Ch.55Chapter 9. It Was Summer. (2)

I couldn’t meet Yuka that day after all.

With so many people gathered, it was understandable that we couldn’t find each other. Even if I had deliberately tried to look for her, it probably would have been difficult.

I considered calling her. If she had come with her family, we could have met up somewhere nearby with a phone call. But I kept fiddling with my phone until just a few minutes before the fireworks ended, then simply put it back in my pocket.

Yuka should have time with her family too.

Even with close friends, getting too close can become burdensome and make them drift away. Yuka is kind, which is probably why she wouldn’t refuse if I asked to meet.

After what happened two days ago, she deserves some peaceful time to enjoy everyday life.

…And truthfully, there was one more reason.

It wasn’t until I had watched almost the entire fireworks show that I thought Yuka might have lied to me.

Perhaps when she heard I had plans with friends, she said she had plans with family too. Maybe she didn’t want me to feel guilty.

Once I had that thought, I became afraid to call.

If instead of “Let’s meet,” I heard “Sorry, I don’t think I can make it today—” followed by some excuse…

I would feel too sorry toward Yuka.

…Is it strange to think this way?

I consider Yuka a close friend, but she’s not actually family. Even close friends don’t have an obligation to be that considerate.

Maybe it’s strange that I’m worrying she might have lied just to spare my feelings.

“So, are you free next month?” Fukuda asked again before we parted.

I nodded.

“I should be.”

“Great, then I’ll count on it?”

Since Miura and Yamashita said they could make it too.

Miura, Yamashita, and Fukuda all seemed to live nearby. At least they didn’t seem to live outside Minato Ward.

Yamashita definitely lived within Minato Ward.

After waving goodbye to the three of them, I returned home, and it was naturally almost ten o’clock.

“…”

I entered the dark house, turned on the lights, and took off my clothes.

After a quick shower, changing clothes, and sitting in front of the fan.

“…”

Hmm.

If I had been alone all this time, I probably wouldn’t feel this empty.

Before coming here, I lived alone for several years. I had people I could call friends, but I didn’t meet them often, and I never invited them to my studio apartment.

Living alone with no family to support, I would often cover for others when they had family obligations.

As a result, my home became just a place to sleep. I tried to live like a human by cleaning and cooking, but it was inevitably bleak without any decorations.

When I came home after staying up all night, I would collapse and sleep for a while, then wake up to look at my smartphone a bit, use the computer a little, start watching a movie but never finish it.

“I really lived without purpose.”

If I were an extremely positive person, I might have thought it was fortunate that I could help so many people—but well, I wasn’t that kind-hearted.

How about now?

“I think it’s a little better now.”

I muttered to myself for no reason.

Why do I feel so empty?

Objectively speaking, I’ve spent much more time alone. Yamashita only stayed for a few days, and Yuka just slept over a few times.

Ah, I see.

I won’t be going to school tomorrow. Really.

I’ll be alone until the end of August.

“No, that’s not right.”

Today is a holiday.

Tomorrow I’ll still go to work. I need to work even in summer.

My working hours remain the same. There was already someone working the shift before mine, and if I increased my hours here, they would have to let that person go. The manager wasn’t compassionate enough to spend twice the money to maintain staff. Though he did give away things he thought were unnecessary.

“…I wonder if Kuro is okay.”

That black kitten whose name overlaps with half of mine.

While it had grown a bit larger during the time Shii and I were watching it, it was still small enough to be called a “baby.”

Hmm.

Maybe I’ll go see it tomorrow before work.

Who knows? I might meet Shii too.

With that thought, I closed my eyes a little earlier than usual today.

…But lately, I haven’t been hearing snoring sounds from next door.

I wonder if they moved out.

Well, whatever. I prefer the quiet anyway…

*

“Kuro~ Kuro~”

After calling its name a few times at the place where Kuro always gets canned tuna from Shii, a small black ball of fur appeared at the edge of my vision.

When I opened the cat food tuna can I had bought in advance and put it in a bowl, Kuro quickly came over and devoured the tuna ravenously.

“…”

And I quietly watched Kuro.

Is it my imagination? The black body I was seeing for the first time since vacation started seemed a bit thinner. Seeing how desperately it ate the contents of the can, it really seemed like it hadn’t eaten properly.

I carefully touched Kuro’s fur with my finger.

They say stray cats are dirty, but how could I just watch without touching?

I can always wash my hands.

As I stared at it, Kuro finished the contents of the can and looked up at me.

Meow.

The small, cute sound unique to kittens.

Was it because it wasn’t fully grown? Its eyes took up a large portion of its face, making it look very lovable.

“…”

Should I just take it home?

Of course, there would be a lot to consider. I’ve never had a pet before. I’ve even killed plants several times.

But…

Hmm.

Still, I don’t think it’s right for me to just take it alone.

Kuro got along well with Shii. It was originally Shii who took care of it first.

If I took it without saying anything, Shii would worry. I should discuss it first.

Good. Let’s at least talk about it.

*

“Kuro?”

“Yes.”

When I brought it up to Shii at the maid café, she looked at me with wide eyes and asked again.

Fortunately, Shii didn’t declare that she would take Kuro herself.

Instead, she smiled brightly, held both my hands tightly, and said:

“You’ll take care of Kuro?”

“…Yes.”

Because I don’t want to be alone in my room.

“I’m still thinking about it.”

I’ll be alone in my room.

I didn’t want to bring it home because I was lonely, only to neglect it in turn.

But once I start keeping it at home, I couldn’t just put it outside again.

…And getting another cat would be difficult for me to handle.

I should think carefully before bringing a living animal home.

“If I keep a cat… I might have to quit my job.”

I said with a somewhat serious expression.

“Ah… that’s true. Kuro is still young.”

Shii fell into thought for a moment.

In the end, the two of us couldn’t reach a conclusion.

It’s probably too much for a busy person to raise a pet, right? There would surely be health problems for an animal living with me.

“…Oh, by the way, senior.”

“Yes?”

Shii, who had been quietly lost in thought, suddenly spoke as if remembering something.

“Um… my brother and I are planning to go on a trip during the vacation.”

“…Yes.”

Oh.

I was a bit surprised by Shii’s words.

No, of course I had been thinking about participating in the Raiju hunt. I needed to know how the main story would unfold.

But I didn’t expect it to be brought up so easily, especially by the other person directly.

“It seems my brother’s friends will be coming too…”

More precisely, Shii was going along on Sasaki’s trip.

It wasn’t like she was forcing herself to tag along. If anything, the three heroines were the ones who forced their way in: Nakahara, the childhood friend; Hagiwara, the senior character; and Yuka, the main heroine.

Here, there’s no reason for Yuka to join, so it would be just the two of them.

For reference, in the original work, their excuse for tagging along was “Shii would be the only girl otherwise.”

They conveniently left out the fact that Shii was clearly wary of them, and our clueless Sasaki thought, “Is that so?”

Perhaps here, the effect might be even greater because of what I told Sasaki.

“Would you like to come too? The cost—”

“I’ll pay my own share.”

I said.

It’s just domestic travel within Japan. While it’s by the sea, I know it’s not far from Tokyo.

Still, I have my original money and some savings, so spending a bit more once wouldn’t be risky yet.

Plus, the money from Yuka’s family last time was a whopping 50,000 yen.

I can use it for this, I thought, already calculating in my head as I listened to Shii.

Wow, my situation has really improved.

After thinking for a moment, I said:

“…Can I bring a friend too?”

“Oh, yes! The pension is quite large, so it’s fine! …Actually, I’d feel a bit better if you did. I was worried you might be uncomfortable going along with my selfish request…”

I stared at Shii for a moment, then gently patted her head.

“Eek, senior?”

Her way of being surprised is just like her brother’s.

“When is it?”

“Right before school starts. When we return to Tokyo, the next day will be the first day of school.”

It seems Hanakawa High School’s academic calendar overlaps quite a bit with middle school. Though the festival periods seem to be separate.

Good.

Then it doesn’t overlap with Miura’s plans.

I nodded to Shii.

With this, though not intentionally planned, I now had an opportunity to intervene in the main story along with Yuka.

…Though I feel a bit sorry for Yuka.

*

I decided to leave the cat as it was for now. Once I bring it home, abandoning it would never be an option.

I promised myself to think more carefully and patiently, and as I was returning home—

“…”

“…”

Right in front of the stairway corridor leading to my house was the Namahage.

In case you don’t remember, it’s that oni-like yokai. The one who saved me from the stalker.

He wasn’t holding a kitchen knife like before. No, that’s natural, right?

The Namahage looked at me and seemed very flustered, rattling his doorknob, but it seemed the door wouldn’t open.

“…Isn’t that hot?”

The real summer had just begun. Even at midnight, the temperature didn’t drop easily, and it was humid too, so I had been sweating all the way from the station.

Only after I said that did the man seem to realize he was still wearing the Namahage mask on his face.

He hastily removed the mask, revealing a white cloth covering his head, and his face was drenched in sweat. I thought as much.

“Ah, sorry. Were you scared?”

I shook my head.

I did think it was scary when I first saw it.

However, it wasn’t because of its appearance.

I know about yokai.

It happened right after I was almost assaulted by a stalker, and I thought this Namahage was “real,” so I almost cut my wrist to make a sword.

If the man hadn’t calmly told me not to do it first, I might have really cut this innocent person.

“…I seem to have lost my house key.”

“…”

I quietly looked at the man for a moment.

“Ah, you can pass by.”

The man said, slightly moving aside.

I gave a slight nod and passed by him.

Actually, the corridor isn’t that narrow. It’s wide enough for two people to stand side by side, so passing behind the man facing the door wasn’t difficult.

However, true to his Namahage character, he was wearing an old straw raincoat, and if I wasn’t careful, my clothes could get covered in broken straw.

I carefully passed behind the man without touching his back and entered my house.

“…Phew.”

As I was about to take off my clothes—

Suddenly, I remembered that the man couldn’t get into his house in this weather, still wearing those clothes.

…Still, he did save my life once, and it felt wrong to leave him like that in this weather.

But how could I help him?

“…”

No, I think I might be able to.

After a moment’s hesitation, I decided to test something.

I opened the first aid kit I had prepared in advance and cut an appropriate length of bandage.

Then, holding a sharp fish knife—

Carefully, not too hastily or strongly, I cut my wrist just enough for blood to seep out.

“Hmm.”

And I heard the voice of a being who seemed to be watching my actions with interest.

That’s not to say I actually saw such a figure. It’s just how I felt.

Maybe because this body is an avatar, but I could somewhat tell what Jabguras was doing.

Perhaps Jabguras is deliberately teaching me. I don’t know why. Probably just because it’s more fun that way.

“I wonder if you’re thinking of cutting the door with a knife.”

“That’s not it.”

This time, time didn’t stop, so I wiped my wrist with a cloth I had placed nearby.

Since I hadn’t cut as deeply as usual, blood wasn’t flowing profusely. The wound was open but shallow.

It stung, but I was somewhat used to it by now.

“Can you make a key?”

“A key.”

Jabguras laughed softly.

“You’re definitely thinking of helping that man? Do you like him?”

“Of course not.”

There’s at least a ten-year age difference. I don’t think it’s as much as twenty years, but even before age, gender is a dealbreaker.

Though I’ve become this body, my sexual orientation remains the same as in my previous life.

“I’m just repaying a life debt.”

“Oh?”

“And wouldn’t it be good for you to repay too? If that person hadn’t rushed out with a kitchen knife in that situation, I would have died.”

“I wonder why you think I would care if you died.”

I was the one thousand and first, wasn’t I?

But you know.

“Because I’m the one thousand and first.”

Yes, that’s right.

If I’m the one thousand and first, where did the previous thousand go? They might be on other planets. Maybe there are a few more avatars in this country too.

But Kagami showed great interest in me, and so did Mr. Miura.

Yuka’s grandfather also seemed to know something while keeping me close.

Above all, being in the class right next to Sasaki is incredibly suspicious. And all these strange incidents keep happening.

So, I had already determined that this character, Kotone Kurosawa, must have been quite important in the novel.

Born without a personality, gradually forming one while attending school, but completely breaking down after experiencing various misfortunes and becoming some kind of vessel.

Well, isn’t it an obvious story? The details might be described differently in the actual novel, but I could already name characters with similar storylines.

So, this body is special.

Especially since I slipped in when it should have been empty.

Even Jabguras didn’t know about me.

“It would be a shame if your toy broke.”

At my words, Jabguras was silent for a moment, then chuckled.

“Yes, as you say. It would be regrettable if you broke. Then I shall reward the one who prevented that from happening.”

She said.

“I wonder if you might repay with your body. Or perhaps by letting him stay in this room.”

“…”

When I made an incredulous expression, as if having seen it, Jabguras said:

“What a stubborn creature you are.”

And then, a few drops of blood that had been seeping from my wrist rose upward.

It was far too little to make a sword.

The rising blood wriggled and moved, then took the shape of a key. The overall shape was similar to the key to my room that I carry around, but it differed somewhat in the details from my familiar key.

I grabbed the key in my hand, quickly wiped my left wrist with a cloth, and wrapped a bandage around it.

It wouldn’t take more than a few minutes, so I wouldn’t be caught. After wrapping a hair tie over the bandage, I stood up again with the key in my hand.

When I opened the door and went out, the man was still in front of his door.

He had taken out his phone and was fiddling with it, seemingly trying to call someone, but couldn’t bring himself to do it.

At this hour, all locksmiths would be asleep.

And it would be awkward to contact the police or something.

“Please step aside for a moment.”

I walked over to him, turned my back toward him to hide the key with my body, and opened the door with the key.

“Huh?”

When I opened his door, the man looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

Why?

Do I look like a stalker?

Well, it would be creepy to think the girl next door has a key to your house.

“Master key.”

I said immediately.

“Huh?”

“Here, my mother is the owner.”

“…Ah…”

More precisely, it would be the Order or Kagami.

I thought it was a bit strange.

From the moment I first appeared in this world, I worried about rent, but not once during my stay here has rent been deducted.

Well, maybe in reality only the place I live in is owned by Kagami, and the rest isn’t. If the man asks, I’ll just call and ask them to make up an excuse.

“…Thank you.”

I shrugged and immediately turned around to enter my room.

I threw the blood key into the bathroom. After bouncing a few times on the floor tiles, the key quickly turned back into blood and flowed away.

Then, feeling somewhat tired, I changed my clothes.

…I’ll shower once the bleeding stops.

With that thought, I turned on the TV.

And that night too, I didn’t hear any snoring sounds.

Maybe they changed their sleeping position? I’m not sure.