That 322: In the Darkness
After a while.
In front of nearly all the refugees gathered there, I declared aloud.
"Alright. May the three souls go to heaven or some other pleasant place!"
Around the deceased, artificial flowers collected from throughout the mall were piled high.
They were also proof of how deeply they were cherished by their companions.
After all the refugees had said their goodbyes, the uncle who had graduated from a Buddhist-affiliated university finished reciting the Heart Sutra.
"Then, let us begin. —《Flame Column》!"
As he chanted these words, a brilliant orange flame illuminated the cloudy sky.
The three corpses were instantly cremated.
By the time the entire ceremony was concluded, the surroundings had already begun to grow dark.
The four of us girls stood close together, creating just a slight distance from the refugees who had been here all along.
Their gazes directed toward us felt somehow like those of people looking at a witch.
Of course, everyone knew these feelings were entirely misplaced.
Still, emotions are never logical from the start.
Certainly, by now—no one was sending lewd looks toward Nanami anymore.
In the "Mirror Country," where the great chorus of the "zombies" echoes through the air, we depart from the rooftop.
That night, instead of gathering together for dinner, each of us ate in our own bed.
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"………………"
"………………"
"………………"
"………………"
Our evening meal, as usual, consisted of thoroughly heat-treated ready-to-eat foods and tea.
Even Nanami, usually so spirited, was utterly deflated now.
"Are we abstaining from alcohol and cigarettes tonight?"
"Uh?...Ah...um..."
She let out a small, slightly awkward grunt when I spoke to her.
"If you're going out of your way to accommodate us, it's fine if we have a drink."
"No. I don't need to. Actually, I haven't had a single drop in recent days."
"Really?"
So that's what those moods from the past few days were about...,
"You're actually like that in real life?"
"It's more like the skill of a ladies' man—being able to manipulate the mood of the moment....Then again, it also means cigarettes and alcohol get neutralized by my body automatically."
"Huh. So does that mean you could instantly return to yesterday's mood right now?"
"Well, I suppose. I wouldn't go that far as to ignore the atmosphere completely, though."
For the first time, Nanaomi was voluntarily opening up about herself like this.
"Actually, uh… could I possibly show my face back in the original world tomorrow? They might be worried about me, so…"
"Understood. At the very least, let's head toward the 'Door' in Shibuya."
"Thanks."
Today, I spent most of the day attending the funerals of three people.
Still, it's fortunate that, thanks to their sacrifice, most of the evacuees now want to leave this place.
Everyone seemed to sense something eerie about this place.
It was as if something invisible was pulling at our feet...
Ugh.
I can't help but feel a chill run down my spine.
At least my enemy should be someone I can actually hit with physical attacks...
▼
After that, the sun completely set, and the mall was swallowed by total darkness.
With nothing else to do, we quickly crawled into bed.
As the surroundings fell into silence, we lay there idly, waiting for sleep to take us.
Suddenly, Mai spoke up.
"But Nanami, it's good, isn't it?"
"Hm?"
"That those three are dead."
"Wait... what?"
"I don't have to worry about my boyfriend finding out."
"You... seriously saying that?"
"Yeah~"
"There's no way that's okay. You can't just think it's good that someone died..."
Inside the futon, the sound of Maiya shifting in her sleep could be heard.
"Oh? Isn't that the opposite of what you said yesterday? Wasn't it 'It's fine if two or three people keel over'?"
"That... was just a joke. Not serious at all."
"Huh. A joke."
"It's just a punchline. Don't take comedians' words too seriously."
"There's something I've been wondering about—when you make statements just for effect, and then claim you don't have to take responsibility because it's a stream, because it's a joke, that's wrong."
"So what if it's wrong? If it boosts the numbers, then it's just what you do, right?"
"I'm just asking you to care a little bit about the influence you have....We've received reports that kids have actually died imitating you in the 'Immortal Squad'."
"Idiots will always act like idiots—the price is already set. It's got nothing to do with me."
"You should be able to calm down a kid like that, shouldn't you?"
Hmm? Something's off...
"...Hey, Mai. What's on your mind, anyway, all of a sudden?"
"Nothing much. I just haven't felt this clear-headed in ages, so I figured I'd let off some steam."
"You've really felt that way all along?"
"Well, yeah."
"But because I push things to the limit, that's why I succeed in the 'Unreal Kingdom'."
"Your methods are certainly thrilling, but... they can sometimes make people unhappy. Hmm. Let me borrow your old words, if I may. Could you at least stop doing things that turn lives into a guidebook for misery?"
"Is that... the kind of thing someone working with the 'Immortal Unit' would say?"
"No. Advice from a partner. From back then."
"Pathetic. Really pathetic."
"Is that so?"
"Before we knew it, Mayi too had joined the ranks of those boring adults, complaining endlessly about everything before 'the end'."
"...Adults... huh..."
Hey, Mayi. Wasn't the point to make up?
It feels like there should be a sudden turnaround line right here.
"As you say... I am..."
Inside the bed, Harahara was nervously listening intently, when—
“A pardon, messenger from the 'Hero' arrives.”
Suddenly, a man’s voice rang out, causing everyone present to reflexively jump up.
“Whoa! What’s going on? What’s happening?”
“Shh, please be quiet.”
“Of all times, now? Doesn’t this man enjoy ruining the mood?”
“Ah, well, in a long life, one must endure such days now and then.”
When Mayoi activated the third lightning-based light, the person standing there was,
"——Kou-kun?"
"Excuse me for interrupting your bedtime. 'The weather has turned favorable for the sea route.' We must evacuate immediately. Please hurry with the preparations."