Maid Extra 84: Epilogue B

Not a continuation of the “Epilogue”, but still an Epilogue.

It’s a branching story. In a way, it’s an IF.

Please be aware.

The perspective is Suzumoto.

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The rain that fell on the day I forgot my umbrella wasn’t that cold.

The cold wind that blew on the day I forgot my coat strangely hit me softly.

Things like that are what stop my time.

It’s been three years since she disappeared.

At first, we did quite a lot.

After returning to this world, we couldn’t do anything that we could do in that world, but still, like fools, we searched tirelessly for any connection to that world.

There were fools who fell into manholes and fools who sneaked into the school at night, but I was probably the biggest fool of all.

On the way home from school, on a road not far from my house, I noticed a truck ignoring the traffic light and coming.

I don’t know what I was thinking, but I crossed the pedestrian crossing regardless.

…If I were to put the result bluntly, it might be inappropriate, but it turned out to be a rather good temporary income.

In an almost impossible turn of events, I collided with that truck and only ended up with a few broken ribs.

The compensation and insurance money made me profit slightly, and that’s about it.

The consequences of my actions were limited to facing my crying mother, the pain of broken ribs, and the boredom and anxiety of being hospitalized.

…In other words, it resulted in a terribly lukewarm outcome. That’s what it is.

“Hey, are you still in the mood for that world?”

Hagasaki-kun, who came to visit me and was amazed by my minor injuries, took out the expensive yokan that was in the fridge without asking. Normally, he would at least ask for permission, so today he probably felt like acting recklessly on purpose.

…He’s probably annoyed with me for worrying him. I’m sure of it.

“No, I don’t even remember it well myself.”

“That’s a lie.”

Hagasaki-kun glared at me while scooping the yokan with a spoon.

“Hey, I didn’t think you’d do something like this. I thought you were the most sensible one.”

“I thought so too.”

When I replied like that, he glared at me again before putting the scooped yokan into his mouth. It was supposed to be pretty good yokan, but his expression didn’t change at all, which was typical of Hagasaki-kun.

Time passed as I just watched Hagasaki-kun swallow the yokan.

After finishing the yokan, Hagasaki-kun threw the container in the trash, washed the spoon in the sink, came back, and said this:

“I’m starting to give up.”

His profile didn’t change, but his voice slightly wavered.

He, too, had his time stopped.

The difference between him and me is that Hagasaki-kun is trying to break free from it.

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Do you really, honestly think so?”

His expression finally changed. It looked angry and sad at the same time.

It was the usual Hagasaki-kun.

“I mean it. One crazy person is enough.”

I didn’t seriously think that getting hit by a truck would let me meet her.

But… I don’t really understand myself.

“I’m serious… I’m trying to forget, that’s what I’m saying.”

“That’s fine. … I’m envious. I haven’t gotten that far yet.”

That’s fine. That’s normal.

The school had mostly returned to normal, and we were the only ones still hung up on that world.

We were the only ones abnormal, and if we became normal, that would be a good thing.

“…I see. Then hurry up and get there. Otherwise, you might die.”

…Somehow, I already knew.

I felt that we would never see her again.

But, to accept that, am I… too immature, too inexperienced? Or am I simply too stupid, too sentimental?

In any case, I am still… looking for the friend who couldn’t come back.

After that, without any incident, the exam season started, and we had no choice but to immerse ourselves in it.

Hariu, who was bad at switching gears, struggled.

After Toriumi got accepted into a famous private school through a recommendation, everyone decided on their respective paths.

I also decided on my path without much fuss. It still doesn’t feel real.

…It really was anticlimactic. It felt like I realized my path was decided without noticing.

It felt like the thinking part of me and the feeling part of me had separated.

…Maybe I left part of myself in that world.

And today, we are graduating.

For the first time, it really feels like the end.

We have to graduate from high school.

At the same time, I should graduate from being a madman.

I had long known that I couldn’t stay like this, that there was no hope anymore, and that there was nothing we could do about it.

Today is fitting for that.

After the ceremony, the juniors held a small farewell party for us, and we ended up playing Daifugō while snacking on sweets.

This would probably be the last time this group would play together.

“I cut with an 8 and won! Yay, I finally won!”

Hariu happily slapped the cards onto the table.

Damn, now I’m demoted.

“Well then, I’ll play a pair of 9s. No one? Then, a pair of 2s. No one? Then, I’ll finish with a 5.”

Toriumi also finished without any trouble.

…I had bad luck with the cards. What is this hand? Even after taking from the daihinmin, the highest card I have is a Q.

“Then I’ll finish with this.”

President played a 2 and finished with a 9.

“…Eleven back, 3, and finish with 4.”

Kadomi-kun also used up his hand.

…Gradually, people left the game, leaving only me and Hagasaki-kun.

“That’s unusual, isn’t it?”

“Even I have bad luck sometimes.”

“Really? Then how about this? You can’t play, right?”

Hagasaki-kun played a K on the table.

“I can’t play.”

“Then I cut with an 8 and finish with a 6.”

Just like that, Hagasaki-kun also finished.

…Not my lucky day.

“Alright, congrats on graduating, you guys. Here’s a few photos from the past three years.”

The teacher handed us a few photos.

She wasn’t in any of them.

It seemed like her existence itself had been erased.

“Looking at this now, Suzumoto, you look a bit younger here.”

When I looked at the photo the teacher pointed out, I saw a slightly younger version of myself.

It was from the first cultural festival right after we entered the school.

…In the photo, I was looking off in another direction, as if someone had called my name.

“…I’ll cherish these photos. Thank you.”

…It seems I won’t be able to graduate from being a madman.

After that, there was just one time when we all gathered to see the juniors’ cultural festival.

But that was it.

After that, we didn’t keep in touch and gradually forgot about each other.

Because if we didn’t, we’d always remember the one person who was missing.

…That’s how it was.

My time remained frozen.

Whenever something that was supposed to be unchangeable improved slightly or when I had a stroke of good luck, I would vaguely recall her existence.

She didn’t turn into a ghost. I understood that in my head, but once that habit formed, it couldn’t be undone.

Everything, from the sakura branch that swayed without wind and scattered petals, to the early summer rain that seemed to start just after I entered a building.

…It seems that all I can do is sublimate my memories and digest them this way.

I was clumsier than I thought.

…Or maybe everyone else felt the same, like kites with their strings cut.

…Reaching out to them might open a can of worms. Better not.

And then, it ended suddenly.

“Is this seat taken?”

Debating whether to take a class to fill a free period, I decided to at least attend the guidance session. The seats were nearly all taken.

I hadn’t checked, but it seemed to be a popular lecture.

So, I aimed for one of the few remaining seats near the front and asked the person sitting next to it.

“Go ahead.”

…When that person smiled, I finally felt like time started moving again.

On my way home that day, a slightly strong yet warm wind tousled my hair rather roughly as it passed by.

That was it.

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T/N: This is just sad. So the most affected with Maito missing would be Suzumoto, huh.