Oda Sakunosuke is 98 years old.
Ango thinks to himself, his eyes green.
His soft gaze falls
on the small mountain of pages before him.
[Sorry, Ango.]
He remembers:
[I'll have to ask you to take care of my things.]
“How could that be a bother?”
he thinks.
“I'm more than happy to do it.”
Even age cannot dim the carefree smile on his face.
“Please let me live through your life.”
[The Fall of Man]
His vision wavers. The diary is handed to the red-haired boy.
As the boy gazes at the gray-blue sea, bewildered, a gentle voice speaks.
“If you don't know what to write, why not start by keeping a diary?”
At the sound of that smiling voice, the boy stares blankly, lost in thought.
“After all, recording your daily life and thoughts not only gives you material to write about, it can be a form of writing in itself. Why not give it a try?”
The silent boy's youthful face lights up with hope.
He takes the black leather diary and nods.
“Okay.”
The young man looks at the boy with his amber eyes.
The boy lies quietly on the sofa, like a cat.
His dull, lifeless eyes only show a glimmer of surprise and anticipation when he sees the young man's novel.
The boy is like a ghost in his home,
appearing and disappearing without warning.
...Did he leave anything behind?
“...Thank you.”
The young man runs through a rusty, shadowy alley.
The child in his arms trembles like a feather.
“It's all right. We'll be safe soon.”
He holds the child tightly in his arms, speaking gently as he keeps running.
A great blue bird flies out of the darkness.
A sand-colored trench coat sweeps in a graceful arc.
His movements are nimble, his eyes sharp.
His hands are like a raptor's talons
as he lunges at two figures.
“Careful, the room isn't tidied up yet. Don't hurt yourselves.”
Yet those are the gentle words that come from his mouth.
“We want to help Oda, too!”
The childish voice protests.
The red-haired young man smiles at their words.
“Then I'll have to ask you two little heroes to help out.”
Beneath the warm yellow lights, even the glow from the glass seems tinged with drunkenness.
Soothing music flows through the bar.
The golden liquor holds diamonds melting within it.
Glasses clink,
ringing out with a clear chime.
The friends sitting at the counter exchange smiles,
their eyes full of trust and ease.
“What is your relationship with that person?”
Faced with the probing distrust, the red-haired young man remains calm.
“We've only exchanged a few words.”
A little black-feathered bird perches on his shoulder.
Its round amber eyes fix on the unfriendly visitor before them.
The conversation ends. The young man leaves without looking back, carrying a jar of shiso candies.
“The past is always cast in shadow, but we can still strive for a brighter future.”
“Don't you agree?”
He narrows his reddish-purple eyes, his expression warm and kind, and asks the young man before him.
“...You're right,” the young man replies with a nod.
“The children are our hope.”
[They are treasures worth giving our lives to protect.]
More than seventy years of memories are carried in one diary after another.
Ango lies on the floor with his arms spread wide, lost in thought.
[Oda Sakunosuke...]
A genuine smile fills his gentle green eyes.
[I'm so glad you're doing well.]
The entire story is free!!!! Don't pass it by, everyone! QAQ
Theme: The happiness of an ordinary life
😭 Why is everything locked? The teacher wrote so well...
!!!! I didn't expect anyone to watch here (crying) I just finished the military training, and the next update will take about three days.