「I’m… Kaminagi Rie. I’m 21 years old. Though I haven’t aged since becoming a god」
「You’re kidding…」
「W-wow…」
「The reason I look like Hikari-chan is thanks to a restoration technique using recessive genetic traits. It can reconstruct someone’s appearance from about 2000 years ago. Oh, and by the way, my little brother looks a lot like you, Yuuki-kun」
「So that means… Rie, you’re from 2000 years in the future!?」
「Ah… That was classified information…」
「Is that okay? Aren’t you gonna get in trouble?」
「Ahaha… Probably just a lecture or something…」
「Sorry, I didn’t mean to get you in trouble…」
「It’s fine. This is probably all part of the God of Destiny’s plan anyway」
「She’s my boss, the goddess in charge of fate」
「Rie! Just because it’s family doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want!」
「「!?」」
Suddenly, a voice called out from behind us. We both jumped and turned around to find a woman in a suit standing there.
「Ugh… God of Destiny!?」
「「God of Destiny!?」」
「Yes. I’m Rie’s supervisor, the God of Destiny. You probably can’t comprehend my actual name, so just calling me ‘God of Destiny’ is fine」
「Why are you here?」
「Well, even if you’re her ancestors, you’re still family. And as her superior, I thought I should stop by and say hello at least once」
「Ah… Well, thank you for the courtesy…」
「We appreciate all you’ve done for Rie」
The two of us bowed, and the God of Destiny suddenly flailed in embarrassment.
「No, no, not at all. Rie’s been a great help to us too. All of us gods in upper management hold her work in the highest regard」
「Why is this so weirdly embarrassing…? I don’t know how to react to this at all…」
Apparently getting along well, Hikari and the God of Destiny started chatting animatedly.
「Anyway… shall we continue our tea?」
「Sounds good…」
Eventually, their lively talk settled down, and it was time to part ways.
「Alright then, Yuuki-kun, Hikari-chan, Mary-chan, I’ll invite you again sometime」
「Yes」
「I’m looking forward to it! God of Destiny-sama, let’s talk more next time!」
「God, er, I mean, Rie-sama, thank you! I’m so glad I got to learn about myself!」
「Okay, sending you back now—」
Just like always, our consciousness started to fade,
…or so I thought.
Only the two of them vanished.
「Huh? What about me?」
「Yuuki-san.」
The God of Destiny turned toward me with a serious expression.
「I can’t go into detail, but… soon, you’ll face the greatest hardship of your life」
「I see…」
「Yes. And it will put your life in danger」
「Even you can’t do anything about it, God of Destiny-sama?」
「Correct. Changing it would alter the causality of your world, that’s beyond my power」
「Then I guess I just have to do my best」
「Aren’t you afraid?」
「Of course I’m afraid. My life’s on the line」
「Then—」
「But… the fact that you’re telling me this must mean you believe I can overcome it, right?」
「Yes… I suppose that’s true」
「Then I’ll be fine!」
「You’re strong…」
「Not at all. I’m weak. But there are people waiting for me. That’s why I want to fight, and why I want to come back」
「I see… In that case, when the time comes, I’ll help you」
「Is that really okay? Isn’t that going a bit far?」
「I may be a god, but I still have emotions. If someone I’m connected to is fighting, I want to at least lend a hand」
With a gentle smile, God of Destiny-sama took a few steps back.
「I shall grant you the blessing of the God of Destiny… When the time is right, in the right place, when you face your fate head-on, I will bestow upon you a new power」
She must already see what lies ahead. I don’t know what will happen, but… I don’t think it will be something hopeless.
「Then, once you’ve overcome it… let’s meet again」
With those words as my send-off, I felt my consciousness fade.
◇ Mary’s POV ◇
After meeting the gods and learning the truth about myself… I woke up in Yuuki-san’s room.
The time was just before 4 a.m.
Even though it felt like we’d been gone for a long time, apparently not much time had passed.
Looking at my right hand, I saw the chocolate the god had given me,
The one that contained my past memories.
To be honest… I was scared to eat it.
But at the same time, I wanted to know about the parents who gave me the name Mary, a name so precious to me.
While I sat there hesitating, I locked eyes with Hikari-san, who had already woken up.
「Hey, Mary… If you decide to eat that, make sure either Yuuki or I are with you, okay?」
「Why… is that?」
「Because… if you eat it and it makes you sad, wouldn’t it help to see one of us first when you wake up?」
At Hikari-san’s words, I nodded and put the chocolate into my mouth.
As I bit into it, a bitter cacao flavor mixed with a faint sweetness spread across my tongue.
After swallowing, I collapsed back onto the bed.
「Hikari-san… if I’m crying when I wake up, please comfort me」
「Of course! Yuuki will be here too！」
「I… I don’t really want to show that side to Yuuki-san though…」
「Deal with it! It’s basically obvious anyway！」
「Huh？」
「See? You’re already asleep! I’m going to sleep too！」
Saying that, Hikari-san slipped between Yuuki-san and me and fell asleep.
My eyelids grew heavy, and I let go of consciousness.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
「Mary, Mary! Wake up already！」
Mom’s scolding woke me with a start. I felt like I had been dreaming about being an adult.
「Come on! Go wash your face」
Holding a towel, I walked to the village well. I loved this time of day when the morning sun rose.
Our village was on a hill, and below stretched vast fields of wheat, like a golden carpet.
The rain from yesterday made the fields sparkle more than usual, as if they were soaking up the light.
「Here we go」
Using the hand pump installed this year, I drew water, washed my face, and wiped it with the towel.
The sleepiness cleared from my head, I had to get back quickly to eat breakfast!
After breakfast, today was the day our family would go to town to shop.
「Come on, Mary, get on the horse」
Dad lifted me onto the horse, and we started walking. The trip to town was long, but I loved this time.
I thought that today, tomorrow, and all the days after would always be this happy.
(So… these are my happy memories… warm memories with kind Mom and Dad, precious memories I thought would last forever.)
Then the scene changed drastically, I was captured by the cult, my personality and reason being destroyed by drugs and abuse.
The scene shifted wildly again, and in front of me appeared a dazzlingly bright presence.
(Ah… that warm light, that was Yuuki…)
(And so I was saved. Even after being reborn, I was saved many times.)
「When I get back, I have to thank him properly」
With that, I surfaced from the sea of memories.
Leave a Reply