episode_0061

When Amy asked if he had time, Lane answered yes, of course.

So, our first outing was decided to be this weekend, to a theme park.

I started researching the theme park during my remaining time.

The plans for the day are written in crooked handwriting in a small notebook.

First, you ride a large star-shaped disc and travel around the entire theme park.

After that….

I was dabbling with colorful colored pencils, staring blankly at the growing number of notepads on my computer desktop.

I frown at the messy shapes scattered all over my desktop.

The contents of the notepad were all simple.

A repetitive list of short words.

Exclamation marks, expressing strong feelings, were also used several times.

Could it be that someone was trying to send me a message?

I moved the mouse to merge several notepad files into one, then threw them in the trash.

A picture of a trash can changing to indicate it is full of trash.

Feeling a strange sense of unease, I moved the mouse and emptied the trash can.

Notepads disappearing with a rustling sound.

But words that are vividly remembered in the mind do not easily disappear.

I stared blankly at the screen, shook my head, and started drawing with the colored pencil again.

“Jeff. How’s everything going with the plan?”

“Yes!”

“Are you that excited?”

“Yes.”

Amy came over to me, who was sitting in front of the computer fiddling around, and patted my head as she spoke.

“Still, I can’t stay up too late.”

“It’s okay!”

Amy’s permission was granted until 5pm.

If we leave from here, we will arrive at around 1pm, which means we will only have 4 hours to spend there.

That’s why I continued to revise the contents of the notebook while researching more efficient routes.

“How about shine?”

“I like everything Jeff likes.”

I showed the contents of the notebook to Shine, who was sitting next to me, and asked for her opinion, but she didn’t seem particularly interested in the plan I had made.

Holding the notebook in my hand, I sank into the soft chair and swung my short legs.

The legs moving back and forth added to the wobble of the chair.

That night.

I discovered for the first time in my life that when I lay down in bed with my heart full of anticipation, I couldn’t sleep.

The sound of my heart pounding was so loud it was almost overwhelming.

Even though I pulled the blanket over my head, my eyes didn’t close.

“Shine… ?”

I slowly pulled down the blanket that covered my head and called out to Shine, who was lying next to me.

But the expected answer did not come.

I buried my face in the pillow, my cheeks puffed out.

I couldn’t sleep.

But it wasn’t like we could wake up Amy or Shine.

I was wriggling under the blanket alone, so I carefully moved and got out of the blanket.

I sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at Shine, who was quietly sleeping.

A face just like mine.

My family, with the same body as me.

Tiny hands and short legs. Even soft cheeks.

None of it was any different from mine.

I reached out and pressed my finger against Shine’s cheek.

The soft ball, which felt smooth and could be pressed in the shape of a finger, was like rice cake.

“Jeff.”

“Oops… .”

I was pressing Shine’s cheek for a long time.

Shine’s closed eyes slowly opened and she gently wrapped her hand around mine.

Startled, I tried to pull my hand away in a hurry, but she tightened her grip and gently pulled my body.

A body that collapses easily.

I could have wrenched my hand free, but I didn’t resist her touch.

“You didn’t sleep?”

“Yeah. I can’t sleep.”

I collapsed next to Shine and answered her question with a sly smile.

After hearing my answer, she reached out and gently stroked my hair.

“Did you drink coffee?”

“No. I just can’t sleep.”

“Do you want to sleep?”

“Yeah. If I don’t sleep now, I won’t be able to have fun tomorrow.”

After hearing my answer, Shine smiled quietly without saying anything.

At the same time, Shine’s hand, which had been gently stroking my hair, began to move slowly.

From the head to the forehead and to the eyes.

Little fingers gently pass over my eyelids.

When I looked at her as if to ask what I was doing, she put out her other hand and covered my eyes.

“Good night Jeff.”

What are you doing now….

***

“My… !”

A faint voice.

I moved my hands as the senses became clearer and clearer, as if my hazy mind was rising to the surface of the water.

The hand that was wrapped in the soft blanket slips out of the blanket and is exposed to the cold air.

I flinched at the sudden change in temperature.

I rub my blurry eyes and sit up.

“Jeff!”

“Rain… ?”

I muttered in a daze as I watched Rain waving his arms and making a fuss right in front of me.

My head feels heavy.

A feeling of weather different from usual.

I feel like my fatigue hasn’t gone away.

I got out from under the blanket, dragging my sagging body.

Why is Rain sitting on my bed?

I was curious about the chick that appeared in a completely different place than usual, so I asked Lane in a slow tone.

“Rain… . Why?”

Is it because I’m still not asleep?

Although a good portion of the question was cut off, Lane seemed to understand what I was saying and answered.

“You said you were going out to play!”

Go out and play.

when?

today?

A slow series of words.

Theme Park – Rain – Promise.

“Ouch!”

Only then could I recall.

Today is the day to go to the theme park.

I jumped out of bed and looked around with unsteady movements.

Shine and Amy were sitting at the table watching television.

“Amy!”

“Are you awake?”

“Theme park!”

“There’s still time left, so go wash up and come back.”

I looked back at Shine at Amy’s words.

She seemed completely prepared, wearing the clothes Amy had prepared for her.

Shine, dressed in a pure white one-piece dress, looked like a doll.

“Uh… .”

His face hardens.

Anyone who looked at the clothes Shine was wearing could tell that they suited her very well.

That was the problem.

Amy always prepared the same clothes for me and Shine to wear.

Like glow-in-the-dark dinosaur pajamas and sweatpants to wear when you’re out and about.

I don’t feel uncomfortable wearing clothes like Shine.

An inexplicable rejection that comes from deep within.

The face, frozen in that distorted, alien sensation, showed no sign of relaxing.

My gaze leaves Shine and turns to the table in front of her.

A pure white one-piece dress, which Amy must have prepared, was spread out wide on the ground.

therefore.

Do I have to wear that?

Something like that?

“Jeff?”

If you think about it, it wasn’t a strange problem.

That means there is a problem.

I had no problem wearing those clothes, but the moment I imagined myself wearing them, an inexplicable sense of rejection surged up in my head.

“Jeff? What are you doing?”

“Ah… Rain.”

Let’s stand still in that subtle sensation.

Rain pushed my body into the bathroom.

I was blankly staring outside the bathroom, then I stood on the step Amy had prepared and looked at the mirror on the sink.

The face of a little girl with messy hair.

The girl, with a slightly embarrassed look in her eyes, reached out and touched her face.

“Is it me?”

I asked the girl in the mirror with a subtle smile.

No answer came.

As I came out of the bathroom after a light wash, Amy, who had been waiting in front of the bathroom, grabbed me, sat me down in front of her, and started combing my hair.

It was a quick pace, but it was a very gentle touch.

Amy began to comb my hair gently, untangling the tangles.

Swish swish – The sound of brushing coming from behind my head makes my whole body feel tired.

“Are you feeling good?”

“Yes… .”

The subtle feeling of rejection disappeared in an instant.

After finishing combing my hair, Amy brought out various cosmetics and started applying them to my face.

I tried to turn my face this way and that to avoid her touch, but I couldn’t escape from Amy’s arms and legs that wrapped tightly around my body.

As if the sensation she felt earlier was an illusion due to Amy’s continued touch, she did as Amy told her and put on the one-piece dress.

“Jeff is pretty.”

Shine, who was watching me from the side, smiled brightly and said.

I felt a strange sense of shame at those words.

Reddened ears.

He turns his gaze down to his feet, unable to meet her gaze.

Her toes, wrapped in pure white stockings, wiggled.

“Eung… Shine is pretty too.”

The area under my legs felt empty.

I touched the hem of the one-piece dress, feeling cool yet vague.

The soft fabric tangles between my fingers.

“Am I pretty too?”

At that moment, Rain, who was sitting on the bed, jumped down and spun around.

The hem of the bright yellow one-piece dress fluttering gently as if riding the wind continues.

The difference between Rain’s light blonde hair and her distinct color made her face stand out even more.

“Why are you putting in so much effort when you’re going out to play?”

Amy smiled playfully and patted Lane’s head.

“You never know!”

Lane answered confidently, breaking free from Amy’s grasp.

She looked even more beautiful than usual, all dressed up, so I found myself staring blankly at her.

“I guess I should go now.”

As I was fiddling with the hem of my one-piece dress, Amy stood up and said.

At her words, I ran to the corner of the room and put my yellow bag on my back.

“I’m ready!”

Excitement filled with anticipation.

At the signal of readiness that I gave with a strong voice, Shine and Rain came up to me.

“Jeff.”

“Huh?”

“Did you bring your notebook?”

“Notebook… !”

As I was rummaging through my bag in response to Shine’s question, I remembered that the notebook containing the theme park plan was on the computer desk.

“Thank you!”

I almost forgot.

I gently hugged Shine’s body, then ran quickly and grabbed a small notebook.

“Really ready!”

Now I’m really ready.

Amy, who was looking at me, smiled lightly and said.

“Let’s go.”

After leaving the room, I looked around.

The hallways were deserted because the holiday season wasn’t over yet.

“Where are you going?”

“First, we have to go up the stairs.”

Amy said so and continued walking.

I followed Amy around for a while like that.

We were able to reach the front of the stairs.

Surely I don’t have to climb all these stairs?

I looked up at Amy with a worried look in my eyes.

Amy, sensing my gaze, turned around and smiled.

“Are you worried about having to climb all the stairs?”

Amy’s playful question.

I nodded to him.

Amy looked at me like that and tapped her phone screen.

A small knock-knock noise was heard, and at the same time, a large hole appeared behind Amy.

The appearance of a black, undulating, uneasy vortex.

Startled by the sudden appearance, I took two steps back.

“Warp… ?”

“Come here Jeff. Shine.”

Amy stood in front of the large whirlpool and held out her hand.

Shine also had a look of bewilderment at the sudden appearance of the whirlpool.

As I was exchanging glances with Shine without hastily extending my hand, Rain, who was standing next to me, jumped into the vortex with a bold movement.

It happened so quickly that I couldn’t reach out and grab Lane.

As I was opening my mouth in confusion, the whirlpool that had swallowed Rain began to swirl, and Rain’s small face popped out.

“Aren’t you coming?”

Rain’s actions as if he was very familiar with it.

Shine and I looked at her and realized that the vortex was not dangerous.

As I approached Amy, who was silently holding out her hand, and grabbed her hand, Amy started walking towards the whirlpool.

A black, rippling surface.

Rain’s head floating above it looked bizarre at first glance.

The moment I got close to the whirlpool, I shut my eyes tightly.

Hwaak-

The sound of a strong wind blowing in my ears.

The cold air brushes my cheek and enters deep into my lungs.

Startled, I opened my eyes wide and looked around.

It’s not a building.

The clean space with pure white exterior walls no longer exists here.

A wide, unobstructed view.

As you can see, it is a high place, and at the end of your sight you can see the end of a large mountain range.

Phew-

The breath that flows out of his mouth turns into white vapor and disperses.

This is the rooftop.

On the rooftop of an unknown, unidentified building.

It was also a very large rooftop.

Doo doo doo doo doo doo-!

The sound that came late is becoming clearer and clearer.

In the middle of the rooftop.

The black exterior immediately catches my eye.

The propeller spinning at high speed made a loud noise.

“Helicopter… ?”