Half Spirit: A Love Story Across the Veil of Death by Arata Nagayama

Author:Arata Nagayama [Arata Nagayama]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Regin's Chronicles

Chapter 4

Part 1

[Due to a personal accident that occurred at ○○ station, both the up and down lines have suspended operation. We apologize for the inconvenience…]

On the platform of the station where we were heading to school after the mourning period, the announcement of the train suspension was made, and Soejima-kun and I looked at each other. Murmurs and voices of dissatisfaction spread through the crowded platform of commuters and students.

Everyone was overwhelmed with their own daily lives. They had become too accustomed to the term “personal accident,” and nobody paid attention to the death of a stranger.

From the public’s point of view, Soejima-kun’s grandfather’s death might also be seen as insignificant, even though it had a significant impact on Soejima-kun.

Soejima-kun was set to transfer schools in the spring. As he had wished, he was allowed to live alone at his grandfather’s house until the end of the second grade.

In a few months, Soejima-kun would be leading a completely different life from now.

Amid the noise of the crowded platform, he muttered to me, who was lost in thought, “We got up early, didn’t we?”

That day, we had left home earlier than usual. It was to stop by his grandfather’s grave before going to school.

On the way to the cemetery, Soejima-kun said, “Grandpa would say I hardly ever come.” While tending the grave, I noticed that the tombstone now had the name and death date of his grandfather, which had not been there at the time of the funeral. “He would probably say the characters are too small.”

Memories still brought sadness. Standing next to Soejima-kun as he put his hands together at the grave, I also put my hands together and made a wish in my heart.

May we tie the fates successfully, may Soejima-kun find happiness; please lend us your strength.

Sitting on the snow-covered veranda, I said, “I want to live.”

“I can’t imagine it going well…” Soejima-kun responded, picking up the children’s book placed on the floor. “…but is that still okay?”

He had chosen to confront the matter of telling Kusunoki-san about his feelings —something he had been resisting all along. It must have been his grandfather who prompted Soejima-kun to do this.

The first period had already started by the time we arrived at school.

Presumably not wanting to attract attention by entering the classroom during class, especially on the first day after his mourning period, Soejima-kun had decided to skip the first hour and head to the rooftop. I followed him.

Once he confirmed that there was no one on the roof, Soejima-kun, with a terribly serious expression, talked to me. “So… how should I go about confessing?”

“What!?”

I was taken aback by his words, which did not align with his serious expression.

“Well… I think you should just express your feelings honestly…”

I can’t remember it, but no matter how I think about it, I can’t imagine I have any romantic experience that would qualify me to give advice to someone. Hearing me say it without much confidence, Soejima-kun let out a deep sigh, resting his forehead on the wire mesh of the rooftop.

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