Chapter 349: Nanami and Mai: Part One

A Vespa with a sidecar speeds through the ruins of a cityscape.

Having already exited the metropolitan expressway and now circling around the Imperial Palace, the two are simply heading toward Shibuya, choosing roads they assume are free of "zombies" with little direction.

Thanks to the zombies having conveniently gathered in one place, it was quite easy to lead them astray—of course, all thanks to Nanami activating her ability, "Parade."

The zombies relentlessly pursued the motorized bicycles at a steady distance, never tiring, driven by endless endurance, as if completely mad.

The music coming from the speaker slung over her shoulder was randomly playing from a Mozart album—something she personally disliked. She had borrowed it from the building's owner at the relay point.

It wasn’t particularly loud or explosive, but in its own way, it was surreal.

Nanami, seated backward in the rear seat, spread her arms wide toward the sprinting "zombies" keeping a steady, neither too close nor too far distance,

"——Ordinary people, I shall forgive your sins. I shall forgive your sins. I shall forgive your sins."

There was no reply from the broken ordinary people.

Only from behind,

"'Amadeus,' huh. ——How nostalgic... We watched it together, remember? In Dad's bedroom."

"Yeah... That was a good movie."

"Indeed it was."

"Speaking of which, what's your father doing now?"

"He's been dead for ages♪"

"Ah, I see."

And then, silence.

She seemed to know a lot about Mayi, yet in reality knew surprisingly little.

She was once my rival,” she said, referring to the time before the end came.

Now, the very direction she was headed has completely changed.

Lost in the haze of passing time, it was Mayi who finally spoke.

“By the way, can I ask you something?”

“What?”

“Are you never writing novels again?”

“What?”

Aren't you a bit of a literary girl before the end? Should I call you an otaku or something?"

"Please don't lump me in with that."

I personally want to draw a clear line there.

They sometimes drown in their own weaknesses. Nanami vowed she would never become like that. Never.

"I stopped writing because I adapted to the 'Kingdom's' way of doing things. Videos are brighter, you can just smile and feel refreshed, and it's over. You don't have to think about complicated stuff... like the end of the world or something."

"So you changed your approach for everyone's sake?"

"Absolutely not. For the money. Money, money."

"You used to say making things for money was all crap, didn't you? That it distances you from the truth and all that."

"I was young back then."

"Would someone in their teens really say something like that?"

But it's true.

The very idea of trying to enlighten the masses was arrogant.

Truth isn't something forced upon people like a sermon.

It's best served subtly, like a pinch of seasoning hidden within plenty of humor.

"You, on the other hand—posting the same dance over and over. How do you not get bored?"

"It might look the same, but there are actually quite a few differences—like the music playing."

"If you get so obsessed that you end up taking on even the dirtiest jobs, that's the end of the road."

"Artistic pursuit is a thorny path. I've heard that since I was a child. I've accepted it all."

"I just can't be that serious, though."

"Serious? I'm always smiling and having fun, really."

"If I'm dissatisfied with my life, I just spend the whole morning in a bad mood."

"Different perspectives, huh."

"Isn't that really how you are, too?"

"I'm the type who gets through dissatisfaction with creativity."

"Creativity, huh."

Suddenly, I realize how desperately I'm trying to outwit her.

This proud friend of mine—there's no way she'd ever bow her head, pleading for help like, "My life is immeasurably miserable and sad, and everything I think is wrong."

I've always harbored deep insecurities toward Uki.

Even in the end, she never wavered, staying true to her own style.

And yet, seeing her like that made me feel a little frustrated, a little uneasy.

With her talent, she could have aimed even higher.

If she had just said one word—wanting to work with me like that...

But she never said it, never once.

That was why, in situations like this, I had to hire her under the guise of bodyguard duties.

Still, forcing time together wouldn't necessarily make things work out smoothly.

The crux of the misunderstanding between us was simply a difference in how we approached life.

To bow one's head meant denying one's own existence.

You can polish your words, but you can't fake your way of life.

"……………………"

"……………………"

An awkward silence lingered for a while.

I waved slightly at the "zombies" trailing behind us.

They probably don't have any worries at all, huh.

The silence was broken again by Mai.

"Hey..."

"Yeah?"

"One, uh, shocking confession—can I make it?"

"What is it?"

"I actually turned twenty last week, on my birthday."

"Huh."

For a moment, completely caught off guard,

"Wha—what?! Seriously?!"

That meant—

"You're the same age as me... So you're already twenty, right? Then it's too late to revive you?"

"Looks like it, huh~☆"

"Hey, don't joke around. Then I can't be Vivian anymore."

There are plenty of people pretending their age, like Vivian. Even Kurdyafka-chan is twenty-eight, you know.

"Kurdyafka...? I've heard rumors like that, but..."

"Yep. Surprised? She's got a childlike face, so nobody notices."

No, no, calm down.

That's not what you should be focusing on.

"Anyway, why did you come with me? You could've just hired a dog-biting driver instead."

"Well, you seemed determined to just waste away and die, didn't you?"

"What...?"

I flinch. Since we're sitting back-to-back, she surely must have noticed my unease.

Or maybe she can even hear my heartbeat.

"Wouldn't it be a shame if your unborn child got caught up in your suicide too?"

Her meaning was crystal clear.

Ayumi had... taken her own life hostage.

Not for anyone else—so that Nana Miyanagi could be saved.

Not knowing how to respond, Nanami furrowed her brow for a moment,

"Idiot"

muttered.

Mayi was,

Hehehe~☆

Just smile brightly, as if you were on gate duty.

Nanami's mind suddenly recalled yesterday's incident...――.