Chapter 8 (1/2)
Day 19: With Mary-san
Every ti white enters the corner of my eye, I turn all ain, I continue urging on the bike I've already repeated that more times than I can count
How ht's call?
Because I've kept the sa off an unpleasant grating,over itself
It's as natural as could be, I as All other ti towards Mary
When I look at the sky, the sun is peeking into my face
That sunlight that hasn't showered , it feels itchy A grilling heat aches the surface ofme want to scratch
… I'll have to rest soon This bike isn't the sort of vehicle you can keep riding for extended periods, and even if that wasn't the case, I haven't slept I don't know if it's because I' to warp The inside of o, Iin the wind for Mary
Of course, rather than forcing etting so to Mary with a clear head
Yet I just can't find it in et it ht siht be I wanted to taste just another ten ht be that I felt if I stopped, I got the feeling I wouldn't be able to start again
But the only certain, clear fact was that I was racing on my bike to meet Mary
Yeah There was a tio, in the before-time
But as ti of it differently
What's iive up
My bike lurches forward as if it'll collapse at any otten into an accident is because I'o down, and if I went somewhere with heavy traffic, there's no doubt I'd be hit by hard luck and dancing
No, look, I worked hard I worked really hard Hardest I ever work
But see, the hu called a limit
I'ularity or marine life
Rest It's seriously time for me to rest
I don't need that hot-blooded zeal or effort anymore I really am at my limit
For now, please, just give me a cover
I thought over that in a corner of my head as I raced the bike with a practically-asleep sense of awareness I couldn't find any excuse to stop, so I continued on
… The next one Once I pass that light post, I'll rest Definitely
Just how ht it? My field of vision's questionably hazy, and I'ht post I picked out, so in the end, I can't stop Rather, if I unskillfully hit the brakes, I get the feeling that alone will overturn this rig
Perhaps this is that After riding until death, I'll becoend, don't you think… oh damn, that's actually badass
I saw a visual hallucination of such an unbecoirl in a white one-piece and straw hat right by the side of the road, cross-exaret that I should have dropped the cool act, and at least asked for more details on her current location, and after a few dozen seconds, I thought over what Mary even looked like to begin with…
I suddenly hit the brakes
Gkkkkk, as it raised a metallic sound, I forcefully drew the bike near the shoulder and brought it to a stop On the verge of falling over, I got over, violently yanked off my full-face helmet and turned around
”… She's not there”
However The girl I'er in my vision
… Did I pass her by? No, before that, she ht've been a hallucination
I doubted whether ht as I turned back towards the bike…
”… Please don't turn around”
”…!?”
Softly
A slight weight and heat were added to my back
Just as I was about to turn around, I just barely stopped my feet
”I'm not allowed to turn around?”
”… The urban legend called Mary-san is coet turns around… just a little is enough Please for a little longer, don't end this time For just a brief mo”
”… I see”
Back to back, we could feel each other's heat
Even in these days of suuishable war while of silence followed Just as I didn't knohat I was supposed to say, it looks like Mary didn't knohat to say either
”… Hey”
”… Um”
We tried to say so it more aard
”Uo ahead”
”… Sure”
With Mary conceding the right away, in order to play off the aardness, I spoke on in a teasing tone
”What's that, Mary? You were able to walk a bit, I see By the look of things, did I even have to come out? … Rather, this is a bit late, but I'm surprised I actually ran into you”
”… Akira, have you forgotten?”
”About what?”
”I have Clairvoyance… it was easy to see through the fact you were co towards me and predict your route, you know?”
”… Ah”