The Lady of the Heat Haze #16 Episode 5 August (1)

Episode 5 August (1)

The day of the new moon arrived.

Preparations were complete. We were both able to recite the incantation by heart.

I also took the day off work, just in case I needed to handle anything. It was also a relief that tomorrow was Saturday.

However, I still didn't know where Sachiko's lingering attachment lay, and even when I asked her casually, she would only smile and say, "Don't worry about that, it'll be fine."

Although I thought that since she said so, it must be true, as someone who wanted to perfectly ensure the passing of the woman I loved, I wanted to remove even the slightest concern.

However, if asked whether I had come to terms with her passing, I would still have to tilt my head in doubt.

The truth is, it just doesn't feel real.

I wish that everything that director said was just a delusion, but that is for my own convenience, not her feelings.

Even if I had enough energy to support her for the rest of my life, that would be no guarantee.

I lost my parents in an unexpected accident. I might get into an accident somewhere too.

If that happened, she would lose the means to pass on again, and would be left here alone for years, no, decades or even centuries.

I don't want to let the woman I love suffer like that ever again. If so, I want to let her pass on when I can.

So I cast aside my distracting thoughts and, as an engineer, focused on achieving the passing she desired.

And I had also made my own guesses and research regarding her lingering attachment. I wasn't confident, but it might serve as a backup.

“Tonight is the last time I'll be with these lovely clothes.”

My heart tightened as I watched her look longingly at the clothes hanging on the wall rail.

“...I'll ask you one last time. Are you really sure you want to pass on?”

Sachiko nodded, slowly sat down on the floor in a formal position, and placed her hands on her lap.

“Thank you so much for everything until now. Meeting you, Takumi, was so fun and made me so happy.”

It seemed she had come to terms with it. Various thoughts raced through my mind, but it was too late to say anything now.

"Well then, shall we go?"
"Yeah!"

This was their final date. They promised to enjoy it to the fullest, for as long as time allowed, until the middle of the night.

Since they couldn't travel far, they walked around the town, focusing on the area in front of the station, as if retracing their first date.

In truth, Takumi had another purpose. He wanted to confirm something in advance for when he time-traveled later.

"Why are we in a place like this?"

Sachiko tilted her head as Takumi walked, seemingly searching for the spatial relationship from the station.

It was just a residential area with nothing particularly noteworthy.

"It's a secret. You might be disappointed if you expect too much."
"…Geez. That's your usual 'secret' again, Takumi."

Sachiko smiled. Unlike usual, she looked a little lonely.

Even though they had both tried not to think about it, as the time drew near, they couldn't help but be conscious of the end.

They had played to their hearts' content until nightfall as if to shake off their worries, but since there was still time until the hour of the ox, they decided to return home for a while.

Not knowing what might happen next, they used the restroom, took a shower, and got ready once more.

The time was 1:00 AM. Is it about time?

"Sachiko, shall we go now?"

When he entered the living room and called out to her, Sachiko turned around in a panic.

Behind her was that selfie of the two of them, a memory. For some reason, it felt like the eyes in the photo were shining.

"O-okay. Let's go."

…As expected, she hadn't moved on either.

Just knowing that made Takumi happy.

Yes, this was by no means an end. He told himself that this was necessary for them to keep moving forward without stopping.

Takumi urged Sachiko to leave the house, and the two of them headed toward that bridge.

He had never been conscious of a new moon in his daily life, but with no moonlight, the stars seemed to shine brighter than usual.

When they arrived at the bridge, even though it was the middle of the night, it was a national road and there were people around, so they went down the embankment, hid under the bridge, and sat down.

Then, I take the sleeping pills prescribed by the director out of my backpack.

“Sachan, you remember the procedure, right? I’m going to fall asleep right here.”
“Yes... I’m fine.”
“Alright. Then, I’m taking them.”

I opened the plastic bottle of tea I’d bought from a vending machine on the way, put the medicine in my mouth, and washed it down with the tea. It was the middle of the night, and since I hadn’t been able to fall asleep easily the day before either, drowsiness came over me within five minutes.

Just as I was drifting off, Sachiko gave me a soft kiss, but unlike usual, I felt like there was a gentle sensation to it.

***

...Takumi! Takumi! Wake up!

I can hear her voice in the distance. Did something happen?

I stretched and opened my eyes to find Sachiko peering down at me with a worried look.

“Ah... Sachan, good morning.”

...Hm? Sachiko looks much clearer than usual. As if she were alive. And she’s wearing the clothes she had on when I met her at that bridge.

I instinctively reached out to touch Sachiko, but my hand passed right through her face.

“Ah... huh?”

Not being able to touch her was the same as always, though.

“I-I am?”
“Yeah... It seems like I’ve come back to life, and you’ve become a ghost, Takumi...”

Takumi sat up and looked around.

Being in a state of pure consciousness without a physical body felt strange and floaty.

“You will enter a state of suspended animation and go back to the past with her as a spirit.”

I recall the director’s words. It made sense. This is Sachiko’s time, and I haven’t even been born yet.

“Where is this?”
“It’s the house I lived in before I died.”
“Sachan’s house...”

The clock hanging on the pillar points to 6:00 AM. It seems we managed to time travel successfully (?).

“It’s been a while, so I’m not used to this body.”
“I bet. Me too. We both need to get used to it.”
“That’s true. First, I’m going to go wash my face and brush my teeth.”

Takumi was fascinated by the lifestyle of this era.

Wow, they had Lion toothpaste back in this era?
Oh, Takumi, don't look. It's embarrassing.
Ah, s-sorry!

He hurriedly left the washroom. Sachiko had suddenly become a living, breathing person, and it threw him off balance.

He returned to the living room, looked around the room again, and his eyes landed on the Buddhist altar placed in the corner.

Photographs were placed side by side. One was a man in a military uniform, and the other was a woman in a kimono. Judging by their appearance, were they her parents?

Sorry to keep you waiting. I even put on some makeup for the first time in a while. Though, all I have is loofah water...

Sachiko stuck her tongue out playfully, then, sensing Takumi's bewildered expression, she sat down quietly in front of the altar.

...They are my parents. So much time has passed that I had forgotten, but my mother died when I was in girls' school, and my father died in battle in the southern seas a few months ago.

Takumi joined his hands in prayer along with Sachiko.

I see, she was also in a situation with no family left. Perhaps some force drew them together to meet on that bridge.

Hey, Takumi. Since we're here, why don't we go outside?

That's true. Oh, but, Sachiko, don't you have to go to work? I don't know what day of the week it is, but...

It's Wednesday today, but... I'm going to die after this anyway, right? I want to cherish my time with you, Takumi, more than work.

Her words made his heart skip a beat.

It had been masked by the word 'passing on,' but it meant that she would once again face the death that must have been so painful.

The reality was thrust upon him all over again.

...I understand. Then, let's go.

He would not let her die alone.

No matter how painful it might be, he swore to himself that he would stay by her side until the very moment of her death.

The two looked at each other for a moment, then left the house.

Next Episode The Lord of the Heat Haze #17 Episode 5 August (2) | Kyo

Previous Episode The Lord of the Heat Haze #15 Episode 4 Determination (4) | Kyo

Prologue The Lord of the Heat Haze #01 Prologue | Kyo