TNZKMA 141

１４１

 

The central square and its surroundings suffered damage in the eastern section. I live on the outskirts of the eastern section, in the far eastern part near the edge of town, so there was no damage at all. Not just my house, but all the neighbors were safe—the houses, the people—no one was hurt.

We checked in with the neighbors to confirm everyone was alright and then headed to the market, as there was no food left in the house. I went with Saine, thinking we should at least grab a meal. More importantly, I wanted to make sure Haruka was safe.

[Ah!!]

Haruka spotted me and came running down the street so fast she nearly crashed into the stall his husband ran. I was pretty sure he was fine, but seeing my best friend safe, I ran to meet him. We hugged, nearly colliding, then tightly held hands.

[Thank goodness! I was so worried about you! You were nowhere to be found, and you said you were going to watch the Ceremony, didn’t you? When I heard a monster appeared at the square, I was terrified you got caught up in it…]

[Haruka, don’t cry. I was a bit worried too, you know. I thought you might have gone to the central square… But really, I’m so glad. I’m really glad you’re safe.]

We moved from the middle of the street to a table. Haruka’s husband also came over, closing his stall.

[He wouldn’t listen when I told him to stay put while we looked for you. Gave me quite a headache.]

[Of course I didn’t! This guy is always getting into trouble, you know. He follows strange people or goes into shady places.]

[What do you mean by strange people… I wouldn’t be lured by just a candy. And what shady places?]

I laughed, but Haruka wasn’t having it.

[You always used to go, didn’t you? Into caves, pits, ruins, and all that.]

There were plenty of places in the mountains where we played that piqued our curiosity as kids.

[Well, this time, I didn’t go in on purpose, but I fell into a hole. There was a passage, and when I walked through it, I ended up in the forest.]

[The monster forest!?]

[Yep.]

Haruka reeled back in shock.

[Oh! That’s right! My mom was there!]

[…Your mom?]

[Yeah. My mom. She got reincarnated too, and she turned into a tree in the middle of the forest. You’ve seen them too, right? The moving trees. She was like the boss of those.]

I wondered if my mom had asked the moving tree to help me or make me laugh.

[And my dad got reincarnated too. He’s a huge armored bug. It’s kind of amazing, right? Our whole family got reincarnated, and then we all messed up together.]

When I laughed, Haruka tilted his head, looking troubled.

[That’s kind of… strange, isn’t it?]

[What do you mean?]

[It’s a coincidence that you and I, who knew each other back then, got reincarnated and met here. No matter how mysterious it is, one time could be chalked up to coincidence. But if it happens twice, that’s an inevitability, right?]

[inevitability?]

[It means it happened as it was meant to happen. In other words, it was predetermined. Or someone might have orchestrated it.]

I felt a jolt in my chest at Haruka’s words.

[And even if we call it reincarnation, that means the Ceremony is being performed all over this world, right? There’s no way this town is the only one without women and still performing reincarnation Ceremonies.]

Haruka’s husband nodded.

[I don’t know how vast this world is, but… for example, if it’s as big as Japan, there are Ceremonies happening all over the place. Yet all the people connected to you have reincarnated in this tiny town. If we think of this table as the world, it’s like everyone reincarnated into this tiny grain of sand. Four people, including you.]

When he said that, Haruka pointed to a tiny grain of sand on the table.

I was simple-minded and naive, so I hadn’t thought it was strange at all. I just thought I was lucky to meet Haruka, how amazing it was that my mom was here too, and maybe I’d go see my dad. That was about the extent of my thoughts. But when he put it that way, it did seem very unnatural.

[…What does it mean?]

[I can’t say for sure. In stories, these things usually have reasons behind them. So I think there’s a reason for this too.]

[Is it my fault…? But it could be you at the center.]

[That’s not it. Sure, I know both your mom and dad and have met them, but I don’t have the same connection as you. In this case, it makes more sense to think of you as the reference point. So far, you’re the only one who has a strong connection with the four of us who have been reincarnated.]

I swallowed hard.

[My guess is that, you and your parents were reincarnated based on you. I don’t think anyone else is connected. There are friends I played with, but they were only connections for that time. They weren’t like me, who has known you since childhood. You didn’t even have connections with your grandparents.]

When she said it, I realized it was true. Haruka was a special friend, and my mom and dad were deeply connected to me. I couldn’t think of anyone else with such a strong connection.

[Is it my fault…?]

[Don’t think of it like that. No matter the reason, I’m glad I was reincarnated. I wanted to see you again, and that wish was fulfilled.]

Haruka smiled as he said this, while his husband wore a complicated expression beside him.

[What did your mother say? Did she regret being reincarnated?]

[Umm… I’m not really sure, but I’m glad I got to talk to her.]

[I see. Well, then that’s good, isn’t it?]

I always felt bad about being with my mom and dad. But it turns out there was a reason I was there. My mom said she wanted to meet me, and that’s why she gave birth to me. Even if things turned out poorly, the start wasn’t bad. At least my parents were excited for me to be born.

[They’re saying that with the priest being killed, the number of Ceremony opportunities will decrease.]

Haruka’s husband said this to Saine. Although it had nothing to do with Saine, Haruka’s husband was still waiting for his turn for the Ceremony. Of course, he was worried about it.

[The only priest left in the East section is the Daryss family. What used to be done by four families will now be handled by one.]

[Well, it’s inevitable that the number of Ceremonies will decrease.]

Haruka’s husband only widened his eyes a little in response, accepting it.

[Aren’t you shocked?]

[Shocked?]

Difficult word, those katakana terms*. I scratched my head and tried to rephrase it.

[It might take even longer for you to take the Ceremony. Doesn’t it make you feel down or disappointed?]

[At my age… Well, I’ve already half given up. I don’t think my turn will come.]

He laughed as he said this.

[Why don’t you ask the priest?]

Haruka timidly suggested. Seeing my friend like this made my chest ache.

]Ask what?]

[I know some people in the Daryss family. I can ask them to move your turn up.]

He didn’t want to be separated from his husband, yet he was thinking and acting for him. Always putting himself last—that’s so like Haruka. Forcing a smile when he probably wanted to cry, it pained my heart, and I loved that about him.

His husband silently gulped down his juice. It didn’t suit his tough appearance, but even in these tough times, he kept his vow to quit drinking.

[Don’t do it.]

He smiled faintly as he said that.

[Why not?]

[No one can change the order of the Ceremonies. Not even the priests.]

[Who decides the order?]

[The officials. But it’s useless to ask them. In the past, you could bend the rules, and it caused chaos. That’s why now, no matter who asks, the order stays the same. The only way to change it is by switching jobs or offering money. Everyone knows how it works.]

I guess my eyes must have said I thought there’d be people who would cheat. Saine said the same thing out loud.

[The order of the Ceremonies goes: Heroes, treasure craftsmen, Dauntless, craftsmen, and then officials. But in reality, officials always go last.]

[Most of the officials holding the list are still waiting for their turn. The fact that they, who could manipulate the order, are putting themselves last, keeps everyone from complaining.]

Haruka’s husband’s explanation, following Saine’s, helped both Haruka and me understand.