The Confusing Everyday
After class the next day, Ochibana Ame walked into Jyuu's classroom without any reservation.
Coming up right to his seat, she spoke to Jyuu, who was packing to go home.
“I came to pick you up.”
“Heyo.”
Carrying the flimsy school bag under his arm, Jyuu gave two short nods of his head.
Seeing this, Miya pointed to and from Jyuu and Ame and tilted her head slightly.
“What's your relationship?”
“A master-servant relationship.”
“Just friends.”
Thinking it'd be too risky to let the conversation go on too long, Jyuu pulled Miya and Ame apart.
It was only natural that Miya was curious, but he didn't feel like explaining in the slightest.
How was he supposed to explain it in the first place anyway?
It was just a mish-mash of things happening, reaping what he sowed and getting his just desserts.
“Wait, Jyuuzawa!”
Fujishima Kanako, the class representative, closed in on Jyuu in a brisk pace.
One hand was set on her waist, and the eyes behind her glasses were narrowed.
“I thought you'd turned a new leaf after you dyed your hair again, but now you're taking girls into classrooms...!”
“Please wait a moment.”
Before Jyuu could respond, Ochibana Ame stepped in front of Fujishima Kanako.
As though she was protecting Jyuu.
“Are you Jyuu-sama's enemy?”
“'-Sama'? 'Enemy'? What do you mean? But more importantly, it's not that appropriate to associate with guys like him.”
“How so?”
“You're asking how...? Well, you'll be judged for it.”
“If it's for Jyuu-sama's sake, I'd be willing to brave the flames of Hell.”
“Y-you...”
“Jyuu-sama's happiness is my happiness. Jyuu-sama's wishes are my wishes. I exist purely for the sake of Jyuu-sama. And the reason for that is because of the strong bond with Jyuu-sama in our past life...”
To prevent the conversation from straying into a really bad direction, Jyuu frantically clamped a hand over Ame's mouth and dragged her away.
“Bye, Fujishima. See ya tomorrow too, Miya.”
Bathed in the curious gazes of his classmates, Jyuu left the classroom together with Ame.
With that, he had basically admitted to the whole class that he was with Ame.
However, that didn’t mean he’d indulge in her whim. It was just a matter of letting her be. Such was Jyuu’s honest thought.
It’d be over before he knew it.
He wasn’t talking about himself in particular, but more so of Ame.
After all, the man called Jyuuzawa Jyuu wasn’t exactly a charming man, and was more of an opposite.
She’ll get tired of it soon.
Besides, being by Jyuu’s side wouldn’t serve any purpose to Ame.
The bond they had was the kind that’d dissolve in the not-too-distant future.
At first, he was worried that the woman’s behavior would bring unwanted attention. But surprisingly, it didn’t. Aside from the students, once they left the school premise, no one paid attention to Jyuu and the girl. As such, the atmosphere became somewhat peaceful.
Now that the case of Ochibana Ame had settled for the time being, Jyuu pondered to himself.
Should he dye his hair again?
In the end, he decided against it.
For him to change his hair color just because of a woman would be a tad uncool.
Since then, Ihara and the rest of the upperclassmen group hadn’t said anything. However, they seemed to think that the incident was a trap set by Jyuu. For that, Jyuu didn’t know whether he should feel sorry for himself or be grateful.
Now, even if they met inside or outside the school, he’d steer clear of them and avoid even making eye contact.
Wordlessly, Ame followed diagonally behind Jyuu.
What is she plotting?
Despite what he had heard from Miya, he still didn’t know what kind of person Ochibana Ame was.
The reason she was silent... was it because she was originally taciturn? Or, was it because she didn’t have anything to talk about? Perhaps, she was waiting for Jyuu to initiate the conversation. It could also be that she was just trying to keep up with him.
But it turned out that she lived in the neighborhood.
Without as much as exchanging a word, the two got on the train and alighted at the same station.
...What a difficult person.
Not only that, he believed that she had a screw loose.
However, she didn’t seem to be a bad person... Maybe.
The address he had previously heard from Ame was a quiet residential area nearby, though unfamiliar to Jyuu. Despite having searched through his memory, he had no recollection whatsoever.
Jyuu could remember men’s faces well, but not women.
There might even be a chance that they had passed by each other on the street before...
After all, like Jyuu, Ame seemed to have lived in the same district.
Though, her name and face hardly suited each other.
To be frank, it was actually impressive as to how forgettable they were.
Knowing that Miya, Ame, and Kanako were in the neighborhood, Jyuu’s nervousness eased somewhat. Albeit not wanting to be friendly with Ame, he didn’t want to be crude with her, either. She should be treated in an appropriate manner.
Due to the nature of the season, the sun had yet set. Many elementary schoolers could be seen playing in the shopping district before the station. Looking at how seemingly without a care those kids were, Jyuu felt a tinge of admiration.
He didn’t think that being a kid was cool.
In fact, he knew how difficult it was to be a kid since he was also a kid himself once.
People often said that the children’s worlds were small, and as they grew up, so did their worlds.
He agreed that a child’s world was small.
It was so small; it could easily collapse due to a slight force.
From the perspective of an adult, it might seem like a trivial reason.
But to that particular child, it must’ve felt as if the world had ended.
Hence, some children took their own lives.
As people grew older, they lost both simplicity and innocence.
Then, was becoming an adult truly a good thing?
Jyuu inadvertently pondered about such a silly thing.
One of the elementary schoolers, who was playing chase with his friends, accidentally stumbled into Jyuu’s leg.
As he fell on his butt, he looked up towards Jyuu’s face in fear.
The child probably expected to be scolded, but not stumbling across such a tall and scary-looking man.
However, before the child could say anything—Jyuu extended his hand.
After easily helping the child to get back to his feet, Jyuu shook his head to let him know that it was no problem.
After that, he left without sparing a glance towards the child.
The child may have expressed his gratitude, but the hustle and bustle of the shopping street drowned it, so it didn’t reach Jyuu’s ears.
The entire time, Ame silently watched him from the side, which was a bit embarrassing.
For a self-proclaimed delinquent, he was so lackluster that he was unable to yell at her.
He wondered that if he were to be imprisoned or sent to prison, the others would be forced to think that he was a delinquent.
A particular moment stood out to him.
Jyuu happened to arrive at school early in the morning, and was thinking of taking a nap in the classroom until class started.
However, at the school gate, he ran across Kanako Fujishima.
Apparently, she was also going to school early in the morning.
Recently, Jyuu also found out that Kanako lived relatively close to him and used the same station to commute to school.
However, she had changed her time, route, etc. just so that she wouldn’t run into Jyuu.
Due to her efforts, the two never met on their way to and from school.
Nevertheless, due to a strange coincidence, they came across each other.
Their reasons for waking up early were completely different, though. Kanako was a diligent student, while Jyuu merely set the alarm clock wrong.
“...To see your face the first thing in the morning, it’s the worst.”
“I’ve always wondered, but do you like me that much?”
“W, who the hell’s in love with you!? It’s not like that!”
“Sorry, my mistake, do you hate me that much?”
“I hate you the most!”
As he gazed at her with blurry eyes, Kanako yelled at him with a bright, red face.
“If you overreact so much, you’ll be misunderstood.” He said amidst a yawn.
In response, Kanako glared towards him. Then, putting her hands on her hips, she told him in her usual preaching tone.
“I can’t stand lazy people like you! I can’t tolerate people like you, who just live day in and day out, taking everything in a stride!”
“That’s your problem, though?”
“Quit being so arrogant!”
As if scolding a poor child, Kanako continued to be patronizing.
“Jyuuzawa, do you have a dream? What is your goal for the future?”
“Nothing in particular.”
“Well, I have a dream. You see, I love books. Therefore, I want to become a translator and introduce many foreign literatures to Japanese people. I want to show them how enjoyable it is. Then, I’d like to introduce Japanese literature to foreign countries, as well. I hope that for as long as I live, I could experience many stories from all over the world, and share them to everyone else. Hopefully, they’ll become a driving force for everyone. I’ll show you that I’ll become a translator in the future.”
‘That’s awesome, congratulations.’
Such was the reaction that Kanako expected from Jyuu.
But she ended up getting something else.
“...You’re amazing.”
Without being sarcastic, Jyuu said so with a look of genuine admiration.
“I don’t read many books, so I don’t really get what you’re on about. Cool, I guess. Someday, you’ll find those who’ll understand what you’re saying, I’m sure of it. I’m a little envious.”
“A, are you being serious...?”
“I’m not that energetic of a guy to be cracking a joke in the morning.”
Feeling sleepy, Jyuu let out another big yawn.
“Good luck with that... Though, I doubt you’d want to hear that from me.”
Seeing Jyuu’s wry smile, Kanako became serious.
She glared at him from top to bottom, as if sizing him up.
“...You, why are you so lackluster?”
“It’s the lack of energy.”
“What are you, an idiot? If you’re the so-called delinquent, then beating up a girl like me should be nothing to you, right?”
“That’s just ridiculous.”
“So, you do know. Why do you still insist on behaving this way, though?”
Jyuu recalled Kanako’s odd expression as she said that.
It was a somewhat subtle, strange feeling.
Although she was disparaging him, it also felt as if she was praising him.
Perhaps, it was because for the first time, someone had pointed it out to him.
“Why are you so lackluster?”
Maybe that was why Jyuu remembered the conversation vividly.
After all, that conversation made him realize that he had been living carelessly, using the title delinquent as an excuse. When he thought about the reason why, he came to a conclusion that it was due to his troublesome strength.
How troublesome.
No, even thinking about the reason was troublesome.
Thus, he came to discover that he lived as a delinquent just so that he could have an excuse to live wholly in ignorance.
***
“Which one is easier—to live as a person, or a villain?”
He wasn’t expecting her to answer his question.
He was getting fed up with the silence, so he nonchalantly mentioned that particular incident.
Ame, who was walking alongside him, replied seriously.
“Neither is.”
“Really? If anything, it’s easier to be a villain.”
Because of that, Jyuu became a delinquent.
He thought that it’d be easier that way.
“It depends on the degree. A true, subconscious person. By definition, it’s someone who’s mindful and is fully aware of everything he does. Surely, it’s very difficult to become such a person. No, I’d say, almost impossible. I also doubt that such a person exists in the first place.”
“For real?”
“Because it’s very painful to be thorough in everything you do.”
“Painful...?”
“For example, devoting oneself to evil means not saving anyone. That is painful. After all, you’ll have to consider all beings other than yourself as enemies, and make them suffer.”
Jyuu pictured a black and white villain.
How about a mafia boss who reigns in the underworld?
Usually in movies, he’d be the personification of evil.
Well, he was.
However, could he be considered a true villain?
A mafia boss would still treat his relatives and subordinates with preferable treatment.
Although he was a person with corrupt morals, he wasn’t an absolute evil.
“For the same reason, it’s also difficult to stick to righteousness. To devote oneself to justice, a person would have to be utterly devoid of selfishness—as in, absolutely selfless. At the same time, it can be regarded as self-destruction, to which only death awaits.”
“Well, it might be so...”
Her reasoning was quite sensible.
The way she spoke so seriously also suited her character in a way.
When she behaved in such a way, he had almost forgotten about the whole electromagnetic thing.
“Whether it’s the path of good or evil, it’s hard to maintain such a way of life.”
“Then, which is easier?”
“Neither way.”
“Neither good nor evil?”
“...Sometimes, it’s better to be good, and so is the otherwise. Depending on the situation and the necessity, you may even use both as you like. That’s the easiest thing to do.”
“Yes. In fact, the overwhelming majority of people live like that.”
“Are you saying that is the ‘proper’ way to live?”
Looking around, he spotted some housewives in the middle of shopping, the store clerk who was dealing with them, a child who listened attentively to some old man’s story in front of the dumpling shop, a couple who shamelessly flirted with each other, a policeman who lazily rode a bicycle...
...Like Ame said, everyone certainly preferred to live that way, and there was nothing wrong with that.
Jyuu understood that, as well.
Because life was difficult, they instinctively chose the simplest way to live.
“Then, what about you?”
“That’s up to Jyuu.”
“...Me?”
“I’ll comply with your desire.”
“Don’t you have any shred of independence?”
“Other than to serve Jyuu, I desire nothing else.”
From the way she spoke, she didn’t seem to be joking.
Because of that, Jyuu was fed up.
Why am I being held responsible for this?
After all, he’d rather not be in charge of someone else’s responsibilities when he himself was having a hard time.
“You know what? Let me tell you—”
“—If Jyuu considers my existence as a burden, then please throw me away. When the time comes, I won’t mind.”
“...Then that’s what I’m gonna do.”
“Alright.”
Ochibana Ame nodded without hesitation.
In a way, was she showing her resolve?
For some reason, that particular side of her stood out to Jyuu.
Maybe, it was because he lacked that resolve himself.
Then, was he envious of her? Or, did he just find it unusual?
“As a side note, it seems that in order for a human to become a demon, he’ll need to commit a thousand, consecutive, evil deeds. If there’s even one good deed, it’ll be reset immediately. If such is the case, then how difficult would it be to reach enlightenment?”
Sensing Jyuu’s embarrassment, did she considerately shift the topic?
Without giving it much thought, Jyuu agreed.
“Is there anyone who wants to become a devil?”
“Those who misunderstand that devils are superior to humans seem to have such desires.”
“You seem to know a lot.”
“It’s simply second-hand knowledge I got from books.”
“What kind of books?”
“What I’ve previously mentioned to you is an excerpt from the 301st volume of The Decadence of Man; it was written as a supplementary note.”
“...From which publisher?”
“I believe it’s a kind of doujinshi, but I don’t know the details either. I just happened to find it at a used bookstore.”
When Ame offered to bring the book, Jyuu silently shook his head.
Before he knew it, they had arrived near Jyuu’s apartment. The reason why the road felt shorter than usual was probably because he was talking to Ame. Without realizing it, he got immersed in their conversation, and here he thought that she’d be incredibly boring to talk to.
While he had mixed feelings, he didn’t necessarily feel bad.
Upon arriving at the entrance of the apartment, Ame spoke to him.
“Then, Jyuu, please excuse me for today. Tomorrow, I’ll be seeing you.”
Ame bowed her head and left.
Jyuu could only see her off with a wry smile.
***
She fished for a key from her bag and opened the door.
However, when she saw the pair of shoes in the hallway, her mood turned sour.
...He’s here today.
If he hadn’t, she could’ve gone home with a peace of mind.
When she went to the kitchen, sure enough, he was there. With a kitchen knife in his hand, he was visibly looking for something. Looking at the large bowl nearby, he seemed to be making a salad.
“Hey, welcome.”
“Are you cooking?”
“Yes. I got off work early today. Since I have time, that’s what I’m going to do. Besides, it’s once in a while.”
After telling her to relax, he resumed cooking.
True to his words, the pot was simmering.
“It's a cabbage roll.”
Noticing her gaze, he explained.
“I see.”
She didn’t care either way.
Until the food was ready, she decided to tidy up. Even so, the room wasn’t particularly dirty, much else cluttered. Because of his hostile personality, she had to clean up a lot. Still, in order to ease the tension, she folded the newspaper he had just read and put it in the rack where magazines and other things were kept.
After she was done, she took out two plates from the cupboard and placed them on the table. About ten minutes later, the food was ready, and she sat across from him.
“Are you like that at school, too?”
“Like what?”
“I’m talking about that Buddha-like expression.”
“Well, what do you think?”
“Back then, you used to smile more.”
She didn’t know what was so funny, but he covered his mouth and started laughing.
She only stared at him impassively, before bringing the dish to her mouth in a mechanical fashion.
After she had finished eating, he washed the dishes.
He was meticulous like that.
Afterwards, the pair moved to the living room and sat side-by-side on the sofa to watch TV.
The TV was on all the time.
In fact, the entire time he was home, he never turned it off.
Once, she turned off the TV, which earned her a scream and a kick to the stomach until she begged for forgiveness. After such an experience, she chose to ignore the existence of television.
As for her, she liked that there were a lot of other sounds in the room—sounds other than his voice.
After talking about company affairs for a while, his hand went to her thighs as usual. Despite how reluctant she was, she had no choice but to accept his advances.
“If it gets too late, we’ll just bother the aunt.”
Is that why he’s in such a rush?
After undressing her, he put his hand in her underwear. Even so, he’d occasionally sneak a glance at the TV. Maybe, he started the whole thing just because.
Usually, he’d just forget.
Knowing that, she waited for his orders.
Then, he proceeded to push her onto the sofa and leaned over her.
She didn’t say anything and just let it happen.
As her eyes reflected the ceiling, she relinquished her awareness and merely stared at the pattern.
Be it his rugged breathing in her ear, from the saliva he smeared on her face and body, from the stimuli he gave her—her heart drifted away from everything.
Inside, she told herself over and over again that she was merely a soulless doll.
—That she was used to it.
—That it’d be over soon.
...Am I, pitiful?
In the corner of her half-fazed mind, such thought occurred.
***
Jyuu eventually changed his perception towards Ochibana Ame.
In the first place, he didn’t have many friends, as such, he inevitably spent more time with her—which was one of the reasons why.
Previously, he thought that her presence would only stress him out. Soon enough, she’d cross the line and he’d find himself beating her, or that there’d be times when he’d blatantly ignore her.
However, such apprehensions turned out to be false.
The girl named Ochibana Ame was unmistakably a radio wave-like human being.
At the same time, Jyuu also found her to be elusive.
But at times, she was strangely responsive.
When he spoke, she’d reply, even if with really casual words. If Jyuu was anxious, she’d give him advice. Her words were moderately esoteric, yet somewhat convincing.
Of course, that didn’t necessarily mean he agreed with everything she said. However, when he disagreed, she’d back down easily.
Not only that, she’d listen attentively to what Jyuu had to say. Afterward, she’d say something again, and Jyuu would respond to it.
Jyuu never thought that he’d get along with her.
However, before he knew it, they were casually having a conversation. He thought that she was an intrusive and bothersome woman, but surprisingly, she wasn’t.
As a matter of course, there were still times when she brought up things like her previous life (she never gave up on that one).
Still, when Jyuu wasn’t in the mood for some casual talks, she’d just wordlessly stay by his side.
She was, as she described herself, a good subject.
Thus, Jyuu concluded that Ochibana Ame was a radio wave-like girl with a delusional side, who also wasn’t a complete moron.
Perhaps, her only mistake was choosing someone like Jyuuzawa Jyuu as her friend.
“Hey, can you cook?”
“I can’t.”
“...Such an immediate reply. Not saying that I discriminate between men and women, but it’s better for women to be able to do that sort of thing.”
“My inability to cook is God’s way of telling me that it’s unnecessary for me to cook.”
“What sort of logic—anyway, I can cook.”
“Amazing, as expected of Jyuu.”
While smiling wryly at Ame’s exaggerated praise, Jyuu felt droplets of water hitting his head.
As soon as the rain began to pour, she took out a folding umbrella, opened it, and held it over Jyuu.
“If you may.”
“Don’t need it. I have my own.”
Not wanting to share an umbrella with her, Jyuu reached into his own bag.
...But he didn’t find any.
He believed that he had put it in, but he seemed to have forgotten.
Ame sensed this, and tried to hold up her umbrella again, but Jyuu refused.
“I don’t need it. Besides, it’s close, so I’ll just run home.”
“Then, I’ll accompany you until then.”
“It’s unnecessary.”
While Ame probably had no ulterior motive, Jyuu was still reluctant to be sharing an umbrella with a girl. After all, it’d be troublesome if people misunderstood that they were dating.
...But why would I be in trouble if anyone finds out?
Why did I decide that?
He opted not to think too deeply about it.
Instead of sharing the umbrella, Jyuu wore his bag on his head.
“Bye.”
“Tomorrow, let us see each other again.”
While looking sideways at Ame, who bowed her head, Jyuu started dashing.
Despite getting used to her, he still hadn’t grasped his feelings towards the entire thing.
Although he didn’t hate it, there was a sense of bewilderment—
—Aren’t I supposed to be in love with only one person?
Is this alright?
How long will this continue?
When will she get tired of me?
When will she wake up from her delusions?
When will she disappear from my life?
Through the drizzle, his mind was filled with such thoughts.
Jyuu loved to sleep, yet hated the dark.
After all, by sleeping, he’d be doing nothing.
He’d stop seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting, or even thinking.
Sometimes, he saw off-putting dreams, but it didn’t matter. When he woke up, he’d just forget about them.
A dream had to be forgotten.
Otherwise, humans would have to be thinking about something all the time.
Jyuu had a lot of things he’d like to forget.
He didn’t even bother to go through his memories to relearn them—after all, it was something that he’d only do when studying.
A person forgot something because it was unnecessary to begin with.
He was sure that the same went for old people.
Old people didn’t need a lot of memory.
Hence, they forgot.
As a reward for surviving a tough life, they forgot about many things.
As a result, they were at ease.
It must be God’s mercy.
...Then, when will I finally be at ease?
Within the room that was shrouded in darkness, Jyuu thought of such a thing.
That was why he hated the darkness.
In the darkness, he’d inadvertently ponder about such things.
Jyuu didn’t remember how long his mother hadn’t returned home. Back then, she used to mark the calendar and even commented on some of the occasions, but soon stopped because there was no point.
A situation where parents were absent.
A situation where he couldn’t see their faces, or feel their presences—
—isn’t that fine?
That way, he could fantasize about a different life.
Imagination was fun.
Imagination was fun because it was shapeless, unstructured, chaotic, and incoherent.
Imagination was fun because it helped him disperse his thoughts and take him somewhere else.
Jyuu opened his eyes.
He didn’t realize they were closed until now.
Or, where they open from the beginning and he had just become conscious of it now?
Trickles of water could be heard hitting the window.
The rain that had started in the evening was expected to continue until tomorrow morning.
The sound of the downpour was akin to the crushing weight of the world that was imposed to him.
No one will help me.
I don’t need any help.
His lips were dry, while his throat was a little sore from sleeping.
He extended his hand towards the white ceiling that was illuminated by the twilight,
He couldn’t grasp anything.
No matter how much he moved his fingers, he could grab nothing but air.
He didn’t know why, but it made him sad.
Then, he let his outstretched right hand fall to his side, before letting it hang over the edge of the bed.
This is why I hate darkness.
The darkness made him think of pointless things.
Pointless, loathsome, things.
What made it even worse was that he couldn’t grasp what was so loathsome about them.
He hated vague things like that.
He hated that rambling rain of thoughts.
Yet, it wouldn’t stop, it wouldn’t stop.
To whom, am I...
Then, something soft enveloped his right hand, which was hanging from the edge of the bed.
Jyuu chuckled.
Aah, am I still dreaming?
Considering his half-asleep state, perhaps it wasn’t that unbelievable of a phenomenon, after all—the sensation of being held by someone.
Somehow, it felt nostalgic.
Back when he was young, when his mother was still a good parent, he’d often ask her to do that when he couldn’t sleep.
How obstinate I am...
Jyuu casually let his gaze slide down from the ceiling.
“Good evening, Jyuu-sama.”
Almost at the same time as he heard that voice, he leaped back.
While standing on the bed, Jyuu reflexively assumed a fighting stance.
Jyuuzawa Jyuu didn’t believe in supernatural phenomena.
As such, he decided that if something were to appear in his room late at night, it had to be a robber, and not a ghost.
Apparently, neither the sensation nor the voice was a dream. Jyuu jumped from the bed and flipped the switch near the door.
He fully expected for a full-on brawl to start when the light flickered on.
“Y, you, what are you doing...?”
“I beg your pardon for intruding so late at night.”
The one who bowed her head was none other than Ochibana Ame.
Judging from the fact that she was sitting in seiza beside his bed, she was undoubtedly the one who held his hand.
No longer feeling nostalgic, Jyuu was creeped out.
This girl—! How? Why? What exactly is she thinking...?
Utterly confused, Jyuu asked her.
“How did you come in?”
Still on guard, he refused to release his stance.
That way, if Ame went berserk and charged towards him, he could intercept it.
As it was, even if Ame was holding a knife, Jyuu wouldn’t be caught off guard.
Unbeknownst to him, did she make a duplicate key?
Or, did she rummage through his stuff and steal the key?
Was that the true nature of this woman?
Just as I began to think that she’s a nice person, she did this!
Rather than anger from being betrayed, Jyuu felt empty.
“It was unlocked, so I entered normally.”
“Don’t spout nonsense! I remember locking the door!”
“No, it was open. Or rather, the window was.”
“...Huh?”
Jyuu went blank.
Hold on, before anything else, there’s something more pressing—
“—Where did you come from?”
“From there.”
Ame pointed at the window in Jyuu’s room.
Certainly, the window was large, so it should be easy for her to pass through.
But wait, this is the ninth floor, so even if she scaled the wall—
—without even needing to utter a word, Jyuu received the answer.
The exterior walls of the apartment were in the midst of being painted. As such, each apartment block had scaffolding. She probably used that to climb all the way there.
Apparently, there exists someone who’d go to such lengths...
He was in disbelief.
“Did you really come in through the window?”
“Yes.”
“Did you climb the scaffolding used for construction?”
“Yes.”
“...It must’ve been difficult.”
“Somewhat.”
Upon closer inspection, both her hair and clothes were damp. Not only that, she was also carrying what appeared to be a waterproof bag. The bag probably contained her shoes, umbrella, and perhaps some kind of rope…
Despite what her appearance might suggest, she had an excellent motoric skill—an outstanding one, in fact.
Apparently, there was nothing she wouldn’t do.
...Still, just because she was able to do it, did she not have any second thoughts?
If it was someone with common sense, they wouldn’t have done such a thing.
Jyuu exhaled deeply.
“...Don’t enter through the window again.”
“Understood. Then, starting from tomorrow, I’ll strive to learn lockpicking.”
“That’s not what I’m saying...!”
Judging from her expression, Ame didn’t seem to know the issue.
...As I thought, this girl’s a denpa.
After all, she seemed to have understood and not understood the conversation at the same time.
She probably doesn’t even know how cuckoo she sounded.
While he did consider reprimanding her, he ultimately decided against it, because he’d only make a fool of himself.
“—Then, why are you here?”
Depending on the answer—no, he was already quite fed-up with her, and was only letting her be.
Letting go of his stance, he stared at her with vigilance and doubt. In response, Ame turned around while still maintaining her seiza, and stared straight into his eyes.
“I felt like Jyuu-sama called me.”
“I didn’t.”
“It’s telepathy.”
“No, you’re just hearing things.”
“It’s probably because of our bond from the previous life.”
“Yeah, you’re just delusional.”
She seemed wholly unfazed by his retorts.
Although, it may be because her wet bang clung to her face, obstructing her expression.
At the same time, she didn’t seem to be regretting it.
She must’ve thought that she did the right thing.
Starting to realize that it was impossible to talk sense into her, Jyuu decided to get her to leave as soon as possible.
After all, even if he preached about common sense and social ethics there, it was unlikely to get through to her.
“Leave.”
“Understood.”
As always, she obediently listened to his order.
However, when he saw that Ame was about to leave from where she came from—the window, Jyuu sighed once again.
“...Leave from the front door.”
“Understood.”
For the time being, Jyuu decided to usher her to the front door and turned on the electricity.
Upon taking out a pair of shoes from her bag, Ame turned to look at Jyuu.
“What?”
“Has Jyuu-sama always been alone in this house?”
“So?”
“Where are your parents?”
“...It has nothing to do with you.”
Jyuu realized that his tone had become frigid.
Not because he sensed her pity, but because it was a sore subject.
Then, Jyuu glowered at the petite Ame.
“I do live alone! But don’t you dare feel sorry for me! I don’t need your sympathy! I’m not that weak!”
Amidst the late-night silence, Jyuu’s angry voice echoed.
Ame calmly listened to the voice that pervaded the room before vanishing.
Displeased with her attitude, Jyuu was about to yell again when Ame interjected.
“I know.”
“What do you know!?”
“That Jyuu-sama isn’t weak.”
“Shouldn’t that be obvious!? I’m strong! Which is why—”
“—Which is why, you’re not afraid of loneliness.”
“That’s right!”
“But strength and loneliness are two different things, Jyuu-sama.”
“...”
“Even strong people can get lonely.”
“W-what’s that about...”
“I exist solely for you.”
Before he knew it, the table had turned.
...No, it may have been that way since the beginning.
The resolute Ame always spoke as if she could see through Jyuu’s heart.
Because of that, she’d say peculiar things without hesitation.
“As long as I’m here, I won’t let you feel lonely.”
“...What’s that? Are you trying to tell me to rely on you or something?”
“That I exist for your sake.”
That thought alone was abnormal.
...Perhaps, she might even fall under the crazy category.
...Is this denpa-girl trying to lecture me?
Inwardly, he was already swearing at her. But for some reason, he couldn’t say a word.
He wondered why.
He might’ve realized that he was throwing a tantrum like a child. Due to how uncool it was, he lost his strength.
At the same time, he felt sorry for himself for being rendered speechless by such a small girl.
Seeing that Jyuu had averted his gaze, Ame bowed her head. However, as soon as she opened the door, the sound and dampness of heavy downpour entered.
Nevertheless, Ochibana Ame still stepped outside.
Under the strong wind, the foldable umbrella she took out of her bag seemed about to break.
“...Wait.”
Jyuu stopped her quietly retreating back.
Leaving Ame as it was, Jyuu went to the washroom.
He took a bath towel, went back to the entrance, pondered for a moment, and then beckoned to Ame.
“Come here.”
“Okay.”
Although seemingly confused, Ame went towards him.
Upon spreading out the bath towel, Jyuu dried Ame’s hair.
“Jyuu-sama, there’s no need for you to do such a thing...”
“Just be quiet for a while.”
It wasn’t the first time for him.
He couldn’t explain why he’d do it, but he still did anyway.
...It’s just my way of getting a payback.
After all, there was no way he’d harbor anything other than annoyance towards that girl.
“The last time you came to my house, you were soaked. But shouldn’t you’ve used an umbrella today?”
“Yes, halfway through.”
When climbing the scaffolding for construction, both hands needed to be free.
In the middle of the night, amidst the heavy rain, Ame had climbed there.
“...Are you an idiot? You’re going to catch a cold.”
“My body is quite resilient. I like water and am a good swimmer.”
When she boasted of such things with a flat tone, Jyuu couldn’t help but laugh.
...Maybe, it got something to do with her name.
Since Ame’s hair was long, it took a little time, but after a while, it dried off. Deciding to wipe her face as well, he turned to face her, only to discover a rare expression on her face.
A mixture of confusion and shame.
Her gaze was downcast, while her cheeks blushed slightly.
It came off as a bit of a shock to him.
“Even if it’s June, you’ll still get cold if you’re drenched.”
Finished, he lightly patted Ame on the head.
Only then did he realize that it was a perfect chance.
A perfect chance to hit her.
But he stroked her head, instead.
Then, Jyuu opened his shoe cupboard, took one of the umbrellas, before curtly holding it out on purpose.
“Use it.”
“No, I already have one...”
“They’re different. Mine’s sturdier. That’s why my mother used to like it.”
“Then, I shall borrow it.”
Ame received the umbrella and bowed.
“Pardon me for the late-night intrusion.”
“Yeah, that’s right. You’re rude. Next time, you better come from the front.”
“Yes, I’ll do so.”
After bowing her head once again, Ame departed.
Jyuu opened the front door slightly to see her step into the elevator.
When she had disappeared, he finally returned to his room. Looking outside the window, he was horrified to see the precarious construction scaffolding.
Then, he slipped into the futon and immediately fell asleep.
...Was it because he was exhausted, or because he felt somewhat better?
Without mulling about it, Jyuu fell asleep.
***
“—A, ahh!”
During lunch break at school, Miya let out a strange voice as she pointed at Jyuu’s lunchbox.
“What’s with you?”
“But that isn’t exactly a boy’s bento, isn’t it—!?”
“Can’t you tell?”
Usually, he’d bring a few, aluminum foil-wrapped, rice balls. But that day, it was a proper lunchbox.
“...I see. Ochibana Ame sure is amazing.”
“Huh?”
“Her maiden spirit is in full bloom.”
“...Maiden spirit?”
“Hey, Jyuu-kun. Even if she made a few mistakes, you have to properly say, “It was delicious, thank you.” Got it?”
“Seriously, what’re you on about?”
Miya misunderstood for some reason.
“Eh? Isn’t that the bento made by Ochibana Ame?”
“No, this is—”
While he was a little hesitant, he didn’t necessarily need to hide it, so Jyuu explained.
“...My mother made it.”
“Jyuu-kun’s mother?”
“Yeah.”
Despite nodding, he couldn’t help but feel bitter.
When he woke up that morning, that bento was left on his desk with a note attached to it.
On the note, there was a bright red kiss mark, along with the brush script, “From mother.” Apparently, when he had fallen asleep, his mother had come home and prepared his lunchbox. Even though he wanted to say something, she was no longer at home.
...It seemed that she only returned to make the lunchbox.
As usual, he couldn’t quite understand her.
Even though she was usually haughty, she was also the kind of person who’d act like a mother on a whim.
For a moment, the thought of throwing the lunchbox away did occur. However, in the end, he packed it in his bag and brought it with him.
He was angry at the surprise attack that his mother would pull from time to time.
He was angry at himself for expecting it. For being happy about it. For loving the food his mother had especially prepared for him.
A lot of conflicting emotions swirled within him.
...Parents sure are troublesome.
Although Miya didn’t seem to be too convinced, Jyuu ignored her and started eating his bento.
The boiled pumpkin sure was tasty.
Be it the presence or absence of affection, or whether the food was good or bad didn’t matter.
“...Hmm, so Ochibana Ame didn’t make it.”
As he started eating, Miya spoke to herself.
“Well, of course. Why’d she make me a bento?”
“I mean, aren’t Jyuu-kun and Ochibana Ame-san dating?”
“...Me, and that girl?”
What a huge misunderstanding.
In order to clear it up, Jyuu insisted while shaking his head.
“There’s no such thing!”
“Really?”
“I don’t even need to think twice about it. It won’t happen. It can’t happen. The act itself is akin to going against the providence of the world—to put it simply, a blasphemy towards God!”
“...When you put it like that, it’ll only sound like a lie.”
“It doesn’t.”
When Jyuu denied it once again, Miya smiled happily in relief for some reason.
Then, triumphantly, she took a seat in front of Jyuu and unfolded her lunch. Since three-fourths of the class ate at school cafeterias, there were quite a few vacant seats in the classroom. While some might get angry if someone were to sit on their seat without permission, she was Miya Satsuki, the popular girl. No one would protest against her.
...Rather, they’d willingly surrender their seats.
“Then, from now on, can we eat lunch together once in a while?”
“If you hand me one of those fried chickens, I’ll think about it.”
“Do enjoy.”
As if offering her own lunchbox, Miya presented it to Jyuu.
With his fingers, Jyuu took the fried chicken and threw it into his mouth.
It was delicious.
However, he said this instead of those words.
“You made it yourself, didn’t you?”
“You should be able to tell by just looking. Look here, it said, ‘Made by Miya.’”
“Don’t spell that out.”
Although, come to think of it...
“...That Ochibana person isn’t good at cooking, she even said it herself. There’s no way she’d prepare a bento for me.”
“...She even shared such a personal tidbit with you.”
“She’s the kind of person that’ll answer all kinds of questions.”
“That’s because it’s you, Jyuu-kun.”
“Because it’s me?”
“Since then, I’ve been a little curious, so I asked around. However, from what I heard, she’s such a secretive person that no one knows her hobbies, family, or address. Even if asked, she won’t answer.”
“That’s...”
It wasn’t all that surprising.
Even Jyuu’s first impression of Ochibana Ame was that she was the kind that’d keep to herself.
However, in reality, rather than having a closed-off personality, she was like a maze.
Easy to get lost in, while the exit was nowhere in sight.
...Then, did she act as a guide only for Jyuu?
“Jyuu-kun, you’re on good terms with Ochibana Ame-san, aren’t you?”
“Who knows.”
“How did you get along?”
“Who knows.”
Both were questions he’d rather not answer, so Jyuu dodged them.
While pursing her lips, Miya lightly glared at him, but gave up immediately.
She was similar to Ame in that regard. If refused, she wouldn’t pursue the matter.”
Jyuu found that kind of person easy to get along with.
“Oh, come to think of it, Fujishima-san was surprised.”
“About what?”
“Isn’t Ochibana Ame-san from the college prep class?”
“I can see why that’s surprising...”
When he glanced over at her, Kanako Fujishima was sitting in her seat, silently reading a novel while eating her lunch. Seemingly preferred to be alone, she always spent lunch by her lonesome. From her perspective as a person with common sense, the fact that the denpa-girl, Ame, was academically superior to her must be unthinkable.
Even though she used to advise Ame, “You shouldn’t go out with that man.” Recently, she seemed to have relented to an extent. It may have something to do with the previous notion.
Still, if something occurred, “Hey, Jyuuzawa—!” She’d still complain like usual.
“Perhaps, Ochibana-san and Fujishima-san don’t get along well...”
“Well, both are serious, although in completely opposite directions.”
“Opposite?”
“One is a realist, while the other is a romanticist, or something like that.”
Despite what he’d told her, Miya didn’t think that Ame was abnormal, and only saw her as a slightly odd girl.
However, since he had no intention of explaining that part in detail, he could only reply ambiguously.
“You seem to be only interested in other people's relationships, but what about yourself?”
“Me?”
“Do you have a lover or something?”
One of the reasons for Miya’s popularity was her pristine private life. While she was often asked out by male students, there were no rumors about her playing around after school, perhaps because she came from a strict house. Like Jyuu, she belonged to the Go Home club, and usually went straight home.
“Somehow, I’m a little touched.”
“Why?”
“For the first time since I entered the school, Jyuu-kun showed an interest in me...”
...At first, he thought that Miya was over exaggerating, but she was right.
Inherently lacking in curiosity, Jyuu seldom asked about other people.
Why did I ask her that?
After some retrospect, he came to the conclusion that it might be because he’d been in similar situations recently. Because he was often with Ame, he naturally got used to asking questions.
...Am I progressing, or just regressing?
“I, Satsuki Miya, don't have a boyfriend. But I do like someone.”
As if asked by the teacher, Miya answered while raising her hand.
“Then, why don’t you confess to him? If it’s you, it’ll be an easy win!”
“Unfortunately, there’s no easy win in love. At best, it’ll be a narrow victory, such is love.”
“I don’t really get it, but if there’s really someone you like, then you shouldn’t be around someone like me.”
“Well, certainly, there’s that.”
Miya groaned at the takuan she had taken from Jyuu’s lunchbox before he knew it.
Just like Ame, Jyuu found Miya difficult to comprehend, albeit for an entirely different reason.
The reason why he didn’t get a bad impression, was it due to her popularity?
“Jyuu-kun, it’s good to make friends.”
“What are you saying, suddenly?”
“It’s fun to spend time together.”
“I’d rather be alone.”
“But if the other party is a cute girl, I’m sure it’ll be 200% more fun.”
“Like I said, I prefer being alone.”
“Then, does that mean you love yourself?”
“...I don’t need to answer that.”
“If it’s me, I kind of dislike myself. That’s why, I’d like to be with someone.”
Such an unexpected remark from Satsuki Miya.
Even though everyone adored her for her bright and cheerful personality, the person herself said that she loathed herself.
Jyuu placed his chopsticks on the bento box and met Miya’s eyes.
The entire time they conversed, he never made any eye contact.
After all, eyes spoke volume, and Jyuu didn’t want to reveal too much.
But sometimes, it was better to be that way.
“Of all the people I’ve seen, you’re a much better person. At least, you’re better than me. You’re a good person, and I honestly think so.”
“...Thank you.”
Miya smiled.
Perhaps it was his imagination, but it seemed somewhat different from her usual smile.
A modest person.
“You know, even among the people I’ve seen, Jyuu-kun is a pretty decent guy.”
“Don’t praise me.”
“That part of you is also wonderful.”
Despite how open she looked, it was difficult for him to grasp Miya’s true feelings.
The same went for Ochibana Ame.
...Or maybe, all women are like this?
“Anyway, Jyuu-kun, shall we go on a date next time?”
“Just do it yourself.”
“You can’t go on a date alone.”
“Don’t drag me into it.”
“But I will.”
He didn’t know that he’d have so much fun from such a lighthearted exchange.
...Someday, would he be able to enjoy that kind of atmosphere with Ame as well?
Previously, the girl had pointed out that he was lonely.
Are you making fun of me?
Jyuu used Miya’s bento as an outlet for his anger.
“Aah—! I saved that shumai for the last...!”
“Shut up.”
For Miya to only smile wryly after being told that, he wondered how she truly felt.
As he pondered about it, Jyuu realized once again that he didn’t quite understand.
However, he didn’t think that was a problem.
After all, there was no way a man could understand a woman’s heart. Not like he wanted to, anyway.
As Jyuu swallowed the shumai, such was his thought.
***
After school, on the way home, Ochibana Ame was beside him like usual.
Since Jyuu felt somewhat awkward, he tried to keep a distance from her. Ochibana Ame, on the other hand, treated him the same.
Initially, Jyuu thought that it was rather thoughtless of her, but he knew that Ame was better than that. Although, he also didn’t know if she did it after giving it some thought. Even if he could receive the answer by asking her frankly, he still didn’t understand her thought pattern.
After all, it was the same girl who’d broken into his house in the middle of the night, and even snuck right beside him while he was asleep the entire time.
It was tantamount to a life-and-death situation.
In any other situation, it would’ve led to a murder and a robbery.
It just didn’t happen last night.
Only after he’d calmed down did he realize how scary that was, and that he should report it to the police.
Not only that, the girl was also delusional sometimes, which could’ve spelled his demise.
Jyuu could easily imagine that during one of her episodes, Ame snatched a kitchen knife and approached him while muttering incomprehensibly.
—As I thought, I should cut ties with her sooner than later...
Nevertheless, he just couldn’t find a way to do it. Even if he treated her coldly, she’d remain unfazed, while he also wasn’t the one to resort to needless violence.
Moreover, he’d make a mistake of allowing her to stay by his side.
What should I do now...?
...Before, she told him that if he thought that she was in the way, he was free to discard her. Therefore, there was no reason for him to worry. But for some reason, he found himself hesitating.
It was as if he was being tested.
After descending the stairs that led to the subway, they reached the platform. Because the air conditioning was broken, the hot and stuffy air piled up.
Due to the outside heat, Jyuu—who was already sweaty, felt even more uncomfortable. However, when he reached out for his handkerchief, he found nothing but a wallet inside his pocket.
Jyuu clicked his tongue, and tugged the chest area of his uniform to fan himself. At that moment, a hand bearing a handkerchief reached out from his side.
The white-laced handkerchief obviously belonged to a girl.
“Jyuu-sama, you may use it if you like.”
“I don’t need it.”
Without showing any particular disappointment, Ame withdrew the handkerchief.
While her annoying bangs were there as usual, her expression seemed mostly calm. Her slender, pale arms, extending from the sleeves of her summer uniform, also didn’t seem to be sweating. Her lips were pursed, while herself was quiet, making him wonder if she was really breathing.
...Her appearance somewhat reminded him of a doll.
In fact, it wouldn’t be strange if there were strings attached to her feet, and that someone was controlling her from behind.
Or, would a doll possessing a soul be more appropriate?
“Hey, aren’t you hot?”
“Not really.”
“Do you like summer?”
“I have no favorite season in particular.”
...As always, the conversation with that girl always fell flat.
Upon getting on the train, the air became refreshingly cool due to the functioning air conditioner. If not for the group of noisy students inside, it’d be perfect. Jyuu stood by the door with Ame right beside him.
As if there was an invisible barrier, none of the students dared to approach them, perhaps due to negative assumptions. At a glance, it was obvious that Jyuu was a delinquent. After all, despite having re-dyed his hair black, there was no change to his demeanor whatsoever.
When he looked at the hanging advertisement serving as a newspaper, he noticed that among the silly entertainment-related news, there was a highlight on stalkers.
...That’s right, this girl also falls under that category.
With that in mind, Jyuu shifted his attention to another hanging advertisement. Since Ame only stood there silently, he didn’t pay her any heed. Not like they had ever struck any proper conversation. Although, he couldn’t exactly say that he was uninterested in what was on her mind.
Then, among the headlines of the weekly magazine, there was news that reported of a serial killer case. While the news ranking itself had dropped to around 6th place, the murderer was still at large.
Usually, the perpetrator of such a case was a madman, and scholars who specialized in such psychoanalysis would appear frequently on television.
At the same time, he’d heard that psychoanalysis was only applicable to those who believed in it.
Come to think of it, that was from a three-sentence article in a gossip magazine.
Still, Jyuu found himself to be a supporter of it.
He’d like to believe that when it came to the human spirit, there was no solid formula like mathematics. As such, there was no fixed result to anything, saying that this would definitely lead to that.
...It probably stemmed from his reluctance to be analyzed by someone.
“What sort of person do you think this criminal is?”
Intending to kill time, Jyuu asked Ame while pointing to an article on the hanging advertisement.
Ame stared at it for a while, then said apologetically.
“I don’t think I have much to say, but...”
“No, it’s not really a serious question, I’m just making small talk. I want to know your opinion towards this kind of incident.”
“I think it’s a terrible incident.”
“Well, of course. They were killed for absolutely no reason, which is unacceptable.”
“I think there’s a reason, though.”
“Huh? Is there a reason for them to be killed?”
“I’m sorry, my explanation was lacking. I mean to say that the criminal has a reason.”
“...As in, they have a reason to kill?”
“That’s right.”
“Hey, I don’t know if you watch TV or not, but this is a ruthless murder. While the place of crime seems limited, it’s already been covered! Besides, the gender and age of the victims are all different. No matter what you think about it, the culprit kills at random, probably out of revenge. Recently, there have been a rise of such madmen. That’s why the criminal kills for no reason.”
After being silent for a while as if contemplating Jyuu’s words, Ame answered quietly.
“Murder is a difficult task. Therefore, to kill over and over solely based on a whim is too risky.”
“Like I said, the culprit probably didn’t think about anything...”
“All the victims were murdered, weren’t they?”
“Yeah, they’re all dead.”
“If that’s the case, then there must be some reason.”
“Isn’t it revenge? He’s just angry and taking it out on others.”
“There’s no such thing as being angry for no reason.”
“Really? But isn’t that common?”
“No matter how unreasonable it is, there’s a reason for it. It’s quite exhausting to be angry. Therefore, it’s impossible to be angry for no reason.”
For a moment, he almost got convinced that such was the case, but Jyuu quickly changed his mind.
...Why am I getting persuaded by this girl?
Despite knowing that it was a quibble, Jyuu still spoke.
“Then, what about an actor? They sure can be angry whenever they want.”
“Certainly, it’s possible to express your anger through training. Even so, you’re still exerting yourself. For example, if you continue to express your emotions by crying for an hour, you’ll be drained. The same goes for getting angry. It’s tiresome. If it’s as Jyuu-sama pointed out, then the culprit gets angry for no reason, chooses and kills the victim without any discrimination, over and over again. It’d take a heavy toll on the perpetrator. When you think that they’re also being pursued by the police, you can’t imagine the amount of stress they have.”
“...Hence why do they have a reason?”
“Yes, and the reason serves as a way to alleviate the stress of the murder.”
“Even if the culprit is crazy?”
“Even a madman has rules of his own. There’s no such thing as utter mindlessness.”
“Then, who do you think the culprit is?”
“A human with a sense of mission of some kind?”
“...For it to make them want to kill many, just what kind of sense is that?”
“I wonder about that, too...”
Ame purposefully gave a vague reply to avoid making any crude remark.
Averting his gaze from Ame, Jyuu stared outside the window. It was dark—of course, since it was the subway.
An unpleasant sense of suffocation engulfed him. To not succumb to the visual deprivation, he began to think a lot.
As usual, he felt that Ame’s argument was somewhat persuasive.
...Does it take a madman to know a madman?
Perhaps, cut from the same cloth, Ame sympathized with the madman.
Nevertheless, her opinion that the culprit was acting based on some set of rules seemed to be correct.
On the surface, the culprit probably didn’t seem dangerous—just like Ochibana Ame, who seemed normal at first glance. At the same time, the culprit didn’t think twice about committing an eccentric act. Inwardly, the culprit may even think that it was a natural course of action.
...Is that the sort of person the culprit is?
Then, he probably wouldn’t be able to discern the culprit just by looking at them.
What a useless conversation.
As he looked at the reflection of Ame on the window pane, he almost had to reach for the hanging strap to withstand the centrifugal force of the train turning on the curve. Since Ame was short in stature, it might be difficult for her to reach for it.
...What if she’s the culprit of this incident?
—Am I next?
Or, were a sense of devotion to one person and a series of killings two different things?
Then, what does that make me?
A delinquent high-schooler who follows a female killer?
Jyuu smiled in self-deprecation.
It’s the so-called black joke.
Nevertheless, it was alright, because he was able to laugh a bit.
***
Even now, she didn’t remember what prompted him to say that.
Maybe there was a good reason for it—or maybe there wasn’t.
Did he just fall apart?
While they were born complete, humans would deteriorate as they aged.
They’d then deceive themselves, saying that they were growing.
—But if all that awaited them was death, then it wasn’t growth.
They were falling apart.
The world would wear them down physically and mentally, until they became of no use.
“I have a mission.”
When he declared that with a straight face, she was convinced that her previous conjecture was correct.
He, who once seemed so bright, had degraded into this.
While she felt chills at the content of story he was telling, she didn’t intervene—
—Mainly because he hated being hindered.
The talk itself lasted for two hours, and turned out to be nothing more than an incessant excuse.
Since it was time for her to go home, she urged him to cut to the case.
“—Then, what is it that you end up doing?”
“Like I said, I aim to fulfill my mission. After all, I can’t forgive them.”
She only understood everything when she saw tomorrow’s news.
Upon discovering what he’d done, she shuddered, more so because of excitement than fear.
Aah, what an utter hell.
Even though Hell should only be reachable after death, and yet, she’d been living there this whole time.
How wonderful...