Chapter 160 (1/2)

Volume 2

Chapter 139

When the detectives left, the doctor introduced himself as『Maeno Koichi』

After lightly addressing some details about the treatment, I was led into the assigned private hospital room.

After leading me to my room, the nurse promptly leaves as well, leaving me alone with Mai.

「…To think I am repeating grades.」

Not sure where to begin, I just mumbled those words.

The lack of memories over a period of more than a year, the mass disappearance and the magic circle, and it would seem that I am the only one who came back.

「One year, one year, huh… That’s quite long.」

Probably due to the passage of time, a situation that was so hard to comprehend started to feel more real.

I began to slowly accept the story that I deemed impossible when I first heard it.

「……Tell me, Mai. Did Kenta and Suehiko really disappear?」

Even so, in the hope to hear that『It’s all was just a joke』, I ask a question. But Mai gave me a slightly saddened look, which only a family member would be able to recognize, and shook her head.

「…Among brother’s acquaintances, the only one whose whereabouts are known is Yuuto-san」

「! Yuuto is okay?! 」

「It is a quite rare and big incident so it turned into an open investigation. It is also possible to see a list of those who disappeared from the school.」

Mai took a smartphone from the bag and for a while, she was fiddling with the screen.

「…This.」

On the display of the smartphone, which was handed to me, was a home page of the police.

I scroll down a simply compiled list that came along with proviso requesting for information.

On that list, the names of my best friends『Itou Suehiko』and『Kida Kenta』 were clearly written.

And not only them, but most of the classmates I can remember are also on this list.

「Why…, is such…」

There was no meaning behind the words of denial that leaked out.

Even though I am only looking at rows and columns made up of letters, I still felt a numb pain in my chest.

I recall what the inspector has said.

Among the vacuum of what I cannot remember, are there any hints that could help in finding them?

（What happened. Why can’t I remember anything…Shit, what did I…）

However, trying to remember anything only made thestronger feeling that I am getting deeper into a quagmire stronger.

Feelings of loss and impatience are stirring up uneasiness in my heart.

「…Brother, please go to sleep. I can not bear to look at such a miserable face of yours anymore.」

Pretending as if she is about to cry, with quick movements, my little sister snatches the smartphone from my hands.

She talked and acted the same way as I remembered her, but with Mai growing slightly taller than the last time I saw her, that inconsistency triggered a distinctly felt feeling of discomfort.

There is a time I know nothing about. A time that had passed of which I have no recollection of.

There is something in the depths of that empty void, something important to me.

「…!」

I’ve got a headache.

A severe headache. Pulsating, it feels as if the space between skin and bone is burning with fire.

「It’s fine, for today just go to sleep, brother. If you keep overexerting yourself, your face which is mediocre to begin with, will really turn into something that no one except me will be able to look twice upon. For your little sister, it is too much.」

「Yea will do. Sorry, I made you worry.」

When I became conscious of it, a wave of exhaustion swiftly overcame me and I was assaulted with drowsiness.

It is still early in the evening, but I am not quite able to endure it anymore.

Let’s leave thinking for later.

As I thought of such, I laid down on the bed and Mai gently covered me with a blanket.

Yup, hospitals ain’t that bad at times. I can feel my little sister’s love.

Though were I to say that out loud she is likely will twist my ear, so I have no intentions of doing that.

「……It’s okay since reforming my unruly brother is my job. So, don’t go any further… 」

「? Ma, I…? 」

Unusually, Mai closed her mouth when she was about to say something.

It was bothering a bit but I let the entity known as sleep take me as I closed my eyes, unable to resist the warmth of the bed.

☆

「It’s my fault. Hic, It’s my fault.」

A small child was crying in a corner of the room.

No, the one crying is not the child, it is me.

「Sorry, I am sorry…」

It is an old dream. A bit old and bitter memory that was burned into me.

Father and mother were away, working, and only Mai and the me that just became a primary school student were at home.

Being a sickly child, Mai didn’t go outside too often and today as well, she was sleeping at home since she had a slight temperature in the morning.

『Mai, do you want anything? Want me to read you a picture book?』

『Books are fine. Rather, let’s hold hands.』

『Something like that I can do as much as you want.』

She had a slightly lost expression on her face as the palms of her hands became slightly wet due to her fever.