COTE : Three days of happyness

Three Days Of Happiness

It was the first morning of the remaining three days.

I wouldn’t have an observer’s eyes on me.

Thus, Horikita was gone.

I decided how I’d spend those three days a while ago. In the morning, I filled up the notebook.

Once I was done writing events up to yesterday, I put down the pen and took a few hours to sleep.

When I woke up, I went out to smoke, then bought a cider from a vending machine for my thirst.

I looked back at my bed.

One hundred and eighty-seven yen. That was all. And sixty yen of it was in 1-yen coins.

Three times I counted it. One hundred and eighty-seven yen.

Realizing a strange coincidence, my cheeks burned. Passing the three days would be a somewhat uncertain business, but for now I enjoyed that happenstance.

Looking back at the notebook and adding important details, I got on the Cub and went around to the places I went with Horikita, but this time I really was alone.

I drove under a blue sky as if in search of her lingering scent.

I wondered if Horikita was off observing someone else now.

I prayed that they wouldn’t attack Horikita out of desperation.

I prayed that Horikita could keep working until she paid her debt, and live such a happy life that she forgot all about me.

I prayed that someone would appear who Horikita found more important than me, and who found Horikita more important than I had.

While walking in the park, children waved to me. Getting a sudden idea, I pretended that Horikita was there.

I put out my hand, said “Look, Horikita!”, and held an imaginary Horikita’s hand.
It was the same as always for everyone else.

“Ah, that idiot Ayanokouji’s walking with his imaginary girlfriend again.”

But it was very different for me. In fact, it was hardly the same at all.

As I went on doing this to myself, I was hit with such sadness I could barely stand up. I realized Horikita’s absence more than ever.
I had a thought.

What if it had all been an illusion of mine from the start?

I was convinced my life would end in three days. I knew that all but a shred of my life had been used up. That sensation couldn’t have been a lie.

But did that girl named Horikita really exist? Had not only her existence, but the existence of a shop dealing in lifespan, been a convenient fantasy of mine as I recognized my coming death?

I had no way of knowing that now.
I sat on the edge of a fountain with my head low, and was called to by a boy and girl in middle school.

The boy innocently asked, “Mr. Ayanokouji, how’s Ms. Horikita?”

“Horikita’s not here anymore,” I said.
The girl put her hands to her mouth, shocked.

“Huh? What happened? Did you have a fight?”

“Something like that. Don’t fight, you two.”

The two looked at each other and shook their heads in unison.

“Well, I dunno… I mean, even Mr. Ayanokouji and Ms. Horikita argue?”

“If you two get along so well but still fight, then there’s no way we wouldn’t.”