Vol 2 Prologue (1/2)
Open: Clock of Endless Nights
About this… She was an intriguing girl Should we say that an aura of discord is condensed upon her, or that she resembled the part that spells 'trouble' when people say the phrase ‘let’s stir up some trouble’? She was about ten years old, or perhaps a bit older, and looked as if she was in elementary school
She seemed innocent and spoke in a clear voice, how should one describe it? — It was as though her entire self radiated a joyful light, like any other grade-schooler
That’s right, she was a grade-schooler
A grade-schoolerher two arms
It was not fate or anything like that
“Long time no see”
It was just a coincidence, an ill-fated coincidence
“It’s been two years! Do you remember me, Rinne?”
They were at the small intersection of the merry market street in a small town
A girl called out at Usagawa Rinne, who studied at Kannonsakazaki Private High School, as she left the school
The girl had perfectly straight long black hair and eyes that shone with determination Thick, round eyebrows stood above her eyes
She wore Kannonsakazaki’s school uniform
“I’m Katō Katsuht?”
She sht reflected off her skin
It was in the evening, and the sun was setting Rinne had finished the cleaning duty that was pushed onto her after everyone else left since she lost a bet, and hurried home because it was late
A piercing wind came out of the early winter’s cold air
The girl who called herself Katsu in the darkness
“Katsumi?”
That was a familiar name that had been carved into her heart
Since the person in front of her was so nize her at first However, she did not forget How could she forget?!
“Do you remember?”
“Eh…”
She was Rinne’s friend into stay by her side
Of course, that , but whenever she thought of her painful time in middle school, she recalled the endless support Katsumi had provided to her
But Rinne didn’t have the courage to go see her
Middle school — that was the ti included She constantly shut herself in her roo that she didn’t have a place in her house or at school It hen she attempted suicide
At that time, Rinne repeatedly pushed Katsuo to the same school?”
“M all the while
“You’re really fah I’ve known that you are here for a pretty long time, but I didn’t have an opportunity to talk to you before”
Rinne’s expression showed a slight uncertainty as she apologetically bowed her head towards Katsumi
“I’m sorry”
“Sorry? For what? You didn’t exactly do anything wrong in middle school Everyone wants to avoid other people from time to time, actually…”
Saying this, Katsumi pointed at a coffee shop on the side of the road
“Then, wanna sit down and talk for a while? Are you free?”
“Eh? Ah, OK!”
Rinne nodded out of reflex, and followed Katsumi in
The coffee shop’s pretty hostess greeted the customers with a formal smile
Soft, sweet h the coffee shop Whether it was due to the late hour, or it was always this way, the store had no customers
Katsumi probably came here often, as she s down on a chair
Then she s there unsure of what to do, “You can sit down This part of you never changes…”
“What part?”
“The fact that you hold back too s, most of all in your own happiness”
Saying these words, which Rinne couldn’t really understand, Katsue at all
In eighth grade, Rinne pushed this friend away, and even Katsuave up The year after, when they bumped into each other in the hallway, Katsumi pretended not to notice her
“Rinne, I - wanted to apologize to you all this time”
Katsumi still showed that lonely smile
Rinne sat on the chair and widened her eyes in surprise
“Eh?”
“I proood friends with you, but we drifted apart I’ve felt so regretful over that, and I want to apologize”
Katsuized
Rinne didn’t knohat to do, and only waved her hands, denying it with embarrassment
“No way The one who should apologize… isand drifting apart froet close to me, even so…”
“Not taking it all the way to the end is less But, thanks”
“Clack”, the hostess silently set down the coffee Katsumi picked one up and raised it to Rinne
“Then, let’s be friends again Let’s share the bla too We both said sorry, and we forgave each other, so let’s call it even”
Rinne felt as though the scar in her heart gradually started to disappear
As expected, Katsuirl who pro h she wasn’t particularly special and didn’t attract people ientler than anyone else Rinne’s eyes failed to hold their tears in, and she lowered her head to hide this
“Ah”
“Then, cheers! Saying this is pretty weird, but whatever”
“Clack”, the two lightly tapped their cups together Then they chatted about all sorts of topics, all of which would be considered trivial, as if they wanted to fill up the gap between the past and present To talk like this with Katsumi had once been Rinne’s joy back in middle school She was abandoned by her ed her tired heart to school to be picked on by other students over her family situation
And yet, Katsu to be with her
She was a friend more important than almost anyone else
“Katsus, Rinne said, “Thank you”
Unsure of what to do, Katsu for the coffee!” This situation didn’t match her words
“It’s been so long since we’ve been like this!”
Katsu Rinne who blurted, “I’! I can’t let you pay by yourself!”
What to say now? Rinne had always felt that her personality tends to put her at a disadvantage with people
But Katsumi still liked this part of her
“…Then, let’s go hoether”
It was already dark outside The cloudy sky obscured theof unease
A few randoh But I’m so happy”
Rinne snore that for now I still need to pay”
Ah, she’s become a bit hard to deal with Before, she would easily obey others with just a little bit of suggestion But it seerew up a little too
Katsuht this with a bitter s her hands
“Then, how about you treat me next time?”
“Eh?”
“We have to ain!”
Katsumi didn’t look at Rinne
What kind of expression did Rinne, as standing behind her – the girl she betrayed before – have at the rade, she had frequently wanted to start a conversation with Rinne Every time they buize
Katsumi’s eyes filled with tears
“I’h I may not be worthy, can we still be friends forever?”
“……”
After a short silence, Katsurip of Rinne’s warm hand
“Alright”
Even though she still couldn’t look Rinne in the eyes till the end
“Then, see ya later”
“Mmm, see ya”
Katsuain
And so, Katō Katsuawa Rinne parted ways Their paths hoain —
After passing through the ns of people disappeared
Behind Katsumi, who couldn’t hold back her tears, a sinister shadoho couldn’t possibly understand the two’s friendshi+p approached from nearby
“Shall we coth of our arms?”
Rudely and without cause, an unreasonable shi+ver shot down Katsumi’s back
Katsumi reflexively turned around
That was the turning point
Unfortunately, for the girl Katō Katsumi, the existence that had cheerfully called out to her was not a resident of the world huic
It was an existence nota lifetiht pass by
The girl who deviated fro To -Armed Demon Hoould one put it? It would be considered bad luck, ic fate, or the like Even I can only think of one thing to say to her And that would be: Rest in peace That girl was singing “In—the—clear—night—”
That girl was extrehtforward to the point where people ht question her sanity, but that only h voice was clearly that of a girl’s, and her appearance was nor that she lacked soave off an impression similar to that of a carnivorous beast
“The—moon—is—so—beautiful—”
As she sang, she danced an odd dance around Katsumi
Seeht and tottered to the left, casting doubt as to whether she was dancing or simply drunk
Katsuirl
“Hu—to—see—”
The girl seerade-schooler One couldn’t even be sure if she reached up to Katsumi’s chest