Aochi
Surprisingly, Ululu and the blood-covered woman with an unnaturally piercing gaze crossed the ladder with quick, practiced steps—like they’d done it hundreds of times.
The real problem was Oomi. He’d come with me, but halfway across he clung to me so tightly I thought we’d both fall into the sea.
But the one who truly shocked us was the Harvester.
I’d wondered how he managed to move between ships without using the ladder—and then I saw it.
With a hand on the railing, he kicked off sideways with both feet and vaulted over as if it were nothing.Anyone else would’ve fallen straight into the water, but the next instant, he landed lightly back on our ship.He’d simply jumped the entire distance.
I couldn’t even process it.
—Holy crap.
“Hey, old man, that was awesome. How’d you do that? Teach me!”
I couldn’t help blurting it out.I’ve always been good at physical stuff—better than most, with half the effort.I wanted to be able to leap between ships too, without relying on ladders.
“That’s rude. Don’t treat me like a grandpa—I didn’t ask to be like this. You just use the ladder. Don’t make me go back and rescue your sorry ass.”
Figures. No secret technique for me.
♢♢
We gathered in the dining room—seemed like the only space big enough for everyone, including the dead: Kaori-san and Mamoru-kun.
Across from me, Oomi ran his fingers lovingly over the armrest of his chair.I got it. I really did.Back on that cold ship, I missed this one so badly… like I’d grown up here or something.
It was already weird enough having the dead on board, but now with Ululu and the blood-soaked woman joining us, it had crossed into full-blown chaos.If you’d told me this morning at the office I’d be here now, I wouldn’t have believed you.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
I looked around the room.
To my left sat the red, vaguely humanoid creature who could only say “u” and “ru.”Next to him, apparently, was Mamoru-kun—though to me the seat looked empty.He was all over Ululu, apparently obsessed.
“Uru-ru-ru-ruuu!”
“Mamoru-kun, Aochi-san’s not that kind of person.”
Oomi was talking to an empty chair.
“What? What’s he saying?”
“He says the white outfit Ululu’s wearing could use some flair, so we should all draw on it together. He wants you to join in too. But… Aochi-san…”
I mean, the plain white looks fine to me, but Ululu probably likes that kind of play.
“Sure. But let’s hear what the Harvester has to say first, then we can mess around.”
Oomi looked confused.What? I could play with a ghost kid if I wanted to.
“This guy’s so bad at drawing, Ululu might feel bad. Don’t worry, I’ll fix it up later.”
That rude remark came from Oze, who was sitting across from Mamoru-kun.
“Oze-san, I’m trying not to say that out loud.”
Wait—Oomi thought that too?!I had no idea I was that bad at drawing.Low-key kinda hurt.
“It’d be a shame if Mamoru ended up disappointed.”
Oze laughed, totally ignoring my crushed spirit.
I glanced at the clock—it was past two.It might be bright outside, but it’s winter.That meant Oze had waited over an hour on deck while we were on the other ship.No wonder I’d been worried earlier—he’d looked pale as a ghost, even his lips had gone white.
“Well, yeah, you’re pretty good with your hands, Oze.I’ll—uh, I mean, I’ll try not to let Mamoru-kun laugh at me either.”
Talking to someone invisible is harder than it sounds.
Then I looked over at the next table.The blood-soaked woman sat alone.
Apparently, Kaori-san was sitting next to her.So even she can see the dead.Somehow, that thought made the world feel a little scarier—like seeing ghosts had become the new normal.
No one had said anything about the seating arrangement, but somehow it made sense.The woman looked like she carried a lot of darkness—being with another woman might help her open up.
She hadn’t said a single word since we met.Even Ululu, who barely resembled a person, could at least say two sounds.
Now she stared at a drawing on the dining room wall with those large, strong, hazel eyes.Maybe she was a foreigner.Maybe she couldn’t understand our language.
“Hey. You calm now?”
That familiar, effortless voice rang out.The Harvester had entered the dining room.
I thought he’d sit at the table with the two women, but he didn’t.Halfway there, he picked up a random chair with one hand and set it down in the center of the room so he could face us all.Then, he plopped down with a lazy ease.
“I was gonna stand and talk, but I’m an old man. I get tired easy.”
He crossed his long legs and glanced my way.From the way he looked at me, he was clearly still holding a grudge. Just like how he always brings up Oomi’s childhood—he really needs to get over it.
“Well, let’s get to it—”
“Before that… may I ask something?”
Oomi cut him off.
“This ship—it’s moving, right?The other one’s keeping pace too.Is Rhone-san being dragged along?Can an unmanned ship really keep the exact same distance like that?”
“Glasses-boy, you're always hung up on the details. But fair enough—it matters.It’s that ladder you set up. That thing’s not coming off now.”