Konbini Ossan Volume 16 Chapter 15 — Warmth
Watching my movement, the boy placed a hand on his own chest as well.
“I remember. Looking down on everyone but myself and mocking them. Living while belittling myself. The people I hated so deeply that I thought I could never forgive them.”
Admitting it is a little irritating.
But I do remember those foolish sides of myself.
“I’ve put all of it away inside here.”
“Inside... your chest?”
The boy lowered his head bitterly.
“But I’ve stored warm things there too.”
As I said that, I remembered.
“Memories with the people precious to me. The moments when I was happy. The people who guided a fool like me. All of it, everything together, exists inside me.”
At those words, perhaps the boy was remembering something too. He closed his eyes as though in thought.
“So no matter how much there is to resent, I can still remember. I never forget that precious people, things, and memories exist.”
Then I asked the boy:
“What about you? Is there something warm inside your chest too?”
Still holding his hand to his chest, he thought for a while before answering.
“I had something too.”
A single tear spilled from the boy’s eye.
“Precious memories. I had the same thing inside me too, just like you.”
The next moment...
The world, which had been nothing but gray, began to fill with color and change.
A townscape I had never seen before. Scenery I had never seen before.
And countless Candy Goblins living out their ordinary daily lives.
This was probably the memory of happier times still left within the boy.
“All living things go on living while carrying both light and darkness together in their hearts. You and I are the same.”
I moved into the final stage of persuading him, lowering myself to meet his eye level.
“That’s why I can accept your hatred and your sorrow. You can throw all of it at me, into my heart instead of at the world.”
The boy nodded.
“Okay.”
He drew the knife hanging at his waist and took a stance.
The blade was pitch black, as though embodying the darkness in his heart.
Then the boy raised the knife and...
Thrust-!
It plunged into my chest.
“I’ll keep watching you. I’ll keep resenting you forever.”
As if confirming something, the boy spoke.
“If your words were a lie, then I’ll curse the world again.”
The world, the scenery all around us, crumbled away like sand and vanished.
“But if you really will accept me. If you truly have the same thing inside your heart...”
And at last, the boy’s form also crumbled and disappeared.
“As long as I can believe that, I’ll keep **living inside you.”
All that remained was me, and the black knife lodged in my chest.
As the boy’s words ended, my consciousness slowly began to fade.
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E/N:
How selfish of you, Ossan, leaving behind Arisa like that!? This is 2x depressing!
Stay tuned!
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