Death And Life

Nagi's Circumstances

Recap
Yukina: Are we going or not!? We are nearly at the split!
Ayame: Yukina san, please go back!
Kurusu: Ayame sama!
Ikoma: It's okay! Me and Mumei would handle most of them! We can do it!
Yukina: We're going back now!

Chapter 5
2 days after~
Kajika's POV
"Nagi, I know I've only known you for about 3 days but..." I was about to ask her about why she was out here alone but I got really nervous and couldn't ask her about it. Then Nagi who turned around to listen to me was looking at me while raising an eyebrow and said,"I don't care how long I've known you or whatever. Just ask what you want to ask. I will also ask what I want to ask you and if you or I didn't want to answer the question we won't. But I wouldn't be able to answer your question unless you ask me you know?" Nagi sounded harsh and blunt but she was encouraging and reassuring me which made me feel confident and very happy. She is a really nice person. So, I gathered my courage and asked her," Nagi, why are you here alone in such a dangerous place?" When I asked her that she looked like she was thinking, probably about whether she should tell me or not.

Nagi's POV
Kajika asked me why I was out here and why was I alone. I knew she was wondering about it. I mean anyone would if they saw me here. Not to mention I'm still a teenager. I wonder if I should tell her or not. It's not something I should go around telling but it's not really I secret I need to keep. I don't really care about it so maybe I should tell her. Hmm... But I don't really need her to pity me. Haa... But she would get depressed if I said I don't wanna answer it. Okay I will just say it. "I'm here because it was part of a contract." I told her and as I expected she looked confused. So I continued on, "I was on a train to the next village. I went through the same rails you were going. But then our engine started to malfunction and the train was slowing down. Then we could see the kabane coming closer and closer. We were losing hope but then we saw another train coming and we were saved... But there was a problem. Which was the kabane. The person who was in charge of the other train had said that some of us need to stay in order to stall the kabane. We needed a sacrifice. That person further added that if there isn't anyone staying behind they would leave everyone behind. That caused a huge tension between everyone and everyone started to name others to stay behind. And you can guess who stayed behind right?" I looked towards Kajika when I said that. Kajika looked at me in sad eyes and said,"You were one of them weren't you?" I made a small sad smile towards her and continued, "You're half right but half wrong. I wasn't one of them, I was the only one who stayed behind." She straight away cut through my speech and rose her voice  and said, "Why!?" I smiled at her and looked down and started to talk again in a calm voice, "When the person told us to leave someone behind and when everyone started to hurt other people, I suggested it to the person that I would stay behind. I was pretty confident in my abilities and showed it to them. They had accepted my proposal. That solved the problem and, since I stayed behind and couldn't be bothered to walk to the next village or go on a train, I decided to live out here." I ended the speech and rose my head to see her expression. As I expected, she had watery eyes.

Kajika's POV
I tried my best not to disturb her while she was telling the story but I couldn't hold back anymore and exclaimed,"Why!? Why did you stay behind? Why did they let you stay behind? You're still a kid and they let you stay behind..." When I finished talking, I started to cry. I know Nagi should be the one in pain and I shouldn't be crying but I couldn't hold it anymore. She gave me a gentle smile and looked up and said in a calm voice,"It's not like I was suicidal or anything. And it's not like the people on the train were special to me. It's just there were kids on the train you know? The kids that were even younger than me. The adults started suggesting that they should make the kids stay behind and I couldn't allow them to do that. All of the kids were very nice and most of them often talked to me during the train ride. They weren't my family or friends but I still couldn't let them be sacrificed. So I thought why not I do it.  At least I had more chance in surviving compared to them." When Nagi stopped talking, I was enraged with all the people on the train except the kids obviously. I can't believe they were trying to sacrifice the kids! I know Nagi did it so the kids could survive but why did she need to do it. Why couldn't other people do it? I accidentally blurted, "But still why did you need to do it?" Nagi looked at me and answered, "Even adults treasure their lives. They definitely weren't willing to stay behind and that's not a sin. Wanting to live can't be a sin. And I was the one who volunteered to stay behind. I even survived and I wouldn't hold a grudge on them." After she finished saying that she stood up and said,"Let's end this story here and have something to eat." I know she just revealed her painful circumstances to me and I shouldn't be overstepping the boundaries but this just isn't fair.

Nagi's POV
Kajika sure is nice person. She even felt sad and angry for my sake. I feel so much better after telling someone my story. Now that I think about it's been so long since I even talked to someone. But I don't know how long she's going to stay here. She should probably leave soon since the kabane will soon realise this place. Now that I think about it have I been living here for nearly a year now? Time sure goes fast.