Editing Kami-sama no Inai Nichiyoubi:Volume6 Chapter1 (section)

===Part V===
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">There was only one place she could go.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai dragged her feeble steps forward as though she was taking turns moving her feet. The streets of Ostia were bustling with activity, and everyone seemed to be very busy. It seemed like every place had a sign that said "No Ai Astin allowed here".</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She walked. She walked and walked, and before she knew it, Ai was in the same place as yesterday.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Before her was the slope that led to the Ostia School for Boys and Girls.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">But there was something wrong there.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">There was a line of people on the hill in front of the main gate, one that did not exist the previous day. It seemed the queue lasted from the bottom of the hill to the schoolyard. Some of the more business-minded people had even set up stalls in anticipation of the queue.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai watched them from the side as she walked silently up the hill. Eventually, she left the path to the school and entered a slightly higher path, looking down at the school grounds.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">There was a huge snake there, its scales formed by human beings, coiled leisurely in the schoolyard, its head buried in the center.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">There was a black surface.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">At the head of the snake, the center of the vortex, was a young couple holding hands, hopping into the black surface. In their eyes, there was half uneasiness and half anticipation.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The people behind them too jumped into the black surface.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">That queue was full of people waiting for their turn.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……What’s going on?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite noticing it, Ai's muffled voice was quiet. She was unable to muster that interest. Even after knowing the situation, she would not be able to take action anyway.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…I guess I should go then?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She just wanted to head over to her destination as soon as possible. She was only passing by this place, and was heading for somewhere further. Ai turned her gaze back to the schoolyard.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">And at that moment,</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ah, isn’t it Ai!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">There was Dee, carrying a bucket.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Miss…Dee."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Oui, I’m Miss Dee."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee greeted by opening and closing her right hand, the bucket of water in her left hand shaking hard.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"… What are you doing?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"What am I…do I look like an old lady sprinkling water on the street?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She might be saying that, but she was actually spraying water though.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Or are you saying I’m a fireman?…Anyway, how do I act like a fireman?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You don't have to do that…please stop. The water will spill—"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ah."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Right after she said so,</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee probably messed up somewhere again, for the bucket of water that she was swinging like a cartwheel fell off. Ai tried to get around to where the bucket was going to fall, but she was rooted to the stop when she saw what happened afterwards.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee lost her balance and was about to fall on the back of her head.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">That angle was really bad.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai tried to insert force in the opposite direction, but her sluggish body slipped at the critical moment, and she could only flail futilely.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was too late.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……Be careful, Dee."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The moment she thought so, that noblewoman in bright red caught her from behind before she knew it.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Why, sorry about that, Dust Believer. Thanks."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee said and stood up by herself.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The lady saw Dee stand up, and pulled her distance. It seemed the lady had covered quite the distance earlier.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai kept staring at the lady.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"What's the matter?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…No, it’s nothing."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Since the lady was not going to answer, Ai should just deem her as a non existence, as Dee said. So she decided and turned back,</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Goodness, I didn’t think you were such a clumsy oaf."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You're noisy."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">A strange boy was floating there, carrying the bucket. One had to wonder how he did so, but he managed to collect the water without spilling a drop.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">…The number of suspicious characters had increased…</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The boy returned the bucket and returned to his original position along with the noblewoman.</span>

[[Image:Kamisama v06 Illustration 04.jpg|thumb]]

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Miss Dee…erm, that."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ahh, him, just think of him as air."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"No, he’s floating like air, but that’s the only common point they have—"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Well, don’t sweat the details. "</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It appeared Dee was uninterested in revealing the specifics as she looked into the bucket as if to say, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I'm done talking about this."</span></i>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Well, thank goodness the water didn't spill though. I came all the way to the school to get it. The well down the road is dry now, it’s troublesome."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"'Down the road'…?."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai's destination should be the only place there.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…Miss Dee, are you going this way too?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai turned her eyes beyond the alley. The place ‘further beyond’ really was unsuited for Dee—no, it was not a place for the people in Ostia to visit for that matter.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The only person suitable for such a place would be Ai herself.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Yes, but why?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Because…aren’t you very busy, Miss Dee?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Saying that, Ai looked behind. She had no idea what was going on, but Dee, the person in charge, should not be absent.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Hmm? Ahh, the situation there is already stable. Menhim kicked me out when I dozed off while walking though. He told me not to show my face for about five hours."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…I'm sure he wants you to go get some rest."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Well, yeah. But that's okay. I’m free to do whatever I want during my breaks."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…They say break is part of working though."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Work is also a break."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"What do you mean?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I don't know! All right!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Kyaa!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Wahaha! Dee laughed and hugged Ai.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Woah, wait Miss Dee! Watch the bucket!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ahahahahaha. You’re so squishy Ai. I got a freebie!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"P-please let go of me!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Don’t wanna~! Hm, what’s this? I feel very agitated for some reason. Oh yeah, I guess this is what they call a runner's high!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee chuckled as she spilled the bucket of water on the floor.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"It's refreshing to be so tired in the outside world, I never felt tired when I was being the Ghost."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Hmmm…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Hearing those words, Ai relaxed her resistance.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee seemed to be really agitated. After letting go of Ai, she spun around the bucket like a ballroom dancer.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was like a child who had just learned a new game.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"But don't worry, this level of fatigue really isn’t something to worry about. I'll gladly stay up for two or three nights, but..."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee said as she turned behind, looked over her shoulder, and stared at the schoolway.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I didn't expect the situation of the black surface to stabilize so quickly either."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">There, the black surface continued to swallow people.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"What's that?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai asked, calmly observing her own mind. It's okay. I'm just asking.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">I'm not choosing anything.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">I'm not going in the wrong direction.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ever since yesterday when you left, more people started showing up."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee seemed to have explained this many times over.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"The first to enter were the relatives gathered around. They made up their minds and said they were going to enter the black surface. That’s fine, that’s common. But there’s a lot of them, and like, of those who stayed behind, half of them decided to queue up after that.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Next in line were their relatives' relatives and friends of friends. And after them were the relatives of the relatives' relatives and the friends of the friends' friends. After them were the relatives of relatives of relatives of relatives of relatives ….</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">That was how the giant snake grew rapidly.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee was puzzled and asked them. How could you enter the black surface without hesitation? There could be nothing there.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Their only answer was, "Because we have our own world there".</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">After finishing the story, Dee relaxed her shoulders.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"It feels like we’re the ones who really don’t understand. Do you see the queue over there? I heard that even the ordinary grandpas and grandmas knew that they should go over. "I just knew I had to go over." That’s the reason they told me while laughing. They all sounded like a certain person."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai did not answer, but looked at the schoolyard. At the center of the whirlpool of people was a towering black surface, and people were jumping into it without hesitation.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Nobody could guarantee that there was a new world beyond the black surface. Perhaps there was a world worse than what they had. That was not what they thought however, and they drove their own bodies forward.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">And that was why,</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">A new world was surely developing beyond that black surface.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"We didn't need confirmation or investigation after all. We could go in with just conviction. It’s a ‘chicken and egg’ situation here. Their wishes will create a new world."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">At first, it was just a small dream; the world Isola Edwards had created, a small one for one person.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">However, the wish had already been approved by her parents and hundreds of others, and was still growing at this very moment.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Well, a skeptic like me would like to have at least some definite information. But to be honest, I can't do anything about the research at the moment. What we only need to do now is to sort the queue, which makes things a lot easier. So."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">So then—Dee carried the bucket and twirled around, walking towards the alley.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Since I got the chance, I've decided to visit Alice's grave."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>You’re going too, right Ai?</em> So she asked with her eyes.</span>

&nbsp;
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">+</span></p>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The cemetery was empty and deserted.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was no wonder, for everyone else was looking forward now. There was no one stopping to look back at the past, whether they were working on recovery or martyring for their dreams.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Only people like them would stop in their tracks.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…A graveyard is really creepy, isn’t it?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee clung onto Ai’s arm as she said so timidly. It seemed she felt out of place in this place.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee really was completely different from Ai, and the latter exhaled softly.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">For some reason, her breathing felt a little relieved ever since they entered the graveyard, my breathing had become easier. The tension had dissipated and the constricting sense of urgency had faded.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Hee! I just heard a strange sound!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"It's the sound of the wind."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Kyaa! Something touched my arm!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"It's a leaf."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Uuu~I'm scared~!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"… By the way, I've been feeling a sudden heaviness on my body since a while ago…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Hiii! Ai, stop saying scary things like that!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"It’s definitely because of you though, Miss Dee."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai forcefully pried away Dee who was holding her tightly, and walked forward.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Wait for me, Ai, I don't know the way."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"? Didn't you just come here?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I was so scared I forgot about it."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee put a fist at her head and stuck a tongue out. Ai thought of leaving Dee behind, but when she saw Dee's little "pyaah!" from the gust of wind that followed, she forgave Dee.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Seriously…it’s surprising when you’re called 'Ghost'…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ugh, because …"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Come on, this way. Let's go."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai dragged her by the hand while she was cuddled like a ball.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You know your way around well, Ai."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Is that so?".</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You’ve been to Alice's grave a few times, haven’t you?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"————"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai immediately stopped as though she tripped over, and continued on as if nothing had happened.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I have a good memory after all."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The answer appeared to be directed at the question, but yet did not seem like one, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">hmmm </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">and Dee let out a skeptical reply. Ai cautiously observed her tone, but could not discern anything.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Oh, we're here."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">And then they arrived at the place they were looking for.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Alice Color.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The tombstone with the name engraved on it was inconspicuous, plain, silent, and covered with sand like many others.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……Okay, let's do this."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Setting down the bucket, Dee started throwing brush and stuff into it. There were other things on the ground around her, including a scythe and some offertory flowers.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ah."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…That's wrong?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"There’s no rag."</span>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">I forgot. </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee slapped her forehead.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Hmm~I think the buckets have a few of them…I’ll go get them!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ah, Miss Dee..."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee ran off without waiting for the reply. The noblewoman and the boy followed her like a shadow.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Once the bunch of noisy ghosts left, the graveyard was left with a moment of silence. Ai heaved out a sigh of relief and was finally surrounded by a true sense of peace.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The wind blew and the leaves fell. The three months of winter spent in the sealed world had caused her to skip over the real summer, and the season was approaching autumn. The seasons of life, spring and summer had passed, and the graveyard seemed much more comfortable.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee was unlikely to come back for a while.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai approached Alice's grave, the pebbles crunching under her feet. The place had been swept clean, not a single leaf could be seen on it.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai sat down hard like a corpse. As a corpse, her body immediately stopped moving. Her legs slowly stretched forward, her forehead bumped against the gravestone, and the body heat was comfortably drained away.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Time, indeed, was ticking from autumn to winter.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">And then Ai cried, her tears trickling like melting ice.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">(You’ve been to Alice's grave a few times, haven’t you?)</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">(Have you been to Alice's grave several times?)</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The original answer to that question would have been ‘yes’, and Ai had come by here several times till date.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She would drop by here whenever she woke up in the middle of the night, or whenever she had some free time, crying at Alice's grave.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She could not cry at any other place, but for some reason, she was able to do so at this place.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai did not know why. She did not, but she just could not help but return to this place to cry.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…I can’t."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She covered her face with both hands..</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I can’t…I’m not supposed…to cry anymore…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">As if to seal the wound with her hand, Ai held her eyelids and tried to choke back the tears. She used to cry at any given instance, but she just could not keep crying all the time…</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was a horrible sight.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">In a corner of the graveyard, a girl was crying alone. She was terrified of the tears spilling from her eyes, as if they were drops of blood.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I can’t let time heal me anymore!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">At this moment, she did not believe that she actually dared to say such words. Even though she had said so, she would unwittingly cry every night and let the sadness heal her wounds.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Uuu.....uuuuuu…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She could reject happiness. She was immediately wary of the warmth provided by Alice and Scar.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">But she could not do anything about the sadness and pain. Because it was a punishment, feeling them was proof of righteousness. It was proof that she would always remember her sins.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">But it was different.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Just as warmth and kindness could break a person's heart.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai learned that coldness and pain could heal a person’s hearts.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She had always earnestly faced the fact that she had accidentally caused Alice to be revived. But she, being tormented, was actually being healed.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She was in despair.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Neither warm nor cold would do. No matter which I chose, she would eventually be healed.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Even if there was a difference between happiness and unhappiness, she would ultimately be forced to forget her dreams and sins.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was a really terrifying fear.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">But...</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">But even that fear.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Eventually, it would heal.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Uu, uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The tears show no signs of abating. Every single tear left Ai terrified, as though her pride took the form of something tangible, leaking out from within her body. Ai was truly terrified to the point where she used her palms to catch the tears and drink them.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was a really tragic scene.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">+</span></p>
<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I'm back."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It all ended abruptly.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The moment Dee returned back, Ai stopped crying as if it was the reason for the world.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She did not stop her tears on her own volition.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was just that even in this place, she could not cry when others were around.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She regained a little bit of hope that had returned to her. Yes, she just need not return anymore. Surely she would not cry anymore. And until she got her conclusion, she should keep her distance from Scar and Alice and the others.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Imagining the impossible, Ai felt a little more at ease.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Well, let's start."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee politely ignored Ai, who still had tear marks on her face, wet a rag and began to clean the grave.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I'll get it cleaned up for you."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">With a brush and a rag, she carefully washed the tombstone, and the mossy tombstone was soon cleaned.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai sneaked away and watched from a nearby fence.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">She was grateful that Dee did not say anything.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…Sniff…Miss Dee…did you come to clean the grave?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Yes, or rather, mourning. The whole thing, basically."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The only sounds heard were the bouncing brush and the running water.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"But say, Ai, since you've been here so many times, you should have cleaned up."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…Did you notice?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Sorta, Dee replied. Even after reviving, she did not lose her temperament as the ‘Ghost’. In terms of the subtleties of conversation, Ai stood no chance.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Miss Dee…are you mad at me?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Eh? Why?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…Because I'm crying in a place like this. …"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ahh,  Dee looked off into the distance.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I'm not mad at you."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You’re lying."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I’m not lying."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Scrub, scrub, scrub.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…It's just that you probably had the same goal as me."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Eh? The moment she thought so,</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee stood up quickly and began to put away her tools.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…You're leaving?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Yep. I need to rest after all. Ah, yes, Ai, this is for you."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Then Dee muttered to herself, "Where did I put that?" Dee rummaged through the pockets of her clothes, pulled it out of her breast pocket and handed it to Ai.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"This is…?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">For a moment, Ai did not recognize what it was that had fallen into her hand.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was a familiar silver button, stained with dirt.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Is this…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was a button from the Ostia Boys and Girls High School.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Yeah, it's Alice's button."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Miss Dee…did you actually…."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The hand that held the button shook uncontrollably. The silver button, the moist black dirt, and an out-of-place shovel. The reality derived from the hypothesis surrounding these items shook her thoughts.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Did you dig up Mr. Alice’s grave?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Yes."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee simply answered.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Why did you…do such a thing …?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Because I wanted to be sure."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Su-sure of what?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"That Alice is dead."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai was breathless. She just could not breathe.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I just wanted to make sure, you know? I wanted to make sure that the original Alice was dead. I wanted to know that though Alice is revived, what we did before this didn’t disappear at all. I feel that I can’t move forward until I get this clear, that it’s not right. My heart will continue to be trapped here otherwise. That’s why I dug his grave</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">……and found that Alice was dead."</span>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">I didn't mean for anyone to see it,</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Dee said, sounding a little embarrassed. On a closer look, one could see that her eyes were slightly red.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"But since it’s you, Ai…as a comrade, it’s fine for you to know."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Comrade …?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Yeah, because Ai's a comrade."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"What do you mean, I'm…?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You came here and cried, just like me, to accept what you did, right?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">No.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee was mistaken.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"You’re really amazing after all, Ai."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…Not."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Eh? Did you say something? I can't hear you."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……That’s not it, Miss Dee…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai hugged the silver button tightly and eked the words out.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…You overestimated me…I didn't come here for any of that. I was just here to cry. …"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Eh?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ahh, I see. Now I know why I can cry here. </span><b>It's because Mr. Alice here is dead.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> I can still be immersed in my dreams here…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"……"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I'm not as active as you are, Miss Dee…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…Ai."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I've been running away the entire time…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">And at this point, that place of escape had been destroyed…</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai assumed that Dee would be angry if she said such things. She felt that Dee would be completely livid and abandon her there and then.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">But Dee did not show any of those feelings and just patted Ai on the head.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I see, Ai, so you’re just running away?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…I'm, sorry…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"It's okay, I'm the one who had selfish expectations. I'm sorry, too."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dee was just so strong and kind.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"It's okay, isn't it? I mean, you don't have to get over it."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Mr. Alice and Mr. Julie…said the same thing as well…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Hmm, I guess so. I’ll say something else then—there’s nothing wrong with whether you buck or or not.."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"…Either way works?"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Well, whether you run away or not, I'll respect that."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Ah."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Such, such a line was,</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Since you have this chance, just run away all you want before you decide. It's okay. We'll buy you that much time."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">With that, Dee hugged Ai's head.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Fufufu, it's nice to have a body after all. It's great to be able to touch. Good for me. It’s so great."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Wa-wait Miss Dee…"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Brood away all you want Ai, it's the fastest way to do things after all."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Then Dee took the button from Ai's hand.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I'll do the same. In future, I’ll do that for every step I take."</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">And so the story began with the light shining from the west.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">On Monday, God created the world.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">On Tuesday, God distinguished the order and chaos.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">On Wednesday, God honed the numerical values.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">On Thursday, God allowed the Time to flow.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">On Friday, God overlooked every corner of the world.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">On Saturday, God rested.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">And so, on Sunday, God abandoned the world.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">But was that true? Was the world truly abandoned? Which was the correct answer.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The answer remained unknown.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">And so the man appeared from the west.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Deeeeeee Eeeennnnnssssssyyyyyy!!! Ghhhoooossssstttttt!! Witch of the West!!!!"</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The air was scorched, and the earth cracked.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">"I've come for your head!"</span>

&nbsp;

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