Chapter 50 Sakashita Marika
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Sarin…”
On the slightly elevated hill of the star-studded Karakan Plains within the Laine Federation Territory, Sakashita Marika sat alone on a small rock, whispering the name of the deceased as if mourning. The other two were fast asleep in their leather sleeping bags around the campfire.
Why is it that the light of the stars at night evokes thoughts of the dead?
She couldn’t forget—it had been a year and a half since she first met him. At her local preparatory school, it was an annual tradition for the top scorer in the entrance exam to deliver the new student address during the enrollment ceremony. Naturally, she had assumed she would be the one giving the speech, so when his name was called, she was utterly shocked.
It’s strange to say about myself, but I’m always number one.
Top of the class from elementary to middle school! Excellent athletic ability! And a flawless figure to boot!
My cute face is number one! My fashion sense is number one! My smile is even more number one!
(No one could ever stand in my way, ever!)
So, when he stood before her for the first time, she found herself endlessly intrigued.
* * *
”Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Sarin! Sarin, where have you been living until now?!”
”Huh? Uh, well… Yokosuka since middle school?”
”Hahahaha! Why are you answering in a question, Sarin? That’s so funny! And before that…?”
”Rhode Island…”
”Huh? What? Rhode… love land…?”
”Uh… don’t just assume it smells bad based on the name, okay?”
”Oh, sorry! Sorry! But where’s that? It sounds like a soapland name.”
”No, no, it’s not a red-light district in Kawasaki… why would you even—? Rhode isn’t a soapland street, it’s in America.”
”America?! Wait, so Sarin’s half-American?!”
”No, not half. My dad’s a third-generation Japanese American, and my mom’s from Yokosuka… I mean, if you add curry powder to curry, it’s still just curry, right? Adding Japanese blood to a Japanese person doesn’t make them American.”
”Hahaha!! What kind of analogy is that? It’s so unique!”
He wasn’t just unique and funny—he was also thoughtful.
”Here, scissors…”
”Thanks, Sarin! How did you know I needed scissors?!”
”Here, glue…”
”Huh?!”
”Here, hot milk tea…”
”Sarin, are you… stalking me?”
”No, not really…? You just looked like you wanted hot milk tea…”
”Oh… Ms. Mineyama looks like she needs a stapler…”
”Huh?! What kind of face is that?!”
He was usually quiet, but once he opened up, he was surprisingly easy to talk to. Maybe she had liked him more than she realized.
But now, she could never speak to him again. He was likely dead…
Ironically, she was the last person to speak to him. Why hadn’t she stopped his strange behavior back then?
She still regretted it.
* * *
”I’m sorry. The soldiers did their best to search for him, but continuing is too dangerous. We must give up…”
”No! But Sarin—Sanai is definitely alive!”
”Please, Hero. I understand your grief at losing a comrade so suddenly, but the Demon King’s army is approaching. From what I’ve heard, Sanai was… eccentric. He must have been acting strangely again. We can’t risk more lives for one person, no matter how painful it is. Please understand. Now, get on the carriage.”
Commander Lagan of the Union Royal Guard Knights pushed her into the last evacuation carriage.
”Sarin…”
”Ms. Sakashita, I feel the same. But we can’t risk more lives for him. It’s heartbreaking, but we have to let him go.”
For once, Sayumi Mineyama—usually so stern—spoke softly, comforting her. Marika still remembered it clearly.
It must have been that moment—
Marika wondered aloud, her voice barely a whisper, “Did I truly like Sarin as more than just a friend… as a boy?”
Regardless, with Sarin gone, there was no way to confirm if those feelings had been love. Someday, perhaps, someone would come along who she’d love even more than him… but when?
”Ah…” she murmured, her gaze catching something in the distance.
Even in this otherworld, fireflies existed. One had landed on her sword’s sheath, its ethereal glow casting a mesmerizing light.
She recalled a tale she’d once heard: fireflies were said to be the souls of the departed, their lights guiding the living.
(Could Sarin have come to visit me?)
The thought lingered in her mind, impossible to shake, as the night deepened around her.
Notes:
• Sarin – Another call of protagonist called by Marika the gal.
• Laine Federation – Represented by Rufred, a delegate from the southern region.
• Sakashita – The fashionable gyaru who awakened as a Magic Warrior.
• Mineyama – Vice class rep, serious and disciplined.
• Sayumi – Vice class rep, serious and disciplined.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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