We left the hot spring and walked slowly along the stone pavement of the hot spring town, letting the breeze cool our bodies still steaming from the bath.
The air touching my flushed skin was much cooler than I had expected. The scent of the hot spring that had enveloped us wafted gently from our clothes and hair.
“Ahh… that’s nice and cool.”
“You were in there until you were practically on the verge of heatstroke.”
“That’s because Shiori clung to me.”
“I won’t deny that.”
We exchanged such trivial banter as we walked on the stone pavement.
The lantern lights dotted the path, casting soft shadows at our feet. Tourists in yukata strolled along the street, but compared to the bustling daytime, the town was now wrapped in a much calmer atmosphere.
It was a somewhat fantastical night, as if time itself was flowing slowly. Yet, even within that charming air, a small loneliness lingered deep in my heart.
—I have to go home soon.
I knew it was just a day trip when I came, but now that the end was in sight, a sense of regret welled up inside me.
“Sorry we can’t stay overnight, Shiori.”
We both had work commitments, but honestly, I wanted to stay together a little longer. When I voiced that thought, Shiori shrugged lightly and laughed as if it didn’t bother her much.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. We’ll just make up for it next time with lots of cuddling.”
“What… Was that not enough?”
“Not at all!”
Her immediate reply, delivered with a beaming smile, left me momentarily speechless.
Truly, Shiori knew nothing of restraint. But that was what I loved about her, what troubled me, and what made me love her again. It had always been that way, and it always would be.
Thinking that, I found myself gazing at Shiori’s smiling face for a long time.
Her profile illuminated by the lantern light. Her hair, still slightly damp, perhaps not fully dried. A feeling of affection spread naturally through my chest.
Perhaps because of that, my attention to my feet was delayed.
“Ah.”
By the time I noticed something was off, it was too late. The shoelace I had stepped on came undone easily, the knot completely loosened.
“What are you doing, Akane—”
“S-sorry. I’ll tie it right away.”
As I crouched down, picked up the lace, and began to retie it—
A high-pitched horn blared from the distance.
I thought it was just a horn. It was a tourist area, and the roads were narrow. Maybe someone was just signaling a warning.
So, at first, I tried to ignore it. But the horn didn’t stop; it grew louder and louder, accompanied by the sound of a crash and screams.
A bad premonition crawled up my spine. When I looked up, I saw a car speeding toward us at an impossible speed.
“Wh… at…?”
My mind couldn’t catch up with the suddenness of it all.
“…Huh?”
From beside me, I heard Shiori’s confused voice.
——I have to run.
Even when that thought finally arrived, my legs were frozen like stone and wouldn’t move. My breath caught in a sharp gasp, and my vision suddenly narrowed.
Fear surged over me, and I reflexively closed my eyes.
The blaring horn and the vibrations transmitted from the ground. Cutting through all of that, a voice flew into my ears.
“Akane!!!”
It was a voice I should have been familiar with, yet it was a cry of anguish I had never heard before.
Immediately after the sensation of being tightly embraced, a powerful impact ran through my entire body. The next moment, my consciousness sank into darkness.
◇
I don’t know how much time passed from then.
My consciousness, which had sunk into a dark abyss, slowly floated to the surface. My body, my eyelids, my thoughts—everything felt heavy as mud.
The first thing I heard was the sound of a siren approaching from afar.
Following that, I could hear someone’s voice.
“—Are you okay!? Are you all right!?”
Someone was desperately calling out. To me… probably.
I forced my heavy eyelids open. My vision was blurred with red. The streetlight bled and wavered through a red film.
Blood probably.
“Guh…”
The moment I tried to move my body, a dull pain shot through me. I even felt a sensation as if my bones were creaking, about to crumble from the inside. Just breathing hurt my chest.
But—
(…I’m alive?)
It hurts properly. The fact that it hurts means I’m alive.
(Thank goodness! Shiori…?)
Ignoring my aching body, I looked to the side, and it leapt into view.
“…! Shiori!”
On the stone pavement right next to me, Shiori lay floating in a pool of blood. Her hair was soaked with blood. Yet, the faint rise and fall of her chest told me Shiori was still alive.
“Goo…d… A…kane… ali…ve…”
A trembling voice, a ragged breath. Even so, I could tell she was trying to smile, as if relieved. But her unfocused eyes were desperately searching for me.
“Yeah! You’re going to be okay too…! The ambulance will be here soon!”
Enduring the pain, I pushed myself up and called out desperately. As if trying to convince her everything would be alright.
“Ah…re… A…kane… see…? He…re?”
“I-I’m here! I’m right here!”
I took Shiori’s hand. …Her fingertips were cold. I tightly enveloped her hand, slippery with blood.
Tightly, so as not to let go. If I didn’t, I felt like Shiori would go somewhere far away.
“Ah… sai… go… pro…tec…ted… good…”
“What are you saying! This isn’t the end! You’re going to Tsumugi’s entrance ceremony, right!? You said we’d take pictures together!”
My whole body hurt. But I couldn’t help but scream.
“…li…ved… Ah…”
A faint smile. It was so serene, and that’s precisely why it made me anxious.
“N-no, Shiori! You’re going to be okay! You’re definitely going to be okay!”
Somewhere, I heard someone shouting, “Over here!” calling the paramedics. They must be almost here. Just a few more seconds.
Please be in time!
“Ah… A…kane… he…re…”
“Almost there! Just a little longer!”
Desperately, I kept holding her hand, trying not to let the warmth escape. For just a moment, the strength from Shiori’s hand increased slightly.
But——
“Tsumugi, please take care of——”
The moment I heard those words, Shiori’s hand, which I had been holding, slowly… really slowly… slipped from my grasp.
“……Huh?”
The fallen hand didn’t move. Shiori lying beside me looked as if she were merely asleep. But the chest that had been faintly rising and falling just moments ago was still.
“Ah… ahh…”
I wanted her to call my name with that voice again. I wanted to see the face that was laughing in the hot spring one more time. I wanted to kiss, to joke around, to talk about the future.
But that was no longer possible.
“No… no… no!”
Because the moment the warmth we shared vanished, I understood.
—That Shiori’s soul was no longer here.
“No… no… ahhhh——!!”
A scream tore from my throat as if it would rip it apart. My whole body ached as if it were being crushed. The red light of the ambulance spun at the edge of my vision. Someone touched my shoulder, calling out to me.
But everything felt distant.
Everything was out of reach.
I collapsed on the spot. The hand I thought I was gripping was now holding nothing. Only the night breeze, devoid of warmth, brushed against my cheek.
Only a world without Shiori remained there, mercilessly.