02小说网

Draft 15 19（第6页）

“Hospitalsarestressedwiththeworkloadaswell。”Rinwasfeelingthepressure，too。

“IthinkIwilljustfinishuyandthatwillbetheendofit。Igowithyoutotoapark，bebacktohavelunchtogether，thendogroceryshopping。Wegettogohometogether，cooktogether，eattogether，andrelaxbeforebedtime。”

“Thatsoundslovely。”RinkissedHitomionherforehand。

HitomiandRindecidedthattheywouldgraduateuy，gettheir“partnershipcertificate”，andthenmoveintogether。

Onthatday，RinwouldnolongerbecalledOneesama，butwouldbeeHitomi’sgoShujin-sama。

Lifewentoninseeminglyperfectlightheartedness。Thetwograduated，gottheircertificate，andRinmovedintoHitomi’sapartment。

Theessentialswereunpacked，alongwithmostofRin’sbooks。Thereststayedinboxes。Withthebusynessoflife，therewasn’ttimetosortthroughthem。

Twelveyearslater，whenRinwasfinallytakingayearofsabbaticalleave，thetwoproceededtosortthroughthemountainofboxesthatRinbroughtover。

Therewerephotoalbums，babyclothes，elementaryschoolartprojects，olddiaries，dollclothes，stuffedanimals，mementrandparents，souvenirsfromtripsandvacations，old‘favouritepens’。。。

Finally，therewastheboxof‘miscellaneousobjects’。Afterdiggingthroughthebox，Hitomifound，inaclearplasticcase，ahollowspheremadeofgoldenthreadandsilverlace，insidewhichider’swebmadeofteardrop-shapedpinkcrystalsfixedtothreadsofsilk，withblacktasselsunderh。

“What’sthis?”

“AndecorationthatIhadonmybedsidelampsincechildhood。”

“It’ssobeautiful!MayItakeitoutandhaveabetterlook?”

“Ghtahead。”RinlookedatHitomiasifshewaospoilHitomiwiththeloveinhereyes。Rideepjoy，sharingherchildhoodmemorieswithHitomi。

Hitomicarefullytookthedecorationoutoftheclearboxofhardplastic，helditclosetohereyes，andlookedadmiringly。

“It’ssointricateanddelicate!Howelegant!”

Suddenly，awhiffofsmokecameoutfromthecrystalspiderweb，aeredHitomi’sforehead。

Hitomifeltexceedinglysleepy，laidherheadonRin’slap，andwasasleepinseds。

Rinwasstunnedbywhathadjusthappened。Shepickedupthehollowsphere，andawaveofinformatioeredhersciousness。Shesaw，fromathirdpersonperspective，allofKagami’slife，andallofAkishi’slife，andYukari’s，Midori’s，Kasumi’s，Yayoi’sandRyō’saswell。Itwasunreal。

ShesawwhathadhappealittlehillbythefootofKageyamaonthedaythatKagamiwentintotownforherfirsttime，andkhatHitomiwaspleteagain。

RintookHitomitobed，andlaydownbesideher。Staringattheceiling，Rindidn’tknowwhattofeel。SheisRiainly，buthasiedallofArashi’semotionsaswell。Nowwiththeknowledgeofthelivesofeveryoneelsefromtheotherworld，Rindidn’tknowwhatherexactidentitywasanymore。Moreover，thereseemedtobesomethingelse，anothersciousness，tryingtoawakeitself。

Hitomiwokeup，alittlebeforemidnight，andwassleepybutnottired。Shenolongerfeltexhaustedbysimplylivingherdaytodaylife，aditionwhichpreviouslyrequiredHitomitoputherarmsaroundRinandplaceherheadonRinasfrequentlyaspossibletotakemueededrest，asiftorecharge。

Hitomilookedtotheside，andsawRinlyingbesideher。Feelingmoreclarityinhermindthaneverbefore，Hitominoticedsomethingthatshehadnotbeenabletoearlierthatday。

“Riherofushasgedforthepastfifteenyears。Westilllookidenticaltoourweddingphoto。”

Rinhadaslightlymysterioussmileonherface，“it’slate。Sleep。”

SheputherhandsonHitomi’seyes，andHitomifellbackasleepasifunderaspell。

Aroundthem，theworldstartedtodisie。

19

“Iamonthemoon?Andthat’stheblueearthinthesky?Iamdreamingagain。”ThoughtHitomiasshegazedupatthenightview。

Shethoughtshemighttakeawalk，justtoexplorewhatamooninherdreamislike。

Hitomiturnedaround，andsawashrineontallpillars，madeofwhitemarble。“TheinaldesignofIzumoTaisha?!ThismustbefromtheanimeKannazukinoMiko!”

Excitedthatshewashavingananimedream，Hitomiasdedthelongstairs。Shedidn’tbothertot，siheshrihighupintheair，about50metresofftheground--therewouldbeatleastfourhuofivehuairs。

Afteraboutfiveminutes，Hitomistoodatthegateoftheshrine。

Clappingherhandstwidsayingashortprayer，Hitomiehebuilding拝殿。Atthetre，therewasalargeicecrystal，encircledbyceremonialstrawropeandhangingpapertalisman。Ihecrystalersonfrozeninice，herbodyslightlybent，hereyesclosed，herhandsholdingherownbody。Hitomitookacloserlook，“Me?!”

“Yes，that’syou。”Avoicesaid。

Hitomiimmediatelyturolook，andwasshocked“Yukaridenka!”