The world was supposed to end today.
The lady on the megaphone said so. There was a big bomb coming, a black sun that would swallow up Mabase. The world was going to end today. Maybe not the whole world. But my world. It would have been enough. The school and the kids. Tasuku-sempai's photos. The mayor and his secretary and his wife. Eri Ninamori. The bakery. My cat, my bridge, my river.
Takkun.
All gone.
Just a flash of light and that would be it.
People were scared. Things got crazy. Some guy came by and Haruko stole Takkun's dad. Takkun killed his dad who wasn't his dad too and then he went away for a while. School was cancelled. Everyone was so scared.
Not Mamimi.
The ninth inning is the most exciting part of the game. Tasuku-sempai never gave up, even if his team was losing, even though they never lost. Tasuku-sempai would wait until the end. So I waited. I wanted to see the end of the world. So I went to wait by the old towers. I took Canti too because even if he isn't a god he's an angel and he keeps me safe. Takkun keeps me safe.
Takkun wouldn't do anything though, I knew. Takkun never plays, never wants to play. It's how he is and I like it. Takkun always lets the pitches go right by him. He's afraid to miss, so he doesn't try. Everyone tells him to swing, just swing the bat- his dad, his grandpa, Haruko. Tasuku-sempai would too. But he never, ever swings. Tasuku-semai would swing, Haruko always swings- but not Takkun.
Takkun swung today.
When the bomb was falling, when the sky turned red and the wind screamed and the people screamed and even Canti made noise, when the black sun was right overhead and even Haruko had run away-
Takkun swung the bat.
Haruko had given him a bat. She didn't think he would use it. No one thought he would use it. I didn't want him to use it.
He swung.
And he hit it.
It didn't go anywhere, it was so big and he was so little- and I thought maybe it would end right there, with Takkun standing so small against the sun- I wish I had my camera. Haruko came back. And she swung hard, and then it was gone and the sky was blue and the wind had stopped and everything was over. And the world is still here.
And I wish it wasn't.
Mamimi is sick of the world. I tried to get rid of the parts I hate, I tried to burn them away but it was too much and I was trapped in the fire and Tasuku had to save me. And it was too little and the firemen put it out and the buildings still stand. The ash is still there. I could try again- I still have my lighter- but I've been burned before and it hurts and I can't control it and Tasuku-sempai isn't here any more.
Tasuku-sempai would always swing but isn't here.
Haruko always swings and she ran.
Canti was a god but lost his wings.
Takkun swung the bat.
Everything has changed. Nothing to hold on to but no fire to end it. I am lost. The game isn't mine any more.
How can I play when the rules have changed?