Akatsuki Reminisces 6
I am currently at my home.
It is night. When I was in the hospital, I was thinking.
About the deal.
I lied. I wasn't born with this intelligence.
I didn't survive the fall with luck.
I made a deal.
I don't remember it that well but, it was made.
When I was pushed off and I rolled down, I was on the brink of death.
But then he appeared. The devil. I was not ready to die.
So he asked me if I wanted to live or not?
I wanted to live. I didn't want to be stupid.
So I made a deal. I sold my soul to the devil.
But he wouldn't do something until I die.
It was that. But when I was in the hospital, it suddenly hit me.
My life is fulfilled.
I have done everything and achieved everything.
I have nothing left to do.
And I thought,
"Why not do this?"
I smiled. It was a nasty smile.
Even I am creeped out by that.
I thought, why not make another deal.
The first deal was to protect my life and become intelligent.
And I have nothing more to offer.
But I certainly can make a deal.
I am thinking of doing so.
But I cannot show it to others.
So, how about I send them away.
I don't have to worry about my family.
No one from my family visits me. Only Nadeshiko does. But how about I send her somewhere.
I can certainly do that. Rihito isn't here either.
And I started working on it.
I sent Nadeshiko and her mother to a hot springs.
A scenic place with nice baths.
She won't be back before a week.
It's perfect and I am thinking of holding the ceremony.
I leave the building the next day. For a casual walk around the park.
But when I left, I saw something at the entrance.
A girl was sitting at the entrance.
She looked like a high schooler.
Her clothes are a bit dirty. Maybe something happened to her.
She was hanging her head down.
I would ignore someone like that. But I can't ignore someone like her.
"Hey, are you okay?" I ask her.
She looked up at me and smiled faintly.
Then, she collapsed.
Now what? She was collapsed right where she sat.
People are staring at me.
What to do? I cannot even drag her with my fake limbs.
So I hurried to my home.
Grabbed the wheelchair and came downstairs.
I somehow pushed her into the chair and took her to my home.
She is still unconscious. So I laid her on my bed.
My bed is the only place where I don't sleep.
So it should be fine.
Maybe I should order some food as well.
Or I can move my schedule.
I can commence the ritual.
I leave the room and enter another one.
It's a dark room and I am gonna omit the ritual.
I pass out after that.
I wake up. And touch my head. But I felt it.
I can feel my hands. I look at my hands and legs.
A feeling I have never felt before came.
So refreshing. I can stand and walk on my own.
I can touch and feel things.
A different kind of joy welled up within me.
But I know. This is only for a month.
I used my remaining lifespan as a bargain for this.
After this my soul will be collected and I will be sent to hell.
I leave the room.
I go to see her. She is still unconscious.
Maybe it's good that she is unconscious.
I should make something for her. Fortunately, I have some groceries left.
I try cooking for the first time when I see her.
She came out of my room on guard.
She is looking around and stopped when she saw me in the kitchen.
"Yo! Woke up?" I ask.
"...." She didn't answer but just kept staring at me.
"Well, you're probably hungry." I give her the food I made.
I call it food but it's just instant ramen on a bowl.
She took the bowl and downed it.
Normally you would be vigilant and refuse. But maybe she was that hungry.
"You cool?" I ask.
"Unn." She nodded.
"What's your name? I am Akatsuki."
"...Nino…" She said.
"Oh. Nice name. Ok, Nino-chan, what were you doing at my doorstep?"
"….." She didn't answer.
"Ok. So where do you live?"
"….Asakusa." She replied.
Ohh. That's a little closer yet far.
"I understand. You can stay here for as long as you want. I won't do anything." I say.
She just nodded. Isn't that weird? She is accepting it too easily.
Be more careful.
And more that a week has passed. She is still living here. And I am drowning myself in alcohol.
Maybe my days are numbered and I am going to hell anyway.
So I drink myself to death. Almost everyday.
I give her money on a daily basis and she just leaves.
Nadeshiko won't be back either. And Rihito still has a few days left.
Everything according to the plan.
I have made my will.
My money will go to a trust.
And my this apartment would be my dads.
And thinking as such I fell asleep in the same room where I did the ritual.
I didn't even clean it and it reeks of alcohol.