Chapter 107 : [Epilogue] The Season of Beginnings, To You, My Dear Wolf

A merciless environment, with the sun beating down relentlessly. Sand stretched as far as the eye could see, filling the entire horizon. 

"It’s hot... So hot... So, so hot... Um, what was I saying...?" 

I raised the sports drink I’d brought with me to my lips, only to realize the bottle was empty. 

"Ah... I can hear my heart dying..." 

Crack. I could practically hear the sound deep inside my ears. 

Well, I wasn’t actually going to die. I was used to hunger and thirst. I could deal with a little heat. It was just that I’d gotten a little too accustomed to living in comfortable surroundings lately. Hard was hard, no matter how you looked at it. 

"So this is the Abydos District... I’m completely lost..." 

I pedaled along on my old bicycle, its parts rattling and squeaking with every turn. Somehow, I made it to an area where people could conceivably live—a place where the sand wasn’t deep enough to swallow the wheels—and spotted what looked like a house. 

"I should take a little break..." 

I lowered the kickstand and stumbled into the shade in front of the house. My phone was unbelievably hot, and the battery was almost drained... Ah, I probably wouldn’t be able to use it for a while. 

"...Huh?" 

This environment really was brutal... Maybe I’d been a little too optimistic thinking a single bottle of water would be enough. My body was small, so I’d figured I could manage with that much. 

...No, I was exhausted. I’d lie down for a bit. I might as well take off my wig, too. It wasn’t as though there was anyone around. And I could do without the mask. 

"Um..." 

Suddenly, I heard the sound of brakes. Then came the pleasant whir of a bicycle chain spinning freely. 

...Someone? Here, in the Abydos District? 

"...Are you okay?" 

I looked up toward the voice. I recognized it. Not from this world, but from somewhere else. A gentle, refined voice, as though it were tenderly brushing against the depths of my eardrums. 

Soft silver hair illuminated by the sunlight. Clear blue eyes, like an endless, transparent sky. Adorable animal ears that twitched as they conveyed anxiety and concern. And eyes just like mine—one white, one black. Heterochromia. 

"You're..." 

"Oh, you're alive. Thank goodness. Something like this happened once before... Hm? You look familiar... Ah." 

She leaned closer, peering at me as though trying to get a better look. Sweat trickled from the skin-tight athletic wear she was wearing and dripped toward me. That was a little unpleasant. 

...Ah. Now I remembered. This girl was... 

"Sunaookami Shiroko...?" 

"Mm. Kirihana Suou." 

She pointed a finger at me, as if to say, ‘There you are. Busted.’ 

 

---

 

"Gulp... Pah! You’ve saved me..." 

I greedily gulped down the energy drink Shiroko handed me. Only then was I finally able to speak properly. 

After thanking her a few times, I returned her canteen, now half empty. 

"...? Is something wrong?" 

"...Well, never mind. It's nothing. Don't worry about it." 

After studying me closely with a look that suggested she had all sorts of things she wanted to say, she seemed to notice something. 

"...When did you grow wings?" 

"Ah, well, these are... Wait, you know who I am?" 

"Mm. I know you. ...Don't be on guard. Hifumi told me a little about your circumstances, so it's fine." 

"...I see." 

Shiroko and the other students of Abydos High School had helped us. I’d heard about it when I was told what had happened after I lost consciousness. Apparently, it had been arranged through Seia’s guidance and at Hifumi’s request. 

I never expected to meet her like this, in a place like this, though. 

"...This is the first time we've actually spoken, but I know who you are. You were unconscious when someone carried you on their back." 

...Actually, I knew her, too. But I probably shouldn’t say that. 

"Well, hello. It's nice to meet you. And thank you for taking care of my little sisters..." 

"...Mm. You're just as the rumors described. Why were you here?" 

She’d probably been wondering for a while. After a brief pause, as though she’d finally found the right moment to ask, Shiroko posed her question. 

She said I was just as the rumors described, but her expression was rather complicated. 

"...Don't tell me you're planning to stay in Abydos illegally." 

"Stop right there! No! That's not it!" 

The Abydos girls had firmly rejected the idea of letting us stay there... Though apparently, they might have accepted us if not for Mayumi and the others. Either way, it was best to avoid causing trouble whenever possible. 

Even if things had settled down a little, Arius still had plenty of problems to deal with. 

"Mm. I was joking." 

I would have preferred it if she hadn't pointed a gun at me while joking. I didn't say that, though. I had a feeling she'd really shoot me if I argued. 

"But then, why are you here...?" 

"Well, you see..." 

Where should I start...? For now, I supposed... 

"We... The students of Arius Satellite School are currently living in Millennium. Technically, we're still wanted by Trinity and Valkyrie." 

I'm the one they're mainly after, but we all live together... And if they found me, I'm sure the others would try to protect me. I wish they wouldn't, but... Well, what I'd said wasn't all that far from the truth. 

"Still, we can't rely on Millennium as our only base of operations. In case of an emergency, we need somewhere else to flee to—Shanhaijing, Hyakkiyako, Gehenna, and so on." 

"...I see. That sounds difficult." 

"...It's not so bad." 

I wouldn't deny that things were difficult, but right now, I was together with everyone. That alone was enough to make me feel fulfilled. At least, that's how I saw it. 

"So, I wanted to check whether the routes were safe. With some help from Mayumi, an acquaintance from Millennium, I put together a bicycle using secondhand parts. Then I rode it all the way here. And, well, I ran out of drinks..." 

"Which is why you stopped here to rest... Wait. You came all the way here from Millennium?" 

"Yes. I left early this morning and rode here." 

"...It's almost noon." 

Almost noon... That explained why I was getting hungry. I'd thought I'd been going pretty fast, but it had still taken quite a while. At this rate, I probably wouldn't be able to make it to any of the other districts today. 

Maybe I should rule out Abydos as a halfway point, too. 

"...It's put together pretty well... But it's mostly just a city bike." 

I'd already told everyone what I was doing, so I assumed they wouldn't be too worried... Still, I might be a little late getting back. 

"...They definitely don't think you'd come all the way here." 

"Huh?" 

"Call them. Someone from Arius. Right now." 

"U-Um... All right." 

I could feel something like exasperation—or perhaps an overwhelming sense of authority—coming from Shiroko. My instincts told me I should just do as she said. 

Let's see... Saori should do. 

"Well, excuse me for a moment... Ah, she picked up. Hello, Saori?" 

"Suou? Perfect timing. I was just about to contact you. You're taking a long time to get back. Where are you now? Have you run into any trouble?" 

"I'm fine. Nothing in particular. I'm in the Abydos District right now. Um... In the shade in front of a greenish house." 

"I see. That's a relief. So, the Abydos District... The Abydos District?" 

She repeated the words twice. Even through the phone, I could clearly hear the surprise in her voice. 

"Yes, Abydos. I told you I was going on a cycling trip to check the evacuation routes in case of an emergency." 

"...And who would have thought that meant crossing into another district? You absolute idiot." 

"..." 

Shiroko must have heard the call, because she looked at me as if to say, See? Told you. 

To think they'd really misunderstood... 

"...No, I suppose we're partly to blame for not asking you outright. But it's dangerous to go somewhere like that alone." 

"Ugh... B-But I can get away if I need to, can't I?" 

"I know you can. But there may be situations we haven't anticipated... I want you to understand that we're worried." 

"Y-Yes... I'm sorry..." 

I'd been scolded. Or rather, reprimanded. So much for maintaining my dignity as the older sister...! 

"Would you be able to come back right away?" 

"That might be a little difficult... I've run out of water, too, and I got lost. I'll replenish my supplies, rest for a while, and then head back. I'll probably get home tonight... But it'll be fine." 

"...Understood. I'll ask Mayumi to send someone to pick you up." 

"How is that understanding anything I just said?!" 

Well, there it was. Saori was probably really worried about me. Still, after coming all the way to Abydos, I was going to have to turn right around and leave...? Oh, well. Next time, I'd bring everyone along. 

"Then I'll show her the way." 

"?!" 

Shiroko suddenly whispered beside my ear. Or, more precisely, right next to my phone. It was so unexpected that I nearly jumped. 

"You're lost, right? I know this area well. I'll take you somewhere you can find your way from." 

"...Who is this?" 

"Sunaookami Shiroko, Abydos High School. I've heard the name Saori before." 

"I see. So you're the one from back then..." 

Apparently, Saori hadn't spoken with her directly, either. Perhaps because Shiroko had only helped us during our escape, simply lending a hand as things unfolded. 

"...Suou." 

"Y-Yes?" 

"Can you trust her? ...Just based on what you remember, that's enough." 

"...Ah, I see." 

Based on what I remembered. She was probably asking about my memories of the future... My memories of Blue Archive. Shiroko was in them, and Saori wanted to know whether she could trust her. 

"Well..." 

For starters, she wasn't a bad person... right? Well, there were things that came to mind, like the bank robbery, but she was really just a little loose in the head. If someone stopped her, she'd stop. 

And she needed money to pay off their debt... Oh, right. I was a wanted criminal with a bounty on my head. 

"I'd say it's fifty-fifty." 

"Hmph." 

Shiroko clearly looked displeased, while Saori let out a sigh on the other end of the phone. 

"Perhaps I should still send someone to pick you up..." 

"I know this girl is a wanted criminal. But I have no intention of doing anything about that right now." 

"...Right now?" 

"Mm. Let me correct that. As things stand, I have no intention of doing anything about it in the future, either." 

She still sounded a little suspicious, but was this really all right...? I was confident I could probably beat Shiroko in a fight. But if I were surrounded by the other Abydos girls, Hoshino included... escaping would be a real struggle. Hoshino was far too much of an unknown quantity. 

"Besides, suppose this girl were caught. Then it would come to light that we had helped her escape. Abydos doesn't have the strength it once did, and we want to avoid a confrontation with Trinity. ...Do you still not trust me?" 

"...Understood. I apologize for suspecting you. Please look after Suou." 

"Leave it to me." 

While I was running through one worst-case scenario after another in my head, they'd apparently reached an agreement. Saori had decided to trust Shiroko, at least for now. 

"All right, I'll be heading back now." 

"Yes. Be back before nightfall. Turn on your lights when it gets dark. Drink water regularly, and wear a hat if possible." 

"I-I understand! You already told me all that before I left!" 

Saori was as attentive as ever. Or maybe just a worrier... At this rate, it was getting hard to tell which of us was the older sister. 

"Once you enter the Millennium District, share your location with us. There's no need to rush, so just make sure you get back safely. Understood?" 

"Of course! I'll bring back a souvenir!" 

"...Well, don't go overboard. I'll call again in a little while." 

"Okay! Talk to you later!" 

A souvenir... Maybe some Abydos sand? No, it would be full of rubble and pebbles, and all that grit would be unpleasant. There might even be shards of glass. Dangerous, too... Better not. 

"...I'm glad I noticed. I only learned this myself recently. Ordinary people don't travel such long distances by bicycle." 

"Really...?" 

Come to think of it, Sensei had hesitated even over a few dozen kilometers... Though perhaps using Sensei as the standard wasn't the best idea. Maybe everyone else felt the same way, too. 

"But are you sure it's okay? Don't you have things to do, Shiroko?" 

The students of Abydos were supposed to be busy scrambling for money every day, working part-time jobs and the like to pay off their debt. 

When I asked, Shiroko gave a small shake of her head. 

"Today's my day off. I was just out cycling for fun. Besides..." 

Suddenly, she met my eyes directly. Our strange, asymmetrical eyes—one of each color—seemed to waver as we stared at each other. 

"There’s something I want to talk to you about. Come with me." 

"...?" 

She'd said something I couldn't quite see coming. 

 

---

 

After riding along behind Shiroko for a few minutes, we arrived at a house. 

"...Is this...?" 

"My house. ...I'm the only one who lives around here, though. Because of the sandstorms." 

"I... know a little about that." 

"I see." 

...Abydos High School. A forgotten land, buried beneath the sand. Because of the natural disasters known as sandstorms, most of the people who once lived here had vanished. 

There were apparently people farther out in the suburbs, but as I rode around this area, the first impression that came to mind was that it was deserted. That was the word for it. 

"Wait here. I'll go get some things. Here's a towel." 

"Huh?" 

"Going on a long ride without proper equipment, wearing nothing but whatever you happen to have on, is reckless. Better safe than sorry." 

"...A simple rule, as they say." 

"...Mm." 

Those words stirred memories from my previous life, and I gradually began to remember more. Even things about Shiroko. Of course, I'd also been rereading my notes a lot more often lately. 

"Phew ..." 

While I waited, I carelessly lowered myself onto the hallway floor. My shoes stayed at the entrance, my feet on the floor inside. The cool sensation seemed to draw the heat out of my body. It felt wonderful. 

I wiped the sweat from my body with the towel. Finally, I could put some distance between myself and the heat. It seemed the late summer heat in Abydos was still going strong. 

For a moment there, I'd wondered how things would turn out, but I'd been saved for the time being. Shiroko had been in Blue Archive, too, so there was no need to be too wary of her... right? 

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Pretty much everything you need is in here." 

A little while later, Shiroko emerged from the back of the house carrying a bag. More of a sports bag than an ordinary one. 

"You can have it. It's just an extra." 

"...I can't accept that." 

"Mm. It's fine. And this, too." 

...Her ears were moving. The animal ears on top of her head. She seemed a little excited, somehow. 

"...What is this?" 

"A cycling jersey. I think it should fit you..." 

"Y-You've really thought of everything..." 

But a cycling jersey... That's the same thing Shiroko was wearing now, wasn't it? 

"...It's so tight. I'm embarrassed to wear it..." 

"It's fine. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Everyone feels that way at first." 

"U-Um..." 

"Besides, exercising strenuously in clothes that heavy is dangerous. You should wear something comfortable to move in, with good ventilation. Don't underestimate heatstroke." 

She'd completely snuffed out any chance of arguing. I could practically feel her urging me to hurry up with her eyes. It didn't seem like she'd let me off the hook unless I put on those clothes. 

...Lately, it felt like this sort of thing was happening more and more often. 

"A-All right... Could you turn around for a moment?" 

"Okay." 

It might actually be more embarrassing than a skirt, but I'd just have to put up with it. At least I had a reason for wearing it, unlike those other outfits... Yeah. It was better than those. 

"Hmm..." 

Still, this thing was pretty small. Well, it fit my body perfectly, but that was what made it strange. 

Shiroko was considerably taller than me. Probably by around twenty centimeters. So I couldn't understand why she had something in this size. 

"Did you get it on?" 

"Ah, yes. Somehow." 

"Good. Just as I thought, Hoshino-senpai's size fits you perfectly." 

As I was wondering about it, Shiroko supplied the answer. Though all it did was create a new question. 

"Why do you have someone else's size?" 

"A candidate for a cycling companion. But no one will wear it." 

"So it really is embarrassing to wear!" 

Actually, Shiroko had been unusually familiar with me, not to mention attentive. I thought I finally understood why she'd been so excited. 

"But it's essential for cycling. You'll understand how good it is eventually." 

There it was. She'd found someone she might be able to drag into her hobby, so she was giving me the equipment to make sure I couldn't back out later. 

I'd done the same thing to friends in my previous life. Someone had turned me down once, and I'd stopped doing it after that. 

"Also, you should apply petroleum jelly to your joints and other sensitive areas. Friction will make them hurt. The water supply in Abydos still works, so I recommend powdered sports drinks, assuming you'll refill your water there. You absolutely cannot set out with the kind of preparations you'd make for a quick trip to the convenience store down the street." 

"I-I understand! Don't tell me everything all at once!" 

"...Mm. Sorry. I got a little carried away." 

When I checked the contents of the bag, I found that it really did have everything she'd mentioned. There was also a hat to block the sun, sunglasses to prevent snow blindness, disinfectant, gauze, bandages, and other first-aid supplies... And, of course, a grenade. I supposed that was just Kivotos for you. 

A needle for popping blisters, citric acid to fight fatigue, salt candies... She'd clearly prepared for a very long stretch of strenuous exercise. All things I'd wished I had during my training with Cyan. 

...But. Still. 

"Pretty much everything you need is right there. You should be able to manage with those things. I've made a list, too, so use it as a reference." 

"U-Um..." 

"...What is it? Is there something bothering you? You can ask me anything." 

H-Her sparkling eyes were dazzling...! I didn't want to say it, but... If I didn't say it now, it would only get harder later. I had to. 

"It's not like I'm planning to take up cycling as a hobby..." 

"...I see." 

Ah, her ears drooped... My heart ached. It felt as though someone were squeezing it. Why was I being made to feel this way? 

"...Then why did you come all the way here by bicycle?" 

Shiroko quickly recovered and suddenly asked me that. 

Why, indeed? This was something I hadn't even told Saori and the others. It wasn't as though I had any reason to keep it secret, though. 

"Ah, well... You could say I'm looking for new experiences..." 

I'd remembered my previous life while playing a game with Yuzu. I figured the key to recovering those memories was to relive experiences from my previous life. So, to test that theory, I'd started trying things I hadn't done in this world... Things I'd never had the opportunity to do. 

...But I hadn't remembered anything. It probably wasn't the kind of experience that had anything to do with my previous life. I was a little disappointed... Well, there was no point in trying to fool myself. It hadn't lived up to my expectations. I was feeling a little down. 

"...So you're not planning on making cycling a hobby?" 

"F-For now, at least..." 

"..." 

...Th-this was getting uncomfortable. It wasn't that I wasn't interested, but that wasn't what I was trying to do this time... 

"New experiences..." 

"...?" 

"...There's still plenty of time before it gets dark. Come with me." 

"W-Wait a minute!" 

As I was thinking that, Shiroko took me by the hand and dragged me outside. 

 

---

 

"S-Shiroko! W-Wait! You're going too fast! Too fast!" 

"...I'll slow down a little." 

She sounded dissatisfied...!? This wasn't a sports bike, so I wished she'd cut me some slack... Still, it was frustrating to keep falling behind. I might as well... 

I let a little of my Mystics flow through my body. 

"Not necessary!" 

"Everyone has their own pace. I don't recommend suddenly disrupting it. You'll just waste your energy." 

She'd ended up lecturing me. Well, she had a point. 

"...Mm. That's the way. Let's gradually pick up the pace." 

"Okay." 

Had it rained last night? As I pedaled forward, I scattered the blue sky reflected on the water's surface. A faint breeze helped the sweat evaporate, leaving me with a pleasant, cooling sensation. 

"We should take a water break soon." 

"O-Okay." 

What was the right way to drink from this thing, anyway? The mouthpiece was an odd shape. No, wait. More importantly... 

"Um, where are we going?" 

"You'll see soon." 

"I-I'd really like to know now, if possible!" 

"...It's coming into view." 

Silence, followed by a completely unrelated remark. Apparently, she had no intention of answering. I couldn't figure out what Shiroko was up to. 

"This is..." 

I turned my head to look in the direction Shiroko was facing. On a road where cars no longer passed, I could see a cluster of buildings buried beneath the sand. Had this once been a downtown area? 

"...This used to be one of the more developed parts of the Abydos District. Now there's no one here, and no one can live here anymore." 

"..." 

"But in the morning... when the air is a little chilly, I like looking at this place as the sunlight falls over it. It's strange, isn't it?" 

It was around midday now, so the shadows weren't very long. If we came early in the morning, we could probably enjoy the contrast between light and darkness. I found myself imagining it. 

"This sign means bicycles are allowed to pass. There's no real reason to obey it, but I try not to ride anywhere without one." 

"...Why?" 

"Senpai told me to. That's the only reason." 

"Hahaha..." 

Senpai. She meant Hoshino, didn't she? She certainly seemed to look up to her. 

"There's a convenience store over there... No, there used to be. There's no clerk or merchandise, but the water supply still works. We should be able to refill our water there." 

"I'm fine for now." 

"I see." 

What caught my eye were the plants, which looked as though someone had deliberately planted them there. They'd probably been put there by the shop that used to stand in this spot. 

They'd grown unchecked, almost completely wild now. I wondered how many years it had taken for them to reach this state. 

"If you get lost, use that tower as your landmark. It's the tallest building in this district. Still smaller than the Sanctum Tower, though." 

...Well, there weren't many buildings bigger than the Sanctum Tower... Actually, there probably weren't any. I'd have noticed if there were. 

"The ground gets a little rough around here, so be careful. We'll be going downhill soon." 

"Y-Yes!" 

Looking ahead, I saw cracked asphalt. There were bullet holes, so there must have been a battle here. It was easy enough to imagine. And just as easy to imagine that everything had been left as it was afterward. There probably wasn't anyone left to repair it. 

If Shiroko had chosen this road, the others must have been even worse. I felt a little helpless. 

"Oh, but once we get past this stretch, there's a train line nearby. The sandstorms don't affect that area as much, so there are a few more people around." 

"Ah, um... I'd rather not be seen by people dressed like this..." 

"...Understood. We'll take a detour." 

"Sorry..." 

We rode down the slope. Even without pedaling, our speed steadily increased. It made me feel as though I could keep going forever without doing anything at all. 

At a fork in the road, we turned left. Looking to the side, I could see a cluster of buildings in the distance, along with the road leading toward them. We weren't going that way. I felt as though she'd made that clear without saying a word. 

"From here on, the road stays flat for a while. It's mostly just towns buried under sand. Maybe you'll find them boring to look at." 

"...Do you really think so?" 

These were sights I remembered neither from my previous life nor from this one. It was as if time had been stolen from this district alone. Everything people had built had become unnecessary. The people themselves had long since disappeared. It was a place on the verge of ruin. 

They said nothing lasted forever, but this town would probably remain just as it was until people returned. And they probably wouldn't return at all. 

"...Come to think of it, I found someone collapsed here once before. Someone reckless enough to come to Abydos with nothing but the clothes on their back." 

...She meant Sensei, didn't she? I remembered a little about that. Calling someone collapsed on the roadside felt a little harsh, though. 

"Today's situation is almost exactly like back then. It brought back memories. A lot happened at the time." 

"A lot happened... Can I ask something strange? Were they happy memories?" 

"...I'm not sure. There were happy times, but not only happy times. There were painful things, too." 

The girls discussing ways to make money together. Visiting a junior's part-time workplace. Robbing a bank. Falling out with their senpai. 

"...It was just ordinary everyday life." 

That must have been their version of youth. Even in a place like this, that much hadn't changed. 

I could relate to that, at least a little. Arius had been the same. 

"...But there were things that weren't ordinary, too... And having those things happen was part of everyday life. I can't really put it into words." 

"I understand. At least a little." 

"I see." 

After that, we didn't have any particularly deep conversations. Every so often, we'd exchange a few words about this or that. 

Little by little, the sand covering the road grew thinner. This was probably an area people used in their daily lives. I was beginning to get a vague idea of where Shiroko was taking me. 

"...This is Abydos High School. No one's here right now, but this is the school I attend." 

"It's a magnificent building." 

"...The school store is still running. I recommend buying your souvenirs there." 

I got off my bicycle and followed Shiroko inside. I couldn't help wondering whether it was all right for an outsider to be here, but she didn't seem concerned, so I decided not to worry about it. 

"Does the school store have someone working there?" 

"No. It's fully automated. A remnant of the days when we had plenty of funding." 

Just beyond the school gate, I could see a building separate from the main schoolhouse. Shiroko headed straight toward it. That must have been the store. 

The automatic doors opened, and we stepped inside. It wasn't particularly old or dusty. It was still clean, as though this one place had been preserved in the past. 

"...We try to keep the school grounds as clean as possible." 

Perhaps my confusion had shown on my face, because she suddenly explained. 

I took a quick look around the store, searching for souvenirs. Most of the shelves were filled with famous sweet and savory buns, but one item caught my eye: Abydos Sand Manju. Just an ordinary manju with the school's emblem stamped on top. 

There wasn't anything else that seemed particularly suitable, so I bought four boxes. That should be enough to give everyone at least one. No, considering Mayumi and the others, I'd better get one more. 

"...Mm. Thank you for your purchase." 

"Huh?" 

"We made these. ...No, our senpai did. So when you buy them, the money goes to us." 

"Y-You planned this, didn't you...?" 

"It's perfectly legal. We haven't done anything wrong." 

...Well, whatever. I probably wouldn't find a better souvenir than this, and there wasn't anywhere else around here where I could buy anything. 

"Finished? Then come with me." 

"Yes, just a moment." 

After paying, I followed Shiroko. It was the first school I'd ever seen that resembled the kind of school I knew from my previous life. 

And yet, here I was, wearing these clothes indoors. It felt mismatched somehow, and that left me with a strange feeling. 

"...Ah." 

Crack. I heard a sound deep inside my head. 

This was the school I'd attended in my previous life. I remembered walking down its hallways with a friend on a day off, going there to pick up something we'd forgotten. 

We probably should have been wearing our uniforms, but I wanted to go play with my friend afterward, so I'd gone in my regular clothes. Back then, too, I'd felt the same way I did now ... Strange. The unfamiliar situation had been fun. 

"Are you okay?" 

"...Y-Yes..." 

As I was remembering all that, we'd apparently reached our destination. Shiroko's voice brought me back to the present. But I couldn't see her. 

"Over here. Climb up." 

"Oh, we're going up?" 

Somehow, we'd made it to the rooftop. I climbed the ladder, then went even higher, to the highest point of the school building. 

"What's that?" 

"Solar panels. They generate electricity, so our power is practically free. And this is Hoshino-senpai's napping spot. When she's not around, she's usually here, so we don't have much trouble finding her when she goes missing." 

"Hahaha... I can see why. It's a nice, sunny spot." 

I spread my arms and legs out wide, feeling the sunlight warm my body. It was hot, but I didn't mind it all that much. 

"And those over there... I see. Defensive barriers for combat..." 

"...Mm. The Helmet Gang used to attack this place, though they don't come around anymore. We'll remove them eventually. They were put together in a hurry, so there's room for improvement." 

"If it were me, I'd plant land mines over there. Or maybe dig a pit over there, then have a bomb go off while the others are trying to rescue whoever fell in. Boom!" 

I pointed out possible locations with my fingertips, sharing one idea after another. 

"...That would work for a single battle, but we use this place every day. Cleaning up afterward would be a pain." 

"Hm. That's a good point..." 

...Come to think of it, I'd used poison gas at Arius. I wonder if that was all right... Well, whatever. I'm sure it'll work out somehow. 

"Shall we head back inside?" 

"Huh? Can't I take a little nap here...?" 

"...You sound like Hoshino-senpai. But no." 

"Aww ..." 

With no other choice, I followed her back inside the school building. 

As we continued down the hallway, Shiroko stopped in front of one section. 

"...Mm." 

"Huh?" 

"Mm." 

Among the many posters was one that read: CYCLING CLUB — NEW MEMBERS WANTED! 

"I'm not an Abydos student, though..." 

"...Mmm." 

She looked back at the poster longingly, again and again. After repeating the gesture a few times, she must have realized it wasn't going to work. She simply started walking again. 

"...There's more sand than before. I'll have to clean it up later." 

"..." 

On the way, Shiroko muttered those words. Her voice was a tangled mess of conflicting emotions. 

She seemed about to say something, but stopped herself. Then, with a simple "Let's not go this way," she turned back. 

"This is the room of the Foreclosure Task Force, a club I'm part of. We usually meet and work here." 

"...There are a lot of books..." 

"Most of them are about Abydos. Old festivals, legends, things like that." 

The words Abydos Sand Festival sounded vaguely familiar. I couldn't remember what it was, though. 

"But I don't really want to show you this place. Let's go somewhere else." 

Shiroko led me around to see various parts of the school. The pool, the student council room, empty classrooms, the faculty room, and so on... Every one of them was buried under sand, even though there were traces of people having used them once. Thinking about the people who'd been there made me feel a little lonely. 

"...This is the last place." 

Finally, she took me outside the school building, across the schoolyard, to the other side. 

"This is..." 

"Where the bicycle parking area used to be. Now it's just full of things people illegally dumped here. Thanks to that, I never have trouble finding replacement parts." 

Shiroko stepped forward and placed a hand on one of the bicycles. When she tried to lift it, its handlebars came loose. 

"...This is where I... met Nonomi... and Hoshino-senpai." 

"...?!" 

A memory of this world that I didn't know. Shiroko, Nonomi, and Hoshino... They'd met here? 

"...I was cold... Hungry... All alone, with no idea what was going on... I didn't know anything." 

"...!" 

"I only knew my own name." 

"Amnesia..." 

So Shiroko had lost her memories... I see. Somehow, that made sense. Her slightly unusual way of looking at things. The reason she cared so much about Abydos. Those things must have stemmed from it. 

"You knew." 

"...Huh?" 

"Suou. You knew ... my name." 

"Ah..." 

When we'd first met, I'd called her Shiroko while I was still half-conscious. 

"Not just that. You acted as though you knew all sorts of other things, too. You're... a little like me. Your eyes, for example. And your hair." 

"..." 

"...I thought you might know something about the me I don't know. That's why I brought you here. That's one of the reasons." 

There was expectation in her eyes. And fear, too. 

Ah. I understood. I really did. Not knowing who you were... It was painful. I'd been through the same thing myself. 

"...I'm sorry. What I know isn't specific to you, Shiroko. I've had memories of the future... for a long time. That's all." 

"...I see. Of course..." 

She looked disappointed, but at the same time, there was something like relief in her expression. As though she was glad she didn't have to learn the truth just yet. 

"I'm sorry. I made you hope for something, and then couldn't help you..." 

"It's okay. I'm... Sunaookami Shiroko, a student of Abydos High School. That's enough for me right now. ...I just wanted to make sure." 

An awkward silence fell between us. The only thing moving time forward was the sound of the wind kicking up sand. 

"...Let's go back. This time, I'll show you the way to Millennium." 

With that, Shiroko headed back toward the bicycles. I followed without saying anything in particular. 

I lifted the kickstand, swung my leg over the seat, and gradually picked up speed as we took a different road from the one we'd come on. The scenery rushed past us. 

"There's just one more place I want to show you." 

"...?" 

As we climbed a hill, Shiroko said that. We went up and up the gentle slope, until the road gradually began to level out. 

Once we'd reached the top, I realized it wasn't just a hill. It was an embankment. The river had been filled in with sand, so there was no way water could flow through it... And yet, the wind stirred the sand, making it shift and ripple. A stream of sand. It was a fantastical sight. 

Without saying a word, we stopped our bicycles as though we'd planned it together, and took in the view. 

"It's beautiful..." 

"...If you follow this road straight ahead, there's a ramen shop. Serika works there. Even on days she doesn't, when we all head home together, we take this road. We talk about the videos we've been watching lately, what we're going to do tomorrow, things like that. That's my favorite time." 

"..." 

I didn't understand why Shiroko was telling me all this. As far as she was concerned, I was someone she'd only spoken to for the first time today. For me, that wasn't quite true. 

"...When I walk this road home alone... I feel so lonely. I can't even imagine having to live like that every day. I don't want to think about it. ...Once, I almost ended up that way." 

"Ah..." 

Almost ended up that way. She must have been talking about what happened with Hoshino. Hoshino had tried to protect Abydos from Kaiser PMC... and handed herself over to Black Suit. 

"...You're a little like me, but you're even more like Hoshino-senpai." 

I wonder if that's true... It wasn't something I'd ever really considered. 

But Shiroko's expression was utterly serious. She didn't seem to be joking. 

"...Don't ever do something like that to them again." 

"Huh?" 

"When someone precious to you is suffering... and you can't do anything, and you don't even know what's happening... It's incredibly painful." 

"..." 

She'd said she'd heard a little about my circumstances from Hifumi and the others. She must have guessed what had happened. But I hadn't expected her to say something like this. 

"...Even if it seems right to you... the everyday lives of the people who care about you keep going. And the fact that someone precious to them isn't there... That's something they can never make disappear. That person is woven into their everyday lives." 

"...Yes. I know. I understand. All of it." 

I'd learned that lesson down to my bones. I'd been told it over and over again. I understood it already. 

So I probably couldn't... even if I wanted to, I probably couldn't do something like that again. 

"Mm. Then that's good. That's what I wanted to tell you more than anything today." 

Hoshino must have been that person for Shiroko. She saw herself in Saori and the others, and couldn't just stand by. That was probably how it had been. 

"If you follow this road straight ahead, away from the Sanctum Tower, you'll reach the Millennium District. Can you manage from there?" 

"Yes." 

"Then this is where we part. Sorry for taking you on a detour." 

Maybe that's why she'd shown me all those different places around Abydos and brought me to the school. 

"Oh, then there's just one last thing I'd like to say." 

But to be honest, what I'd gained from all this was something else entirely. Another feeling, perhaps. 

"...?" 

"I think I might consider cycling as a potential hobby. It was fun." 

I'd seen all sorts of scenery, remembered a few silly things, and gotten plenty of exercise. It had been an incredibly fulfilling day. 

I really had enjoyed it. 

"...Lend me your phone." 

"Huh?" 

"Just do it." 

She snatched my phone from my hands, tapped at the screen for a moment, then handed it back with MomoTalk open. 

"If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'll answer whenever you need me." 

"..." 

"And you can keep those clothes, too. I have another set. I'll lend you any other equipment you need, as well." 

Shiroko's mood suddenly brightened. What had happened to the kindhearted girl who'd been thinking so much about Saori and the others just a moment ago? Well, this version of her was more her age, at least. 

"Let's go on a ride together next time. I know a good route." 

"H-Hahaha... Well, I suppose I could join you every once in a while." 

"...Mm. My first cycling companion." 

Her expression barely changed, but I could still feel how happy she was. With obvious reluctance, she said her goodbyes. 

"Well, see you next time. ...Bye." 

"Yes. See you again." 

We waved to each other, then turned away. Gradually, her figure melted into the heat haze. 

"..." 

Click. I raised the bicycle's kickstand again. It was rusty, and it let out a sharp squeak as it moved. Other than that, there wasn't a sound to be heard. 

"...Ordinary everyday life, huh?" 

For Shiroko, that meant having Hoshino there. And for Saori and the others, apparently, it meant having me. 

I supposed it was the same for me, too. It was a succession of small miracles. Just half a day. I'd spent today apart from everyone. That was all. 

"It's so quiet..." 

The sound of sand shifting. The sound of wheels turning. It was so quiet I could even hear myself breathing. There was an empty space inside me. 

"...Let's go home." 

Let's go home. As quickly as possible. I wanted to go back, tell everyone I was home, and give them their souvenirs. Then I'd tell them about everything I'd seen today. Everything that had happened. 

And after that, I'd say something ridiculous like I always did. Saori would get a little angry, Atsuko would calm her down, Misaki would pile on, and Hiyori would join in. By then, Azusa would step in to smooth things over. 

"...Hmm-hmm, hmm, hmm-hmm..." 

As I pictured it all in my mind, my steps gradually grew lighter. 

I wanted to see everyone soon. That feeling alone welled up inside me, overflowing. 

"...Ah, hello? Saori? Yes, I'm still in Abydos. No, I thought I'd call while I ride back... Is everyone there?"