“—It must be ‘UN.’”
As Daniel exited the data room, he saw Momo having a conversation with another female shinigami. She was one of the few who showed understanding toward Momo.
The shinigami was telling Momo, “UN, while still a shinigami, doesn’t belong to any organization and works completely alone. Its processing powers are exceptional, and at times it will collect more than its quota of souls. And so it is known among the shinigami as the singular entity, ‘UN.’”
“…UN…” Momo recited the name to herself several times.
Daniel, on the other hand, had heard the name before. He’d heard the rumors, but he couldn’t believe that he had actually met UN.
It wears the same face as Momo… has the same code as Momo… Then what in the world is Momo…?
“……!”
He shook his head furiously, trying to shake the thoughts out of his mind.
Nooooo! Momo is Momo. Momo is Momo… She could only be Momo.
He tried with all his might, but he just couldn’t prevent the dark thoughts from clouding his mind.
The two of them, Momo and Daniel, would periodically walk through the disturbingly enormous shinigami bureau. They would get their assignments, descend to Earth, and deliver souls to the other side. Then they would return to the bureau to perform their administrative tasks.
The shinigami silently performed their duties. Unlike Momo, they felt neither sadness nor pain. Their hearts were forever closed. They repeated their tasks like machines.
While Momo also had administrative tasks to perform, unlike the others she didn’t have her own desk. Or rather, she’d had one once, but since she rarely dropped by the bureau someone who had taken a dislike to her had claimed the desk and had it moved somewhere else. It made Momo feel even less as though she belonged in that place.
However, Momo didn’t care about such pettiness. Besides, to Momo, who wasn’t good at deskwork to begin with, it was a blessing. It was Daniel who would process the data and receive work orders from above.
Momo would follow these orders—at times to the letter, at times not—and perform her work. All the while she stuck out like a sore thumb.
Momo walked a little ahead of Daniel. The cat spoke to her from behind.
“Look…” Daniel started to say.
“What?”
“It… That thing is a real creep, isn’t it…?”
“It?” the girl asked.
You know who I’m talking about, Daniel thought but didn’t say it aloud. Instead he said, “I’m talking about that thing called UN.”
Momo nodded. “Oh,” she said in an absentminded tone.
“What’s that about? You went through all that hell, and that’s all you have to say?!”
“What’s the big deal?” she asked. “You’re safe now, Daniel.”
“Not me. You, Momo! You had it worse than me…”
Daniel wanted to say more but suddenly stopped. Momo turned around and regarded him seriously.
“I’m all right,” she reassured him. “As long as you’re okay, then I’m okay too.”
“W-what are you saying?!” Daniel said angrily. “Of course I’m not okay! After all… after all, you’re my master, Momo! I’m your servant demon! If you’re not okay, then how can I be okay?! ”
Momo just smiled and said, “Then you’re okay… because I’m okay.”
Daniel sighed a very big sigh. She’s always the same, my master. She always takes more care of others than herself. Whether it’s a little servant demon, or a human, or even someone who wants to hurt her—in fact, even if she was hurt, she’d probably continue smiling.
“Why—how can you smile like that?” Daniel asked, truly curious.
“Look,” Momo explained. “Remember that brave girl we just sent to the afterlife? And that gentle little boy? They were both smiling.”
Momo was talking about the humans she had become involved with. It was not, however, the answer Daniel was seeking.
“Momo… what are you…? You’re so good-natured and very meddlesome… and a terrible crybaby.”
“Well, yes,” she confirmed. “I can’t help that.”
“Why?” Daniel asked with a blank look on his face.
“Because,” Momo answered, “that’s how I am.”
✦ ✦ ✦
I’m waiting for my girl/momo extra. 2 — fin.