“Minakami didn’t die.” “…” “They say those who drown, ascend… Minakami ascended.”

When I glared at him through that small peephole, Kawase pulled out his wallet in annoyance. “How much will it cost for you to forgive me?” That’s not the problem. That’s not the problem, Kawase.

“Why did he have to die during a season like this? …Making me walk around in the rain.” “That’s no way… to talk about him.” “Don’t you think it’s a pain? If he was going to die, I’d like it if he had done it more conveniently.”

“You’re a living human being. The distance you feel between you and others is real. Your choices are yours to make.”

“I admit. I'm a fool. I know I'm too stupid to listen to what anyone has to say, so I'll prove to you that I've come from three days in the future.”

If Kawase was going to kill me, then I’d kill Kawase too. That way, neither of us would be alone.

I cleared away some paper and sat next to the register. I then rested my chin in my hand and watched the scenery outside, like usual. Or I tried to, anyway. My fake smile made my cheeks twitch, and my brows furrowed in pain.

I became a terrible person when he was around. I became the moon. Night. Shadow. Darkness. Someone completely incapable of being loved. His pure, pleading eyes left me exposed. If only he didn't have those eyes. If only he weren't giving me that look.

“I only did it because the old man at the goldfish shop told me it was okay to do it that way.” “And a bunch of the goldfish he sold you have probably died, right?” “Yeah… I wonder why.”

“It wasn’t a compliment. Make sure you keep them clean.” Leaving me with her confusing insult, she disappeared into the fog. I felt the years of my life return when the sound of her footsteps vanished.

“You lost it? The cap you have to wear every day?” “Haha… Honestly, I haven’t found it yet. I forgot it on the train, so since then…” “You’re pretty careless, too. Did you catch Tamamori-kun’s stupid or something?” “Yeah, I may have.”

“I admit. I'm a fool. I know I'm too stupid to listen to what anyone has to say, so I'll prove to you that I've come from three days in the future.”

Crazy, huh? If the one I thought was crazy was calling me crazy, then I must have been completely off my rocker. In that case, all of us here were crazy.

Minakami told me there were two sides to everything. A right hand and a left hand. Good and evil. However, the shopkeeper and I fell into the same category; in other words, a left hand and a left hand. Evil and evil.

“Did… did a huge car go by?” “Idiot! It was obviously an earthquake!” “An earthquake…? This was the first time we’ve had one this big.”

... I thought it looked like an intricately folded paper crane.

“Hey, Frog Man. Maybe I really am dreaming.” “It’s not a dream...” “It’s a dream.” If this weren’t a dream, Minakami wouldn’t keep resurfacing.

If Kawase was going to kill me, then I’d kill Kawase too. That way, neither of us would be alone.

“Minakami didn’t die.” “…” “They say those who drown, ascend… Minakami ascended.”

“Don't call yourself disgusting. How are you disgusting? Why do you think you're making a mistake? Where does that awareness come from?”