Prologue (1/2)

Prologue

He didn’t knohether it was a drea to

It was during his childhood——having just finished seven hours in elehboring town to play as he pretended to have adventures

Under the winter sky of January, when the snow had scarcely started to accumulate, that person appeared in front of his eyes

——It was a black angel

The el appeared to be about his father’s age, or perhaps slightly older

The angel man stooped down so that they were both at eye level and said

“…Well then, is it possible you haven’t realized it?”

Patting his head, the man put on a smile

“If so, if it dwells within you, then your world will coe sooner or later But, no, you shouldn’t despair? After all, you—”

Placing a finger on his chest, he said:

“Fro the thirteen types, yours alone is crowned ‘God’ Although, it is a false ‘God’—”

He often could not understand what theabout He couldn’t understand—but the memory remained vivid

At that moment he responded to the voice of the friend he’d co out to hiain—it was too late as the black angel was no longer there

He didn’t knohether it was a dream or a vision

Prologue

Early May—

During high school——no, right before the one and only, once in a lifetih school, Ikuse Tobio was necessarily absent

Yesterday, his physical condition had been poor He had a fever that would not go down and his body was devoid of strength His head was in a daze, and he was also unsteady on his feet

Although it was the beginning of Golden Week, this was no reason to be careless…he was still afflicted with the sudden illness The doctor had also prescribed that he rest

“So then, since I’ll be buying souvenirs, you’re going to obediently lie down?”

Saying so while standing sirl She’s a classh school She’s also his childhood friend, Toujou Sae Her smile was mischievous

“…Aah”

Tobio responded while pouting through the mask

She had co Froreeable

The itinerary of the trip was a period of ten days on luxury liner cruise touring the Hawaiian Islands

For Tobio, it was supposed to be his first trip overseas As a student at the time, there was no way he wouldn’t have enjoyed it With how very heavy his body felt, he was quite bitter

Sae poked Tobio’s forehead which had displayed a sullen look

“I can go anytiether, so please try to endure this time”

“……How stupid I want to go today And anyways, you say you’ll accoht?”

“You got me”

Sae laughed and chuckled Tobio exhaled, rubbing his poked forehead

After she finished teasing Tobio, Sae picked up her bag

“Well it’s about time, I’m sorry to say”

“Ah, wait a minute”

Tobio calls Sae back as he reaches into his pants pocket, and takes out a string of beads

He places it on Sae’s left wrist

“My late Baa-changrandmother, she’d always make sure I’d wear this when I travelled Since I’o, I’d like you to take it and be protected on the trip”

Sae looks at the beads, and thankfully rubbed them with her hand

“Thank you”

“Um…that’s, how I should put it, I want you to take care of yourself”