Chapter 14: “The Distance of a Trembling Hand”
“Ah‚ look‚ look‚ Rin-chan! Over there! You can see the streak of light!”
I leaned over the railing of the rusted overpass and pointed beyond the curtain of rain.A single beam of light crawled slowly across the sinking city’s horizon.
A weekend spectacle—or rather‚ the “signal of the end” in this world.The euthanasia train.
“…Don’t lean out so far. The wind’s strong. If you fall‚ you’ll be done faster than riding that train.”
Rin-chan’s cold voice came from behind.But just a little warmer than usual.
(She’s worried…! Rin-chan’s kindness is still alive today!)
“No way! I still have tons of things I want to do in this world! But… those people on that train… don’t they look a little lonely?”
I pulled some junk from my pocket.Scraps of plastic bag picked up in the break room and a pretty stone I found earlier.I was planning to apply the “Nagisa-style ultra-rough waterproofing” and turn it into a charm.
“I want to throw this all the way over there. Like‚ ‘We’re still full of life!’—an adventurous cheer!”
“…Ridiculous. Do you know how many meters that is? Physically impossible.”
Rin-chan shook her head in disbelief.Her gaze‚ for a moment‚ shifted from the train’s light to my hands.
(Look‚ Rin-chan‚ she really does care after all… cute)
“Rin-chan. This world doesn’t operate on physical laws alone. My ‘Excitement Index’ is at its absolute maximum right now!”
(*Excitement Index: a mysterious physical quantity observable only in Nagisa’s brain*)
The rain fell relentlessly‚ quietly eroding the city’s outlines.Amid it‚ only my energy was abnormally high.
But that was—
(Because Rin-chan is right next to me)
The light of the euthanasia train swayed quietly in the distance.We still had no reason to board it.
I gently placed my foot on the edge of the exposed concrete overpass.The rain-soaked surface was like a devil’s skating rink‚ whispering‚ “Why not slip and fall?”
“Nagisa‚ get back! The ground there is unstable!”
Rin-chan’s voice cut through the sound of the rain.But to my ears—
(The wind’s saying‚ “Now’s the moment‚” right…? Right?)
The wind’s whispers usually steer you toward shortening your life.But right now‚ my Excitement Index had broken its limit‚ so I pretended not to hear it.
“Hey‚ I think I can reach it! The wind’s on our side now! Come on‚ the world’s saying ‘Throw it!’”
(*The world is not actually saying that. Rin’s inner thoughts*)
I clenched the charm in my hand.Despite being just scraps of plastic and a stone‚ it now looked like “heroic equipment.”
I put strength into my fingertips‚ used the spring of my whole body—Just as I swung my arm toward the streak of light‚
The world beneath my feet trembled eerily.The sound of cracking popped faintly under the rain.
“…Ah.”
A sickening twist of sensation.I felt the edge I was standing on give way under gravity.
My view tilted rapidly‚ sky and ground swapping places.I saw raindrops fly in reverse for the first time.
“I told you to watch your feet! You can’t read the wind!”
Rin-chan’s shout was closer than I’d ever heard.And fierce.
(Rin-chan… she gains new vocabulary when she’s angry…!)
My body was thrown into the cold air.Ah‚ this might be bad.
(It feels like my life’s HP just dropped to 1…)
I reflexively reached out.Trying to grab the air‚ but there was nothing.
“Daij—”
“There’s no way you’re okay!”
Rin-chan’s anger crushed my carefree words.Her voice was far stronger than the fear of falling‚ pulling my heart back to reality for a moment.
(…Rin-chan can really make that sound…)
I continued to fall through the rain.
The wind roared‚ pushing my body outward.Raindrops pelted my face horizontally‚ stinging.
(Hey‚ Mr. Wind‚ could you just be on my side today? Why are you giving your all to the enemy?)
“…!”
A sudden jolt.My wrist was gripped with a force that made me think my arm might tear off.
Looking up—
Rin-chan‚ her face red‚ teeth clenched‚ holding onto me.
Rin-chan shouted:
“…Grab on! Don’t ever let go!”
Her thin arms trembled.Her eyes showed none of the usual calm—only one thing—
“The raw fear of losing something.”
(Rin-chan… I don’t want to make her look like that…)
I desperately clung to the crumbling concrete pillar.My fingertips slipped.Rainwater flowed mercilessly‚ making the pillar as slippery as if saying‚ “If you can hold on‚ it’s a miracle.”
Rin-chan grabbed my collar and pulled with all her strength.
“Enough! If you let go now‚ you’ll die!”
“I-I know!”
I tried to reply with humor‚ but my voice was hoarse.Rainwater got in my mouth‚ spreading the taste of iron.
(Ah‚ that’s definitely rust… bad for the body…)
On the edge of collapse‚ we clung to one life together.Rin-chan’s fingertips dug into my skin.In the cold rain‚ only her palms burned as if on fire.
(Rin-chan… so desperate… I really almost fell…)
In the distance‚ the whistle of the euthanasia train blew.A tone too calm‚ as if mocking our clumsiness.
(Train‚ please… be quiet for now…!)
“…Alright!”
The final push.Rin-chan leaned backward and hauled me up.
The world seemed to stop for a moment.Rain‚ wind‚ even the echo of the whistle were all pushed away—
I tumbled into Rin-chan’s arms.
(…Saved. I really was saved.)
We rolled onto the overpass‚ on ground that could still be called safe.
The cold rain hit our faces mercilessly.The hardness of the concrete against our backs silently confirmed that I was still “on this side.”
“Haa… haa… haa…”
Beside me‚ Rin-chan’s breathing was ragged.Her shoulders rose and fell‚ rain and sweat mixing and dripping.
(I’ve never seen Rin-chan this unsettled…)
I had to say something.This silence was colder than the rain.
“Ah… um… sorry‚ Rin-chan. I couldn’t throw the charm…”
I meant it jokingly.I thought if I laughed like “Adventure failed!” as usual‚ the heavy atmosphere would lighten a bit.
But—
“…Don’t joke around.”
Rin-chan’s voice sank low.Colder than the rain‚ piercing into my chest.
“…It’s not about calculations or anything like that. I thought you were going to disappear. Right in front of me‚ like a mere stone.”
Her hands still trembled slightly.The mark of her fingers on my collar left a lingering warmth.
(…I made her look like that…)
For the first time‚ I realized how much my flippancy had chipped away at Rin-chan’s “something important.”
My “I’m fine” was nothing to her.Just a thoughtless sound.
(I always wanted to protect Rin-chan… but instead‚ I was chipping away at her heart…)
“…About earlier…”
I couldn’t continue.Rain and regret tangled in my throat‚ making my voice fail.
Rin-chan didn’t even try to look at me.She was just desperately trying to steady her breathing. 
The rain showed no sign of stopping‚ quietly falling over the sinking city.
The streak of light had drifted far away.The euthanasia train‚ oblivious to our commotion‚ quietly vanished into the darkness.
For a while‚ we sat side by side‚ just watching the endless rain.The sound of raindrops hitting the ground seemed to mark the remaining time of the world.
“…Ah‚ this.”
I noticed a small object at my feet.It wasn’t the “waterproof charm stone” I had been clutching.
“…A radio?”
An old radio‚ covered in mud and cracked.It must have been unearthed by the recent collapse.
(Wait… a rarer item than the stone? Am I the type who’s lucky with gacha?)
Rin-chan silently picked it up and pressed the switch with her wet fingers.
“…Zz… Zzzz… Can you hear… me…?”
Through the static‚ I thought I heard someone’s voice.Maybe Momiji-chan. Or someone entirely different…?
We exchanged glances.
(…It’s a living voice.)
A saved life‚ and a broken radio.The accident caused by my recklessness may have unexpectedly opened a “door to the outside world.”
A warmth spread slowly in my chest.A different kind of heat from the fear just moments ago.
“…Let’s go. If we stay here‚ we’ll catch a cold.”
Rin-chan stood up‚ turning her back to me.Her back‚ once burning with desperation‚ had returned to being cold and calm.
(But… I remember that heat.)
I stood and started walking behind Rin-chan.
The rain still didn’t stop.The city continued to sink.
But—Our “adventure” had only just begun.
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