Chapter 3

While there wasn't much evidence left behind, there was still a loud roar that came from the musket, and so I evacuated the area immediately. I didn't use my shadow this time because I wanted to use it in a less open area, so I found a cluster of trees that made a dark enough area inside and entered it. I stretched my shadow and was about to step inside, but before I did that I wanted to make sure one more time that I left no other evidence other than that loud noise.

I turned to look behind me, and what I saw wasn't any evidence, but instead, another problem. The cluster of trees that I was hiding behind wasn't that far away from the scene of the crime, so I could hear anyone who spoke there, and the voice that I was hearing was very familiar. It made me, of all people, freeze.

"I think it came from over here."

The voice belonged to a male.

"Shi-do, kinako bread~"

The other voice belonged to a girl.

"You just had some kinako bread, you're telling me you want more?"

"Well, I'm still hungry…"

"We're about to have dinner when we get home!"

"Muu…"

Seeing Shido-san and Tohka-san come into view from the visible area of the cluster of trees, I managed to regain my composure and decided to quickly and quietly hide behind one of the trees to avoid being detected inside.

My heart was beating slightly faster. But only slightly. I told myself it was adrenaline from nearly being spotted. If Shido-san and Tohka-san had seen me, they definitely would have tried to catch me.

I still don't know why I had decided to stay there. I could have easily called my shadow and left, but for some reason, I wanted to stay, even if it was only for a little while. And so I listened to the conversation.

The sky was now a red-orange color, and it could be seen outside the café window. I don't think Tohka-san had noticed yet though.

"Wait."

I tilted my head, wondering why Tohka-san had asked me to pause my story.

"…You were there?"

"Yes, I was."

"Then…that sound was…"

"I killed myself."

"Don't say that in a place like this!"

The last remark was a loud whisper that came from Tohka-san, but her face quickly turned into a very small shade of pink. I guess killing one of my clones isn't as important as the real person dying. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to take that.

"Th-Then…y-you saw…what I did?"

I found her reaction amusing, so I couldn't help but giggle. I knew exactly what she was talking about.

"It's not funny!"

"You're right, I'm sorry."

I wasn't really sorry. But considering the kind of person Tohka-san was, and the kind of person she was dealing at the time, it was certainly understandable.

"Anyway, go on."

"Let's see…"

I began to continue where I left off.

I closed the book that I was reading on the couch. It was a short novel. I also started reading it yesterday, so it didn't take very long to finish.

The sun was about to start setting, making the sky give a mix of red and orange in color.

In fact, that same image reminded me of that day with Tohka.

If I remember correctly…

Tohka and I had gone on a date.

We went to a lot of her favorite food stands and restaurants that day.

It wasn't coincidence.

The truth was, it was a date with an ulterior motive.

I think dates are a lot of fun. I'll probably believe that forever, considering how many I've been on. My life was on the line a lot of times, but even so, in the end I pulled through and also made the other person happy, so it made me happy too.

But recently, I hadn't been feeling like myself.

More specifically, my mind was somewhere else.

The food that Tohka and I ate together was delicious, and the princess herself wouldn't stop acting goofy – not that I had a problem with that.

But there was a feeling that something was tugging at my heart, and it wouldn't go away.

During our walk to the next place, I noticed a poster on the wall of a building. My chest tightened a little as I read the contents of it, though I didn't understand why.

No, I didn't want to believe that I understood.

"…Right…"

Seven days from now.

Would be Tanabata again.

The day someone slipped away from me again.

The day I couldn't save someone again.