Hiroaki is lost in the three blank years.
The White Witch extended her hand towards me. I wondered what it was she couldn’t abandon. I gently touched her hand.
A vague image flowed into my head. A warm orange light was flickering. Was this the light of a candle?
“Heh, are you ready?”
A man and a woman smiling, illuminated by soft light. The two and a large cake appeared in my low field of vision. Was this the White Witch’s memory?
“Happy birthday, –”
“Congratulations –”
The last part was muffled and inaudible, but the two were smiling warmly at me. It was a memory that made my chest feel warm and fuzzy. As the candles were blown out with a “fūー”, the image vanished.
“That’s a happy memory.”
“I made sure to erase the name this time. But I can’t get rid of it from myself. That’s why I lost.”
What, she had a human heart too. I was glad she wasn’t just a madwoman who wielded powerful magic on a whim.
“What are you smiling at?”
“No, I just thought there was no need to erase it. Besides, if you lost this, you’d forget your true self, wouldn’t you.”
“Well, that’s true. But memory-erasing magic is convenient, you can forget all the unpleasant things. Well, that’s enough about me, I came to grant your friend’s wish.”
My friend? Did she mean everyone left in the other world? But the angel was supposed to grant wishes, wasn’t he? Why would the White Witch need to get involved.
“Whose wish is it, by the way?”
“Um, I don’t know the name. It’s from the little Harpy, she wants to see you again.”
Piyo, I’m glad she wants to see me again, but I can’t go back anymore. After all, I’ve finally returned to my original world. By the way, what did the angel say? If it was possible, I should have been forcibly returned.
“What did the angel say?”
“It was rejected. You returned to your original world of your own volition. The only way was if little Piyo herself could be sent here.”
That makes sense. But Piyo couldn’t survive here. So the White Witch came to bring me back.
“I see, so you’re sending me back to the other world again.”
“Yes! You’ll be able to see your friends again, won’t you? That’s great!”
“That’s not how it is. I’ve finally returned.”
The witch put a finger to her lips.
“But you have no job or place to live in this world. What are you going to say to your parents? If you tell them what happened, I’m sure they’ll take you to the hospital.”
Damn, she seems to understand the common sense of this world quite well. As she said, I’m as good as dead in this world. The phone call earlier could easily be interpreted as a dead son calling from heaven.
And would I even be able to get a job? How could I explain the blank three years? “I went to another world and learned the importance of friendship”? I’d definitely be rejected for even part-time work.
Being hit with reality after reality like this gives me a stomachache.
“The cat girl next to you said something similar. She wants to visit your world.”
Come to think of it, I did make such a promise with Sharin before. I told her I’d show her my world after this journey was over.
“So, what are you going to do?”
“But my homeland…”
“Where does your heart lie?”
My heart… I closed my eyes and thought. Where should I truly go back to? Where do I want to go back to? It was…
“I understand, take me to the other world again. But I want to let my parents know I’m alive.”
“Yes, of course. I’ll come to pick you up when the time is right.”
The White Witch’s red lips curled into a smile. My vision was enveloped in white light. I instinctively closed my eyes against the glare.
When I slowly opened my eyelids, everyone was looking at me intently. This seemed to be a room in some spacious place, furnished with a large sofa and table. Snacks and tea for hospitality were laid out.
It must still be the Land of Sweets. Everyone was frozen, seeing me suddenly return. Everyone, that is, except one.
“Hiirooooo!! You’re back!!”
“*Piyo*, ugh!”
Piyo, with her eyes sparkling, collided with me. Then, as if time had started moving again, everyone began asking in unison why I had returned.
“Arisugawa, why are you here?”
“The White Witch came.”
“The White Witch?”
Huh? They didn’t meet her? Was she secretly eavesdropping?
“Hiro is back! We can see each other again—”
“Hahaha, I’m happy to see you too.”
This completely nullified the meaning of our journey so far. And yet, I felt more relieved than I ever had before.
