I didn't include this in the previous chapter, but Kagami ended our shared silence and went to harass Olympia.
In other words, she headed to the bathroom to "powder her nose."
Who will be my next victim—I mean partner in banter be now?
Just kidding.
I already know the answer to that question.
I call out her name, "Kumiko! Kumiko! Let's talk!"
But no response. And now that I notice, I can't seem to find her. I look out at the sea, and she's nowhere to be found.
Where could she have gone?
I don't know why, but I feel bad about this.
I can feel that my heart rate has risen. It feels like my heart is going to explode.
Why am I feeling this way?
Is it that I'm afraid of being alone?
No—If that were the case, I'd have felt this sense of panic for most of my life.
But that isn't the case.
Why do I feel this all of a sudden?
Is it because I've finally grown accustomed to being with people?
As if.
I haven't become that comfortable to the point that I begin to panic when others aren't around me for such a short time.
No—
This feeling of unease is due to—
I get off my ass as fast as possible. I look around as far as I can see and notice no one.
No one?
Weren't there other people here when we arrived?
Wait… Were there?
Now that I think about it, I can't remember whether there were or not.
I was so focused on those three that I didn't pay much attention to my surroundings.
Maybe there was no one here to begin with.
Or maybe there were.
And just like Kumiko, they all got kidnapped by aliens, never to be seen again.
Maybe they all heard my conversation with Kagami and ran as fast as they could away from the freaks who banter about the sky.
No—
That's not it.
Why am I having such delusions? Am I normally like this?
Why am I wasting my time?
I know where to look, but I'm standing here making up scenarios to avoid taking those steps to where I need to go, to where they are.
But…
I'm afraid.
Afraid of what I might see if I go to where they are.
Can't I just go on, wasting all of our time making up scenarios about where everyone can be?
Can't I please run away?
Please don't make me take those steps.
I can stay here forever, can't I?
I have a source of water right in front of me. All I need to do is boil the water to separate the salt and the water vapor, capture the water vapor, of course, and then wait for the water vapor to condense so I can finally have drinkable water.
I should be able to catch a few marine life that I can feast on. And I can even use the salt from before to season my food!
Perfect!
…
Why are my legs moving? Why is my face facing toward the restroom? Why am I heading toward the restroom?
I don't want to do this.
Please—
Don't make me do this.
I'll be known as a pervert (although some already think so)!
The distance between the restroom and me grows smaller and smaller.
To the point, I'm standing right in front of the entrance to the women's restroom.
My arm stretches out.
My hand pushes the entrance door open.
I step inside. Now my name as the most chivalrous person in the world has been ruined.
As if that ever was my name…
And inside—
There's nothing.
Nothing?
I mean, there's no sign of life.
Olympia and Kagami are inside the women's restroom alongside me, but I'm the only one who's inside.
I'm the only one who's alive in the women's restroom.
Gross.
Someone threw up on my shoes. Readers, please have some sense of decency, unlike this serial puker.
The only thing I can think to do—
The only thing I want to do—
Is run away as fast as I possibly can. But my legs aren't working.
Earlier, I didn't want them to move, and now, when I desperately want them to, they go on break.
What luck.
What could have happened in this restroom for such a scene to occur?
Oh, I get it!
Olympia and Kagami must have cut their foot on a sharp object while walking here.
Maybe it was a rock?
Hopefully, it wasn't a shard of glass.
I hope people aren't so awful that they'd go out of their way to litter. A kid could have cut themself.
Standing where I am, unable to move my legs, I stretch my arm out to Olympia—or what was once Olympia.
I want to hold her hand.
I want to be with her wherever she is now.
I wish this scene could just disappear.
Kagami, even if you can't get up, can you please grant my wish once more?
I'm begging you.
Please?
Then, all of a sudden—
I feel a warmth in my chest.
And suddenly I feel an intense coldness.
Kagami, have you granted my wish?
Will I be able to see you again?
Can I have idle banter with you once more?
Will I be able to see Olympia again?
Will I be able to take a step forward and finally know what it's like to feel the warmth of others?
God—
If you're hearing me—
Give me another chance to see the people I hold dear again.
I know I don't deserve to.
But please—
Can I continue to live selfishly?
Don't I deserve to be happy, too?
As I fade away, I begin to reminisce about the fun times I've spent these last few days.
These days that I'll never experience again.
Whether I'm alive or dead.
Thank you—
For bringing me this happiness—
Even if it won't last forever.
My final request, to whomever is listening:
"Please keep Kumiko safe.
"I pray she never has to experience such a thing as this."