SO OUR MEMORIES VANISH – SO WHAT?
Aki’s parting words, and since then she hadn’t been back to the castle. Maybe she was being stubborn. It was possible she didn’t really feel that way, but had said it to make herself look tougher.
Those who still came to the castle had become conscious of Aki’s absence. Masamune said jokingly, ‘Doesn’t she wonder what’ll happen if someone finds the key when she’s not here?’
But they had until March, and so they didn’t feel in any rush.
It was, after all, still only October.
Hunting for the key, making a wish and losing their memories – it was still too soon for all that.
✦ ✦ ✦
IT WAS EARLY NOVEMBER BEFORE Aki came back to the castle.
Kokoro was the first to find out she’d reappeared. Aki was in the Game Room, on the sofa, crouched in the corner and hugging her knees.
‘Aki-chan.’
She said it hesitantly, and Aki looked up from where her head had been buried between her knees.
She seemed about to weep. The room was brightly lit, but somehow the area around Aki lay in shadow, as if she had sucked away all the light. Her face was pale, imprinted with a crease from her skirt.
‘Kokoro,’ Aki said. Her voice was thin. It caught in her throat, hoarse and dry, sounding almost as if she was asking for help.
Kokoro gave an audible gasp.
Aki was wearing school uniform. Kokoro realized no one had ever come to the castle dressed in uniform.
She had a bluish-green sailor-type collar, and a dark red scarf.
As she looked up, Kokoro saw the school badge on the right breast pocket of her blouse. The name of the school was embroidered beside it.
Yukishina No. 5.
She stared again at Aki’s uniform.
She recognized it. There was no mistaking it.
‘Aki-chan.’ Her voice was stiff. ‘Aki-chan, do you go to Yukishina No. 5 Junior High?’
Aki followed Kokoro’s eyes and looked down at her uniform. ‘Yeah,’ she nodded, her movement sluggish, as if only now realizing what she was wearing.
‘Yes,’ she said again, and looked at Kokoro doubtfully. ‘Yukishina No. 5.’