Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter7

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Chapter 7 - The Day Off of a (Beginner) Seishun Onna

“…Just kidding.”

I cut off those aimless delusions and faced reality. Meme-san had completely dampened my mood.

On the actual game screen, Mako-kun-kun was paralysed and being pummelled by enemies. The reliable allies controlled by Erio continued the battle, intent on wiping out the enemies while completely ignoring the protagonist.

Did she have a grudge against me or something? I glanced sideways at Erio, only to see her frantically mashing buttons. Hey, don’t tell me you were letting the protagonist die just because it was too much of a hassle to select any command other than Attack! The battle ended, brought to a close by the merry band of companions who continued their frenzied attacks even as Mako-kun-kun fell.

“Ah, I don’t have any items to revive him.”

“Are you turning back?”

“I shall press on, swallowing my tears.”

“Whoa, everyone is sprinting full speed with such perfect form.”

I wondered what would become of Mako-kun-kun, left behind all alone. In modern games, wouldn’t they at least let you put a fallen comrade in a coffin and drag them along? I also felt it was somewhat questionable how the story could continue progressing even in the absence of the protagonist.

“Ah, we’re in a pinch now that Mako-kun-kun isn’t here.”

Overwhelmed by the numbers of enemies they next encountered, the remaining companions were being beaten mercilessly. It was then that Erio, finally ceasing her button-mashing, began to focus her mind on healing them and improving the situation for her allies.

Watching the screen from a protagonist-biased perspective, thinking things like, “No, you’re too slow; you should have helped him the moment Mako-kun-kun was in danger”, was actually quite entertaining. I let my focus blur slightly and rested my chin on my hand.

“…Phew.”

After passing through four or five great adventures that spanned across time and space, my brain was screaming from the sheer strain. I marvelled at how I had managed to immerse myself in such lengthy fantasies. The last one, in particular, had gone completely off the rails. I couldn’t fathom how a second-year high schooler, someone who had no grandchildren, no children, no wife, and no girlfriend, could find himself dreaming of such a peaceful and fantastical old age. Wait, a newlywed life with Meme-tan at the very end? I had no idea what I was talking about. That part never happened, and it was better to just leave things at that.

Setting Meme-san aside, my delusions had been a bit too intense this time. I almost suspected that someone had sent me some kind of radio signal, but perhaps it was simply that because my Youth Points were empty, some mysterious function had stepped in to provide everything I needed to compensate. It was none of its business, but thanks anyway.

I envisioned three main pillars.

Viewing it through a gaming lens, there was the Maekawa-san route. And also the Ryuushi-san route and the Erio route? Getting involved with one made my relationships with others change significantly, and my surroundings had shifted as well.

No matter which possibility I reached, I would inevitably lose something. Something that existed in my life right now.

Precisely because that was a realistic and natural consequence, I felt the urge to cover my eyes.

Regarding the choices from here on. No matter which path I took or how I proceeded, I would lose the “present”.

I wondered how long this period of fulfilment, where I lost nothing, could possibly continue.

I found myself thinking that perhaps having a time like this last forever was my true ideal.

“Hmm, the phone… is ringing.”

The cellphone, left sitting in my second-floor room, played its default electronic ringtone, as if urging me to “pick up already”. I pushed myself up from the sofa and ran toward the stairs. It was doubtful whether I would make it in time even if I hurried, but I ran nonetheless. Since the ringing did not cease, it seemed to be a phone call rather than an email. If so, I could more or less guess who was calling. It was that person whose I-told-ya special intensive training month had just come to an end.

I raced up the stairs and burst into my room. With the momentum of a high school baseball player sliding a ball into their glove, I snatched the phone, which was vibrating faintly on my desk. I moved with such force that I slammed my arm against the leg of the desk. The momentum did not stop there; my shoulder collided with it, and finally, I struck my back against the furniture. It was perhaps the first time that I had proven myself to be a true idiot three times within such a short span of time.

“Bkeeee, bkeeeeee!”

I arched my back on the carpet, writhing in a pain so intense it felt numbing. However, I couldn’t afford to let the phone keep ringing, so while rolling around, I pressed the answer button and held it to my ear. Since I had made it that far, I tried to suppress my screams and cries of agony, but I couldn’t hold them back even as I bit my lower lip. Straightening my spine, I let out a spirited,

“Gugueeeee!”

“O-oh? What’s wrong, Niwa-kun? Put the automatic Japanese mode on!”

The voice belonged to Ryuushi-san, as expected. Since she was demanding a response, I tried to stifle my agony by digging my claws into the carpet. As I delivered my heavy, ragged breathing to Ryuushi-san in real-time, she misunderstood, asking in a carefree voice, “Are you playing a prank call game?” Should I be grateful she didn’t call me a pervert?

“Fuu, Hii… Ah, hello. This is Niwa Makoto.”

“Well, well, how polite. This is Mifune Ryuuko.”

My memories instinctively drifted back to the very beginning. I bowed my head toward the other end of the line, offering a quick, “Nice to meet you.” Now, then.

It was Ryuushi-san, who was not a college student, and her hair was not long. I decided I should avoid calling her Ryuuko.

“By the way, I told ya, I’m Ryuuko.”

“Wait, didn’t your special intensive training month end already?”

“He he he, did you really think I wouldn’t see through something like this, Niwa-kun?!”

There was a dramatic sound effect accompanying her words, so she was likely striking a pointing pose.

“I know all about it! Niwa-kun, right now, your phone is displaying Ryuushi-san!”

“No, no, didn’t you register your real name under that contact, Ryuushi-san?”

“Oh? Did I? Well, you did just say Ryuushi right now. In other words, I-told-ya was in response to a future event. Yup. I was simply predicting a future event that might occur where I should say I-told-ya.”

Since she had reached her own unilateral conclusion, it was difficult to comment on it. Recalling that there were things that simply could not be spoken of, I remained silent. In the meantime, Ryuushi-san moved the conversation forward.

“And with that, the introductions are over. Hello, Niwa-kun. How are you? You were making quite a lot of noise at first, though.”

“If I can make that much noise, I’m probably doing fine. So, what’s up today? Do you have business with me?”

“Well… I might be free tomorrow.”

No youthful boy would ever turn down an invitation from a girl on a Sunday. This was not the time to be indulging in fantasies that were already reaching their breaking point. I sat up straight and replied, “I’m free.”

“As reliable as ever, Niwa-kun. However, what comes next is a surprise show!”

“Huh? Clap, clap, clap.”

Thinking that perhaps she was about to perform some sort of hidden talent, I gave her a purely vocal round of applause.

“I meant a surprise show!”

The meaning was the same, but the nuance was quite different. As I nodded in understanding, Ryuushi-san cleared her throat with an “ahem, ahem”. I waited for Ryuushi-san’s next words, focusing on nothing in particular, like how her cough sounded unnecessarily dusty. I waited for a few seconds. Then, her high-pitched voice reached me:

“For this time, I was wondering if we could, you know, do something like a Touwa-san-style thing!”

“Something Touwa-san-style?”

I looked down at the floor, thinking of the half-Smakin who was facing off against a game on the first floor. It was a roundabout way of putting it, but the only person Ryuushi-san could mean by “Touwa-san-style” had to be her. Meme-san was more like Mochi-mochi Sensei.

“So, you’re saying Erio is invited, too?”

It was certainly surprising, and I couldn’t help but smile at how unusual it was.

“If that’s the interpretation you want to make Niwa-kun, then fine! Hmph!”

“Alright, then let’s do this.”

“Geez, you’re being way too honest, Niwa-kun. Ryuuko-san is going to end up blushing so hard bees will sting her.”

What was that supposed to mean? Was she trying to say she’d turn even redder if she were stung? That would just be painful.

“I was thinking we could invite Maekawa-san too and maybe go grab some food or hit up karaoke or something.”

“Like a social gathering? Similar to the one we had after the cultural festival the other day?”

That particular event had been nothing but stomach-turning developments. Mostly due to Hoshinaka’s antics. Man, what a headache.

“Muu… mumu.”

“What are you grumbling about?”

“Niwa-kun… you were being called things like ‘Niwa-chi’… and it was just so Niwa-kun…”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand what you’re trying to say.”

Anyway, I told her I would ask her myself. Keeping her on the line, I headed down the stairs and returned to the living room. Erio was once again lost in a frenzy of button-mashing. It seemed she had been repeatedly fighting the same battle, diligently working on levelling up. My heart wept at such careless treatment, thinking she should have revived Mako-kun-kun before doing that.

“Ah, Cousin, you’re back.”

Erio finished her button-mashing with great joy. Then, she moved on to the next scene, controlling characters other than Mako-kun-kun.

It appeared she had made an effort not to progress the story until I returned. She seemed to be more lenient toward the real-life Mako-kun-kun. Hmm, she was certainly adorable… Wait, no, she wasn’t. I pulled the phone slightly away from my face.

“Erio, do you have to work at the shop tomorrow?”

“Every day. I am a career woman.”

She flexed her arm, making her bicep assert its strength. It was so devoid of muscle it was almost sad.

“The Tamura store is open all year round. Let’s go anytime to the Tamura store!”

“Thanks for the advertisement. I see, that’s a shame, then.”

“Hm?”

Erio tilted her head, her eyes fixed on the phone in my hand. I wondered how she would react once she heard the truth.

“Actually, Ryuushi-san is inviting you to come and play with us.”

“I’m coming!”

She immediately powered off her gaming console and bolted out from under the covers. She came running toward me with frantic, eager steps.

I was taken aback by how instantly she bit. At the same time, I could faintly hear a voice from the other end of the phone demanding a correction, saying, “I told ya.” It seemed Ryuushi-san’s intuition was working perfectly again today.

“No, I was talking about tomorrow.”

“Eh, ah… the game…”

She looked back at the television screen as if regretting that she had hung up without even saving her progress. Even though it was a misunderstanding on her part, I felt a strange sense of guilt. However, Erio did not give up, raising her clenched fist with determination.

“A-Anyway, I’m going. I’ll play with something Ryuushi and Cousin.”

“Maekawa-san is coming too.”

“With something Maekawa too!”

The placement of the word “something” was awkward, but her enthusiasm was clear, so I decided to skip correcting her.

“But don’t you have to watch the shop?”

She looked so incredibly happy that I decided to be a little mean. In reality, if she had just explained the situation honestly, Tamura-san would have forgiven her, saying, “You don’t need to come.” It still felt more like she was a child helping out with chores, after all.

However, Erio had grown quite clever lately. She pressed her hand to her forehead, her expression turning grim in her own way.

“M-My head hurts. I suddenly have a fever from thinking too hard.”

“Stop faking a headache. Tamura-san will just give you a poke on the head.”

“I-I’m not faking it. It’s a real illness.”

I wondered for a moment if such a word even existed in Japanese. But regardless, she seemed brimming with the desire to go.

I replied to Ryuushi-san, who had brought the phone back to her ear and was repeatedly practising saying, “I told ya, I told ya.” Well, there was no need to be so roundabout about confirming it. Seriously.

“She said she’s coming.”

“Hoh! A-Alright! I’ve claimed the demon’s head!”

“No, that’s a massive misuse of the idiom.”

“T-Then, tomorrow! Ah, I’ll invite Maekawa-san myself, so, um… I told ya!”

After struggling to find a closing line, it seemed the result was simply the fruit of her practice. Why “I told ya”, though?

After hanging up, I stroked Erio’s head, which was right beside me. She squirmed as if it tickled her.

“That’s great, isn’t it?”

“Mofu.”

“I already told you not to wrap yourself in a futon.”

When I pointed it out, for some reason, she busily rewrapped the futon around her upper body. Then, she stood up just like that and began wandering aimlessly around the living room. Realising that she was actually dancing, an exasperated expression naturally came to me.

“Mofuu-mofuu, mofumoomofumofufuuu, moomoomofumofufuuu.”

“Why are you dancing after wrapping yourself in a futon?”

Well, I suppose dancing around so energetically without a futon wasn’t Erio-like. But was that “like” even needed to begin with? I tilted my head exaggeratedly as I pondered over that. Then, something caught my eye in my tilted field of vision.

“Mako-kun, hey, hey.”

Meme-san was there, peering halfway out from the edge of the hallway and beckoning to me. I wondered when she had returned. Since she was calling me, I approached her while remaining fully on guard. It was only natural that she might suddenly leap or bounce around, and I had to be prepared for the possibility of multiplication or fusion. My aunt was certainly a handful.

“What was that?”

“Is the real Meme-chin not making an appearance yet?”

How did this youkai even know about the non-real version?

“Let’s look forward to the next time.”

“Waaaaah!”

Ah, Meme-chin dissolved into the hallway. Then, her daughter began to dance. In a writhing, contorted motion. She seemed to be having fun, that one.

It was perhaps about time I taught her the concept of Youth Points. Maybe then she might actually function properly.

“How am I supposed to wait until next time? I’ll force an appearance!”

Ah, the liquid Meme-chin solidified. She sprouted back into existence with a slippery slither, resurrecting as if nothing had happened. Gross.

“I don’t really care, but aren’t you going to unify the names Meme-chin and Meme-tan?”

The comment, which was utterly trivial, was treated with utter indifference. It was ignored entirely. Meme-san approached Erio, or rather, Smakin, with a skip that was quite unbefitting her age. Without hesitation, she hugged her right through the futon. While squeezing Erio as tightly as she could, as the latter let out a cry that it was impossible to tell if it was a protest or a sign of surprise, a sort of “Mofuuu”, Meme-san spoke in a sweet, coaxing voice, “Hey, Eri-chan.”

Meme-san’s suggestion was, to put it mildly, unexpected, or perhaps it was more accurate to call it a natural progression.

Regardless, there was no doubt that it was a change accompanying Erio’s transformation into a “youthful girl”.

“Don’t you want something like a cellphone?”

“Mofuu.”

Even if I could decipher what she said, it somehow irritated me.

“Oh, oooh. B-bzzzt.”

“Why are you emitting radio waves yourself?”

Facing the countless mobile phones displayed on the white shelves, Erio panicked. Her eyes darted around nervously. She seemed overwhelmed by the unnaturally bright interior of the mobile shop and the loud, blaring music, clinging to my arm as if to hide half of her body. The clerk, dressed in a uniform, seemed so overwhelmed by the supernatural particles Erio was emitting that she hesitated to approach us. Consequently, I ended up acting as the clerk myself.

“So, which one do you want?”

“Th-the best one, please?”

“Decide on your own what the best is. Look closely, now,” I urged, pressing against her shoulder. Erio peeked at the shelves with extreme trepidation, making sure not to let go of my back. “Bzzz, bzzz.” She began emitting radio waves again. She stared intently at a phone screen, but she didn’t seem to be comparing the devices or paying any attention to their designs; she was simply staring.

It seemed that Erio’s search for a new mobile phone was going to be a difficult ordeal. Even when the shop clerk provided detailed explanations, Erio’s extreme shyness threatened to cause nothing but further confusion. A heavy sigh escaped her.

“…Having to accompany a child on a shopping trip they have no interest in, is this how a father feels?”

I didn’t want to admit it, though.

Meme-san stood a short distance away, smiling. If she had just stayed quiet, she would have looked like a truly dignified mother.

“Eri-tan, I’m going to send you a hundred emails a day, ok? Mostly just complaining about work! (Chomp!)”

“Are you trying to drive your daughter into a nervous breakdown?”

With eyes wide open, she waved her hands around irritably. Even if she was a fine mother, as an adult, she was a lost cause. She was ±zero. In fact, it might be a miracle that things were even breaking even.

“But this is getting us nowhere. Is there any specific feature you’re looking for?”

I tried to narrow down the choices after listening to her requests. Erio held up her fingers in a peace sign.

“O-One that can do email. And one that can do calls.”

“Does a cellphone even exist these days without those two features?”

I pointed across the entire shelf, assuring her that they all had everything she needed. Erio recoiled with a small, intimidated whimper. There was no sign that the situation was making any progress whatsoever.

“Fine, then pick by colour. What’s your favourite colour?”

I picked up red, green, and yellow at random. Erio stared at the phones in my hand and muttered, “Like a traffic light.” It seemed as though she was pointing them out one by one, as if mentally checking them off. I felt that if I strongly recommended one of them, she might actually settle on it. But I hesitated.

Eventually, Erio looked up and, for some reason, poked me in the nose with her finger. Her nail dug in deeper than I expected.

“What exactly are you trying to do?”

“Cousin, what colour is your phone?”

“Ah? It’s white.”

“Then… then this one. I’ll make mine match Cousin’s.”

“…You really lack any sense of initiative, don’t you? Well, nevermind.”

I started to suggest that a light blue one might provide a better sense of cohesion, but I decided to just let her have her way. I grabbed a white mobile phone at random from the shelf. There was no need to even ask the clerk; I assumed this one possessed email and calling functions as well. Rubbing my nose where her nail had poked me, I handed the phone to Erio.

“Are you fine with this one?”

“Hmm.”

Erio received the phone with both palms, as if she were catching raindrops falling from the sky.

“By the way, Meme-chin’s phone is in its final days!”

Without me even noticing, the forty-year-old stood by my side, brandishing a banana-yellow mobile phone. It was adorned with a mountain of silver accessories and had two or three bells dangling from it, which made a loud, clattering noise whenever she shook it. It was as if the object itself were a symbol of Meme-san.

“Maybe I should get one just like Mako-kun and Eri-tan. You know, since Meme-tan is a pure, white butterfly, I’ve been thinking lately that maybe I should go with a pure style in white.”

“Rather than a vivid yellow, a yellow that looks sun-bleached suits you much better.”

When I said that, she pinched my cheek with a frustrated grunt. Then, she simply pulled me along as she began talking to the shop clerk.

“I’d like to sign a contract for this one!”

“Fugi!”

Erio remained indifferent to her cheek being pulled, and although she acted a bit suspiciously, she held up the white mobile phone. The shop clerk, who had been taken aback until then, widened her eyes even further at Erio’s proximity. Nevertheless, the clerk followed her to the customer service counter to fulfil her duties.

Watching Erio’s retreating back, Meme-san suddenly returned to a serious expression and spoke with deep emotion.

“Erio has reached the point where she needs her own phone, right?”

“…I suppose so.”

“Ahhh, this is truly the fruit of the love power between Mako-kun and me!”

“Gaaah! Ending Number 5 is attacking!”

I ran around to avoid her, only to be scolded severely by the clerk. I was scolded right along with Meme-san. It felt as though Erio was our guardian. Erio, for her part, silently filled out her name and other details on the contract.

Meme-san, acting as the guardian, finished entering her details on the contract, and once the paperwork was complete, we proceeded to purchase the mobile phone.

“I’ll put in Cousin’s number and Mom’s.”

“You’re doing that right here in the middle of the store? Well, fine, I guess.”

I dialled the number of the phone Erio had pulled out of the box and registered the contact for her.

“How should I register my name?”

“Cousin.”

“That’s pretty literal. What about Meme-san?”

“Mom.”

“You could even go with Meme-chin, or Meme-tan, or Mysterious Beauty; all choices are free, Erio!”

I ignored Meme-san, who was acting as deranged as usual, and pushed the excited Erio along as we left the mobile shop. Erio tapped away at her new phone, scrolling through screen after screen.

Once we stepped out onto the sidewalk, Erio ran excitedly toward the prep school across the street. There, she pulled out her mobile phone and began operating it with her index finger, as if she were handling a game controller.

I could guess exactly what she wanted to do, so Meme-san and I exchanged a glance and waited while smiling.

Having finished her clumsy manoeuvring, Erio held the brand-new phone to her ear. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement, and her eyes sparkled brightly as she gazed at us. The particles overflowing from her hair coated the pure white phone, ensuring that no matter what colour it had been, it would ultimately be dyed light blue.

“Oh.” It was my mobile phone that rang. “Where’s Meme-tan?” I thought, casually brushing off the thought that the next call would likely be hers as I glanced at the phone’s screen. The three characters for “Erio,” which I had only just registered, flickered to life, and the cheap electronic beep sounded almost like Erio’s own calling voice. Erio was waiting for me, intently.

I pressed the call button and answered. Erio’s voice vibrated against my eardrums in stereo, coming from both the phone and the space beyond it. Her high-pitched voice, which already possessed a somewhat electronic quality, bounced as if dancing across ice.

“’Hello, this is Towa Erio.’”

Reflecting on the various processes and choices that had led to this connection, I replied with a simple, “Oh.”

This time, the signal reached me clearly.

Now, the following day. It was Sunday, and it was just before noon, with the air tasting of what could only be described as early autumn.

“Did Ryuushi or something and the others manage to make it?”

“They haven’t come. I mean, go check for yourself.”

“Oh, how gracious.”

What was that even about? I felt exasperated by Erio, who was hiding behind my back and refused to even show her face. Well, though, I had to give her credit for not wrapping herself in a futon. It might have just been that she didn’t have a moment to reach for it, since Meme-san had been busy dressing her in all sorts of fancy clothes, saying this was nice and that was nice.

Because of that whole ordeal, Erio was dressed quite strangely today, looking all fluffy. Her hair was styled so elaborately that it looked like intricate pulled sugar, and in many different senses, she was drawing attention as a beautiful girl unlike any other around here. As for me, being stuck to her back, well, I was reasonably fashionable. Wouldn’t the synergy result in me being treated as a slightly handsome guy or something?

“The ones coming today are… Ryuushi or something, and something-or-other…”

“Maekawa-san.”

“Something-or-other Maekawa.”

“Maekawa is her surname, so putting ‘something-or-other’ before it is grammatically awkward.”

“Maekawa something-or-other.”

“Mm.”

To me, she was also Maekawa something-or-other. I wondered if the day would ever come when that “something-or-other” would be resolved.

“…Still, this feels somewhat nostalgic.”

The meeting spot Ryuushi-san had designated was near the station’s taxi stand. It was the same place we had used to meet on the day of my first date with Ryuushi-san. Back then, I knew hardly anything about this town.

Now, I knew just a little bit more than I did then.

“Ah, an email.”

Erio quickly raised her mobile phone. Since she never cared to carry anything like a bag, she had been clutching that phone since morning. I wondered if her hands ever slipped from the sweat, but she didn’t seem to care at all and refused to let go.

“It’s from Mom.”

“Well. Of course it is.”

“Because Meme-san and I were the only ones who knew her phone number.” Erio operated the device with clumsy hands and opened the message. I wasn’t particularly interested, but I took a peek anyway.

“Which angle of Meme-chin looks the most photogenic?”

Image data of Meme-san, taken from various angles one after another, was sent through. There were more photos than in the opening gravure spread of a certain manga magazine. Had she bought her daughter a cellphone just for this?

“Cousin, which version of Mom do you prefer?”

“Cousin, which version of Mom do you prefer?”

“Don’t ask for my opinion; it’s giving me a headache.”

Leaving Erio to earnestly compare the photos, I looked up at the building across the street. The sky was slightly overcast, preventing any direct sunlight from reaching us, and it looked like it would be a pleasant day in terms of the weather.

While I was doing that, I heard the sound of bicycle brakes screeching behind me. And then, a voice.

“Transfer students, you’re quite early.”

“The use of the plural is a bit strange…”

I looked back and was speechless. Erio stood there with her mouth half-open, looking dazed. It was obvious from that familiar voice that the person joining us was none other than Maekawa-san. However, her outfit was equally bizarre.

“Whoops, I don’t need chocolate for our little social gathering. I’m more of a Japanese sweets person myself.”

Maekawa-san joked, “Ha ha ha”, and her mascot costume for today was that of an extraterrestrial lifeform. Maekawa-san joked with a laugh, and her mascot costume for the day was that of an extraterrestrial lifeform. She was E.T…… So big. A Japanese E.T. And far too tall. Moreover, she wasn’t relying on young Eliott; she was actually pedalling the bicycle herself. Even the face inside her costume looked quite handsome.

“Since I heard Touwa was coming today, I decided on this particular theme.”

“Uh, yeah. Come on, Erio, say hello.”

Flustered, I acted like a guardian and presented Erio. Though she flinched visibly, she softly extended her index finger forward. Perhaps sensing the intent, Maekawa-san also extended her index finger. While passersby began to gather and stir with curiosity, the two of them attempted to touch the tips of their index fingers together.

No flash of light erupted, but their fingers met perfectly. Two E.T.s. Was there anyone whose cheeks were being wet with tears by this E.T.-style encounter? As if a ritual had concluded, their fingers parted, and Maekawa-san looked around the surroundings, saying, “Well then.” She seemed to be searching for a place to park her bicycle. Incidentally, as per our usual arrangement, Erio sat in the basket while I pedalled the bike… Division of labour?

“I’m going to go park my bike for a moment.”

E.T. made her breezy declaration. But instead of flying through the air, she simply pedalled the wheels normally and headed toward the bike parking area. Erio, who was supposed to have deepened our bond through our game of playing with index fingers, hid herself behind me even more thoroughly, using me as a shield.

“Does Maekawa or something always dress like that?”

“…Go ask her yourself.”

Ah, she was coming back. The sight of E.T. trotting back toward us was a precious moment to capture. Perhaps the part of her scalp that felt limp and heavy was too hot, because she had pulled her hood down like a hat, exposing her glossy black hair to the open air.

“Good morning, once again. Touwa, I think the last time we met was at the school festival, right?”

“I-I’m Niwa Makoto, representative of Earthlings. Nice to meet you.”

I felt humbled when E.T. greeted me. Erio also attempted a somewhat awkward greeting, trying too hard to act familiar with a forced “H-hey.” In response, Maekawa-san offered a smile as gentle as a clear stream in a small brook. If it weren’t for E.T.’s excessively long torso, the scene would have been quite picturesque.

Even so, Maekawa-san, who remained unfazed by such flaws, felt somehow nostalgic. It had been a while since I had seen her in cosplay lately. In my delusions, however, she had become the cutest polar bear in the world.

“You don’t need to be so formal. It looks like Ryuushi hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Well, Maekawa or something…”

Erio spoke to Maekawa-san as if summoning all her courage. From the shadow of my arm. Maekawa-san wasn’t the type of person to prey on others. Although she possessed an intimidating presence, she would undoubtedly lose in a simple fight.

“What is it?”

Maekawa-san knelt down to bring herself to Erio’s eye level. Erio held up her cellphone while cowering slightly, making low and hesitant noises. Maekawa-san squinted and glared, pushing her bangs aside and leaning in close before she was finally able to make out what it was. Was her eyesight poor?

“Oh, a cellphone. So you have one too, Touwa?”

“B-bought it yesterday. So, exchange numbers.”

“My number? Sure, let’s register it. Ah, that reminds me, I think yesterday was the first time, but I received an email from Ryuushi, and at first, I wondered who it was from.”

As she spoke, Maekawa-san operated her phone to call Erio’s number. In stark contrast, Erio faced the phone with a look of intense seriousness, focused on registering the number. It felt quite innocent, as if I were watching over a fledgling. I couldn’t take my eyes off them until the exchange was complete, and even after Maekawa-san said, “There, done,” my shoulders felt heavy. I scratched my neck, blushing, trying not to let it show that Erio’s tension had rubbed off on me.

A few minutes passed as the three of us gazed vacantly at the other side of the road when I noticed a familiar figure jogging toward us. She didn’t seem to be wearing a hat today, and her hair and bag, as well as the dreams of her upper body, were swaying. It was an ideal, breezy sight, gentle on both the Earth and high school boys.

“Ah, she’s here. It’s Ryuushi-san.”

Even at such a low volume, it felt as though someone might have eavesdropped and interjected, “Oh, is it?”

Perhaps fearing that her hair would be ruined by a helmet, as had happened once before, Ryuushi-san appeared, running there on her own two feet. This time, she had avoided getting caught at the traffic lights and had run at full speed.

As I watched, thinking that it was dangerous to cross even on a green light without checking both ways, she finished crossing the road safely and waved her hands vigorously. As if caught up in her momentum, Erio peeked out from behind my back and locked eyes with Ryuushi-san. I did not know what had sprouted between them in that moment, but they both called out to one another almost simultaneously.

“T-Touwa-saaan!”

“R-Ryuushiiii or something!”

Moving away from my back, Erio ran toward her with quick, light steps. Ah, it felt somewhat… like the loneliness one felt when a child grew too fond of someone else’s parents. Well, I didn’t really know what I meant by that. Both of them raised their arms meaninglessly and leaned their chests forward as they rushed toward each other. Then, they collided head-on.

“Boooom!”

“B-Boooom!”

Why did they tackle each other? The two of them continued to collide with heavy thuds, gradually making their way toward me. Erio was being pushed back, which meant Ryuushi-san was, well, the rest goes without saying. Even though she was a fruitarian. I suppose it is because fruitarians have a separate stomach for sweets. No, I didn’t intend any deep meaning.

“Whoa.”

Maekawa-san bent at the waist and suddenly peered into my face. Since she had an alien mask hanging down behind her head, it startled me on two counts. Alien Maekawa’s shoulders shook as she curled her lips into a teasing smirk.

“Are you lonely now that Touwa has left your side?”

“No, not really.”

Though it was a bit like a child leaving the nest. Well, I suppose it was fine. Probably. I wasn’t lonely, no.

Maekawa-san was grinning so mischievously that it made me feel uneasy. Then, her body began to sway like a willow leaf.

“Boom.”

For some reason, she collided with me. It was so sudden that I stumbled. Or rather, Maekawa-san did. No, wait.

“Transfer student, I thought I’d offer some comfort to you.”

“Do you see something in my face that’s asking for a sparring match?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, Maekawa-san just chuckled, “Fu fuuun”, as if she saw right through everything. Though she really didn’t.

“Whew, that was a good workout.”

After the “Boom” ended, Ryuushi-san approached us and made a gesture as if wiping her forehead. As for Erio, for some reason, she tackled me with a “B-Boooom.” I suspected that wasn’t exactly the appropriate way to behave, whether expressing affection or communicating. This girl just loved imitating others.

Perhaps it was because she was so innocent that she was easily influenced by others. It was quite troublesome as it made it difficult to feed her lies.

“Hi there, Niwa-kun.”

Ryuushi-san raised her hand, offering a greeting that sounded like she was imitating the protagonist of some famous manga (though specifically the anime version). I cheerfully raised my hand back with a “Hey!” and received her usual “Nihi” smile.

“Oh my, do I not get a greeting as well?”

The incredibly present E.T., standing beside me, pointed it out with a smirk. Perhaps having finally noticed her outfit, Ryuushi-san jumped up with a “Nuwa!” the moment she caught sight of her. It was an excellent display of shock, one that likely wouldn’t have been inferior to the impact of a first encounter with a real extraterrestrial lifeform. Perhaps because she was in the basketball club, her jumping power, too, was impeccable.

“Maekawa-san, you’re wearing an intense outfit again.”

“And you yourself, Ryuushi, seem to have chosen quite a cute outfit today.”

“I-I told ya, I’m Ryuuko! And it’s not true!”

Ryuushi-san lunged at the E.T. Maekawa. As I watched the two of them bickering, I felt a wave of relief, realising that the relationship which had been so beautifully severed in the future I had imagined was, in reality, still connected without any such animosity. As I watched the two of them bickering, I felt a wave of relief, realising that the relationship which had been so beautifully severed in the future I had imagined was, in reality, still connected without any such animosity.

“Besides, I-I’m no match for Touwa-san anyway.”

I glanced at Erio, who was draped in fluttering, frilly clothes. Erio sensitively caught my gaze and pressed herself against my back once again. While part of me thought she really needed to grow out of that habit, another part of me felt conflicted, unable to simply brush her off. Being a guardian was difficult; it was hard to decide how to feel.

“And, ugh, it’s… it’s the clothes Mum picked out for me.”

“If we let you choose, you’d only ever pick a futon, so we didn’t have much of a choice.”

I shrugged. A small doubt remained as to who on earth the clothes Meme-san had pulled out had belonged to, but since they looked good on her, it didn’t really matter. In fact, despite how flashy the clothes were, they seemed to settle into something quite modest whenever Erio’s particles drifted over her, as if shrinking away.

“You’re terrifying, you know.”

“W-what?”

I gently shook my head, telling her not to worry. Erio stared up at me for a moment, but eventually, she seemed to have decided to truly let it go. She peered out from behind my back and raised her right hand.

“Ryuushi or something, Ta-daaa!”

Erio thrust her mobile phone towards her, looking as though she were bursting with pride. Because she had over-polished the surface of the phone with a cloth last night, she ended up leaving it covered in scratches. It was certainly shiny, though.

“Oh, did you get a cell phone too, Touwa-san?”

“I bought one yesterday. So, let’s exchange numbers…”

“Hmm, mmm. I suppose that’s fine, right, Niwa-kun?”

“Eh, you’re putting me on the spot? Well, I guess so.”

I offered a half-hearted endorsement. With a subtle expression, a sort of “hmmm” that seemed to stem from an unknown cause, Ryuushi pulled out her phone and held it in front of Erio. There were even more straps on it than before.

“Pe, po, po.”

“Pi, pi, po.”

As the two of them operated the phone while creating a world of their own, I snapped a photo from the side and sent it to Meme-san. I had included a note saying that no reply was necessary, but I wondered how effective such a thing really was.

“There, done. I’ve registered your name as Touwa-san.”

“And I registered you as Ryuushi or something.”

“I told ya, I’m Ryuuko!”

I gently nudged the two of them as they playfully batted at each other, saying, “Alright, alright,” and the four of us began walking together in a group. Erio with friends of the same age walking outdoors alongside her. While Erio also clung to my side, she moved through the town without being wrapped in a futon.

While I occasionally wished that time would simply stand still, I was also struck by the realisation that we could never have reached this point if time had not flowed, and a thin line of conflicting emotion ran through me. Things rarely go as planned, don’t they? In the end, I suppose the only thing I could do was accept things as they were… For now, I decided to just enjoy the moment.

An easygoing person, standing just under 180 centimeters (self-proclaimed).

A wonderful classmate who dressed in a normally cute manner.

A cosmic girl who radiated a brilliance that could even overpower an outfit designed to emphasise nothing but cuteness.

And me, maintaining a horizon of exactly zero Youth Points.

It was an unusual combination. However, it was also a precious moment that we had earned after a long journey.

And so, I found myself accompanying the Youthful Girl on her day off this Sunday.

The footsteps of the four of us echoed, each with a unique rhythm. Among them, the most prominent was likely Erio, whose flip-flops made a rhythmic slapping sound. Her footwear was the one thing Meme-san hadn’t picked for her.

“Hey, Touwa-san, aren’t you going to go back to school or something?”

Along the way, Ryuushi-san suddenly asked that. She directed it at either Erio or me.

Erio immediately shook her head vigorously. Vertically. She then muttered, “I won’t.” As if to say, could someone who had already dropped out really just return to school so easily? When I looked up at Maekawa-san, she was tilting her head with a “Who knows?” expression. The part of her E.T. mask that hung loosely also tilted. It was surreal.

“Hmm, I see. Ah, I wasn’t asking with any deep meaning, really, no.”

Ryuushi-san waved her hands, emphasising that I shouldn’t worry about it. Erio tended to look down.

“By the way, where are we headed?”

As if sensing the atmosphere was on the verge of becoming awkward, Maekawa-san offered a lifeline. Her consideration was wonderful, but it was a secret that I felt like asking exactly where her mascot suit was headed.

“The karaoke box at that corner over there. Since Touwa-san is here, I thought karaoke would be fine.”

“Wh-why? Karaoke=me? Why?”

“Eh, you were singing, weren’t you? You sang live with Owari, didn’t you?”

It seemed she was still jealous about it. Erio used me as a shield in an attempt to escape that longing gaze. In response, Ryuushi-san circled around, trying to peer into Erio’s face. Erio tried to dodge that as well, and the two continued to circle each other further and further, and so on. They spun around in circles like dogs chasing their own tails.

“Mmm.”

“Mmmmm.”

After glaring at one another, the two began repeating movements like side-to-side lateral shuffles around me. It was impossible to remain at peace with people bouncing erratically all around my person. Or rather, it was far too difficult to walk.

“Help me, Maeemon!”

I tried to cling to E.T., who had taken a step back and was clearly enjoying the spectacle. E.T. Maekawa simply gave a blatantly insincere, “Ah ha ha ha,” and brushed my words aside. Shit, even though she was supposed to be my future bride (in my delusions).

“It’s fine that they are getting along so well. It seems their mental ages are quite similar, too.”

“Actually, we are all supposed to be around the same age…”

All of us here were. Yet, I couldn’t help but wonder why Maekawa-san was so much more composed than the rest of us. Though, I wondered if Maekawa-san wasn’t a bit too calm, since she could walk around outside in a mascot suit without a second thought.

Erio’s and Ryuushi-san’s jumping around continued until we finally reached our destination. By that time, I had grown used to it.

I grabbed the shy Erio by the scruff of her neck and led her into the karaoke box. The interior seemed to be themed for Halloween, as several pumpkin decorations were scattered around. There was also a dart set and a preserved apple that looked like something William Tell might have worn on his head. There didn’t seem to be any bow and arrow to shoot through it, though.

According to the staff, many customers had apparently been singing since the morning, and there were only two private rooms left.

“How many hours are you going to sing for?”

Having been appointed as the representative to deal with the staff, I turned around and asked my companions for their opinions.

“About three hours?” “Th-three-minute cooking!” “Chan-chaka-chaka-chaka…”

Since there was only one viable suggestion, I settled on three hours. I will leave it to your imagination as to who uttered which line. As we moved toward the room, I found myself counting on my fingers, wondering how many years it had been since I last went to karaoke.

“I prefer karaage to karaoke.”

Erio, who was clinging to me, muttered her complaint. I silently agreed, thinking, “Me too.”

As we climbed the stairs at the back and entered the reserved room, it was already lively. The hallway had been unusually boisterous and loud, but the inside was quite noisy as well. Although the light fixtures glowed without restraint, not a single ray of daylight reached the room; yet, not one of the athletic types present complained that being in such a place during the daytime was unhealthy. After all, the only sports-orientated person among us was the one who had requested this very room. Long live karaoke.

“Where are you going to sit, Niwa-kun?”

“Hmm, well, I’ll just sit somewhere here, I guess.”

I sat down on the left side of the two available sofas. Immediately, Erio sat down right next to me. Then, Ryuushi-san sat down beside me as well with a heavy “thump”. Maekawa-san, who was left behind, decided to sit “on the transfer student’s lap, in true E.T. fashion”, choosing a position that was quite a stretch. And yet, she actually settled in. I mean, even without a girl sitting on my legs, I was already surrounded by girls on both sides.

As a young man, or rather, as a high schooler, I didn’t have much confidence in my ability to restrain my physical reactions, no matter how much E.T.-like her outfit was! However, for the sake of my honour, I bit down on my molars and cheeks, trying my absolute best to endure.

“Whoa, she’s light, but the presence is intense. It feels like a small wall is resting on me.”

I muttered such casual observations aloud. In reality, something like a red lamp was spinning round and round inside my head. It created the illusion that I was just standing vacantly inside a dark tunnel at night.

“Nuu, Maekawa-san! As far as Ryuuko-san is concerned, this is beeep beeep!”

“What are you talking about? You were the one who chose that spot and sat down first, Ryuushi.”

“I told ya, I’m Ryuuko!”

They spent a good ten minutes engaged in such back-and-forth banter. After those ten minutes, I felt full, or, well, yeah.

I felt as though something slightly more profound than Youth Points had accumulated, I suppose.

In the end, Ryuushi-san and Maekawa-san sat on the sofa across from us, leaving Erio and me exactly where we were. Maekawa-san had persuaded Ryuushi-san with an argument that was somewhere between persuasion and sarcasm, saying, “Wouldn’t it be pitiful for Touwa if her guardian wasn’t sitting right next to her?” and that was how the seating arrangement was settled.

Sitting by the intercom, Ryuushi-san took our order, requesting drinks and some fried potatoes to serve as a substitute for lunch. Maybe the secret of the fruitarian to maintaining her physique lay in the moderate consumption of potatoes?

“Man, it still feels strange. Spending a day off with Touwa-san and all.”

Ryuushi-san, who had repositioned herself on the sofa, gave Erio a wry smile. Erio looked up at Ryuushi-san, her gaze fixed on her, while simultaneously looking down as if trying to read her expression. Her eyes were shining so brightly that Ryuushi-san actually recoiled.

“It’s something that would have been unimaginable just a little while ago, right?”

When Ryuushi-san sought agreement, Maekawa-san gave her usual cynical chuckle and said, “I suppose so. I guess we have the transfer student to thank for this, too.”

“…No. Wasn’t it because Erio sang on the stage during the school festival?”

I tried to praise Erio’s spontaneous action by giving her a little nudge. However, Erio naturally shook her head vigorously, saying, “No, no.” As she denied it exactly as expected, the three of us looked at one another and laughed.

Somehow, Erio had settled in quite well. With enough time, it certainly wouldn’t be impossible to expand that sense of belonging even further. Even if it was impossible for her to blend in completely.

“Well, let’s just settle on it being thanks to the Youth Points, then.”

“Youth Points?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

While I held a finger to Erio’s forehead to prevent her from pressing for more answers, the drinks and fried potatoes were delivered. We had ordered green tea in a pitcher (Maekawa-san had mentioned that oolong tea makes one’s throat dry because it strips away the oil, so it was no good for singing), and we poured it into our respective glasses. Then, for the time being, we held a toast.

“What are we toasting to?”

“Hmm, well, to Touwa-san, then.”

“I-I decline.”

I ignored Erio’s protest and unilaterally declared, “Cheers!” It was such a troublesome way to praise someone that it even made me burst into a “Wa ha ha” laugh. A toast to Erio.

Back in April I wouldn’t have believed it. With the Denpa Smakin by my side, I would have said, “There is no way this could be possible.” Including the fact that the following month, I would suffer my first broken bone and be hospitalised.

“Well, shall we start singing soon?”

The four of us entered the codes using the remote while picking at a large pile of fried potatoes.

“What are you going to sing, Touwa-san? Some Nijuo Owari?”

“A-a Mofu-mofu song.”

“There is no such thing as a mochi-mochi tree.”

“Ugh… the one I listened to with Cousin.”

That was all she had talked about since yesterday. As she found herself distressed, it was Maekawa-san she turned to, not me.

“Ah, in that case, shall we sing it together?”

“Hmm.”

“Ehh, then Ryuuko-san shall join you as well!”

“Since Maekawa-san is someone who can read the room, I shall participate too.”

One after another, people raised their hands until it turned into a chorus. “Fine, whatever, let’s just all sing together.”

There were many songs whose lyrics I didn’t know, but I decided to just bluff my way through with the rhythm.

“The first song is… Ah, the one I entered.”

An unfamiliar melody echoed through the room. Maekawa-san began preparing the microphones.

“Whoa, that’s a song I’ve never heard before.”

“It’s that Nijo Owari song, the one she was singing on stage. It’s called Tokaido Melos.”

I had missed that song at the concert because I was too busy following Eliott-san.

“I sang it while lip-syncing.”

Erio boasted, raising her hand. I nudged her with my elbow to shut her up and gripped the microphone, fuelled by the momentum of the moment and a sense of desperation. I had absolutely no confidence in my singing, but simply clapping along seemed just as boring.

The music paused for a moment, followed by a brief silence. Then, I felt Ryuushi-san take a deep breath. I glanced at the screen, realising that the lyrics were about to begin. Did Maekawa-san memorise the song? She looked off into the distance with a satisfied expression, her lips and cheeks relaxing into a slightly smug, goofy grin.

“…*Inhale* *Exhale*.”

“Stop breathing like that.”

While I was busy reprimanding Erio, the song began. Ryuushi-san started with a solo. Maekawa-san hurriedly joined in, revealing she couldn’t sing even if her life depended on it, and then Erio and I joined in.

Maekawa-san hurriedly joined in, revealing she couldn’t sing even if her life depended on it, and then Erio and I joined in.

… Well. As for the content, the quality was abysmal. The three of us, whose knowledge of the lyrics and pitch were all dubious, ended up dragging down Ryuushi-san, the only one who should have been able to sing properly, creating a clumsy, garbled echo.

Between Ryuushi-san’s distorted vocals and the chorus of the Distortion Crew, it could only be described as a complete disaster. It was nothing more than a loud, aimless wall of sound that felt like nails scratching against a chalkboard.

It seemed likely that for the next song, and the one after that, we would continue to fail to stay in sync, merely asserting our presence through undisciplined voices. From the very first song, everyone realized this.

Even so, we continued just as we were, clutching the microphones and straining our voices however we pleased.

To begin with, no matter how hard we tried, there was no way our paces would ever align. I wanted people to remember us who gathered. A 180 cm E.T. – a perfectly wonderful classmate. A girl that seemed to come from a water planet. And I, with no prospects of recovering my Youth Points. There was no way people like us could ever reach a consensus.

I didn’t think our bond was something that was meant to be maintained in that way. As long as Erio was around, being a group of ordinary, happy friends was nothing more than a pipe dream. Just like E.T. was never able to fully adapt to Earth.

In that sense, it was actually correct to call the existence known as Touwa Erio an “alien”.

If this town were to be compared to a miniature Earth. Then calling her a foreign, heterogeneous presence would not be a lie. I, too, had been an alien, a transfer student, even if only for a very brief period. Erio’s degree of “alienness” was simply too strong; it would surely be impossible for her to ever fully blend into this town.

Touwa Erio was an Earthling. However, from the perspective of the townspeople, she was also, inevitably, an “alien”.

Yet, there was no reason why Earthlings could not become friends with an alien.

I believed that this could be achieved through a completely new form of communication and a way of existing through emotions, something entirely different from the methods Earthlings used to deepen their own bonds. And I believed that this was my current choice. Regardless of the motive, the fact that I had dragged this futon-woman this far was the result of my process over the past six months.

I wondered what motive would drive me next, and what kind of present I would choose then.

“Aaaaaaaaah, I look forward to iiiit!”

I suddenly poured out my feelings, having nothing to do with the lyrics. Since I had shouted it without any preamble, hoping no one would understand, the fact that all three of them looked at me in equal shock was exactly what I had expected, and it made me feel incredibly uplifted.

Finally, around the sixth or seventh song, the track I had registered began to play.

The moment I desired was coming. I continued to choose the present, always believing in that fact.

It was after five in the evening when I parted ways with Ryuushi-san and Maekawa-san. The cloudy sky failed to clear until the very end, and night gradually began to bleed into the mouse-grey horizon. At least it didn’t rain, so I felt relieved.

“See you at school tomorrow!”

“See you at school tomorrow!”

“Don’t go stealing my lines!”

Perhaps it was because I had spent so much time laughing along with Maekawa-san and the others as they exchanged those kinds of greetings, but my cheek felt a little sore. It wasn’t as if my life was filled with nothing but boisterous laughter. If anything, at the Touwa household, I was usually the one doing the pointing and teasing.

…I see. So the reason Meme-san’s cheeks were always so soft was because she was constantly laughing her head off.

What a happy person, I thought, my sentiment carrying a double meaning.

“Mmm fuuufuuufuuu, mmm, fuuufuuufuuufuuu. Fuuufuuufuuufuuu, fuuufuuu, fuuufuuufuuu.”

Erio, who was perched comfortably in her basket, was in high spirits, and her humming was just as energetic. Even after we moved away from the station area and toward the residential district, her solo performance continued. Devoided of the usual mofu-mofu from her futon, her voice sounded electronic.

Should we have dinner too? A discussion came up regarding whether we should grab dinner, but since Meme-san had sent an email saying, “Tonight will be chicken or something,” it appeared Erio decided to head home. Following that momentum, we naturally went our separate ways.

“Did you have fun?”

“Yeah!”

She nodded vigorously. Then, for some reason, her expression turned startled, and she looked away, pouting her lips.

“Well, it was ok-ish.”

There seemed to be absolutely no need to correct it, though. I wondered why children were so unable to live so simply. Light blue particles drifted through the air like spores on the wind, dancing across the road in the wake of my bicycle. The evening sky was overcast, imbued with a sense of fantasy. Within that setting, her pale right hand and her mobile phone possessed an aura that felt as if they might even pick up signals from some special, alternative world. Yes, for example, something like a multiverse, or perhaps the future.

“My phone feels so much heavier now that Ryuushi or something’s and Maekawa or something’s numbers are in there.”

“It’s not like they actually have mass… Well, I suppose that works as a metaphor.”

I pressed down on the pedals, accelerating my journey home just a little. The sound of the two wheels spinning resonated with the chirping of the insects. Clank-clank-clank, in resonance, like gears meshing together. The blowing wind felt damp, as if heavy with moisture, leaving a chill between my clothes and my skin. It felt as though I were puffing on the air to cool the lingering heat left behind by summer. It was already autumn.

“We, are, heading, home, now. Ah, we, are, on, our, way, home. Ah, we, will, arrive, soon.”

Erio tapped away, sending emails addressed to Meme-san. There was no need to provide a live play-by-play just because her location was constantly changing. Looking at her hair, which was beginning to lose its volume, I thought that radio waves might actually be broadcasting from her very fingertips, and I felt a sense of mystery in the colours that resembled the underside of Antarctic ice.

“And after that, Ryuushi or something, please… get… home… safely…”

“I don’t want to hear that from someone sitting in a bicycle basket.”

And I told you to wear a helmet was the kind of reply I could imagine.

While the sense of accomplishment felt strange, I arrived at the Touwa residence, sharing a certain tangible feeling with Erio. I slowed down as we entered the grounds, and after the wheels ran over the garden grass that had begun to grow long again, I brought the bicycle to a stop in front of the barn. Then, a curtain of colour, slightly redder than orange, draped over our shoulders.

That curtain was the radiance of another star, which had visited us about eight minutes ago.

“Ooh.”

Perhaps drawn by the setting sun that was rapidly dyeing her mobile phone, Erio was the first to let out a cry of wonder.

Through a gap in the thin clouds, a coppery hue surged across the sky. It spread with a vivid intensity, as if droplets of flame had spilt onto a sheet of drawing paper. The light radiating from it was deep red, yet it felt somehow cold.

“The day is ending. A wonderful day is ending.”

Erio murmured those words. Bathed directly in the brilliance of the setting sun, her form blended with the light blue hues, making her look as if a tiny Earth were floating upon the surface of Mars. The particles of light dissolved into one another slowly.

It was a world of light that evoked an image of Erio standing at the very centre of a dying star.

Woosh. A sensation like tinnitus enveloped my ears. It felt like the sound of the wind coming to a standstill.

I reached my hand out toward the landscape where that encounter with another world was taking place. Then, with incredible ease, the light burst and accepted my hand. I placed my hand upon Erio’s head. Because her hair was so heavily adorned, it was difficult to stroke.

“Tomorrow will have its own joys.”

“Hmm.”

Was I trying to persuade her or comfort her? I didn’t know myself, but I spoke those words nonetheless. Erio nodded with a smile, spread both her arms out horizontally, and ran toward the entrance with a “Wheee!” Of course, her footsteps went tap-tap-tap.

I watched her go, and then, with the sunset glaring beneath my eyes, I pushed my bicycle. After putting the bike away in the back and stepping out of the shed, the sun had already vanished. There was no light, and a heavy sky enveloped me.

I had seen skies like this many times before. Because I had seen them, I would face tomorrow once again today.

There were no infinite possibilities. It was nothing more than a one-way street. Even so, we “choose” our path, moment by moment, day by day.

I interpreted the accumulation of subdivided choices as the very act of living.

When the peak of those accumulated choices finally broke through to the surface. Just like Erio did today.

I wondered if she would think, “I am glad I am alive.”

“Mako-kun-kun, hurry, hurry!”

Peering through the living room window, Meme-san beckoned to me, calling me by that unwanted nickname.

“How did you even know…? Fine, fine, I’m coming!”

And so, our holiday drew to an end.

And following the holiday, of course, the time came to fulfil our respective duties.

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