Editing City Series:Volume7 Layer 11 (section)

===Record 116: Something of Great Importance===
[[Image:TOKYO_173.jpg|thumb]]

'''02/18/1999

'''22:52

On my way home, the Boss picked me up in his car to drive me the rest of the way.

I left his car without a word and arrived at the apartment entrance to find Lady standing there. She looked up at me and smiled with her eyebrows still drooping.

“She’s fine,” was all she said.

I nodded, rubbed her head, and entered the apartment. I used the elevator instead of the stairs. Once out in the hallway, I saw Snowy standing in front of my room. She looked up when she saw. She initially looked surprised, but then she smiled a little.

“You look like a real man now.”

Did she mean the cut on my cheek? I nodded, smiled a little, walked past her, and started to enter my room. She turned to face me again.

“It must have taken a lot out of her. She’s sleeping in your bed, but she hasn’t come to since saying something to you by phone.”

I didn’t nod as I opened the door and walked in.

It was dark inside. Of course it was. It was nighttime.

But I didn’t turn on the lights.

I shut the door as quietly as I could manage.

I removed my shoes and only then realized I wasn’t in the habit of saying “I’m home” when I got home.

I didn’t want to make this into anything special, so I started by going to the kitchen. I opened the fridge, pulled out some mineral water, and took a drink. Then I took a breath.

Now it really felt like I was back home.

Before that feeling similar to relief could fade, I made my way to my bedroom.

You were sleeping there.

You lay on my bed in a somewhat twisted position, breathing deeply in sleep. I noticed the two holes on your neck were no longer visible through your messy hair.

Was that a good thing or not? I wasn’t sure, but then I saw some movement next to you.

It was Daitarou.

The animal still didn’t understand human speech very well, so he looked up at me and tilted his head.

I smiled bitterly and noted his presence meant I had to be on my best behavior.

I wanted to say something.

There had to be something I could say while you were asleep.

Something I couldn’t say if you were awake.

“–––––”

Wouldn’t you know it? I tried to find the words, but I only found tears.

I sat next to the bed and leaned back against its side. Then I cried all on my own again. I had to get through this while you were still asleep. Because that way I could keep from crying when you cried.

But then I started wondering if you ever would wake up again.

I had already made up my mind. Come morning, I would call the Professor and have him ready some way of erasing my memories.

Would you wake up before I left tomorrow?

Something warm touched my tear-wet cheek

Daitarou was licking up the tears. He may have been hungry.

I smiled bitterly, held him in my arms, and rested my head on the bed. I realized the bed was rising and falling in time with your breaths.

I matched my own breathing to that rhythm and smiled even more bitterly at how easy it was to match. I started to call your name.

“…”

And then it hit me.

I knew your name.

My head sprang up, but you were still asleep. You were sleeping and breathing with the same rhythm as me.

Would you wake up or not?

'''Author Comment:

This was the final story when Tokyo was serialized in Dengeki hp.

The Boss, Lady, Snowy, you, and Daitarou are in it.

This leads to either an ending or a new beginning.

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