Chapter 2: "Rainy Street Corner"
The rain kept falling without pause‚ and the street corner was on the verge of sinking into water. The food stalls of the once-bustling shopping street remained only as bare frames‚ and the signs had their letters blurred by the rain. Broken umbrellas and soaked sketchbooks were scattered along the roadside‚ leaving behind only traces of someone’s life.
Nagisa looked at the street corner and her eyes sparkled.
“Waa! It’s kind of like a treasure hunt! Look‚ look—there’s part of a stall over there!”
She splashed through a puddle and ran over‚ peering into an old wooden box. Inside were damp paper bags and a half-used lantern rolling around.
Rin quietly watched her from behind. She pulled her hood down deep and paused her steps to avoid getting wet in the rain.
“…It’s broken.”
She pointed it out with a short remark‚ but Nagisa only laughed without minding it.
“But it might still work! If we can light it‚ it’ll be bright and might help at night!”
The air at the street corner was quiet. There were no human voices—only the sound of rain. Yet Nagisa’s voice broke the silence and lit a small warmth in Rin’s heart.
Ahead along the street stood a row of half-sunken stalls. The red cloth had lost its color‚ and the sign still bore the faded words “Yakisoba.” Nagisa spread her arms when she saw it.
“Waa! I bet it was absolutely delicious to eat here! Rin-chan‚ try imagining it! Steam rising up like this‚ and the smell of sauce spreading everywhere…!”
Rin narrowed her eyes just a little.
“…If it’s only imagining‚ it’s not bad.”
A rain-soaked street corner.
Two girls standing there.
One laughs while dreaming of the liveliness of the past‚ and the other quietly accepts that dream.
The scene looked like a small hope left behind in a world at its end.
Nagisa stood in front of a half-sunken stall‚ her eyes shining.
“Waa! Look‚ look‚ Rin-chan! There’s still a case for bottled soda left!”
She tried to pull up a wooden crate soaked in water‚ but it was too heavy to move easily.
“…It’s probably empty.”
Rin said calmly. But Nagisa didn’t give up.
“But the bottles might still be useful! We could put water in them‚ or decorate with them! Look‚ they’re shiny and pretty!”
She pulled one out and held it up to the rain. The wet glass reflected the light‚ shining like a small lantern.
At that moment‚ the stone pavement beneath her feet had become slippery.
“Whoa!” Nagisa lost her balance while holding the bottle and tumbled spectacularly into a puddle.
“…Again?”
Rin sighed and held out her hand‚ pulling Nagisa back to her feet.
“Thank you! I’m completely soaked now!”
“…That’s why I told you to be careful.”
“Ehehe! But I protected the bottle!”
Nagisa proudly raised the bottle. Rin watched her with exasperation‚ yet deep inside she was smiling a little.
In the corner of the stall lay an old sketchbook. The pages were blurred by rain‚ but drawings that looked like a child’s doodles remained.
“This must be someone’s memory…”
Nagisa flipped through the pages and smiled warmly.
“…You can’t just throw this away.”
Rin’s words were short‚ but there was kindness in their tone.
At the rainy street corner‚ small discoveries and small troubles.
Their exchanges gave a definite warmth to the sinking world.
Because she had fallen into the puddle‚ Nagisa’s clothes were completely soaked‚ yet she laughed while hugging the bottle.
“Waa! It’s cold but it feels nice! It’s almost like a swimming pool!”
At her innocence‚ Rin looked exasperated but relaxed her mouth slightly.
“…You really are positive.”
Nagisa shook the bottle proudly.
“Because we found it! Now we can fill it with water and carry it around! Rin-chan‚ do you want one too?”
“…It’ll just be heavy.”
“Eh—but it’s pretty!”
Nagisa forcibly handed one to Rin. With no choice‚ Rin accepted it and held it as if hiding it inside her hood.
At that moment‚ the frame of the stall suddenly collapsed‚ and an iron bar fell with a loud clang.
“Watch out!”
Rin reflexively reached out and pulled Nagisa close. The bar fell right beside them‚ splashing water.
“Whoa! That scared me!”
“…That’s why you shouldn’t let your guard down.”
Rin’s voice was stronger than usual. Nagisa widened her eyes for a moment‚ then smiled.
“Thanks! Rin-chan‚ you’re really dependable after all!”
Nagisa held the wet sketchbook and turned its pages. Inside were drawings blurred by rain.
“These are someone’s dreams‚ right…? The rain has washed them away‚ but you can still see them!”
Rin looked at the drawing and quietly nodded.
“…If there’s something you want to protect‚ pick it up.”
“Yeah! I’ll treasure it!”
While acknowledging their differences‚ the two naturally supported each other.
Nagisa’s brightness illuminated Rin’s calmness‚ and Rin’s calmness protected Nagisa’s innocence.
That balance nurtured a small bud of friendship on the rainy street corner.
From a distance‚ Momiji watched the two of them. In the sinking city‚ she looked on with eyes like an older sister.
Her presence was still quiet like a shadow‚ but she was surely becoming a force supporting the girls’ future.
The rain continued to fall endlessly‚ and the stalls and signs at the street corner were about to sink into the water. Yet the two girls walked lightly.
“Hey‚ hey‚ Rin-chan! Let’s take both the bottle and the sketchbook home! They feel like treasures!”
“…They’re just heavy.”
“Ehh—but they’re memories! Someone’s dream drawn on those pages!”
Nagisa hugged the wet sketchbook to her chest and smiled. Seeing that‚ Rin let out a small breath. It sounded exasperated‚ yet somehow relieved.
The two began walking side by side. The sound of rain formed a rhythm‚ and their footsteps overlapped with it. In the sinking city‚ only their voices rang out vividly.
“You know‚ Rin-chan‚ you’re so calm and dependable! Even when I mess up‚ you help me right away!”
“…You’re just noisy.”
“Fufu‚ but that’s what makes us balanced!”
At Nagisa’s words‚ Rin narrowed her eyes slightly. Indeed‚ their differences were becoming a strength that supported each other—that feeling spread quietly in her chest.
Up ahead on the street‚ an elderly couple had lit a lantern. The weak light swayed in the rain‚ yet it certainly illuminated the path before the two girls.
“…Those people are still alive too.”
“Yeah! Everyone’s doing their best together!”
Nagisa waved her hand‚ and the elderly couple quietly smiled back. Their smiles were fragile yet warm‚ as if foreshadowing the girls’ future.
Before long‚ they passed the street corner and entered the next street.
“Hey‚ hey‚ where should we go next? Maybe the old market site—there might still be something left!”
“…I’ll think about it.”
“Ehh! That again! But I’m excited!”
Their voices melted into the rain and echoed through the city.
The bud of friendship had certainly begun to grow.
And far away‚ the faint whistle of the euthanasia train that runs on weekends echoed.
It was the sound announcing the end of the world—and at the same time‚ a signal inviting the girls onward on the continuation of their journey.
|