I would be killed―

Fear colored my thoughts as my vision contracted.

Often times upon death, it has been said that people would catch a glimpse of their life’s overall compilation, but nothing like that was replayed in my mind.

From the tips of my head to my toes, mouth, nose, and ears. Even down to the holes in my entire body. All was awash in despair.

My consciousness was descending into an immeasurable abyss.

I felt my life was reaching its end.

Shortly after―

My consciousness, which was about to drift away, was interrupted by a mundane chime that was so out of place in this strained atmosphere that it was almost laughable.

The sound of an automatic door operating.

Did… someone come?

Footsteps did not sound.

Who…

I was short of oxygen, and tears were clouding my vision.

I did, nevertheless, behold it.

Under the door, through the counter, and approaching the back room.

Something like a white haze.

Fluffy and drifting, entered the back room and came to my side, where I was being mounted.

As the haze gradually took on the form of a human, it edged closer to my face and remained there, radiating dazzling light.

[Senior―]

A voice broke through the darkness like a thread, a voice so sentimental that my eyes started to well up with tears once more uncontrollably.[Senior Masamune―]

My name was called. The one who picked up my arm that was flung on the floor, clad in a white light that silently illuminated the darkness, and said my first name, which I hated.

“Hyuga…”

[Yes.]

I hadn’t seen her in years, yet she looked exactly the same as she did before she died, my junior in high school.magic

My words brought hurt and tears to her eyes. On a torrentially rainy day, she jumped off that rooftop and came to a tragic demise.

She was in front of me now… with the same smile she had back then.

[Senior, it’s been a long time. You look a lot more flamboyant now, you know.]

Tilting her head with a grin, her red-rimmed glasses slipped down slightly.

“…Are you indeed…”

[You are the indomitable ace of the baseball team, Hakamada Masamune, class 2, year 3, type A, Taurus. Banana au lait is your favorite drink. Right?]

I thought that such a thing… could never happen, but the warmth of her hand was so warm and reassuring.

“Y-You…”

Unable to utter further words, I let a large number of droplets of emotion stream down to the floor.