Final Chapter - 2

2001, A Library, Japan

It's been over a decade since Kimiyo died. The 20^th century has ended, and a new century is upon us. The world has already forgotten the commotion of the new millennium, and life goes on as normal. Japan is about to experience its first winter of the century.

Kimiyo died peacefully in a hospital. After a few fits and starts, she regained her composure long enough to say a single “Bye-bye”, and died. Utamika and Miki both cried all day long.

I didn't cry when Kimiyo passed away. I had promised her I wouldn't. Kimiyo told me that even if she died, she would be happy. So there was no need to cry. But I did break my promise only once. One year after her death, when I visited her grave, I cried out loud so nobody would look at me while I lay down flowers.

I wondered what Kimiyo was doing now. Had she been reborn again and gone to live a new life somewhere? Or had she died a satisfying death and never lived again?

Every time a girl visited the library, I began to look at her with suspicion, wondering if she was Kimiyo. Utamika and my other colleagues teased me, saying I was a real womanizer. But even if I ever meet Kimiyo again, I won't know what to say to her.

After playing Pavane for a Dead Princess, I was sorting through the returned books. As I moved a stack of books onto a mobile bookshelf, I noticed a piece of paper sticking out of a book with a red cover. I opened it and took out the piece of paper.

It was a map. A map of the trenches where I'd fought in 1916. It was the one I'd drawn myself. I felt more nostalgia than confusion.

As I stared at the map, I noticed the presence of an “exception”. It was an “exception” that transcended the world of scattered points and managed disorder – the presence of an angelic detective “exception”.

“Snowy!”

Snowy stood at the end of the hall. Their lacy outfit, skirt, feathered hair clip, and everything else about their appearance remained unchanged.

“Yo.”

Snowy waved at me.

“You-”

“Don't say it,” Snowy said, winking at me. “I have to go.”

The map of the trench fell off the front desk, even though there was no wind.

I picked up the map, which had fallen upside down.

Those letters were just a coincidence. That's what I decided.

Snowy disappeared around the corner. As they left, they showed me a blue lapis lazuli pendant on their chest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This project... okay, it absolutely would be possible without the support of our only paying patron,

ISAAC WARD

But we appreciate your support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Takekuni Kitayama was born in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture in 1979. He made his literary debut in 2002 with the Mephisto Prize winning The Clock Castle Murders. After 11 years of writing, he rose to some international prominence with the release of Danganronpa Kirigiri, a series of prequel novels of Spike Chunsoft's Danganronpa series of mystery video games. He would later become a writer on the main series starting with 2017's Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony. He has won dozens of awards, including three top five appearances on the annual Honkaku Mystery Best 10 list, and has been nicknamed “Kitayama the Physicist” by the media for his brilliant physical trickery.

ABOUT THE TRANSLATORS:

Mitsuda Madoy is a forensic scientist who loves mysteries so much he named himself after two authors and bills himself as being from the world of mysteries. When not translating foreign detective stories, he can be found streaming mystery games at https://www.twitch.tv/mitsudamadoy. He likes fine literature, dark chocolate, and his dog, Eri.

cosmiicnana is very cute and lovable. They are a slime alien who loves working on translations with their friends. They also stream (occasionally) on https://www.twitch.tv/cosmiicnana. They enjoy video games, idols, and their cat, Pluto. They are studying Japanese and are doing their best.

 

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