chapter 61

Today is a school day. Thehateful day in which we return to reality from summer vacation.Well, it will only be until noon, so I shall forgive you.What kind of G.o.ddess you think you are, me.

I wake up because of the alarm I set on the previous day, and change into my uniform with half-asleep eyes. When I go downstairs into the living room, on top of the table theres some bentou made by Touka, who should already have left for school.But theres a problem the number of bentous.

Theres two? Did Touka forget his bentou?

He should have made three; one for our working older brother, one for me to eat once I come back home at noon, and the other would be his own since he would stay behind at school until evening because of club activities.However, the two remaining ones mean that Touka forgot to bring his with him.I laughed with a bitter smile at him for forgetting to bring something he made himself; he also has a cute side to him, hm. After putting one of the bentous in my bag, I leave the house.

After finis.h.i.+ng the task of returning to the reality and quietness of a school day, and meeting the friends and the homeroom teacher whose faces I havent seen in a while, I want to return home to just laze about, but today I have a mission.I have to deliver the bentou that I put in my bag to Touka. Because I aint such a useless sister who would abandon her starving younger brother.I know that being hungry is so harsh that it can become painful, to the point youd eat other humans Yeah, It seems that I have become broken because of this summers heat.I dont even feel like retorting to myself.

My younger brothers middle school is not so far away from the high school I attend; I have so pa.s.s by it on my way back.Ill get there in a moment since I go to school by bike.

With the crisp sound of the pedals, I advance towards my destination while facing the lukewarm summer wind.

Sooo hooooooot.

No matter how much I pedal the wind doenst become refres.h.i.+ng.It is such a h.e.l.l when I have to stops at a red light.Suddenly I start sweating because of having been moving, so I wipe the sweat with a towel, but the heat of my body does not go down.I want to quickly return home and go to sleep in the room that has an air conditioner. Pus.h.i.+ng down those feelings, Ireturn to the task of rowing the pedals.

Arriving at his middle school, I place my oh so beloved bike in the bike parking area, and head to the clubroom where my brother ought to be, while trying not to stand out.Although Touka looks like that, hes a member of the blooming with youthfulness track and field club.There were a lot of times during the vacation when he wasnt at home because of attending summer training camps.Above all, his specialty is running at short distances; he even has a record of partic.i.p.ating in a tournament and winning the champions.h.i.+p; such a capable younger brother I have.While I feel proud as his older sister, at the same time, as an older sister Im so useless.Sorry for being such a good-for-nothing oneechan, Touka.

I visit the club room with the intent of stealthily peering inside, but n.o.body is there.Maybe they are practicing at the sports grounds? After thinking of that, I swiftly try to turn around but Im startled by someone who was behind me.

Oh? Isnt that you, Ito-chan? Did something happen?

In front of me was a lively girl, who had her brown-dyed hair up in a ponytail, and whose skin was tan because of the sun. I was startled for amoment, but I immediately calm down at seeing a familiar figure.

Such a good timing, Yuu; I wonder if you could pa.s.s this to Touka? He has club activities today but he forgot his bentou.

I take out the bentou box from my bag and hold it out for her, and she receives it.My mission is now complete.Lets return now.

Touka should be accompanying Nao at the school infirmary Thats right! Dont you want to go with me, Ito-chan?

What.

At the school infirmary? Did Naoki collapse again?

Oh my, right on the heels of yesterday.

I was thinking that he was in an unexpectedly good condition today, but when the morning cla.s.s ended, he abruptly collapsed! Just like his batteries had run out. I was so surprised! And then the teacher tried to call the ambulance. Even though this always happens!

Taking precaution is never excessive.

Well, thats true too

Its just that the teacher is p.r.o.ne to worrying too much, she adds with a sigh.According to what Im told, five ambulances were dispatched last month due to Naoki.Thats excessive indeed.Naokis condition is not an acute disease, but he often suffers from anemia. The usual pattern is that hell be betterafter lying down for a while.

But as expected, Im worried about him so I decide to go to the infirmary.Of course Im not thinking of wicked things such as how the infirmary will be cooler than here at all!

Im in a different uniform, and as a highschooler I feel some resistance to loitering about a middle school. Moreover some curious stares are coming my way, but Im saved somewhat by the fact that cla.s.ses have ended and there are few students around.Forgive me for standing out.

With a, please excuse me, I enter the school infirmary together with Yuu, but the doctor is not here; and in the bed is Naoki, while my younger brother Touka is sitting in a chair by his side.

Neechan? Just why are you here.

I came to deliver your bentou. You must thank me, Touka!

Oh.

Toukas expression says Ah d.a.m.n when hes handed his bentou box by Yuu.Apparently he hadnt notice that he forgot it.His cheeks redden a little in embarrasment.

M-more importantly, listen, Naoki has this thing!

Trying to change the subject in a panic, hes so cute, this d.a.m.n guy.

Now that he said so, I wonder if Naokis all right. I glance at his face and am relieved that hes not so terribly pale.I guess he recovered a bit after taking a rest, but, as Touka pointed out, hes holding a small open book in his hands.

Hm? Whats that? Looks like an ancient book?

Yuu peers into its content with great interest.Its thick like a dictionary, but its small enough to fit snugly in the palm of your hand.Its colors are faded as if it had acc.u.mulated dust for a long time.

I found it at the library. I tried to borrow it since it was unusual, but it had no card so I just brought it out with me. I wonder if someone left it there as a prank? (Naoki)

Er That is to say, you dont know if you could bring it out without permission? (Itoka)

Perhaps it is what is known as a forbiden book.I look at the covers spine, but I see no mark that could indicate such a thing.

But its strange, look at this. (Naoki)

Naoki holds a spark in his eyes as he shows us the contents.Naoki loves reading, and itd not be an exaggeration to say that the word bookworm was invented just for him. When he finds something to be extremelyinteresting he comes show it to me, but Id like you to please stop it with the scary books like the blackmagic ones. Just look forordinary novels, I beg you.

Wow, what is this, English? No, it cant be. (Yuu)

Right? These weird letters look like crawling worms. Dont you think its some kids prank too? (Touka)

But Touka, its pretty elaborate for a prank; look here, it even has ill.u.s.trations. (Naoki)

The three people express their thoughts to each other thoughtfully, but I cant see the contents of the book from here. Let me see it for a bit,I say as I take the book from Naoki. There, there was a fine ill.u.s.tration of a drawn landscape which just couldnt have been drawn by children.Next to it are the characters that, as Touka described, look like crawling worms, but still are scrawled evenly.

What is this, its like something that could be cla.s.sified as the ancient characters that you could watch on television.Theres no way we could decipher such a thing.You should pa.s.s it to an archaeologist. Or to a collector of curiosities.But I got the feeling that this is not that kinda thing.It seems to be just a book but yeah, its something that shouldnt exist in this world.

I give a bitter smile at having started to think like my older brother does, and turn the pages, but only more ill.u.s.trations and strange letters come out. What, this books not interesting at all, I say.

Woah!?

I close the book and try to return it to Naoki, but Touka who was by his side suddenly crouchs down while holding his head.

Touka, whats wrong?

I tought that maybe he saw a bug, but I s.h.i.+ft my line of sight to peer at his face, and his eyes were wide open and s.h.i.+fting all over the place.

Wh-whats with this voice!!

What voice?Whats he talking about?

Whatsthis!?

This time Yuu holds her head and begins to look around.As I thought, her voice too, shes muttering.

This is a girls voice?

Even Naoki closes his eyes and scrunches his brow while on the bed.

Uhm, wait a moment.I cant hear any voice at all.Rather, I cant hear anything other than the voices of three people who are making noise.

I dont know whats going on.I cant do anything but stare at them all dumbfounded; while they bend their heads in pain because of hearing a strange voice.

In the end, I become surprised because the book I was about to return to Naoki begins to emit light.

Wh, whats this!?

I let go of the book in a panic. At the moment that the book falls onto the floor, it actually starts to glows more brightly, and that light creates several bands that begin to creep over the floor of the infirmary. Its like it isenclosing us; yes, something like a magical formation that Ive seen in games emerges, giving off a s.h.i.+ning golden light.

T-, Touka! Naoki! Yuu!

I call their names, but the three of them have closed their eyes as if they were enduring something harsh.

What the h.e.l.l is going on!? Moreoverthis super development is similar to the beginning of a hero summoning template that my brother made me read about before.No, I dont actually know whats happening in front of my eyes; but, a mysterious voice that only the protagonists can hear, an old book that suddenly starts giving off light, and a magical formation This, absolutely means, that something will happen!!

My head is chaos at the paranormal phenomenon which should absolutely never happen in reality, and yet it is now happening right in front of me. My instict tells me that this is dangerous so I try to leave the infirmary, however, the door which I attempt to open is closed tightly as if it was locked with a key.

No way!? I was open until just now!?

Ill run away even if I have to break the window to escape!Although I lift the chair where Touka had been sitting and try to hit the window strongly with it, Touka catches me by the arms and ends up stopping me.

N-Neechan whatre ya doing! Thats dangerous!

Its more dangerous to stay here!

Heeey!I dont know whatll happen but I dont want to get caught in it!Let go of me, little brother!!

As we are struggling like this the floor lights up even more, and our sense of direction disappears just as if s.p.a.ce itself had been twisted. I dont even know when I let go of the chair and it fallsoff my hand, disappearing somewhere.Toukas hands which were holding onto my arms disappear too.Not only that.My surroundings disappeared.I cant see anything because of the pure-white light. I feelbad, as if I was thrown just as I am into outer s.p.a.ce; I cant stay standing and try to stick my feet to the floor.No, I cant even confirm if the floors still there.I dont understand a single thing.

I could just feel, like my consciousness is swaying and began falling down.

Spinning spinning spinning spinning.

The inside of my head is chaotic like a storm.

Spinning spinning spinning spinning.

I closed my eyes tightly without knowing what was what.

Who am I?

Someone speaks to me.I reply.

Itoka.

Who am I?

I am Itoka; yeah, Itoka.

Who am I?

Didnt I just tell you that Im Itoka

But, I should have another name.

Another name?

Once more.Remember, a name that sounds similar: that name.

I dont have anything like that.

There has to be one.Please think carefully, now.

Mines a weird name, but this name that my parents gave me is the only one I have, you know.

Really?

Really.

Really?

Really!

Can you really say that?Can you really affirm it?Can you really swear thats true?

All right, one more time.

Itoka.

All right, one more time.

Itoka.

All right, one more time.

Ito.

All right, one more time.

Vito?

Yeah, thats it.So, what am I?

A human.

Thats right, but what was I until just a while ago?

A Dragon, which carried human memories.

Correct.So one last thing.What happened to me?

I, died.

When I open my eyes, a girl with two clear-cut blue eyes smiles at me.

Welcome back, me.