When we first formed Moai, we went out to all sorts of places under the pretense of the activities of our secret society. More succinctly, we went to photo galleries of investigative journalism from around the world and lectures given by authors who spoke out against hate speech and the like.
Naturally, it was always Akiyoshi who strong-armed me into these adventures. That day, the two of us had gone to see a war documentary. It was as we had stopped in at a café along the way home afterwards, sharing our impressions on the film, and it was beginning to seem that one or the other of us was looking to part ways that I suddenly asked Akiyoshi, “So, we went to see a movie today, but what really is your ultimate goal here?”
I needed to know. If I was to be involved from here on out, I needed to know what destination was in store for the future of Moai.
Last time, we went to a photo gallery, this time, a movie. I had no objections with going on these excursions, but to be honest with myself, I wasn’t keen on the idea of doing volunteer work or anything. However, as she was very much wont to, Akiyoshi completely misinterpreted my question.
“Hmm. Well, my ultimate goal is to achieve global peace…”
“…Mm, no I mean like, not your overarching goals. I’m wondering what it is we’re supposed to be doing in Moai over these four years,” I corrected. She looked at me a bit dumbfounded and then with a timid smile that could almost be construed as self-conscious.
“Aha, I gotcha. But I mean, I think it’s the same for Moai.”
“The same for Moai… You mean world peace?” I said with an unintentional smirk. Akiyoshi did not share my wry smile.
“If we could, yeah. I’d like to ease the suffering of the people of the world, only if it’s just a little. That’s why I think it’s really important to watch these films and such to increase awareness. Because we learned about these things today, perhaps you or I could do something about this stuff one day, Kaede,” she said, completely earnestly.
Akiyoshi had misunderstood me—but at the same time, I had misunderstood her. I don’t think I understood what it truly meant to have an “ideal.” There were no limits or bounds to Akiyoshi’s ideals. It didn’t matter if we were just students, if we were only two people. She would never even voice such an excuse.
I’m sure that, at that time, Akiyoshi truly believed that she could bring peace to the world with her own two hands. I had no idea just how wide the world was in Akiyoshi’s eyes.
“W-well, one day, maybe.”
“One day means it could happen any day. That’s what I think. You could die any day, and you never know when it’s going to happen. You’ve got to leave at least a little something behind.”
In that moment, I felt that, unlike myself, there was no way that Akiyoshi was not going to leave something behind in this world when she died. She was going to live an accomplished, fulfilled life.
Or so I hoped, anyway.
“That’s why, should anything ever happen to me, I want you to carry on my and Moai’s mission, Kaede.”
“Don’t say ominous stuff like that.”
“You never know! Nothing in this world is certain. But doesn’t that just mean that we have to live every day to its fullest?” She looked me straight in the eye, and I averted my gaze, unable to voice any further opinion on the matter.
And yet, even now, in my fourth year, I had yet to live up to this important role that Akiyoshi had thrust upon me.