Chapter 57

I suddenly regained consciousness.

However, this was a place I had never seen before. There was only a bed where I was lying, a study desk, and a small wardrobe. The room was dominated by numerous bookshelves and books, and the smell of paper and ink filled the air. The window had bars, and the large, heavy door seemed immovable.

If I had to compare it to something... it would be a 'prison.'

"Where... am I?"

As I let out a voice, I suddenly realized it was not a child's voice, but my own.

I looked down at myself and confirmed that I was in the familiar body of 'Yuri.'

Then, where am I really?

"---...Nee, nee (big sister)"

"!"

Before I could indulge in my thoughts, a voice came from nearby.

It was a voice I knew well recently. 'Boku's' voice.

When I looked in the direction of the voice, there stood a very cute child.

I knew this figure too, as I had been seeing it in the mirror recently.

"---It's Yuri, right?"

"Yup!"

When I called out, I received a cheerful and energetic response with a smile.

"Yuri, where are we? Do you know why we are separate?"

"U?"

I called out, hoping for a response, but as expected, she tilted her head.

How cute. This is unbearable.

...No, that's not right. This isn't the time to just smile together.

"Yuri, can I look around this room?"

"Nee, nee, let's go!"

While feeling relieved by Yuri's cuteness, I asked her to help me understand the situation, but I received a mismatched answer with a happy smile.

...Could it be that this child doesn't understand the words properly?

When I got up from the bed, Yuri ran over to me.

With Yuri clinging to me, I looked around the room.

No matter how I tried to open the door, it wouldn't budge, as expected from its appearance.

The window bars were also very sturdy, and there was nothing in the room that could break them.

I refocused my attention on the bookshelves that occupied most of the room.

I was worried if I could read them, but my concerns were unfounded. The text was the same as what I had seen in the document department, and I could understand it.

The books on the shelves ranged widely, from picture books for children to books that even adults rarely read.

Finally, when I examined the small living space, I found something on the desk that I had never imagined.

It was an incredibly thick book, like an encyclopedia. However, when I opened the page with a bookmark, the writing was completely different from the books on the shelves. It was a language I knew well, a mix of Japanese and English.

Next to this book was a stack of papers written in the same script as the books on the shelves, but with very poor handwriting.

Comparing the book and the papers, it was clear at a glance that they were translations.

"---Yuri, did you translate this?"

"Muu?"

I called out, but Yuri still didn't understand the meaning.

As a last resort, I wrote on a blank piece of paper in Japanese and the other script, asking if Yuri had written it.

To my surprise, Yuri's face lit up. She took the pen from my hand and wrote 'yes' in both scripts.

At this age, she can hardly speak, yet she understands the written word so well. It's a painful contradiction.

Probably, the reason for her speech difficulties lies here. In this semi-imprisoned situation, there is no chance for conversation, so language development is impossible.

Apart from reading books or sleeping, there is nothing for this child to do. That's why she can read and write.

"Yuri, do you understand? I am Yui."

"Yui?"

"No, Y-u-r-i."

"Yui."

"Y-u-r-i."

"Y-u-r-i."

"That's right. Good job."

When I taught her my name, Yuri's face lit up. When I praised her for pronouncing it correctly by patting her head, her smile grew even brighter.

"Yuri!"

"That's right. Let's try to talk a little more.

...I don't know when we can do it, since I don't know how we got here."

As I stroked Yuri's hair and spoke, she looked up at me.

For some reason, I could sense it.

This child is definitely 'me,' and I am definitely 'Yuri.' We are one and the same.

There are many mysteries about where we are and why we have separate consciousnesses.

But perhaps some answers can be found in Yuri's memories.

"I am with Yuri."

"Let's go!"

"Yes, together. ...I don't really understand, so let's go to sleep."

After a quick check of the room, I suddenly felt very sleepy.

I got into bed with Yuri and wrapped myself in the blanket.

Perhaps missing human warmth, Yuri snuggled up to me, and I held her tightly. She soon fell asleep, her breathing steady.

Using her breathing as a lullaby, I also surrendered to sleep.