(Sutamai) Event: ‘At The Final Stop of The Galaxy Express’, Part 2

[nhp]

EVENT STORY INDEX

30.

 

-Galaxy Express: Inside Carriage-

 

Saotome: I’m not an instruction manual for peabrains. At least figure out for yourself the situation you’re in.

 

Kujo: …

 

 

I couldn’t keep up at all with the abrupt turn of events.

 

Most likely, I was onboard a train, and reflected in the window was myself dressed in a conductor-looking outfit.

 

On the other side of the glass that separated this unfamiliar cabin scenery, and expanding out far and wide, was… 

 

 

Kujo: … The galaxy?

 

Saotome: I’ll be checking your ticket now.

 

Kujo: Ticket?

 

Saotome: You’re not seriously going to tell me that you’re riding this train fare-free, are you?

 

Kujo: No, I’m…

 

Saotome: Your ticket, hand it here. C’mon.

 

 

Even if he kept saying that, I didn’t have any such ticket on me. Seeing as I didn’t have any memory of getting on the train in the first place.

 

 

Kujo: (This is almost as if similar to when Giovanni—)

!

 

 

In one of the passages of “Night on the Galactic Railroad”, there was also a scene where Giovanni was asked to show his ticket to the conductor.

 

He had reached inside the pocket of his jacket as there was nothing to lose from trying.

 

When I went to do the same…

 

 

Kujo: !!

 

 

There it was. A piece of paper roughly the size of a postcard and folded in half twice.

 

I took it out and handed it over.

 

 

Saotome: I see. So you’re a VIP passenger from the third space.

 

Kujo: (It worked…)

 

 

I looked at the piece of paper returned to me.

 

It was the design for the cookie of my face that I had received from Kirishima in the afternoon.

 

 

Saotome: However, you’re not allowed to leave the train at the next rest stop.

 

Kujo: Why is that?

 

 

The situation was full of mysteries. But for the time being, because I was aware that everything was a puzzle, I was curious as to the reason behind the restriction placed before me.

 

 

Saotome: It’s a stop that you’ve yet to step foot in before, that’s why.

By the bye, I’ll be taking my leave now.

 

Kujo: Wait. What’s the name of this rest stop?

Where is this train headed for to begin with?

 

Saotome: Check for yourself the name of the zone.

I’m not your designated study tour guide who offers up commentary.

 

 

After having said that in a seemingly grouchy mood, he turned his back and disappeared into the connecting carriage.

 

 

Kujo: (This state of things…)

(I’m probably dreaming. There’s no doubt that I am.)

 

  

At first, I was confused. But now, I was thinking clearly.

 

Before heading to bed, I couldn’t stop myself from wondering, so I had opened up to read “Night on the Galactic Road” once more.

 

 

Kujo: (Even so, this is a pretty realistic dream.)

 

 

As I further regained my calm by clarifying my thoughts, I did a sweep of the cabin.

 

 

Kujo: (Giovanni is supposed to have come across Campanella as soon as he woke up inside the train…)

(Am I… on my own, then?)

 

 

Miyase: What are you doing, restlessly looking around like that?

 

Kujo: !!

 

Miyase: We’re about to make a stopover at the “First Love Zone”.

 

Kujo: … G-Go…?

 

 

31.

 

-Galaxy Express: Inside Carriage-

 

Kujo: Go… I-Is that you?

 

Miyase: What are you so surprised about? I’ve always been with you.

 

Kujo: (This is… one heck of a dream.)

 

Miyase: Oh, look, Soma-san.

 

Kujo: ?

 

Miyase: No, not at me. Outside the window, see?

 

 

I did as I was told and turned my gaze towards the galaxy.

 

All at once, I could see beautiful flowers blooming and filling up my vision.

 

They illuminated one by one as if they were stars.

 

 

Kujo: Amazing…

 

Miyase: They’re autumn bellflowers. We are in that season, after all.

 

Kujo: Autumn bellflowers…

 

Miyase: Did you know? The meaning of the flower is “chastity”. It goes well with the “First Love Zone”.

 

Kujo: …

 

Miyase: There’s also the slightly eerie take of “I love the you who is in despair”, to name others.

 

Kujo: (This really is a dream…)

 

 

The Go that I knew who looked like how he does now, did not speak of flowers and their meanings.

 

 

Miyase: Oh, have a look. The glowing pentahedron and delta cone are also shooting across this way together with the autumn bellflowers.

Here, see? If I open the window and put my hand out, I can touch it.

 

 

The Go of that time…

 

 

Miyase: Oh, it looks like we’re going through a tunnel.

 

 

Suddenly, everything went dark.

 

……………………

 

 

Kujo: !!

 

 

When the train left the tunnel, the person sitting opposite me was no longer Go.

 

 

Hattori: …

 

Kujo: Hattori-san…?

 

 

32.

 

-Galaxy Express: Inside Carriage-

 

Hattori: ……

 

 

He neither responded to my call, nor even glanced my way.

 

He simply stared outside the window with scrutinising eyes.

 

I became curious and went to peer in the same direction. When I did, the autumn bellflowers were long gone, and there was a large cross radiating a bluish-white light.

 

 

Hattori: … For the record, I’m not looking at that.

 

Kujo: Then, what—

 

Hattori: The snake gourd flower.

 

Kujo: Snake gourd…

 

 

I squinted my eyes at the galaxy outside the window, but I could not see anything resembling a flower.

 

Perhaps it was because the cross was too blindingly bright.

 

 

Kujo: (But he’s able to see it…)

 

Hattori: The snake gourd flower only blooms at night.

 

 

While saying that, he languidly crossed his legs and our eyes finally met.

 

He was someone whom I had no recollection of ever speaking privately to before.

 

“Why has he appeared inside my dream?” I calmly thought.

 

 

Hattori: … In the past, there was someone I knew who’d be awake only when that flower was in bloom.

That person claimed that the time in which they, themself, would often see everything was in the morning, so that also meant that the flower was one that bloomed in the morning.

What do you think?

 

Kujo: …?

 

Hattori: What a pain.

 

 

He rested his elbow on the window side as if annoyed, and turned his gaze back towards the snake gourd flower that was not visible to me.

 

 

34.

 

-Galaxy Express: Inside Carriage-

 

Kujo: What… are you saying is a pain?

 

Hattori: If a person’s perception of day and night is shaken up by a single flower…

Then maybe it’s the same with justice and evil, and to the majority, there is no consciousness of what the two share in common.

 

Kujo: I see.

 

 

Although I answered as such for the moment, I was unable to grasp what this gifted detective, who had appeared inside my dream, was trying to say.

 

 

Hattori: … That’s why my interest is piqued.

 

Kujo: ?

 

Hattori: Even though they’re a green bud in the process of growing.

This dangerous existence that desperately tries to prove that their morning is in fact morning, has me intrigued.

 

 

The second he said that, for some reason, her—with her dignified posture—popped into my head.

 

Hattori: You understand too, don’t you?

 

Kujo: ……

 

Hattori: Now then, I best be getting off soon.

This nasty hoax is increasing the number of passengers aboard the train.

Mr Police Officer here has to apprehend them, you know.

 

 

He nonchalantly waved his hand, and with the bottom half of his body in an opaque state, he vanished.

 

 

Kujo: ……

 

 

There was a lot that tugged at me from what had just happened, but…

 

 

Kujo: (Could it be… that his parting words were some sort of joke?) 

 

 

I could feel the effect that my peaceful everyday was having, in the fact that there was such a sense of humour inside my dream.

 

 

Kujo: (Maybe I should tell it to Kirishima when I wake up… He seems like he would have a good laugh over it.)

(But would he know the word?)

(I’ll explain it to him off-handedly, and then tell the joke—)

 

???: What, no way. Like, I thought it was just regular milk and drank it?

 

Kujo: (Hmm…?)

 

 

From behind me, I could hear a voice and two sets of footsteps.

 

When I turned around to see who the next passengers getting on the train were…

 

 

Yui: Both the appearance and smell was that of regular milk, right? That’s the essence of the special nutritional drink this time.

 

 

36.

 

-Galaxy Express: Inside Carriage-

 

Kujo: (Those two, they’re…)

 

 

Her colleagues from the NCD.

 

The both of them sat down in the adjacent seats in between the aisle.

 

 

Natsume: What do you think, Kujo-san?

 

Kujo: !

 

Yui: Makes sense. Might be a good idea to leave the judgement up to a third person.

Care to share with us your opinion, Kujo Soma?

 

Kujo: (I’m not too sure what’s going on, but…)

If there’s something you’re arguing over, then perhaps you could tell me the whole story.

 

Natsume: During our break today, Kotaro-san made me and Rei-chan coffee for a change.

 

Yui: And in it, I blended in my very own special nutritional milk with an energy restoring effect.

 

 

A door in my head clicked open upon hearing the beginning of that story.

 

It was something I heard from her, that had happened the other day.

 

 

Natsume: I trust you, Kotaro-san. But I’d prefer it if you stopped secretly mixing things into our drinks.

 

Yui: Are you implying that I would make either of you consume something strange that would put both your lives in danger?

 

Natsume: That’s not what I’m saying.

 

Yui: If you “trust” me, then stop complaining.

 

Natsume: Woah, seriously? You’re gonna pull out that word here?

Well, Kujo-san? What do you think?

 

Kujo: ……

 

 

Whenever I was entrusted with the discretion of a matter I had no experience in, I would try to think using the people around me as a basis.

 

 

Kujo: (Say, for example, if Shindo made a “Shindo Kiyoshi’s Special Nutritional Milk” and then secretly mixed it into my tea…)

Pfft—

 

Yui: What’s that laugh for?

 

Kujo: It’s true that I can’t condone the mixing in of something without my permission, but I’d probably end up completely forgiving them.

If there is “trust” there, that is.

 

Yui: You hear that, Natsume?

 

Natsume: Please stop with that smug look… *Sigh* I sought the opinion of the wrong person.

From what I’ve heard through Rei-chan, the Kujo Household is a bunch of people with no connection to each other incidentally coming together. And yet, you guys sure are close.

 

 

It felt as if that sort of impression that others had of us was securing our “current peace” and I was slightly relieved by that.

 

 

Kujo: (I have to hand it to my dream here.)

 

Natsume: But can’t you try considering it in the other way?

 

Kujo: As in?

 

Natsume: If you were in Kotaro-san’s position, would you secretly mix in some unknown concoction?

 

 

38.

 

-Galaxy Express: Inside Carriage-

 

Kujo: If I was… in his position…

 

Yui: Of course he would.

 

Natsume: I’m not asking you, Kotaro-san.

 

 

Even without thinking about it, I had my answer all ready.

 

 

Kujo: I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to do it.

 

Natsume: Hear that? That’s what he’s saying.

 

Yui: Stop with that smug look.

Kujo Soma, you! What happened to the whole trusting relationship!?

 

Kujo: If I have earned their trust…

Then I believe that I would never want to do anything to infringe on their happiness.

 

Yui: On that reasoning, it sounds like you’re not concerned about your own happiness.

 

Kujo: … Not at all.

I’m very much hell bent on my own happiness—horribly so.

 

Natsume & Yui: ……

 

 

There were many people who, when reading “Night on the Galactic Road”, would interpret what would be the keyword throughout the book—“true happiness”—

 

As “not minding self-sacrifice and wishing for others’ happiness”.

 

 

Kujo: (I, too, may be hoping that if only I could think the same.)

 

Natsume: Oh man, just when I thought it was getting a bit uncomfortable here, lo and behold, we’re already in the “Sibling Zone”.

 

Yui: They said we’d be stopping here for 20 minutes.

 

Natsume: … It’s hard to breathe. I’m gonna go rest in a different carriage.

 

Yui: Wait up. I’ll go with you.

 

Natsume: It’s fine. Don’t you want to talk to Kujo-san still?

 

Yui: No, I want to discuss the ingredients to be used in the next drink.

 

Natsume: What, seriously…

 

Yui: You get a kick out of that sort of talk, am I right?

 

Natsume: … Well, I suppose it beats suffocating alone by a mile.

You know, you acting kind of like the older one in charge is throwing me for a loop.

 

Yui: I am your senior, after all.

 

Natsume: True.

 

Yui: So in other words, I’ll be taking my leave now too.

 

Natsume: Oh, yeah, Kujo-san. Let me give you a piece of advice.

 

Kujo: Which would be…?

 

 

40.

 

-Galaxy Express: Inside Carriage-

 

Natsume: If you’re gonna get off at the next “Sibling Zone”, it’s best that you do it alone.

 

Kujo: What do you mean?

 

Natsume: If you get off the train together with your sibling, then…

Apparently, if you’re not together when getting on again, you won’t be able to board the same train anymore for all eternity.

 

Yui: I reckon that concern isn’t necessary. However you look at it, he’s by himself.

 

Kujo: …

 

Natsume: Well then, have a pleasant trip of the galaxy.

 

 

Their figures disappeared, and the train slowly reduced its speed.

 

Then at long last, it came to a stop in the “Sibling Zone”.

 

 

-Galaxy Express: Departing Platform-

 

Kujo: (This is quite the elaborate lucid dream.)

 

 

Out of personal curiosity, I had left the train and stepped out onto the platform of the “Sibling Zone”.

 

To be sure, I had searched for Go inside the train, but he remained missing ever since suddenly vanishing that time we passed through the tunnel.

 

 

Kujo: (Hmm?)

 

 

I had thought that there wouldn’t be anyone else on the platform besides myself, but I spotted a man sitting all alone on a bench.

 

 

Kujo: (He’s from the Police…)

 

 

When I took a step forward and went to approach him, the sound of my footsteps echoed.

 

 

Asagiri: !

 

 

He hastily looked up, and his reaction upon seeing me was so fierce that it unconsciously made me lose my composure.

 

 

Asagiri: … not him…

 

 

It seemed like he had said something after seeing me, but I couldn’t quite catch what it was. I continued walking towards him until we were at a distance where we could talk.

 

 

Asagiri: What are you doing here, of all places?

 

Kujo: I’m not sure what sort of place “here” is though.

 

Asagiri: ……

 

 

He squinted his eyes questioningly from behind his glasses, and stared at me intently when I didn’t say anything further.

 

 

Asagiri: … Right, so that’s how it is.

 

Kujo: ?

 

 

42.

 

-Galaxy Express: Departing Platform-

 

Asagiri: The one aboard the train—you didn’t get off together with him.

 

Kujo: What—

 

Asagiri: Just to be clear, I’m not referring to You-san or the guys from the NCD.

 

Kujo: … If you mean Go, then he was gone all of a sudden.

 

Asagiri: It’s not that he left. You both simply lost sight of one another.

He’s still inside the train.

 

Kujo: How is it that you know this?

 

Asagiri: Had you both gotten off here, then you would not have been able to board the Galaxy Express again.

I’m also aware of this fact.

 

Kujo: Why… is that?

 

Asagiri: It is said that in this zone, siblings who see and understand each other well will deepen their bond.

There are even plenty of siblings who spend their time here peacefully, harbouring the same tale of their travels as they make their way back to the train once more.

But in the case of you two…

If you both get off the train, then what awaits is a farewell.

 

Kujo: A farewell…

 

 

A conscious-like pain came down on the area around my chest.

 

Unintentionally, I stopped breathing.

 

 

Asagiri: It’s alright. It’s still not too late for you.

 

 

He shifted his gaze away from me, and directed it at the stars adorning the galaxy.

 

 

Asagiri: As long as you’re both riding the same train, you can decide for yourself the final destination as much as you want.

Even if there is some speeding up or slowing down without thought to the other person’s will…

If you don’t get off the train, then you brothers will surely be fine.

 

Kujo: !!

 

 

My heart was in uproar at the feeling of impatience and irritation, as if I was reaching out to a star that could not be grasped.

 

Even if I understood that this was a dream…

 

And even if I knew that the people making an appearance were illusions brought forth from the banks of my memory…

 

I wondered if this was not my subconscious mind warning me of something.

 

 

Kujo: (… To do with Go and my future…)

 

Asagiri: Now then, please return to the train.

 

Kujo: I want to speak with you a little more. Why not come aboard with me?

 

Asagiri: I can’t.

 

Kujo: Why is that?

 

Asagiri: Because I got separated from my younger brother who I got off together with.

 

Kujo: !!

 

 

44.

 

-Galaxy Express: Inside Carriage-

 

Kujo: You got… separated?

 

 

I was struck with shock as if I had been dealt an intense blow to the chest.

 

I saw myself in the man standing before me.

 

But to my surprise, his eyes showed a steady composure.

 

 

Asagiri: If you happen to meet my brother at the other rest stops, please tell him this.

“I may not be able to ride the same train as you anymore…”

“But I’ve decided to move forward with my own two legs.”

 

Kujo: D-Does that mean you’re giving up on your brother…?

 

Asagiri: No.

For his sake, I’m not going to give up on riding the train that takes me to where I ought to go.

 

Kujo: …?

 

Asagiri: It was your footsteps that I heard, and because of that, any feeble expectations I had have been smashed to smithereens.

But at the same time, I understand now. Despite having stopped here on my own, you appeared.

In other words…

If I look up and take a step forward, daybreak will definitely come.

 

Kujo: ……

 

 

This hard to describe feeling was causing a disturbance inside my chest.

 

He and I were most likely in the same position of being the “older brother”.

 

Right now, we were facing each other and standing on the same surface.

 

But it was almost like only he had long gone off to another star. It was that sort of feeling.

 

 

Kujo: … May I ask for your brother’s name?

 

Asagiri: His name is—

 

[Fade to black]

 

???: Kujo-san!?

Are you alright!?

 

-Galaxy Express: Inside Carriage-

 

Kujo: !

 

 

For a split second, I got the sensation that my consciousness had cut off.

 

When I opened my eyes, I was back inside the train again.

 

 

Kujo: (His little brother’s name…)

(… It’s no use. I can’t remember.)

 

 

In the first place, I couldn’t conceivably know of something in my dreams if I didn’t know it in reality.

 

 

Kujo: (I don’t even know whether he actually has a little brother or not.)

(But, still…)

 

 

Up until a while ago, I was somewhat enjoying this dream that was far off from reality.

 

 

Kujo: (Now, however…)

 

 

I peered outside the window.

 

The glowing bodies of the pentahedron and delta cone appeared in numbers as quickly as they did fade away into the distance. 

 

 

Kujo: … Go.

 

 

He had said that Go was still inside the train.

 

That we had only lost sight of one another.

 

 

Kujo: (I need to go look for him—immediately.)

 

 

The moment I went to stand up from my seat after resolving to do just that—

 

 

Kirishima: Kujo-san! I’ve finally found you!

 

Kujo: K-Kirishima!

 

 

46.

 

-Galaxy Express: Inside Carriage-

 

Kirishima had popped up and then happily sat down in the seat directly opposite me.

 

 

Kirishima: Hehe. So glad I found you.

 

 

Relief and anguish swirled inside my chest at that smile that expressed his emotions with open honesty.

 

It was due to Kirishima’s existence that I was driven by the impulse to rely on those positive feelings that I’ve become attached to…

 

And made me want to hand everything over to Go.

 

 

Kirishima: … Kujo-san? Is there something on my face?

 

Kujo: … No.

 

 

Maybe because it was inside my dreams.

 

Or perhaps it was because of my encounter from before, but… 

 

 

Kujo: (I’m not keeping my emotions in check very well.)

 

 

Kirishima was sharp.

 

In return for being open towards others, to the point of having no guard up…

 

He had the power to closely see into people’s hearts without hitting any walls. That was what I believed.

 

I put on a smile to the best of my ability so as to not make him concerned, and spoke.

 

 

Kujo: Were you looking for me?

 

Kirishima: Of course. I’ve been searching this whole time.

 

Kujo: My apologies for worrying you.

 

Kirishima: Well, yeah, I was worried. But I knew for sure that I’d be able to find you.

Dunno, but like, on the way, there was a weird carriage on this train.

It went all like sloping up and down and whatnot.

When I thought about how everything was one step closer to you, then it felt like that sorta “pretty carman” can bring it right on!

 

Kujo: Pretty carman… 

 

???: Do you mean “predicament”?

 

 

The voice I heard was one I knew very well.

 

 

Kirishima: Kaname! You were here too?

 

Kaname: Yep. The next thing I knew, I had hopped on.

 

 

Kaname sat down beside Kirishima.

 

 

48.

 

-Galaxy Express: Inside Carriage-

 

Kaname: Or rather, that pronunciation was way off.

 

Kirishima: Does it matter? I got you here.

 

Kaname: And what would you have done if I wasn’t here?

 

Kirishima: I can’t even think of a Kujo Household that doesn’t have you in it anymore.

You’re with me on this, right, Kujo-san?

 

Kujo: Yes, I am.

 

 

A smile naturally came to my face.

 

 

Kujo: (These two warm my heart even within my dreams.)

 

Kirishima: Since that’s settled, come over more often. Like, everyday!

Shindo and I have a plan set up for building your muscles.

 

Kaname: What even?

 

Kirishima: By the time you turn twenty, you’re gonna have a shredded body. I swear by it!

 

Kaname: Could you not think up my future for me however you want? Thanks.

 

Kujo: *Chuckles*

 

 

“I want you to be happy, always.”

 

The light of someone who truly wished for that was one that brightened my heart more than any star ever could.

 

 

Kaname: Oh.

 

Kirishima: What’s up?

 

Kaname: Just now, it seemed like a little girl was waving her hand from that star over there.

There, that person.

 

 

Kirishima and I looked outside the window.

 

On the star that was floating right beside us, there was land seemingly like a meadow.

 

And on that land, there were a number of small houses, and most certainly, a young girl waving her hand.

 

 

Kaname: I feel like I know that girl.

 

Kirishima: You probably met her somewhere before.

 

Kaname: … Yeah.

 

 

Eventually, the young girl whose face resembled Kaname in some way, faded out of sight… 

 

 

Kirishima: Woah! It got, like, pitch dark outside.

 

Kaname: Haven’t we just entered a tunnel?

 

 

Shindo: No, can’t you guys see the flame of Scorpio?

 

Kirishima: Huh?

 

Kujo: Shindo…

 

 

50.

 

-Galaxy Express: Inside Carriage-

 

In my dream, Shindo was dressed in an outlandish outfit that he would definitely never ever wear in reality.

 

With not a moment to spare, he sat down next to me.

 

All four seats of the cabin were filled up.

 

 

Kaname: So you were aboard this train too, Kiyoshi-san?

 

Shindo: More or less.

That aside, look closely. There aren’t any stars, but there are dots of lights scattered about.

 

Kirishima: Woah, you’re right.

 

Kaname: When you say the “flame of Scorpio”, do you mean the one from “Night on the Galactic Railroad”?

 

Shindo: Yeah.

 

Kirishima: Wait, what? Aren’t scorpions those deadly insect things?

 

Shindo: I don’t mind explaining it, but it’ll cost you a 1000 shillings.

 

Kirishima: Say what?

 

Kujo: (That's a thousand times what Giovanni was paid in a day…)

 

 

“You’re pushing it with your greed there, Shindo.” I retorted internally.

 

 

Kirishima: What’s a shilling?

 

Shindo: If you don’t have any money, then no explanation. Seeing as there’s nothing in it for me.

 

Kujo: The “flame of Scorpio” is an anecdote found in Miyazawa Kenji’s tale of “Night on the Galactic Road”.

 

Kirishima: A-A neck doe…? Sounds cool. Kinda like your name, Kujo-san! 

 

Kujo: No, it means a story told within a story.

 

Shindo: A foolish scorpion falls into a well after nearly being eaten by a weasel.

As it’s drowning and about to die, the scorpion feels regret.

Because it, too, has been able to survive this long by taking the lives of many others.

The scorpion thinks to itself that if it’s going to die such a meaningless death, then it would’ve been better to let itself be eaten by the weasel.

Thus, it ends with the scorpion praying to God for its own body to be used for the sake of others’ true happiness.

 

Kirishima: God, huh…

 

Shindo: Following that, the scorpion’s body bursts into a flame and is said to light the way for others in the night sky.

 

Kaname: You ended up explaining it anyway.

 

Shindo: That’ll be a 1000 shillings. Pay up.

 

Kirishima: You’re bloody scamming me!

 

Kujo: P-Pfft…

 

 

Their interaction tickled a nerve that had me laughing until I was wheezing and ended up making Kirishima look worried.

 

 

Kirishima: Are you alright, Kujo-san?

 

Kujo: Yes, sorry about that. Do you understand the flame of Scorpio now?

 

 

52.

 

-Galaxy Express: Inside Carriage-

 

Kirishima: Yeah!

So the scorpion had a change of heart right before it died, and that’s why it was able to become a flame that could light up the darkness, right!

Almost like a villain turned hero.

 

Kujo: A hero, huh. That interpretation is quite like you to have.

 

Shindo: I think it’s a ridiculous infatuation with self-sacrifice though.

 

Kirishima: “In fact you ate some”? You hungry or something? 

 

Shindo: That’s not what I said.

 

Kujo: P-Pfft—

 

Kaname: Koya-kun, please, Kujo-san looks like he’s about to start wheezing again.

 

Kirishima: Shit! Sorry, Kujo-san!

 

Kujo: No, I’m fine.

 

Kirishima: I’m gonna keep quiet for a bit, so you speak, Shindo. Spit it out then.

 

Shindo: Whatever. I’m done talking.

 

Kujo: I want to hear it, Shindo—your interpretation of the “flame of Scorpio”.

 

Shindo: That’ll be 5000 shillings.

 

Kujo: How about I pay the bill afterwards?

 

Shindo: Hmph. Just don’t go doing a runner on me.

 

 

I smiled in acknowledgement, and urged him to continue.

 

 

Kujo: The scorpion that became a flame was drunk on self-sacrifice—is that what you think?

 

Shindo: I’m simply of the opinion that those who believe in bracing themselves for a world where survival of the fittest is the natural order of things, and cling on with dear life up until the end—

They’re the ones who are far more worth viewing as the flame that lights up the darkness.

 

Kujo: I see.

 

 

That way of thinking couldn’t be any more fitting of Shindo, was what I thought.

 

 

Shindo: What, you can’t comprehend it?

 

Kujo: No, I do.

 

Kirishima: What do you think about the scorpion as a hero, Kujo-san?

 

Kujo: I…

 

 

54.

 

-Galaxy Express: Inside Carriage-

 

Kujo: I don’t have such a grandiose wish of hoping to become a flame that lights up the darkness for all people.

But if by sacrificing myself, I can brighten the world of the people who I want to be happy, even just a little, then…

There is a point in the scorpion’s final thought that I can agree with.

 

Shindo: Well, I guess it’s like you to say that.

 

Kirishima: …

 

Kaname: What’s wrong, Koya-kun? You’re frowning.

 

Kirishima: No, it’s y’know, what Kujo-san said just now. Something about it bothers me.

 

Kujo: Which part?

 

Kirishima: Hmm… More like, you don’t need to go sacrificing yourself or anything.

My world’s full of light just from you waking up every morning like normal.

 

Kujo: !

 

Kirishima: Yeah, that’s it! To me, you’re already the scorpion hero turned flame.

 

Kujo: Kirishima…

 

 

This was my dream.

 

Which meant that the people I thought fondly of would give me words that made me feel good.

 

 

Kujo: (But if it’s Kirishima, then I’m sure he’d say the same thing even in reality.)

 

Kaname: Oh, it looks like we’re entering a tunnel.

 

 

Once again, my vision became pitch black.

 

 

Kujo: !

 

 

Miyase: Thank goodness you were still aboard the train.

 

Kujo: Go…