TL/Editor: Butter Cat

    Status: 4/week mon-thurs

    Illustrations: none

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    〈 Chapter 85 〉 HaPpY. (2)

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    If we run into the secret house of death, ere death dare come upon us.

    Would that be a sin?

    "I, don''t know."

    **

    Fifteen days had passed since the incident in the flower garden.

    The twenty-third day of the twelfth month revealed itself, when everyone was already beginning to revel in the festive atmosphere of Christmas celebration (???) which would be officially announced starting tomorrow evening.

    Through the snow-white city, buried entirely under the cold remnants of yesterday''s sudden snowfall, shadows of people began to emerge one by one, like sprouting seedlings.

    Figures gathering steadily in the streets.

    Tall adults, moving their long legs to finish the preparations for the blessing ceremony they couldn''t complete the day before.

    Small children, their hands clad in thick mittens, contemplating what games they would play in the freshly fallen snow.

    On the eve of the festival celebrating the birth of a single person.

    —Wheeee■■.

    "....Huu."

    As usual, I was sitting on the window sill, my knees drawn to my chest, blankly staring at the lively scene outside.

    People busily going about their daily lives.

    From my small open mouth, a faint breath, like a wisp of a soul, rose and disappeared repeatedly.

    Until my lungs grew cold, completely frozen, and no more soul could flow out.

    That series of actions continued on and on.

    "—It''s ■■■■ a month ■■■■■■■! How ■■■■ are you ■■■■■ to stay ■■■■! Go ■■■■ already?!"

    "........"

    "Don’t ■■■■ your head ■■■ look at ■■, you ■■■■■!! Argh■■■—!!!"

    Bang■, Bang■.

    Remi''s sharp voice and the sound of her banging on the desk pierced my ears as I turned my head away.

    Despite the unpleasant sensation and pain, like someone was stabbing my ears with a sharp metal skewer and trying to pull my brain out, I smiled helplessly and looked in their direction.

    And sure enough, visible with my still-functioning eyes, was Remi, grabbing Anna by the collar and shouting something, while Anna, being dragged by Remi, turned her head as far to the side as possible, trying her best to avoid making eye contact with her.

    One avoiding eye contact with a sullen expression, the other glaring and scolding.

    It looked like a scene of someone scolding a misbehaving cat.

    Hahaha.

    ".......Heehee."

    At that random, silly thought, I let out a small laugh.

    In the past, I used to be able to smile all day long, wondering what was so funny about such an uninteresting thought.

    In the past, I used to be able to find joy and laughter in even the smallest, most trivial things.

    The carefree days when I would play pranks, laugh, and chatter without even thinking about the reasons.

    When did it start, from where, since when, did my fake smile begin.

    Even as I writhed in the overwhelming pain, I didn''t let the smile on my face fade. Sear?h the N?velFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Because it would be over soon.

    Because everything would begin anew, once again.

    I was able to endure.

    "J-Just a ■■■■■ longer…! Can''t I… ■■■■ a bit ■■■■■■?"

    "That''s the ■■■ time you''ve ■■■■ that!! Can’t ■■■ get ■■■ now?!"

    Remi was pointing at the door, yelling at the top of her lungs for Anna to leave.

    It had been a month since Anna had taken up residence in Sia''s dorm.

    Her ambitious declaration of "I''ll only stay for a little while," had been repeated so many times, that it now sounded like a cliché excuse of an unemployed person being hounded by the landlord for not paying their rent.

    Of course, they say that there is no younger sibling that could win against their older sibling, but even an older sibling’s position can be reversed if they are in the wrong.

    Even the most dignified older sister couldn’t bring herself to act harshly towards her younger sister, and Anna, while cowering at the cold treatment, stubbornly refused to budge.

    She must have a lot of work piled up as the Crown Princess, but she was still insisting about staying here with me.

    I don''t know whether to call this admirable or foolish.

    For me, it was all a mystery.

    Around them were Tessa, reading a book as if this was now a familiar occurrence, and Sia, looking at the desk that had finally broken under Remi''s punches with a resigned expression.

    "...It''s too ■■■■■, Alice ■■■ hear ■■■."

    And lastly, there was Elli, drinking tea at a distance.

    Water and oil.

    And a spark.

    Remi and Anna, whose cherished memories from years past had turned into hatred, now resenting each other as much as they had once loved each other.

    And Elli, who had been hiding and protecting her true identity alone, in solitude, for a time longer than the lifespan of several people.

    They were people who couldn’t mix no matter how hard you tried, who couldn’t get along no matter how much effort you put in, everything about them diametrically opposed.

    Thanks to Sia''s characteristic easygoing nature and lack of prejudice, she had somehow managed to build a somewhat harmonious relationship with everyone, but for the other three, it wasn''t something that could be easily resolved.

    But.

    ''I won''t forgive you… I will never, ever forgive you…''

    ''.......''

    Even if revenge was forbidden, and forgiveness was impossible.

    ''—So, you. Just make sure you treat Aris well from now on.''

    ''...R-Remi?''

    Surprisingly, they learned that they could reconcile.

    Among those who knew the scene from back then, when they would draw swords and throw punches at the mere sight of each other''s faces, who could have predicted a scene like this.

    Probably everyone, all ten out of ten, would have shaken their heads.

    But in the end, they did it.

    ''I''ll be watching from the side! If you show any signs of doing that again, I''ll beat you up then! Got it?''

    ''....Remi.''

    ''Don''t get me wrong! I-I still haven''t fully forgiven you!! I''m just… just…! Telling you to stop moping around in the corner like that!!''

    They broke and threw off the chains of hatred, the shackles that everyone thought impossible to remove, all by themselves without anyone''s help.

    Time. It is the greatest medicine of all.

    No matter how fatal the wound, no matter how painful the agony that makes one want to die, it would all eventually fade in its presence.

    Even someone''s death, in the face of time, is just a momentary wound that will eventually pass.

    Everything they had experienced would eventually pass, becoming a memory to reminisce about, a scab that would one day fall off and be forgotten.

    That''s the kind of wounds they were.

    Even if right now, their relationship is still awkward, with conversations that don''t quite connect and break off abruptly.

    I was certain that they, the ones I loved and trusted, would be able to overcome even that awkwardness.

    So.

    "........"

    It''s really over now.

    All that remains is for me to disappear while blessing their future path.

    Before I stole someone else''s happiness again.

    Before I stood in their way again.

    And.

    "My desk■….! The one I ■■■■■■ after the ■■■■ one broke…!"

    "Ha...Ha■■. Really… Sia? ■■■■■■■■?"

    "■■■■■........."

    ...Before I broke down even further.

    I rubbed my increasingly blurry eyes.

    "—Big Sis Remi."

    "...Hmm? What is it, Aris!? Just say it! I''ll kick her out right now if you want!"

    Through my strangely blurry vision, I murmured Remi''s name.

    Though she was in the middle of a tug-of-war, still gripping Anna''s collar, Remi immediately let go and looked at me the moment she heard my voice.

    I could barely understand her muffled words by looking at the shape of her mouth. What a dull and boring task.

    I prepared to utter the words that, once spoken, could never be taken back.

    Once, the slide is pulled back.

    And with that, a bullet is loaded.

    Click, and. The hammer pulled back to its limit, waited to be released.

    The loaded pistol, aimed at my neck.

    When the carelessly aimed muzzle spewed out hot flames, it would soon be.

    I—

    "—I, There''s something I want to buy… Um… I want to buy gifts for my big sisters… So, I''d like to go out for a bit."

    This is the last.

    This is the real last, in this life.

    Really. Really, this was my final script.

    "Big Sis Remi. So... I want to go to town. Can I go out? Please?"

    "...Tessa. Prepare the clothes now. We''re leaving immediately."

    "...Should I call for a carriage...?"

    They started getting dressed quickly, as if they had planned it all along.

    Even at my sudden request, they quickly started moving without a single complaint or objection.

    Watching them, I thought.

    Everyone is too good for me.

    So I hoped they would leave me behind, this insignificant being, and find their own freedom.

    I hoped they would forget about me and set off on a journey to find a new bluebird that brings happiness.

    That''s what I wished for.

    "....Heehee."

    Now, the grand festival begins.

    Adults and children. Men and women. The wicked and the righteous.

    On Christmas, blessings be upon you.

    The words of blessing that everyone utters with one heart and mind.

    Merry Christmas.

    —Ding-a-ling.

    "—Let''s go!"

    Feeling the loud gunshot-like sound flowing from the bell hanging on the front door.

    I, we, stepped outside.

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