Oze
Aochi had gotten in a bad mood, so I only asked to change the subject—but the moment I looked, I was drawn to that ship.
I’d never seen a ship like that before. Was it there from the start?Ever since those birds appeared, it felt like I was drifting between dream and reality. And yet, the ship blended into this strange in-between time without seeming out of place at all.
From what Aochi said earlier, this weirdness didn’t just begin two days ago.I had no idea about the burning hearts. Maybe I’d seen or heard something about it somewhere, but I probably dismissed it as some new urban legend or occult nonsense.
That triangular ship—hearts are going to be loaded onto it. If they manage to retrieve them from the sea, that is.Still, I can’t help imagining it: a ship filled with hearts, drifting through the sea with them.Why am I getting excited? I need to make sure it doesn’t show on my face. If I do, Oomi might seriously run off this time.
Even now, he’s following behind me, keeping an awkward distance.I noticed he whispered something to Aochi earlier, too.
He’s probably saying stuff like, “That guy’s insane,” or “Be careful.”
…Whatever. Even if those two ditched me, I’m pretty sure I could still enjoy this whole trip on my own.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
I’d reached the front of the triangular ship.
Seeing it up close, it reminded me a little of that bird I wanted to catch.A ship looking like a bird—I know how that sounds. I must be losing it.
“…It smells the same as that bird.”
The words slipped out of my mouth before I realized it.
“Hey!”
Oomi suddenly shouted.There weren’t any seabirds around today, but if there had been, they all would’ve scattered at once.
“…What the hell? Don’t startle me like that.”
His lips were pale now, almost bluish. For a second, I thought he might actually die.That’s when I noticed—he’s wearing glasses today.Sometimes he doesn’t. I guess he uses contacts, too.Wait, why am I even thinking about that?Right—he hasn’t said a word since yelling.There’s too much silence, and now I’m staring at him way too closely.Why is he so quiet? Is he having some kind of episode?
Aochi, who’s usually the reliable one, had picked the worst possible time to zone out—his face tilted upward, eyes fixed on the sky above the ship.That left me. I had no choice but to step in, so I moved toward Oomi.
He backed away just as far.
“Oh, come on. You messing with me?”
“Promise you won’t try to catch the bird.”
“…What?”
“I just saw a picture in my head.”
Here we go again—talking nonsense.Still, pushing someone this serious might be risky.
“What kind of picture?”
I kept my voice calm as I asked.
“A picture of you… feeding that bird with human hearts.”
…Yeah. He’s gone.
“I won’t do that, okay?”
“Promise me.”
His voice was trembling.This is way out of my league.Aochi, he’s your junior—say something, man.
Just as I turned to call out to him—
“Gangway’s steeper than I thought… Watch your step, both of you.”
Aochi muttered that, then walked straight toward the triangular ship, like something had taken hold of him.