Editing Tasogare-iro no Uta Tsukai:Volume1 3rd Play (section)

===Part 6===

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

With a great effort, his mother extended her right hand from the bed. Lowering his gaze, Neight grasped that hand. Because his mother’s hand was so thin, simply looking at it made him feel sad.

“Neight…… What do you think a Recitation is?”

Mother asked him, who still averted his gaze. There wasn’t a proper answer to that question. That was something that even Neight, who had only just started learning Recitations, knew about. Unsure of what to say, Neight kept his mouth shut. He wasn’t able to give a solution, or look straight into her eyes.  

But even like this, he was still able to feel the warmth of Mother’s hand.

“These things called Recitations are used to call out yourself. That’s what I think. A true Reciter is one who gives form to his heart and calls it out. Therefore, it is exceedingly difficult. Even until the very end, I couldn’t do what I just spoke of.”

An incantation. The power contained within words. It was like Mother’s words right now, a power which made him, who had been averting his gaze, raise his head. His gaze overlapped with his mother's and they made eye contact.

Bedridden, without the strength to even hug her child—

But even so, that mother embraced her son with her gaze.


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“One hundred and seventy-two…… one hundred and seventy-three……”

Waiting like this, his boiling hot body was unable to cool down. In the multipurpose hall, after being roasted in the heat of a crowd of people, he had wanted to escape to the outside. However, even the outside wasn’t comfortable. The hot wind left behind by the daytime sun still burned in the depths of his lungs. 

“One hundred and seventy-four……”

[You seem to have started counting the stars some time ago. Is there a meaning to this?]

It was the familiar voice of Neight’s companion. He glanced at the back of Neight, who sat on a bench. There was a grassy field two hundred meters outside the multipurpose hall, and he sat on a bench in the corner of that place.

—He had already been here for about half an hour.

“Yeah. Because by sitting like this, I don’t have to think about various things.”

He pulled back a knee and placed his hands on it. Immediately, the Night-colored Recited creature flew from the back of the bench onto his lap. 

[Various things such as?]

“Just various things, that’s all.”

Meaninglessly, he simply repeated the lizard’s words. In the end, even he couldn’t think of something specific among the “various things”. The reason why he gazed at the stars really wasn’t because of this. Actually, before he realized it, he had already started counting stars.

“……Hey, Arma. Reciting really is difficult.”

In the sky, a fragment of a cloud seemed to float in front of the stars and cover them. Slowly moving his gaze away, he focused on the companion on his lap.

[Complaining as always—]

Just when Arma wanted to forcefully criticize him, their gazes met. They continued staring at each other for several seconds, or perhaps it was only a split second. After taking a breath, Arma raised the corners of his mouth and he spoke.

[……It doesn’t seem to be.]

“Eh? You can tell?”

Facing Arma, who had successfully sensed what was on his mind, Neight tried to change the subject.

[’Reciting is difficult.’ If you had truly understood the meaning behind those words and said them, it would be an extraordinary thing. So, what’s wrong?]

“Arma, did you also see Kluele-san’s performance?”

Maintaining a sitting position on the bench, he brought his legs to his chest and hugged them with both hands. It was the same as her position a few days ago. 

“I saw everyone’s performances from my group’s meeting place, but I assume that Kluele-san’s was the best?”

[What are you trying to say?]

“Just—”

When he was waiting for his turn to go on stage, he had seen her Recitation. That was truly—

“She Recited as if she was enjoying it from the bottom of her heart. Is that what you mean?”

The one who spoke those words wasn’t Arma. Still sitting on the bench, Neight’s head snapped around in the direction of the voice. 

Several meters away from him, appeared the figure of a man who wore a coat even though it was summer.

His dry grass colored coat dimly reflected the faint moonlight. 

Neight had not forgotten him. It was the Reciter who had helped him the day before yesterday, when the higher-grade student had been picking a fight. Also, yesterday, he heard from Mio that this person was the most famous Reciter in the world—

“It’s been two days.”

The Rainbow Color Reciter in front of his eyes slowly lifted his right hand and spoke in a conversational voice.

“Ah, that…… Thank you very much for your help that time. I still haven’t expressed my gratitude……”

“It’s fine, that was nothing. Anyways, may I sit here?”

Neight hastily nodded at the other side of the bench which the man was gesturing at. How could he refuse?

“I wanted to have a little chat with you, so I’ve been looking for you.”

“……With me?”

What’s going on? Why would the Rainbow Reciter be looking for me?

“Recently, have you attempted to conduct a Recitation in the laboratory, but failed? The one resembling black smoke, I mean.”

“Eh?”

Neight was left speechless at the sudden question. That was certainly what had happened, but why would this person know about such a thing?

“Um…… That’s right, my Recitation failed……”

“Ah, I apologize. I wasn’t trying to blame you. I’m not even a teacher of this school.”

His expression suddenly relaxed.

“Today, I saw your Recitation.”

He inquired in a prompting voice while staring at the light of the stars twinkling above his head.

“Was that a Recitation invented by you?”

“What do you mean?”

“I believe that type of Recitation doesn’t belong to any of the five colors.”

The Rainbow Reciter got straight to the point.

But, how should he answer? Not knowing what to do, Neight lowered his gaze. The Recited creature at his side seemed to say “I’ll leave it to you” and curled up on his lap.

“Eh, you could call it that. That Recitation is the original creation of my mother. She called it ‘Night Color Recitation’.”

“……I see.”

Neight felt the illusion that the man stopped breathing for an instant. 

“Is that a Recited creature sleeping on your lap?”

By this moment, it would be meaningless to act oblivious. A lizard of this color simply did not exist. Also, upon closer inspection, his body structure was different from other lizards’. Since the man was the Rainbow Reciter, he should already be used to the sight of this type of creature.

“I think it was about one year ago, when my mother entrusted him to me.”

“Entrusted?”

“She said, ‘When I am gone, he will instruct you about Night Color Recitations in my place.’”

“……‘When I am gone’?”

Suddenly, his voice was mixed with bitterness.

“I don’t have real parents. They died in a fire somewhere…… At that time, Mother adopted me from the orphanage. She also started to teach me Recitations from then on…… However, Mother already passed away one year ago.”

“……I’m sorry, for asking about something painful.”

His words suddenly made Neight realize.

—Eh? Why did I even tell him about that kind of thing? I hadn’t intended to talk so much.

Why? The person beside him felt awfully familiar. Is it because I admire him for being the Rainbow Reciter? No, that wasn’t it. It was an indescribable feeling— A kind of feeling similar to sorrow.

“Back to the original topic, you said that Reciting is really difficult?”

Although Neight didn’t understand, he felt like the man wanted to avoid the topic that had just come up. Is this the reason why he changed the subject?

However, in order to answer his question, the conversation had to start from there.

“Mother thought that I could change anything I wanted. She was very strict and often scolded me. Initially, I thought the only reason she adopted me was by chance. However, if that’s so……”

Neight stopped, and got up from the bench. His memories of when Mother praised him, and when she scolded him, all merged together. 

“When I think about it, she was a true mother. When I was sick, she took care of me for three whole days without sleeping…… No, not only that. Although she usually acted cold, actually, she always cared for me.”

He unwittingly felt his cheeks starting to turn hot. I can’t cry. Even though that was what he thought, he wasn’t able to stop the tears which flowed out.

“In the very end, Mother and I made a promise. A long time ago, Mother made a promise to a certain person, to have him be the first to witness Night Color Recitation. I promised to take her place and show that person Night Color Recitation.”

Thinking about it now, that might have been Mother’s first yet final ‘request’.

“A…… promise?”

He forced a smile, and let out the breath he had been holding.

“Until now, even after I came to this school, I’ve always been thinking about it. In other words, I will try my best for Mother’s sake…… But, after seeing Kluele-san’s Recitation today, I feel a little...... How should I say it, I think that I should consider it again.”

Neight himself didn’t quite understand how to best explain.

“I still don’t truly comprehend Mother’s promised…… The true Night Color Recitations.”

Arma raised his gaze slightly, and Neight felt himself bathed in it.

“So I thought, if that were true, do I need to be so worried? Kluele-san was able to conduct a Recitation happily. I also wish to be able to use my Recitations enjoyably. Even if I end up taking the longer path, as long as I can happily study Recitations with everyone…… Even though I would be letting down the person Mother promised.”

“You wouldn’t be letting him down.”

The Rainbow Reciter got up and stood beside Neight.

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“I think, the person who your mother promised would surely understand.”

“Is that so?”

The man nodded unhesitatingly at him, as if extremely sure of his answer.

“The day when you master Night Color Recitations, I hope you inform me. I would also like to see it.”

“Eh? But I still don’t know when that will be.”

Neight smiled as if to escape the pressure.

“I’m used to waiting. Sometimes waiting can be a good thing, for example……”

He took out a watch from his pocket and pointed at the school’s multipurpose hall.

What’s going on? Neight gazed in that direction for one second, two seconds—

The lights suddenly turned on and scorched his eyelids. 

“Ah!”

As if he had already predicted this alarmed reaction, a mischievous look showed on his face. 

The brilliant radiance of the fluorescent lights at night gave the school an illusionary atmosphere. It wasn’t just the multipurpose hall, but also the first-year building, outdoor paths, fountain, and flower garden. Tremia Academy was illuminated with the spectacular lighting.

“This recital contest event is actually a tradition left behind by the predecessor of Tremia Academy, Elfand. Ever since then, only on the nights of the recital contest and the graduation ceremony would the whole school be illuminated like this.”

“In other words, Xins-san also used to go to this school?”

“That’s right.”

After briefly nodding his head, he wordlessly let his gaze focus on the lights illuminating the school. 

As if having received an invitation, Neight also stared at the lit up school buildings.

“It’s already been more than ten years since Evhemary and I admired this sight together, but it seems like nothing has changed.”

—Eh? Among his words appeared the name of a person who Neight was very familiar with.

“Y-You said Evhemary……?”

“Evhemary Yehlemihas. Is that the same name as your mother?”

With a smile, he mischievously winked at Neight. 

Suddenly, it was like something had collapsed, while at the same time, something else gradually appeared. 

The person who Mother had promised, and the person standing before his eyes who knew Mother. It couldn’t be…… Is it possible that this person is…… The person regarded as the top Reciter, the legendary Rainbow Color Reciter was……

[I see. Then, you’re the one who Evhe spoke of……]

Even Arma, who had decided not to get involved and remained silent, fixed his crescent-moon pupils on this man. 

“Well, who knows? It might be a completely different person.”

Even though Neight spoke those words, he was simply pretending to act oblivious.

Ah……

Deja vu.

I…… Perhaps I understand this man’s personality. 

I see, this person— In front of other people, the one who doesn’t blame anyone and receives the admiration of tens of thousands of people isn’t the true him. That kind of naïve expression was only shown for the people who sincerely believed in him to see. But, being a little sarcastic and having a mischievous expression, that was his true personality.  

……The same expression as Mother. 

The same expression as when Mother smiles at me.

“When you have thoroughly studied Night Color Recitations, I will tell you the answer as a bargain—”

However.

His voice suddenly paused in the middle of speaking those words. 

No, it was covered.

A rumble in the ground shook the whole campus.

And then, resounding even more than the rumbling, was a creature’s immensely loud roar. 


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