God, I'm Creating. ~Sheltering from the Rain and the Captive Mermaid~ <Short Story>

Reika became transparent.
It happened in the classroom on a morning that was annoyingly sunny.

"Good morning."

I thought I had greeted them as usual.
However, I didn't make eye contact with anyone. People moved away from Reika as if the tide were receding.

From that unnatural behavior, I immediately understood that everyone was pretending not to notice me. Ritsuki, who kept her head down; Hana, who looked awkward; and Chiharu, who twisted the corner of her mouth as if to say it served me right.

Was yesterday's slip of the tongue the cause? --But, for just that little thing?

From kindergarten through elementary and middle school, Reika had always had perfect attendance. I had never been late or left early.
Never missing a day. That was a promise decided by my strict parents.

And yet, before I knew it, I had jumped on my bicycle and slipped out of the school gate.

--Was that before lunch break ended? I was so desperate that I have almost no memory of it.

In my uniform pocket, I had my wallet and smartphone. I had nothing else with me.

As if driven by something, I didn't look back once, focusing only on pedaling. Without deciding on a destination or checking a map, I headed somewhere without knowing where I was going.

At that moment, an explosion was happening inside Reika.
I felt like I had done my best in my own way. But why did nothing go well? Why was it always so suffocating?

If there is a God, please, help me.

Thinking that far, Reika laughed at herself. I know. There is no God.

However, it is strange that it wasn't just negative emotions like anger or sadness.

There was a sense of liberation, like a deep breath being released. Even though I had done something outrageous, I felt relieved.

I wonder how long I had been running.

I suddenly came to my senses when a raindrop splashed onto the tip of my nose.

It had been so sunny this morning.
The sky should have been as clear as soda water, but when I looked up, it was gradually turning black from the edges.

I looked around for somewhere to shelter from the rain, but there were only a few houses scattered among the rice fields.
There was no train station, nor could I see any convenience stores.

Before long, the rain began to intensify. It soaked my shoulders, ran down my cheeks like tears, and my bangs were plastered flat against my forehead.

Reika was starting to feel increasingly anxious.

There didn't seem to be anywhere to escape the rain, and more than anything, my body was getting colder and colder. It was warm during the day, so I had completely forgotten, but it wasn't quite spring yet.

Suddenly, I noticed a place where trees were growing thickly. At the foot of the mountain, on the right side, I could see a sign that read "Hitoyogaike Pond."

I had heard of it. I remembered hearing that there was a deep forest surrounding the lake. It was known for its beautiful autumn leaves, and while many people visited during that season, it was considered a hidden gem.

—Perhaps there might be a gazebo or some place where I could at least shelter from the rain.

Even though it wasn't evening yet, the sky had turned completely dark.

Reika timidly passed through the entrance. Her wet uniform felt heavy and unpleasantly sticky.
Determined that she had no choice but to keep going, she pushed her bicycle along the walking path.

After a while, I found a map of the park. Even though I stared at it intently, I couldn't tell if there was a gazebo.
Should I stop here and turn back?

It was just as I thought that and turned to leave. The sky brightened for an instant, as if it had exploded. That momentary flash allowed Reika to spot a piece of paper stuck to the back of the map's pillar, as if hiding.

"Cafe... Logar?"

A tremendous cracking sound echoed. It must have been thunder from far away, but Reika couldn't help but flinch.

What was I supposed to do to avoid being struck by lightning outdoors? I feel like I heard something on TV, but I can't remember the right answer. For now, Reika decided to aim for this shop.

Cafe Logar seemed to be located by heading counter-clockwise from here, past the stone statue by the lake, and into the forest.

If it's a cafe, I might be able to warm up. Reika thought, her teeth chattering. And, while trembling in fear of when the next lightning strike would come, she pushed her bicycle deeper and deeper inside.

A few minutes later, Reika stood frozen in the forest. Cafe Logar was up in the trees.

In a slightly open area of the forest, two thick, twin-like trees were growing.
A building was attached to one tree, wrapping around it, and a terrace extended to the other. And there was a sturdy wooden staircase connecting the terrace to the ground.

As I was wondering what to do, the cafe door opened with a clinking sound.
Then, a drawn-out voice drifted down from above.

"Hey, you. Are you okay?"

As I wiped my wet bangs back, I saw a woman coming down the stairs.

She was wearing a form-fitting lilac-colored knit sweater and a cream-colored apron embroidered with flowers. Her long, ankle-length skirt swayed gently with every step she took.

For some reason, it felt dazzling, and when I squinted to look, a woman who seemed older than me, yet had a cute impression, was holding a pale purple umbrella over my head.

“Are you a customer, I wonder?”

She said with a slightly lisping tone.

When Reika nodded blankly, her face brightened up, and she smiled as if a flower were blooming.

“You’re soaked, aren’t you? Wait a moment, I’ll bring a towel right away. Oh, just come in for now.”

As she said that, she took Reika’s hand.
Reika stiffened in surprise. It had been a very long time since she had been touched by another person.

“Oh, sorry. I startled you, didn’t I? I’m often scolded for having no sense of personal space. But you know, since it’s raining today, these stairs are a bit dangerous. Please let me escort you.”

Saying that as if singing, she took Reika’s hand again and led her toward the entrance of the cafe, moving slowly and occasionally looking back to smile at her.

Her hand had a delicate, feminine bone structure, and it was soft and warm.

Reaching the top of the stairs, I looked down. I felt that it was much higher than it had seemed from below.

Even though there was a proper walkway and railing from one tree to the next, it made my blood run cold, but she walked along lightly and habitually without a care.

“Take off your shoes here. I’ll bring a towel right away, so please wait.”

With that, the woman disappeared into the back of the shop with a patter of footsteps.

"Here's a towel, and also, this is my dress, but please feel free to use it if you'd like. As you can see, it's a small shop, so—I'm sorry to ask, but could you please change in the restroom?"

As she said this, she handed Reika a fluffy, soft-to-the-touch towel and a dress made of a smooth, soft material.

When she entered the small restroom, the Moroccan tiles in shades of gray, white, and pale purple caught her eye.
It was certainly small, but it was a clean, well-maintained space.

Lilac flowers were displayed in the restroom.
On the gray-painted wooden wall, there was a chic picture frame, but inside it was a painting of a large gray snake, which felt slightly out of place compared to everything else she had seen so far.

She pressed the towel against her face.
Her body must have been colder than she realized, as it felt warm. It smelled like a mix of sunshine and sweet flowers, and it was so soft and fluffy that just that alone made her want to cry.

She stayed like that for a while, but after a bit, she wiped the water from her wet hair and took off her clothes.

Perhaps due to exhaustion, her whole body felt heavy.
Her uniform, which she had placed on the sink, was so damp she could wring it out. She felt depressed, thinking that she would surely make her mother angry.

Tucked between the towel and the dress were a plastic bag and a hand warmer.
She was impressed that, contrary to her fluffy appearance, the woman was quite thoughtful.

After finishing changing and leaving the restroom, a sweet scent drifted through the air.

"Welcome back."

The woman smiled.
Reika felt a start, lowered her gaze, and then offered a small word of thanks.

The inside of the shop was like a small house, with a kitchen, a counter in front of it, and a space that looked like a living room.

"Please, have a seat over here if you'd like."

The woman points toward the window.

I hadn't noticed it before, but it was a breathtakingly wonderful space.

From the large window, you can see the entire forest and lake.

It's as if the window itself is a painting. It's unfortunate that the weather is bad, but I wonder how beautiful it would be on a sunny day.

From the ceiling, many light bulbs are hung like illuminations, giving it an exciting feeling like Christmas night.

There are no cafe-like tables there. Instead, a very large sofa, like a square mattress without a backrest, fills the space. It felt like two regular sofa seats joined together.

And by the window, perhaps serving as a backrest, many cushions are lined up.

When I put my knees on the seat, I could feel my body sinking in deeply.

"Um... where is the menu..."

When Reika asked, the woman popped her head out from the kitchen counter.

"I'll bring it to you now. But since the master is out for a moment, please have a warm drink on the house."

Saying that, she brought over a mug on a wooden tray.

"Um, thank you so much for everything."

Reika hurriedly turned to face her.
With everything that had happened, basic things like greetings and expressions of gratitude had completely slipped her mind.

"No, don't worry about it. I'm the one who should apologize for making you wait since the master isn't here. This is hojicha milk. Can you drink it?"

"--Yes."

When I took a sip, it was surprisingly hot, and I almost burned my tongue. But it had a fragrant, gentle, and very pleasant aroma.
I didn't know roasted green tea could be drunk this way. Reika was impressed.

After meals, it was Reika's job to serve roasted green tea.
She didn't remember when this habit started, but her parents called it training for a bride.

Once the meal was over, she would clear the dishes for her parents and herself by herself, and wash everything by hand. It was especially painful during the winter when she had to use cold water.

Since she was a child, Reika's hands were always chapped, and they had a completely different texture from those of her classmates. She hated being seen with hands like that, so she always tried to keep them out of sight.

After finishing all the washing, she would fill the kettle with water and boil it.
In the meantime, she would wipe each dish one by one, ensuring not a single drop of water remained, and put them away in the cupboard, one by one, without making a sound.

During that time, she would carry the tea to her parents, who were relaxing, just like a servant. The "family time" that followed was painful.

The topics were always about studies, daily habits, and the future. Their conversations often ended with "should," and if Reika's thoughts or actions differed, they would look at her with icy eyes.

After that, they would just shape their mouths into a smile and say it. This is for your own good, they would say.

At some point, Reika had become completely passive. She wouldn't answer anything unless asked. She would choose the answer closest to what they considered correct.

Reika was not living for herself. She was living for them.

She knew it was wrong to think this way.
After all, Reika was blessed. She was given what she needed, and she was given an education. --She was blessed.

"It was delicious."

Reika carried her finished roasted green tea latte to the kitchen. At that, the woman laughed merrily.

"This is a cafe, so you don't have to clear it away yourself, you know."

Now that she mentioned it, that was true. Reika felt embarrassed and looked down.

"Sis, I'm home."

Just then, the door opened, and a cold breeze blew in.

"Welcome home."

The woman's voice bounced with joy. She ran toward the entrance like a child. Standing there were a boy of about ten wearing a school backpack and a tall, slender man.

Seeing them, she thought: Yes, the atmosphere of this shop was just like a warm home. The ideal family that Reika had always imagined.

"We have a customer today?" "Hey, Hotaru. Don't be rude."

The boy called Hotaru took off his indigo raincoat. He was an androgynous child with light brown hair and fair, translucent skin, and she found herself unable to look away.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting. Nonoka, have you served the menu and water?"

The man asked. The woman called Nonoka hurried back to the kitchen.

He then smiled as if to say 'good grief,' but it didn't feel like he was exasperated. His gently drooping eyes seemed to say how precious she was to him.

Hotaru sat on the counter in front of the kitchen, carefully wiped his slightly damp school bag with a towel, and took out his textbooks and pencil case.
He began his studies while dangling his legs from the tall chair.

"I'm sorry for the rush. That child is my younger brother. He always does his homework at the shop after school, and we go home together when the shop closes. Though, since it's private property just ahead, it's very close."

Nonoka said this in a relaxed manner as she placed the menu and cake in front of Reika.

"Here you go. This is chocolate chiffon cake. It's on the house from the master. He said it's because he kept you waiting."
"...! B-but, you already gave me a complimentary item earlier, so it's fine."
"Hehe, it's okay. Please come visit again if you'd like. You can just order it then."

As Reika was flustered, a voice from the counter said, "You should take what's offered."

"Customers don't come on weekdays anyway, so I only make what can be eaten. It's just a hobby shop, after all."

The boy, Hotaru, said this nonchalantly while running his mechanical pencil across his notebook, without glancing toward Reika.

"Hotaru, you again..."

The master said, sounding exasperated.

How much time had passed since then?
I wonder how long it had been since I spent time doing absolutely nothing—not studying, not looking at my smartphone. I let out a sigh.

The chiffon cake was a fluffy, bittersweet cocoa-flavored cake topped with plenty of lightly sweetened cream, and even though I wanted to eat it slowly, it was gone in an instant.

Come to think of it, Reika hadn't eaten many sweets.

The snacks her mother served were only dried fruit, nuts, or dried sardines. Just these three types. To maintain her figure. For the sake of her health.

My mother always said that, but in truth, I was very interested in the snack aisle at the supermarket and fast-food restaurants. I couldn't help but stop at the wonderful smell of the town bakery, and it was my dream to buy the cakes lined up in the cake shop.

"Hotaru-chan, you've got cream around your mouth."

Nonoka said this as she wiped Hotaru's mouth with a white towel. He turned bright red, said, "Don't treat me like a kid!", snatched the towel, and scrubbed his mouth vigorously.

Watching her watch him with a smile, Reika couldn't help but feel a prickling sensation in her chest, as if a thorn had been stuck there.

I flipped through the menu.
A menu written with a single black pen on slightly yellowish, rough paper. The letters, the borders, and the illustrations were all drawn with exquisite detail.

It must be evening by now. Since I've come this far, should I just have dinner here too? As I thought this and looked through it, I saw strange words written on the very last page.

"God, I'll create...?"

I had said it out loud without thinking. Then, Nonoka came running over and said with a smile, "Oh, are you curious? Do you want to try making one?"

Suddenly feeling uneasy and stiffening up, the master behind the kitchen counter lowered his eyebrows and chuckled.

"Nonoka, if you're that eager, you'll make people suspicious."
"Eh, but—"
"It's like a little spell. It's a menu item that's like a game where you try to design your very own god. It's just one coin."

The master made a playful gesture with his fingers in the shape of a coin.

"A one-coin god."

As Reika muttered this, still feeling skeptical, the master gave a wry smile.

That's why I said I was against it. 'God' sounds suspicious.

Hotaru said, pouting sharply.

Well, the naming is...
What's wrong with it? It's fine, isn't it? 'God.' It sounds like you can do anything.

Nonoka puffed out her cheeks. The master looked at her affectionately, then turned back to Reika and smiled.

――Right. Everyone, human or otherwise, has worries of various sizes. But I don't think everyone consults someone about all of them. However, if you keep bottling things up, one day you might suddenly explode, or lose all your motivation as if a string had snapped. That's why, before that happens, I thought we should create a system where you can face your own heart—well, Nonoka did.

That's right! And so, I thought we should create a god. As Izumi-chan says, it's not a real god. Just like making a picture book or thinking up a story, you create your own little god! The only rule is no praying for miracles. You're not creating it to rely on others. It's meant to be a counselor for your heart. I think it's easier to find a solution if you try to put your thoughts into words as if you were talking to someone, rather than just worrying all by yourself.

Nonoka said all that in one breath. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, I asked just in case, 'This isn't some kind of recruitment, is it?' and they both answered, 'No!' Then, we couldn't help but laugh.

I gulped down the fragrant water with a slice of lemon in it.
Then, I took a deep breath and exhaled quietly.

Um, I would like to try creating a god.

Reika announced in a slightly trembling voice.

――Hey, you don't have to force yourself, you know? The treat was just their goodwill.

Hotaru-kun said again without looking up from his notebook. Reika shook her head and replied, 'I want to try it.' That was her true feeling.

Never skip school.
Do not make any detours.
Do not eat any sweets.

It was a day where I broke one promise after another. Honestly, I'm scared to go home like this. Scared enough that I don't even want to think about it. That's why I wanted a way to protect my own heart. I wanted to cling to something, anything at all.

"Understood! Then, please wait just a moment."

Nonoka returned to the counter with a smile, then came back holding a clipboard.

"In that case, first, please fill out this God Chart."
"A... God Chart?"

As I was bewildered by the unexpected words, Nonoka sat down next to me. A sweet scent wafted over.

"That's right. It's a questionnaire that summarizes what kind of god you want to create. If you think about this carefully, you can create a wonderful god. Hehe, by the way, my god is the snake god in the painting in the restroom."

I couldn't connect the impression of the woman in front of me with a snake, and I felt puzzled.

The sheet called the God Chart had a space to write my name first, followed by seven questions. Since I was told I could use a nickname, I just wrote my first name.

The first question was about the type of god. There were options for "Person, Animal, Spirit, Natural Object, Inorganic Object." Reika chose "Spirit."

Next was gender. From the items "Female, Male, Genderless," she circled "Female."

Then, the main color. There were categories of colors to choose from, but Reika took a leap and decided on "pink," which she would never normally choose. It was the color of the clothes she had wanted to wear when she was a child.

Next was a question about texture. There were many options for this.
From the list written in onomatopoeia—"fluffy, smooth, sparkling, jingling, soft, crumpled, silky, glossy, rugged"—she chose "sparkling."

Next came the key items. I was told to write down one to three mementos. This was the biggest challenge. No matter how much I racked my brain, nothing came to mind.

"How about a place that holds memories?"

Before I knew it, Nonoka was by my side, pouring me some lemon water. And so, the three words Reika finally wrote down were "shell, star, and glass."

By the time I had written this much, I was actually starting to have fun.

The next question was about characters. It asked me to write down any characters I wanted to include in the god's name. This also gave me a headache. In the end, I chose the word "sea."

My parents weren't just strict. That was only when third parties were around, though—.

The happiest moment in Reika's life so far was when she went to the sea as an elementary school student.

She once went camping with her father's colleagues and their families. There, Reika and her family were able to spend time like a normal family.
Reika couldn't help but occasionally remember that night, when her heart was full at the fact that her parents had been watching her and smiling the whole time.

On the beach at dusk, she looked for seashells with children of a similar age. What Reika liked was sea glass. The glass, rounded by the waves, looked like a jewel, and finding it made her feel like she had gotten a great deal.

At night, they had a barbecue while looking at the stars. For once, her mother held her hand. She was so happy that she clung to her mother the whole time. Her mother fed her roasted marshmallows by hand. The smile directed at her was so gentle that she thought it would stay that way forever from the next day on.

But when they finished camping and returned home, her parents had returned to their usual strict selves.

And the final question was "a jewel or a flower." Reika chose garnet, her birthstone, and pansies, her favorite flower.

"Good work!"

After handing over the paper she had finished writing, Nonoka smiled and passed it to the master.

"The rest is up to the master's work, so please wait a little while until it's done. Also, I'm sorry, I didn't ask at the beginning, but is your time okay? I think it will take about 30 minutes."

Reika nodded. She was afraid to go home. She thought it would be better to be as late as possible. After a while, Reika realized she had forgotten something important. It was the event that had triggered her to run out of school.

Would it be like that again tomorrow? Her stomach started to ache just thinking about it.

What she guessed was the trigger was a slip of the tongue she made to Chiharu after the test.

Chiharu was a friend she had made since entering high school. No, she felt a little resistant to calling her a friend.

She was the one who joined the trio of Reika, Ritsuki, and Hana, who had been close since junior high school, a little late.
Ritsuki was quiet and calm. Hana was gentle and soft-spoken. Perhaps because their natures were similar, they hit it off immediately.

In contrast, Chiharu was different. Reika had originally disliked her because she had a somewhat intense side.
The fact that Chiharu did not hide her rivalry with Reika was also one of the reasons.

The time when her inner self was highlighted was during tests. When the answer sheets were returned, Chiharu would always bring hers to Reika. And then, she would ask about her results.

Since she was a child, she had been told to do everything perfectly. Studying was one of those things.

She attended a combined junior and senior high school and had always kept the top spot. For that reason, she had been glued to her desk.

"Reika, you should go to the Imperial University."

It was her father, an alumnus of that school, who designated the best university in the country.

"That sounds good. And then, aim to become an announcer."

That was her mother, who had wished to become one herself, continuing the thought.

Reika was not even allowed to decide her own career path. They said it so easily, but neither was a path one could simply walk down.

However, it wasn't as if she could just focus on her studies; she was assigned many household chores, and she was the type of person who easily got asked to do favors by teachers at school as well.

The test held that day was a disastrous result for Reika.
She hadn't had enough study time. She should have tried harder.

But physically, there was no time. In place of her mother, who was bedridden with a cold, all the housework—cleaning, tidying up, preparing meals, and laundry—became Reika's responsibility.

Compared to usual, she couldn't find time to study.
Only about two hours a day. And even then, she was often so exhausted that she would fall asleep in the middle of it.

She tried her best within her capabilities, such as going to school early to make time for studying in the morning, or secretly reviewing subjects when the teacher started chatting during class.
But her scores were significantly worse than usual, and she made a series of careless mistakes.

It was a mistake to honestly state those feelings of hers. Saying, "My score wasn't good this time," and, "I hadn't studied at all."

"You got a 90 even though you didn't study at all, so you're amazing—is that what you want me to say?"

Chiharu said that with a twisted smile. She hadn't meant it that way. But it was a slip of the tongue.

When the master returned, the rain that had been falling so heavily had stopped before anyone noticed.

It was completely dark outside, and only the faint outline of the forest was visible. As I gave a bitter smile, wondering how on earth I would get home, a dark thought crossed my mind: perhaps I should just run away somewhere.

"I am terribly sorry to have kept you waiting again. It's finished. This is the god I created for you."

With those words, the master held out a single picture. I gasped at the beautiful illustration, which looked like something out of an old fairy tale.

A captive mermaid.
—When I saw that picture, the first thing I felt, strangely enough, was hope.

There is a bottle. And inside it, a small world of the sea spreads out. In the center, there is a rugged rock pedestal, and a mermaid is sitting on it as if looking up at the stars.

She wears a soft, pale purple breastplate like a pansy flower, and her tail fin displays a mysterious gradation from that same color to mint green.
The tiara hanging over her forehead is a delicate piece with a star motif, and it suits her slender body perfectly.

I knew at a glance that she was trapped inside the bottle.

And yet, she did not look distressed. Although her waist-length curly hair is the color of soft flowers, her red eyes, which have a glass-like texture, are dignified and clear. They are straight, steady eyes, as if she is fighting something or has made a firm resolution.

"Her name is Mer. I heard that 'mer' is the French word for sea. I tried making it sound a bit more like a nickname. —What do you think?"

Reika was speechless. She was captivated by the painting. A strange sense of emotion stirred within her.

After a while, she managed to squeeze out, "Thank you."

The master looked a little anxious, but she could tell he was looking at her with a gentle gaze, perhaps because he understood her feelings, and Reika also smiled, her face crinkling up.

"Alright, let's have dinner then."

As Nonoka clapped her hands, the master returned behind the counter.

"Today it's Napolitan. It feels like a cafe, doesn't it?"
"Um, I..."
"Right, let's settle the bill first. Dinner is on the house, so you don't need to pay for that. The God-making workshop is 500 yen..."
"--I'm going home!"

Reika said, pulling out a thousand-yen bill.

"Eh! What about dinner?"

Nonoka looked up as if she had been startled. Her expression seemed to say she was truly disappointed, which made Reika feel both apologetic and happy. However, Reika shook her head.

"It's already dark, and my house is far from here. I think it would take several hours by bicycle. Besides, I can't let you treat me any further..."

"--You know, Rei-chan. We don't do this for just anyone, you know. You're very hurt, aren't you? I feel like it would be dangerous to leave you alone like this."

Nonoka stared at Reika with a gaze so intense it was hard to believe given her previously airy demeanor.

"You don't need to worry about the money for the meal, and we'll drive you home ourselves. We definitely won't do anything bad to you. Even though we've just met, I think there are things we can do precisely because we are strangers. --So, will you wait just a little bit? Let's fill your stomach with something warm, talk, and then you can head home slowly."

Then she gently hugged Reika. She rubbed her back as she did so.
Even though she was being hugged by a stranger, before she knew it, her eyes grew hot and teary, and tears began to overflow one after another.

After crying for a while, Nonoka said, "I'll go help the master too," and went behind the counter.

"Oh, Rei-chan, you've been avoiding looking at your smartphone, haven't you? I think I'll be home late, so at least send an email to your parents."

At Nonoka's words, I nodded reluctantly. Hotaru said nothing, turning her back to me and continuing her work.

Reika picked up the picture the master had drawn for her. The captive mermaid, Mel. --My own personal god.

How would she speak? She must have a dignified and noble personality. Perhaps she would speak like a young lady. I imagined her voice would be neither too high nor too low, hard, but surely pleasant to the ear.

(Lady Mel, --no, that's not right. Mel.)

Reika said in her heart.

(I'm scared to go home. Thinking about what my parents will say makes me anxious, and my chest feels like it's being squeezed tight. Also, I don't want to go to school. Being ignored is sad. I'm ashamed of myself for having said things that made people uncomfortable.)

Mel in the paper did not move an inch. Of course, there was no voice. Nothing magical like that happened.

But for the first time, after speaking to her, Reika realized that there were various emotions within herself.
She realized she was scared, anxious, sad, and ashamed.

It was strange, but once the outlines of the emotions she had been carrying became visible, she began to see hints of how she should act.

It's scary, but this might be a chance to confront my parents.
It's been painful until now. I'll tell them how I feel inside, and if it's still impossible, I'll try to find a way to get away from them. Like studying abroad, or if that's not possible now, going to a school in a distant city.

I also thought about school. I will apologize for my unpleasant words and actions.
But because we are friends, I want them to know the circumstances if possible. They might not understand. But first, I should try to tell them.

By the time I reached this conclusion, my heart had calmed down significantly.

“Rei-chan, come over here!”

At that moment, I was called by Nonoka.
When I sat down next to Hotaru, a steaming iron plate was placed in front of me.

It was fresh to see an omelet at the very bottom.
On top of that sat glossy Napolitan pasta covered in plenty of ketchup. The ingredients were sausages, onions, and green peppers.

My appetite was stimulated by the sweet and sour aroma, and my stomach growled loudly.

I heard laughter from beside me, and when I looked, Hotaru was smiling with a look appropriate for her age.
The four of us sat around the table talking about trivial things. Then, they drove me home.

Reika was huddled up next to Hotaru.

Although I had made up my mind, the anxious feelings came surging back, and I felt a sense of suffocation.
Then, Hotaru placed something on Reika's lap.

“Here.”

It was a small tiara made of gold beads. It was the same design as the one Mel was wearing in the picture the master drew for us.

“A charm.”
“――When did you make this?”
“Does it matter? I’m good with my hands. If you feel like it when you come next time, I might make you something even better.”

Hotaru looked so cute turning away as she said that, that Reika couldn't help but smile.

“You’re so impressive for someone so small. Thank you.”

When Reika said that, Hotaru opened his eyes wide and shouted, "I'll be a middle schooler when April comes!"

"You're worried about being a little shrimp, aren't you?"
"Boys sometimes have growth spurts in middle school, so it'll be fine."

The two of them trying to comfort him only made Hotaru more grumpy.

Even though it had been such a long distance, it took less than half the time by car. Reika took a shallow breath and got out of the car.

Although Hotaru had been fuming just a moment ago, he was now looking at her with concern. She waved her hand at him and rang the doorbell, as she didn't have her key.

The garden was lit up, which was unusual, and her parents greeted her with exaggerated concern, wearing the faces they put on when third parties were present, thanking Nonoka and the Master repeatedly.

However, she also noticed them looking at her coldly out of the corner of their eyes, and her resolve to face them began to waver slightly.

"Come to think of it, I heard you run a company, Mr. Yagisawa. When I heard your name, I wondered if you might be a business partner—"

The Master suddenly brought it up.
As she wondered if her father's company had any connection to the cafe, her father also looked puzzled.

"Oh, excuse me. My name is Izumi Koganezaki."
"—Could it be, of the Koganezaki Group...?"

Her father's face turned pale in an instant.

Even Reika had heard that name before. The Master's family was one of the most prominent families in the prefecture. To the extent that if you were on their bad side, you couldn't make a living in this area.

Come to think of it, didn't Hotaru say that this shop was just a hobby?

"Your daughter has been very kind to my wife. If you don't mind, I'd like you to come visit regularly. My wife would be delighted, too. Since she isn't from around here, she's happy to have made a young friend."

My father was fawning over the master, who was much younger than him.
My mother was also wearing a forced smile. Seeing their backs, I suddenly wondered, were these people always this small?

Nonoka winked at Reika, who was standing there in a daze.

And then I realized. These people were trying to increase the amount of time I could spend outside of the "bottle."

It was the first time someone had cared so much for me upon our first meeting, and even though the spring night air was piercingly cold, I felt a warmth spreading inside my chest.

Ten years have passed since then, and I am now twenty-six.

There have been many sad things and many things to be angry about, of course. But every time, what saved me was the small faith that existed only for my own sake.

"What are you daydreaming about?"
"Hotaru-kun."

Reika looked up at the young man standing next to her.
The boy, four years her junior, had grown quite tall and had become a dashing young man.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

The two of them had come to the sea that Reika had imagined back then. They sat down on the sandy beach and turned their eyes to the sunset melting into the horizon.
The color of the sky was the same beautiful shade as Mel's hair.

"--Here, take this."

Hotaru said in a slightly strained voice, and placed something on Reika's lap. It was a beautiful little glass box.

When she opened it, she found a ring inside.
A delicate ring adorned with stars, modeled after Mel's tiara.

"Ma"
"--Ma?"
"I suppose I wouldn't mind marrying you."

Hotaru was still just as stubborn as he had been back then, and finding that endearing, Reika instinctively clung to him.

She would no longer rely on prayers to God.

But, she secretly whispered the small lingering feelings in her heart to the god named Mel, who neither moved nor spoke.
And so, she would live on, right by the side of this beloved person.