I woke up.
When I blurred and opened my eyes, the world was dark.
It's still night. Hurry up and wrap it in a futon, making it look like you're doing your best to protect the other person at night.
I hate nights.
I hate it because it's dark.
When I'm in the dark, I remember when I drowned in the river, and I can't breathe.
I was really scared when I drowned.
When I remember now, it gets dark in front of me.
Cold water poured down my throat and it was very painful.
Even though I wanted to escape and swing my arms and legs, the heavy water grabbed me and didn't let me go.I'm afraid to scream for help, but no one will help me.
It was painful, crying, screaming, and it was still too much to do, and it was getting dark in front of me.
I was afraid that the darkness would take me somewhere other than here.
I was afraid of the darkness, as I was about to be exposed somewhere far away without my father or mother.
That's why I hate it.
Even though you hate it so much, at night, you don't mind wandering around the bed, scaring me.
No, I'm afraid I'm going to cry...
Even if I'm wrapped in a futon, I can't sleep at all.
I had no choice but to look around with my head out of the futon.I was too scared to see my mother or father.
I wonder if my mother and father have been taken away somewhere.
... oh, my God, that can't be happening.
... you don't, do you?
Looking at the room trembling, I found only a little light.
Thin, linear light.There's a light leaking from the door that leads to the next room.
"Ohhhhhhhhhhh..."
I raise my voice to the light, but there is no reply.
Can't you hear me?Or maybe he's not behind that light.
You should be here. I want you to stay. If it wasn't for you, it wouldn't be.
Just thinking about it makes me cry, and I get out of bed gently.To avoid being found in the dark, kill your breath, silence the sound, gently, gently...
Thin lights are the tip of your eyes.Where your mother and father are supposed to be, where they may not be.
I'm afraid. I can't breathe. But I can't be alone on the bed anymore.
He puts his hands on the door, fearful, fearful.
From the gap, I peered into the light.
My mother was sitting in the living room of my house at a table where she enjoyed dinner this evening.The unreliable candle lights illuminate your face, which doesn't look like fun at all.
"This year, the yield is bad.It was a long winter, and there was a lot of rain in summer.... "
Your mother grabbed that beautiful black hair.
"It's okay. I have a stockpile from the previous year, so it's okay.But if this happens again next year.... "
Mother's face, which bites her lips, is as dark as a candle lamp.
"I think we should ask Itsuki about the overall situation in the territory.I wish I could spare the support if I had to, but... I can't expect it. "
I have no idea what my mother is talking about.But with a dark face and a dark voice, my mom looks like she's on a winter night.
I hate the dark. Dark is scary, cold, painful, hateful.
Return gently to bed to avoid being found in the darkness of your mother.Put a futon on your head and protect yourself until morning.
I miss the sun.
I wish there was always that bright, warm, big light right there.
If only you could stay close enough to say you're going somewhere else at night.
As I was drowning in the dark, I thought about it all morning.
While blurring, she finally looks up at the sun rising in the sky.
It's sparkly and very warm. I couldn't sleep at all last night, so I'm going to go to bed at once with that brightness and warmth.
My mother got mad at me for sticking my face in my breakfast soup.
My father stroked my head in the soup and stroked it.
When I went to the square in a fluffy mood, the children of the same age were already gathered, and Sammy's sister was shouting out loud to avoid going anywhere on her own.
"Hey, Jikil, don't go ahead on your own!You said you'd punch me if you didn't listen to me!Oh, Ash, get your kid back!I'm going to the church... that's right! "
"Ofu ~, Sammy oneesan... you've been fine since morning."
"Ah, here we are! It's unusual, Mayka."
"Nh ~, I'm a little sleepy ~"
"Hmm, there's always a healthy Micah... ah, Jikil, so don't go anywhere!"
Sammy onee-san is usually busy like this.We are the leaders of the children's group and we take very good care of ourselves.
When a boy says, "Fear," "noise," or "frenzied like a bear," he silences the child with a glance.
Shut up or I'll shut you up with my fist.
Among boys, I know that games like trying to tease Sammy's sister are popular.
"Hold on a little longer!Okay, look, Micah's here too, so we're all moving!The usual one!I won't forgive you if you go anywhere on your own! "
Sammy, you sound like a lullaby to me today.
When I get to the bottom of the playground, I think I'll take a nap today...
This morning, it was a good day to play with the help of the fields exempted.
To be precise, it is a day when children who are small enough to be able to help the field are allowed to play while watching.
Something tells me that it's better not to have children because you have a powerful job.
The children are happy to come here because they are more fun to play with than their boring field work.
Wouldn't Ash-kun be as happy to be told to play?
Ash-kun is a very unusual girl.
At a glance, Ash is walking hand in hand with girls younger than herself.
Sammy sister would be delighted because she wouldn't go anywhere with the healthy kids.
Ash-kun praises his mother. [M]
You take care of yourself, not play with the little ones.She's the same age as me, but she feels really grown up.
Ash-kun doesn't change how he laughs when a girl talks to him. [M]
I'm not really laughing, but it's what I do when I'm holding back and laughing.
Ash is an adult, so it's probably not fun to play like this. [M]I'm always on the side of taking care of you...
"Hey, Jikiru! You're not going on your own!I'll definitely come back after you! "
... Sammy, who's taking care of you just like Ash-kun, isn't happy either.
I'm so frustrated and I'm about to cry.
I'm sleepy today, too, Sammy. Be nice for your sister.I followed Sammy's sister with a heavy body.
Even if I were to follow you, Sammy's sister would have gone a long time ago, trying to stop Jikil from running.
The healthy ones are ahead with you, Jikil, and the big ones are walking around Ash-kun with their hands tied together.
The Ash-kun turned his back on me. [M]
Mika-san, what's wrong?
Hmm? What?
"I'm a little flustered, so I wonder if I'm feeling ill.Do you have a fever? "
"Oh, yeah, really.I just want to sleep. I can't sleep at all at night..... "
"Really? If that's all, it's fine."
Ash really looks around. [M]If you can take care of this, it will be very popular with girls.
But I guess I'm not good at it.
She still smiles at me, but it feels like a wooden face.The smiling face mask with holes in the mouth and eyes is a bit disgusting.
Let the darkness overflow from the back of the hole.
If you imagine that, your spine trembles.That's why I hate the dark.
Ash-kun is relieved to see someone else. [M]
How's Luca?
The girl holding hands with Ash certainly wasn't well. [M]
Luca. She's younger than me and misses Ash-kun.
"Nhh..."
Luca-chan makes a slightly ticklish voice.
"I'm hungry."
"Oh, I see. It's been a bit tough these days."
"I want to eat..."
"Hmm, that's a little..."
Ash-kun, who is surprisingly grown-up, can't serve rice on a boulder.I'm not such a wolf god.
Luca has crying eyes, but she can only stroke her head with a hand she doesn't have.
"Ah, but, uhh... that's right.Now I might be able to catch some fish in the river.... "
Fish?
"Yeah, it's a fish. Why don't we talk to Sammy and do something about it?"
Luca smiled happily at Ash-kun's suggestion.But Ash-kun's smile looked darker.
Is it hard to get the fish?I somehow thought so.
And I quickly learned that it was harder than I thought.
"What? Take the fish? In the river?
First of all, Sammy's sister, who consulted Ash-kun, looked so disgusting.
"It's dangerous. It's so dangerous. Stop.I can't take care of you that much. Seriously, stop. "
"That's right...."
"If it's just Ash, it's okay...Ash will do it, and you'll go to the others. "
That's right.
Sammy, what Onee-san and Ash-kun saw was Jikil.
Ah, yeah. You're definitely gonna start playing in the river.If Ash-kun is playing ~.
Ash-kun, I don't think I'm going to play, but fish picking is interesting.
So, as usual, Sammy's sister gets very angry when she starts playing in the river.Especially if I'm playing.
Yeah, Sammy stole Onee-san's eyes before, played in the river, and drowned me...
Now that you're reflecting so much, I wouldn't do that. Maybe.
I don't think I can do it because it's dark and the water is still scary. I don't know if I can do it.
No, why not?
Luka complains with tears to Sammy onee-san that she's completely hungry and she can't.Oneesan is a little wobbly for this, but she shakes her head right away.
"I can't. I can't. I can't! I can't! I can't!"
"Uhh... Sammy, oneechan's giggle..."
Oh, no.
Luca is crying so hard.Ash-kun is shaking small as he grips the hem of his clothes.
From Luka's big eyes, Ash-kun strokes Luka's head as long as there are no tears.
"Well, I'm going to find someone to help me get the fish.Wouldn't that be nice for Sammy? "
"Eh, yeah, well, that's good, but..."
Well then, I'll go for a while.The village is better, right? "
"Well, Ash is very firm around here, so I won't complain if I move alone...."
Well then, let's go.
Ash-kun finally strokes Luca's head again and returns to the village alone with a smile.
Sammy's sister stuck a sigh on her back.
"We're all working on the field today, so no one will help us..."
Sammy, onee-san talked to me and it was the first time I noticed it.
But smart Ash-kun would have known that from the beginning.
Still, I moved for Luca.Turn your back on everyone who's playing.I know in my head that it won't work.
Ash-kun, walking alone, felt like he was carrying the darkness of the night. [M]
It was a smaller back than me.
In the end, Ash-kun didn't come back until the sun turned pale. [M]
Sammy's sister is staring at the evening sun with a tired face.
Oneesan says she's going to take care of everyone until they get home, so we need to find out where Ash-kun went.
Thanks to Ash-kun's absence, there were more children to take care of than usual, so when I was very tired.
It's mostly Ash-kun's fault... no, isn't it bad?Hmm, Ash-kun is heavy.
Sammy oneesan, can I help you too?
I took a little nap, so I'm fine enough to help Sammy.
"Mika-chan... can I ask you a favor?"
Sammy's sister is drooping with a crying face.
"Ah, I'll help you too...."
Sammy, that's what Luca says when she grabs onee-san's bottom of her clothes.
Ash-kun hasn't come back, so he thinks he's done something wrong.
"Ahahah, you're both so sweet...So, shall we go and look for the three of us? "
Sammy's sister laughs with a sly face.
Hmm, Ash-kun's way of laughing like a mask.Ash-kun feels better in the dark behind the hole.
After all, it must be hard to take care of the little ones.
Mothers and fathers are not in a position to take care of the whole village, and it may be more difficult.
Looks like I was worried about you last night, and from what Luca-chan and Ash-kun said, I don't have much rice...
I feel like the view of the village is dark.
Even though the sun is still in red and shining evenings, it seems that there are scary monsters of darkness everywhere.
Get scared, Sammy, and lean back against onee-san's arm.
Micah?
I know it sounds a little annoying, but I don't want to leave.
"Just a moment, please."
"... I'm tired, so don't lean on me too much."
I'm sure Ash is quite an adult, but Sammy, your sister is also quite an adult.
I'm afraid to get angry, but it's very gentle.That's why I think I can take care of you somehow.
The three of you walk in search of Ash-kun in a village where the shadows grow gradually.
When I spoke to the grown-ups on the way home from the field, I heard immediately that I had seen Ash-kun.
However, it seems like a long time ago.
I was told that I wanted to get the fish, so I needed your help, and I refused.
Luca is about to cry again.
Ash-kun must have suffered a lot because of his selfishness.
"Ash is nice, so it's okay."
Sammy, onee-san strokes Luca's head and comforts her.If we don't find Ash-kun soon, Luka won't know when to cry.
Where the hell did Ash go? [M]
"... I thought you wouldn't do anything dangerous by yourself because it's about Ash."
Sammy's sister murmured.That face is looking up at the sky.
"Hey, isn't she going to the river alone?"
Sammy, when onee-san followed me, I found a cigarette rising in the evening.
It was on the river.
"Ah, just in time."
When I went to Kawahara for smoke, the boy who was sitting in front of the fire shouted.
Ash-kun, of course.
"I'm just cooking, fish."
I can tell by looking at it. I know the smell after that.
My stomach smells so good before dinner.
But, Sammy, I don't think that's why onee-san is trembling.
"Ash, you...."
If this is me and Jikil, I think Sammy's sister rushed over to see her fist.
Going to the river alone is absolutely pissing me off.
But Sammy, you know why Ash-kun, who doesn't usually do that, did the wrong thing today, so it didn't seem like he was angry.
Ash-kun may be laughing with a tired face. [M]It must have been tough getting fish alone.
I would have had to take the foil and basket out so I wouldn't find them.
"The number is just right.I've only got four, so let's eat these four. Sammy, please. "
"... ah, okay, don't bother questioning me."
"Please do."
Sammy's sister sits by the fire with a headache.
"I can't really do that.Whether you're fishing alone in the river or causing a fire by yourself, drowning or getting caught in a fire is a big deal. "
"Yes"
"Well, because it's about Ash, I guess I know everything...."
"Yes"
Sammy, your sister pinches Ash-kun's shoulder as she responds. [M]
The shaken Ash-kun hits Luca-chan, who is sitting opposite to her sister and grabbing her arm.
"Brother Ash, I'm sorry."
Luca apologized with tears.
"No, sometimes I just want to do something bad."
"Nh, I'm sorry...I won't tell you I'm hungry anymore.... "
"You can say a drink.It just so happens that I just wanted to eat fish today. "
Ash-kun's smiling face is a lying smile.
A way to laugh like a mask with a black hole.
"Yes, Luca, it's been a long time, but let's eat fish."
"But...."
Luca doesn't bite the fish handed over right away.
Ash did something wrong and took the fish. [M]I also know that Luca is lost.I'm looking at Sammy's sister and wondering if she can eat it.
"You should eat it. I'm saying Ash is good.Ash, give it to me, too. If you don't eat early and go home, it will get dark.If that happens, I'll get angry too.Come on, Micah. Eat up. "
"Ah, uh-huh. Look, Luca, Sammy, that's what onee-san says."
Luka stroked her back and her stomach rang.
It's not me. Luca.No, well, I don't mind ringing anytime...
Ash-kun strokes Luka's head, leaning ashamed of herself.
"Look, you're hungry, right?Children have to eat a lot. "
Ash-kun says that even though he is a child.
Well then, I'll take it.
"Yes, it's great to say hello properly."
Luca bites the fish with her little mouth.
Her uncomfortable face flashed with joy.
Delicious, brother Ash.
"That's good."
Sammy, onee-san also snuggles and laughs.I'll bite before my stomach starts ringing.
"Nh, it's delicious. I knew the fish were good."
It's not like beans, is it?I prefer meat to wheat and beans.
After a bite, I was already obsessed with it.
Hafufu eats it while giving it hot air.
Ash-kun is looking at us with that dark smile. [M]
However, I felt a little warmth from the darkness.
Just a little bit.
It is not comparable to the sun.But you're right there, and it's warm enough to give me the burnt fish.
I slept wonderfully that night.