Curse this wonderful world

78: [The Curse of 78]

"Tick tock..."

"...tick tock..."

In the darkness, there was a slight sound of water.

"Wow...wow..."

Gradually, it became clearer and louder.

The bell... the sound of the wind.A wonderful chill that surrounds me.The sound of leaves, the smell of blood.Someone is talking?Ah, many people.stranger.Time, how long has passed? ...no light.However, [see] it.

I saw……

"There is no way to live anymore..." the decadent and thin man said wearily.

"...don't bother people anymore." The old woman smiled.

The young men and women held hands, "It's an appointment." Step by step, they walked to the middle of the river, and smiled at each other when the water was submerged, "Let's go to the free world together."

"This is the most valuable thing in my house. It's pretty." The long-haired woman staggered towards the edge of the cliff, gently stroking the bright sleeves of the kimono, "I want to wear it to death." *

"It's nice here, the wind is nice, just jump in and it'll be over."*

"He clearly said he would come back..." The weeping young woman raised her blade, "Why didn't you keep the promise?"

Ah, 【See】——!

"It's so sad!" "I hate him!" "That's not true! Why don't you believe me?!" "I've been waiting! I've been waiting!" "It's too painful... I can't take it anymore... "Why me?! Why me!" "Stop pulling me, let me go." "I'm so tired, I don't want to cry anymore..."

Countless faces, crying faces, broken faces, struggling faces, hateful faces, desperate faces, dead faces.

Like shattering a kaleidoscope, countless sounds and pictures swirled "in front of my eyes".All kinds of heavy, sharp, cold and gloomy emotions seem to have finally found an outlet, rushing in like a tidal wave.The heart screamed as if it was being squeezed and crushed, and the nerves seemed to be pulled, and there were bursts of tingling pain.

But, oddly enough, it wasn't particularly uncomfortable.

——Maybe it's because I'm used to the pain of tattoos, maybe it's because it's not my memory.

Different from the increasingly clear consciousness, the body is constantly "falling".Flesh became cold and heavy as the chill seeping through the water replaced body heat.The soul floated up lightly, but the limbs sank slowly uncontrollably.

——I don’t feel particularly uncomfortable.I just, feel sad.

Therefore, my body, with these sad memories, will always sink into the water, into the hidden world, into the other side of the other side of Huangquan.

Thinking about it this way, I feel that this is also very good.

As if she had been stripped of her emotions, the girl's soul shook slightly.

Until, accompanied by the sudden splash of bright red, a man's crazy voice came suddenly.

"do not look!"*

"Well!"

The soul was suddenly pulled into the water.The five senses are suddenly clear.There was a sudden scorching pain from the pupil of the eye, as if someone had chopped off the eyeball with a sharp blade.The girl opened her eyes as if awakened from a start, and the obsidian-colored pupils were full of out-of-focus fear and bewilderment.The mist filled the air, and "in front of my eyes" there was only darkness like a swaying mist, and the water submerging myself.

Black water flow, night springs spread in the water like hair.With the girl's thought, all the memories that the Crow Maidens had [viewed] for hundreds of years, surfaced on the water like the black and white screen of a silent movie.The "memory" of that scene, frame by frame, filled the dark water.The last moments of countless people's lives are staged in this lightless waters. Their sorrow and despair, longing and concern, secrets and sins are constantly broken and reassembled in the waves of light, swaying and floating, spreading to the extreme distance at the end of darkness. .

"Whoa."

Accompanied by the sound of water, Fukaba stood up.

She blinked, and blinked again.Then he looked up and looked somewhere.

There, a thin and slender white figure was "walking" towards her through the darkness, stepping on the "water surface".

Snow-colored short hair, blood-colored eyes, and Bai Wugou, who was dyed black by Ye Quan, in the shape of the other shore flower.The young girl with the red hair rope tied on the tip of her hair raised her head and reached out her hand to the girl in the priestess costume.

"I'm Baiju." Following her movements, the bell tied around her wrist rang crisply.

The girl also reached out her hand, and held the hand of a young girl who was a circle younger than herself.The dark night spring slipped from her white wrist, fell into the water, and rippled in circles.

"I'm Fukahae," she said.

What's in the dark box?

What will happen after contacting Nightspring?

After connecting with other witches and other spirits on this mountain with water, will I be able to see my mother?

The answer is, nothing.

"There is nothing in the box." Sitting in the "water", the white-haired young girl reached out to shake the picture on the water, "There is only water and memory here. Water will connect everything, even if the night spring pollutes it, it will not will change that."

"However, besides the world, there are only Crimson, you and me left in the everlasting flower. You can't leave the box, so you can't see her—but she should know that you are coming, that you are in the coffin When you were in the cage, the memories you [viewed] have already flowed to us."

"Do you really want to see her?" Bai Ju asked.

"Not really." Shen Yu shook his head.

Although witches all have the ability to [see] and actually don't need words at all, Baiju said that she hasn't spoken to anyone else for a long time.As the central pillar guarding the Katadai Shrine, Baiju has always guarded the spirits of children lost in Higami Mountain. Those children who have been hidden in the mountain in different eras and can never return home are the only ones she has seen in the past hundred years. playmate.

So Shen Yu cooperated with her and chatted with her in an ordinary way.Anyway, they all have a lot, a lot of time.

"She came here for the person she likes. I think she probably doesn't need to see me either."

Not indifference or resentment.Shen Yu really thinks that if you can't see it, then it's okay if you don't see it.Mama Crimson had already made her choice 14 years ago.For her mother, she is not as persistent as Hinasaki Fukaha in the original work.And even if you can't see them, they are very close.

"This piece of water is also connected to her."

"Ah."

The darkness became quiet again, Baiju looked at the water surface, and Fuyu looked at the dark depths.For a while, no one spoke until Bai Ju spoke again.

"You have it too, someone you like."

"what……"

"Is that why you didn't leave incense?"

"Ah."

"That's fine." The white-haired young girl curled her lips a little, "Even if you stay, you might not come. But it's fine if you don't come." She raised her head as she spoke, " You think so too, don't you?"

"Ah." Shen Yu blinked her eyes, followed her example, and smiled very shallowly. "Well, it's better not to come."

——Because this is a small box.

——Because this is darkness that never moves.

"Compared to staying here with me and being 'alive' all the time..."

"I hope he can die slowly."

"It's good to get married and have children."

"It's good to be alone forever."

"Don't accompany me in this darkness."

"Under the sun, in the four seasons, in the glow of morning and sunset, grow old slowly."

The voices of the girl and the young girl sounded one after another in the darkness. They looked into each other's eyes and saw the watery light emerging from the pupils of different colors. The corners of their mouths were curved, and there was a faint, lonely smile.Different looks and dresses, but at this moment, they are so similar.

"Then, forget about me..."

"Is it like he forgot me?" Bai Ju asked.

"Yeah." Deep Feather nodded.They [can see] each other's heartfelt feelings, and will not mistake this for harm.On the contrary, Shen Yu stared at Bai Ju's red eyes, and asked expectantly, "Will you forget it?"

——Just a young and frivolous liking.It's just because she is the only one of the right age around her.It's just because of her proactive and cooperative attitude from the very beginning.

Fukaha piled up reasons in his heart.It will definitely be forgotten.She [saw] so many people's hearts.I know better than anyone how fragile the so-called "like" is.Xiao Wu and Xia Xia are still so young, they will encounter many, many things and meet many, many good people.It's just a fellow student who hasn't been together for more than a year.It's just a love simulation game in a closed social environment.As long as you stop contacting slowly and have no news, your enthusiasm will cool down.

Conjurers are very busy and intense jobs. One day, when they look back on the past, they will only laugh at this time.

"Then they think, how young they were. What were they thinking?"

Originally, even if they were magicians, the law did not allow three people to get married.Like mom chose dad over me. "Hinasaki Fukaha" is not that important.

Fukaba made a not-so-funny joke, and turned to look at the darkness.

"...And...you see, they are actually not that important to me..." She seemed to be speaking to Bai Ju, but more like she was speaking to herself. "Even now, I have no regrets."

No regrets for choosing to be Dazhu, no regrets for coming early, no regrets for lying to them, no regrets for jumping into the box.

——This is just, ordinary, like it.

She also likes Mr. Mori very much, like Dazai and Chuya very much.

- this is not...

"It's not... special..."

"So, it's okay."

——It doesn't matter, as long as those shining and happy memories are left behind.

"One day, I will... forget..."

——Forget this liking, forget the longing that you vaguely expected, forget...

"I will, forget it."

The black-haired girl looked towards the end of the darkness, her voice was choked and hoarse.Bai Ju looked at Shen Yu's side, but didn't speak.Until, her next sentence fell.

"Look, I've...started to...forget about them..."

In an instant, with the girl as the center, countless light spots flickered and danced.Fukaba opened her eyes wide, watching those bright light dots on the water, the dark water surface suddenly lit up, frame by frame of brand new images replaced the memory of [Looking at].

It is the smile under the cherry tree in spring, the back view in the fireworks in summer, the sleeping face seen at close range, and the energetic profile.It was the hand that took the fallen leaves from her hair in late autumn, and it was the palm that held up an invisible barrier for her when the snow fell.

It was the proud eyes embellished with gorgeous ice blue, the gentle smile hanging on the corners of the slightly curved lips, and the unconcealable warmth and almost pampering tenderness when he bowed his head to kiss her.

This is, diametrically opposite to her "words", the voice of the heart.

Big drops of tears finally fell from the girl's eye sockets uncontrollably.But this is not the end.Just as her tears fell on the water, a new light suddenly lit up.

Shen Yu was stunned.Under Bai Ju's silent gaze, she raised her wrist in disbelief.

There is a source of brilliance.Pulling the thin red rope, two ordinary buttons are suspended in the air at this moment, and the light of "missing" that is so thick and almost substantive surrounds them, illuminating the dark box.

That's not her "missing".

That is……

Like the vibration of a bell, the voice of the heart thousands of miles away was transmitted to the dark and narrow box through the strong "missing".

'...Ah, so annoying.Don't keep looking for me like this. ...That guy, what are you doing now? '

'This dessert shop looks good.You can take some with you on your return trip, Satoru and Fukaha—ah, she's not here...'

'I don't know if she likes the gift...'

'Is she really all right by herself?Never take care of yourself.Don't always eat sugar as a meal...'

'...There won't be someone who doesn't have eyesight bullying her, right?Tsk, I don't know what's going on in the main hall of the shrine...'

'Bought a new game for you, it's a signed version.To be honest, waiting in line for an otome game voice actor's autograph is really quite shameful.I hope you like it as Nitro said. '

'Last year's chestnut cake is sold again, your favorite kind, but I always feel that this year is not as delicious as when we went to eat together last year.Obviously, I didn't change the dessert chef. ...What should I do, Mi, I miss you a little...'

'——If you like it, will you smile happily? '

'will you miss Me?I hope you miss me, but I don't want you to miss me too much... I don't want you to cry secretly because you miss me. '

"Enlightenment helped you clear the game, collected all the CGs of the ending, and there are hidden routes that have not been cracked on the Internet.It was the first time I saw him so seriously, he wrote a strategy for every event. '

'Glass said you won't cry.I don't believe it...you are obviously most afraid of loneliness. '

"I probably like you more than I thought..."

'Jay that guy misses you too.I saw him staring at your seat in a daze today. '

'Will it be hard to study?Are there any subjects you are not good at?I'm always a little worried...Although it's important to know what you want to do, sometimes you can't help but think that if you don't become a priestess, it's okay...'

'If you miss me, just look at the photos, I have sent you a lot of photos - please don't cry. '

'...Fukaha, come back quickly.Wu and I are waiting for you. '

That is, the "memory" entrusted by the person who has a connection with the shrine maiden through the things he has become attached to.

"Fool……"

Tears could not stop falling from just now, and at this moment, Shen Yu finally couldn't help but knelt down in the water and cried loudly.She tightly gripped the two buttons, the rich brilliance seeped out of her fingers, and the strong "missing" was constantly "watched" from the palm of her hand, and those hot and pure loves hit her heart one after another.

"Idiot! Idiot Idiot Idiot Idiot!"

——I won’t go back!I won't go back anymore!

Transparent water droplets kept falling on the water surface, and the black-haired girl's shoulders trembled, crying uncontrollably.And until now, Bai Ju, who was watching all this, spoke softly.

"Won't forget."

--no.

"Stop lying to yourself."

--no!

"What you really want is never to forget."

- No no no!

"What you really want is the same as us."*

Tears blurred his vision, and all that remained in his throat were broken breaths and wailing.In the ear, Bai Ju's voice fell clearly.

"It's not about dying together, it's about living with the one you love. That's all."*

I can't stand it anymore.Even if she can see through people's hearts, even if she has experienced a far more complicated environment than ordinary people, she is still just a 17-year-old girl.And no regrets.If this is something that only he can do, if this is something that can protect the people he likes and the world he likes, then no matter how many times he repeats it, Fukaba will not regret his choice.But……

"Yes... what I want..." the girl cried out loudly.

How could you not want to?I really like them very much!Being held in the palm of your hand, hugged in your arms, every look, every touch, the emotion conveyed is so warm that it makes the heart ache.Such tenderness, such sincerity, how could no one be moved?

If you don't really like it very much, how can you indulge yourself to be greedy for such tenderness?If it wasn't for the fear of indulging in this sincere love, how could he escape in such a hurry?

That was the answer that Riko Tenouchi, who is a star plasma body, also blurted out.

"There are still so many things that haven't been done..."

I haven't watched this year's fireworks together yet, haven't eaten the limited chestnut cake, and haven't prepared this year's birthday gift yet.I also want to go to Okinawa together again, and I want to take pictures in front of the big fish tank together.

Wanting to go to Disneyland, Xiao Wu said for a long time that he would go.If she wanted to help Xia Xia buy the new issue of the mystery novel, she had already inquired about it. The publishing house had a limited edition signed by the author.I want to see their smiles every day, and I want to say good morning and good night together.I want to eat noisy, go on missions, and sleep beside them with shy expectations.

I want to graduate together, and after graduation, five years later, ten years later, or even 20 years later, I can still play pranks on Xiao Wu, and escape to summer when he pretends to be angry and wants to pat her hair. Xia Xia's back, and when Xia Xia was helpless and funny to dissuade him, he pulled his clothes and made faces at Xiao Wu.

Even if it is a tragedy that may come, I want to face it with them!

If she is not here, what will happen to Xia Xia's magic ball?Although he has tried his best to help the junior students exercise, what if Haibara still dies?Avoiding the astral body and the FLAG of the Panxing Sect, Xia Xia should not hate ordinary people so much, but if, if he still walks on the original path...

——Just thinking about it makes my chest feel like it's about to burst open.

"I have never, never liked others so, so much." Tears had already wet her cheeks, and the girl's expression was as vulnerable and helpless as an abandoned child.

"I like it, so it is such a painful thing?"

—So, did she do something wrong?

Shouldn't meet, shouldn't like, shouldn't respond?

——Because she can only lie to people, and can't give anything except to lie to them and herself.

"But...but even so..."

I can't suppress my throbbing heart, and I can't stop my passionate feelings.At least I want to steal a little bit of sweet time and leave those happy memories.

"……sorry Sorry……"

I don't know whether he is apologizing incoherently to the young Yongjiu who has endured longer loneliness and deeper pain than himself, or to the promise that he cannot keep thousands of miles away.Is this wrong?she does not know.However, if everyone is unhappy, it must not be right?

"……sorry Sorry sorry……"

She cried and curled up her body tightly, because of the agitation of emotions, the water surface in the tank fluctuated violently.Bai Ju stood aside, and the mood in the eyes of the young maiden was dim.

During her time which is too long compared to ordinary people, Bai Ju has [seen] the "sadness" of countless people.It was a bitter and depressing feeling, like thorns piercing the skin, trapping the soul.If you don't let go, you will not be able to escape.Although not as sharp as "killing intent", not as burning as "jealousy".But there is no doubt that this is also a kind of negative emotion, which should not appear on the maiden, and needs to be "watched".

However, in her vision, the almost substantial "pain" and "sadness" as thick as ink were tightly bound in Shen Yu's heart.Only the love that is as strong as this sorrow and pain is like a blazing flame, constantly burning up the dark and ominous night spring in the water.

She is using "love" as fuel to purify this place—at the same time, she is purifying the entire mountain range and enchantment through the "water in the box" that secretly connects all the water systems in Rishang Mountain.

Thinking of the young shrine maiden in front of me—compared with the time of Shirajuku, Fukaba’s 17-year life can only be described as young—the "future" I saw in my heart.Bai Ju strengthened her mind again.

——Different from them, she is indeed "special".

Well, she can too, just look forward to it a little bit, right?

Thinking of this, the permanent flower with white hair and red eyes suddenly spoke.

"Shen Yu." She stretched out her hand, and there was a faceless doll in her palm, wearing the same red and white witch costume as the girl in front of her. "If you can get out of the box, do you want to go down the mountain?"