episode_0010

According to the teacher, this Dream Tree Hall was originally used as a dormitory building. It’s just an ordinary high school now, but there was a time when it was quite popular. It seems that it was once famous for its rigorous college entrance exam preparation.

However, due to the high school equalization policy, things became difficult in many ways. By the time the teacher enrolled, it had already become a deserted building. The strict academic atmosphere that forced students to focus solely on studying was destroyed for some reason, leading to the current state of club participation deadlock and a place focused solely on student activities—

“—Well, here we go again….”

Lying on the sofa, with the hood of his coat flipped back, he casually covered his ears.

Right after that, a tremendous uproar of indistinct voices poured out from the classroom across. “What should we do today?” “Hurry up!” “The latecomer is in charge of snacks!” “Where did we leave off yesterday?” “Let’s go together, senior~” and so on. It truly was a cascade of youth. It was so intense that one might lose their mind if hit directly by it.

Of course.

Unlike lunchtime when Jin came alone, most students moved all at once this time. Those who were into outdoor activities headed to the playground or gym, while those who focused even their club activities on studying remained in the main building classrooms, but they weren’t many. Altogether, maybe about two-thirds. The rest are all here in Dream Tree Hall.

By the way, the reading room where I’m currently lounging around is on the top floor.

It’s located in the left corner, resembling its former self as a warehouse, with unusable chairs and desks piled up next to the staircase leading to the rooftop, which is a restricted area. Thanks to this, it was a place that had been cut off from the hustle and bustle of Dream Tree Hall for a long time.

“…Wait a moment. I’ll open it right away… Oh, this time it’s properly received.”

“Yeah. Nice to meet you again.”

“Okay, okay. We can kiss later. Let’s close the door first.”

“Ugh….”

Except for one person, our lovely Jin.

After a light hug and a kiss following lunch, we continued to exchange affectionate gestures. Meanwhile, I made sure to put as much effort into my legs as possible to avoid slipping on the freshly cleaned floor. I certainly didn’t want to turn the diligently cleaned floor into a dusty mess.

Fortunately, Jin’s recharge didn’t take too long.

Perhaps it was completed just a couple of hours ago. Three kisses, ten chest pats, and five pecks showed a remarkable reduction. The fact that the stoic expression softened was a bonus.

“Mmm, feeling good….”

“I’m glad to hear that. Did you pay attention in class?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

“As expected, Jin is amazing~ So kind and sweet~.”

“Yeah. I’m nice. Not bad. Like you.”

“In that sense, did you receive the handout well?”

“I want to read a picture book.”

“Ahaha, really?”

By now, the handout, which had undergone a squeezing process, was forming a layer on the bottom of the bag… no, the book layer. Since checking the contents was already a lost cause, I’ll have to check it later through phone notifications.

“Saga… Sir Apple, the Hero… follows the white fox… the white fox… laa…. um… um…?”

“Here, Sir Apple, the Hero.”

“Oh. Sir Apple, the Hero, follows the white fox….”

Jin’s choice for today was the teacher’s latest work, ‘Sir Apple, the Hero’s Cloud Road Adventure.’ Although it’s hard to say it’s well-drawn even in empty words, it has a definite charm, which Jin seemed to really like. With trembling hands, he diligently followed the large letters, revisiting missed parts and reading carefully with audible enthusiasm.

Indeed, she was the only official member of the Reading Club. Her diligent efforts to read books tirelessly, despite her physical limitations, were truly inspiring to everyone. Jin-i’s strengths could be countless, but if we were to pick one of the best among them, it would be her diligent and hardworking nature.

As for the picture book’s plot, it was a straightforward adventure story as the title suggests.

Particularly memorable was the final scene where an apple buried in the ground grew into a tree, reaching through the clouds to bear fruit, dropping next to the fox eagerly awaiting it. Their reunion left much room for thought.

“…The white fox said, ‘Yes, you… I thought you, the you I know, would surely keep your promise. Let’s not go anywhere now. Let’s stay together. In my arms forever, dreaming happily under the earth.’ The end of the story.”

“Envious. Both the apple and the fox.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I don’t want to fall either. I hate school. It would be nice to be together.”

“Just one more year until graduation. Just hold on a little longer.”

“Sigh.”

“And for all the times we couldn’t meet, I’ll definitely hug you tightly. Just watch a bit. I’ll do what you wanted earlier.”

“Oh, right. That.”

“Yes, that. You may not know what it is.”

“There’s a body hanging from the tree back there, and the smell bothers me; I want to get rid of it.”

“I see, so that’s it. Summer has passed, but October is still a lovely season, isn’t it?”

“A body.”

“Yes, a body.”

“It means a dead person.”

“Exactly, a body is a dead person.”

“Hanging on a tree.”

“A tree, on the tree…?”

“The tree behind the Dream Tree Pavilion… um… So, that pine tree, right?”

“I saw it on the way here.”

“Oh, um… hmm…”

Firstly, Jin-i is an honest and straightforward girl who doesn’t lie.

Secondly, Jin-i may not be able to read, but she has beautiful eyes and a charming smile.

In conclusion, thirdly, for some unknown reason, the body was somewhat awkwardly hung on a tree, and the only witness is our pretty and smiling Jin-i.

“…Hmm.”

Listening closely, I heard the noisy sounds from the adjacent room through the not-so-thick wall. Perhaps our neighbor was part of the drama club? The wide-open window was also contributing to the noise echoing around. In short, students filled every corner. It was the worst timing for me, an illegal intruder, to be active.

“If there were no people, I’d bury it right away….”

“Like the Apple Hero?”

“Well, the hero was buried intact, so it’s similar yet different…”

“So, if the Apple Hero was chopped up, would several apple trees sprout? Wouldn’t the fox get confused?”

“No, that wouldn’t happen. There’s no mistaking the long-awaited love. Such stories don’t exist in the world.”

“Right. That would be too sad. I prefer happy stories. Everyone, living happily ever after. That’s what I like. Anything else, I dislike.”

“As expected, Jin-i, you’re so kind. Truly the best.”

“Yes, I’m the best. I found the body all by myself.”

“Ah~ Ahaha, Haha, Ha…. Ahaha.”

Alright, back to reality.

And hello, troublesome reality.

Neither I nor Jin-i nor the body are frightening. We’ve seen enough of that.

But finding a dead person at school is a slightly different issue. The police swarm in, schedules get disrupted, and the unchanging cycle of daily life is broken. This is a big problem. It would be really difficult for Jin-i, who recharges herself daily in the Reading Room, to focus properly on her classes.

It was truly troublesome.

Jin-i must graduate safely. I hope she can live peacefully in the ordinary world. Unlike me, who has been done and dusted for a long time.

“Yawn….”

“…Huh?”

“I’m sleepy….”

Thud. Jini, who was leaning against my shoulder as we read a picture book together, collapsed onto my lap with a thud. My head, which had been spinning about when to find and dispose of the body at the right moment, came to a sudden stop with a clunk. How could I endure this when Jini was burying her face in my thigh, tears wetting my cheeks? It was an impossible situation altogether.

“Hey, Jina?”

“So soft…feeling good…”

“Well…you must be tired from classes, right? You’ve been reading the picture book diligently. Can’t help it, can we?”

“Yeah. So let’s sleep together.”

“Huh?”

“Like an apple and a fox. Affectionately together.”

“Eek!?”

“Gotcha. Won’t let go.”

“That, that’s not something you say at a time like this…”

Originally, the bell rang, and just as students began their club activities, I tried to swiftly start working, but it was a complete withdrawal. My lower body was caught up in Jini’s hair, while my upper body had just dived into Jini’s large chest. Even if it was due to the unexpected pull on the coat, the spilled water was already under the bridge.

“Ugh…hmm…”

“….”

Moreover, Jini had already closed her eyes, using me as a pillow and blanket.

Now that it had come to this, I willingly became bedding to accompany Jini on her dream journey. The position was a bit uncomfortable, but with a face full of deep comfort even under the cover, there wasn’t a big issue.

What if someone found the body after all this fooling around?

I was slightly worried. Still, it wouldn’t be a big problem. At most, there would just be one more body to dispose of. The enemy is anyone trying to disturb Jini’s peaceful daily life. Removing the villain who hinders Jini’s desired happy ending is the reason and fulfillment of my life. After all, it’s not particularly difficult.

As I organized my thoughts, my eyes gradually closed little by little.

With only one-sided vision slowly fading into blur and senses growing faint, perhaps I might dream without needing any medicine for a moment. But even if that were the case, let’s not forget.

Jini is here with me.

Just like on that day when everything turned to ashes, at the bottom of the World Cup stadium, we are still together now. So, there was nothing to fear. I could sleep soundly and at ease.