--I know.

　It's a dream.

　Already, "he" is dead.

　No one here will know him, and on the other side (・・・・) he will also be forgotten in everyday life.

　In other words - he disappeared from the world, he doesn't exist.

　You'll be able to find out more about the best way to make your life easier and more fun. ...... Even now, the reason why I still dream about this is because he is the core of my existence.

　--I am the only one who must not forget him.

　I am the only one who must not forget him.


　　　* * * *


　I had never once thought of dying.

　My parents were normal, I had friends in their own way, I was poor like a young man, but not so poor that I couldn't make a living, I just earned enough money to live from day to day.

　On the other side of the world, people were dying of conflict, civil strife, terrorism, disease and various other unjust reasons, and compared to them, I was probably a happy existence without the danger of death.

　Just - I didn't know.

　My meaning of life.
　My own worth of life.

　I knew I was a self-centered person to begin with.

　I guess that's why.
　I was alone in the world, and yet I had a deep-seated sense of loneliness in spite of so many people.

　Yes, I was alone.

　The vast world was surprisingly small, and everything was fading away.

　I felt like throwing up at the repetition of this unchanging routine.

　I didn't know how to escape or even how to struggle.
　I had a vague idea of what I wanted and what I wanted to do, and none of us had a purpose in life.

　Is it so for everyone?

　Are we living in the monochrome world as such? 　

　Then the world - how cruel it is.

　He died for some inexplicable and trivial reason, with such thoughts in his mind.

　He spent the last days of his life as a stone on the side of the road for nothing and for no reason at all.


　　　* * * *


"--Ki--Yuki.

　I feel something warm on my cheek.

　I slowly open my eyelids, guided by the warmth, as if to unwind my frozen spirit.

............

　With the light of the room, the first thing I saw in my field of vision was, for some reason, a loving expression on my face, a refi.

　Before I knew it, she was on my lap, one hand on my back and the other on my head, caressing me as if she were a baby.

"Don't worry, Yuki. I'm here.

　Then she hugged me tightly.

............ ah ......?　What, what, Leffy?

"Nuh?　...... Oh, you're up.

　And then she let go a little and looked at me from up close.

...... How do you feel about that?

"No, it's normal--

　In the middle of those words, I suddenly noticed the presence of a strange feeling on my cheek.

　I crawled my fingers over it - the feel of a liquid on my fingertips.

　...... Apparently I've been crying while I dozed off, leaning back on my throne.

　I'm not sure if I've been having a bad dream or not.

　It's a shame.

　I'm sure you're not just a kid, but also a dreamer, crying and being comforted.

...... Sorry, I'm all right. I guess I was just a little tired.

...... Okay. That's good. Then that's good. If you fall, you're no match for me. If you fall, you'll have a much harder time finding food.

"The reason is food.

"Kaka, isn't it important?

　With a huff and a smile, Leffy tries to get off my lap - but before she can, I grab her arm and hold her back as she pulls away.

　Leffy looks at me, a little surprised, rolling her eyes.

　I also (・・・・) look back at her face, surprised.

　I didn't do it on purpose.

　For some reason, I moved my body as quickly as I could.

?　What's up?

"Oh, uh, well, its ......

　I'm in a daze, because I didn't mean to do that.

　Leffy stares at me intently, and then her expression of surprise suddenly relaxes - as if she's wondering what she's thinking, she's on my lap again, leaning her body against me.

　We were facing each other, but this time she has her back to me.

...... Hmm. I'm a little tired from the girls' company a little while ago. Hey, do you want me to find you a good chair to rest in?

...... Okay. Then, well, maybe it's a good idea to take a break from .......

Isn't that right?　So, you may sit there quietly in your chair.



　The silver-haired girl turns to look up at you from below and grins at you.

　The scent and warmth of her close touch calms my spirit, which seems to be unstable.

　I'm ...... going to hold her body from behind to drown out her vague anxiety.

　I can feel Leffy's touch.

　I can feel the (・・・・・・・), sure evidence that I'm here (・・・・・), all over my body.

...... Leffy.

"Hmm?

...... Thanks.

"Well?　I don't think I need to be thanked for that.

　Then she laughed in amusement.




　--I know.

　His life in a previous life had no meaning after all.

　He died without carving anything into the world, without leaving his genes behind.

　But - his death made sense after he died.

　By what cause or by complete coincidence, his life, cut short by death, was then (later) spun into a new story.

　The new story is full of amazing colors and refinements, and you can feel the purpose of life, one day at a time.

　Together with them (・・・・・・), (・・・・), he walks through life (・・・・・), the purpose of life.

　No one here knows about him.

　They all know 'demon king Yuki' and not a young man from a previous life.

　That's why I, and I alone, will live in this world without forgetting his thoughts.

　--Let's build a grave for him.

　--Let's leave a sure sign that he lived.

...... Hey, Refi.

What?

I never told you in detail before. Actually, I'm dead once.

"How?　Indeed, I had never heard of it in detail before. What kind of a change of heart for a man who doesn't talk about himself so much?

Yeah, ...... is a bit. Well, I'm in the mood.

Kaka, you are in a good mood. --Then can you tell me about yourself?

　...... Okay, so where do I start?

　Let's start with ...... and talk about the earth, shall we?

"All right, let's talk about my native Earth first. As you know, I wasn't born in this world, but I'm from--