Autumnal hues have taken over the trees that surrounded the graveyard, and their leaves were progressively scattering. Overhead, countless small red dragonflies were flitting here and there, seemingly occupied in their search for their fated mates. Summer’s last remnants of heat have faded away, and autumnal vistas have utterly reshaped the season.

The red dotted blanket on my lap belonged to my sister. When I pointed out to my mother how could a man possibly use a woman’s blanket like this, she insisted that I should just go ahead and put it on. Though it wasn’t that chilly yet, she was overreacting at the mere act of me heading outside. Even more, she advised me to get a stomach band and a woolen hat… It has been a long time since I went back to my parents’ house and this was what I got.

“This doesn’t feel like me. Just to be clear, this is not mine.”

The other party I spoke to was Hyuga… not the tombstone of the Hyuga family.

“I’m sorry for taking so long… to give my thanks. I really wanted to come a little earlier, but because of my condition, it took me a long time.”

Two months have passed since then. The examination results came back fine, and I was discharged from the hospital and returned to my parents’ house instead of my apartment to recuperate.

I still hadn’t adjusted to the lifestyle of being in a wheelchair, wearing an eye patch, having both legs in tight casts, and being handicapped almost exclusively by one arm and one eye. Despite my bracing for this, I was still in need of help from those around me for the foreseeable future, and I found myself frustrated that I could not do the things I used to be able to do on my own.

Things didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped, leaving me frustrated and feeling apologetic every time someone helped me out, but it likewise led me to be more grateful for the people around me, and I realized once again how much I appreciate them.

“Look, you’ve never seen me with my hair this short before. But I think it looks good on me. Oh, don’t tell me I look like a prisoner.”

Underneath my knit cap, I had a shaved head that had grown a little longer than when I was in the hospital. The bandages were eventually taken off recently, but a severe scar on the back of my head and close to my forehead remained. I heard it would be less noticeable when my hair grew longer, though. I always wore a black knit cap because I thought I would be misunderstood if I left it that way.

“I am planning to dye my hair black again, so I guess it’s appropriate.”

With my left arm, the only one that could move, I offered incense and a bouquet of flowers, and since I couldn’t press my hands together in prayer, I quietly placed my hand on my chest.

“From now on, I will come to see you more often, so don’t get too lonely.”

Even if I was talking to a tombstone… I was quite serious about this.

She had properly departed to the other world and rested in peace. Now, if I spoke to her here, my voice would probably reach her. Therefore, even if I didn’t receive a reply, I continued to talk to Hyuga’s gravestone without ceasing, believing that she was listening to me somewhere.

“Jeez… you really have strange tastes, for falling in love with a guy like me…”

If I said that, she would get angry. But…

“I suppose I can’t speak for others either… Because I liked an oddball like you.”magicAt the time I didn’t express it in words but now I could say it out loud and clear.

“…I’ve always respected you too, actually. I seriously thought it was incredible that you could do so many things and be liked by everyone because I am like this.”

To this day, I still couldn’t believe that Hyuga respected me for having these thoughts. Hyuga probably shared my feelings, though.

“It’s funny how things have crossed paths for us, isn’t it?’

I, who devoted myself to one thing. Hyuga, who took on a variety of challenges.

I, who was too straightforward with myself and didn’t pay attention to the people around me. Hyuga, who was overly concerned about his surroundings and could not be honest with herself.

In truth, we should have been attracted to each other.

However, because we were aware that we were polar opposites, we were unable to connect our true feelings for each other.

Had both of us been courageous enough to come closer to each other at that time, an alternative future might have been created.

“Well… I can’t keep talking about such things that are already past, can I?”

You were the one who told me to move on, after all.

“You can rest assured that I’ll do as you say, I won’t… stand still anymore.”

Hyuga’s last words wiped away my hesitation to move on. If that was Hyuga’s wish, then I would just have to start all over again.

“Hyuga.”

This life you gave me. I would cherish it without a doubt.

“…Thank you.”

In spite of the warmth of the sun, the wind blew ferociously at times today, scattering some more leaves on the blanket above my lap. From beside me, a long arm reached out and delicately picked them up before dropping them to the ground.

“―Takenaka.”As I said this, that guy smiled subtly and picked up another leaf on my lap.

“Thanks.”

“Am I interrupting your conversation?”

“No. I have already talked for a long time. If I try to make her listen any further, she’ll get bored and start playing pranks.”

“I see.”

“Even if I said that, Hyuga has already rested in peace, so I can’t see her…”

“Speaking of which, how have things changed since then?”

I shook my head when he said that.

“It looks like it’s weaker than before, but it still seems to be there.”

With a body like this, it was obvious that it would require a lot of time to get back to work, so I talked with the manager and resigned from that convenience store.

The amount of times I have seen specters has decreased since then, so perhaps the incompatibility had an impact on me, yet my awakened power has persisted and hasn’t entirely vanished.

“After all… it won’t disappear?”

“But that’s okay.”

My power has indeed remained but one thing has improved. That I was less susceptible to spiritual disturbances than I had been before.

Should I say that I have developed a tolerance for them? Ayame called me a “troublesome medium,” and I used to attract spirits like a vacuum cleaner, but since that incident, I have yet to be embroiled in any such complications.

“It could be that when Hyuga saved me, she shared her power with me… I think… This is too convenient, isn’t it, to say this?”

“No, not at all. I agree with you.”

“I hope so… really.”

“Hyuga. She was a strong-willed, wonderful person, wasn’t she?”

“Yes.”

Closing his eyes, Takenaka carefully joined his hands for prayer toward the tombstone.