R11:CO4_04.txt

次の瞬間、私は雪原に立っていた。%K%P
The next day, I was standing on the snow field.

夕日を雪が照り返し、目に眩しい。%K%P
The snow reflected the setting sun, dazzling my eyes.

こころ「ハァハァハァ……」%K%P
Haa, haa, haa...

激しい運動をしていたように、私は肩で息をしていた。%K%P
My shoulders heaved as I drew breath, as though I had been exercising strenuously.

息が手で掴めそうな程に白くなっている。%K%P
My exhalations hung in the air, white clouds that almost looked as though I could reach out and grab them.

こころ「何があったの……？」%K%P
What happened...?

こころ「悟は、何をしてたの？」%K%P
Satoru, what did you do?

ゆに「うわああああああ！」%K%P
Uwaaaaaaa!

ゆにが怯えるような声をあげていた。%K%P
Yuni screamed out, sounding frightened.

避難小屋から離れ、木立の方へと逃げていく。%K%P
He was running as if to flee the shelter cabin, headed for the grove of trees.

こころ「ゆに！」%K%P
Yuni!

私は、その尋常じゃない様子に驚き、走り出した。%K%P
Surprised at seeing him in this unusual state, I started to run after him.

こころ「どうしたのよ、ゆに！」%K%P
What happened? Yuni!

こころ「ゆに！　待って！」%K%P
Yuni! Wait!

雪の中は、とても走りづらい。%K%P
It was hard to run in that snow.

一歩踏み出すごとに、足が３０センチは沈み込む。%K%P
My feet sank another thirty centimeters into the snow with every step.

そして、そのたびごとに体力を削り取られていく。%K%P
And gradually, I began to feel my strength depleting.

こころ「ハァハァ……」%K%P
Haa, haah...

こころ「待ってよぉ！」%K%P
Hey, wait!

彼の足跡を踏むようにして、懸命に歩を進めていった。%K%P
Following in the footprints he'd left, I pressed on.

ゆに「うわぁ！」%K%P
Uwaa!

木立にさしかかったゆには、雪に足を取られて転んだ。%K%P
Having reached the grove of trees, Yuni slipped in the snow and fell.

雪に覆われた木の根に顔から突っ込む。%K%P
He smacked his head on a tree root that had been hidden under the snow.

こころ「ゆに！　大丈夫！？」%K%P
Yuni! Are you all right?!

私は、ゆにに追いついた。%K%P
I caught up with Yuni.

半身を雪に埋めているゆにを、助け起こす。%K%P
I helped Yuni, his body half-covered in snow, stand up.

ゆに「痛い……痛いよぉ……」%K%P
It hurts... it huurts...

彼は額を押さえていた。%K%P
He rubbed his forehead.

転んだ際にぶつけたらしい。%K%P
It seemed that he'd hit it when he fell down.

こころ「見せてごらん」%K%P
Let me have a look at that.

ゆにを抱き起こしたままの格好で、彼の髪をかき上げた。%K%P
Yuni had gotten back to his feet, but his hair was sticking out every which way.

付着した雪を優しく払ってあげる。%K%P
I gently brush away the snow clinging to it.

額には怪我はなかった。%K%P
There was no injury to his forehead.

よく見なければ気づかないような古キズがあったが、これは今ついたものではないだろう。%K%P
You wouldn't see it unless you looked closely, but there was an old scar there. He hadn't gotten that just now, had he?

こころ「大丈夫、血は出てないよ」%K%P
It's okay, you're not bleeding.

ゆに「でも……痛いんだってばぁ……」%K%P
But... it huuurts...

ゆには、双眸に涙をいっぱいに溜めて、痛みを堪えていた。%K%P
Yuni's eyes were filling with tears as he tried to withstand the pain.

こころ「もう、男の子でしょ？　泣かないの！」%K%P
Really, you're a boy, aren't you? Come on, don't cry!

ゆに「だってぇ……」%K%P
But...

こころ「しょうがないな……」%K%P
Come on, there's no helping it...

私は、ゆにの額に小さく口づけをした。%K%P
I gave Yuni a little kiss on the forehead.

こころ「痛いの、痛いの、%TS041アンドロメダ%TEの彼方まで飛んで行け」%K%P
Pain, pain, fly away to %TS041Andromeda%TE.

ゆに「な……なんだよ、それ……」%K%P
Wh... what the heck is that...

ゆには照れたように微笑んでいた。%K%P
Yuni smiled shyly.

頬が赤く染まっているのは、夕日のせいだけではないだろう。%K%P
His cheeks were turning red, and I don't think it was just because of the setting sun.

ゆに「恥ずかしいことしないでよね」%K%P
Don't say such an embarrassing thing.

こころ「でも、痛いのは消えた？」%K%P
But hasn't the pain gone away?

ゆに「うん……」%K%P
Yeah...

彼は口をもごもごさせていたが、小さな声で言った。%K%P
He mumbled it, but I could still hear him softly say that.

ゆに「ありがと、こころん」%K%P
Thanks, Kokoron.

私は笑顔でうなずくと、ゆにを立たせてあげた。%K%P
Smiling, I nodded, and pulled him back to his feet.

ゆに「どうして『アンドロメダの彼方まで』なの？」%K%P
Why is it "to Andromeda"?

こころ「ん？」%K%P
Hm?

こころ「うーん……」%K%P
Hmmm...

こころ「その方が、ロマンティックだから」%K%P
Because it's more romantic that way.

彼の服の雪を払ってやる。%K%P
I brush the snow from his clothes.

ゆには確認するように聞いてきた。%K%P
As though to confirm something, Yuni asked me a question.

ゆに「今は、こころんなんだよね？」%K%P
You're Kokoron now, right?

こころ「そうだよ」%K%P
That's right.

それを聞き、ゆには心なしか安心したような表情になった。%K%P
After hearing that, a somewhat imprudent expression of relief came to Yuni's face.

こころ「ところで……どうして逃げてたの？　何かあった？」%K%P
By the way... why were you running away? What happened?

ゆに「それは……」%K%P
Because...

彼は口ごもった。%K%P
He hesitated.

何か言い出しづらいようなことが、避難小屋であったのだろうか？%K%P
I don't know what was so hard for him to say, but it was most likely something that had happened in the shelter cabin.

そのとき、小屋から大きな声が聞こえてきた。%K%P
Just then, I heard a scream from the cabin.

黄泉木「こら！　なにやってるんだよ、黛！」%K%P
Hey! What the heck're you doing, Mayuzumi?!

黄泉木「おい！　やめるんだ！」%K%P
Oi! Knock it off!

黄泉木「ぐあっ……！」%K%P
Guaa...!

その声を聞き、私は……%K%p
When I heard that scream, I...

ゆにが逃げていた理由を尋ねる
Ask Yuni why he'd run away

小屋へ急ぐ
Hurry back to the cabin

ゆに「小屋へ行こう！　こころん！」%K%P
Let's go back to the cabin! Kokoron!

こころ「ねえ、その前に、どうしてゆには逃げていたの？」%K%P
Hey Yuni, just now, why did you come running out here?

こころ「理由を教えてくれない？」%K%P
Won't you tell me the reason?

ゆに「それは……」%K%P
That's because...

ゆに「トビリンが、イジめたからだよ！」%K%P
Tobilin was picking on me!

ゆに「食べ物が欲しかったら、言うこと聞けって！」%K%P
If she wanted food, she should have listened!

こころ「いじめられたの？」%K%P
Picking on you?

ゆに「すぐに手ぇあげるしさ……最悪だよ！」%K%P
Just grabbing it like that... she's the worst!

こころ「そっか、それで逃げてたんだね……」%K%P
I see, and then you ran away, huh...

こころ「可哀想に……」%K%P
Poor thing...

私が一緒にいる時ならかばってやることも出来るが、スフィアにいるときは手出しが出来ない。%K%P
When we were together I'd do whatever I could to protect him, but when we were in SPHIA, there was no way I could interfere.

それが悔しかった。%K%P
It was irritating.

頭を優しく撫でてやる。%K%P
I gently patted his head.

ゆには気丈に微笑むと、避難小屋を指さした。%K%P
Yuni smiled bravely and pointed toward the shelter cabin.

ゆに「それよりも、こころん！　小屋に戻ろう！」%K%P
Anyway, Kokoron! Let's go back to the cabin!

こころ「うん！」%K%P
Yeah!

自分達の踏んできた足跡を辿るように、私達は小屋へと駆け戻った。%K%P
Following in the trail of footprints we'd left, we headed back toward the cabin.

私達は、顔を見合わせ……%K%P
We looked at each other...

こころ「小屋に戻ろう」%K%P
Let's go back to the cabin.

ゆに「うん」%K%P
Yeah.

自分達の踏んできた足跡を辿るように、私達は小屋へと駆け戻った。%K%P
Following in the trail of footprints we'd left, we headed back toward the cabin.

黛に食糧の管理を任せたから、彼女は増長してしまったのだろうか？%K%P
Had Mayuzumi started to get a big head over being entrusted with the management of our food supply?

思えば、ワガママな彼女に対して、私は甘く接していたような気がする。%K%P
When I think about it, I get the feeling that I was naïve in thinking a selfish girl like her would be responsible enough to do it.

こころ「ごめんね……」%K%P
Sorry...

こころ「小屋に戻ろう！」%K%P
Let's go back to the cabin!

ゆに「うん」%K%P
Yeah.

自分達の踏んできた足跡を辿るように、私達は小屋へと駆け戻った。%K%P
Following in the trail of footprints we'd left, we headed back toward the cabin.

こころ「そんな……！」%K%P
No way...!

私は、ワガママを言う黛に対してはできるだけ厳しく接してきたつもりだ。%K%P
Calling Mayuzumi selfish like that, I wasn't really following through on how I said I'd help us stay together.

私達の『和』を大切にするために。それが、生き残るために必要だからだ。%K%P
This is all so I can protect the harmony between us. That's necessary for us to survive here.

まさか、厳しく接しすぎたせいで、私達に不信感を抱いている……とか？%K%P
I hardly wanted to think it was possible, but were some of us harboring distrust in each other because of the strict way we'd conducted things...?

こころ「ともかく、小屋に戻ろう！」%K%P
Anyway, let's go back to the cabin!

ゆに「うん」%K%P
Okay!

自分達の踏んできた足跡を辿るように、私達は小屋へと駆け戻った。%K%P
Following in the trail of footprints we'd left, we headed back toward the cabin.

こころ「そんなこと言ったの？」%K%P
Did I say that?

黛に食糧の管理を任せればいいと提案したのは、私だ。%K%P
The one who proposed that we put Mayuzumi in charge of managing the food supply, it was me.

もし、そのせいでゆにが傷つけられたなら、その責任の一端は私にもある。%K%P
If because of that, Yuni was injured, then I'm partly responsible too.

こころ「ごめんね……」%K%P
Sorry...

ゆに「ううん。いいよ。それよりも、小屋に戻ろう！」%K%P
No, it's okay. So then, let's go back to the cabin!

自分達の踏んできた足跡を辿るように、私達は小屋へと駆け戻った。%K%P
Following in the trail of footprints we'd left, we headed back toward the cabin.

避難小屋へと戻った私は、息を呑んだ。%K%P
What I saw when we returned to the shelter cabin took my breath away.

そこには、恐ろしい光景が広がっていたから……%K%P
A dreadful scene had unfolded there...

黄泉木が血まみれで倒れていた。背中に深い裂傷がいくつもついている。%K%P
Yomogi-san lay where he had fallen to the floor, covered in blood. There were countless deep gashes in his back.

こころ「黄泉木さん……」%K%P
Yomogi-san...

黛「あら、戻ってきたの？」%K%P
Oh, you've come back?

黛「ふたりでどこかへ行ったと思ったのに……」%K%P
I wondered where you two had gone...

彼女はゆっくりと近づいてくる。%K%P
She slowly made her way toward me.

耳障りな金属音がどこかから聞こえる。%K%P
From somewhere, I could hear a metallic clanking sound that grated on my nerves.

彼女は……%K%P
She...

斧を引きずっていた。%K%P
was dragging along an ax.

血に濡れた斧を……。%K%P
An ax wet with blood....

こころ「黄泉木さんに……なにをしたんですか」%K%P
What... did you do to Yomogi-san?

黛「こいつ、食べ物をわけろなんて言うから……」%K%P
That guy, he kept talking about how we should divide up the food...

黛「殺したの」%K%P
So I killed him.

こころ「そんな……どうしてですか？」%K%P
What... but why?

私は恐怖を堪えながら続ける。%K%P
Trying to hold back the fear rising in me, I continued.

こころ「黛さん、食べ物を管理するって……考えてみんなに分配するって言ったじゃないですか！」%K%P
Mayuzumi-san, didn't we say... that we were going to divide the food up equally among everyone?!

黛「そうね」%K%P
Hm, you're right.

黛「だけど、気づいたのよ」%K%P
But I realized something.

黛「寒い中にいるのは、カロリーを消費するの」%K%P
In a cold place like this, you use up a lot of calories.

黛「たったあれだけの食べ物、４人でわけたら、生きていけないわ」%K%P
With only this little food, if we divide it among four people, none of us will survive.

黛「そもそも、私のものになった食糧をどうしてわけなくちゃいけないの？」%K%P
And in the first place, why should I have to share the provisions I took for myself with everyone?

黛はチョコを取り出すとクチャクチャと囓った。%K%P
Mayuzumi took out a bar of chocolate and began munching away at it.

うまそうに微笑む。%K%P
She smiled at the flavor of it.

黛「おいし……」%K%P
Mmm, yummy...

黛「これは、私のものだわ」%K%P
This belongs to me.

黛「分けるなんて、ゼッタイ嫌」%K%P
There's no way I'll let it be divided up.

黛「私はね、生きていたいの……」%K%P
See, I want to live...

黛「私を待ってる人がいるの……」%K%P
There are people waiting for me...

口の周りにチョコをベットリと付けた黛は、斧を引きずりながら、ゆっくりと近づいてくる……%K%P
With chocolate stains all around her mouth, Mayuzumi slowly came closer, dragging the ax with her...

こころ「あなた……」%K%P
You...

私は後ずさりしながら、黛を指さした。%K%P
Taking a step back, I thrust an accusing finger at Mayuzumi.

こころ「おかしくなってる……！」%K%P
You've lost it...!

薄い笑みを浮かべていた黛が、目を怒らせた。%K%P
A thin smile rose to her face, but Mayuzumi's eyes were furious.

斧を振り上げる。%K%P
She raised the ax over her head.

黛「私は正気よ……！」%K%P
I'm perfectly sane...!

私は、とっさに身をかわそうとした。%K%P
I immediately dodged.

だが、そのとき。%K%P
But just as I did,

ゆに「ねえ、なにがあったの、こころん！」%K%P
Hey, what happened? Kokoron!

遅れてやってきたゆにが、小屋に入ってきた。%K%P
Yuni, who had fallen behind me, entered the cabin.

こころ「来ちゃダメ！」%K%P
DON'T COME IN HERE!

ゆに「うわああああ！」%K%P
Uwaaaa!

黛は、ゆにに向けて斧を振り下ろす。%K%P
Mayuzumi turned to Yuni and swung the ax down.

ゆにに抱きつくようにして、彼をかばった。%K%P
I embraced him to protect him.

背中に、火箸を押しつけられたような熱さを感じた。%K%P
In my back, there was a burning sensation as though metal prongs had pierced it.

続いてやってくる、激しい痛み。%K%P
A continuously aching, intense pain.

目眩。嘔吐感。%K%P
Vertigo. The urge to vomit.

黛「あんたが死ねば、私が助かる……」%K%P
If you die, it'll help me out...

黛「ごめんね」%K%P
Sorry.

黛「ごめんね」%K%P
Sorry.

黛「ごめんねごめんねごめんねごめんねごめんねごめんねごめんねごめんねごめんねごめんねごめんねごめんねごめんねごめんねごめんねごめんね」%K%P
Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry

ゆに「こころん！　こころーん！」%K%P
Kokoron! Kokoronnn!

こころ「う……あ……」%K%P
Uu... aa...

私は、ゆにの声を聞きながら、深い暗闇へ落ちていった。%K%P
As I listened to Yuni's voice, I sank into a deep darkness.

ゆに「こころーん……！」%K%P
Kokoronnn...!

ただ、私は願っていた。%K%P
I had only one wish.

ゆにが、無事でいてくれれば、と……%K%P
If only Yuni could be saved...

%N%N%N%N

%CF66A%FS%LCThis⑳story⑳has⑳not⑳finished⑳yet.%FE%N

%C88FC%FS%LCThis⑳story⑳has⑳not⑳finished⑳yet.%FE%N

%FS%LCThis⑳story⑳has⑳not⑳finished⑳yet.%FE%N

%FS%LCTruth⑳is⑳not⑳revealed.%FE%N

%FS%LCAnd⑳it⑳circulates⑳through⑳an⑳incident.%FE%N

%FS%LC――⑳It⑳is⑳an⑳infinity⑳loop!%FE

%O

ロック解除――アルバム（全キャラクター表情集）
Unlocked――Album (All Character Expressions)
//All Character Portraits?

避難小屋へと戻った私は、息を呑んだ。%K%P
What I saw when we returned to the shelter cabin took my breath away.

そこには、恐ろしい光景が広がっていたから……%K%P
A dreadful scene had unfolded there...

黛の口の周りには赤黒いものがこびり付いており、その傍らに黄泉木が倒れていた。%K%P
Something dark red was smeared around the edges of Mayuzumi's mouth, and beside her, Yomogi had fallen to the floor.

黛の口を汚しているのは……血液！？%K%P
The stains around Mayuzumi's mouth were... blood?!

こころ「まさか、黄泉木さんを……！？」%K%P
No, she couldn't have... to Yomogi-san...?!

その問いに答えず、黛は口元をべろりと舐めた。%K%P
To answer my questions, Mayuzumi licked around the edges of her mouth.

手負いの獣を思わせる、病んだような目だ。%K%P
The maddened eyes she looked at me with looked to me like those of a wounded beast.

こころ「そんな……ヤダ……」%K%P
Such a thing... no...

遭難して食糧の尽きた人達が陥る、恐ろしい状態が私の脳裏に宿った。%K%P
People who are stranded after an accident and run out of provisions, they fall into a horrible state like this――that horrifying thought had become lodged in my mind.

人間の尊厳が揺さぶられる光景に、唇が震える。%K%P
Before such a scene of shattered human dignity, my lips began to tremble.

しかし――%K%P
But――

黄泉木「僕は無事だよ」%K%P
I'm fine.

黄泉木は、ゆっくりと身体を起こした。%K%P
Yomogi slowly picked himself up from off the floor.

安堵した私は、腰が抜けたようにへたり込んでしまう。%K%P
In my relief, my legs lost their strength, and I dropped to the floor on my knees.

こころ「はぁ……良かった……」%K%P
Haa... thank goodness...

黄泉木「ちっとも良くないよ」%K%P
What goodness?

こころ「なにがあったんですか？」%K%P
What happened?

黄泉木「この女、チョコをひとりで食っちまったんだ……」%K%P
That woman, she ate all the chocolate herself...

黄泉木「それを咎めたら、突き飛ばされた……くそっ」%K%P
And when I confronted her about it, she pushed me down like this... shit.

黄泉木は立ち上がって膝を払うと、黛を睨み付ける。%K%P
Yomogi stood and dusted off his knees, scowling at Mayuzumi.

ゆに「えええ～！？」%K%P
Eeeh～?!

ゆにが、黛に詰め寄った。%K%P
Yuni drew closer to Mayuzumi.

ゆに「なんで、そんなことするんだよぉ！　それはみんなのものだろ！？」%K%P
I don't know how you could do such a thing! That's everyone's food, isn't it?!

黛「ふんっ。アンタらいなくなったからさ、もういらないかなと思って？」%K%P
Hmph. I was just thinking, if only you all weren't here, you wouldn't need it.

黛「管理者は私でしょ？」%K%P
I'm the manager here, aren't I?

口元を汚していた赤黒いものは、チョコだったのだ。%K%P
So those dark red stains around her mouth, they were chocolate.

それを指で拭うと、ベロベロと舐め取った。%K%P
She wiped them off with one finger, and then licked it clean.

こころ「どうして……！」%K%P
Why...!

こころ「私、黛さんを信じたのに！　信じたから、任せたのに！」%K%P
Mayuzumi-san, I believed in you! Because I believed in you, I entrusted this to you!

黛は、言い募る私に嘲るような笑みを向けた。%K%P
Mayuzumi turned toward me with an insolent smile, as though she were trying to start a fight.

黛「言ったでしょ？　ここでは私が法律よ」%K%P
Didn't I say it before? I make the rules here.

黛「計算してみたの」%K%P
How calculating.

黛「この食糧を４人でわけあったら、４日間生き延びるのがせいぜいよ」%K%P
If we divide these provisions among four people, we can only survive for another four days at most.

黛「１枚しかないチョコを、全員でわけたら生き残れない」%K%P
With only this one last chocolate bar, we won't survive even if we divide it up equally.

黛「だけど、私がひとりで食べれば、生きていける。私はね」%K%P
But if I eat it myself, I can go on living. Just me.

黛「だから、食べたの」%K%P
So, I ate it.

黛「刑法第３７条：自己又は他人の生命、身体、自由又は財産に対する現在の危難を避けるため、やむを得ずにした行為は……」%K%P
Penal Code Article 37: To avoid imminent danger to one self or others' life, body, freedom, or property...

黛「これによって生じた害が避けようとした害の程度を超えなかった場合に限り、罰しない」%K%P
In the case that the level of harm the original danger would have caused is not exceeded, there will no punishment carried out against the party in question.

黛「緊急避難――弁護士としての判断ね」%K%P
Emergency evacuation――that's the course of action I'm recommending as a lawyer.

ゆに「そんな言い訳、通るわけないじゃん！」%K%P
There's no way we'll accept an excuse like that!

ゆに「チョコ返せよお！　返せ！」%K%P
Give back the chocolate! Give it back!

黛「もう食べちゃったもんは戻らないわよ！」%K%P
I already ate it, you won't be getting it back!

ゆにが、キッと私を睨んだ。%K%P
Yuni had been scowling at me the whole time.

ゆに「こころん！　だから、言ったのに！」%K%P
Kokoron! That's what I said!

ゆに「こんなヤツ信じちゃダメだったんだよ！」%K%P
There was no way we could believe in someone like her!

こころ「…………」%K%P
......

黛は悪びれもせず、薄ら笑いを浮かべている。%K%P
Mayuzumi was completely calm, and a thin smile rose to her face.

罪の意識はないのかもしれない。%K%P
Maybe she didn't even realize that she was at fault.

私は震えながら、黛を真っ直ぐに見つめた。%K%P
Mayuzumi stared intently at me as I trembled.

こころ「信じちゃいけなかったんですか……？」%K%P
Was I wrong to believe in you...?

こころ「信じた私が……バカだったんですか？」%K%P
Was I... a fool for believing in you...?

黛「……裏切るつもりはなかったわ」%K%P
...I had no intention of betraying your trust.

黛「ただ、私は死にたくなかっただけ……」%K%P
It's just that I don't want to die...

黛「生きて、会わなきゃいけない人がいるから……」%K%P
There are people I need to see again, so I have to live...

黛「それだけよ」%K%P
That's the only reason.

こころ「私だって死にたくない……！　みんなそう思ってますよ……！」%K%P
I don't want to die either...! All of us feel the same way...!

こころ「それなのに……！　それなのに……！」%K%P
But even so...! Even so...!

私は悔しくて悲しくて、涙が滲んできた。%K%P
My eyes blurred with tears of frustration and sorrow.

黄泉木の胸にすがりつき、声をあげて泣いた。%K%P
Burying my face in Yomogi's chest, I wailed loudly.

こころ「う、うぅ……」%K%P
Uu, uuu...

黛の言葉が許せなかった。%K%P
The things Mayuzumi had said were unforgivable.

黄泉木「この女、チョコをひとりで食っちまったんだ……」%K%P
That woman, she ate all the chocolate herself...

黄泉木「目を離した隙に、僕のバッグから奪ったんだ」%K%P
I took my eyes off her for one moment and she stole it right out of my bag.

黄泉木「それを咎めたら、突き飛ばされた……くそっ」%K%P
And when I confronted her about it, she pushed me down like this... shit.

黄泉木は立ち上がって膝を払うと、黛を睨み付ける。%K%P
Yomogi stood and dusted off his knees, scowling at Mayuzumi.

ゆに「えええ～！？」%K%P
Eeeh～?!

ゆにが、黛に詰め寄った。%K%P
Yuni drew closer to Mayuzumi.

ゆに「なんで、そんなことするんだよぉ！　それはみんなのものだろ！？」%K%P
I don't know how you could do such a thing! That's everyone's food, isn't it?!

黛「ふんっ。アンタらいなくなったからさ、もういらないかなと思って？」%K%P
Hmph. I was just thinking, if only you all weren't here, you wouldn't need it.

口元を汚していた赤黒いものは、チョコだったのだ。%K%P
So those dark red stains around her mouth, they were chocolate.

それを指で拭うと、ベロベロと舐め取った。%K%P
She wiped them off with one finger, and then licked it clean.

こころ「そんなわけないじゃないですか！」%K%P
That's not how it is at all!

こころ「なんで、足を引っ張るようなマネするんですか？」%K%P
Were you just putting on an act to try and sabotage us all?

黛「足を引っ張る？」%K%P
Sabotage?

こころ「みんなで協力しないと、生きてはいけないんですよ！？」%K%P
Unless we all cooperate, none of us will survive, you know?!

こころ「どうして……どうして、そんな勝手なこと……！」%K%P
Why... why would you do such a selfish thing...?!

黛は、言い募る私に嘲るような笑みを向けた。%K%P
Mayuzumi turned toward me with an insolent smile, as though she were trying to start a fight.

黛「どうしてって、決まってるでしょ？」%K%P
Why? Don't you know perfectly well why?

黛「簡単な算数よ」%K%P
It's simple arithmetic.

黛「１枚しかないチョコを、全員でわけたら生き残れない」%K%P
With only this one last chocolate bar, we won't survive even if we divide it up equally.

黛「だけど、私がひとりで食べれば、生きていける。私はね」%K%P
But if I eat it myself, I can go on living. Just me.

黛「だから、食べたの」%K%P
So, I ate it.

こころ「みんなで決めたじゃないですか！　食糧は、黄泉木さんに任せるって！」%K%P
We decided together, right?! We're letting Yomogi-san manage the provisions!

黛「このおっさんが、信用できるかよ！？」%K%P
You have this much confidence in that old fart?!

黛「私は知ってる！　いざとなったら、このおっさんは、簡単に人を見捨てるんだ！」%K%P
I know it! When the going gets tough, then this geezer will abandon all of us!

黄泉木「どういうことだ？」%K%P
What the hell do you think you're saying?

黛「飛行機が墜落したとき、私は見てたのよ」%K%P
I saw it myself when the plane crashed.

黛「アンタ、私を見つける前に、もうひとり息のある人を見つけたでしょ？」%K%P
You, before you found me, you also found another person who was still breathing, didn't you?

黄泉木「…………」%K%P
......

黛「でも、そいつのことは見捨てた。息があるのに、助けようとしなかった！」%K%P
But you abandoned them. Even though they were still alive, you didn't even try to help them!

黛「そうでしょ！？」%K%P
Isn't that right?!

深い息を吐いた後、黄泉木は苦しげに言った。%K%P
Yomogi took a long, deep breath, and when he finally spoke, his voice was filled with pain.

この４日間でヒゲの濃くなったように見える顔が、苦悶に歪む。%K%P
His face, darkened by four days' worth of stubble, distorted in anguish.

黄泉木「その通りだ。だが……」%K%P
That's right. But...

黄泉木「……胸に飛行機の破片が突き刺さってた……」%K%P
...there was shrapnel from the plane sticking out of that person's chest...

黄泉木「……もう助からないと思ったんだ」%K%P
...I didn't think there was anything I could do for them.

黛「ほら、みなさい！」%K%P
Look, just look at this!

勝ち誇ったように、黛は黄泉木を指さした。%K%P
Mayuzumi thrust her finger at Yomogi, as though in triumph.

黛「この男は助からないと思ったら、見捨てるようなヤツなのよ！」%K%P
This bastard didn't think there was anything he could do for that person, so he simply threw them away!

黛「こんなヤツに、食い物を任せておくわけにはいかないでしょう！？」%K%P
Don't you think it's idiotic to let a bastard like him be in charge of the food?!

黛「体力の劣る私達を、全員切り捨てるに決まってるわ！」%K%P
We're all weaker than he is! He'll get rid of all of us as soon as we give him the chance!

こころ「その……」%K%P
That...

私は怒りに声が震えるのを感じた。%K%P
I could feel my own voice turning shaky with rage.

握りしめた掌に爪が刺さって痛む。%K%P
My nails dug painfully into the palms of my hands.

だが、さらにギュッと握って怒鳴った。%K%P
But I dug them in even harder as I yelled out.

こころ「その黄泉木さんに、あなたは助けられたんでしょう！？」%K%P
Yomogi-san even saved you, didn't he?!

こころ「それなのに、なんでそんなヒドイこと言えるの！？」%K%P
Even when he saved you, how can you say such horrible things about him?

黛「はん、言うと思った！」%K%P
Hah, I thought you'd say that!

黛「助けてもらったから、言うこと聞けって！？」%K%P
Just because he saved me, I have to listen to everything he says?!

黛「冗談じゃねえよ！」%K%P
I'm not just screwing around here!

黛「確かに、黄泉木さんに私は救われたわ。でも、そんだけ」%K%P
Certainly, Yomogi-san did rescue me. But that's all.

黛「今の私に指図する権利はない」%K%P
He has no right to order around the me that's here today.

こころ「恩を感じたりしないんですか？」%K%P
Have you no gratitude at all toward him?

黛「もちろん、感じてるわよぉ」%K%P
Of course, I'm grateful.

黛「ここから生き残ったら、１回ヤらせてあげよっか？」%K%P
If we make it out of here alive, I'll even let him do it with me once.

黛「でも、そのためにも、私は生きて帰んなきゃいけないわね～」%K%P
But in order for that to happen, I have to get back home alive first, you know～

こころ「ふ……」%K%P
Don't...

こころ「ふざけるなぁッ！」%K%P
Don't fuck with me!

怒りに我を忘れた私は、黛を突き飛ばした。%K%P
In my anger, I lost control and struck out at Mayuzumi.

黛「キャッ」%K%P
Kyaa!

よろめいた黛は、壁に激突する。%K%P
Staggering, Mayuzumi crashed into the wall.

黛「なにすんだよ！？」%K%P
What the hell do you think you're doing?!

黛が掴みかかってきた。%K%P
Mayuzumi got back on her feet and grabbed me.

髪を引っ張られ、鋭い痛みが走る。%K%P
Sharp pain raced through my body as she pulled my hair.

黛「だいたい、私はアンタみたいな甘ちゃんが一番嫌いなのよ！」%K%P
You know, I hate naïve little princesses like you more than anything in the world!

黛「なんの苦労もなく、ぬくぬく育ってきやがって！」%K%P
Never knowing hardship, growing up leading such comfy, carefree lives!

黛「アンタ、さっさと死んじゃえば！？」%K%P
Why don't you just die?!

黛「そうすれば、食いぶちが減るんだからさ！」%K%P
If you did, that'd be one less mouth we'd have to feed!

私は、黛の襟元を掴み返した。%K%P
In retaliation, I grabbed Mayuzumi by the collar.

ガクガク揺さぶりながら、言い返す。%K%P
Trembling, shaking her back and forth, I answered her.

こころ「それを言うなら……」%K%P
As long as we're on the subject...

こころ「あなたが……あなたが消えればいいのに！」%K%P
You... you should just disappear!

こころ「あなたがいなければ、ココはもっとうまくやれてた！」%K%P
Life would be so much easier if you weren't here!

こころ「あなたさえいなければ……！」%K%P
If only you weren't here...!

黄泉木「やめるんだ！」%K%P
Cut it out!

黄泉木が、割って入った。%K%P
Yomogi forced his way between us.

ゆにも、私の腰にすがりつき、辛そうに呟く。%K%P
Yuni, too, was clinging to my back, murmuring in a barely audible voice.

ゆに「やめてよ、こころん……」%K%P
Stop it, Kokoron...

こころ「でも……でも、私……」%K%P
But... but I...

私は悔しくて悲しくて、涙が滲んできた。%K%P
My eyes became blurry with tears of frustration and sorrow.

黄泉木の胸にすがりつき、声をあげて泣いた。%K%P
Burying my face in Yomogi's chest, I wailed loudly.

こころ「う、うぅ……」%K%P
Uu, uuu...

黛の言葉が許せなかった。%K%P
The things Mayuzumi had said were unforgivable.

そして、彼女がいなければ良いのにと思わず口走った自分が信じられなかった。%K%P
And I couldn't believe what I'd blurted out――that it would be better if she weren't here.

涙が後から後からあふれてくる。%K%P
Tears came streaming down my cheeks.

そんな私を見つめ、黛は吐き捨てるように言った。%K%P
Looking at me in that state, Mayuzumi spat these words at me.

黛「甘いわ。アンタ」%K%P
You're so naïve.

黛「泣けば誰かが助けてくれると思ってやがる」%K%P
Do you think somebody is going to come save you if you cry?

黛「アンタみたいなのが、真っ先に死ぬタイプ」%K%P
People like you are always the first to die.

嘲笑しながら、黛は続ける。%K%P
Mayuzumi continued while sneering at me.

黛「そもそもね、苦しいときこそ助け合わなきゃいけないっていうのは、幻想なのよ」%K%P
In the first place, thinking that when things are rough you have to work together is just an illusion.

黛「世間はね、他人を蹴落としてなりたってんの」%K%P
You know, in this world, you get by by trampling over other people.

黛「世界は弱肉強食なのよ」%K%P
It's survival of the fittest.

黄泉木「そうだな……きみの言うとおり」%K%P
That's right... it's just as you say.

黄泉木「きみを命がけで助けた僕は、とびきりのバカだ」%K%P
I was a complete idiot for risking my life to save you.

黛「……じゃ、今から殺す？　私のこと」%K%P
...So what are you going to do? Will you kill me now?

黄泉木「いや、僕はバカだが、最後の瞬間まで人間でありたいんでね」%K%P
No. I may be an idiot, but until my final moments, I plan to stay human.

黄泉木「だから、そんなマネはしない」%K%P
So I won't deceive myself with such a farce.

黛「ふん……」%K%P
Fuun...

黛は鼻を鳴らし、壁にもたれかかった。%K%P
Mayuzumi snorted through her nose and leaned against the wall.

しばらくして……%K%P
Wait a minute...

泣きやんだ私を黄泉木は、ベッドに座らせた。%K%P
I'd stopped crying, and Yomogi helped me sit on the bed.

ゆにと共に、黄泉木自身もベッドに腰掛ける。%K%P
Then he sat down on the bed too, along with Yuni.

もうテーブルとイスは薪になってしまっているから、ベッド以外に腰を下ろせる場所がないのだ。%K%P
We'd already used the table and chairs for firewood, so there was nothing else in the room to sit on.

黄泉木「食べ物を誰かひとりが管理するというのは……やめよう」%K%P
Saying that someone should be the sole food manager... why don't we give up on that?

そっぽを向いて座っていた黛が、横目で黄泉木を見た。%K%P
Mayuzumi, who had sat down facing away from us, now sneaked a sidelong glance at Yomogi.

黄泉木「残った食糧を４等分して、各自が保管するんだ」%K%P
Let's divide the remaining food into four equal parts, and take care of our own share individually.

黄泉木はバッグからカンパンを取り出した。%K%P
Yomogi produced a hard tack biscuit from his bag.

たった２缶の非常食が、私達に残された食糧の全てだ。%K%P
Only two cans of emergency rations were left, and those comprised our entire food supply.

黄泉木は缶を開けた。%K%P
Yomogi opened one of those cans.

プシュという音と共に、食糧が外気に触れる。%K%P
With a 'psht' sound, the contents of the can were exposed to the air.

その音が、断崖絶壁へ向けて止まらない行軍を始める号砲のようにも聞こえた。%K%P
That sound was as though a starter's pistol had been fired, to signal our unstopping march toward the edge of a cliff.

黄泉木「黛、きみが４つにわけるんだ」%K%P
Mayuzumi, divide your portion into four shares.

黛「……私が？」%K%P
...Me?

黄泉木「ああ。きみが４等分して、僕達が選ぶ」%K%P
Yeah. You divide it into four, and we'll choose what we want from it.

黄泉木「きみは残ったひとつだ」%K%P
You can have whichever one is left.

黛「…………」%K%P
......

黛「不公平な結果にしたくなければ、私が頑張って等分しろってことね」%K%P
Even though it's so unfair to me, you're saying I have to stick it out and divide my share up, huh?

黄泉木「ああ。黛が一番文句を言いそうだからな」%K%P
Yeah, that's right. Because you're always the first to complain about it.

空になっているカンパンの缶を取り出した。%K%P
He brought out the now-empty can that had held the biscuits.

黛は、まるで科学の実験でもするような慎重な手つきで、カンパンを等分した。%K%P
Carefully, as though carrying out a mock scientific experiment, Mayuzumi divided the biscuits into four shares.

私と黄泉木、ゆには、３つの缶を選ぶ。%K%P
Yomogi, Yuni and I each chose from the three of them.

残ったひとつを、黛が手に取った。%K%P
Mayuzumi picked up the last one.

それを胸に抱くと、噛みつかんばかりの表情で、私達を睨む。%K%P
Then, holding it to her chest, she gritted her teeth at us and glared.

黛「これは私のだからね、盗るんじゃないわよ？」%K%P
This one's mine, so don't go trying to steal it, okay?

ゆに「泥棒がなに言ってるんだ！」%K%P
That's big talk coming from a thief like you!

黛「黙れガキ！　人間、命がかかったらなんだってするのよ！」%K%P
Shut the hell up, brat! Human beings will do anything they can in order to live, you know!

黄泉木「はぁ……」%K%P
Haa...

黄泉木は深いため息をつきながら、%K%P
Sighing deeply, Yomogi said,

黄泉木「この食糧で、今日……」%K%P
These rations, today...

黄泉木「節約すれば明日ぐらいまでは持たせられるだろう」%K%P
If we really economize, they might hold out until tomorrow.

黄泉木「それ以降は、食糧なしだ」%K%P
From then on, we'll be out of food.

黄泉木「各自、覚悟して食べてくれよ」%K%P
Each of us should choose to eat with that in mind.

小さな空き缶に半分だけ入ったカンパンは、いかにも心許なかった。%K%P
That small empty can with only half a biscuit placed in it, it made me feel very uncertain.

たった、これだけで生きて行けるのだろうか……？%K%P
Can I live on only this?

不安感が胸の中に致死性の毒のように広がっていく。%K%P
An uneasy feeling spread through my chest like a lethal poison.

ゆに「とっても少ないね……」%K%P
There's really not much left, is there...

ゆにも心配そうに缶を覗き込んでいた。%K%P
Sounding worried himself, Yuni peered into the can.

黄泉木「……だから、分配するのは嫌だったんだ……」%K%P
...I just knew that nobody would want to share...

黄泉木「食糧が少ないと実感すると、不安になるだろ？」%K%P
You start feeling uneasy as the food supply runs low, right?

黄泉木「この不安感ってのが、厄介なんだ」%K%P
That anxiety, it becomes a burden.

黄泉木「不安は、希望を殺す」%K%P
Anxiety is the killer of hope.

黄泉木「絶望は、恐怖を呼ぶ」%K%P
And with despair comes fear.

黄泉木「恐怖は、破滅を運んでくる……」%K%P
And fear will bring you to ruin...

黄泉木は悔しそうに呟き、ゆにの髪を撫でた。%K%P
Muttering this regretfully, Yomogi gently stroked Yuni's hair.

黄泉木「心配するな」%K%P
Don't worry.

黄泉木「心配だろうけど、気にしないようにするんだ」%K%P
I know you're already worried, but try not to dwell on it.

ゆに「聖司ぃ……」%K%P
Seijiii...

黛は眉を潜めていたが、勢いよく立ち上がった。%K%P
Her face had been expressionless, but I suddenly saw Mayuzumi's eyebrows shoot up.

黛「……アホらし」%K%P
...Idiotic.

黛は大事そうに缶を抱えたまま、ベッドへと戻っていった。%K%P
With her precious can under her arm, Mayuzumi turned back toward the bed.

毛布にくるまると、身体を震わせる。%K%P
As she wrapped herself up in the blanket, her body began trembling.

爪を噛みながら、なにかブツブツと呟いている。%K%P
Biting her nails, she began muttering in complaint.

耳に微かに届いた彼女の言葉は……%K%P
Her words, so faint that they barely reached my ears, were...

黛「生きてやる……」%K%P
I'm going to live...

黛「死ねない……あの人に会うまでは……死ねない」%K%P
I can't die... Until I meet that person... I can't die!

黛「ゼッタイに死ぬもんか……生きてやる……生き抜いてやる……」%K%P
There's no way I'm gonna die... I'll live... I'll live through this!

強い生への執着。%K%P
A strong attachment to life.

私は、彼女の呪詛じみた呟きを聞きたくなくて、地下の倉庫へと逃げ出した。%K%P
Hearing that muttering that fell from her lips like a curse, I turned and ran for the basement storeroom.