorry.
But maybe, this apology was also directed at [me]... I suddenly thought so.
I noticed that I had been restrained with hand- and footcuffs and was lying on a Futon on the
ground. But I couldn't think properly yet, being still in a daze.
I struggle and struggle to no avail, sink deeper and deeper, and in the end forget for what sake I
struggle. I even become unable to struggle. I just sink deeper into the mud. My body gets filled
with mud. I become mud myself. My inside and my outside, both become only mud. Therefore,
lose sight of my contours since they're painted out.
I cannot see myself anymore.
......I, huh.
[TL Note: Japanese has several ways to say 'I'. He's referring to 'Boku']
When I entered this body, I first called me like this purposely, but by now I use it completely
naturally. I guess this is not because I'm getting used to it, but because my mind is dragged along
by Kazuki Hoshino's body.
That's why I'm able to believe that I can become Kazuki Hoshino - being dragged along by this
body.
I finally awoke and erected my upper body. I recognized this place because of the pepper mind
fragrance. It's not the apartment of Ryuu Miyazawa - where I should be - but Maria Otonashi's
room.
I heard a weak sleeper's breathing. I looked to the bed and saw Maria Otonashi sleeping turned
to me. Her expression wasn't stretched as always. Her face looked like the one of an girl at my
age when she's sleeping. ....No, she is in fact at the same age as me.
She saw through me right away. Although this time frame between 07:00 and 08:00 belonged to
[Kazuki Hoshino] until yesterday.
"......Hah?"
I still couldn't comprehend the meaning immediately. But then I slowly realized that she had just
made a outrageous statement.
What on earth...?
I had still trouble coming along and was just looking at Maria Otonashi's face. She looked with a
scornful expression at the dumbfounded me, and stood up.
"Well, I think it's time to go. I don't have the leisure to chat with you."
Maria Otonashi took a jacket out of the closet and put it on.
If the 'owner' is alive then this is a plausible action. She opened the door and left without turning
around.
Did our strategy yesterday fail? Otherwise I wouldn't have come under this situation.
I searched my mobile phone in order to phone Ryuu Miyazawa. I saw Kazuki Hoshino's mobile
phone lying on the table. I reached my hands out for it---
"----!"
The mobile phone rang with such a timing that it seemed as if it had waited for me and made me
cringe with fear.
According to the clock, it had just turned 08:00. 08:00 is my time since yesterday. Surely, Ryuu
Miyazawa waited for this time and made a call.
"......Eh?"
It was not the number I had expected. This number surely was --- no, this can't be! The owner of
this number would never call me!
My fingers were trembling faintly, but I acted as if I didn't notice and pressed the Phone-button.
"......hello?"
«......»
The caller kept silent.
«Riko Asami.»
"Wha---"
I became speechless.
"Y-You---"
"Did you think I was dead? Did you think I was killed? Bad luck, huh. We're actually having a
conversation now."
"This is impossible! You can't be alive! Ryuu Miyazawa should have killed you!"
"...hu, huhu, I know this more than enough, but you can only see yourself. How foolish. Don't you
get it? This person would never be able to kill me."
Ryuu Miyazawa cannot kill Riko Asami? ...I can't believe it. Riko Asami should be an eyesore for
Ryuu Miyazawa as well.
"You're a fool to consider having killed someone without using your own hands. You're a piece
of trash one can't even look at. Why can't you get burned in a incinerator as trash is supposed
to?"
I finally accepted the fact that she was not killed and noticed a certain thing.
«Almost like myself in the past? Like I did before starting to pretend to be tough? Like myself
when I was dark and just able to endure? ...I'm surprised you can claim that.»
I haven't changed, she says? I, who have worked this hard all the time? I, who admired Maria
Otonashi and formed a new self? I, who is going to become Kazuki Hoshino? ...I have not
changed?
"...Don't kid with me! Did you call me because you wanted to pester me or what?"
Upon hearing my enmity, she, who should have been timid in the past, spoke:
«Yes!»
"...Eh?"
«You know? I can't forgive someone like you who's trying to overtake someone other's
body. ...Honestly, what's that? You ought to know your place. You ought to drop dead.
Therefore---»
«You know I'm able to, right? After all, I, Riko Asami, am the 'owner'.»
I lost even the words to counter her and fell into silence. My hands were trembling.
[TL Note: Now 'Atashi' was used as 'I'. This is used by girls.]
[TL Note: You got it. The owner's Riko Asami. However, in the story she was always referred to
with 'he'. That is because it wasn't possible to address her neutrally in English.]
Come to think of it, Miyazawa-kun has only said «siblings», but did never mention «younger
brother». I arbitrarily considered her a boy because she spoke with my, a male, voice and called
herself «Yuuhei Ishihara» at that. Of course he didn't correct me on purpose, probably.
But I would have never dreamed of Asami-san being Miyazawa-kun's younger sister. After all
they don't have the same last name and I have never heard such rumors. Despite visiting our
classroom every day, she didn't show any signs of it. I suppose they were concealing their sibling
relationship purposely because of their complicated family affairs.
Perhaps she did not only come to our classroom to meet Maria, but also to see Miyazawa-kun.
I asked Maria, who had come back to the room before I switched to [me], while she was
removing my handcuffs.
"Mh, my suspicion that [Yuuhei Ishihara] might be a girl became strong the time when we
entered the girl's bathroom together."
"......so [Riko Asami] entered the girl's bathroom with my body, right?"
"I grasped her true identity during the research I did thereafter. Most of Miyazawa's prior
classmates during his middle school time knew of his blood relationship with Asami. I then
discovered the corpses at her home and became confident that Riko Asami is the 'owner'."
Maria told me that she had been searching for Asami-san after discovering on her own that
Asami-san's the 'owner', but she found neither hide nor hair of her.
Maria crouched down, looked for something under the bed and tore something off.
"I installed a IC-Recorder under the bed. I thought that Miyazawa or someone might call her and
leak something we don't know yet."
Maria pressed the play button of recorder. She searched for a place [Riko Asami] speaks by
pressing repeatedly on the 'fast forward' button.
«......hello?»
"Yeah."
The voice of the other party was almost unbearable. But it was probably the voice of a girl. At
the very least, it wasn't Miyazawa-kun.
I tried checking up the history of my mobile phone on the table. She cleared the received and
dialed calls history as it seems, I didn't find any new entries.
Maria connected the recorder to her notebook, downloaded the sound file and started listening to
it with headphones. I guess she does so to hear out all details.
After a while, she held the headphones out to me. I nodded and put them on.
«Riko Asami.»
I doubted my ears.
I listened to it for a while, but started having doubts. This is Asami-san? But she doesn't speak
like the Asami-san I know. Asami-san doesn't usually speak so calmly and subduedly. The
personality of the Riko Asami I know is the same as the one of [Yuuhei Ishihara] --- no, [Riko
Asami].
But which reminds me, Asami-san acted strange since April 30th. Right, she seemed somehow
dismal. So her odd attitude wasn't necessarily because Maria made me a boxed lunch. Come to
think of it, the 'Sevennight in Mud' had already started at that time.
I flinched a moment from her ill will, but pulled myself up and objected.
"...And how to you plan to take the 'box' out? Do you know how to, or what?"
«I want to escape. I also want to erase you because I hate you. I'm able to do both at the same
time. You know what I mean, don't you? For this method I just need---»
Aah, I see. Those are the same words as I had once sent to Kazuki Hoshino.
«Don't tell me you really thought you could take over Kazuki Hoshino's body? I'm so sorry, but
that's impossible! It's impossible that you could ever win against someone, that you could ever
attain happiness! After all you are me. Riko Asami. You should know your place. You should die.
Someone like you should definitely die.»
Like Riko Asami had done in the past, she cursed with a small voice that was almost unhearable.
«You ought to die by hanging that would cause you intestinal voiding so everyone would need to
hold their nose because of you. You ought to die by jumping off a roof so you would bother the
passers-by with your brain that scatters about. You ought to die by jumping in front of a train,
annoying the passengers by splashing all your innards over the platform... that would suit you.
Tell me, what you think?»
"......Stop it!"
I conveyed my great nervousness with those short words, which caused Riko Asami to rejoice.
«What should I stop? To kill myself? Why? Didn't you try to kill me?»
"T-That was because... I hadn't notice that I would vanish if you died."
«Hihaha, don't be silly! Did you think you haven't vanished yet? Brilliant. This is just too
brilliant. ...did you perhaps seriously think you could become Kazuki Hoshino?»
"I can! If you don't hinder me, I can become Kazuki Hoshino! And then I will steal his
happiness!"
«Aha. Doesn't matter, though. After all I'll commit suicide anyway.»
"Enemy?"
«Yes, enemy. You should know that your self, especially your former self, is your enemy.»
"Stop kidding me! Though I could become Kazuki Hoshino if it wasn't for you, why are you like
this?! Horrible! You really are horrible!"
Having heard those words, Riko Asami started to giggle joyfully at the other side of the phone.
"What's so funny?!"
«'Horrible', huh!»
"Uh, ghu---"
I held my chest to the welling-up nausea.
Gross. Why, why... Why did I have to talk with Riko Asami...? Ryuu Miyazawa told me he had
killed her, so did he lie to me?
This was no threat. I know that because I know Riko Asami better than anyone. She, who hates
herself more than anyone else, would never accept the completion of this 'box'.
Probably she will crush the 'box' at the night of May 05th.
Because she wants to wear me out by making me wait down to the last moment.
To avert this, we had to kill Riko Asami. ...But even if Ryuu Miyazawa had killed her, I would
have vanished because the destruction of the 'box'.
So what? Does this mean I'm destined to vanish, no matter how hard I try?
"......What should---"
I'm cornered. I'm caught by Maria Otonashi, cannot take contact to Ryuu Miyazawa and am
about to get erased by Riko Asami.
Why did it turn out like this...! The time progress was originally only to corner Kazuki Hoshino!
I?
[TL Note: She got, as mentioned above, used to call herself "Boku". But now Riko just called
herself "Atashi" which is used mainly by women.]
Didn't I stop calling myself like this when I got into this body? Didn't I stop using it naturally?
No, nononononono! I am not «Riko Asami»! I am no one, a fabrication, that will eventually
become Kazuki Hoshino-----
"To think you could escape from your own deed just by this; I find this childish side of you
terribly adorable."
No. That's not true. I can --- escape from Riko Asami.
And still,
"Ah, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH"
A giant amount of memories came to mind at once. Memories that should have been forgotten
when I entered this body came to mind. Though I can't process such an amount all at once, they
came to mind unavoidably.
What I saw was the scene of the first time Yuuhei Ishihara used violence against Riko Asami.
The 13-aged Riko Asami was bawling, frightened of this brute who had a deep red face.
Aah, yes. It was like this at the beginning. His first act of violence was scolding Riko Asami's
temper. The 13-aged Riko Asami hated him because he wasn't his real father, considered him an
enemy and expressed her ill will. Yuuhei Ishihara couldn't bear this up in the end, and thus made
a move in violence.
This was the trigger to an everyday life of violence. Well, which may be plausible because that
undesired problem child became silent and obedient when using violence. So violence against
Riko Asami became an effective and pleasant method for that brute.
It was equally pleasant for the mother who was greatly embarrassed by Riko Asami's temper.
Riko Asami had been trying to destroy this family, and thus had been riotous. This was a
problem that had bothered this old bat all the time.
Morals change depending on the environment. Riko Asami's opposition against the violence and
the family started to disappear slowly. Everyone, including Riko Asami herself, stopped
questioning this violence.
They stopped questioning the violence, but this didn't change the fact that Riko Asami's heart
continued being torn up.
Riko Asami heard the sound of her heart being torn up countless times. This was not a powerful
sound, but a modest one as if someone threw a little stone into a pond. At first she only thought
"Aah, it torn up again" when she had heard this sound, but after a while she noticed that she
lacked something important.
This man's violence, that was inferior to a real brute's one, would certainly not be of interest for
outsiders, being common. It would be expressed with "ill-treatment" or some other simple word.
This single word would probably give one the feeling of comprehension.
The gaps of Riko Asami's lacking heart were settled by violence. Which meant that Riko Asami
would accept this violence when starting to like herself.
The next thing I saw was the scene of the entrance ceremony of the high school.
She, who stood at the platform as top student --- Maria Otonashi.
Riko Asami saw her and drowned. Just by looking at Maria Otonashi and hearing her voice,
Riko Asami became unable to breathe and crouched painfully down.
This is a thing.
She seemed like the lifework of a craftsman. She had just this much directivity and intentionality,
she looked almost artistic. She was this kind of absurd being.
This is it. This is what she needed to escape from herself. She needed to make a perfect fake self,
as Maria Otonashi had done.
Riko Asami started to cut her self loose. She threw her gloomy self away and created a neutral
and strong self. But she didn't do as well as Maria Otonashi. The more Riko Asami came to know
her, the more she realized that it would not be possible to imitate her. Maria Otonashi was able
to create a perfect self because she's out of standard. No one else would ever be able to imitate
this.
Everything had ended. Riko Asami's all had been trampled down there, and had been destroyed
once and for all.
I was crying.
I must not admit this. I must absolutely not admit being Riko Asami!
I won't forgive [Kazuki Hoshino]. I won't forgive him, who blathers about everyday life being
happiness, and all the ones that don't even know that they can only laugh because they're
stealing someone other's happiness.
I'll have the last laugh. I'll show it to this [Kazuki Hoshino] who doesn't even try to comprehend
my misfortune.
I'll use you. Maria Otonashi doesn't mix me and [Kazuki Hoshino] up anymore. So I cannot
deceive her anymore. So I just need to use the original one. I'll threaten [Kazuki Hoshino], make
him obey me and deceive her.
He shall call forth his own ruin and fall into despair. He shall become unable to call the
everyday life happiness.
"[Kazuki Hoshino], I'll kill your entire family. I'll massacre them brutally. I'll cut them up and
kill them so brutally that you won't be able to recognize the corpses anymore. So better do what I
say. If you do, I spare them depending on my mood. Absolutely don't let Maria Otonashi hear
this message. Okay then, these are my instructions---"
May 04 (Monday) 12:06
«---I'll kill you. And then I'll become Kazuki Hoshino. And then again, don't tell anything to
Maria Otonashi!»
"...how foolish."
"Being cornered, she lost completely sight of her situation. There's no way I would not listen to
this message in such a situation."
Various insults and "Deceive Maria Otonashi and slip out of this captivation!" were contained in
the voice file.
I wasn't frightened of this threat. No matter how much [Riko Asami] tries to appeal, now that we
work together, it's impossible for her to commit murder with this body.
Maria, who had formed her mouth to a straight line, had surely the same impressions.
Maria had examined Riko Asami's circumstances yesterday and the day before yesterday. What
she found out was, while being rumors, awfully cruel.
Furthermore --- those corpses, which are a mistake that cannot be undone, do exist in actual fact.
As long she doesn't complete the 'Sevennight in Mud', a future with no hope is awaiting her.
"......Oh?"
"No, I was just confused a little. Uum, Asami-san and [Riko Asami] spoke together, which
means both of them exist separately, right? ...is this even possible?"
"This just means that Asami had more or less common-sense. She was trying to take you over,
but could not fully believe in slipping into other people. That's how it came to be like this."
"It's not about real and fake. But «Asami» continued to suffer without change when [Riko
Asami] was brought forth by the 'Sevennight in Mud'."
«Asami-san» could not escape even after obtaining the 'Sevennight in Mud'. Being left behind,
she's planning to commit suicide - taking [Riko Asami] with her.
"We absolutely must prevent her suicide. That's another reason to find Asami. But where on
earth is she? ...Damn it, but there's only one day left!"
It's Maria who puts everyone else first. Asami-san dies and the 'Sevennight in Mud' ends - she
cannot allow such an outcome.
"...ah well, it just came to mind. I was thinking that things might move when we responded to the
threat purposely and let [Riko Asami] act..."
"Let's assume we responded to the threat and let [Riko Asami] free. Then... right, I suppose she
would visit Ryuu Miyazawa."
"...I don't think so. If he knew, he would never support completing the 'Sevennight in Mud'."
"You have a point... but then again, he told us that we will never find Asami. So this statement
would lose its basis. ...Does Miyazawa misunderstand anything...?"
"...Doesn't help thinking about it. For now let's just assume that Miyazawa doesn't know Asami's
present condition."
I nodded.
"But is there any meaning in letting [Riko Asami] act on her own? We don't need [Riko Asami]
but the Asami who's the 'owner', you know?"
"...err, I think there is meaning. Guessing from what we heard through the IC recorder, I think
[Riko Asami] knows how to come into contact with «Asami-san»."
"Cooperate with [Riko Asami] and let her come into contact, huh? That's impossible. It's hardly
thinkable that a girl who makes such a threat would live up to your expectations."
"Or do you plan to break her heart, make her surrender and make her obey you forcefully?"
"Good idea."
But apart from my surprise I had hit upon a method. Being in a similar situation as [Riko Asami],
I hit upon a method to break her heart and make her obey us.
If we let [Riko Asami] go, she will contact Miyazawa-kun. To her, Miyazawa-kun is like Maria
to me.
Therefore---
Involving Miyazawa-kun, making [Riko Asami] fall into despair and destroying the 'Sevennight
in Mud'. Which means that Asami-san is going to return to herself who caused an outcome that
cannot be averted anymore. I don't think there is happiness in the future that would await her
there. What I'm about to do means sacrificing Asami-san.
In fact I have already decided long ago. I decided at the time when I announced «I don't permit
your existence.» to her, when I started perceiving her as enemy.
Maria was looking at me, who had gained determination, with mixed feelings.
"I------"
"That's... not it. I know it can't be helped because you would disappear the other way. However,
even so I cannot accept the inevitable misfortune that awaits Asami."
"...That's not all. If it was just this, I might still be able to endure it. But you know? I noticed."
"I noticed that [Riko Asami] and [Aya Otonashi] are the same."
"...the same?"
"......"
Maria, who is trying to be a 'box' and who is still [Aya Otonashi], and [Riko Asami], who came
forth due to the 'box', are similar in the aspect that both of them are separated from their original
self.
Maria, who says that she's in the same environment, knows Asami-san's feeling all too well.
I don't know what's best to do. I can only say what I understood to the silent Maria.
I continued.
"......Yeah, I know."
Maria had already slipped into the room next to his one. She had confirmed that this next room is
unoccupied last time.
"Come out."
What I'm going to do will hurt him terribly. I was aware of this fact, but did continue nonetheless.
Miyazawa-kun was probably planning to spend the time until May 06th secluded in his room
without contact to [Riko Asami].
But I'm sure he can't ignore [Riko Asami] when she seeks for help directly.
"No."
"I was caught by Maria Otonashi... But I was able to deceive [Kazuki Hoshino] and slip out from
there! However, why did you not answer my phone, Nii-san?"
"---Well... ...Anyway! Why do you call me 'Nii-san'? Haven't you stopped that?"
"Err..."
Asami-san called him «Nii-san» in that phone call, so did she change it?
I suppressed the emerging nervousness and countered quickly with a random explanation that
came to mind.
"I thought it may be weird to not call you «Nii-san» though Maria Otonashi is calling me «Riko
Asami» by now... Leaving that aside, why did I get caught, Nii-san? What should I do now?"
I asked him a question before he could doubt my explanation. Miyazawa-kun kept silent to this
question and bit on his lips.
His expression brought me conviction. Miyazawa-kun is believing that I'm [Riko Asami].
I want him to say that he won't save [Riko Asami] anymore. I want him to say that he will help
us. That way I won't have to torment him anymore.
Not able to grasp the situation, he opened his eyes wide to those words.
"......Huh?"
He did, however, still not grasp the situation and stood completely still.
"Hoshino...?"
He murmured. He stayed dumbfounded for a while, but at last he noticed that [Kazuki Hoshino]
was imitating [Riko Asami] and seized me by the collar with wild anger dwelling in his eyes.
"What are you up to, you bastard?! Is it fun to tease me?! Do you know just how repugnant
you're acting, HUH?!"
"I know..."
I started wavering when I was about to open my mouth. Because the words I was going to say
would easily hurt him.
"Miyazawa-kun, it's just that you try to help [Riko Asami] reflexively when she seeks for help.
Maria told you, didn't she? You haven't chosen anything."
The sharpness remained in his eyes, but his grip on my collar weakened slightly.
"You were about to save her again right now after all. But it wasn't your sister, but me who
sought for help, you know?"
"Tell me, Miyazawa-kun. Is a mysterious being you can't even distinguish from me really so
important?"
I'm sure he wants to counter my ill will. But unable to object, he just kept biting on his lips so
much that they turned white.
"Feel free to save your sister. I can't do anything about that! But you know? [Riko Asami] is not
your sister. Come on, Miyazawa-kun, tell me once again:"
I posed my question.
"......Damn it!!"
He raised his fist to take his anger out on the wall... stopped this, however, and dumped down.
"Just do what you want! If you want to stop the 'Sevennight in Mud', do it away from me. Don't
bother me anymore. I won't interfere anymore."
"It's literally as I said. This much determination, this much resolution is not enough. You will
have to actively destroy the 'Sevennight in Mud' for us."
"You bastard --- are you aware of what you're saying?! You seriously want me to help you
torment her?!"
"Don't shit me!! There's no way I could to that! I won't interfere... you should know that this is
my limit!"
"Well, yeah, I know. After all you were about to help her a few moments ago, right?"
"......"
"That's why I'm saying that it's not enough. Nothing will change with just this amount of
resolution! [She] will still come to you and depend without doubt. And you would eventually
hold out your hand again; You'd basically be supporting the 'Sevennight in Mud'!"
"But you have to make a decision. [Riko Asami] will soon come here."
"......What?"
"[Riko Asami] urged me to escape from Maria by threatening me. I decided to act as if I obeyed
her demand. [She] will definitely come to you when she thinks that I complied to her demand."
"...of course I do! I'm aware of it all even without you! But rejecting her... that's just impossible,
isn't it...?"
This is troublesome. Miyazawa-kun must reject [Riko Asami]. He must make her fall into
despair. Therefore I went on to the last step.
"I was always wondering. Why do you, Miyazawa-kun, believe in the existence of the
'Sevennight in Mud'? I mean, isn't it quite unbelievable for someone who has never obtained a
'box' that [Riko Asami] is inside me?"
"Can you not come up with the reason? Okay, I'll tell you! I can only think of one reason to
believe the existence of the 'box'. Tell my, Miyazawa-kun, you have ---"
"I don't know how you have met him. But I know that '0' wanted you to help [Riko Asami]."
"------"
I guess he didn't understand right away who I meant with '0'. '0' can originally not be perceived
by anyone but the 'owner'. I was only able to perceive him when I was told his name.
And then remembered what he had done to me.
"---Ah"
"I know what you feel since I know '0'. It's not like you forgot him. You just can't remember.
Therefore, you may not be able to remember what he has told you, but it has entered in your
subconsciousness. That's why you were able to believe the 'box'. And he made you think that you
must help [Riko Asami]."
"......W-Wait a moment. Why... Why do you know about this anyway, Hoshino?!"
He raised his head with a trembling voice, unable to hide his fear from me.
"As I said: I don't! But I know that '0' won't achieve his aim when you don't help [Riko Asami]."
"His aim is to observe me. ...Well, you can't understand probably, but it's the truth. But this 'box',
while being interesting to observe, is very frail. [Riko Asami] is just too much at a disadvantage.
Retaining oneself in the body of someone other is painful without doubt. She wouldn't be able to
oppose me as long she doesn't have at least information about what's happening when it's not her
turn. He had to arrange things to allow us to fight, or else this 'box' would just be destroyed
without any enjoyment for him. Hence, '0' used you to achieve a balance."
Having heard those words, Miyazawa-kun lowered his head slowly. Then he stopped any
movement.
This is the last spell that shackling him. A spell implanted to him unknowingly that made him
protect the 'box'. Now that I clarified things to him, this spell should be resolved.
"Okay, I'm off then. It's soon 13:00. I leave it to you how you treat [Riko Asami] when she
comes to meet you. Since [I] won't be there then, I can't stop you."
I didn't reply. Because I realized that he just didn't want to admit his defeat.
"......"
I walked towards the stairs. I heard immediately someone rushing to me from the next room. But
I did not turn around.
"Kazuki... why didn't you tell me that '0' had been interfering!"
It's not like I didn't tell her. It occurred to me right before we arrived here. There was no time to
tell her.
But this anger of her was pleasant to me. I leaned my head on Maria's shoulder.
I am the enemy of [Riko Asami]. Thus I have to make [Riko Asami] surrender, even if this
means to use Miyazawa-kun.
I was about to sacrifice someone for my own sake. That's why I longed for someone to blame me.
To scold me with "You're repulsive!".
"......"
I wonder why?
Why was this so pleasant, despite being the exact opposite of what I was wishing her to do?
There was no fragrance of peppermint. AtashiI was holding a weekly Manga magazine in my
hands as I had once done before. I was able to slip out of Maria Otonashi's room.
"Haha!"
I left the shop and made sure of my whereabouts. I know this main street. Ryuu Miyazawa's
apartment should be nearby.
His face was pale. The rings under his glasses turned even darker. And he did not speak
anything. He was just looking silently at me.
"......Nothing."
His denial showed me, however, that something had definitely happened.
His answer had no intonation whatsoever and hence sounded almost mechanical. Something was
obviously wrong. Well, he seemed strange already before, but this strangeness went a step
further.
"...What's that?"
Nii-san answered dispiritedly. Maria Otonashi must have done something to him. It can't be
explained in any other way.
"Yeah."
"...«Atashi», huh."
"Hah?"
[TL Note: Again the matter of Boku/Atashi. See above for details.]
"You stole this time frame at the third day. Therefore it's you with no doubt. That's why I can be
sure. But if it was 14:00... I would probably assume that Hoshino is trying again to deceive me
and wouldn't notice that it's you. Unlike Maria Otonashi, I cannot distinguish you guys by your
usage of your facial muscles, you know."
"Hah? «Ryuu Miyazawa» of course, haven't I been calling you like this all the time?"
"Stop that weird talk and better tell me what happened yesterday!"
"Okay."
After he nodded, Ryuu Miyazawa sat down on his seat and stared into the black monitor.
I expected him to continue, so I waited for him while he was just staring into the monitor without
movement. However, he did not talk.
I see. That's what he's up to. He will again just cover his ears and ignore everything.
"You regret that you noticed Riko Asami's misfortune when you rushed to her because of her beg
for help --- and that she involved you in this matter, right? Exactly! If you remained untold, you
would have been able to live carelessly, just lamenting your own misfortune. If you didn't answer
Riko Asami's phone that time---"
He intercepted me.
"I only regret that I didn't notice earlier. If I did, I would have been able to avert all this.
Therefore, this incident is from the origin to the outcome all my fault. I don't want to make such
a mistake anymore!"
"That's why I decided to continue helping Riko out. No matter what, this decision won't change."
"......Nii-san"
"'Nii-san', huh."
Nii-san nodded slightly.
"Why so late? ---Well, I don't mind! My goal is to obtain Kazuki Hoshino. To make [Kazuki
Hoshino] surrender for this sake. To torment Kazuki Hoshino so much to make him scratch his
own neck sore, to make him succumb so heavily that he submits his own body with the words
'Please be my master' while genuflecting."
Nii-san murmured a few times "You did, you did," lowered his gaze and stopped talking. This
seemed weird to me, so I peeked into his face.
"------Eh?"
As it seems he didn't notice until I told him; Nii-san confirmed that he was crying by touching his
cheeks surprisedly and wiped his tears roughly away with his arm.
How long has it been since I've last seen Nii-san's tears? Last time was probably when we
noticed the deception of our parents. Nii-san stopped crying entirely after that. To be able to
continue fighting against an invisible something inside him, he stopped showing any weakness to
others.
He murmured.
"I made this decision. I decided to help my sister out. My weak Riko. I decided to help her out at
least this time, because I had failed to support her when I was busy with my own issues. I
decided. To save her. To save her, save her, save her, save her, save her, save her. I did decide
this, but ---"
"Riko is the one I decided to save. But --- who are you? Tell me, who on earth are you!?"
"No one. You said so yourself a few minutes ago, didn't you?"
"Exactly. You can't be Riko. If you were Riko, why would you look like Kazuki Hoshino? But you
aren't Kazuki Hoshino either. So who are you? Tell me... why should I help out a completely
unknown guy? I don't give a fuck about you!!"
This is wrong.
"For me you're just a fake of my sister, who I cannot distinguish from [Kazuki Hoshino]!"
"N-Nii-san---"
"Stop that!"
"Aah---"
Nii-san won't save me. Because I'm not Nii-san's sister. Yeah, that's right. I am not Riko Asami.
So who am I? Kazuki Hoshino? No. Not yet. Wait a sec... in the first place, did I really wish to
become Kazuki Hoshino anyway?
"Aah---"
I thought we were a quite happy family. At holidays, we often went to the shopping street,
watched movies or went to shabu-shabu all-you-can-eat restaurants. We were this kind of family.
My father visited my room always at first when he came home from work, whereupon I used to
urge him unsuccessfully to knock before entering. My mother made always refined and cute
boxed lunches for me. I quarreled all the time with Nii-san, but even so, we played always
together.
I thought that were all on good terms on the whole. I did never doubt that we could always be
together like other families.
Our household didn't crumble down. It had been a lie from the start.
I remember that Nii-san once said this to me when they told us about the divorce:
«That's great. So we finally needn't act like a happy family anymore. And I'm released from these
feelings of guilt.»
I couldn't grasp the meanings of those words right away. But after a while I understood. I mean,
why did my parents look like they were on good terms though they would be going to divorce
now? Why did they smile awkwardly after treating me kindly?
It was all just pretence to deceive me and make me think we were a happy family. But not even
for my sake - they just did it to soothe their own feelings of guilt.
That's why I thought that «happiness» can only be attained by stealing it from others.
So, what did I want to do? I don't know. I have no idea. No clue. I don't want to know. I don't
have the 'box' anymore, after all.
I ought to slip out of this room quickly. I just have to slip out of here. Then I can still escape.
I tried escaping quickly, but stumbled. Standing up seemed somehow like a waste of time to me,
so I headed towards the door almost crawling.
For some reason, slender, beautiful legs, like from a model, appeared in front of my eyes.
I looked up.
"W-Why---"
Such a timing... don't tell me...?! I turned around and looked at Nii-san. He was holding his head
in his arms and secluded himself from everything around him. Nii-san knew that Maria Otonashi
was right nearby. He had already decided to abandon me. Knowing that I would come, he had
already decided from the start to hand me over to Maria Otonashi.
"One can't possible throw oneself away. Even if you did, your self would come chase after you.
You knew this from the beginning. That's why you cannot throw yourself away even if you have
the 'box'. What you can achieve with your 'wish' in the 'box' doesn't go further than this. You
cannot gain anything in the 'Sevennight in Mud'. You are just slowly sinking into the mud."
She, whom I adored, said this to me, who was unable to be like her.
So what about you? Can you, too, gain nothing because you have thrown yourself away?
I have to escape. But where to? This room isn't my refuge and Maria Otonashi is blocking the
way in front of me. I'm still just crawling on the floor and can't do anything. I can't go anywhere.
"Let me ask you a question. I asked this already once ago, but answer me once more. Tell me ---"
I'm---
"Who am I...?"
She took her mobile phone out for some reason and held it to me, who was sitting on the ground.
«You are nobody at all; You're just an enemy who only exists to be defeated by me.»
"No......"
I admitted it, but then I realized that I just made a big mistake.
I mean, I cannot possibly become Kazuki Hoshino anymore, now that I admitted being Riko
Asami. I cannot make myself think so anymore. My retreat was cut off with this.
"Aa, aaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"
The 'box' started suddenly to swell up. It rushed through my veins like a bullet and hurts my
whole body, it hurts, aah, I can't endure it! Stop it, it hurts, stop it, someone save me! I want to
take it out! But I cannot take it out, I can't, I can't. The 'box' doesn't exist in this body! But then
why does it hurt? Stop it, stop it stop it!!
I made a mistake. I mistook the 'wish' to seek from the 'box'. I don't need such a body. That
doesn't make any sense. I... I only ---
Happiness doesn't await me anymore, since I have stepped on a way stained in blood.
I clang on the girl who succeeded in becoming another self, who called herself 'box'.
Strangely enough, I noticed immediately that it was because of tears that my field of vision was
blurry.
I wiped off those tears, and saw Maria standing in front of me, suppressing her feelings.
May 5
I'm dreaming.
I toyed with the rabbit plush, that misses one ear, in front of the corpses. I plunged my index
finger into the torn-open seam and widened the hole.
I put my fingers into the head and moved them around. The shape of the rabbit's head changed.
The touch of cotton feels good. Back and forth, up and down. The eyeball came unstuck. Cotton
fell out of its torn-up face.
I looked at my hands. Except for the fact that they're stained with blood, that began to dry, they
shouldn't have changed. But those hands looked to me as if they rotted and became pitch black.
My body is full with something like mud that consists only of hatred. I want to cut my body up
and scrape this mud out.
"I see. This is rather interesting."
"Hyy!"
This sudden voice startled me so much my heart had leapt into my throat.
"This is an outstanding distortion for an incident that happened nearby to this boy. I'm interested
indeed. The way you're involved in this incident is splendid and your feelings for this boy seem
amusing, too."
He looks... Aah, right, that's because it's a dream, huh. He looked obscure as if he was veiled in
haze. I couldn't even recognize his gender.
I looked at Nii-san without thinking. He did not notice this person yet as it seems and was still
crying soundlessly in dismay.
Where am I anyway? This was supposed to be my home, but something's wrong. It didn't feel
real, almost as if I slipped into a photo.
"You are a very interesting being as well, though not as much as this boy. I knew already that
humans get empty inside when they hate themselves, but observing this with my very own eyes is
truly amusing. I see no reason to not give you a 'box'."
He is charming. Incredibly.
He said so in his charming voice and held some kind of container out to me. As he mentioned,
this looked like a box. But for some reason I could not perceive it clearly, although it was
virtually right in front of me.
I tried touching it.
I realized that it's «real» just by this. Not because of something like logic, but because I felt with
my entire body that it is «real».
I accepted it.
"Picture your wish precisely to yourself. That's all! Humans have the ability to grant wishes from
the beginning. Therefore, this 'box' isn't so special. It merely simplifies your wish and makes it
easier to be granted like that."
My 'wish' is to stop being Riko Asami. To become someone other than Riko Asami, whom I
despise.
The first that came to mind was my adored Maria Otonashi. But this is impossible. She is no
human after all. She's not a being someone like me could become.
"I wish,"
He is the boy that can call everyday life important as if it was a matter of fact. He is the boy that
obtained Maria Otonashi for some kind of reason.
'Everyday life is important'? Don't kid me. Try saying that again after experiencing my everyday
life! I can't forgive him for enjoying happiness without reason.
When I had spoke this out, the 'box' started folding up. When the 'box' became tiny and hard, it
flew towards me like a bullet and penetrated into my body through my eye. Without leaving me
enough time to feel any pain, it entered my heart and started to rule my entire body over the
veins. I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm being cut up, crushed, torn apart, scattered about, ruled by the 'box',
ruled and --- I vanished.
"An empty human can only picture an empty 'wish'. I'm sorry, but I was fully aware of that, you
know?"
"Aah, how adorable! To think you could escape from your own deed just by this; I find this
childish side of you terribly adorable!"
And then my dream continued with me being thrown into the mud.
But I was just lying on Maria Otonashi's bed like a puppet, lacking the willpower to move. I have
to come in contact with Riko Asami. Even while knowing that, I cannot move.
Maria Otonashi had sat down on a seat and was looking at me all the time.
And yet, I can't move. I can't even avert my eyes from this piercing glance of her.
After a while of exchanging glances, she was finally the one who ran out of patience and averted
her eyes. She stood up and left to somewhere.
She came back after a few moments and pressed a cup of coffee upon me. I just viewed the steam
in front of my eyes. I didn't accept the cup for a long time, which made her run out of patience
again; she started drinking the coffee herself and said something like "Bitter...".
"......Mhh, right, since I'm idle anyway, I'll talk a bit to myself."
"I am a 'box'. I can, in fact, grant 'wishes' exactly as the 'box' does."
"But I'm a failure as 'box'. The happiness I can bring is only fabricated and fake."
She seemed to be talking indifferently, but I could clearly see bitterness in her expression.
"I wonder what happiness is. Is it something you can obtain depending on your sentiments? If so,
can someone who unwillingly erased his entire family obtain happiness just by changing his
heart?"
I thought she was talking about me. But this might not be true.
"I don't know your circumstances exactly. But I don't think you can attain happiness just by
changing one sentiment in your situation. Aren't you thinking so, too?"
"If you don't mind it being flawed, I shall grant you a 'wish'."
Normally one would think this is a blatant lie. But she was deadly serious.
Therefore, this was more than enough, leaving aside whether to believe it or not.
"......really?"
"Yeah. If every path leads you to hell, I shall present you with another one. It may be just an
illusion, but in your case you have no other choice, right?"
If she wanted to raise my hopes just to make me move, she wouldn't speak like this.
"But are you alright with using such an unrealistic power, Maria-san...? Don't you have to pay
some kind of compensation for using your power, like in a Manga?"
"If you phrase it like this, I care about it all the more!"
"Eh...?"
"By using the 'Flawed Bliss', I forget about the target of the wish and the people that had to do
with him up to a certain point. In fact, I have almost no memories. Neither do I have memories of
my family, nor of my friends. I only have the memory that I wished to do so on my own accord."
"What the...?"
"...But doesn't this mean that you would forget about Kazuki Hoshino when using the 'box' on
me...?"
"...I don't get it! Why would you go this far just for my sake? You'd even abandon the memories
of a dear person, why...?"
"That's my affair. As I mentioned before, it's nothing you should care about."
"There's no w---"
"I don't want to see you in misfortune. I wouldn't be able to bear up with this. In the first place,
do you think I would have turned into a 'box' if I overlooked such things!"
If I can escape hell by this, and if it's what she's wishing for, then I shall accept her offer.
Maria Otonashi nodded and handed Kazuki Hoshino's mobile phone over to me.
I noticed that my phone number was noted in the dialed calls history. I guess they tried to call me
on my phone.
I, too, had tried to reach her on that number, but it didn't connect. She didn't phone me from my
number.
"Hello?,"
When completing the note I got from Miyazawa-kun at May 02nd, it turns out like this.
It's 21:43. In other words, [Kazuki Hoshino] has one hour and 17 minutes left until it's 23:00.
[Riko Asami] got in touch with «Asami-san». «Asami-san» accepted our wish to meet her and
stated time and place.
The place that was suggested by «Asami-san» was our school. The school does have a security
system, but it doesn't alarm just by climbing over the school gate.
As expected, her whispering voice was completely different from the speaking style were used
from her.
"I know Maria-san's aim, after all. You came in order to avert my suicide and steal my 'box',
right? But even though this is inconvenient for me, I decided to meet you. Do you know why?"
"I wanted to see you once more for the last time at the end. I wanted to see the person I adored;
the person who achieved what I didn't: creating the perfect self."
"You're wrong."
"You want me to stop you from committing such a silly act like throwing your life away."
"Hmpf, why did you meet us, then? Do you think I can't see that you're afraid from dying?"
"...guarantee?"
"I thought you might kill me when I noticed being afraid from committing suicide."
"......"
There should be other feelings I ought to have. Nervousness, fear, sympathy - those feelings
would be much more natural. And yet, why am I feeling irritation?
"Asami-san."
I had probably noticed this unknowingly. It's only reasonable to get irritated then! This idle talk
is completely meaningless, isn't it?
"To make us believe that there's no escape from the 'Sevennight in Mud', Miyazawa-kun lied to
us that the 'owner' was dead. He tried to make me give up to complete this 'box'."
"...So?"
"I'm sure Miyazawa-kun was convinced that we wouldn't be able to find you. But you're alive.
So where did this conviction come from?"
"Why would you, while being ready to commit suicide in order to stop the 'Sevennight in Mud',
need to cooperate with Miyazawa-kun, who is the ally of [Riko Asami] who wishes its
completion?"
"......This is my original way of talking. I guess you don't know about it, but since middle school-
--"
"Now won't you stop this acting already? You don't want to hide anyway since you decided to
appear before us again, right? So,"
Maria opened her eyes wide and looked at Asami-san--- no, '0'.
The expression on Asami-san's face disappeared. I could no longer feel anything from Riko
Asami in this inhuman face.
"You started this acting already on April 30th, right? Your bad taste is just over the top! Now
that I think of it, Asami-san felt only strange to me at the time. At the next day, Haruaki forgot
that she had been strange. That's because of your characteristic that everyone except of the
'owner' forgets about you, isn't it? You did never enter the classroom because Miyazawa-kun was
there, right?"
"Miyazawa-kun was only able to tell this big lie that Asami-san's dead, because he knew that her
body was taken over by you, '0'. If an inhuman being like you tells him something like «I won't
appear anymore» after taking Asami-san's body over, he would naturally believe it. "
Asami-san did still not change her expression.
"He may have forgotten about your existence, but seems like he hasn't forgotten about the fact
that his sister was taken over by someone. Hence, the only salvation for Miyazawa-kun was to
complete the 'Sevennight in Mud'. This is how you made him [my] enemy. This is how you
prepared the stage to make [me] and [Riko Asami] able to fight each other."
"Huhu"
This void expression crumbled down and Riko Asami vanished completely.
No, the body was still the same. But it's obvious now. Riko Asami cannot exist within this
expression. No human would be able to form such an abysmal smile.
'0' clapped his hands while maintaining the smile. He can keep his composure because he knows
for sure that he's out of our reach, no matter if we found him.
"Amused? Huhu, of course I am! This time was really worth observing. It was truly interesting to
see how Kazuki Hoshino would react when his body was stolen, how he would think, how he
would suffer! I hadn't expected that you would perceive [Riko Asami] distinctly as «enemy» and
hurt her. Huhu, compared to last time it was a very short time, but in return it was luxuriant."
"You pervert."
Maria's insult did, however, not make '0' stop his smile.
What did he just say? Give the 'box' to us? Why? We have not even started the negotiations for
the 'box'...
"Do you want to tell me that this calm attitude of yours is just a bluff and that you're cornered
because we found you?"
"Your answer misses the mark entirely. Why do I need to be cornered? ...I see, it seems there is a
misunderstanding. My goal is not to be your hindrance, but to observe Kazuki Hoshino, you
know? I was able to enjoy observing him more than enough in this 'box'. I have already achieved
my goal. Therefore I have no reason to not give you this no longer used 'box'."
Now that he mentions it, it's evident. '0's goal was not to complete the 'Sevennight in Mud'. No,
if it were completed, this would rather---
"Ah...!"
"Oh, seems like you noticed even though I made no mention of it. How pitiful."
Surely he's happy to have seen my pale face. '0' said so with a smiling expression.
"Exactly, the 'box' you call 'Sevennight in Mud' was not supposed to be completed from the
beginning. Riko Asami is a quite amusing human, really. But I would never sacrifice my dear
object of observation just because of such a minor existence. Letting [Riko Asami] take over
«Kazuki Hoshino»? I can't allow this."
'0' chuckled.
"Therefore, no matter whether you found me or not, I would have given you the 'box' eventually.
Giving you the 'box' readily is not strange at all."
For this sake, I hurt [Riko Asami] and made her suffer. I even involved Miyazawa-kun in this. I
even betrayed Maria once.
And yet,
"Don't you get it? Kazuki's goal is to regain his everyday life. It's only natural that he gives his
all to achieve this goal. That's why nothing would have changed. Even if he was able to guess
that you had no plans to complete the 'Sevennight in Mud', his actions would not have changed."
"Why so?"
Aah, I see. The deed of handing the 'box' over to me is merely a whim he does 'because this ends
up the most amusing for him'.
I would never rely on something like this and not move. Even if it was wasted effort, I would
have gave my all to find a solution for this 'box'.
"I see. But leaving Kazuki-kun aside, for you it was entirely wasted effort. This 'box' can already
not be used again, after all."
"What a laughable simple thinking. Your appearance made me proceed at least a step. Because
you just proofed that I will run across '0' or 'boxes' if I'm together with Kazuki."
"Hm...?"
Having heard her words, '0' opened his eyes wide affectedly.
"Hey, I have already spent a life's time chasing after the 'box'. Why would you doubt my words?"
"No, that's not what I mean! I don't care about your foolishness. I'm asking whether this proof
that you can come across me when being together with Kazuki-kun has any meaning."
Maria's opened her eyes wide to these words. And then she turned slowly pale.
"This proof is meaningless. You plan to leave Kazuki-kun anyway, don't you?"
Wh...at...?
"Huhu, isn't this pale face of her the best proof for the truth of my words? You know, Kazuki-
kun? She's planning to let [Riko Asami] use her 'box'!"
Having touched that 'box', I know. Having seen this ground of the sea, I know.
Letting someone use her own 'box'. This is an absolute taboo. Even I know that using her 'box' is
a fatal mistake.
"If she does so, she will forget about you. Having lost those memories, she will certainly go
away from you guys."
"Because it was always like this when she let someone use her 'box'."
I looked at Maria without knowing. Seeing her biting her lips, I realized that he's telling the truth.
"...Didn't I tell you? I cannot accept the inevitable misfortune that awaits Asami."
For this sake you don't mind ignoring your own desires...?
Aah, I see. She was always like this. She is a person who can even throw her own life away to
save another person.
"I am a 'box'. I am no human. I have to exist for the sake of saving others. Right, because of this-
--"
Weren't those the true feelings of Maria? Weren't those the true feelings of the girl that could no
longer bear up against solitude?
But I can't tell her that it's wrong carelessly. Not knowing what made her gain so much
resolution, I can't deny her.
"Maria."
Therefore I can only speak out this name, that only I had been able to call, and confront her with
my own feelings.
"......Kazuki."
"That's cruel! While telling me to not lose sight of you, you plan to lose sight of me! That's just
cruel!"
Maria looked at the ground after hearing my cry and bit on her lips.
I gripped Maria's right hand forcedly which made her stop her words. She looked at me wide-
eyedly.
"Because I believe in something you may not be able to believe in and what may make you
irritated."
"I believe that there is no despair that can't be solved by the everyday life."
I noticed that her fingers were more delicate than I had expected. No, not only her fingers.
Maria's entire body is delicate. Contrastive to her personality.
"Therefore Asami-san will be all right, even if the 'Sevennight in Mud' gets destroyed. There's no
way only despair would await her!"
She whispered.
I mean, she seeks for the 'box'. There's no way she could accept me, who believes in the
everyday life, despite seeking for the 'box' that brings destruction to the everyday life.
"...What?"
"I admit that despair might await Asami-san. But there is even hope within this despair! At least
I know of one."
"What hope...?"
"There is a person that values Asami-san just this much. Can't this become her hope?"
"...Surely this would apply if nothing had happened. But Asami is going to go to prison for a
long time without doubt because of that incident."
"But even so, if the two of them combine their power, they will be all right. If they realize how
dear they are to each other, they will be all right! Don't you think so?"
"......"
"Maybe I'm just conceiting myself to understand Asami-san. There is still one hour left to [Riko
Asami]. You can still confirm her feelings before coming to a decision! ...No, don't just confirm,
please help her find hope. I'm sure there is."
Upon hearing my sudden words, Maria raised an eyebrow and raised her head.
"Because of all this we had no time to enjoy our holidays, right? But, you know, tomorrow still a
holiday, so umm..."
"So, umm... let's go somewhere tomorrow. Err... right, let's go eat strawberry tarte. You
mentioned you like that, right?"
Maria opened her eyes wide. She had been stiffened up all the time, but her cheeks softened now
as if this was a lie.
"...This will mean that you spent each day of the Golden Week with me, you know?"
When I said so tilting my head, Maria smiled wryly for some reason.
"Never mind."
Promise.
Maria looked once down. She reflected upon the meaning of such a promise and opened her eyes
again. Her mouth relaxed, she raised the corners of her mouth and said to me in a awe-inspiring
but gentle voice:
"I promise. I promise you a future in which we can go eat strawberry tarte peacefully tomorrow."
Although Maria Otonashi had promised me that I would never switch again to this body, nothing
ended.
For some reason I was standing in the midst of the schoolyard, but here was nothing but
darkness. I know the school building's nearby, but I can't see anything. Nothing. Nothing's
nearby.
I don't get it. What's this situation? Where did Maria-san go?
"Eh?"
An obviously different tone in the voice and a charming smile I would never be able to do. Aah,
right. Indeed, this person is '0'.
"Why are you in Riko Asami's appearance before me...? And where's Maria-san...?"
'0' did only smile to this question, and just approached me silently without reply. Because of this
queer intensity of him, I stepped back instinctively.
"Kazuki Hoshino said that there's even hope in your everyday life!"
He said so and reached out for me. Then he put his fingers into my mouth.
"A-gh...?"
Riko Asami's fingers ran wild in my mouth. They got dirty with my saliva. This saliva on her
fingers tasted almost like the body fluids of an insect to me.
It's bitter, incredibly bitter I can't bear it. Although this should be Kazuki Hoshino's body, mud
started to spread slowly like a virus. My body blackens. It gets stained with the color of sin. The
filthy mud overflows and violates me
'0' took his fingers out of my mouth. I fell on my knees. The mud inside me shook once because of
this.
"Your repulsion against yourself can't be helped. You were---", I felt nauseous when I heard this
word. "---by the person you hated the most. Thus, this mud inside you will stay there to all
eternity."
'0' laid his hand on my shoulder. I raised my head and saw the face of Riko Asami I don't even
want to see.
"There can't possibly be hope to you, who cannot get rid of the own mud."
There's no way I'd find hope in my everyday life. There was none until now. So why should there
be any for me, now that I committed a crime on top of being stained?
Maria Otonashi was standing there with wild breath. Besides her was Nii-san. Nii-san, who does
not consider me his sister anymore.
"What the hell was this violence against [Riko Asami], '0'!"
"Huhu... I'd prefer if you and Kazuki Hoshino-kun got separated, you know. I just adjusted her a
bit to my convenience. ...Well, did you find something that could give her hope?"
"I did."
"Riko."
I see, because it's the first time. The first time Nii-san addressed me by this name since I've got
into this body.
"...what is it at this late hour? You don't consider me your «younger sister», do you?"
"You're finally aware of being Riko Asami, right? If so, things change. I can call you «Riko
Asami»."
"Tell me, what do you plan to do now? The 'Sevennight in Mud' is going to get destroyed. You
will return to being Riko Asami. You and me will get separated. What will you do then?"
"Eh...?"
"After listening to Miyazawa, I changed my mind. I can't let you use this 'box'."
She said boldly without showing any shame for revoking her promise.
No, it's a matter of course! I'm sure she realized how foolish it would be to lose her memory just
for my sake.
A completely natural answer. This is of course the best solution in this case.
"...Huh?"
"You belong also to me! And not only that. You also belong to Maria Otonashi, and you belong
to Kazuki Hoshino. So, you know,"
He scowled at me.
"So how does my sin get forgiven...? I'm not even allowed to die?! Two humans died because of
me. I have to---"
"Riko."
"This is the main reason why I decided to not let you use my 'box'. I misunderstood. Well,
Miyazawa may have kept quiet about it purposely, but I misunderstood the truth."
"Ryuu Miyazawa was the one who killed those two, right?"
...No. Surely, it was Nii-san who conducted it. But I knew that this would happen when I sought
for help from him. Nii-san merely realized my wish at the time and executed it.
"Don't misunderstand, Riko! I didn't kill them in place of you. I hated them. I detested them. I
was just unable to control these intense feelings of mine."
That's a lie.
Sure, he might have hated them. But just with those feelings, he would not have been able to
execute it. He crossed the last line because he wanted to free me. I was the one who made him
pull the trigger.
"I thought about escaping with you. But this isn't realistic. We are still minors and wouldn't be
able to live the life on the run. Even if we could, I don't think we'd find happiness in a life of
being chased."
Nii-san smiled wryly and spoke.
"Thus, I will deliver myself up. I will proof your innocence. This is the best decision I can take."
Nii-san is trying to take all sin from me and take it together with him to prison.
I don't get it at all. Why? We may be siblings, but we are different humans. He doesn't profit
from doing something for me.
I accepted it silently. The touch of it seemed familiar to me. I looked at this «something» I had
accepted.
"---Ah."
"I washed it, stuffed it with cotton and sewed it. That's all. Well, it's certainly not like new, but
you can say it's repaired, right?"
The stuffed plush I had received from Nii-san who won it for me at an UFO catcher.
"A, ah---"
I kneeled down. A cry left my mouth unwittingly and started to shed tears. Those tears washed
some of the mud inside me away. Of course not all of it. I won't get rid of this mud. ---But some
of it was indeed washed away now.
Maybe,
Maybe---
"......Nii-san"
Maybe I didn't even need to wish to the 'box' to begin with. Maybe I just hadn't noticed.
Because I hadn't noticed this, Nii-san had to substitute for me. If I had valued myself, the
outcome would have differed.
I wiped my tears away and stood up. Nii-san was looking at me slightly surprisedly.
"I will save you from suffering... I'll wait for you. Until we can be together again, I will wait for
you."
My voice was still trembling and my smile was kind of forced, but even so, I said distinctly:
Nii-san petrified for a while wide-eyed, but then his expression relaxed slowly.
"'I didn't make it in time'. I always thought like this. But perhaps --- perhaps I made it barely in
time."
I can absolutely not say that I'm fully happy with this outcome. Nii-san and me will without doubt
hate our past until our death.
Having said so, her smile disappeared with her scowling at '0'.
'0' reached into the eye as if he wanted to take it out. Unable to endure the pain, I screamed low-
voiced and closed my eyes. I hurts! ...But while it really hurts, I think it's right. I feel it's right.
Hence, I endured the pain of my eyeballs being crushed.
He had finished his work. My eyeball was unharmed and '0' was holding a little, black 'box' in
his hand that looked like a bullet.
"So is this perhaps the proof for Kazuki Hoshino-kun's words 'there is no despair that can't be
solved by the everyday life'?"
"Huhu... I see. You have no other choice but to say so. It is, after all, a denial of your existence
as 'box'. Kazuki-kun can say really cruel things."
Maria Otonashi scowled at '0' and stole the 'box' out of his hands rudely.
"With this I can go be together with Kazuki. That's all I want for now."
"Are you procrastinating your conclusion? Do you still not decide whether you return to being
[Maria Otonashi] or stay [Aya Otonashi]?"
Maria Otonashi gazed at the 'Sevennight in Mud' in her hands. She bit on her lips as if she hated
this 'box'.
"I am a 'box'."
"Therefore it's the best to maintain my current individuality. You may take this as «Choosing to
stay [Aya Otonashi]»."
"------"
"Isn't this rather inconvenient for you? Didn't you offer Riko Asami to use your 'box' because you
thought so, too?"
"Huhu, you might still be captivated by the curse of this world of recurrences. This Kasumi Mogi
might be a powerful enemy of yours, right?"
".........hmpf."
"......I had decided. Long ago. And yet this Kazuki said «I don't want that»...!"
She murmured with a tiny voice and showed only for a moment a bitter face.
But she erased this expression right away. She regained the expression of the perfect creation,
which I found beautiful.
But I'm sure the creator of this creation went through great pains and sorrow while creating it.
I wonder how she, who granted the 'wish' of the 'Sevennight in Mud' already with her sole will,
had looked over me and the 'box'.
At last, she bit on her lips, looked at the bullet-like 'box' and ---
This awakening was clearly different from the others. I felt strangely refreshed. I felt now that
my body really was stolen by [Riko Asami].
[I] was here in the time frame that was stolen from me at the first day by [Riko Asami].
It ended.
But leaving me no time to be deeply moved, my body was suddenly pressed hard.
But it's not a gentle hug at all. It was a tight pressure as if to cling to me.
Because I couldn't help it, I let her continue hug me as she pleased. I couldn't see her expression.
"Eh?"
"......err, M-Maria."
"Maria"
"......"
"Don't get carried away. In the first place, I'm only together with you because I can meet '0' like
this. There is no deeper meaning in it. And yet you're always being carried away and do only
unnecessary things. All my suffering this time was your fault."
"......I don't really get it, but isn't that a bit cruel?"
"It's the truth, you fool."
"What are you saying? Didn't you promise me yesterday, that we'd go eat strawberry tarte
tomorrow?"
"...Well, sure I said that. But it's still the fifth of ---"
«00:00»
"I know a family restaurant that is opened at night and serves strawberry tarte. Let's go there."
"E, eeh? T-That's not the problem... doesn't 'tomorrow' usually stand for having slept and stood
u---"
Duh... maybe I should not have made such a promise? I have a hunch that I'm also going to be
dragged around all day tomorrow.
While being dragged along by Maria, I looked at the two who remained at the center of the
schoolyard.
Two intimate siblings were smiling while taking each other's hands there.
May 18
While crumpling up a package of beef tongue flavored Umaibous, I looked around in the
classroom. My classmates weren't minding me anymore in particular. They only seem a little
nervous because of the midterm tests that start tomorrow.
"Ya, Kazu-kun!"
"Ouch"
"......Morning."
"Hah?"
"I just planned to go to Marui or to listen to some music at HMV. But I guess the world just can't
overlook my charm! And this E-Cup of mine!"
She laid a fashion magazine on my desk and pointed her finger on it. There was a photo of
Kokone standing in town with a smile in there.
"Ah, wow."
"Hohoho, by the way, in those merely two hours I was addressed five times, including flirts. I
rejected them but then I was even scouted as model... Sigh... society just doesn't seem to let go of
me. So, how do you like this photo? How is it?"
"You think so, too? And just look at my comment! «I just mistook the cords of my parka for my
earphones and put them into my ear!☆,» what a tasteful comment of a cute clumsy girl. That's
Moe."
"Moe, right."
Because it would probably get long if I said unnecessary things, I answered randomly.
Kokone said then with a bad-tempered voice to Haruaki, who had watched with half-opened
eyes:
"...What, Haru?"
"No, nothing. I was just thinking that singing one's own praises is gross."
"I'm not particularly making fun of Adidas. I'm making fun of you."
Lucky me. This means that my everyday life has returned so much that such exchanges can take
place.
In fact, I was on the verge of becoming unable to see this anymore. The 'Sevennight in Mud' may
have been destroyed, but the happenings during it have not disappeared. The fact that I confessed
to Kokone doesn't disappear.
It's all thanks to Maria's wittedness that we could return to such a relationship.
✵
It was at afternoon on May 09th.
Mogi-san was sitting on her white bed, wearing the pajamas I had seen many times on the
photograph on my mobile phone. Kokone was standing next to her with open hairs today.
Of course I had taken notice of those gazes, so I stared at the mattress of the bed in order to avoid
making eye contact. At the corner of my vision I could see Maria's legs.
"So you confessed to Koko-chan even though you had Otonashi-san as girlfriend? What does
this mean? I didn't know you were such a careless boy...?"
Kokone had consulted her good friend Mogi-san about the confession.
"Koko-chan had already told me that you seem to be on good terms with Otonashi-san... but
judging from what I heard, I can only conclude that you're already going out, right?"
"Err..."
"......Why didn't you just tell if you're going out?... I look stupid for thinking that we got on better
terms recently..."
The sharpness disappeared slowly from Mogi-san's voice. Her expression clouded clearly.
[TL Note: his stuttering made "Tsukiau" (go out) to "Tsuttsukiau", which may be translated as
"feel each other"]
"You haven't groped each other?! T-That's not what I asked! How erotic..."
"I can't believe you anymore! I'm amazed that you can say such a thing in front of Otonashi-san!
Even though you call each other by the first name!"
Because we were being noisy in the hospital room, the glances focused on us. Not even the
nurses didn't dare to approach us and just watched us from far away. ...Couldn't you come and
rebuke us please?
Kokone took a big breath and looked with a serious face at Maria.
"...Do you have no issue with him? Why are you so composed, though Kazu-kun confessed to
me?"
"Mh. ...Well."
Maria crossed her arms to Kokone's words. She looked at me at a glance and curled her mouth
slightly up. ...I have a bad feeling.
"...Why?"
"...........What does this mean? Otonashi-san has tempted Kazu-kun to confess to me?"
"Exactly."
Kokone and Mogi-san looked at me with wide eyes. N-No, really, I don't understand, too!
"Thinking back now, he said something like «I think nothing of a minor being like you»."
"What the... that's too conceited, isn't it? Kazu-kun should go die."
"No, err......"
I wanted to make excuses, but since I don't know what Maria's up to, I couldn't say anything.
"I couldn't accept this harsh rejection readily. But well, if he had another person he likes, I would
surely not give up, but I would accept the rejection. So I asked. If there is someone he likes."
"A-And there he answered with his L-O-V-E for me!"
"Well yeah, after quite a long time of hesitating, he mentioned your name."
Kokone reddened slowly while babbling "Ee, err", upon hearing Maria's words. Mogi-san turned
contrastively blue, next to her. ...this looks kinda like a traffic light.
"But listen, having heard Kirino's name, I could still not fully believe him. Because they looked
to me like mere friends. That's why I urged him to confess to her in front of my eyes and that I
would accept it if he had done so."
Mogi-san murmured so, seeming close to tears. Kokone was still blushed and looked worriedly
at Mogi-san with side-glance.
"Well, but Kazuki has just now revoked his statement that he loves Kirino."
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHH"
"......"
"In short. In the end, that he loved Kirino was just a random lie he told me in order to turn me
aside. Being threatened by me to confess, he was already unable to retreat."
"Mmh... I got the situation. But... But, but! I still think this is a bit cruel to me!"
"Doesn't this indicate just how much he trusts you? Didn't he believe that you, as a dear friend,
would forgive him if he apologized?"
"Mmmmmmh..."
"Eh?!"
"But this does not change the fact that we involved you, Kirino. Kazuki and I regret what we
have done. Please forgive us."
I felt the chance to apologize here. Kokone's cheeks were still faintly red when she narrowed her
eyes and looked at me.
Seeing me say words of reconsideration, Kokone pursed her lips and spoke.
"Got it! I'll forgive you. But don't do that a second time! No matter how much I'm used to
confessions, even I got startled, you know! I worried so much about what I should do that I
couldn't sleep that night, you know!"
"Hah! Within the single year since the school entrance I have easily reached double
figures! ...AH, that doesn't matter now! Have you reflected properly?!"
If we preserve the everyday life everyone wishes for like this, it won't be destroyed so easily.
I said so and tried to leave the room after winking to Maria. ...to be honest, I want to leave
quickly because those many glances on us are pretty embarrassing.
"Wait a moment."
"Umm, err... you dumped Otonashi-san, right? So I wondered why you are still together...? You
really aren't going out, right?"
"......Uuh, just watch! I'll be discharged from hospital in no time! I must quickly return to school.
I'm uneasy... very uneasy..."
"...Koko-chan. You looked pretty happy when she said «Maybe he didn't mind even if you
misunderstood him by any chance»."
"I-I didn't!"
"Uh..."
"Why did you do this false confession to Koko-chan and not to me?!"
✵
Lunch break.
Maria and I were facing each other at a table in the school cafeteria. Maria was slurping some
Ramen, that tastes like gum, expressionlessly.
Though she looked so happy back then when she ate strawberry tarte. Well, but when I was
about to take a photo unconsciously, she hit me seriously and continued eating with a grimace.
The male student next to her spouted out his fried rice.
I visited Maria's room in the last two days. It wasn't really for fun, she just taught me because of
the upcoming tests, since she's by far the top student of our school.
"Mh, but she won't come, huh. Can't be helped, I'll eat up the remaining stew, though it's a bit
much."
"But still---"
Going to Maria's room; if «she» heard our conversion I bet she'd get moody.
Thinking about this, I recalled how «she» always ate next to Maria until two weeks ago.
It's almost as before. Mogi-san started pouting in hospital and Daiya does still cease to speak
with me, but I think I have regained a comfortable life.
However, Riko Asami and Ryuu Miyazawa do not exist in this everyday life anymore.
Our Golden Week had been prolonged for four days, so school didn't start until May 11th. This is
because the suspect of a murder incident went to this school. While we were resting, the
principal of our school appeared on TV and said something about Miyazawa-kun being an
excellent and serious student.
The first day after holidays was a big fuss. It was such a pandemonium that some girls seriously
cried and the media overran us with their cameras. It didn't look anything like the usual
classroom scene anymore.
Our class mates declared mentioning only the name «Ryuu Miyazawa» to a silent taboo. His
name is compulsorily associated with that murder incident, which leads to the unusual. For the
sake of preserving the everyday life, not even his name may exist.
Of course I'm going to remember Miyazawa-kun. I won't be able to forget him. And still,
Miyazawa-kun will not even appear in the conversations of the members of this class.
At the moment this incident was announced, her place disappeared from here. Although not even
their classmates knew that Riko Asami was the sister of Ryuu Miyazawa, it's now known all over
the country. Her photo and address were uploaded to a giant bulletin board and she was entirely
overran by the media and curious people, though being a family member of the victims actually.
"You recalled Asami, didn't you? ...Geez, you only think about girls."
Maria smiled happily at me when I was disturbed. I'm convinced now. This person is definitely S.
No, well, I knew that already long ago, though.
"You don't need to worry about Asami. You know this much, right?"
I took my mobile phone and opened the most recent voice file.
This was a greeting that was exactly the same as the first one of her. But it wasn't the voice of
Kazuki Hoshino, but the one of a girl.
The creation time of this file was 02:00 on May 06th according to the file properties. Just about
when Maria and I left the family restaurant. I don't know when she had stolen my phone, but
Maria entrusted her arbitrarily with it.
That's not right at all. Resentment is a hindrance in the everyday life, after all.
«Similarly I think that Nii-san's sin will also never be forgiven, no matter how many
punishments he may undergo. He may get 10, 20 or even more years in prison, but his sin won't
be forgiven when he leaves there. His deed was, while being for my sake, not right. I'm sure he
will slowly notice the weight of his sin. I also think his heart is going to break several times. But
you know? He will be alright! After all, Nii-san said «I made it in time» while knowing of all
this.»
Her voice was bright and didn't give me the impression of a bluff at all.
She knew that she will have to go through great troubles. She knew already that she won't be
returning to this school a second time.
«I am Riko Asami.»
I don't know what kind of pains she will have to endure. But she will never call herself 'no one'
again.
For sure.
Asami-san didn't tell anyone where she'd go - not even Maria. Thus, there's no real basis, but
there is this rumor that I have heard a few times.
I hope this is true. I hope she's building a place for Miyazawa-kun to return to there.
That I'm convinced that she's able to do it might be because I'm optimistic. But even so, I can
believe.
I can believe that they will regain a life in which they can laugh happily together again.
"Aah, so you were together with Otonashi."
I came to my senses again when I heard those words. I raised my head to this voice I had missed.
Despite not having talked to me since he punched me, he sat down next to Maria as if nothing
had happened.
...I-I wonder what's the matter? Does he perhaps want to make peace with me? I hope so, but I
don't think he'd be able to say honestly so.
"Kazuki."
"Y-Yeah?"
Maybe Kokone told him about what we talked in this hospital room?
Daiya grinned boldly at me, who was dumbfounded. At once, I noticed something. The piercing
that was originally only attached to his left ear could now also be seen on his right one.
Author's Notes
I'm very sorry for the long wait since the first book. I actually wanted to get the continuation out
as soon as possible since it wasn't clear whether the story would continue from the contents of
the first one... Honestly, I don't even know the reason for this long delay myself.
Well then, «Eiji Mikage» is naturally a penname. I'm asked about the origin of this penname
from time to time, but since there's no real reason to it, I have always troubles answering this
question.
Then I think that all my dear readers know only the name «Eiji Mikage» of me.
It might be the faulty expression, but for the readers, «Eiji Mikage» is no human but a book-
writing machine. I'm only demanded to write amusing books.
I am still unable to nod firmly when I'm asked whether I give my everything for this sake. In
order to become the ideal author for my readers, I still have to pull myself together more. That's
what I often think.
Thanks to the illustrator 415 aka Tetsuo-san for those fantastic drawings. When we were talking
about the second volume and I said "Kazuki gets handcuffed by Maria in underwear and a single
white shirt!", you told me your impressions right away, "You're a pervert". I will definitely not
forget that.
My editor in charge, Kawamoto-san, thank you for sticking to me while I wrote this tangled
story. It really helped me. The third volume may get even more complicated, so that will be
troublesome for you, huh! *saying so as if I wasn't concerned*
Finally, thanks to all my dear readers that accompanied me up to this second book. I hope we can
meet again in the third book.
- Eiji Mikage