Editing Tasogare-iro no Uta Tsukai:Volume1 1st Play (section)

===Part 5===

“It’s already so late……”

Glancing at the stars twinkling above her head, Kluele quickened her footsteps. After the club activities had finished, she was going to the store at school. After purchasing enough medical products and groceries, she was already somewhat late. 

……It still hurt a bit.

Whenever she touched the bandage wrapped around her right hand, it would cause a paralyzed feeling like an electric shock. This was the injury she received a few hours ago from breaking the window and cutting her hand on glass shards. Although it wouldn’t hinder daily activities, after she had arrived at the healthcare clinic, it had been bandaged just to be careful. 

The time it took for her to walk from the multi-purpose hall to the first-year school building was about ten minutes. Although the library and the gym towered in between, these two large buildings already had their lights turned out. Because they opened early in the mornings, their closing time was also early. 

Her scalding body from during the day felt extremely cozy being caressed by the night’s cold wind. The seeping cold, clear air soaked into the depths of her lungs. This refreshing feeling felt like taking a bath in the wind.

……Speaking of this, what happened to Neight?

Suddenly thinking of this, Kluele dragged her gaze from above her head back to the pathway. 

After that—

After she had broken the window, the dust that filled the laboratory quickly disappeared without a trace. The unstable substance that the originally failed Recitation had called out. Thinking about it now, that was a situation she should have been able to predict. 

Even so, there were only a small number of students with an aching throat or pained eyes. 

The inside wall of the laboratory was also smoked black, looking like the filth accumulated after a whole year. Although it included Mio and herself, while the remaining students proceeded to clean up, Neight continuously apologized to everyone throughout the next hour. He apologized to the teacher Kate, the headmaster, the students in the class, and also the one who cut her finger on the window glass, Kluele. 

A Recitation failure was something that could not be helped. You were only thirteen years old, and it was also on the first day after transferring schools. Conducting a Recitation under the gaze of so many students, it would have been hard to succeed. Although they comforted him like that, they still couldn’t easily do anything to cheer up his spirit. Neight had hung his head for the entire day, until all the classes were finished. 


At last, the first-year school building gradually came into view. Because it was currently forbidden to enter that laboratory, the lights were already out. The only ones with lights still on should be the medical room, office, and security room. 
That’s right, these should be the only places with lights still turned on.

However……

……That is......our classroom?

It was the second classroom on the third floor. Although the curtains were closed, the light still leaked out from a small crack in the curtains. Who could it be?

“……No way.”

These words rode the wind, and along with the light, disappeared in the black night. 


<div align="center">***</div>


“Neight, can you bring that over for me?”

Mother looked at the photograph that she wanted to put in a frame. 

“Is it this one?”

The photo was hung on the wall near the ceiling, and no matter how he stretched his arm, he couldn’t reach it. After standing on a chair and stretching as high as he could, his fingers finally touched the edge of the photo frame.

—This picture, what is it?

Although it was said to be a picture, what was depicted inside wasn’t a person, and couldn’t be considered scenery. The whole photo was entirely black. Even if one took a picture of coal at close range, it couldn’t be said for sure whether this kind of photograph would be taken. However, he really couldn’t think of the reason for taking this kind of photo. Could it be because it was burnt? But if that was so, it wouldn’t be necessary to keep it. I have always been curious about this.

“Mother, here.”

He handed it to his mother, who was lying in bed. However, she didn’t intend to take it.

“……Mother?”

“Neight, I give that photograph to you.”

Maintaining her position on the bed, Mother lifted the quilt slightly.

“What photograph…… is this?”

“It is especially for the purpose of the Recitation you are currently practicing, intended to be a catalyst.”

Rarely, very rarely, did Mother speak in such a soft voice. Even when her body was in good condition, it is rare for her expression to be so gentle. 

“But, this isn’t a photograph of anything in particular.”

“Because it was taken at night, it is hard to identify. However, depicted in this picture is fire.”

Fire? It is obviously pitch-black, but this is fire? Neight hurriedly swallowed back the words that were about to leave his mouth, because his mother never lied or told any jokes. 

“Neight, there is one more type of Recitation that I haven’t taught you.”

Not knowing whether he already knew about it or not, he had been originally staring at the ceiling and now watched Mother close her eyes. 

“This is a Recitation created for your sake. Therefore, Neight, I will teach this only to you.”


<div align="center">***</div>


[Why did you wish to call me out?]

The voice beside his ear wasn’t really questioning him demandingly. Transmitted in his eardrums was purely a tone of skepticism. 

[In order to call me out, even your mother spent several years’ time. You shouldn’t have forgotten this, have you? I am not something suitable for you to call out at your present level.]

Neight lay on the table, listening silently, but his companion paid no attention to him and continued to speak.

[The dormitory I am located in is about two thousand meters away from this school. However, there isn’t a big relationship between the distance and the Recitation. But you ought to know, using Recitation to summon me is an extremely difficult thing in itself.]

……I know that.

Neight really didn’t want to start talking, and merely heaved a sigh in his mind. 

But I wanted to challenge myself. I can count the number of Recitations I know with my fingers. Because of this, I want to try out new Recitations as much as possible. 

“I’ve told Mother before. Arma, don’t you also know? I have to show my Night Color Recitations to the people Mother promised.”

As if it was an ordinary incantation, those words caused his companion to fall silent. 

“Arma, let me ask you, was Mother really that powerful?”

[……Yes she was.]

Although his voice was so low that other than himself, nobody could sense it, it was rare for this Recited creature’s voice to seem so gentle. It was as if he was reminiscing, as if he grieved. However, the one who spoke didn’t notice this himself.

[She was the only Reciter who I acknowledged. In terms of talent, she far exceeded you.]

—I still have not received the approval of this Recited creature. 

So his words concealed this meaning. That was an unmistaken, unable to be concealed fact. But even so, Neight’s heart was still filled with an unwillingness that he couldn’t express. 

[However, don’t forget that I am here to raise your ability.]

As if he was propelled by those words, Neight’s lifted his head. Right now, Arma was so close that Neight could almost touch him with his nose. Arma was neither standing on the table nor on his shoulders. Unfolding the wings on his shoulder that had originally been folded on his back, Arma hovered in the air.

“I haven’t seen you fly in such a long time.”

[Although it wasn’t bad to stay on the ground, I seem to have almost forgotten how to fly.]

“Don’t push yourself. You can only fly for a maximum of forty seconds, right?”

The way that the Recited creature floated awkwardly and concentrated so hard that he didn’t reply, made Neight unable to help but laugh.

“……But, if there’s no way for me to be as amazing as Mother, I will certainly be troublesome to other people. Even today, I ended up harming Kluele-san……”

[The little girl from yesterday? But from what you have told me, I think that if it’s only that kind of injury, the little girl will not think much of it.]

When talking about this, he was still a Recited creature. What Neight worried about wasn’t only the physical injuries, but also his responsibility and compensation.

“No. Arma, you don’t understand—”

“Just like you said, I don’t mind it, so you shouldn’t take it to heart. Originally, it was me who wanted to smash the glass. However, I was criticized by that arrogant lizard, which was what made my heart a little unsteady.”

“Sure, sure. Because you didn’t mind, therefore…… eh?”

He had suddenly heard the sound of a female voice. Not only that, it was also a familiar voice. Neight hastily turned around, and saw her standing directly in front of him. 

A girl with a bandaged right hand was currently leaning against the door of the classroom.

“Like I thought, it was you.”

Thinking that it was possible and then coming over to see, sure enough, she was right. Kluele smiled wryly, let out a sigh, and walked to the seat directly in front of Neight.

“Um…… That…… Sorr–”

In that instant, the boy flinched and didn’t know what to do. Just when he wanted to open his mouth, Kluele used her forefinger to lightly poke his forehead.

“Don’t apologize anymore. Haven’t you been doing that the whole day already? Always hearing you apologize will make me feel ashamed.”

“O-Okay……”

When he promised with a nod, the sound of his voice was still very stiff. Because he was very pitiful to look at, Kluele moved her line of sight away from him with no clear destination. However, she happened to end up staring at the lizard standing on the table. 

[Little girl, like I have said many times already, I am clearly not an arrogant lizard—]

“Then, you’re just a lizard that is able to fly?”

[After clearly seeing me fly, you are still calling me a lizard……]

Arma immediately replied. But the lizard seemed to give up, and abruptly hung his head. This human-like action looked extremely ridiculous. 

“Anyways, I didn’t eavesdrop on you guys purposely.”

Just when she was hesitating about how to talk to the boy lying on the table, Kluele had heard the conversation between the other two. Looking at the apparently pouting Recited creature, she asked:

“You just said…… This guy was called out by Neight’s mother?”

“……Yes. In order to call out Arma, the Night Color theory must be constructed. My Recitations are all things that Mother has left me.”

To be honest, this was the one point that Kluele couldn’t understand. Night Color Recitations. Using this creature who was almost falling asleep on the table as an example, although he was a little annoying, he had a considerably high level of intelligence. The Reciter who was definitely capable of conduction this high level Recitation, why didn’t she announce this sixth color of Recitation?

“Because Mother had let almost nobody see Night Color Recitations. And seemingly from the beginning, she hadn’t wanted to apply for Night Color Recitations as a new Recitation color.”

Was it because she wasn’t interested in becoming famous? But then why did she act like that?

“I’ve heard…… it was because of a promise.”

Neight, who had been sitting the whole time, now stood up. Holding onto the window frame, he gazed at the glass that separated himself from the outside world. 

“Although she didn’t tell me that person’s name, she told me that she already had a promise with a certain person. I gradually learned Reciting from Mother, but…… one year ago, Mother……”

Because of the light in the classroom, it should have been impossible to see the scenery outside. The only thing he could see was probably his inverted silhouette in the glass.

“As long as I continue to study Night Color Recitations, there will definitely be a day when I will meet that person. That’s what Mother told me. Because it’s like this, I thought that I might as well attend the school that Mother had formerly attended.”

Shy and introverted, that had been Kluele’s impression of the boy until now. But now she was impressed to discover that she had been wrong. 

To leave his home at only thirteen years old, just for the sake of coming to this school. This was an unfamiliar environment, without anyone he knew, and surrounded by students all older than him. —All of this was simply to fulfill the promise his mother had made. 

……If she had to stand in the same position, could she do that?

At least at this age, her mind was merely focused on playing with her friends. 

“—You’re really amazing.”

Following an involuntary sigh, she said those words. 

“You are truly amazing!”

“Eh…… amazing……?”

Because of her sudden exclamation, the boy appeared to be bewildered. But it doesn’t matter, because it was simply talking to herself. 

“The only reason I wanted to become a Reciter was because I simply thought ‘It seemed interesting’. That’s all.”

After taking a seat, Kluele crossed one leg over the other. 

—How boring! It was such a mediocre reason.

“There was nothing that I especially wanted to do. Even now, it’s the same. Generally speaking, everyone who attended high school all wanted to become Reciters. That’s why they worked hard. But, I still don’t know if I want to become a Reciter or not.”

Without much thought, she had selected the high school with the most outstanding achievements. 

That choice had happened to be learning Recitation— Really, that was her simple reason. 

She could have become a person who ran a freight transport business or someone who purely researched the theory of Recitations. A person with a Reciter qualification could, in reality, work in a variety of occupations. She didn’t know for what reason her classmates had the goal of becoming Reciters.  But although she didn’t know, she sensed that everyone worked hard in hopes of achieving their goal. 

However, she could not be classified among that. She simply attended class in a relaxed manner, day after day. In her heart, she had always been afraid, afraid that one day someone would find that out about her. 

She couldn’t speak what she sincerely felt to either Mio or her parents…… No, that was wrong. She was simply unable to have those words leave her mouth. Perhaps she simply didn’t have the courage to say those words in front of people who worked so hard. 

“Is this really the path that I will advance on? Is there a different path? I have always thought about this question.”

Although she wanted to smile, her expression reflected in the window seemed very stiff. 

A self-deprecating feeling pressed down on her chest. Sometimes, to her eyes, Mio looked extremely dazzling. She wanted to become a Reciter, and truthfully, she did not hesitate to try her hardest. 

……Compared to her, what am I doing?

“In the end, I am a person with high standards but little ability. I know a little bit of everything, but end up quickly becoming tired of it. Therefore, I only end up learning everything half-way.”

Attending high school without any goal whatsoever, and seeming like having achieved nothing at graduation —Although she has only attended this school for half a year, her head was filled with those kinds of thoughts. 

She undoubtedly felt uneasy, unable to immerse herself in any one thing. Previously, she would have felt angry at herself, but she had become numb to it a long time ago. 

“How could that be…… That’s not true!”

Suddenly, the boy shook his head with all his strength. 

“Kluele-san is definitely suitable for becoming a Reciter. Your recitation today was amazing!”

“……No, that kind of thing can be done by everyone if they want to.”

Forcing herself to smile, Kluele calmly denied him. The Recitation of such a small and immobile object was not difficult at all. After all, having becoming a Reciter as a goal and then going to high school could be accomplished by everyone she knew.
 
Although she opposed his words, the boy still hesitatingly said:

“……I think that because the one doing this is Kluele-san, that’s why such an amazing result can be achieved.”

“—Eh?”

What was that supposed to mean? Just when she was about to ask……

“Oh, how should I say it…… Although saying it to the person herself isn’t very appropriate, but…… The fresh red flower that Kluele-san called out, I think that it suits Kluele-san very well.”

Although he stood with his head bowed and at a loss of what to do, the boy in front of her eyes with a face as red as an amaryllis flower spoke those words. That flower— does it really suit me?

“Ah, no…… sorry…… I had no other intention for speaking those words. That was simply what I actually think.”

Because she had stayed silent, the boy had though that she was angry. His expression finally jolted Kluele back into action. 

There was nothing to explain. It was simply because it was too abrupt and the compliment was said to her face-to-face, which caused her to freeze. Unsure of how to respond, her mind became blank.

“Eh…… Ah, mm. I know, so calm down. I was just a little stunned, that’s all.”

She waved her hand in a flustered manner. That really was humiliating. He was only thirteen years old, but it was me who looked agitated. 

“……But, thank you.”

Her smile reflected in the window was definitely not a fake one. 

She had never thought about it herself, but here was someone cheering her on so seriously. 

Not embellishing his words, and speaking in a simple and clumsy manner —But it was truly honest encouragement. Because of this, she felt sincerely happy. 

……I should also try my hardest at something. 

Although she didn’t believe that she could immediately find something that she wanted to study, even so, she must try hard to find it. Before she finds her answer, it would be good to try hard at Recitations. 

“I will follow your example and try my best.”

Standing up, Kluele went beside him and opened the window. Through a small crack in the window curtains, she felt the cold wind blowing at her hair. 

“W-What example? There’s no such thing……”

The boy hastily shook his head. 

Seeing his expression, Kluele couldn’t help but smile while letting out a breath. 

“No, you should feel proud! Because you let me experience that earnest feeling, after hearing you say that makes me feel considerably ashamed.”

……For some reason, I feel jealous. 

Being the complete opposite of herself, the boy possesses a steady will, and faces forward wholeheartedly.

……Was there a time when I acted in such a way?

Disregarding feelings of love, perhaps I want to stay together with this child. 

The reason being— the path he wants to walk is truly too dazzling. It wasn’t the harsh light that made others want to move away their gaze, but rather the kind of dazzle that made others want to stay by his side and support him.  

After slowly blinking her eyes, Kluele said to Neight:

“Then, it’s almost time for us to go. Although it is in school, it is still dangerous to be out so late. Let me escort you back.”

“Eh? But Kluele-san is a girl!”

Although she teased him with a smile, the boy actually had a serious expression.  

But you are only thirteen, your height is shorter than this girl, and your physique is skinny. If you want to protect me, don’t you have to wait a while longer? Just like protecting a princess, you don’t meet the standards yet!

“Ah, I usually exercise in club activities.”

“Club activities?”

“Self-defense. Because I live alone, ever since middle school, my parents have made me learn self-defense.”

After saying that, she used her bandaged right hand to grab the boy’s hand. 

“Come on, let’s go.”

“K-Kluele-san…… your right hand! It’s injured, so don’t move it around!”

Although Neight hastily tried to shake off her hand, Kluele stubbornly gripped more tightly. 

“This? It doesn’t hurt at all. The healthcare teacher made a huge fuss over it, and made me bandage it.”

Actually, it did hurt. But despite that pain, Kluele wanted to hold hands with him.
 

<div align="center">***</div>


The presence of the setting sun faded away, and was replaced by the color of the descending night. 

Just before the closing time of the visitor’s reception building, a man wearing a dry-grass colored coat entered. 

Under the shine of the light, a calm and symmetrical face could be seen. 

“My apologies. Has the headmaster already left?”

He had hair that could not be called neither gold nor brown. 

—Mm, where had his face been seen before?

The man who worked both at the office and as a security guard concealed the amazement in his heart, and cautiously replied with a business-like response:

“Please wait a moment. No, I think he is still in his office. However, the time allowed for off-campus people to enter the campus is almost up. If you wish to stay for a long period of time, I suggest you come earlier on another day. If it is important, please leave your name and a message.”

“……No. It is not an important matter. Then, I will come back tomorrow after school. Please just tell him ‘Xin was here’ and that will be all.”

After saying that, the man turned over his coat and turned around to leave.

“I understand.”

Following the man’s figure with his eyes until it could not be seen, the man who had received the visitor closed the window of the visitor’s reception building.

Who could that have been? Although he couldn’t remember, he was sure that he had seen that face somewhere before.


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