Chapter 2 Part 3 – The Boy Who Prayed for Rain

“You said that the typhoon veered. Meaning, it didn’t disappear, nor did it weaken. Am I correct?”

Kirie appeared to have grasped the implications, letting out an audible gasp.

“Yes… the typhoon changed course, but its intensity didn’t diminish in the slightest. I didn’t have the power to control that aspect.”

“Th-that means…”

“The place the diverted typhoon headed… the neighboring prefecture suffered major damage. Rivers overflowed, gusts destroyed buildings. There were many… injured people. In other areas, many people suffered misfortune.”

“Th-that’s…”

“I was glued to the news footage on TV. I was afraid to watch, I felt like throwing up many times, my head hurt. But, I had to watch.” Pressing a hand to his head, Yusa quietly admitted.

A drop of water slid down from the glass where the ice had completely melted.

Hitting the coaster, it slowly spread, forming a small puddle.

“After that, for a while, I fell ill and lay down in my own room. Because of that, I had a lot of time to think.”

“No… perhaps God gave me that punishment to make me do so. In short, I pushed something unpleasant onto others.”

“To protect myself and those around me, I sacrificed other people. I had to rely on supernatural abilities to make it happen.”

“I don’t think I was evil enough to be okay with that. But… even so, I didn’t regret it. No, I couldn’t regret it.”

Because the damage was truly horrific.

“If it had come to this town, surely people I know would have ended up like that. When I thought about that, I felt, ‘it’s better.’ “

“It was better for others to be unfortunate.”

I truly felt that way.

And that fact was all the more painful for me.

“…But was I really the one at fault?”

“If I had done nothing, we would have been the ones to suffer. Isn’t trying to avoid unpleasant, painful things a natural course of action?”

“If a ball is flying toward you, a person would dodge it, right? Even if, as a result, the ball hits someone else, can you call that a sin?”

The person who doesn’t dodge would be at fault, or rather, the person who threw the ball is the one who caused everything.

This time, it just happened that the opponent was nature itself.

Am I not just throwing the ball onto their court?

“Do you two know about the trolley problem?”

Yes, it’s apparently one of the famous thought experiments.

A runaway trolley will run over and kill five workers if it continues as is.

There happens to be a person near the track switch; if you change its course, you can save the five.

But in exchange, there is one other worker on that track who cannot escape.

“In this case, should that person operate the switch? Or, if they do, is that act morally permissible?”

Is it okay to sacrifice one other person to save five? That’s the kind of problem it is.

It seems there are endless debates about the answer, which is probably why it’s famous.

And what was tormenting me was unmistakably this problem.

If there’s no clear conclusion…

The judgment is up to the individual themselves. No one should condemn their decision.

I thought and thought, going back and forth many times… and I decided.

“I won’t use this power anymore.” It was an extremely calm voice.

As if suppressing his own emotions, Yusa took a deep, deep breath.

“In the end, I didn’t have that resolve. To bear the sin to protect the people important to me, and to keep blaming myself. That… I couldn’t do it,” Yusa said.

I could feel my own body growing cold.

My chest ached, and the sensation in my limbs faded.

I looked down and closed my eyes, trying to hide my inner turmoil from Kirie.

Yusa…

You really didn’t use it.

“Kanata-kun… you’ve had it hard.”

“Yes… it’s embarrassing to admit to someone else, but… it was rough.”

Yusa smiled for the first time in a while.

I still couldn’t smile, still fighting against a throbbing pain deep in my body.

“So, the rain the other day really wasn’t Kanata-kun’s doing. Ah… no, it’s not that I doubted you or anything…”

“No, it’s fine. It’s natural to think that. And…”

“…?”

“Hey, Mizuki-san, Mahina-san… really, it wasn’t me, was it?”

“…Hm?”

At Yusa’s question, Kirie made a puzzled sound.

Enduring the slightly eased chill, I also looked at Yusa.

Just a moment ago, he was smiling.

But now, Yusa was staring vacantly into the empty space between us.

Eyes that felt devoid of vitality, truly, utterly exhausted.

“I know… I haven’t used it. I decided that… and have been trying not to use it all this time. But…”

“…Yusa?”

“I have no awareness of it. There shouldn’t be. But… sometimes I just get so scared. When the weather clears up on a day I was looking forward to. When the rain stops just as I’m about to go out. When a date with Ema conveniently turns sunny. I– don’t know… it really wasn’t me, right? Did I unconsciously use my power? If so…”

Don’t run away, Mizuki.

I forcibly held down my own legs that were about to stand up. About to try and escape.

I must face the voice, the heart of the ability user to the very end.

That is my job, my responsibility.

Because… I take so much from them.

I force them to let go of a part of their body, a fragment of their soul.

Because of that, I have to listen to the very end.

“If that’s really the case, then I might be making someone else unhappy again. The rain I disliked is falling somewhere else. The sunlight someone else was supposed to bask in. Because of me, there are people who can’t see the beauty of snow. Because of my selfishness, I might be constantly taking happiness from other people. I can’t prove that it’s not my fault. So—”

Yusa’s voice echoed like a scream, distorting.

Before I knew it, Kirie had moved next to Yusa.

Snuggling close with a face on the verge of tears, she was slowly stroking his back.

I glanced at Yusa. He was also staring at me.

Say it, Yusa.

I’m here.

Your words, your cries, I am truly hearing them. Let it all out.

“I’m scared… of this power. Of having this… I don’t want it anymore.”

As Yusa squeezed out the words, Kirie hugged his head.

I simply stayed still, trying not to let his words escape me, trying not to lose their meaning, his heart.

I felt the gazes around us, but there was nothing I could do.

After leaving the shop, we moved to a nearby park.

Staying in that place any longer was simply too risky.

Two high schoolers and an elementary schooler leaving together—from the perspective of those around us, they’d wonder what on earth was going on.

「Negotiation Complete.」

Immediately after I sent the text, Love appeared in front of me.

In her usual outfit of a simple shirt and hot pants, she was eating a soft-serve ice cream while glaring resentfully at the sunlight.

Standing in front of Yusa, who was now sitting primly on the bench, Love asked,

“Hey, are you ready?”

Confirming Yusa’s nod, Love extended her index finger and pressed it firmly against Yusa’s forehead.

Vaguely, a light began to emanate from between his eyebrows.

Throughout it, Yusa kept his eyes closed, perfectly still.

A pale blue light transferred to Love’s fingertip as if a fish were swimming.

Then, it dissolved into her palm and vanished with a soft whoosh.

No matter how many times I see it, it’s an incomprehensible sight.

“Yep. I’ve definitely received it!”

Saying this in an oddly formal tone, Love nodded with satisfaction.

Yusa bowed his head deeply, then clasped his hands together and placed them before his chest as if in prayer.

From his closed eyes, I saw a single tear trail down.

I thought I faintly heard the words, “Goodbye.”

“H-h-how… was it? Did it hurt?”

Kirie, who was beside him, asked in a timid, fearful manner.

If this girl also had an ability, she’d ultimately have to go through the same thing.

In other words, she’s probably a little scared.

Well, of course, she’s also worried about Yusa, I’m sure.

“I’m fine. Somehow… I feel lighter.”

“R-really? Huh…”

Kirie nodded as if relieved, whistling an intentionally clumsy, obvious tune to try and mask how tense she was just a moment ago.

Such a transparent girl.

“Alllll-righty then! I’ll leave the rest to you younglings. See ya.” Saying something incomprehensible once again, Love promptly left.

She’s probably using the words wrong, as usual.

Besides, we didn’t really have anything left to do here either.

“Thank you very much, Mizuki-san. And Mahina-san.” Saying that, Yusa bowed politely.

When I returned the bow, Kirie followed suit.

While we might be resented often, it’s actually quite rare to be thanked in this job.

“Will you two meet other people with powers from now on?”

“No, just me. She’s just a temporary helper.”

In less than a month.

“Ah, that’s right. Then, do your best, Mizuki-san.”

This time, I even got encouragement.

As always, he’s an utterly peculiar elementary schooler.

“By the way, are there others besides Mizuki-san? People doing the same work?”

“Mm… well, of course. It’s a big world. It’s too much for me to handle alone.”

“Eh, really?!”

The one who raised a surprised voice wasn’t Yusa, but Kirie.

It shouldn’t really be surprising at this point.

“Is that so… but I think that Mizuki-san is quite suited for the job. If it had been someone else who came… I’m not sure if I would have agreed.”

“…I didn’t do anything.” I just met him twice and listened to what he had to say.

No offense, but it was a relatively easy case. Anyone could’ve done it.

I’m not special.

Well… the ending was somewhat bittersweet.

“No, that’s not true. But… hehe, let’s leave it at that.”

Finally, smiling in a childlike way, we parted ways.

Yusa waved at us as he left the park.

We watched Yusa’s retreating back until he was out of sight.

I should probably have been the one to thank him.

I wish.

That I wasn’t so cowardly, so that I could tell him how I truly feel.

I wish.

That many good things will happen to him from now on. So that he can live a normal life.

So that no great sufferings befall him and his friends.

So that he can be happier than he has been until now.

“See ya…”

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

You truly… are a kind and intelligent elementary schooler.

***

“Gosh! What an amazing kid, wouldn’t you agree?.”

On the train back, only a two-person cross seat was empty.

Naturally, we were forced to sit close to one another, and the voice of Kirie, sitting by the window, became distinctly clearer.

“For an elementary schooler, he’s wayyyy too composed. But that’s not even because of his ability, right?”

“Not at all. However… ability users often have a lot to worry about.”

“…I see. Worries, huh.”

“The longer the time spent thinking, and the more complex the subject, the stronger the heart becomes. He probably adapted. No, maybe he wouldn’t have been able to endure otherwise.”

People are shaped by their environment.

They naturally try and adapt to whatever makes them the most comfortable, to whatever helps them live a normal life.

That’s not something limited to just Yusa.

“Hidaka-kun, you’re kinda chatty today, huh.” Suddenly, Kirie glanced towards me, remarking.

Even without turning, I could tell that she was grinning.

She wasn’t completely wrong… I did talk more than usual today…

But… admitting that to her face would be giving her another reason to annoy me.

“Does the current Hidaka-kun want to be chatty too? If you wanna talk, I’m right here~”

“…Shut up.”

“Hmph, I guess you’re still a tsundere. Although… even Hidaka-kun must want to talk to people at times, right?”

“Think whatever you want.”

Kirie giggled amusingly.

For some reason, her voice felt weirdly soothing.

Do I really want someone to talk to? No, that’s not it.

It’s just… during all my previous trips, the return trip was always by myself.

“Near the end, when Kanata-kun admitted that he was scared of his ability…”

Suddenly, Kirie began to speak.

Leaning in, as if to peer into my face, she continued.

“Hidaka-kun, you were crying a little, weren’t you?”

“…I wasn’t crying.”

“Liar. I was right in front of you, so I saw. Kanata-kun probably noticed as well.”

“…”

“No matter how much you try to deny it, you really are kind.”

Saying that, Kirie laughed softly this time, fufu.

Perhaps she was telling the truth.

At the very least, I do vaguely remember a faint memory of wiping the corner of my eye with my sleeve.

“I think Mizuki-san is suited for it.”

The words Yusa said when he left echoed in the back of my mind.

“I wonder what will happen to Kanata-kun after today.”

“…Who knows. Yusa himself said that he has no intention of using his ability anymore. For him, it would be more convenient if his ability disappeared entirely.”

“…Yeah. From now on, he won’t have to worry… wondering if he might have used his ability.”

Kirie’s voice carried a small hint of melancholy.

The end of her words trembled faintly, and the contours of her speech blurred.

I couldn’t grasp what she was thinking in her head.

“Hidaka-kun, why are you doing this job?” Turning forward again, Kirie met my eyes.

There was no trace of the anxiousness that she had earlier.

Maybe it was just my imagination.

But even if it wasn’t, I didn’t want to dig too deep into it.

Right now, I had to deal with something more important.

“Kirie.”

After a pause, I called her name.

Annoyed that my voice had become louder than intended, my resolve slightly weakened.

“Wha-… y-yes?”

Straightening her back as if she was a child who was about to be scolded, Kirie nervously replied.

“From now on, if you have any questions about the retrievals, feel free to ask me. I understand that you’re curious, and I’ll do my best to satisfy you.”

“But… please don’t ask any questions about me.”

I drew a line. As if driving in a nail. As if shutting her out of my heart.

We aren’t together by choice.

To me, Kirie is just another future target.

And to Kirie, I am… nothing at all.

“To be precise, my circumstances regarding this job. I don’t want you touching that topic. If you’ll just respect that, I won’t complain anymore. So, please.”

“… I understand, I’m sorry.”

“There is no need to apologize. I know that you’re a good person.”

Even I have begun to see, little by little, the nature of the person called Mahina Kirie.

Sure, she’s a little abnormal… but she’s fundamentally a good human being.

She’s utterly incompatible for an ability that ‘can kill people.’

She’s not the type who could easily reject a straightforward request.

This line isn’t just for me, but for both our sakes.

“On the contrary, I need to know more about you. Sorry, but I’m going to have to know a little more about you.”

I thought that I should change the subject.

If Kirie had an ability… if she was going to become our target in the future…

I should learn about her circumstances and motives to some extent.

Ironically, now was the perfect time.

“Why are you working with me? I don’t think it’s just out of curiosity. You’ve probably realized it today, haven’t you? This job isn’t something we do for fun.”

If anything, it was the opposite.

Even if it was my role to negotiate, listening to the other person’s heart and emotions wasn’t easy.

If I had a choice , I wouldn’t want to do it either.

She must have come to the same conclusion after talking to Yusa.

“Because I was curious.”

Kirie said.

Without even looking at me, she gazed upward as if pondering something.

Perhaps due to the lighting, shadows seemed to fall across her strikingly beautiful profile.

“I wanted to know what people in the same situation as me think, and how they live their lives.”

“……”

“So, even I can’t say that today was fun, …it was interesting? Something like that. Well! I still don’t really understand it myself… whether I’m the same as those people or not.”

Finally turning toward me, Kirie gave me a small smile.

It wasn’t a forced smile, but it wasn’t a happy one either.

“There’s no such thing as people being in the same situation,” I replied.

I wanted to say more.

I tried to organize my thoughts, but they wouldn’t come together properly.

For the first time during this train ride, I realized how exhausted I actually was.

“…Maybe you’re right.”

Kirie’s quiet voice resonated in my eardrums.

I didn’t respond after that.

I closed my eyes, slowly drifting asleep to the sway of the moving train.

***

TLN: Very long chapter, it was nice though.