Hagakure Sakura Does Not Lament - Chapter 2: The Day It Began

-Thank you DCRangeRange, Dean Dexter and Cannedbread
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――It was in September that "his" fate was twisted.

It was about two months before the day that girl was almost attacked by a Demonic Beast.

◆ ◆ ◆

It happened on the way home.

With explosions erupting in the distance behind him, Nanase Tsugumi was pressing a hand to his bleeding side. His uniform was torn, and his white shirt was stained a lurid crimson.

"Why did this happen...?"

――Looking back now, he had been unlucky since morning.

Thinking that, Tsugumi traced the events of that morning in his hazy consciousness.

◆ ◆ ◆

That day, small misfortunes had piled up since morning.

For some reason, his alarm did not ring; his twin sister left him behind saying, "Because you won't wake up"; the train he jumped onto, resigned to being late, was stranded due to a personal injury accident.

To top it off, on the short road from the station to school, he was caught in a sudden downpour and got soaked to the bone. It was truly one misfortune after another.

"...No matter how you look at it, it's strange. If it were just one thing, maybe, but do people normally have that much bad luck pile up? Thanks to that, I got to school around lunch break. Ahh, I feel like I wasted a whole day."

As Tsugumi grumbled, fed up, the friend who had been listening raised his face with a look of exasperation.

"――It happens sometimes. Maybe it's because you're usually not well-behaved, Tsugumi-chan?"

"Don't say such random things. It's not like I've done anything strange. ...Besides, you're the last person I want to hear talk about daily conduct."

When he retorted discontentedly, his friend――Amari Yukitaka――raised his voice as if shocked.

"Eh, that's uncalled for."

He complained as if to say, "I never would have thought that."

...Look who's talking. Tsugumi let out a tired sigh.

"By the way, yesterday on your way home, you got slapped by a junior girl, didn't you? Did you pull the two-timing thing again?"

"Huh? Tsugumi-chan, you went home before me, so how do you know?"

"I got an explanation with a video. Want to see?"

When he showed the footage of him being slapped spectacularly and laughed, "That was a nicely angled slap," Yukitaka shouted indignantly.

"What is this, that's awful!! Who took this!!"

"Mebuki-senpai and my class's merry companions."

Tsugumi plainly named the sender. Since they themselves were enthusiastically spreading it, there was no need to hide it.

"Those scheming glasses and idiots... Just because I'm popular with girls, they do something this sneaky."

"Ah, yeah. You are popular, sure, but I think that's a different matter."

――It's not jealousy or anything like that; it's simply that those people hate you.

He muttered that only in his heart and gently pressed around his stomach.

"Then what? Is it because I exposed online the suspicion of misconduct of their favorite Magical Girl? Or because their friend's girlfriend switched to me because I'm better?"

"...Wait a minute. I've never heard any of that."

"Ehh, then which one was it?――Well, but getting angry over something this small means they're petty. It's depressing."

"...If someday you get stabbed by someone and die, I'll answer in an interview like this: 'I knew this would happen someday.'"

"Ahaha, I wouldn't make a blunder like that!"

When Tsugumi said that heartfeltly, Yukitaka laughed it off lightly. That carefree attitude was almost frightening.

But the reason his words and actions, like those of someone with a broken personality, still had a somehow lovable charm was probably because of Yukitaka's appearance.

...This friend was, only in appearance.., exceptionally well put together.

If one were to compare, he had the face of a beautiful boy as if the very concept of a rosy-faced beautiful youth had manifested in this world.

Besides, he wasn't stupid, and his behavior itself was friendly and likable. Well, if it came to his inner self, it could hardly be called admirable even as flattery.

This friend, who openly declared without regard for appearances, "I love faces when people are disgusted or angry!", naturally had many enemies. It was harder to find people he was on good terms with.

There was no small number of women drawn to him by his looks, but most became disillusioned within a few days, flew into a rage, and left.

Some became strangely devoted and turned into something like believers, but... he didn't want to touch on that. Even if someone is a friend, there are things you don't want to know.

"Keep it moderate. I don't want a murder case happening close to me. I'd probably get caught up in it and get hurt."

When Tsugumi said that with exasperation, Yukitaka laughed happily.

"Ahaha. Not saying 'I'm worried about you' there is so like you, Tsugumi-chan."

"Because you've never once listened to my warnings, right? How long do you think we've been together? Even I learn that much."

It was a long relationship. He understood at least how to handle him.

...And yet, for some reason, he was always the one who suffered for it. Remembering last year's commotion, Tsugumi held his aching head.

"Still, Tsugumi-chan, your timing really is bad. You could have just taken today off."

"Why? I was late because of various things, but I did come to school properly, didn't I? If I didn't attend even the afternoon classes here, what would Chidori say later..."

Saying that, Tsugumi made a bitter expression. Chidori was Tsugumi's twin sister. ...If that honor-student sister found out that her younger brother――in other words, Tsugumi――had skipped class, there was no telling what she would say later.

When he said that, Yukitaka shrugged exaggeratedly and began to speak.

"You weren't at the morning assembly, Tsugumi-chan, so you probably don't know, but the afternoon classes were suddenly changed to an all-school assembly. You know, there was a famous Magical Girl in the third year, right? Sato-something-san. It seems she died in the line of duty, so they're apparently going to hold something like a farewell party... but you're not interested, are you?"

"...In other words, I didn't need to worry about credits."

While answering that, Tsugumi called to mind that senpai who had apparently died in the line of duty.

Sato... I think her name was something like Michiko.

She seemed to be a famous senpai, but to Tsugumi, who had a narrow social circle, she left only a faint impression.

Tsugumi looked around and said quietly to Yukitaka.

"Still, died in the line of duty, huh.――I can't say this too loudly, but it's not that rare, is it? I hear the mortality rate for Magical Girls is quite high."

"Well, yeah. Even now, more than a hundred die every year. Apparently she had been a Magical Girl for five years, so she was probably better than average, no?"

――Magical Girl was a truly cute name, but the reality was quite grim.

Because they were human weapons.... who had made contracts with nonhumans――so-called "Gods"――in order to fight Demonic Beasts.

――Thirty years ago, Demonic Beasts suddenly appeared in Japan, and the country was on the verge of collapse.

Just when the citizens were prepared for destruction――the first "Magical Girl" appeared.

The girl's name was Sakura Akane.

She wore garb like a shrine maiden, raced across battlefields like a comet, and drove away the Demonic Beasts.

Her existence was dramatic; at first it was no more than a rumor that "there is a girl who defeats Demonic Beasts," but before long every survivor knew her name.

The government, having grasped that information, made contact with the being calling itself Yatagarasu, Sakura Akane's contractor, and succeeded in forming a contract with Amaterasu Omikami, who stood behind it.

According to Amaterasu, Demonic Beasts are conceptual lifeforms given form by energy leaking from the Crack in the Sky, and they apparently feed on strong human emotions――mainly fear. To obtain that sustenance, Demonic Beasts harm humans.

Thus Amaterasu, who contracted with the government and became Japan's ruler, built the Barrier "Amano-Iwato" covering all of Japan to prevent the Demonic Beasts' invasion, and carved into the land a formula to repel malicious Gods.

Furthermore, Amaterasu negotiated with other Gods and, by having them contract with suitable girls, created soldiers.... to oppose the Demonic Beasts.

The Gods fundamentally had too much free time. Having judged so, Amaterasu provided a game for that purpose――a struggle between humans contracted with Gods and Demonic Beasts.

Humans offered themselves for survival; the Gods lent their power for entertainment――the system called "Magical Girl" was established at the end of that adjustment of interests.

Then time passed, and thanks to the Magical Girls' efforts and technology utilizing Demonic Beast energy, Japan recovered within ten years of the "Day of Creation." It refused even overtures to restore diplomatic relations and chose a path of self-reliance within the country alone.

But where there is light, there is also darkness.

Sakura Akane, who became the first Magical Girl, died in the line of duty eight years after becoming a Magical Girl, after trading blows with a powerful Demonic Beast.

Even now, hundreds of girls lose their lives every year.

Thus people built a new peace atop the sacrifices of Magical Girls.

Incidentally, the age at which one can become a Magical Girl is set from twelve, but almost no one continues for more than ten years.

It sounded nice, but being a Magical Girl was a dangerous occupation with dozens of deaths in the line of duty per month, and most retired within five years.

――However, if you survived, you could obtain status, honor, and money. High risk, high return was exactly this.

Recently, famous Magical Girls were treated like idols, and apparently were busy with popularity polls, events, and other things besides maintaining peace.

Because of that, people like Tsugumi, who was a little twisted and did not know the hell of the beginning, could not quite form a good impression of the existence called "Magical Girl."

――He understood that they were heroes.

But that and his distrust were separate matters.

...Even so, despite having fought for so long in such a fierce battlefield, that senpai or whatever had bad luck.

"Still, an assembly, huh. ...Honestly, it's a pain."

To Tsugumi, who muttered that with a bored look, Yukitaka narrowed his eyes as if he had found something amusing.

"Tsugumi-chan, you hate crowds, after all."

"It feels like being crammed into a shelter, and I can't breathe. That's one thing I can't help."

As Yukitaka said, if there were no classes, maybe it wouldn't be a problem if one person went home. Tsugumi thought that as he propped his cheek on his hand.

"Maybe I should go home after all. Chidori knows I'm bad with that kind of thing, so she shouldn't get that angry... ah."

"What's wrong?"

"No, I thought I'd contact Chidori just in case, but my phone battery died. Sorry, but could you contact her for me instead?"

"Sure, but that's one favor you owe me."

Saying that, Yukitaka pointed his phone camera at Tsugumi and snapped a photo.

He immediately did some editing and showed the screen to Tsugumi. There, Tsugumi was shown with a somewhat pale face.

"It's edited well, right? I'll send Chidori-chan a message saying 'I sent him home because he looked pale.'"

"...Ah, yeah. Thanks. You saved me."

...Should he reproach him for sending a photo with faked editing, or be grateful that he had cared enough to keep Tsugumi from being scolded by his sister?

But it was also true that he had been considerate so Tsugumi wouldn't be scolded by his sister.

After hesitating a little, Tsugumi thanked him. Yukitaka surely didn't mean any harm――probably.

When Tsugumi thanked him, Yukitaka began packing his things without seeming to care.

Then, after finishing stuffing unnecessarily ornate accessories, like a girl's, into his bag, he turned toward Tsugumi and said.

"Then I'll be heading home soon too. Be careful on your way home, Tsugumi-chan. Well, you probably have an alarm, so you should be fine.――Ah, if you see Nagisa-chan, tell her I left early."

Patting his shoulder as if comforting him, Yukitaka waved lightly and left the classroom.
Truly, he was a free-spirited guy.

When Tsugumi looked around, more than half of his classmates had already disappeared.
...No matter how little it affected grades, this was terrible.

But Class 2-F, which Tsugumi belonged to, was a class of troublemakers to begin with. Rather, fewer people properly attended an all-school assembly.

Putting his own case aside, Tsugumi shrugged with a "good grief" and looked outside the window.

As if the heavy rain until moments ago had been a lie, a blue sky spread out, and even a beautiful rainbow arched across it.

Tsugumi glared at the sky feeling it was unfair, but eventually exhaled as if giving up and shouldered his bag again.

There was no use resenting natural phenomena. Best to forget it.

Thinking that, the moment he opened the classroom door――he nearly collided with a person who was about to enter from outside.

Tsugumi instinctively caught the person, who had failed to grab the door and stumbled forward.

A sweet fragrance tickled his nose.

"A, ara. I'm sorry. Sensei was a little careless..."

"Suzune-sensei, didn't you say that last time too and nearly fall down the stairs? Please be careful."

When Tsugumi said that, the teacher――Suzune Nagisa――blushed as if embarrassed.

While warning her with exasperation, Tsugumi gently let go.

――She was the homeroom teacher of Tsugumi's class, but she was so unreliable that one wouldn't think she was older, and she was so laid-back that there was a precariousness that made one unable to take one's eyes off her.

Perhaps because of that, even in this class full of troublemakers, she was not opposed and was treated somewhat like a mascot.

She apparently was dissatisfied with that treatment, but considering that during the external orientation in April she got lost first, leaving the students behind, it was a reasonable treatment.

Incidentally, at that time, even the strong-willed classmates united and searched for the lost teacher.

Perhaps thanks to that, even the infamous Class F, which in previous years was said to be on the verge of class collapse, now had a certain amount of cohesion. ...Only "a certain amount," though.

There had been a moment when he wondered if that had been her aim all along.

But judging by her daily airheadedness, it was probably that side that was genuine, and it made him feel helpless.

Was it really okay for a twenty-six-year-old adult to be like this――such worry even welled up.

Suzune looked around the nearly empty classroom and wandered her gaze about uneasily.

Even someone as dull as her seemed to have noticed the abnormality of the situation.

"...Could it be that the children who aren't here now have already gone home?"

"Ah, um, probably yes."

"Eh, no, that's, terrible..."

When she murmured in a frail voice, tears welled in Suzune's eyes.

――Ah, this is bad.

By the time he thought that, it was already too late.

Sparkling large tears lost to gravity and plopped down.

The classmates who had been watching raised their voices gleefully.

"Ahh! That Nanase guy is making Nagisa-chan cry."

"Hey hey, what are you doing? Nagisa-sensei is pitiful, isn't she?"

Laughing loudly, the remaining classmates threw jeers one after another.

...Ahh, this is why it's a problem.

Though fed up inwardly, Tsugumi turned to face them.

"This isn't my fault. Complain to the bunch who left early."

While lightly patting the back of Suzune, who had started sniffling, Tsugumi retorted discontentedly.

"But you're going home without attending the assembly too, right? Then you're the same."

"Guh, that's... true, but."

The classmate had a point.

He had intended to leave quietly, but now that he had met the homeroom teacher, he had to tell her he was leaving early.

But telling her, who was shedding tears, "I'm going home," was admittedly painful.

After all, more than half the class had already vanished from this place. If an all-school assembly were held in this state, it was certain that she, the homeroom teacher, would be blamed by the other teachers later.

...As expected, it might be better to stay because it would be pitiful.

When Tsugumi began worrying about that, he noticed Suzune was staring fixedly at him with wet eyes.

"Sensei? Did something happen?"

Was she going to reproach him for saying he would go home――? To Tsugumi, who braced himself, Suzune quietly said.

"――Nanase-kun. Are you okay?"

It was a voice that sounded terribly worried.

Unable to understand what he was being asked, Tsugumi unconsciously asked back.

"What do you mean?"

When Tsugumi asked that, Suzune seemed a little reluctant to say it, but opened her mouth.

"Um, if you're not feeling well, you don't have to push yourself. Sensei will explain properly to the grade head, so..."

Usually, when someone in the class tried to rest or leave early, she would try to stop them with a tragic look on her face, so what had gotten into her?

Tilting his head inwardly at that change, Tsugumi said.

"Um, do I look that unwell?"

"...Nanase-kun, I don't think you've noticed yourself, but your complexion isn't very good. Even I can't tell a child who is truly unwell to force themselves to stay."

When Suzune said that worriedly, the classmates who had been listening raised their voices one after another.

"Eh, what what? Is Nanase unwell?"

"No, it's not really like that... Do I look that bad?"

"Hmm, I can't really tell."

The other classmates also said he did not look particularly unwell.

"It's Nagisa-chan's misunderstanding. Come on, they say fools don't catch colds."

To them, who joked "Right?", Tsugumi unintentionally raised his voice.

No matter what, they were treating him too roughly.

"Hey, you guys, at least show a little concern. And I'm not a fool, okay!?"

"What, you're super energetic."

"Tsugumin, you don't get that angry at that Amari bastard, but you yell at us."

"Hey, stop calling me Tsugumin. It makes me embarrassed."

――There was no point in dealing with them any further.

Ignoring their discontented voices, Tsugumi took his bag and tried to leave the classroom.

He had Suzune's permission to leave early, so there shouldn't be a problem.

Just as he left the classroom with a brief greeting, hurried pattering footsteps approached from behind.

When he turned around, he saw Suzune hurrying toward him.

"W-wait, Nanase-kun."

"Yes?"

"Haa, haa... thank goodness. I made it..."

Perhaps because she had run down the hallway, Suzune was trembling her shoulders and out of breath.

Had she forgotten to say something?

"Um, are you okay?"

When he looked worriedly at Suzune, who was coughing and breathing with her shoulders, she quietly held something out.

"Take this with you."

"This is... an amulet? No, I can't accept something that looks this expensive."

An amulet with a somewhat solemn air, with a flower design stitched in red thread on a black cloth pouch.

Tsugumi unconsciously shook his head. He didn't understand why, and it felt too awe-inspiring for him to carry.

"It's fine."

With a force that allowed no refusal, Suzune tightly made Tsugumi grip the amulet.

At that desperation, Tsugumi opened his eyes in surprise.

It was the first time he had seen Suzune so forceful.

"I have a bad feeling. ...Please think of it as Sensei's selfish request and keep this with you?"

"...Eh, what is that? That's a little scary."

To Tsugumi, who asked the reason, Suzune only shook her head slightly and did not try to explain.

Though Tsugumi felt unconvinced, he tossed the amulet he had been given into his school uniform's chest pocket. He didn't really understand, but just carrying it shouldn't be a problem.

"Sorry. I said something strange."

"Well, if that puts Sensei at ease, it's fine with me."

"Really, be careful going home."

At the repeated words of worry, Tsugumi nodded, half exasperated.

He was not a child anymore, and it wasn't as if he needed that much worry.

"I'm fine. And my condition isn't even that bad."

"...Yes, that's right."

Though she replied with some hesitation, Suzune turned an anxious gaze on him.

Then, just as she seemed about to say something and opened her mouth, she tightly closed her eyes once, as if hesitating over something, and then, as if regaining her composure, gave a soft smile.

"――Then, see you tomorrow. This time, come to school without being late, okay?"

"...Ahaha. Goodbye, Suzune-sensei."

Tsugumi turned his back on Suzune and began walking toward the entrance.

Without noticing that Suzune was gazing fixedly at his back――.

◆ ◆ ◆

Around the time Tsugumi's figure disappeared, Suzune muttered in a voice so small no one could hear.

"...That child, his whole body was bright red...."

Suzune said that, but if a student in the class had heard these words, they surely would have tilted their head. Because to the other students, Tsugumi's appearance looked like nothing other than "the same as always."

――Just what was it that Suzune had been seeing?

"Like that, he is probably already... No, precisely because of that..."

Suzune clasped her hands as if in prayer and quietly lowered her eyes.

"There is nothing I can do but pray, but please――don't die....."

-Thank you DCRangeRange, Dean Dexter and Cannedbread
Follow me on Patreon via Linktree https://linktr.ee/Mnotia-