114 White Mask (2/2)

He had made a promise, and promises should be kept.

Even if it was only his side that kept the promise.

At the very least, he wanted the girl who shouldered such a heavy burden to feel someone’s compassion, however small.

He was merely going to fulfill a promise.

This was something that he could and should do. That meant that he must do it.

Seiji came to that decision.

...

At a location that wasn’t school.

Shika Kagura slowly removed her clothing and put on a different set of clothes.

Her perfect, petite, snow-white body was reflected in the mirror. Her well-developed chest, firm butt, and straight, slender legs all displayed her alluring beauty.

However, all of this was meaningless to her.

‘One day, this so-called beauty will end up wilting. Then, I’ll turn into the ugly form that I should have originally possessed. If I can live to that time, that is.’

She finished the slow act of putting on her clothes.

‘I might as well go now and follow my contractor’s orders.’

Shika Kagura took a final look at herself in the mirror, before she slowly wore a white mask over her face.

The mask was completely blank and expressionless.

Just like her inner heart.

She walked outside wearing her mask.

It was currently raining.

Seigo Harano had promised to wait there for her tonight.

Would he still go with how hard it was raining?

If she could go, should she take a look?

Her eyes flickered as she thought about the boy who had reached out his hand to her.

Shika Kagura was unable to come to a decision.

...

The rain continued falling through the night.

Seiji covered himself with an umbrella as he walked to the park and waited by the swings.

Would she come? He was filled with doubt as he quietly waited in the torrential downpour.

If she came, what should he say to her?

‘I’m sorry, but your problem is on the scale of a natural disaster attached to you. I can’t help you. Nobody can help you...’

Of course he couldn’t say something like that!

In that case... was consoling her the only thing he could attempt?

Seiji smiled bitterly to himself.

‘I’m still an ordinary person after all. Even with the system being a game-breaking cheat for me, the most I can do is protect myself. Saving others is truly difficult.’

He turned his head to look at the unmoving swing.

In the distant past, he, too, had fantasized about becoming a hero. But as he matured, he understood that true heroes who were able to save everything and everyone didn’t exist.

It wasn’t possible for them to exist.

Even so, people always hoped things would develop for the best. That was why everyone should strive to do what was within their abilities.

This was a very normal way of thinking... At the very least, this was how he thought.

Seiji contemplated the problem deeply.

Even if she brought misfortune down upon others and was destined to live in isolation, she could still enjoy life.

Isolation didn’t equal misfortune. As long as you had things you enjoyed or liked to do, then you could still lead a happy life.

‘Yep, let’s just give Shika some advice like that!’

I’ll tell her about all the various fun things to do in life. She can pick and choose from them... She can do something which she’ll enjoy for her entire life!

Poems... if she didn’t actually like them, she could try reading stories. If reading stories became boring, she could try manga or anime. Perhaps even movies and games… At any rate...

*Boom!!!*

A deafening sound rung out.

Something hurtled down from the sky and crashed into the empty ground in the park.

Seiji was extremely startled as his train of thought was interrupted.

What just happened!?

He squinted, trying to discern what had caused the impact through the dense cloud of dust.

He saw a person wearing strange clothing lay collapsed in a small crater.