Chapter 13: Memory

Memory

"You're amazing, Kisaragi-san," the librarian said to me, and I was surprised.

I handed the ten books I had in my handbag to a familiar librarian, who scanned the barcodes and processed the return. I was absentmindedly thinking about what to borrow next when suddenly, I was attacked, and my mind went blank.

"Eh? Ah, um..."

As I was confused, the librarian smiled and added something.

"Young people these days don't read many books. I wish there were more kids like Kisaragi-san."

"Haa..."　

I have never thought that reading books is a great thing. I read books because they are interesting, not because I want to learn or gain virtue. So this felt similar to being told, "You're great for playing games."

I don't mind being praised, but...

I blushed and bowed my head slightly as if in greeting.

The biggest flaw in life is that we only live once.

As long as I am me, I cannot be anything other than myself.

And as the saying goes, "The grass is always greener on the other side," and "Yourself" can often seem uninteresting.

The advantage of books, and stories in general, is that they allow us to relive the lives of others.

Moreover, the lives and histories depicted in stories are far more interesting than mundane reality. The events that occur there are dramatic, and there is no repetition of boring daily life.

The book is interesting.

And every time I reaffirm how interesting it is, my opinion becomes stronger.

"Myself" is boring.

I can't help but feel that other people are far more valuable than I am.

If someone is going to suffer a misfortune, I want to take their place.

For example, Kaoru-chan's younger brother was killed in a home invasion robbery.

As I watched Kaoru-chan crying and clinging to me, I often wished I could take on the fate that her younger brother had faced.

I took my time choosing the next book to borrow. After stuffing ten books into the basket, it was quite heavy. I grabbed the handles with both hands and headed to the counter. However, there was no one there. "Huh?" I thought, but without thinking too much about it, I moved to the location where the automatic lending machine was located.

As I scanned the barcode, a beep sounded, indicating that the computer had read it. At that moment, something crossed my mind, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

I continued scanning one book, then two... and when I finished the last one, the electronic sounds melted deeper and deeper into the silence and vanished into thin air, and at the same time, the sense of discomfort I had been vaguely feeling earlier became clear.

It's too quiet.

Libraries are quiet places to begin with, so it was hard to notice, but no matter how you look at it, this was strangely quiet.

I looked around and saw no staff or residents in sight.

I was scared and quickly left the library.

When I went outside, I saw a crowd of people and felt a brief sense of relief.

But it was only a fleeting moment, as I soon realized how strange they were, and my relief vanished.

Everyone was staring blankly into the air as if they had lost their minds.

When I turned my gaze there...

"What... is that..."

A large monster was swimming in the sky.

"It" didn't give the impression of being alive, and looked more like a plane or a ship, but strangely, I felt a will of its own. A sinister will, in fact.　

But what scared me most wasn't the monster itself, but the people who didn't even make a fuss when they saw it. Something was wrong. I screamed.

"Ah, um...! What are you doing?! We have to get away quickly!"

No one answered my call.

I continue to call out, but there is no response.

Then, I spotted a familiar face, a librarian, in the crowd of people.

I took the librarian's arm and shook it.　

"What's wrong?! If we don't get away from there, we'll be in big trouble!"　

The librarian shook off my hand, hitting me across the cheek and causing me to fall on my backside.

"L-Librarian...?"

Tears welled up inside me.

The librarian is not the type of person who would use violence against a junior high school student. Something is definitely wrong.

At that moment, the monster, which had been moving straight towards the center of the city, suddenly changed course. Because it was high up and far away, it was hard to judge the distance at first and I didn't notice it, but it seemed to be coming towards us.

Instinctively, I knew "It" were targeting me.

"It" had noticed that I was an irregular being who had somehow managed to retain my sanity, and were trying to eliminate me.　

I ran out.

I felt like if I stayed here I would drag everyone down.

The monster's movement speed far surpasses that of a small human running on land, and the gap is closing rapidly.

--Am I going to die here

No!

I'm scared!

I don't want to die a cruel death being chased by something so incomprehensible.

But the monster doesn't care what I think.

I'm going to die here.

Tears started to form and my vision became blurred. As I was rubbing my eyes as I ran, I bumped into something.

I fell, and the ten books I had in my briefcase tumbled to the ground.

"Are you okay?"

A voice calls out.

I looked up in the direction of the voice and saw a beautiful girl in a black dress looking into my face.

"Um, ah, um..."　

The girl picked up the books scattered on the ground.

I suddenly realized,

"This is no time for that! Get out of here!"

"But... you've scraped your knee. Can you stand up?"

"Don't worry about me! Leave me behind and run away now!"　

The monster was right in front of us.

It opened its mouth wide and sped up, perhaps trying to eat us or just bite us to pieces.

Whether she knew it or not, the girl picked up the last book that had fallen to the ground - the debut novel by a bestselling author.

"Ah... I've read this before."　

It's no good anymore...!

I closed my eyes tightly, preparing for the sense of impending end.

But....

The end never came.

I open my eyes timidly.

The girl was reaching out to me.

"Can you stand?"

The monster must have been looming, its mouth wide open, ready to swallow us.

But just as "it" tried to swallow us, its body began to split apart - it was like the sea of ​​Moses. As if covered by an invisible membrane that scraped away anything it touched, or as if we had become the blades of a sharp sword, the monster's body began to break apart as it passed through our space.

I instinctively took the girl's hand.

In the belly of the monster - surrounded by the monster's entrails.

I got up.

"This book."

The girl handed me the bag.

At the same time, the monster's torso, split in two, landed on the ground and disappeared without a trace.　

I receive the book.

"You can see me, and you're not affected by the demon's miasma. That means you're a magical girl too, right?"

"Huh...? Magical...?"

Are you talking about anime?

I would like to think so, but I have just encountered a fictional event in which I thought I was being chased by a monster, only to be saved by a girl in a dress.

Maybe... it's a real story?

But I don't know anything about magical girls, and I don't remember ever becoming one.

"That……"

"Ah, you haven't signed a contract yet. But the fact that you can see me means you have the talent. Maybe one day you'll get an invitation to become a Magical Girl."　

With that, she turned on her heel and tried to leave the place.

I immediately called out to her.

"Ah, ano!"

"?"

The girl turned around.

"Thank you so much for helping me! I, I, my name is Kisaragi Koharu!"

"Tachibana Sumire. I'm just going to defeat that thing whether you're here or not, so there's no need for thanks, but—I'll accept it."

She took the trouble to close the distance she had been keeping and asked for a handshake.

I responded to that.

That was how I met Tachibana Sumire.

•

•

•

After that, I started meeting Tachibana-san after school. To tell you the truth, I was the one who made the passionate move on her. I was embarrassed because I'd never been so proactive before...

The meeting place was the library I go to. Tachibana-san apparently lives nearby and says she sometimes goes there. I get excited thinking that maybe we've passed each other somewhere without realizing it.

Tachibana-san was standing next to the library entrance.　

"Sorry. Did you wait?"

Tachibana-san shook her head.

We then decide whether to go inside the library or just wander around aimlessly. I don't mean to discuss this decision, but rather to decide naturally whether to go inside or walk in the opposite direction.　

Today we decided to go for a walk outside. On the way, Tachibana-san recommended we go into a zenzai shop. We chatted while eating cold zenzai, which is like shaved ice.

But the most I could offer was talk about books. Tachibana-san is not a very talkative person to begin with, and she just listens. She listens to what I have to say, nodding along with interest. And sometimes when she speaks, she chooses topics that suit me. It's fun, but I also feel a little bad because it seems like she's being considerate.　

It seemed like Tachibana-san also read a lot of books. This made perfect sense when I saw her calm demeanor. However, at the same time, I had some thoughts.　

"Do you find books interesting, Tachibana-san?"

"Eh?"

"Well, your daily life is much more amazing than novels, right? Since your reality is like fiction, I don't think reading books would be stimulating..."

Tachibana-san smiled slightly.　

"Because I'm boring, right?"

I was shocked.

Tachibana-san's words generally lack explanation, and even what she just said wouldn't normally be understood on its own.

But I understand what it means all too well.　

But--

"You're not boring, Tachibana-san! I mean, you're a Magical Girl after all. If you're boring, then being an Olympic athlete would be boring too."

The mission that magical girls must have is a tough one.

So I understand if she say it's "painful" or "difficult."

But it's a feeling that's far from "boring."

At the very least, it shouldn't be described as "boring."

"When I say boring, I mean someone like me who has no redeeming qualities..."

"It's fun talking to you, Kisaragi-san."

"Huh?"

Putting it like that...that's unfair.

My face was hot and I was sure it was bright red, so I looked down to hide it.

"Anyway, Tachibana-san isn't boring!"

"Thanks. But, I feel bad for you, Kisaragi-san, but I'm still boring."

"But... you fought the demon..."

"Demon slaying may be out of the ordinary for you, Kisaragi-san, but it's become a part of my daily life. You end up getting used to this kind of thing the more you do it."

Still not convinced, Tachibana-san continued speaking at a length, which was unusual for her.

"For example, even in shonen manga, it's not enough to just keep having battles going on and on -- if you fight the same level of enemy all year round, it'll get boring, right?

Maybe there are ups and downs. That's the difference between fiction and reality."

"If you say that, then no one can escape their own boredom..."

"Not really. If there are no ups and downs, then you can just go and create them yourself."

"Are you going to make it yourself?"

"That's right. Imagine the ideal situation and coordinate it. Books are the perfect role model for that."

She seems strangely passionate about what she's saying, which is unusual for Tachibana-san.

I felt that this was where Tachibana-san's core was, so I asked her the question.

"What's your ideal situation, Tachibana-san?"

"It's a secret. What's more important is finding out what you want to do and what you want to become."

"What do you want to do...?"　

In short, dreams and goals.

To be honest, I had never thought about something so grand until recently.

But now, there is something that immediately comes to mind when I hear those words.　

That's Tachibana-san.

In fact, while working together with Tachibana-san, we have encountered battles with demons several times.

I was only able to watch the battle between the demon and Tachibana-san from afar, but even so, when I'm in front of a demon, I feel very scared and my mind goes blank.

It was cool to see Tachibana-san risking her life to fight in front of me and the other people who had lost their minds and couldn't even run away.

I want to be like Tachibana-san.

To be someone who can protect others like Tachibana-san.

•

•

My days with Tachibana-san didn't last long.

At first, I thought it was just the usual demon-slaying.

As usual, Tachibana-san fights the demon and wins without any trouble.

As Tachibana-san once said, if you keep doing something, you'll eventually get used to it.

Even if it means fighting for your life.

Even if it's a battle that carries the world on her shoulders.

That day was different from usual.

Tachibana-san's attacks aren't going through.

Tachibana's weapon is a sharp wire. She can make it appear out of nowhere to attack. However, it seems that the enemies' hardness exceeds the attack power of the weapon, so it doesn't seem to be very effective.

She was using techniques I'd never seen before (probably magic. I'd been told about it before), but even that didn't work against the demon.　

Since her attacks are not working, if the battle continues for a long time, who will fall first?　

"Tachibana-san!"　

The demon stretched out something like a tentacle, which ended in a sharp blade that cut Tachibana down.

I was watching from afar and then ran towards Tachibana-san.

"What are you doing? Get away quickly."　

With painful scars all over her body and bright red blood dripping from her body, Tachibana pleaded.

"B-but..."

"It's fine, just hurry up and go!"

An angry voice rose, in stark contrast to her usual calm tone.

But I won't back down.　

I step in front of Tachibana and spreads my arms.

I made eye contact with the eyeless demon.

A frog stared at by a snake. It's scary, but it's not a big deal.

"Kisaragi-san, what are you doing...! Why are you acting like you're going to kill yourself?"

"Because,..." her voice trembled, "You're much more important than me."

"That's not true--"

"And besides!"

I interrupted.

"I've always wondered. Our daily lives are possible because heroes like Tachibana-san protect us ordinary people from behind the scenes. But even heroes get hurt. So who is going to protect the people who protect?

I want to protect those who protect! That's who I want to be. So--"

The other party didn't take my circumstances into consideration. Before I could finish what I wanted to say, the demon's tentacles reached out towards me.

But the impact didn't come from the front, but from behind. Tachibana put her arm around me from behind and moved in a straight line. We passed through the space below the demon and hid in an alleyway.　

"Tachibana-san, are you okay...?"　

I was about to ask if she was okay, but stopped myself.

I thought she could still move, but Tachibana-san was leaning against the wall, looking exhausted and in pain.

If Tachibana-san collapses, it's all over.

We have no way to defeat the demon.

Hope was lost.

However, seeing me gloomy and giving up, Tachibana-san smiled.

"I'm okay."

"What's okay...? You're so beaten up, your attacks aren't working... there's nothing you can do..."

"There is no such thing as perfect despair, just as there is no such thing as perfect writing."

It was the opening passage of a book that Tachibana had once picked up for me.

The sentences are out of order.

Tachibana's inappropriate quote actually gave me a little more peace of mind.

I calmed down and asked again.　

"Do you have a plan?"

Tachibana-san nodded.

"I'll put everything I've got into this"

"Eh……?"

"I'll use my everything into the next spell."

That means Tachibana-san herself will be used as a sacrifice.

That's it--

"You can't do that! If you do that, Tachibana-san will die!"

"If we don't defeat him, then we'll all die."　

In that case, we just need to think of a way for Tachibana-san to defeat the demon without dying.

"Then use me."

"Kisaragi-san...? No. Sacrificing you in my place..."

"Then I'll put my most precious thing on the line."

"The most important thing--"

Of course.

"It's my memory of Tachibana-san."　

Tachibana's eyes widened.

My memories of her are the most precious thing to me in the world, and I'm confident that if I use them, I can extract far more than any price I could ever ask for.

Because I care about you so much, Tachibana-san.

I'm sure it will work out perfectly.　

"Then I'll just have to use my own memories."

"No, that's not possible. I mean, Tachibana-san is a Magical Girl, aren't you? What if the memories you have of me involve things that you shouldn't forget as a Magical Girl?"

Also, I want Tachibana-san to remember me.

"It's okay. I'll just return to my original life. I'm not scared at all. Besides, I have the potential to be a Magical girl, Right? If so, we'll meet again, next time on the same stage as you, as Magical Girl."

"Kisaragi-san..."

Tachibana-san had a gloomy expression on her face, but soon a look of determination appeared in her eyes.

"I understand."

I lend Tachibana-san my shoulder and the two of us head out the back alley.

The demon spotted us and closed the distance.　

My legs are shaking.

It's actually scary.

I don't want to forget about Tachibana-san.

It's a state close to death.

Suddenly tears started to flow.

However, I tried my best to smile so as not to weaken Tachibana-san's resolve.

"Shall we go, Tachibana-san?"

"Call me Sumire."

"Eh?"

"Names. The closer we are, the more effective the compensation will be. Calling each other by our first names sounds more like best friends, doesn't it?"

"Okay then. Can you call me Koharu too?"

"Got it - Koharu."

"Y-yes!"

We faced the demon.

"Shall we go, Sumire?"　

Sumire nodded.

She pointed her right hand at the demon.　

The next moment.

My consciousness fades away.

Ah, if I let go of my consciousness like this, I'll probably forget everything about her.

I don't like it.

I don't want to forget...　

Watch as her magic activates, easily blowing away the once-powerful demon.

I lost consciousness.

"Bye-bye, Sumire--"