CH 57

Reflection and Giving Cheer (Reward)

[Well then, Yumeji-san, and onee-chan ...... thank you so much for everything!]

A few hours after the incident in which Kagura-san had nine lives, Konoha-chan, the little fox, returned to the mountain after saying so.

Amane was reluctant to bid farewell to the end, but she couldn't compete with the words, "Mother is waiting for me." ...... She sent her off in tears.

A golden fox child leaving in the sunset ...... It was a strangely melancholy beauty.

The event in main street after school.

We barely made it in time for Kagura-san's crisis, but at the cost of my lack of daily exercise, I was extremely dehydrated and exhausted, and my muscles were so fatigued that I passed out rather than being unable to move.

Amane, who was sprinting the same distance, even had time to stay conscious and care for Kagura-san, but ...... on the contrary, she worried me ......

I regained consciousness within a few minutes, but I couldn't move at all for 20-30 minutes ......

And the site of the accident (?) with the tire tracks of the truck that braked suddenly. The truck driver, who thought the truck had hit him more than anyone else in ...... was very confused.

What can I say, I'm really sorry .......

Yes, there was no one left.

Even the culprit "Saito Taku" who pushed Kagura-san ...... to attempted murder .......

As expected, today was no longer a good day to study for a test, and we took her home in a taxi because there was no guarantee that she wouldn't be in danger again.

I entrusted a letter to Kagura-san, whose face "like a fox who's been bewitched" and who did not understand what had happened until the very end ......

Then ...... I came home after everything was over, but as soon as I entered my room, I lost all strength in my body and just sat down.

Rather than physical strength, I felt like I was losing ...... the thread of my energy.

And when I'm alone, I feel a writhing ...... intense, nauseating regret, shame, guilt ...... and self-loathing that makes me want to die.

All kinds of emotions were swirling around me that I could not forgive everything about myself.

"Who the hell did I think I was? Did I think I was so great that I could let my guard down just because I could foresee the future?!"

No matter how much I think about it, the "scene where Kagura's body was thrown in front of the truck" that put her in danger through my fault comes to mind ........

"Onii-cha~n, there's something I'd like to ask you about ....... also dinner ......."

As I do so, my sister opens the door of my room without knocking and frowns when she sees me.

"....... What's wrong? And not even turn on the lights ....... Are you feeling unwell?"

"....... No, not really ....... more than that, what do you want to ask....... "

When I said that, my sister shook her head.

"No, not now ....... Are you really feeling unwell? You don't look too good ....... Can you eat?"

After all, she is my sister who pays attention even though she has a cheeky mouth.

I decided to let my sister's thoughtfulness prevail for today.

"Sorry ...... I don't think I can eat anything right now ....... I'll come down when I'm rested and feeling better ......"

"Understo~od. I'll tell Mom, so you should lie down properly."

Leaving those words behind, Yumeka lightly went down to the living room.

And when I was alone the whirlpool of black emotions that welled up again ............ I held my head and let out a deep sigh.

Advanced Dream Manipulation "Daydreaming".

I don't know when this dream appeared in the "Dream Book," but at the time I felt as if something was moving me on its own.

It was a strange feeling ......  as if an old memory left in my computer had been activated, as if it was me but not myself, even though I had no idea what the principle or reason for the action was.

What if ......  if I can't make it in time ......  If there were no such hidden tricks as "daydreaming" ...... 

“If you knew about it and couldn't prevent it” ...... Such a horrible imagination makes me break out in a cold sweat.

Because of my, carelessness due to pride ...... I might have caused the death of Amane's best friend ...... which makes me sigh more deeply .......

"Tou!!"

"Gueh !?"

However, such sighs were suddenly interrupted by a flying cross chop that came at me from behind.

There was only one person in the room, and the only person I can recall who would do such a thing is my childhood friend whom I had just parted ways with.

Sure enough, that person, Kanzaki Amane, after attacking me, was standing on the bed, looking down at me.

"I knew you were depressed ...... when we parted, something seemed odd......"

"...... What, did you come in through the window again?"

"It's obvious, isn’t it. The most direct access to your room is right here."

Amane said it with such casual attitude that she even looked a bit proud of herself, and I was taken aback.

As I did so, Amane also sat down next to me, sitting on the floor.

It's so close that our arms are barely touching each other. ......

"W-What......"

Not understanding the intent of her actions, I get very flustered.

But Amane gazed into my eyes for a while and...... said.

"Like you told me. At least let me be next to you, when you're feeling down...... "

"Uwh...... "

That's exactly what I said to Amane in her dream the other day ...... and I can't even let out ‘guh’ when she says it.

Instead, a deep sigh leaked out for who knows how many times.

"What are you sighing about? You're a hero for saving your classmate's life."

Amane tries to comfort me in a light tone.

I honestly appreciated that, but I still wasn't ready to forgive myself for my carelessness at the time.

"What can I say ...... I knew what I was doing. I knew, and I didn't do my best, and I let my guard down ...... It's not like a test or something, but there were people's lives at stake ......"

"But that doesn't mean you have to be so down about it ....... If you look at the results, no one was harmed and we got through the whole thing without a single injury, all five of us satisfied. Well, it was a li~ttle bit of a close call ......"

"....... You know that "little" almost killed Kagura-san?"

" ............ That is"

Her best friend might be dead, and Amane was tight-lipped at the possibility.

"I had a foresight dream that allowed me to know what was going to happen. Even with half the information I had, I knew perfectly well who the culprit was ...... That "a little" makes me careless, even though all I had to do was keep an eye on him ...... If by any chance ...... "

"Yumeji-kun............"

No more second opinions.

If, by any chance ...... I've been picturing all sorts of worst-case scenarios, and my mood is growing more and more gloomy.

GON!! "Dah !?"

A dull pain ran over my head, forcing me back to consciousness.

By the corner of the "Dream Book" in the hands of Amane ......

"Ah~, mou~, that's enough! Reflecting on other people's problems rather than your own has always been your good point, but it's also your flaw!"

"Eh ...... Ueh?"

Saying so, Amane grabbed me by the shoulders and forced me to face the front.

Looking straight ahead, Amane's slightly hung-up eyes ...... had a determined expression that reminded me of that time when we were kids.

"It's true that you let your guard down today. But don't forget that your carelessness includes me and Konoha-chan. What you consider a failure today is everyone's failure!"

"Amane ...... no but that's ......"

“Shut up, no arguments allowed! Besides, we were able to save the day in the end, so the worst was averted, and then we can reflect on it and move on ...... Okay?”

"Uwh...... "

It is a good argument.

I really had a lot to reflect on this time, but we were able to avoid only the worst ......

Maybe Amane is right ...... I guess I assumed that I was solely responsible for this.

If that had failed ...... it would have been a huge regret for all of us.

I do a lot of reflecting, and I won't make the same mistakes next time ...... That thought made me feel a little better.

"Allright...... then stand up for a minute. I'm going to give you a little boost so you don't forget about today...... "

"Ha-Haa? Didn't you just do it by using the corner of the book...... "

"That was just like a reminder. The next one is really boost you up...... "

"Seriously......"

I honestly held the top of my head, which was still tingling and aching, and protested, but Amane didn't seem to listen to me and ....... forced me to stand there.

Then ...... For some reason, Amane who was glaring at me and blushing, said.

"Then ...... Close your eyes ............"

"O-Oh ...... Come with bang..."

I braced myself and shut both eyes hard.

Was it the cheek, or again the head, or by surprise, the belly? I braced myself for impact, but ...... the impact happened in the most unexpected place of any place.

Because it was too unexpected ...... More shocking than anywhere else......

"........................Eh?"

"...... To never forget it and to keep your spirit up, and it's a thank for saving Kagu-chan ...... "

It was certainly a way of firing up the spirit that I will never, ever forget.

Because that spot is.............