All the way up in the sky
I regain consciousness, I feel like I've been asleep for an eternity. A deafening sound reaches my ears. Blows, a very strong wind gives the impression of flying. It's humid, I can feel hundreds of water droplets landing and sliding down my face. My bandages seem to have disappeared. I finally open my eyes. A twilight landscape worthy of a fantasy film sticks to my retina...
- Eeeeh?
A multitude of floating meadows lie in front of me. The drops of water describe movements contrary to the laws of physics.
- Birds?
- Fish.
A clear, childlike voice cuts me off. It stands in my field of vision and looks at me with a compassionate smile. Come to think of it, it was mocking.
- I'm sorry? What are you talking about? Who are you, what are you anyway? What are you-
- You talk too fast, I can't even understand half of what you're saying.
- What the hell is this place? Where the hell am I? I cried out, completely overwhelmed by events.
- It's true that it went very fast. So hang in there, it's not easy to accept. Right now, we're above high school...
- In the sky?
- That's right!
- — …
I'm marking a time of hesitation. It all seems completely surreal to me.
- Are you gonna buy that?
- I am! Look around you!
- Meadows don't fly, I thought to myself. That girl didn't care about me. I'm probably drugged, and locked up in a reformatory cell.
- By the way, what was yesterday's insult? Did you see yourself? You could have hurt many students! Me first! What took you to throw yourself on him? You knew you couldn't handle it!
- On "him"? I'm told it was Shiina...
- Forget it, she said, sighing in exasperation. Her eyes were darkened, and I feared I'd hurt her feelings. Because where I am, I can only rely on her, I'm not in my right mind.
- I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You must be lost. At the same time, it's unusual to find yourself in this situation.
- No, I'm the one who-
- Stop!
It's getting quiet. Thick clouds are forming, meadows are becoming scarcer and scarcer.
- They're disappearing! We're going down!
- Good thinking, Newton! I was supposed to wait for you to wake up to do this, but you woke up too late. So...
- I can't help it!
- Listen to me! Listen to me! You're gonna take my hands, and you're gonna close your eyes. Just stay conscious.
His eyes were staring at mine with seriousness. Again, I couldn't concentrate on anything else. I didn't hear half of his explanations, but, holding out my hands, I told myself there was nothing else to do.
- What kind of offering?
- What kind of offering?
I'm losing it. Hina rushes over and hugs me without asking me. The wind is blowing in my ears, the feeling of the heart rising in my chest is getting stronger and stronger. My landmarks are completely non-existent. The girl's slender arms glide along my body, and her hands end up grabbing mine. A very strong energy invades me, as if a strong connection had just been established between our two souls. I reopen my eyes in an instant, with a pain in my back. My leg feels like it has taken a blow. An irritated voice greets me.
- You don't listen to anything you're told! It's unbelievable. Pitiful, she lectures me. I almost hurt myself! That's not true-
I lay on what seemed to be the roof of a dilapidated, very old building. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning tore through the sky and exploded the shrine just a stone's throw from where we landed. The building seemed to be holding its balance, my instinct told me to leave. It starts raining.
-...Unable to keep my eyes closed for more than five seconds, no tact-
- Get out of the way! I shout to Hina, completely disconnected from the real world.
The ground collapses beneath my feet, I'm in the middle of a jump. Without a moment's thought, I take her hand and run down the fire stairs. The rusty handrails fail to cut me at every turn, the metal steps break apart. During our frantic run, she didn't utter a single word. Getting out alive is our only goal right now.