The red-eyed devil on the house

The temperature from the paste, the smell that belonged to him lingering on the tip of the nose, and the heartbeat that couldn't be calmed down brought heat to Yamato's stable cheeks.

The slightly coquettish sweet ending is like thorny thorns slowly wrapping around the heart of Yamato Shou'an.

Yamato, who has no way to think calmly, can't think of words to describe the current California except "the whisper of the devil".

Deliberately looking up at an excellent angle, California smiled and shifted his body weight to Yamato Shu'an.

It seemed that it was interesting to see Yamato Anding secretly flustered, and California, who couldn't help but burst out laughing, let go of Yamato Anding's hand.

After regaining his freedom from California, his beating heart finally calmed down a little.Yamato Morita glanced at California who was smiling very happily, and now it was his turn to turn his back to California in an awkward manner, and put all his attention on the homework in hand.

"Hey, don't be angry, let's play catch!"

"Playing on the rooftop? Don't."

Because California was too noisy to haunt him, it took Yamato and Shou Anding twice as long as normal to finally finish his homework.

A week later, the cultural festival will be held. After some discussion, the class of Yamato Mori Anding decided to set up a stall for fried noodles and barbecue, but the important venue could not be determined.

The open space at the school gate has long been applied for by other classes, and it seems that there are also classes applying for it in the courtyard.If it is now replaced by other plans that use classrooms, the preparation time will not be sufficient.

Is it a cultural festival... the school will be very lively.I also want California to come and play, but that guy won't leave the rooftop.In this case……

At the moment when the students in the class were divided into two factions of 'replacement plan' and 'find another venue' and the debate was in full swing, Yamato Mamoru Anding, who has never expressed his opinion directly, spoke.

"Isn't the rooftop useless for classes? Wouldn't it be good to set the venue on the rooftop?"

If it is set on the rooftop, California will be able to participate.

The classroom that had been noisy until just now suddenly fell silent, and everyone looked at Yamato Shou'an with unbelievable expressions.Yamato Mamoruan, who was suddenly noticed by the whole class, tilted his head slightly for some unknown reasons.

In the end, I don't know who spoke first.

"That... are you serious?"

"Haha, what are you talking about. How could you go to the rooftop?"

"That's right, the rooftop with the red-eyed demon! Yamato Shou, stop making fun of everyone at this time."

The students who dismissed the proposal of Yamato's stability as a joke continued to participate in the discussion on the venue.

Just when Yamato Mamoru was in a state of confusion, he was lightly poked on the back a few times, and when he turned around, he saw Nagasawa Shin at the back table timidly wandering his eyes from side to side for a long time before facing him squarely.

"Sometimes I really don't know if you are natural or not...I always feel that you seem to be close to the rooftop a lot recently...Have you forgotten the legend that I was told at the beginning of the school..."

Words such as legends and demons have been appearing non-stop since just now, but Yamato Mamoru was unable to recall the content of the legend that seemed to have some impressions.

"Really... Judging by your expression, you have completely forgotten it..."

Because Nagasawa's voice was too low, it was covered by other people's voices from time to time, and Yamato Shou Anding could only move his chair next to him and listen to him tell the content of the legend again.

——No one remembers exactly when it started. There is a red-eyed demon living on the roof of the school. Anyone who accidentally breaks into his territory will be lured to the abyss of death.

The roof of the school is a forbidden place that you must never go to.

Yamato Morita recalled California's beautiful pair of red pupils, well-manicured red nails, and that red scarf.

Red.

Although it is true that California has always hidden many secrets, but, the devil or something...

"So the gate leading to the rooftop has always been locked... It seems that the key to the lock has disappeared somewhere long ago... Even if you want to go, you can't get in..."

"Huh? But it wasn't locked when I went?"

Nagasawa, whose eyes widened because of Yamato Mamoru's words, hastily waved his hands.

"Impossible, impossible, the door to the roof is absolutely locked and you can't get in! No, if you don't believe me, let's go and see it together after class... Although I don't want to get close to it at all..."

After the get out of class bell rang, Yamato Shou Anding went to the gate leading to the rooftop together with Nagasawa, who obviously proposed it but was reluctant.

It was at this time that Yamato Mamoru Anding saw for the first time that the lock on the door was firmly locked.

"Look, that's why I said it's impossible to go to the rooftop..."

He went forward and tugged the chain that had been twisted several times. The rusted clasp firmly locked the chain, and Yamato Shou'an was stained with ashes in vain.

So why have I been able to enter the rooftop to see California?

Nagasawa, who turned around and wanted to leave quickly, was grabbed by the shoulder by Yamato Moran.

"Hey! Also, is there anything else..."

"Demons are just legends, right? How could there be such an existence in reality?"

"Don't you believe it...the legend is true, there are really several students who died on the rooftop...that's why the school locked this place several years ago..."

Nagasawa hurriedly ran back to the classroom because Yamato Anding suddenly let go of the hand holding his shoulder, leaving Yamato and Anding standing there alone with a lost expression.

Who is California, and what is the red-eyed demon? Is the time spent with California just an illusion?

In the end, everyone in the class decided to perform a drama.Yamato Mamoruan, who was busy with everyone until it was a long time before school was over, took the initiative to take the last job of disposing of garbage and locking the door.After finishing the finishing work, he picked up his schoolbag and locked the door of the classroom, turned around and walked towards the corridor in the opposite direction from the way back.

Without thinking about anything, he ran to the stairs leading to the roof. In the morning, he saw with his own eyes that the chain that was locked was now hanging in vain as if to lure Yamato Shou'an to push it away.

The scenery of the rooftop under the setting sun became a bit ambiguous. Now, even if the red-eyed demon really appeared in front of him, he would not find it strange.

While wondering how to speak in his heart, he walked to California standing in front of the barbed wire and looking into the distance. Before he could even call out his name, he was abruptly interrupted by California's sudden words.

"You know, there's just enough space between this broken piece of barbed wire for a man to fall through."

California put his hand on the broken part of the barbed wire, and his fingertips lightly brushed the tips of the broken wires one after another. He turned his head and smiled and looked at Yamato Shou'an's sweaty face.

For a moment, he couldn't find any words to respond to. Yamato Mori Anding lowered his head and looked at the concrete floor under his feet. He didn't know whether it was the brilliance of the setting sun that elongated his shadow or the traces left by the past. Where California stood, he could vaguely see a piece of A dark red that is about to fade.

"...can't die."

California's reaction to Yamato's first words, which finally opened his mouth, was nothing more than crossing his arms and raising his eyebrows.

"You must not die! It is my fault for doubting whether you are a red-eyed demon, but you must not commit suicide!"

Rushing forward and grabbing California's sleeve tightly, Yamato Moran raised his head and looked at him with firm eyes.

Because Yamato Mamoru Anding's speech was too unexpected and his expression was very serious, California couldn't help laughing, and couldn't stop laughing for a long time, and finally even squatted down and hugged his stomach and laughed until he couldn't make a sound .

Yamato, who was even more flustered by California's laughter, became a little angry instead.

"You've almost had enough laughing!"

"...Class 3, Yuta Ueno, committed suicide. Class 1, Class B, Shunsuke Murata, accidentally fell to his death. Class 1, Class 2, two sisters, Haruka Kojima and Yuka Kojima, died in an accident in a rainstorm. Class [-]B, Miyagawa Saki, suffered a bullying incident and died."

"Eh?"

California suddenly revealed a series of names, which made Yamato Moranda, who was about to pull him up, hang his hand in mid-air without making another move.

California, who stood up slowly, wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and turned his head seriously to look at the sunset that was about to disappear into the horizon.

"These are the names of all the students who died here. If you don't believe me, you can check the information. The top shelf of the bookshelf in the far corner of the library contains all the past report records of the News Department."

Compared with why California, which seems to have never left the rooftop, knows these things, Yamato Shou'an has more concerns.

Just listening to what California said just now, the causes of death of the students are all very common, and it seems that they have nothing to do with the existence of demons.

"The devil—"

"But the red-eyed demons do exist."

The words that have not been said are completely denied by California.The way he's so convinced of the existence of demons is reminiscent of his unspoken reasons why he's here.

However, California's refusal eyes did not allow him to continue asking.

"The cultural festival is coming soon? If you really want to know about me, then come back after the cultural festival is over."

All the words he wanted to say were choked in his throat, Yamato Shou Anding grabbed the hem of his clothes, let go after a moment of silence, nodded, turned and left the rooftop.

Waving at the back of Yamato Anding's leaving, California immediately clenched the red scarf around his neck in pain after the sound of Yamato Anding's footsteps disappeared completely, as if he couldn't even breathe normally He bent down like a trembling, and finally collapsed powerlessly on the ground, curled up and let out a wail.

The afterglow of the setting sun was about to be swallowed up by the darkness of the night. California, which was gradually calming down, panted heavily. His bangs were soaked in the sweat from his forehead and stuck to his cheeks indiscriminately. The neat scarf had already been pulled away. , slightly revealing some dark red marks on the neck covered under the scarf.

Because he was breathing too fast and was choked, California coughed several times before he recovered his breath. Exhausted, he turned over into a large character and lay on the ground, frowning slightly, laughing dryly as he muttered to himself.

"Ha, haha... I don't want to experience this kind of punishment again... I really won't say anything superfluous, I will abide by the rules... Cough, ah... It really hurts... "

A strange light flashed on the roof of the school, but disappeared in an instant.

California raised his arms to cover his eyes, barely raised the corners of his mouth.

——The sunset is so beautiful.Just like that day.

I remember that day when the sun was setting, the crying child kept wiping away the tears with his sleeves.

"Don't... woohoo, I'll never see you again... don't go,——"

Willfully tugging on his clothes, calling his name over and over again.

"...I know, only that agreement is the reason for my existence here..."

California turned his head to the side and stretched his arms, but his fingertips still couldn't touch the black scabbard knife lying quietly not far away.

At three o'clock in the afternoon on the last day of the cultural festival, the original drama of Class A of the third year officially started.

It is a story of a traveler who has been away from home for many years and returns to his hometown at all costs to fulfill the agreement he made with his childhood sweetheart, but failed to fulfill the agreement and disappeared.

When it was time for the play to start, all the lights in the arena were turned off immediately, and the curtain in the center of the stage, where the spotlights were aimed, slowly rose.

"Ah, this nostalgic hometown! I have already vowed to set foot on this land again one day!"

The plot gradually unfolds as the hero gets in touch with old friends. The story officially begins when the traveler finally meets his childhood sweetheart.

Yamato Shou'an, who had finally finished his work, sat in the seat reserved for him to watch the results of the students' hard work.

But when he was able to relax, he couldn't help thinking about California again.Do I really want to see him after the cultural festival? I don’t know why there is always a premonition that California will disappear from my eyes after knowing everything.

In case I never see him again... Thinking of Yamato Shou'an soothing my heart, my heart is restless.

"Have you forgotten me? Have you forgotten everything together with our agreement? What a ruthless person you are."

"No, I haven't forgotten. But why did you do such a thing to fulfill that promise!"

Yamato Moran Ding suddenly came back to his senses, and turned his attention to the actors on the stage.

forget?Agreement?Did I also forget something... It seems to be something important.

"That is a taboo that must never be touched. You should be more aware of the consequences of doing so than anyone else! This is the end, but you—"

"I just want to see you again, and I want to realize that little agreement between us. I don't regret everything I have done, even if I have to sacrifice myself in the end!"

At the end of the play, the scene of the separation of the male and female protagonists came to an end. Until the end, Yamato Shou Anding still couldn't remember what he had forgotten.

Regardless of whether it was the legend of the devil or something he couldn't remember, he was not such a forgetful person.

Even so, there seemed to be a voice in my heart urging myself to remember quickly, otherwise it would be too late.

……That's too late?Too late for what?

He walked out of the teaching building secretly worried, and just when he felt a little hungry and wanted to buy something to eat, someone patted his shoulder from behind.

Looking back, I saw the cowardly Nagasawa struggling for a long time, hesitant to speak, and finally mustered up the courage to hand the kebab in his hand to himself.

"Ah, thanks."

After thanking Nagasawa, he took the kebab in his hand. The heat of the freshly grilled kebab was a little hot.

In an instant, a picture of a person whose face could not be clearly seen holding his scalded hand nervously blowing on his behalf flashed in front of his eyes.

Is it my previous memory?Or an illusion of excessive annoyance?

"Well...you haven't been to the rooftop recently, have you?"

Nagasawa, who accidentally lost his mind, was called back by Nagasawa. I don't know if it was because of Nagasawa's character that his sense of presence was also very weak. Hit the shoulder.

Yamato Mamoru Anding turned his head and glanced around, and took Nagasawa to a relatively empty place for the convenience of talking.

"What happened to the rooftop?"

"Ah no...it's nothing. I just heard that someone nearby saw a strange light at dusk a few days ago...because you seem to be very concerned about the appearance of the rooftop, and thought it had something to do with you..."

"Thank you for your concern, I'm fine."

Nagasawa, who seemed slightly relieved, said goodbye to Yamato Moran, and trotted away.

Yamato Mamoru Anding looked up in the direction of the roof of the teaching building.

Weird light...California Is he okay.

Along the way, I thought about things in California and returned to the classroom with those fragments that I don’t know whether it was hallucinations or memories, but found that no one was in the classroom except the class leader Yuko Tashiro.

There is still some time before the end of the cultural festival. Maybe you can take a break in the classrooms that are not used by anyone for the time being, and then go to California after sorting out your mood.

Maybe it was because he was tired all day and thought about too many things, just sat down in his seat, Yamato Shou'an suddenly felt a little drowsy.

From the moment Yamato Anding entered the classroom, Tashiro, who had been staring at him hesitantly, took out a white envelope from his drawer, hid it behind him and walked in front of Yamato Anding.

"Well, Mr. Anding... I have something to tell you!"

I noticed that Tashiro seemed to be hiding something with his hands behind his back, but the current Yamato Morita didn't have the extra energy to care about these things, and without saying a word, he just turned the chair in the other direction and looked up at Tashiro with a nervous expression.

However, the drowsiness was getting thicker, and Yamato Mamoru was almost unable to see Tashiro's face clearly.

Why do I... feel sleepy so much today.

Although I was indeed busy with the cultural festival with everyone during this time, I had a good rest at night.

It's no good, even the squad leader can't say anything...

"I, I have always been very concerned about Anding-kun's affairs... Anding-kun has no one who is dating right now! If possible, I—"

Tashiro finally plucked up the courage and was about to confess, but he swallowed it all because of Yamato Shouan, who was already asleep on the chair in front of him.

"...Why are you falling asleep at this time?"

Yamato Mamoru had a dream.

It's more like a dream than a memory from a long, long time ago.

When he was still a child, Yamato and Shuan Ding, and another little boy with a red scarf.

"Listen to me! I can see gods!"

"Eh—really?"

Afraid that Yamato Anding would not believe him, the little boy hurriedly held his hand, and whispered something to the freshly picked flowers in Yamato Anding's hand.

Then the little boy raised a smiling face and said to Yamato Shou Anding: "The gods just told me that Anding's black cat is in a small cave in the back mountain. If you go there, you can find it!"

"Is it really in the small cave! Let's find it together!"

The little black cat at home suddenly disappeared at noon, and I searched for it by myself for a long, long time but couldn't find it.Finally, they went to the back mountain together after listening to the little boy's words, and soon found his black cat in the small cave.

"It's amazing! You can really talk to the gods!"

"But everyone except An Ding said I was joking, and An Ding was the only one who believed in me."

Yamato Shou Anding stretched out his hand and tugged on the little boy's sleeve, picked up the little black cat in his arms and held it in front of him.

"Don't worry, I will trust you no matter what."

"—Qing Guang."

Why did I forget such an important memory.

As if the missing memory fragments were all pieced together at the moment when the name was called just now, Yamato Moran Ding suddenly woke up from his dream, the classroom was already dyed the color of the setting sun, and the surroundings were so quiet that only he was breathing alone. The sound and the rustling of leaves shaken by the breeze outside the window.

The cultural festival has long since ended, and looking down from the window, there are only students in twos and threes who are still cleaning up the stalls.

On the table was a note pressed with a key.It's a message from the monitor.

——『I can’t wake you up, I can only go back first, I leave you the key to the classroom, I hope you can wake up before the school gate closes and go back quickly! 』

Yamato Mamoru Anding threw the message paper into the desk drawer, picked up the key and ran out of the classroom immediately.

The distance from the classroom to the stairwell is not very far, but Yamato Shou Anding, who was running with all his strength, felt that the road was very long.

If it is what I guessed, then I would rather not know the truth for the rest of my life.

Yamato Shou'an, who slammed open the roof door, didn't even have time to take care of his aching arm, and ran towards California, who turned his head after hearing the loud noise, with the momentum of slamming in the door.

Before California could open his mouth, Yamato Shou'an slammed into his arms firmly and hugged him tightly with all his strength.

Yamato Shou'an, who was gasping for breath, couldn't catch his breath for a while, Kakashi let his hands on his back tightly clutch his clothes, and gently patted him as if he understood something. back.

It took a while to breathe steadily, and he struggled in his heart for a long time until he bit his lower lip with a shallow mark, and finally made up his mind, Yamato Shou Anding raised his head to meet Shang California's focused eyes.

"I'm sorry I didn't notice it so late. I'm really sorry... Kiyomitsu."

"Wait, it's not something to cry about, is it?"

"It's all because of me that Qingguang became what he is now...! If I could have remembered earlier, you wouldn't have become a demon..."

He didn't even notice the warm liquid across his cheeks, and Yamato Shou Anding, who was a little panicked, quickly let go of California Qingguang, raised his hand and wiped away the uncontrollable tears with his sleeve.

Unable to see anymore, California Qingguang pulled down his hand, and wiped the red corners of his eyes with his own cuff.

"Huh? Sure enough, you still misunderstood something, right? ——I'm still a living human being."

Yamato Shou'an, with an unbelievable expression on his face, looked at California Qingguang in a daze for a while, then stretched out his hand and pulled California Qingguang's cheek.

Such a naive behavior cannot be used as a criterion to distinguish whether it is still a human being, and I understand this kind of thing in my heart.

"It hurts so much, it's time to let go! Really, it's too much to hit my face so mercilessly."

Looking at the reddish traces on California Qingguang's face, he felt a little sorry for him. Just as he was about to apologize, he felt familiar with the black and red checkered short coat that California Qingguang was wearing.

"I said, this dress..."

"Did you notice? It's very similar to the one we bought together when we were young! I've been looking for it for a long time!"

Yamato Shou Anding once again hugged California Kiyomitsu who was looking down at his clothes. The familiar temperature is so nostalgic.

I vaguely noticed why I forgot these important memories, but at the same time I felt that it didn't matter what the reason was.

"An Ding, I have something to tell you."

"There is a sentence that I should have told you ten years ago. I like you, Qingguang."

"...What, steal someone else's words."

What he wanted to say was said first, and California Qingguang turned his face away in frustration.

Yamato Moran Ding, who enjoyed seeing Ka Qingguang's various expressions, leaned forward with a smile, and kissed his lips.

The two people, whose lips and teeth met jerkyly, didn't need any extra words, and the mutual longing kiss continued until one of them raised the white flag first before announcing the end.Yamato Shou'an felt a little reconciled to the fact that he had launched the offensive on his own initiative but was defeated in the end. He stared closely at the corner of California Qingguang's lips that had been bitten by himself, and was ready for another salvage battle.

"Ah - don't look at me with such eyes, there will still be opportunities in the future, right? It's already this time, and it's time to go back."

Yamato Mamoru stretched out his hand to Kami Kiyomitsu knowingly, and Kazakh Kiyomitsu couldn't help raising the corner of his mouth, picked up the two knives that were placed on the bench beside him, and then held the hand that was stretched out in front of him.

"Come to my house, it's more than enough for two people to live in."

"Invite people into the house so casually, be careful that I attack you at night?"

The first time California Qingguang saw the two knives placed on the knife holder, he had a feeling of déjà vu for a moment. When he touched the cold blade, a voice of unknown origin sounded in his head.

After looking around but not seeing anyone other than himself, he tentatively took one of them off the knife holder, and the voice in his head started to ring out again as if talking to himself.

California Qingguang, who has been able to see all kinds of gods and spirits residing on everything since he was a child, was not shocked by this, but asked his family for these two knives and placed them in his room.

After years of getting along with them, they have become like talismans. For no reason, Qingguang feels that as long as he takes them with him, he will find the person he is looking for one day.

And now the wish of Qingguang in California has finally come true.

On the first step off the rooftop, California Qingguang felt like a bird that had been imprisoned for a long time flew out of its cage.

The voice that echoed in his head along with the flash of light behind him just said 'you won' without any emotion.

That is the spell of liberation from the bond.

Now it will be a long time since no one will disturb its tranquility.

The sky has already darkened, and it will be time for the school gate to close soon.Back in the classroom, Yamato Shou Anding took his own schoolbag and took Kai Qingguang by the hand to lead him out of the dark teaching building.

The two of them walked to the school gate, and the hand they were holding with California Qingguang was suddenly let go. In shock, Yamato Shou'an turned his head to look at California Qingguang standing at the school gate.

"What would you do if I said, I have no way to leave school?"

"Then I will try my best to bring you out, and I won't leave you alone in such a lonely world."

"I'm so touched—it's a pity that I lied to you."

California Qingguang stepped out of the school gate with ease, and took Yamato Moran's hand again.

The street lamps on the side of the road turned on one after another, because the timing was so perfect, it seemed that there was an illusion that they were lighting the way forward for them.

Quietly interlocking fingers with Yamato Shou'an, holding tightly the two knives in his arms that were equal to his amulets in the knife bag, Kaka Qingguang glanced at his side face.

"An Ding, do you still remember the agreement back then?"

"of course I remember."

——"Don't cry, An An.I will find you, no matter how long it takes, I will find you. 』

Although it took ten years, the agreement was finally realized.

Taking advantage of Yamato Shou'an's inattention, California Kiyomitsu planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Hey, An Ding, I'm hungry. Do you have something delicious to eat to fill your stomach?"

"Huh?...Well, let's go to the store in front and buy some snacks first."

——『Interesting, you are the first human being to negotiate terms with me.That's fine, just to pass the time, it's okay to make this contract with you. 』

——“Then what are your conditions? 』

——『If the person you are looking for can still think of you in a state where important memories are hidden, you win this bet.If you fail to remember, you will have to become the existence of 'me' as a price. 』

——『It won't be 'you'.An Ding will definitely remember it, I believe him. 』