Three People
That must be a metaphor for death.
Back at the bench, when Aochi-san pointed toward that ship, something about it struck me. I just knew.
Now I’m walking behind Aochi-san as he heads toward the ship, staring at his back.
But what I sensed as “death” wasn’t actually the ship.It was the bird.Or rather, the birds—that flock made perfect sense if they were meant to represent death.Even these reactions from my unhinged seniors seemed to fit.I’m scared of dying. And somehow, I can understand how someone like Aochi-san, who radiates so much life, would be drawn to its opposite.
I haven’t talked much with Oze-san, so honestly, I don’t know him well.But there have been moments when he’s looked like death itself—his appearance, his tone of voice.Maybe it’s precisely because he’s like that that he’s able to fight death.
“Aochi-san.”
I was dying to tell someone. I wanted to shout it to the whole world.But I settled for the nearest person.I picked up my pace, moved beside Aochi-san, and whispered into his ear.
“That bird is a messenger of death.”
“You okay there, buddy?”
Aochi-san peered into my face. His eyes were steady and clear—completely unlike Oze-san, whose long bangs hid his eyes most of the time.
The man in question, walking slightly ahead of us, tilted his head about twenty degrees as if listening to our conversation.Not good. I had a feeling I didn’t want him to hear this. I lowered my voice further.
“I’m serious, please don’t brush this off. I’m worried about you, Aochi-san.”
“Huh? Can you speak up? I can’t hear what you’re saying.”
“I can’t say this out loud. Just listen. You’re being comforted by death. Please… try to stay grounded.”
“…”
He’s so dense. It’s frustrating.I’ll just cut to the important part.
“Please don’t die.”
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Aochi-san gave a sad smile.And at that moment, I knew it.
Among the three of us, the one most full of life right now—Aochi-san—would be the first to be taken by the bird.
♢♢
Oomi had whispered something nonsensical in my ear, but honestly, I didn’t have time to care.
Because when I looked up at the ship earlier and saw the narrow entrance near the side…I saw a dead man standing there.
Judging from how the other two were acting, it seemed like I was the only one who noticed.
We locked eyes.His skin looked like it was coated in ice.Is there such a thing as a pale gray uniform like that?A one-piece work suit, covered with a thick coat in the same color.
How old was he?His gray hair was dull—Not that dead bodies are supposed to look fresh, but still.His skin looked elderly… maybe. It was hard to tell from here.
His lips formed the words “Hurry up.”The inside of his mouth looked so dark, it felt like it would swallow me whole.Was he Japanese?His features looked sharp. If he was an old man, he was unusually tall and well-built.
—Why am I not scared right now?
I felt strangely nostalgic.It’s not that he looked like my grandfather or some old man from my childhood neighborhood. Definitely not.
And yet… he was calling me. Still.
My feet moved toward the ship on their own.
As I got closer, my steps grew unstable.I could feel Oomi and Oze casting uneasy glances at me from behind.
♢♢
Like someone possessed, Aochi climbed the narrow gangway toward the ship’s entrance.It was barely wide enough for one person and made of some unclear metal—maybe stainless steel, maybe aluminum.
“Hey, wait up!”
Worried by Aochi’s sickly-looking steps—so unlike his usual energetic self—I followed after him.
“Aochi-san!”
Oomi came scrambling up right behind me.The narrow gangway forced us into a line: Aochi in front, then me, then Oomi.I could feel a powerful pressure behind me, like someone saying, “You’re in the way.”
“Don’t push,” I said over my shoulder.
It felt like it took forever to reach the entrance.Sure, the ship was larger than I expected, but it’s still just a ship.Why did it feel like I’d run laps around an entire field?
“Take a deep breath—this might be your last inhale of the air above ground.”
A raspy male voice made me jump.
I couldn’t see clearly with Aochi in front of me.
“Who… are you?”
Even as I asked, I found myself taking a deep breath.It annoyed me—like I’d obeyed him without meaning to.
“That was your final whistle on land.”
The dry, scratchy voice sounded amused.
“…What is going on?”
I could sense Oomi behind me trying to peer over my shoulder, probably even more confused than I was.
Finally, Aochi stepped into the ship, and I followed.
“Watch your step—tight quarters in here.”
The husky voice again.
“So, seriously—what is this? Is someone else inside?”
Oomi pushed past me from behind and fell silent for a moment.But then he rushed forward and grabbed Aochi’s wrist.
Just like the raspy voice had warned, the area we were standing in was like a narrow stairwell landing—cramped and unstable.I started to worry that Oomi, in his panic, might lose his footing.
“Aochi-san!”
Something was clearly wrong with Aochi.
Even as Oomi shook him, he didn’t say a word.It was as if he’d been possessed by that strange man.
That man, ignoring us completely, spoke again.
“I’ll guide you.”
“Wait—who the hell are you, anyway?”
He looked genuinely surprised.His expression said, “You got on without knowing?”
“I’m the Harvester of Hearts.”