ANIMT - Episode 58

ANIMT - Chapter 58. Dream

I Got An Extra Six Months of Life Expectancy, And Now It’s My Time

I found myself standing in a room covered with cream-colored wallpaper, with my back to the door.

Before looking around the room, I checked my body. Wearing my usual uniform, I confirmed that my body was no longer ghostly. There was no sense of discomfort.

But instinctively, I knew that this body was a mere reproduction of the original, created entirely out of magic. The fact that I am here must mean my soul was successfully connected to the living world. I may not look like a ghost, but in a sense, I am a summoned spirit. My presence was temporary though, the result of Hiiragi Yukino-san’s miraculous spell.

Next, I looked around and noticed the wooden study desk and closet, and realized that this was a girl’s dormitory bedroom. The knick-knacks on display were the decisive factor in coming to this conclusion.

Of note was the poster for ~The Story of Ascendance in a Pure All-Girls School~ (The Golden Maiden and Peach Maiden Meet) prominently displayed on the wall.

Even with all of the lights on, the room was somewhat dimly lit, but that alone made it look oddly refined and intriguing.

Looking past the sobbing girl that had her face buried in the bed by the window and her lower half lifelessly sprawled on the floor, I looked out the window. It was pitch black outside, with not a single star in the sky. The snow that had been falling when my extended life ended had since stopped, and in its place was silent darkness. It seems like quite a long time has passed.

Then it was no surprise that Kokomi knew that I died. Since I died on campus, it was quite possible that she had not yet left to return home and was still living in the dormitory at that time.

Without a doubt, I’m sure that I am the reason this girl is crying in front of me.

“Kokomi.”

Like a drop on the surface of the water, my words echoed through the room like a ripple.

Her face immediately turned to face me. I was secretly relieved to see my reflection in her eyes, which were overflowing with tears. Thank God. She was now properly looking at me.

“Hey, are you… ?”

With a faltering tone and gait, Kokomi threw herself in front of me and collapsed to her knees.

As the tears streaked down her cheek, she said, “You’re oneesama, aren’t you… ?”

She stretched out a fearful hand toward me.

“Thank God, I knew it was a bad dream… ”

“A dream?”

“Ahh… I had a bad, bad dream. I was in my dormitory and all of a sudden, people were telling me that someone had fallen down some stairs at school and that by the time they were found they had succumbed to their injuries. The fact that they said the person was oneesama made it such a stupid dream.”

“Kokomi… ”

“Laugh at me, oneesama. I’m embarrassed that I cried so hard because of a dream.”

“I’m here with you right now, Kokomi.”

I tenderly took Kokomi’s hands, as I observed her expression which alternated between crying and laughing.

This was a truly miraculous spell that allowed me to touch her so firmly. It was almost as if I were still alive as if the hands of the clock had been turned back.

But time steadily marches forward, and this was nothing more than a fleeting dream.

----When the spell ends, I will…

“I’m sorry, Kokomi. I’m truly sorry, but that story is real. I’m… already dead.”

I heard the sound of my heart creaking as I finally said the words I had bottled up for many months, but I could not deceive this girl any longer.

“No, that’s not true. You’re right here talking to me, and I can feel your warmth!”

“This is the work of magic. This body may feel real, but it’s a magical fake. I really fell down the stairs and died.”

“Ugh, it’s a lie, it’s a lie! How is that possible!?”

“I know it’s hard to believe, but I’m not lying. I came to say goodbye to you.”

Even when I put reality into words, Kokomi denied it all while shaking her head and saying, “No, I don’t want to believe it!”

The tips of her fingers trembled painfully in my hands.

I let go and held her fragile, almost broken body tightly in a hug.

At first, I intended to tell her about the limited extension to my life expectancy I was bestowed, but everything was tossed out of the window upon seeing her reaction to my presence. I don’t think I would have enough time to go into that much detail.

The only thing I could do now was to try and share my final thoughts.

Explaining everything in detail would be a waste, anyway. I’ve already written the general outline of events in my will anyway. Later, Pochitaro will deliver it to all of them.

In the little time I have remaining, what I really have to say is…

“Kokomi, it’s me. I was really, really happy to be friends with you!”

I voiced the thoughts that came to mind without any filter, no longer agonizing over every detail.

“I remember the day I became friends with you! I was so nervous you were going to turn me down, but when you said you wanted to be friends I was overjoyed. I kept smiling and smiling, I couldn’t get a wink of sleep. When I ate those cookies you gave me as thanks, all I could do was sing your praises. I was so happy to be your friend, especially when I learned what a fantastic baker you are.”

Isn’t that an eerie sight now that I think about it? I couldn’t help burying my cheeks in her soft hair while overcome with laughter.

I had countless memories of Kokomi, even though we had only been together for six months.

I, a dropout, was able to make it to the top of the mock battle rankings thanks to her help. During the summer vacation, I visited her villa, cooked with her, and had a lot of fun with her. But I’m sorry I couldn’t accompany you to the signing session.

And I really appreciate your help with finding that book in the forbidden library. I must have made you worried, now that I think about it.

Oh, but please don’t let anyone see the photos of me dressed as a witch at the Cultural Festival. Like other high school girls, I wish the two of us could have taken photos in a photo booth together.

I enjoyed participating in the Sakura Survival event, though the battle between Kitora and Kokomi was a little too serious. If possible, I think it would be safer if those two would refrain from fighting when I’m gone and just get along with each other.

“Kokomi, you became my friend and I miss you and my high school life has changed. Magic training, studying for tests, breaks, and the cultural festivals were all fun because Kokomi was there with me. I can’t thank Kokomi enough. Thank you for the wonderful memories!”

Knowing that this is the end, I can say all of the embarrassing things I want out of nostalgia. Despite the pain of parting, I am not in a bad mood now that I have met and talked to her in this way.

I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

“Stop it, oneesama! No, no, no, no!”

Kokomi raised her head as if she couldn’t bear it any longer, and her well-toned facial features twisted into a crumpled mess.

“There is so much more I want to do with you! And I want to thank you too.”

Her lips quivered and tears continued to stream down her face as she clutched at me.

“I lost my one and only best friend, and I didn’t fit in at this school. I was so lonely and it was you, oneesama, who changed my high school life! I had been alone and lonely for a long time and I was happy to make friends with you. I had a lot of fun because of you, so the one who should be thankful is me! I want you to know this, oneesama.”

“Kokomi… ”

“I will join you and stand next to you in the future, and I will return the favor. Even though we are in different classes, and even though I have yet to graduate… Why are you trying to leave me? Why did you die? I don’t want to move on. Oneesama, I will do anything to make you live. Please don’t die, please live. I beg you, oneesama”

Like a sobbing child, Kokomi repeated her pleas with sobs.

I thought the display was vivid and beautiful, like a large hydrangea with morning dew on it.

The flower must have popped into my head because the true anniversary of my death was in June, and it was during the rainy season when I became friends with Kokomi.

I gently stroked Kokomi’s head as if touching a tender flower.

“Kokomi, I’m sorry, I’m very sorry… ”

But thank you.

You cried so much for me.

You wanted me to continue living.

I can’t tell if I am happy or sad. These feelings were entirely mixed and I can’t even tell what kind of expression I had on my face right now.

But even if she wanted me to continue living…

It was inevitable that I would have to go and leave Kokomi behind.

I think it’s time for this dreamy, magical time to come to an end.

What I’m going to say now is just a small intervention for Kokomi, who, unlike me, will continue living.

“You mentioned falling out with your best friend earlier. Every time you talk about her, I can’t help but think that you still want to be friends.”

“Ehh… ”

“If you keep overlooking your true feelings, you’ll regret it later. It may be none of my business, but I don’t want my best friend Kokomi to leave any regrets to fester. I want you to live happily ever after.”

“Hey!”

“So why don’t you try to talk to her one final time? If it doesn’t lead to anything, then you can give up. But I think it’s better to do something than to do nothing and have regrets later.”

I let out a wry smile inside, thinking that there was a bit of my personal experience mixed into this advice.

I couldn’t express this desire properly, so I decided not to write it in my will. But being face to face with Kokomi, I found the inspiration and courage to say it now.

I smiled at her as she turned her head and closed pursed her mouth, as if at a loss in finding an answer, and I said, “That’s a promise. The pinky promise I made was almost a contrivance, but I think I have fulfilled it to a large extent.”

Now, on the other hand, I hope you will keep your promise to me. Recover from this and live positively after I’m gone.

I’ve done what I needed to, so I needed to move on to the next person. Regretfully, my time is limited and I had spent enough of it here.

Looking down, I could see my body beginning to turn into light particles, starting from my toes. It was all so fantastical, from my point of view, that it was almost comedic. I’ve had a lot of trouble with magic, and yet now I’m depending entirely on it and glad I’m able to do so.

But in any way, I was happy to see Kokomi again at the very last minute.

“Oh! Wait, oneesama! Wait for me!”

Kokomi tries to get up in a hurry, but her legs become entangled and she fell to the floor in a heap. Desperately trying to get to her feet, she struggled in panic. But I couldn’t take her away with me.

Instead, all I could do was smile and say, “Bye-bye, Kokomi. I’ll always love you!”

Seeing this, Kokomi began sobbing again.

After a brief pause, she held out her hand and smiled awkwardly, in a distorted but energetic smile.

“I love you, too, oneesama.”

“I know! And I’m sorry.” I replied.

I am sure she will keep her promise to me. The thought of that left me feeling good, strangely enough.

Just before I disappeared completely, I could just make out a voice laughing and saying, “It’s a pinky promise!”

----

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TL Note: Mald Frogs Club tries to capture the intent of the author when translating these chapters. This is not a literal translation and we can not guarantee the accuracy of it. We re-structure sentences to improve the flow and if we spot what appears to be an obvious error, we fix it as we go.