Ch.171Chapter 25. Bell (4)

As soon as Yuka heard the screams coming from outside the window, her body trembled.

Something seemed to be triggering a reaction in her body.

Yet I felt nothing. The chills I used to feel on my back whenever I encountered yokai were absent.

“Kagami.”

I looked at Kagami calmly as I spoke.

All the talismans in the room were glowing blue. If I tried to cross them, my body would probably catch fire.

And—this time, I likely wouldn’t survive.

Though we were both influenced by Nirlas, Koko’s body is different from the one I originally had.

Since I’ve seen Koko come looking for “me” several times, she must have some way of detecting me, but I don’t know how to use it.

Koko disliked fire.

Seeing how she couldn’t even get close to regular fire, not just the blue flames made from branch powder that blocks gods, this body… would die the moment it leaves.

“Kagami, this isn’t right.”

“…”

“People will die. Many of them.”

Perhaps it’s already too late.

I still don’t feel any signs of “world destruction.” In other words, I haven’t seen anything like a massive explosion suddenly wiping out all of Tokyo, like in comics.

But there are definitely warning signs happening.

“And we’ll die too.”

“I suppose so.”

Kagami replied calmly.

“But why?”

“…”

Kagami stared at me silently.

“I’ve already told you the story.”

Then, she continued slowly.

“I simply don’t want to lose the meaning I found in my final moments of life.”

“…You mean you want to spend your final moments with your ‘daughters’?”

“Yes.”

At Kagami’s words, I closed my mouth.

I have no idea what to say.

I understand what she’s saying, yet I don’t.

I think it’s possible to feel maternal instinct. If it’s your own child, and if that child dies before your eyes, you might want to bring them back to life.

But what if the price is the world? Wouldn’t that change things?

“Kagami, I—”

“No.”

Kagami cut me off.

“If you die, the reason I brought you back will disappear.”

“…”

“I’ve thought about it. Perhaps death is inevitable. In the distant future, if I die, I might meet you again. Or I could even take my own life first.”

The emotion in Kagami’s eyes as she looked at me deepened.

“But… would that work? Could I meet you that way? I don’t even know what kind of existence you are.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it again.

I had nothing to say to Kagami.

“The fact that you didn’t need to learn about the world from the beginning means you already knew it. That means your spirit must have come from somewhere far away, not from here. If that’s the case, could I meet you in that afterlife? Could we maintain our mother-daughter relationship?”

I… couldn’t bring myself to answer.

I’ve been here for less than a year.

Of course, I’ve gained a lot during that time. I’ve formed bonds I never want to lose, and I wanted to live here for as long as possible.

But that doesn’t mean I’ve completely shed my previous life.

When I close my eyes, I can still recall my family. I can remember the photos I used to look at every day, and I still dream about the moment I lost my family.

Could someone like me really use the term “mother” for Kagami?

With time—yes, with a lot of time—perhaps I could someday.

But…

If everything ended at this moment and we all went somewhere else to meet again.

Our relationship would likely end there. After all, friendships and family relationships form for completely different reasons.

“…”

“So I can’t let you go.”

Kagami said, looking at me.

Almost pleadingly.

“Please don’t go. I’m begging you.”

The talismans on the floor were still glowing blue.

Neither Yamashita, Yuka, nor anyone else in the room spoke.

“If I don’t go… we’ll all die eventually.”

“I suppose so. But at least we can be together until that moment. As a family.”

“…”

Kagami was sincere.

That’s what I felt.

A heavy silence descended.

For some reason, the screams from outside were no longer audible.

What’s happening out there? Has the world really ended?

“…I have to go.”

“Why?”

Kagami asked in response to my words.

There was a hint of urgency in her voice.

Unlike before, she was now glaring at me with wide eyes.

“Why does it have to be you?”

“Because I’m the only one who can do this.”

“Are you saying you have to be the one to save this world?”

No, that’s not it.

I’m not a hero.

I’ve never been a hero.

If there’s a criminal, it’s the police’s job to catch them.

If foreign enemies invade the country, it’s the soldiers’ job to stop them.

And if there’s a fire somewhere, it’s the firefighters’ job to put it out.

Not all of those people are heroes or simply good people.

Some might just be working to make a living, some might admire the profession, and others might have a sense of duty.

And the reason I was a firefighter before, the reason I didn’t let go of that job even after losing everything—

“Because there’s no one else who can do it.”

Yes, if not me, then who?

It’s the same now.

I turned around.

“Wait!”

Kagami shouted.

I moved forward.

The room isn’t very large. In just a few steps, I would reach the barrier Kagami had set up.

Blue fire would engulf my body, and I might die in agony.

“Wait! Just wait!”

I heard someone shouting behind me, and someone grabbed my waist tightly.

And hugged me close.

It was the first hug I’d ever received from Kagami.

“No, no. Don’t go. Please.”

I heard Kagami’s voice, mixed with tears.

“Please… please…”

Kagami’s voice gradually faded, as if swallowed by her sobs.

“Kotone…”

My name.

The name someone gave me.

“…”

And there was one more person blocking my path.

Yuka stood on the talismans, blocking the door I was trying to exit through.

“Yuka.”

“Kotone.”

When I called Yuka’s name, she called mine.

Her face was already covered in tears. It was a face that couldn’t possibly be described as okay.

Her wet eyes were staring at me.

Yuka asked in a small voice.

“Do you want to die?”

“…”

A question different from what I expected, the complete opposite.

I moved my lips slightly, then slowly spoke.

“I don’t want to die.”

Yuka said nothing, waiting for my next words.

I continued more firmly.

“I want to live. Here with all of you. Forever.”

Things I want to do? Of course there are many.

If I wait a little longer, the world’s largest video streaming site will probably appear. I want to make videos and upload them there. If things get better, I want to buy and read all the animations and comics from this era. There are many foods I want to try. The second-year school trip is to Hawaii, so I definitely want to go.

…So, I want to live. I want to keep living.

But.

“Still… if not me.”

I stopped mid-sentence.

Because Yuka looked at me and smiled.

“That’s right.”

Yuka said.

“Yes. I’m the same. I don’t want to die. I want to live.”

“…”

“My mom… died doing the same work I do.”

Ah.

I see.

“I hate transferring schools all the time. I want to know my friends for longer. Honestly, swinging swords isn’t my thing. I’d rather just stay at home after school.”

Yuka was opening up to me with her honest feelings.

Probably for the first time.

“I don’t always want to wear comfortable clothes either. I’d like to try wearing flowy dresses too. But if I ran around in those, you know?”

It would probably be very uncomfortable. There would be a lot to worry about.

“I hate dying. I hate getting hurt. I hate being in pain.”

Yuka said.

“But in the end, I thought the same thing. If not me, who would do this job?”

Yuka smiled.

“We’re the same, aren’t we?”

“…”

Yuka reached out her hand to me.

Hesitantly, I placed my hand on hers.

It was a bit cold. The temperature seemed to reveal exactly what emotions Yuka had been feeling all day.

Yuka’s hand, firmly holding mine, slowly pulled me along.

“Ah, aah…”

I heard Kagami’s distressed crying.

The arms around my waist loosened a bit.

Yuka’s feet stepped off the talismans.

My hand, following Yuka’s, passed over those talismans.

My body didn’t catch fire.

Slowly, slowly,

I followed Yuka’s hand and took steps forward.

Kagami’s arms fell limply from my body.

Her hands dropped down.

As my arms passed over the talismans, and my body crossed them, nothing happened.

The talismans were just glowing blue.

“…”

I turned to look at Kagami in the room.

Kagami was lying face down on the floor, clenching her fists and sobbing.

…Ah, I see.

Kagami… said she recognized me as her daughter.

What parent would set their daughter on fire just for leaving the house?

Yuka gently released my hand.

Did Yuka know?

She looked surprised at first, but as I calmed down and thought about it, I realized she might have.

I stood silently for a moment, just looking at Kagami.

“…When I come back.”

Not knowing what to say, I decided to tell Kagami whatever came to mind.

Yes. When I come back—though I might not be able to return,

If I do come back and face Kagami again.

“From then on, I’ll stop calling you by your name.”

I couldn’t bring myself to directly say I’d call her mom.

Even in this situation, that felt too embarrassing.

Kagami slowly raised her head.

The expression on her face, mouth slightly open, was one I’d never seen on Kagami before.

I nodded to Kagami, who was staring at me blankly.

“Um…”

As I spoke cautiously, Yamashita peeked his head out.

Souta and Shii looked at me too.

“Wait for me.”

The three of them stared at me after I spoke.

I have so much to apologize for.

Perhaps, if I hadn’t acted, none of this would have happened.

Reading a novel I’d never finished, always jumping to conclusions and trying to solve things on my own—maybe that’s why things turned out this way.

If it weren’t for me, Souta would probably be having a happy school life surrounded by girls.

The same goes for Yamashita. Would he necessarily have suffered terribly if he ran away from home? He might have been lucky and returned home. Or maybe he would have found another friend to stay with. Like Fukuda.

As for Mako…

Yes. I think I did the right thing with Mako at least.

So, I’m selfish.

In the end, I insisted on doing things my way and ended up here.

“…”

Souta nodded.

Shii, next to Souta, did the same.

Yamashita kept staring at me intently, then,

“Yuu.”

He suddenly said his name.

“Huh?”

“Call me Yuu from now on. You’ve been calling me by my last name all this time.”

“Ah, that—”

“We’re cousins, right?”

Yamashita—

—no, Yuu said somewhat gruffly.

“Were you planning to keep hiding it if I hadn’t found out?”

“…”

I couldn’t say anything.

“…Let’s stay close from now on.”

Yuu said that while slightly averting his gaze, then quickly went back into the room.

“Woah!”

Koko was suddenly beside me.

“…Koko.”

“Kotone!”

As always, Koko called my name.

What should I say to Koko?

But before I could speak, I felt my heart beating.

I placed my hand on my chest.

It feels like my heart is beating, but there’s also something slightly different.

It’s like… feeling as if someone else’s heart is beating along with mine, confirming that Koko is alive.

Is this how Koko has been finding my location all this time?

I pressed my lips together.

It’s somewhat embarrassing.

It didn’t seem necessary to put it into words.

“…”

I looked up again and looked at Kagami.

“…I’ll come back.”

I said, looking straight at Kagami.

“I promise.”

“…”

Kagami pressed her lips together and bowed her head deeply.

*

Even when I got outside the apartment, I couldn’t see the situation clearly.

“…So you’re going.”

Mr. Yamashita spoke to me.

“Yes.”

Looking up toward my room, I saw Hagiwara and Nakahara had come outside.

Nakahara waved at me. As for Hagiwara… I’m not sure what expression she was making.

Since I didn’t know what to say either, I didn’t think about addressing her separately.

“Hey, kiddo.”

Mr. Fukuda said.

“Looks like something’s happened.”

Mr. Fukuda looked around, chuckling. Was he reacting to the fact that the police didn’t immediately rush at me when I came out?

“Harumi cried a lot. She said you died.”

“…”

Mr. Fukuda shrugged as if it wasn’t particularly surprising.

“I’ve known what this guy’s been up to for a long time. I figured it out when he married that strange woman.”

Mr. Fukuda said, pointing his chin at Mr. Yamashita.

“…”

After thinking for a moment, I said,

“…Please take care of Kagami.”

“Huh?”

Mr. Fukuda’s eyes widened a bit.

“What, are you going off to die or something?”

“Not exactly.”

At my answer, Mr. Fukuda looked at me silently for a moment, then shrugged.

“Well, fine. It’s not a bad proposal for me.”

That’s how Mr. Fukuda responded.

Just when he’d gone to the trouble of bringing his daughter back to life, she immediately says she’s going into danger… I never thought I’d feel sympathy for Kagami.

“…”

I looked at the apartment once more.

Should I say I’ve grown attached to it?

It was an old, worn-down apartment, but I think there were more happy moments than not. My suffering was only during the initial period.

Meeting friends, meeting those who could perhaps be called family.

“…Let’s go.”

So, I’ll do my best to make sure it doesn’t fall apart.

I know how fortunate it is to have a place to return to.

In my previous life, I was alone in the house I had. Even if I returned, it was just a dark place with the lights off.

Almost no one to contact, and when I slept, I kept dreaming about the moment I lost my family.

I was able to overcome all of that after coming here.

So, I intended to do what I could.

I took Koko and Yuka’s hands.

And I ran.

*

Kagami came outside a few minutes later.

She seemed to have composed herself somewhat; her face was a mess, wet all over, but seeing her with her lips pressed firmly together, it seemed her heart had settled a bit.

“…”

Kagami, who had been staring at the place where her daughter had disappeared, suddenly turned toward Fukuda.

“Mr. Fukuda.”

“Yes.”

Having been asked by Kagami’s daughter just before, and also having positive feelings personally, his voice was strong when he answered.

But Kagami continued as if she had no interest in such things.

“Could you take me somewhere?”

“What?”

Fukuda blinked at Kagami’s words.

So… was this why she asked him to take care of her?

While Fukuda was assessing the situation, Kagami had turned toward the Yamashita daughter.

Both were wearing shrine maiden outfits.

They had mentioned something about a ritual; this must have been the reason.

“You have the bell, right?”

“Yes.”

Yuu opened her palm to show it.

There was an old bell in it.

“…Stay here. Don’t go anywhere else. Use the bell as much as you need to.”

“…”

Yuu looked at Kagami silently.

“Are you going?”

“…I have to. Otherwise, there’s no meaning.”

Kagami said. Her gaze remained fixed straight ahead.

Yuu couldn’t fully understand what was in her heart.

A relationship too twisted to be called family, difficult to express in words.

Kagami had been willing to burn the world to save her daughter. When that resurrected daughter headed back into danger, how should Kagami have reacted?

It’s hard to know.

Perhaps it was because Yuu would need much more time before having a daughter of her own.

While she understood, at the same time…

Well, the talk of the world ending didn’t feel real either. Yuu had only just heard a bit about the situation.

“I hope you return together.”

That’s all Yuu could say.

Kagami nodded.

“…”

As she was about to turn around, Kagami’s eyes met Ryohei Yamashita’s.

The two looked at each other briefly, then turned away without saying anything.

“Shall we… go then?”

Fukuda asked somewhat awkwardly.

Kagami nodded.

In her hand was a flat object wrapped in cloth.