Volume 3 Chapter 4 (1/2)

”Hs are, huh?”

On a certain frigid day

”I tried asking Hayato, but it see As expected, Chiakin never went to school”

Seeing the report Hikari Yumesaki left behind for me, I could not help but lower my face

Two days ago, I wrote all of Chiaki's past onif Chiaki went to school?” and even requested Hikari Yu, I could not tell if Chiaki went to school

Lots of misfortune happened to Chiaki, and she thus lost ain the chance to walk away, but she lost to the pessi away It's because Hayato ith her however that she was fine So Chiaki said

But given that Hayato died, what happened to Chiaki after that?

I could tell on first look that she could not walk, and that she did not practice at all What about friends? She h school with Hayato, but what about her at this point? To understand the situation, I wanted to know if she attended school…if she's not going, that's not a good thing

”Hayato seehts He said 'it o to school'…”

”What's going on?”

I could understand that ever since Hayato, whom she so relied on was not around, there was a lack of motivation for Chiaki to attend school It's a little too ridiculous for her to not attend school though The reason why Hayato felt that he should bear some responsibility was because he told Chiaki that he would always be with her, and yet he went on his way before her I could understand Hayato's thoughts, but he did not die completely, became Chiaki's other half, and even knew of the way to revive

But despite this, he clai on?

Also, that was not the only thing that concerned me I remember that when I met Chiaki, she said this,

–Due to 'a certain reason', I decided not to make friends anymore

I understood those words, and yet I didn't Chiaki said that she started to avoid interacting with other due to her leg issues, but I felt that was not all

But even if I continued to groan in agony, I couldn't sort it out Let's end this for the day

Thinking that, I closed the notebook, and got ready to go to school However, it was only later on that I knew of the answer

It was after school when the incident happened, revealing a cruel truth

”Ah, it's so cold”

On this day, after school, I dallied around on the train for an hour, and walked for another fifteenat Chiaki's hts were not on

”It's gone…why didn't Hayato pack everything properly…goodness!”

Once I entered, I found Chiakin flipping ru the drawers She seemed to be in a bad mood

”What's wrong?'

”Ah, Akitsuki My voice recorder and earphones are gone Where did he put them?'

Ah, I often encountered such situationsup after taking them out for use Every time I wake up, I have to clean up after her

”Write a note? Ask 'where did you put the”

”Hm…looks like I can only do that…”

Chiaki answered despondently It looked like she was despondent over not hearing Hayato's e

”…Ah”

And while I had such a thought, Chiaki looked at ,

”Without the voice recorder…you can't get your mission, riht?”

”Eh? Ah, well, it's fine It's probably soain”

I wanted to know the way to revive Hikari Yue missions for me At this point, I've completed the thirdbeyond this No, I guess the mission to make friends still wasn't complete, but nevertheless, I did do half of them If possible, I hoped that I could continue to mission on this day, but we're in a rut as the voice recorder's gone Kazeshi+ro would tellif I found any clues, but that'll be down to Hayato not inforuess

Suddenly, there was the sound of the doorbell from the corridor It appeared the nanny wasn't around for the day, and I suggested that I would go open the door, only to be refused politely by Chiaki The latter struggled to roll the wheelchair towards the corridor near the roo to do

I heard the door open, and some soft whispers came

”hello This is what the teacher wanted o to school yet, Chiakin? You won't have enough attendance if you take leave every alternate days, you know?”

Hm? Sent over?

After that, I heard Chiaki give her thanks It seemed to be the class representative who came by to visit Chiaki, absent from school What, a friend—I didn't know if that was the case, but isn't the class representative being too nice here? Goodness, isn't this too caring towards soo to school? I never had anyone approach me, let alone try to woo me Seriously, kids these days

While I was having wild thoughts

”But at this point, it isn't appropriate for you to come to school”

”…Hm?”

The tone in the voice changed—before I could continue thinking, the words left

”It's because of you that Hyuuga died”

”—-!!”

…Huh?

Hyuuga If I remembered, it's the family name of Hayato Eh…he died because of Chiaki?

No no no, what's she saying? Didn't Hikari Yu club activities because he had a heart attack? Hayato…

Maybe—

A certain pre could be heard from the corridor

”Hey, you know, don't you? Everyone loves Hyuuga, but you took hia wanted to visit you at the hospital, but got caught in the accident There's no need to say who's at fault here, right?”

”…I'm sorry”

Chiaki could be heard apologizing, and so I understood

I had been wondering hoeird it was Hayato hardly gave h we had some issues ere curious about, we could only ask Chiaki The only false intel that guy told us—was his cause of death Only at this point did I realize In other words…this was the only thing eren't allowed to ask Chiaki

”Hey, you knohy I'ht?”

At the corridor, the chiding of Chiaki continued on

”Besides, you will act like usual toht? And then you'll say so to do with me He just died on his own accord' Do you kno er us!? Do you!?”

”…I'm sorry It's all my fault…”

Once I heard Chiaki's words, I inadvertently felt cold sweat trickle down my back Ahh…Hayato did say that it's because of hio to school So that's hoas

'He just died on his own accord' Even if Chiaki did make a mistake, there was no way she would say such words In other words, the one saying those words would be the other Chiaki, Hayato on the inside, Chiaki on the outside Seeing how he said such words while having the appearance of Chiaki as already hated…there was no way she could show up at school

”Hey! Look at !”

The sudden lashi+ng ht It looked like the guest was rather agitated Also, I could hear sobbing Was Chiaki crying—

”Ahh, ahem! Ahem!”

I started coughing without thinking, the voice coh to be heard from the corridor

I then sue, and poked looht to co appearance However, I wasn’t scared If it's just terrifying, I wouldn't lose to anyone At such aChiaki I had to say some cool, delinquent-like words to scare her…let's see Delinquent words…delinquent…

”L-let's take a two-shot!”

Ahh! That damn Mohawk, all because of him that my words don't have any threat now!

But it seeirl Afterface started to show fear And then—

”Th-that'll be all I have to say See you at school”

My face had a coer reverted back to a kind expression, said so ell B-but,

Chiaki wouldn't move at all, so I could only push the wheelchair back into her roouess she cried…such harsh words were said to her after all

”…Sorry”

”No, it's nothing…”

In such situations, I guess Kazeshi+ro ht say some words to calm her down Too bad I', only silence

This painful atmosphere continued for a little while

”Akitsuki, do you still remember? What I asked you e first met—”

”Eh”

What she asked me? I remembered that was…

—Half of your lifespan was taken by Hikari Yumesaki

—Do you still have any regrets about it?

”…I do”

And I remembered what happened after that That—pained look of yours

”I'retful About how I have him trapped inside this injured body of mine”

Chiaki said, and opened a drawer, taking a photo from within

On the photo was Chiaki, looking unhappy, and a boy bea her from behind Ah, that cheeky face as I had expected

”It happened in May this year The condition of my eyes worsened, and I had to stay in the hospital for a while It was painful forme every day, so I didn't think it was much The nurse asked if he was my boyfriend, and I was really happy However, that day—”

Chiaki stopped at this point However, she sue, and continued on,

”That day, it was already past visiting hours, and Hayato never caht he was late I saw an aht I didn't think it wasfor him, but he never showed up Of course, I never expected the one inside the ambulance to be him It was tens of minutes later that I heard the nurses say that the boy who always came by to visit was on the brink of death—”

”Chiaki…”

Her expression got increasingly despondent

”…Back then, I cursed at ic fate like never before It was fine even if I couldn't run, that I could see him for the last time It was the punish I never thought things would end up this way I never thought I would regret this soof his demise, I was so remorseful that I could not cry out tears”

With a parched voice, Chiaki continued on,

”When I was crouched in the ward roo if I illing to use half of my lifespan, and I did so without hesitation After that, I thought, as that about? But back then, I didn't think much about it, until it was dawn When I woke up, a day passed I thought my mind was crazy This continued on for a week however, and I then realized this hat he e for Hayato with a voice recorder, and everything was clear After that, we started living with two minds in one body But—”

At this moment, Chiaki stopped

”But?”

”I was scared, scared if Hayato hated me”

—Eh?

”Because I kept him in this body that's hard to ht, and it scared me”

No no no, this definitely wasn't it, right?

It's true that Hayato had been living in a healthy body the entire time, and surely was inconvenienced at this point But no ht? At first, I orried that Hikari Yu her in this delinquent body However, she later told uess Hayato's probably the same

”Hayato said toup half your lifespan for me”

”So—”

”But I knew What he really thought was…”

”Eh…”

”After I was discharged fro for me at school were voices of pity towards because of Hayato—and voices of hatred It's coirls It's to be expected that responsibility is pushed upon uy visits this hated me and ends up dead in an accident”

”I began to hate going to school, but Hayato orried aboutto school What awaited him at school however was blame for him He couldn't help but bicker back, and he's not at fault However, he's still hu, and I was shocked 'It's painful', 'there are sorumbled…it's to be expected since Hayato's hu the entire tietic Hayato be faulted, that he would say such words despite always showing a smile on his face”

Chiaki gave a regretful look, and complained,

”I really regretted letting the one I like suffer sothat he won't say such a thing That's not what Ihi him in this immobile body…”

”—But!”

I interrupted

I guessed I did not want to see Chiaki continue to give that painful look, or maybe I just wanted to latch onto some hope

”There's still a way to revive, right? Isn't that okay?”

I had a vague feeling, a premonition, but I asked

The truth of the world I did not know of

”…Well, I'll tell you everything The price—to revive”

”Price…”

The eighed heavily on me

”Hayato kept seeking a way to revive It's to be expected, right If he can revive, it's for the best Once he knew his tiot more anxious And then one day, he found a clue to the revival—'Atelier Journal'”

'Atelier Journal' I mumble this term to myself a few times

”We studied at a high school with lots of history, and there's a lot of strange ruirls ere on great terms in the art club, but one of theirl would then do siirl Later on, before anyone knew it, the reirl disappeared coirl Hayato was curious about that rumor, and did his best to collect all the information Then, he finally found that the duo shared the Atelier, and the Journal left there The Journal left behind there was like us, a pheno personalities”

I gulped

A Journal left behind by people who shared the same experiences as us, the future ould reach written on them—

”We didn't kno they ed to know the method of revival, but there was the method clearly written there There's only onein the body remain on this world”

Then, Chiaki told ht so much, and revealed a cruel truth

”That method—is to destroy the soul of the host, and have the other one live on In other words, only when giving up your soul or , Hayato or Yumesaki will continue to live on with the husks we leave behind…”

”……………………………………I see”

Faced with the cruel truth, I calmly answered

…I realized it When the black-robed person called, asking for my entire lifespan, I started to doubt Also, Hayato did not revive, and would not tell us how to I had a gut feeling about his puzzling actions

Hikari Yuh my death

”…You don't seem surprised at all”

”I already expected this to happen So, in other words, the trote the journal chose to let the one residing in the body live on, at the price of the reinal host

”Hm…”

Following that was unnerving silence However, I had to get so clear

”…What are the steps to reviving?”

I prepared myself mentally, and asked this question However, Chiaki shook her head

”Only Hayato read the journal He told me the price to revive, but never told me how to, and the journal was hidden by him somewhere All I know is that one of us has to disappear I knohy he only toldto do”

Yep, there's only one answer

”Once he knew that this was the only method to revive, he was really dejected And so, he said, 'I've decided I' If he wanted to revive, he would have to use my life as the price Even if he did revive, he would have to be constrained in my immobile body, take the hatred fro That's why he chooses not to do anything, and just vanish He never told me the method to revive because he did not think there's no need for it And in the end, he decided to 'fulfil his wishes'”

”Fulfill his wishes…”

I gentlyto vanish

”Back then, when he made the promise with me 'I'll always be with you, so it's fine not to er fulfil this pro for friends for my sake, a friend that will take his place to remain by me, to support me After that, he found you He discovered you, called you over, gave you those missions All these—for my sake”

—Mission one! First, be friends with Chiaki!

I recalled the voice recording fro It was a critical efor the world where he no longer existed What feelings did Hayato have when he entrusted me with those missions…

”But I don't want this I don't want to lose Hayato If Hayato will disappear all because Ito I can't make friends If I do, Hayato will vanish I can't accept this…”

”Chiaki…”

The tears could not stop flowing

”I'm at a loss What can I do? I don't want Hayato to die I can't live alone But I can't let myself die and have him locked in this body I can't force this painful life on him I don't knohat I can do…!”

The tears, filled with agitated emotions, trickled down Chiaki's cheeks Those tears had an endless sorrow

Left in the roo All I could do was to lower my head in silence

That day, I waited for Chiaki to cry her heart out, and returned home only at sunset

”I can't mention this to her…”

I finally knew of the method to revive Hikari Yumesaki on this day However, this method was vastly different from e had expected I requested Chiaki not to say it to Hikari Yuuess Hayato wouldn't either However, it's only ato her

Also, Chiaki and Hayato had their own troubles To be honest, those were beyond what I couldsuch a heavy burden

”damn it…”

And so, I went to sleep without writing down anything that happened on this day Two days later,

”Hayatocchi seeht?”

I had a look at the forlorn journal entry, and could not help but lower my head Then,

”Are you okay, Sakaetic in your journal entry”

”I'uess”

I made Hikari Yumesaki worry Still, I failed

The next e on the cellphone, but I had already expected that 'Froe is set to be sent autoht, this et what I mean?”

”Yep Keep it a secret, right?”

Hayato contacted h Hikari Yumesaki or Chiaki In other words, he wanted me to keep this a secret from those two

I continued reading, and the long e contained the wishes Hayato had,

”It seemed Chiaki told you a lot This is as I had expected, so it's fine I haven't told Hikari Yus I want to say to you, but unfortunately, I don't have ain, the one way to let h some other means, and that I have to occupy Chiaki's body If not, the time I spend in the body hittle little by little, until the soul vanishes”

Hayato repeated the truth Chiaki told me As expected…there was no other way out

”You have realized it, haven't you? I do intend to vanish This is the reason why I did not tell Chiaki the way to revive s I want to fulfill before I die”

Fulfill Chiaki too said such a word that frustrated me

”It is because I pa hoalk However, I am already dead I can't head off to the afterlife peacefully if I don't settle these issues So Akicchi, the fourthyou is—'make Chiaki smile'”

”Hayato…”

”I did say it before, didn't I? The difficulty will spike at four I'uys involved, but I have no other way out Please, Akicchi, help me out here”

That night, I wrote quite a long journal entry

I wrote everything about Chiaki's regrets, and Hayato's request And then, I wrote,

”Chiaki told me the method to revive Hayato I don't know the specifics, but it looks like it involves erasing Chiaki's soul and leaving Hayato's soul in Chiaki's body In other words, one of Hayato or Chiaki has to vanish”

”Hayato intends to let himself vanish, but until then, he can't leave peacefully without seeing Chiaki's smile Let's think of a way to help out I don't knohat to do at all, but I want to do what I can”

”…Hah”

I let out a sigh, and again looked at the journal entry I wrote

Hikari Yumesaki probably would understand what this journal entryChiaki smile meant that ere to finish Hayato's wishes, and accept his death In other words…we had to let Chiaki accept his death

And another thing

The cruel future awaiting the us In other words, either Hikari Yumesaki or I would have to vanish However, I still could not focus on our future yet At this point, we needed to help Chiaki and Hayato, the ones who reached their tragic fates before us

”It has to be her If it's Hikari Yumesaki, she'll definitely be able to do it”

I tried to think, but I could not think of anything to help Chiaki and Hayato

But if it's Hikari Yumesaki

For her, who alanted to be the hero

Surely, she would be able to find a solution That was hoas saved by Hikari Yumesaki

”I believe that you can do it, definitely” I wrote at the bottom of the journal entry, and laid on the bed

”Please do it, Hikari Yumesaki”

Two days later I endured the bone-chilling cold, crept towards the table, and opened the journal that was placed neatly on the table

Shown in th

”I've read it all Looks like Chiakin and Hayato had quite the painful experience I too agree with your decision, Sakamoto Let's use Hikari and Sakamoto's power to help them out!”

”Yep…that's it”

I knew you would say that

”Leave it to me, Sakamoto! Let's show them that sexy Dream's not for show! Hikari here as a real—————-ly potent plan!”

”This girl…as to be expected of her! Hikari Yumesaki!”

She's being energetic, and anyone reading would not help but sreat to encounter you

The rest of the journal entry neverabout our future However, it's certain that she definitely had sohts about it She definitely kne cruel the future before us was

But despite this, Hikari Yu Chiaki and Hayato Even in such a situation, she continued to prioritize taking action for Hayato, and putting her future at the backseat

Now that, what I want to do was—

”I'll definitely do this, Hikari Yumesaki”

You and I, a unique combination, two personalities in one body

This final shared operation began

”Right, let's get down to revising”

It was after school I laid out the journal before me, and reread the plan to save Chiaki, which Hikari Yumesaki wrote down

”Hayato said that the first step is to let Chiaki walk after all He wants to see Chiaki's deter we can say”

”Yep I see So Chiaki has to work hard after all”

If Chiaki is to ser, so that Hayato can relax To send Hayato off, to do all these, we had to first change Chiaki's thoughts

But it's not easy for Chiaki to change when she bore such a heavy, aching heart Besides,

”It's iht?”

Chiaki s

Her legs couldht be able to walk a little However, this would be possible only through consistent practice It was not simply a matter of determination and enthusiash, every bit of hard ould be for naught Even if I were to suddenly tell Chiaki to 'get up and walk', it would be impossible for her

However, it seemed Hikari Yumesaki had an idiot

”I guess you s here, but you don't have to worry about this By going according to this plan, Chiakin will definitely be able to walk!”

I kept reading

”…Well, it's plausible Theoretically, Chiaki should be able to walk”

To be honest, I didn't think that the plan would go well, but in fact, this was the only uessed it's a sure bet to put my faith on Hikari Yumesaki and Hayato's plan

”First, two days later—it'll probably be tomorrow for you, Sakamoto Hayato and I will carry out 'that plan' The i is the operation on the second day, and I hope that you'll do your best then If it goes well, the operation will start the moment you switch out for me, Sakamoto You need to prepare yourself”

I continued to navigate h the operation

Tomorrow, and the day after Thisabout it, I felt that it was really difficult The operation Hikari Yue of the next day was difficult, but the operation I was in charge of two days later would be all the more difficult

”But—no other way but to just do it”

At this point, there's no point if there's so success I got Hikari Yumesaki in action, so I had to let this operation succeed

”And also, to let this operation succeed, you need so else This super duper important item has to be prepared by you, Sakamoto”

”OK Then I'll get it ready then”

I answered, and looked at the 'ite,

”'Video Camera', huh?”

Where do I get one?

”Video camera? On the table”

And so,

There was no need to buy such a pricey iteht as I went to Yukiko's roo novels, and bought all kinds of crazy spy equips and such I didn't knohat exactly she was planning to use them for, but I hardly bothered with her anyway

”So, how do I use this?”

”Uu…as expected, I need Akiboshi+ to kiss…eh, what did you say?”

No, nothing

I guess it's almost the deadline for Yukiko, as she was seated before the couess I should leave without disturbing here I would probably understand how to use it after playing with it for a bit

”It's nothing Do your best then”

”H myself to erase the Yukio's assault scene…uu”

I left a few greetings, retreated to my room, and switched the cauess I supposed I should try using it, and then erase them

”Hm?”

Right when I had this thought—huh? It see…well, let's have a look Use this data as practice

I was about to start recording

”Erm, first, press the play button”

At this ht into this

”Ohh It's playing Where's the volume? Let's increase the video quality—”

And appearing in the video was a footage ofvery different from her usual personality as she held onto a video camera

”Hm? This is…Yukiko's room?”

What exactly was—

”The-there's so I've alanted to tell you”

”Huh? What?”

For soee in the visual, seated opposite the ca alone

”I-I guess this ht be too sudden for you Bu-but, Yu-Yukiko can't hold back anymore Yukiko always, always…”

”Always?”

Her troubled face was blazing red And co out from her adorable lips were—

”B-brother, I-I've always…—”

”WOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!? Forget about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!Brother!! Don't loooooooookkkk!!?”

At that e sound that shook the house echoed, and Yukiko barged into ue Baseball who learned that the team was eliminated from playoff contention

”Y-yo-yo-yo-you didn't see it, did you!? You didn't see it, right?”

”Eh? No, I was just trying this That was—”

”Th-the-then don't look! Return the ht now! That card has 'Yukirin's Confession Practice Video: Version 811'!”

E-eight? Eh, con-confession?

After a whole lot of buzzing, Yukiko left the room

I weakly inserted the new memory card Yukiko shoved to ht Now then, tomorrow's operation should be a success

”…Now then, the preparations should be complete”

If the operation ell as expected, time would be of the essence The moment I woke up—no, the moment Hikari Yuin

”It's fine This will definitely succeed Definitely”

I opened the notebook, and wrote a e for Hikari Yumesaki

”Do your best, Hikari Yumesaki This will be—our final battle”

My consciousness suddenly awoke

”Ah…eh…”

I was outside, in the darkness The cold air leftFor a moment, I did not knohat happened, but soon after, I did

”I say, what's going on here!? What the heck!?”

Chiaki was collapsed beforeall confused as she shouted There was no wheelchair nearby to be seen, and she only had two crutches besideIt see ell on her side

”Yumesaki! Why am I in such a place!? Answer me!”

”…it's no longer Hikari Yumesaki now, Chiaki”

I looked at the note in ht hand, and written on it was,

”Operation success, Saka's done! Now it's all up to you!”

”Yep Nice going”

Also, there's one more line

”Show th now”

I smiled, and stuffed the note into my pocket Chiaki was completely confused by the situation before her I looked at her, and it's normal for her to be shocked It's 429am, the time I swapped places with Hikari Yumesaki, and five minutes after Chiaki swapped places with Hayato

It's outdoors, with nobody around Chiaki was shocked, probably because she found herself outdoors once she woke up Her conversation with Hikari Yumesaki probably lasted only five minutes, but it seemed they did not interact much

”Chiaki, I guess you probably won't understand what's going on when it happened to so suddenly Don't worry though Hayato understood”

”Wh-what do you much?”

I looked up at the ot used to the dim environment Chiaki probably was the same, and it see increasingly confused as a result

”This is…Hayato and I…”

Right It's the very special place for you two—the top of the hill overlooking the sea, where the sunset's so pretty

”Chiaki, Hayato told me the next mission We created this situation to complete that”

”Wh-what are you saying…what are you trying to do…?'