Shiinamachi-senpai's Safe Day:Volume 1 Chapter 1 A-Part

Chapter 1 A-Part - Thanatos and Immortal

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My name is Sakuradamon Jirou. Height 178cm. Weight 68kg. Normal vision in both eyes.

I'm currently studying at Oukayama Prefectural High, Year 2 Class A, volunteering as one of the library monitors. Due to family reasons, my younger sister and I have moved into this town, only transferring into this high school back in April this year. Our father does not live with us while our mother has gone missing although she did leave behind a huge sum of money, so living expenses are not a concern. Our paternal grandfather is our legal guardian. He is a great guy who puts his heart into taking care of us and currently lives together with grandmother in the neighborhood.

Someone like me was about to enter a new stage of life today, to become an adult.

My sister seemed a bit concerned, probably because she noticed that I had bathed and cleansed myself more thoroughly than usual. However, when I told her that I had specially prepared a hip bath for myself to focus my mind, she believed me. I always felt especially grateful for having such understanding family at times like these.

My sister placed a lot of trust in me. Even after hearing that I was going out late at night, she only said "take extra care" to me and did not particularly pry into the matter.

Finally, it was time for the main event.

"I feel like I really should make a stop at a convenience store..."

While thinking I must go to the convenience store to buy a certain something, I felt a little hesitant at the same time.

That's right.

As a man who's not clueless, of course I can't forget to buy that thing.

But then again, wouldn't it make my desires too overt if I deliberately prepared that kind of thing in advance? No no no, it'd be even more wrong to expect the girl to make prior preparations in this area.

I didn't really have much of an idea about how to handle these kinds of situations.

And it's not like I could ask my sister for help on this kind of matter even though she's very good at research.

"I'm going out later for a first experience of a lifetime. Could you tell me about the requisite etiquette when confronting that kind of situation?"

How could I possibly dare ask my own little sister something like that?

Saying those words to her would feel like demanding my own sister to be my partner, forcing her to accompany me in carrying out the entire process. That would be totally bad. She's my own sister after all and there's no way I can assert that everything's fine as long as there's love.

Noticing that my thoughts were a total chaotic mess, I decided to take a deep breath.

The summer air was very stuffy so I was still unable to cool down my mind even after the deep breath.

I guess I really must visit a convenience store with powerful air conditioning.

Deciding that, I went for a convenience store that was a fair distance from my home and the school, quickening my pace.

"Oh it's you, Monjirou-kun?"

The more it's like this kind of situation, the more likely to run into someone you don't want to meet... Could this be some kind of law of nature?

As soon as I stepped into the convenience store, someone immediately greeted me. As soon as I discovered that she was a very familiar friend, I immediately turned around from surprise and wanted to leave the store.

"Eh, why are you leaving now!?"

"Uh... It's because I never expected to run into you here, Fujisato..."

"Turning around to leave as soon as you saw me, isn't that way too mean of you?"

Fujisato sounded like she was chastising me but it was probably just a joke because there was a very friendly smile on her face.

She was Fujisato Yuika, the class representative of Year 2 Class A. When I first transferred into this high school, she helped looked after me in various ways. A girl who liked helping others. Back then, because I received her help on everything no matter how great or small, I guess we can be considered fairly close friends. Sometimes, I even feel a bit ashamed, too indebted to her.

"Oh by the way, this nickname of 'Monjirou' has already spread in school, right? But my real name is Jirou..."

"Hmm? But don't the girls in the class all call you that? They say that 'Monjirou' sounds cute!"

"--If this nickname really has a good reputation, I guess I'd better not correct it."

"Of course, you don't need to correct it!"

Actually, I can't really accept this nickname that my close friend made for me, but since everyone already thinks of it as a pet name, I guess I've no choice but to quietly accept it.

"Fufu. I can give you a slight discount, so feel free to buy anything you like!"

"That's great. But is it really okay for you to be working part-time jobs this late at night?"

Looking at the clock, it was already after 11pm. Naturally, this was not a time when high school girls should be staying out, working night shifts.

"Yes! This store belongs to my uncle so it's totally okay for me to help out here!"

While Fujisato was smiling radiantly, I could almost hear a "shining☆" sound effect pop out beside her at the same time.

Fujisato was releasing a friendly, cute and adorable aura from all over her body, compelling one to accept her no matter what she was doing. I think even bigshots like the state or the police would choose to forgive her, thinking "how truly admirable for this little lady to willingly help out at her uncle's store."

"Oh, welcome. Sorry for making you wait."

Seeing the crowd of customers lining up at the checkout counter, Fujisato hurried back to the cash register in a patter of footsteps.

The image of her straight, soft hair from the back was truly a deeply memorable sight.

As an additional note, the boys in school had privately come up with a school beauties ranking. Fujisato ended up as the champion of that ranking. Of course, her face was one of the key factors for the victory, but more importantly, it was because her performance was mediocre in everything, whether academics, sports or cooking. Compared to perfect beauties who seemed to do everything flawlessly with natural ease, Fujisato's imperfection was apparently the secret to her superior popularity.

For her to be my savior, friend and the school's top-ranked beauty... If I were to buy so-called sex-related goods at the convenience store where she worked, wouldn't that constitute sexual harassment?

It felt like Fujisato would surely blush bright red if she saw that... From a personal standpoint, I'd really love to see that scene, but if rumors of that sort started spreading in school, I'd surely get stuck with a "Sakuradamon = Pervert" label and viciously scorned by the girls. Furthermore, the boys would also direct hostile gazes at me. I would surely end up as everyone's enemy in the end.

Fine, I give up. Don't buy that here.

Knowing the appropriate timing to give up was the most important thing in life. However, it would be difficult to survive in the modern world with its explosive abundance of information if one were to give up too soon without planning one's next move first. As soon as I thought of that, I decided to change my objective in this convenience store to buying a souvenir for Shiinamachi-senpai.

"Should I buy chocolate...?"

Or maybe something like bread with sweet flavors, perhaps? I cursed myself for almost never touching junk food normally, so I had absolutely no idea what girls enjoyed eating.

"Hmm? Are you here on an errand for your sister?"

Just as I heard a voice, Fujisato's face suddenly appeared right next to me.

She was leaning very very close. Her white and tender face was so near that I felt an urge to plant a kiss on her naturally.

"Yeah, p-pretty much."

While trying hard to conceal the shaken emotions in my heart, I nodded at Fujisato.

"Really? I can't believe you deliberately ran all the way to a convenience store that's so far from your house, Monjirou, could it be that you're actually super shy?"

She kept giggling lightly. There was also a fragrance drifting from her body. I felt like I was about to lose my ability to think. No good no good, hold on, Sakuradamon Jirou. How could you get seduced by your friend's beauty at this kind of place? There's a much greater objective at hand, waiting for you to accomplish.

"Basically... I don't know what girls like to eat, you know?"

In that case, I should ask Fujisato who's good at taking care of others. If I buy something for my sister along the way back home, then it wouldn't count as lying to Fujisato.

Hiding the truth while using my friend's benevolence... It's hard to avoid accumulating guilt throughout living one's life.

"Lemme see, most girls like sweet food... Oh! Here's a brand of high-class pudding that's sold exclusively at this convenience store. How about buying this pudding?"

I see, high-class pudding? It's quite appropriate as a souvenir for sure.

"Then I'll have two."

"Yes, yes, that pudding is really tasty. That's why I recommended it to you!"

Did she really recommend the buy to me after tasting the pudding personally? Perhaps it was just an unobtrusive sales technique? As one would expect, that's my Fujisato, her skills as a member of sales staff were quite good.

"Do you need anything else?"

"No, I'm okay now. Thank you."

"Not at all."

I might run out of time if I wasted too much time here.

"So... Can you come over here so that I can ring up the total?"

The unexpected occurrence had messed up my original plan but I'll just treat all this as a nice chance encounter.

By the way, what I originally planned to buy was successfully bought at another convenience store afterwards.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Examples of "bad timings" existed all over the world.

The more important a date scheduled for the night, the more likely you're going to run into people you normally don't encounter.

"Oh it's you, Monjirou-senpai."

A familiar figure was walking towards me, coming from school. She was petite and also seemed to be carrying a long slender bag. I soon noticed that she was someone I knew.

"Kuhou?"

"Yes, that's right. Good evening. I didn't expect to meet you here by chance, Senpai."

Our current location was a slope leading to the school building. In other words, unless her destination had also been school, there was no reason for her to appear on this path. Also, she was a junior in the library monitors as well as being the promising newcomer in the kendo club who was attracting a lot of attention.

I couldn't help but push my glasses up, checking out her attire again, which consisted of the school uniform.

Her name was Kuhou Nagi. Even more petite in stature than Shiinamachi-senpai, her build also matched her height quite well, being small and slender. Her straight posture and solemn gaze hinted at her identity as a maiden with a warrior's aura. There was a special air about her like that of a master, showing absolutely no "openings." Even in the middle of conversation like now, if something really were to happen, it feels like she would surely be able to react instantly.

"Senpai, what's the matter? Why are you staring at me all this time?"

"I was just thinking... Why are you still at school this late?"

Checking the time on my smartphone, I discovered that it was already after 11:30pm. No matter what kind of special reason, a girl really shouldn't be staying in school at this kind of hour.

"True. You're coming to school at this kind of hour too. From your perspective, Senpai, I really must be quite odd."

We were thinking the same thing. If the current time was after school or early dawn, of course there was nothing out of the ordinary. But midnight was fast approaching and to think we'd encounter each other here by chance, it would be far too unreasonable.

Nevertheless, I still told the full truth directly here.

"Actually, it was Shiinamachi-senpai who asked me to make a trip to the school."

"Oh I see, then that's understandable."

She nodded very readily, prompting me to relax slightly. Yeah, I guess this explanation does have reasonable parts to it, enough to make her understand and accept...

"I just finished sword practice and I'm heading for home. Can't be helped, I really don't have too much time for training kendo alone."

I've heard that Kuhou was quite accomplished in kendo. Not only that but her kendo skills were even stronger than the teacher instructing the club, so strong that she could instruct other club members. Also because of that, she had been troubling over the lack of time to train on her own.

"I simply trained in kendo on my own then took a leisurely shower afterwards. This ends up at this hour every day after training, which is why I'm still at school so late. I guess it really would be dangerous if I weren't a martial artist girl."

She remarked, poking fun at herself, then smiled cheerfully. It's true, I could smell the faint fragrance emanating from her body after a bath. Oh dear, a girl's... bodily scent, and from a underclassman at that, I'd better not smell it too thoroughly or else I'd become a total pervert.

"Yeah, but I don't think ordinary bad guys can defeat you when you're carrying a bamboo sword."

"Haha. Please, Senpai, spare me the 'bad guys aren't going to attack a girl with such poor looks as yours' comments."

"No no no, nothing of that sort. You're very prim, proper and pretty!"

"Thank you. It's a bit embarrassing to hear that from you face to face, Senpai. I'll take it as a compliment since it'll make me feel happier that way."

Her petite and slender body was giving off an unbelievable aura of wisdom, for even her reply was so mature and understanding. I couldn't help but feel impressed, this was surely the aura belonging to a master indeed.

"Oh dear, having delayed you for so long, Senpai, I feel sorry for Shiinamachi-senpai. Please send my regards to Shiinamachi-senpai."

"Yes, I got it. You take care too, Kuhou. Don't get careless just because your skills are amazing."

"Thank you for worrying so much about me, Senpai, it makes me very happy."

She waved quickly and headed down the slope. I couldn't help but feel a bit jealous of her unwavering pace, completely free of hesitation.

Nowhere like me, almost a nervous wreck just from summoning all my courage to buy the things that's currently sitting inside my bag.

I decided I really needed to learn from Kuhou's calm manner of handling things.

While thinking that, I made my way towards the school building where the clock tower could be seen.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Naturally, the school was fitted with a security system to prevent unauthorized people from invading the school grounds in the middle of the night.

As soon as anyone opens a window carelessly, the security system would contact the security company immediately, bringing security staff on scene to the school as soon as possible.

However, like all things in life, there was always a way around it.

Our school possessed this modern building known as the Library Clock Tower and was situated on a slight hill. Hence, even as just a prefectural high school, it was also a well-known tourist attraction in the area. Furthermore, that particular tower was located some slight distance from the school building itself.

At the back of the school's outskirts was a mixed forest where there was a back door not far away from the Library Clock Tower, with only a small gate in the metal fencing. Climbing over that gate was pretty simple would not trigger the alarm.

I've heard that the tower's construction could be traced back to Japan's Meiji period when the school was founded. To prevent the clock tower's collapse, later generations had reinforced it, of course, but apparently they did not modernize too much in terms of security systems.

Oh well, the only place one could sneak into through this back door was just the clock tower, that's all. The building's front entrance--the library entrance--was shut at this hour, of course. The alarm would surely activate if I opened that door.

On the other hand, the entrance to the clock tower had nothing more than a lock.

Inside the clock tower was the office used by the library monitors. In other words, even if bad guys like thieves broke it, all they could steal would be damaged books that were waiting to be repaired.

Inside this clock tower, apart from the library monitors' office, there was another room, the so-called Clock Tower Management Room.

That was where Shiinamachi-senpai usually lived.

Only a very small number of library monitors knew of this fact. As for why Senpai would live in this ordinary prefectural high school's clock tower, I had no idea at all.

On certain special occasions, Senpai would invite library monitors to spend the night at the clock tower. This had already become something of a library monitor tradition. I once participated in one of these stayovers with some other library monitors before, but because all the other monitors were girls, the atmosphere was totally embarrassing, hence I never joined in again after that.

But this time, it was just me alone.

Also, I can't believe that Senpai's reason for inviting me was because "today is a safe day."

As an average high school boy at the peak of puberty, how could I not blush and get excited after hearing this kind of reason?

"Hmm, ahem..."

However, it was common for Shiinamachi-senpai to act a little airheaded.

It was very possible that she had mistaken the term "safe day" for something else, totally misusing the words.

That pounding feeling in the heart, special to teenagers, would frequently fail to escape the fate of disillusionment. As a result, I shouldn't get my hopes up too much. No matter what Senpai's true request turns out to be, I will do my best to fulfill it, I absolutely won't disappoint Senpai.

While telling myself that, I went over the metal fencing and soon arrived at the clock tower's entrance

It was a heavy door made of steel.

On the left side was a slightly large keyhole.

Taking out the key possessed only by certain library monitors--in other words, the students who had received keys from the supervising teacher or Shiinamachi-senpai--and inserting it into the keyhole, I heard the click of unlocking.

All this seemed almost like the act of unsealing something important, but in a certain sense, there was indeed a lovely endearing girl living inside, Shiinamachi-senpai, hence it was perhaps necessary to be guarded to such an extent.

"Thanks for having me."

After opening the door, I called out into the interior, then closed and locked the door behind me.

Before my eyes was a spacious room, illuminated hazily by faint lighting. The walls were packed with a ton of bookshelves. In the center of the room was a large table for meetings with magazines, light novels, stationery and other personal belongings scattered all over it. Apart from that, on the left and right of the table were a number of objects including even a fridge, a gas stove and an electric fan. There was also a curtain over the window.

Then there was a giant clock face leaning against the wall on the far end of the room, almost human height. This faceplate apparently belonged to the clock used for the clock tower in the past, but because it became too old, it was later replaced by a newer faceplate and the old one was dumped into this room.

In any case, this was the Library Monitors' Office. We monitors would normally gather here to sort out books, check library cards, confirm if there were any overdue books, and on occasion, hold tea parties here too. This was originally a storeroom with substantial space and people say that it was through the diligent efforts of many generations of former library monitors that this place was cleaned up to become the secret room of the library monitors.

However, this clock tower's clock was only for decorative purposes nowadays. The hands had stopped turning a long time ago.

I had no idea when the large clock had stopped, but if the clock's gears were to turn all day and all night, I'm sure it would make a lot of noise and affect Shiinamachi-senpai's sleep, so I think it's a great thing that the clock no longer moved.

On the side of the room was a wooden staircase, spiralling up along the walls in a square shape. After climbing roughly the height of three floors, one would reach a door.

Behind that door was Shiinamachi-senpai's room.

With every step on the wooden staircase, a slight creaking sound could be heard underfoot. Although I didn't think the wooden boards would come loose, I still gripped the hand rails tightly, making my way up step by step, surely and steadily.

Senpai relied on this staircase to go up and down several times a day. Doing this persistently, I'm certain it would make for an excellent workout for the legs and waist, right? Was her voluptuous figure, slender in all the right places, sculpted from this sort of daily lifestyle? I couldn't help but imagine these things.

While I was immersed in these thoughts, I had already climbed beyond two floors, reaching the third.

Clock Tower Management Room.

Those were the mottled words on the metal plate over the door.

Unlike the door at the entrance, this was a wooden door, giving an old feeling.

Knock knock.

"Shiinamachi-senpai, this is Sakuradamon. I'm here to visit you."

I knocked concretely on the door. While waiting for Shiinamachi-senpai to answer the door, I took the opportunity to check the time.

The smartphone in my hand currently displayed the time of 11:55pm. In terms of timing, it was perfect.

Like that, I silently waited for Senpai to answer.

...However, a long time passed and still Senpai did not answer.

Perhaps Senpai had slept already, I couldn't help but wonder in my heart.

If that were the case, wouldn't it be better if I made a phone call? But that would disturb Senpai's sleep which I was loathe to do. No wait, it was Senpai who invited me here after all, shouldn't I wake her up?

While hesitating, I reached out and grabbed the door handle.

The wooden door instantly slid open quietly without a sound.

"The door's open?"

This was an excellent chance for me to peek at Shiinamachi-senpai's sleeping face... I hastily banished this delusion that had suddenly surfaced in my mind.

"Senpai, it's me, Sakuradamon. I'm here to visit you."

I raised my voice slightly but still, Senpai did not answer.

Maybe she was currently in deep sleep? If that were really the case, then I should go home for now instead.

--Just at this moment...

I sensed a heavy atmosphere inside the room... It filled my heart with an inexplicable sense of agitation.

Was this what people called "a sense of foreboding"?

"...Pardon my intrusion."

To dispel this sense of foreboding, I resolutely and decisively stepped into Senpai's room. This was perhaps a bit ungentlemanly of me, but I decided to blame the voice that was locked away deep in the depths of my heart.

"Senpai?"

I pushed the wooden door open and examined the room's interior. There was a choking smell coming from inside.

--A concentrated smell of fresh blood rushed into my nasal cavity.

Immediately, I couldn't help but doubt the scene that entered my eyes.

Shiinamachi-senpai was lying on the floor in the dead center of the room, all covered in blood.

"Senpai!?"

I frantically rushed over to Senpai's side.

The amount of blood loss was extraordinary. With Senpai in the center, a small pool of blood had formed over an entire patch of the wooden floor. Dressed in her school uniform, Senpai was lying face up on the floor, looking as though asleep.

Then as much as I didn't want to witness it, I still saw it inadvertently... There was a bright red trail left behind in front of her chest.

That should be where the wound was located. I saw a wound that seemed to have penetrated both her uniform and her body. The blood was flowing out from Senpai's back, so it looked like the wound had skewered Senpai in one blow, coming out her back.

Unbelievably, a wound piercing the center of the chest and exiting the back.

An ordinary person would definitely die beyond a doubt in t his kind of situation.

In other words, Senpai was already...

"..."

Completely unbelievable. Back when I met Senpai in the daytime, she was still smiling at me so radiantly.

However, Senpai will never say another word again. Her eyes will not open again. No longer will she... No longer will she smile at me again.

The moonlight shone on Senpai's body while silence hung in the air, almost hurting one's ears. I couldn't hear any other sound at all apart from my own heart beat. No matter how hard I tried to listen, I couldn't hear Senpai's breathing. The pulsation of the heart beating was no longer occurring in her chest. It looked like her heart had already stopped beating, most likely...

Judging from the way things looked, in other words, she really was totally...

"Senpai, Senpai!"

I refused to believe the truth before my eyes and picked up her slender body in my arms, calling out loudly nonstop at her pallid face.

"Senpai..."

I understood.

This wound had surely taken her life on the spot.

In the center of Senpai's chest was a very very deep and red wound. There were no other wounds on her body, so most likely, she was pierced in one breath without even a chance to resist at the time. In that case, that blade was surely driven without any hesitation at all, a move undertaken completely with the intent to kill.

"How could something like this happen..."

During the daytime, Senpai even told me today was a "safe day." She clearly said that to me.

If there was no safety even for Senpai's life, then what meaning was there to everything?

"..."

All along, the Senpai I admired had treated me very well. Who could have expected that I would witness with my very own eyes Senpai's death in this manner?

Her face looked very peaceful after her death. Perhaps this was the only thing that felt consoling.

If Senpai had died with her eyes wide open in fear, or if there were tears remaining in the corners of her eyes, I might feel even more angry and sad.

"Senpai, sorry, I should have come earlier."

If only I hadn't made detours to the convenience stores, if only I didn't chat with Kuhou earlier... In that case, perhaps I would've made it in time. However--

"...People always regret only after things have happened, don't they...?"

In order to calm myself down, I pushed my vanity glasses.

That's right, I don't want to leave Senpai like this.

Judging from the situation, I guess... I should call the police first.

With that, an ambulance would probably come together as well.

Although I knew that it was too late for her to be revived, at least I hoped for a chance to accompany Senpai along the way to the hospital at least.

Just as these thoughts crossed my mind...

Thud.

I suddenly heard a certain sound behind me.

It was like someone stepping on the floor.

Soon, that sound approached my back.

I was just about to turn my head and check if someone was there--

Just in that very instant.

Throb.

My heart made an intense sound of beating.

At the same time, an intense feeling of heat and pain was felt from my back, entering the center of my body, reaching straight to my chest.

I looked in front of my chest in trepidation and discovered the tip of a sword, covered in fresh blood.

This move, this method of wielding a sword...

Undoubtedly, this was how you took a life by stabbing the heart directly from the back.

In other words, at this very moment--

Someone had killed me with a sword from behind.

While I became aware of this fact, the view in front of me had turned all blurry.

I was still feeling intense pain earlier but now even my senses were fast disappearing.

My body felt exceptionally cold.

In a certain corner of my mind, I couldn't help but gradually understand that this coldness was the feeling caused by massive blood loss.

--Never did I expect that someone like me would be able to die together with the Shiinamachi-senpai whom I admired.

Or perhaps, this could be considered a type of ending for one's life.

I couldn't help but think that.

Hence, on the verge of death, the last words I spoke were...

"Thank you... for killing me as well after killing Shiinamachi-senpai--"

To think I'd thank the murderer out loud, even I thought that there was something wrong with my brain.

But at that moment, I no longer had the strength to make a self-deprecating smile. My entire body collapsed powerlessly on top of Shiinamachi-senpai.

--I, Sakuradamon Jirou, thus met the end of my seventeen-year-old life.

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