5:02 P.M.

5:02 P.M.

 

“Hah… hahh… hahh…!”

I, Michimoto Sakiko, was still climbing upward in the direction Boogiepop had gone. But I was at my limit. I was out of breath, and there was a pain in my side. I was clearly not getting enough exercise.

“I… I can’t…”

I staggered, my breath rasping. I was higher than anyone else had made it, and so I was all alone.

There was some music playing. The lights were back on, and so was the air conditioning. I wasn’t sure, but it seemed like everything was over. Boogiepop must have done something.

I remembered Niitoki Kei, suddenly. That girl must be in here somewhere, too. I had a sudden desire to see her. The way I felt now… I’d be able to talk to her. For real.

“I… I gotta say sorry…”

I felt like I should.

Then, from above me, I heard the sound of something being forced open.

“Ah…!”

I staggered to my feet, and headed toward the noise.

And found Boogiepop forcing open the doors to the elevator. The elevator itself wasn’t there, just a sheer drop to the bottom.

“Um…!” I said.

It turned towards me and said, “Hello.”

“Is… is it over?”

“Yes. There’s no more need for me.”

“Oh…”

I considered asking who it had killed, but it didn’t seem like the right time.

“Farewell,” Boogiepop said, and turned back to the elevator.

I panicked. I felt like I had to say something else.

“Um…! Er, well…”

“What is it?”

“W-will I see you again?”

Boogiepop looked rather surprised. “I believe you should be hoping you never see me again.”

It had a point.

But I stuck to my guns.

“Th-then…if… just if. If I become your enemy?”

“Mm?”

“L-Like you said, this world isn’t always good. But…I… I still think… I may not be great, but, but even so, I want the world to revolve around good things. That’s not the way you think, is it? So I might still become your enemy.”

I wasn’t even sure what I was saying myself.

“………”

Boogiepop stared back at me, saying nothing. I met that gaze, and kept on talking.

“I-If I do become your enemy, will you appear before me again? Is that a way I could meet you?”

“You do not fear the reaper?” it said, amused.

“Nope! Not one bit!” I said, laughing at myself.

A moment later, I felt like I saw something genuinely unusual. Something few people have ever witnessed.

Boogiepop smiled.

“In that case, I promise to show you no mercy.”

It turned its back on me.

Before I had a chance to yelp, it flung itself down the elevator shaft.

I ran over to the edge, but by the time I looked down, there was no sign of it.

Boogiepop had vanished without a trace.

 

***

 

“………”

I stood rooted to the spot, feeling empty inside.

Then I heard a familiar voice behind me, and someone running in my direction.

I turned around, and saw Takeshi coming my way. The boy I’d come to the Moon Temple with.

“I… I finally found you… you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Takeshi was covered in sweat, despite the cold. Had he really run all the way up here?

“I… I mean…all this weird stuff happened, and I couldn’t find you, so I started looking and…”

He was panting the whole time.

“………”

I just looked at him.

Then I sighed.

“All right, then.”

“Hunh? What?”

I didn’t answer, just took a package out of my pocket and handed it to him.

“…? What’s this? Wait…”

“J-just obligatory chocolate!” I said, sternly. “I mean, even Hina-chan forgave me, so…”

I’d never really liked Valentine’s Day. But now I felt like I could finally accept it.

That music was still echoing through the Moon Temple.