What is a past life?
The passing of time as the soul swirls and one turns into different creatures through metempsychosis.
Chako talked about hiking, so she might be a human in a past life.
Perhaps I should’ve asked for more details when Chako spoke about her past life, but I didn’t at the time.
Because her hands didn’t stop trembling.
She was afraid of something.
Desperately putting on a brave front, she climbed the mountain.
It was unusual for Chako to be so anxious…
She probably wouldn’t have answered if it was the usual.
She would’ve laughed “Ehehe” and glossed it over.
Not letting the anxious Chako escape, the information I finally got out of her was about a past life.
Hearing that, I finally understood a bit of the cause of Chako’s fear.
Remembering a past life, means remembering the moment one died.
How would that feel?
It was something I could only imagine…
I should have better conveyed my thoughts to Chako, but I didn’t say much.
It’s alright, don’t be afraid.
I intended to convey that with all my might, but I don’t even know if it was right.
Nonetheless, because I felt Chako’s heart moving a little.
I will work hard at the things I must do.
Summer vacation has arrived in the blink of an eye as I lived an enjoyable school life.
I went to the pool, that I couldn’t go before, with everyone.
Going to the pool with Chako was really fun…
Although I wanted to stay with her, there was something I needed to do.
Waving at Chako who asked me not to go, I first returned home.
Then, changing into the school uniform, I headed to school.
There were several people doing Student Council work silently in the room.
As we continued to work hard till evening, only Tomotaka-senpai and I were left in the Student Council room.
Light, from the sun that has yet to sink, illuminates the Student Council room as the air-conditioner emits a soft wind.
“Today, I went to the pool with everyone.”
“To the pool?”
“Yes. It was super enjoyable, you know?”
I speak to Tomotaka-senpai while tidying up the documents on the desk.
Tomotaka-senpai looks at me in surprise.
“But, weren’t you here since past noon? You could’ve taken a break at least today.”
“Exactly… However, I thought that I must speak to senpai.”
Returning the ballpoint pen to the right drawer, I place the file containing the documents into the left drawer.
With that, the tidying up is done.
Placing a hand on the desk that is cleared, I stare at Tomotaka-senpai.
The corner of Tomotaka-senpai’s mouth is slightly raised as he returns the gaze.
“Speak to me?”
“Yes… Senpai likes phantoms, right?”
“… Aa, I suppose.”
“Today, I, together with Chako, Kousuke-kun and Yuusei-kun. The four of us went to the pool.”
”And what about that?” goes Tomotaka-senpai, looking at me without a change in his expression.
… However, flames have risen in those eyes.
“Chako, had a lot of fun. Because I left first, she’s surrounded by 2 boys now… Is that okay?”
“… What is?”
“Kousuke-kun likes Chako, you know? Probably without a doubt. While I don’t think Yuusei-kun’s like that, Chako gets really mischievous around him, like a child. She probably enjoys being with him.”
“And?”
“Tomotaka-senpai. Is that okay?”
Again, I deliberate the same words.
Staring firmly at the flames rising in Tomotaka-senpai’s eyes.
“She’s not with senpai even though she’s your familiar.”
The moment I said those words, Tomotaka-senpai’s eyes widen.
However, they immediately narrow and he looks at me in amusement with a smile on his face.
“… Chako didn’t say that, right?”
“Yes. Chako didn’t say it. She’s stubborn after all. Properly abiding by senpai’s words. As a familiar, she gets close to me, making sure phantoms will like her so that I… the Priestess of Ominous Clouds, doesn’t get too close to them.
Recalling Chako and Kousuke-kun, I laugh a little.
Getting unnecessarily close to him, laughing mischievously, trying to say heart-throbbing things.
The Kousuke-kun turning red and panicking in those occasions is rather amusing.
“… Why didn’t you tell the fox if you knew so much?”
“Because, there’s no merit for me to tell Kousuke-kun or sensei.”
Senpai sends the smiling me a piercing look.
I receive that from the front and chuckle even more.
“Senpai. I’m an awful woman. Why must I tell others the information I worked hard to obtain? If Kousuke-kun or sensei want to know anything, they can ask Chako directly. They can make their own moves and catch hold of it themselves. I won’t cheer them on or help them out.”
My awful side is exposed when I say it out loud like this.
Ah, I really am an awful woman, I sigh and feel like closing my eyes.
Nonetheless, I look at Tomotaka-senpai directly.
“You… how long have you known?”
“From way, way before.”
By the way, it was senpai who told me, you know?
Still looking at Tomotaka-senpai, I smile with only the corners of my mouth raised.
There’s a bit of bewilderment in his eyes…
“Why, did you not tell Chako?”
Why not tell Chako, why stay by her side?
“… Because if I say it before becoming close, Chako will disappear. Knowing that your plan isn’t going well, senpai will remove Chako from school.”
The 4th round. When I first became friends with Yuusei-kun.
Chako disappeared during summer break, not appearing until Valentine.
I don’t want to repeat that period when I couldn’t do a thing.
“Chako thinks something is strange. However, she wouldn’t ask me. Senpai, too, by no means thought that I’d know. Therefore, I didn’t say I knew Chako’s a familiar and became close to her. We did many fun things, and got involved with various people.”
It’s convenient for me that Tomotaka-senpai told Chako to get close to me.
I just have to make use of that.
How much fun it is to be with me, I’ll make Chako realise that.
“――So that she’ll think of wanting to stay with me.”
I did tons of fun things with Chako.
In case it wasn’t enough with just me, I got Kousuke-kun and Yuusei-kun. Sensei and Tomoyuki-san too, I got everyone involved.
“I believe Chako holds an interest in her current position. I can also feel her heart opening bit by bit.”
The Chako who is quick to hide her heart and doesn’t face others.
I felt her finally facing us during that hike.
From now on. My hand can finally reach Chako’s heart.
“However, with this, it is still not enough.”
I put strength in my eyes and stare at Tomotaka-senpai.
The deep blue eyes shake with vigilance towards me.
“… Senpai is unfair.”
“I’m unfair?”
“That’s right. Senpai is unfair. You found Chako before us, and attained her before she could meet us.”
That’s right. It’s unfair.
“Even if I do tons of fun things with Chako, and Chako wants to stay with me. A single『Let’s leave』from senpai and Chako will immediately part from me.”
Tomotaka-senpai’s orders are absolute.
I can’t win against Tomotaka-senpai no matter how much I struggle.
“It’s the same for Kousuke-kun and sensei… For Yuusei-kun and Tomoyuki-san. We’re not a match from the beginning. It’s senpai’s win by default.”
Yes. Chako’s number one is Tomotaka-senpai.
Since long before.
And even now.
“That’s why, I will break the contract between senpai and Chako.”
“… The familiar contract lasts for a lifetime.”
“That’s right. A lifetime.”
That word. I heard it from senpai previously.
“But did you know? It seems that this is already Chako’s 2nd life, you know?”
She has a past life.
You didn’t know, right? I implied, chuckling.
“I will, have Chako be born again once more.”
The familiar contract lasts for a lifetime.
However, sensei showed us, and Yuusei-kun mulled over it.
I just have to erase Chako’s body.
I just have to grant her a new flesh(life), again.
“… However, if I hide Chako before that, you lot will be completely helpless.”
That’s right. Senpai already attained Chako. Carrying Chako in his arms, and locking her up. He just has to pull her away from everyone else.
I don’t avert my eyes, not even from those words of Tomotaka-senpai.
Looking at such a me, Tomotaka-senpai’s face warps painfully.
“Chako’s mine.”
There are flames in the deep blue eyes.
They burn violently.
Staring at those eyes, I bite my lip tightly before opening my mouth.
“Chako… I will save Chako.”
What a pretty(clean)-sounding word.
However, I know the dirtiness within that word.
‘Save’, that’s just on the surface.
At the core, I’m taking Chako from Tomotaka-senpai and hurting him.
I will accomplish my purpose, by hurting someone.
I don’t mind.
These 4 years, I’ve always, always, been doing so.
I don’t mind hurting others for Chako’s sake.
Because.
Because――
『Chako’s mine』
――My heart, is saying that too.
What is a past life?
The passing of time as the soul swirls and one turns into different creatures through metempsychosis.
Chako talked about hiking, so she might be a human in a past life.
Perhaps I should’ve asked for more details when Chako spoke about her past life, but I didn’t at the time.
Because her hands didn’t stop trembling.
She was afraid of something.
Desperately putting on a brave front, she climbed the mountain.
It was unusual for Chako to be so anxious…
She probably wouldn’t have answered if it was the usual.
She would’ve laughed “Ehehe” and glossed it over.
Not letting the anxious Chako escape, the information I finally got out of her was about a past life.
Hearing that, I finally understood a bit of the cause of Chako’s fear.
Remembering a past life, means remembering the moment one died.
How would that feel?
It was something I could only imagine…
I should have better conveyed my thoughts to Chako, but I didn’t say much.
It’s alright, don’t be afraid.
I intended to convey that with all my might, but I don’t even know if it was right.
Nonetheless, because I felt Chako’s heart moving a little.
I will work hard at the things I must do.
Summer vacation has arrived in the blink of an eye as I lived an enjoyable school life.
I went to the pool, that I couldn’t go before, with everyone.
Going to the pool with Chako was really fun…
Although I wanted to stay with her, there was something I needed to do.
Waving at Chako who asked me not to go, I first returned home.
Then, changing into the school uniform, I headed to school.
There were several people doing Student Council work silently in the room.
As we continued to work hard till evening, only Tomotaka-senpai and I were left in the Student Council room.
Light, from the sun that has yet to sink, illuminates the Student Council room as the air-conditioner emits a soft wind.
“Today, I went to the pool with everyone.”
“To the pool?”
“Yes. It was super enjoyable, you know?”
I speak to Tomotaka-senpai while tidying up the documents on the desk.
Tomotaka-senpai looks at me in surprise.
“But, weren’t you here since past noon? You could’ve taken a break at least today.”
“Exactly… However, I thought that I must speak to senpai.”
Returning the ballpoint pen to the right drawer, I place the file containing the documents into the left drawer.
With that, the tidying up is done.
Placing a hand on the desk that is cleared, I stare at Tomotaka-senpai.
The corner of Tomotaka-senpai’s mouth is slightly raised as he returns the gaze.
“Speak to me?”
“Yes… Senpai likes phantoms, right?”
“… Aa, I suppose.”
“Today, I, together with Chako, Kousuke-kun and Yuusei-kun. The four of us went to the pool.”
”And what about that?” goes Tomotaka-senpai, looking at me without a change in his expression.
… However, flames have risen in those eyes.
“Chako, had a lot of fun. Because I left first, she’s surrounded by 2 boys now… Is that okay?”
“… What is?”
“Kousuke-kun likes Chako, you know? Probably without a doubt. While I don’t think Yuusei-kun’s like that, Chako gets really mischievous around him, like a child. She probably enjoys being with him.”
“And?”
“Tomotaka-senpai. Is that okay?”
Again, I deliberate the same words.
Staring firmly at the flames rising in Tomotaka-senpai’s eyes.
“She’s not with senpai even though she’s your familiar.”
The moment I said those words, Tomotaka-senpai’s eyes widen.
However, they immediately narrow and he looks at me in amusement with a smile on his face.
“… Chako didn’t say that, right?”
“Yes. Chako didn’t say it. She’s stubborn after all. Properly abiding by senpai’s words. As a familiar, she gets close to me, making sure phantoms will like her so that I… the Priestess of Ominous Clouds, doesn’t get too close to them.
Recalling Chako and Kousuke-kun, I laugh a little.
Getting unnecessarily close to him, laughing mischievously, trying to say heart-throbbing things.
The Kousuke-kun turning red and panicking in those occasions is rather amusing.
“… Why didn’t you tell the fox if you knew so much?”
“Because, there’s no merit for me to tell Kousuke-kun or sensei.”
Senpai sends the smiling me a piercing look.
I receive that from the front and chuckle even more.
“Senpai. I’m an awful woman. Why must I tell others the information I worked hard to obtain? If Kousuke-kun or sensei want to know anything, they can ask Chako directly. They can make their own moves and catch hold of it themselves. I won’t cheer them on or help them out.”
My awful side is exposed when I say it out loud like this.
Ah, I really am an awful woman, I sigh and feel like closing my eyes.
Nonetheless, I look at Tomotaka-senpai directly.
“You… how long have you known?”
“From way, way before.”
By the way, it was senpai who told me, you know?
Still looking at Tomotaka-senpai, I smile with only the corners of my mouth raised.
There’s a bit of bewilderment in his eyes…
“Why, did you not tell Chako?”
Why not tell Chako, why stay by her side?
“… Because if I say it before becoming close, Chako will disappear. Knowing that your plan isn’t going well, senpai will remove Chako from school.”
The 4th round. When I first became friends with Yuusei-kun.
Chako disappeared during summer break, not appearing until Valentine.
I don’t want to repeat that period when I couldn’t do a thing.
“Chako thinks something is strange. However, she wouldn’t ask me. Senpai, too, by no means thought that I’d know. Therefore, I didn’t say I knew Chako’s a familiar and became close to her. We did many fun things, and got involved with various people.”
It’s convenient for me that Tomotaka-senpai told Chako to get close to me.
I just have to make use of that.
How much fun it is to be with me, I’ll make Chako realise that.
“――So that she’ll think of wanting to stay with me.”
I did tons of fun things with Chako.
In case it wasn’t enough with just me, I got Kousuke-kun and Yuusei-kun. Sensei and Tomoyuki-san too, I got everyone involved.
“I believe Chako holds an interest in her current position. I can also feel her heart opening bit by bit.”
The Chako who is quick to hide her heart and doesn’t face others.
I felt her finally facing us during that hike.
From now on. My hand can finally reach Chako’s heart.
“However, with this, it is still not enough.”
I put strength in my eyes and stare at Tomotaka-senpai.
The deep blue eyes shake with vigilance towards me.
“… Senpai is unfair.”
“I’m unfair?”
“That’s right. Senpai is unfair. You found Chako before us, and attained her before she could meet us.”
That’s right. It’s unfair.
“Even if I do tons of fun things with Chako, and Chako wants to stay with me. A single『Let’s leave』from senpai and Chako will immediately part from me.”
Tomotaka-senpai’s orders are absolute.
I can’t win against Tomotaka-senpai no matter how much I struggle.
“It’s the same for Kousuke-kun and sensei… For Yuusei-kun and Tomoyuki-san. We’re not a match from the beginning. It’s senpai’s win by default.”
Yes. Chako’s number one is Tomotaka-senpai.
Since long before.
And even now.
“That’s why, I will break the contract between senpai and Chako.”
“… The familiar contract lasts for a lifetime.”
“That’s right. A lifetime.”
That word. I heard it from senpai previously.
“But did you know? It seems that this is already Chako’s 2nd life, you know?”
She has a past life.
You didn’t know, right? I implied, chuckling.
“I will, have Chako be born again once more.”
The familiar contract lasts for a lifetime.
However, sensei showed us, and Yuusei-kun mulled over it.
I just have to erase Chako’s body.
I just have to grant her a new flesh(life), again.
“… However, if I hide Chako before that, you lot will be completely helpless.”
That’s right. Senpai already attained Chako. Carrying Chako in his arms, and locking her up. He just has to pull her away from everyone else.
I don’t avert my eyes, not even from those words of Tomotaka-senpai.
Looking at such a me, Tomotaka-senpai’s face warps painfully.
“Chako’s mine.”
There are flames in the deep blue eyes.
They burn violently.
Staring at those eyes, I bite my lip tightly before opening my mouth.
“Chako… I will save Chako.”
What a pretty(clean)-sounding word.
However, I know the dirtiness within that word.
‘Save’, that’s just on the surface.
At the core, I’m taking Chako from Tomotaka-senpai and hurting him.
I will accomplish my purpose, by hurting someone.
I don’t mind.
These 4 years, I’ve always, always, been doing so.
I don’t mind hurting others for Chako’s sake.
Because.
Because――
『Chako’s mine』
――My heart, is saying that too.
