I descended wearing part of myself—a red garment meant to stand out.Perhaps it did not suit the season.
Though I can freely alter my form as a bird, I cannot remain long in a human body, and so I was in a hurry.
You stumbled so clumsily, nearly tripping over your own feet as you ran, that I could not help but worry.
By the time I guided you to the place where your heart might grow strong again, I had already returned to my bird form.
I could have left quietly. Yet I longed to feel your soul up close, and so I brushed past your ear.
Today—or rather, yesterday morning now—I learned that you would board the ship. And I wanted to see you again.
The one I met, however, was a young man I had never known—lonely, grown-up.It was you, Oze-san.
To my surprise, there were two other familiar faces here besides Aochi-san: Kaori-san and Mamoru-kun.
I thought they were gone, and I was glad.
I wished to keep watching you all, but I have several other ships to tend as well.Each is dear to me. And though your Harvester is a troublesome soul, he is dependable. So I left for a time, waited until another ship settled, and then returned.
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Confusion welled up.
Kaori-san and Mamoru-kun knew the bird—so maybe I, too…
“Aochi-san is not dead!”
Oomi declared sharply—not to me, but glaring at the bird.
Poor guy looked about to cry.
Without thinking, I moved closer and muttered something meaningless, “It’s all right.”
“…Yes. For now, it should be all right.”
The bird’s voice stayed calm. The Harvester with it perched on his shoulder remained as still as a blinking statue.
“Then—tell us. Is there a way to save us? You said earlier you waited for another ship to settle. That means their passengers have already been reduced to one, doesn’t it?”
Oze’s voice was dry. I should’ve offered him a drink.
“…The ships under my watch already carry only a single soul. And there is a way for you to be saved.”
“By asking God?”
The way Oze cut in made me uneasy. He was supposed to be the calmest of us. Which meant he knew how little time remained.
“Praying is useless. The reason God must reduce you to one is not cruelty. It is His nature.”
The Harvesters slumped their shoulders, and we stared in blank dismay.
“…Then it’s hopeless after all.”
“Not with you so weak-minded. No.”
This bird—so merciless with Oze. Yet it seemed cautious with Oomi, and gentle with me. I couldn’t read its feelings at all.
“Sorry… I won’t give in. Just tell me. What should I do?”
It was the first time I had ever seen Oze so desperate, and it made me restless.
“Break the rules. Do not surrender yourself to the chain of ships. Seize the door when it opens and go to the next world by your own will.”
My puffin declared it bluntly. The sort who could say such things with conviction.
“Break the rules? That’s allowed?”
Oze swallowed hard and asked, and for the first time the puffin spoke to him softly.
“Those who make rules are waiting for them to be broken.”
The bird leapt from the Harvester’s shoulder onto the table, looked around at us all, and said:
“Now, prepare for the final morning.”