R11:CO4_08.txt

何度かまばたきしてみた。%K%P
I blinked several times.

転移したとすぐにわかった。%K%P
I understood immediately that I had transferred.

今回は転移する間隔が妙に短い。%K%P
The time period between the transfers was strangely short this time.

こころ「…………」%K%P
......

私は息を詰め、目だけで辺りを見回した。%K%P
I held my breath and looked around.

ここは……スフィアの地下倉庫だ。%K%P
This is... the basement storeroom of SPHIA.

悟は『誰か』に狙われていた。%K%P
"Someone" was after Satoru.

どこかに殺人鬼が潜んでいて、私を狙っているかもしれない。%K%P
The murderous monster may be hiding somewhere, targeting me at this very moment.

こころ「…………っ！」%K%P
......Hii!

と、いきなり異様な光景が目に飛び込んできた。%K%P
And all of a sudden, a hellish scene appeared before my eyes.

私は絶句した。%K%P
I was speechless.

自分の目を疑う。%K%P
I began to doubt my own eyes.

目の前に、見知らぬ男の死体が横たわっているのだ。%K%P
In front of me was the corpse of someone I did not recognize.

男の身体からは、赤黒い血が流れ出ている。%K%P
Crimson blood was flowing out of the man's body.

床に血溜まりが広がっていく。%K%P
The blood had formed a pool that was spreading across the floor.

錆び付いた鉄のような血の臭いが鼻をつく。%K%P
All I could smell was the scent of rusted iron coming from the blood.

吐き気がこみあげてきた。%K%P
Nausea rose in my throat.

手でこらえるために口許を覆う。%K%P
I covered my mouth to hold it back.

こころ「な、なんなの……？」%K%P
Wh, what is this...?

こころ「これ、誰？」%K%P
Who... is this?!

悟が殺されそうになっていたと思ったら、今度は見知らぬ男が死んでいる。%K%P
I had thought that Satoru was about to die, but now some man I didn't know lay dead before me.

何が起こっているの？%K%P
What was happening?

一体どうなっているの！？%K%P
Just what is going on?!

人の気配を感じ、私はギクリと顔を上げた。%K%P
Sensing someone's presence, I jumped and looked up.

死体の傍らに、穂鳥が立ち尽くしていた。%K%P
Hotori was standing stock still next to the corpse.

服も、手も、血まみれだ。%K%P
Her clothes... and her hands... were covered in blood.

彼女の身体や服にこびりついた赤黒い鮮血は、まだしっとりと濡れている。%K%P
The fresh blood on her body and her clothes was still wet.

そして手には……%K%P
And in her hand...

紅く染まった刃物が……%K%P
was a knife dyed red...

こころ「な…………」%K%P
Wh......

まさか……%K%P
It can't be...

私の脳裏を不吉な予感がよぎる。%K%P
An ominous premonition came to my mind.

いや、予感というより、もはや確信だった。%K%P
No, rather than a premonition, it was a conviction.

犬伏景子が目覚めた……。%K%P
Inubushi Keiko has awoken....

彼女の中にいる、殺人鬼の人格が出てきた……！%K%P
The personality of the murderous monster within her has awoken...!

穂鳥「…………」%K%P
......

彼女が、目の前の男を殺したのか？%K%P
Did she kill this man in front of me?

ということは、悟を襲ったのも、彼女なのか？%K%P
Does that mean she was the one after Satoru?

穂鳥が、呆けた表情で私を見た。%K%P
Hotori was staring at me blankly.

私はゴクリと息を呑む。%K%P
I gulped as my breath caught in my throat.

膝が震える。%K%P
My knees trembled.

目が合った。%K%P
Our eyes met.

彼女の瞳は虚ろで、どこか弱々しい。%K%P
Her eyes were hollow and somehow frail.

不意に穂鳥はまばたきを繰り返し――%K%P
Suddenly, Hotori blinked several times――

自らの身体と、手に持ったナイフに目を落とし――%K%P
She looked down at her body and the knife she was holding――

慌ててナイフを放り捨てた。%K%P
Panicking, she threw the knife away.

もう一度私を見た。%K%P
She looked at me again.

今度は、目を丸く見開いていた。%K%P
This time, her eyes widened.

穂鳥「…………っ」%K%P
......!

穂鳥の顔色が、みるみる青くなる。%K%P
Before my eyes, Hotori turned pale.

最初はゆっくりと、そして徐々に激しく首を振り始める。%K%P
She started to shake her head, slowly at first, then gradually increasing in intensity.

一歩、私へと踏み出してきた。%K%P
She took one step toward me.

血まみれの手を私へと差し出してくる。%K%P
She extended a blood-soaked hand to me.

こころ「っ！」%K%P
H, hah!

たまらず、私は後ずさっていた。%K%P
Unable to take it, I took a step backward.

穂鳥は狼狽した様子で、口を開いた。%K%P
Confused by what was happening, Hotori opened her mouth.

ひゅーひゅーと、喉の奥から呼吸音だけが吐き出される。%K%P
But only a wheezing sound came from her throat.

なおも取り憑かれたように首を振り続けているその姿に、私は戦慄した。%K%P
I trembled in fear as she continued shaking her head.

穂鳥が一歩ずつ私に近づいてくるたびに、私も１歩ずつ後ずさっていく。%K%P
Every time she took a step forward, I took one step backward.

こころ「い、いや……」%K%P
N, no...

穂鳥はなおも近づいてくる。%K%P
Hotori drew closer and closer.

差し出した彼女の手から、血が滴り落ちる。%K%P
Blood dripped down from her extended hand.

血塗れた手は、私の命を狙う悪魔の触手に見えた。%K%P
Her blood-stained hand looked like the tentacled limb of the devil, coming to take my life.

こころ「来ないでっ……」%K%P
Stay away...

気が付けば私は部屋の隅に追い詰められていた。%K%P
Before I realized it, I was backed up into the corner of the room.

棚に背中をぶつける。%K%P
My back hit a shelf.

棚に置かれていた木箱のひとつが、乱暴な音をたてて崩れ落ちた。%K%P
A wooden box on the shelf made a sound as abrupt as a gunshot as it fell.

？？「ひっ」%K%P
Hii!

すぐ近くから、別の悲鳴が聞こえた。%K%P
I heard a scream from close by.

ハッとして、私と穂鳥は同時に声のした方を見た。%K%P
Hotori and I looked in the direction of the voice at the same time.

棚の陰に、小さな人影がうずくまっていた。%K%P
Behind the shelf was the shadow of a small person.

ゆにだった。%K%P
It was Yuni.

頭を抱えていたゆにが、ビクンと身を震わせて私達を見上げる。%K%P
Covering his head with his arms and trembling, Yuni slowly raised his eyes.

顔を涙でクシャクシャに歪めていた。%K%P
His face was distorted with tears.

つぶらな瞳が、真っ赤に腫れている。%K%P
His eyes were swollen and had turned a deep red.

なんでゆにがここに……？%K%P
Why was Yuni here...?

私はますます混乱する。%K%P
I was getting more and more confused.

頭の中は真っ白で、ただわけのわからない状況に戸惑うことしかできない。%K%P
My head was totally blank, as I simply stood bewildered at the incomprehensible situation before me.

ゆには、ひどく怯えていた。%K%P
Yuni was terribly frightened.

また顔を伏せ、頭を抱えてしまう。%K%P
Once again, he lowered his head and covered it with his arms.

ゆに「……れる」%K%P
...ed.

なにかをブツブツと呟いていた。%K%P
He was muttering something in a small voice.

ゆに「……殺される。みんな死んじゃう……」%K%P
....going to be murdered. Everyone's going to die...

殺される？%K%P
Going to be murdered?

誰に？%K%P
By whom?

私は穂鳥を見た。%K%P
I looked at Hotori.

その目はどこか遠いところを見ている。%K%P
His eyes were gazing off somewhere far away.

喉の奥からは、相変わらずひゅーひゅーという呼吸音が漏れている。%K%P
He continued to wheeze as he spoke.

ゆに「ぼく、ぼくは……」%K%P
I... I'm...

ゆには涙で震える声で呟いているが、満足に話すことができないようだった。%K%P
Yuni continued to murmur in a shaky voice between sobs, but it didn't seem like he was able to speak the way he wanted to.

ゆに「……嘘なんだ」%K%P
...Lies.

ゆに「……みんな……う、嘘……ついて……るん……」%K%P
...Ever...yone... is... ly...ing...

ゆに「ほ……とり……殺し……てないっ……」%K%P
Ho...tori... didn't... kill...

何？%K%P
What?

何を言ってるの？%K%P
What did he say?

『みんな嘘をついている』？%K%P
"Everyone is lying"?

『穂鳥は殺してない』？%K%P
"Hotori didn't kill"?

じゃあ、誰があの男を？%K%P
Then who killed that man?

ある言葉を思い出し、電撃のように私の身体に衝撃が走った。%K%P
All of a sudden, I recalled what Yuni had told me yesterday.

ゆに「こころんは、もうじき死体を見るよ」%K%P
Kokoron will soon see a corpse.

昨日の避難小屋でのゆにとの会話。%K%P
The conversation with Yuni that had taken place in the shelter cabin yesterday.

あの時、ゆにに手相を見て占ってもらった私に……%K%P
It was when he read my palm...

ゆには言った。%K%P
Yuni said that.

ゆに「刃物で刺された死体だよ……」%K%P
A dead body stabbed with a knife...

私の喉は、カラカラになっていた。%K%P
My throat was completely dry.

息が苦しい。%K%P
It was painful to breathe.

胸の動悸が、激しく脈打つ。%K%P
My heart was pounding furiously.

あのときのゆにの言葉は、何を意味するんだろう？%K%P
What was the meaning of what Yuni had told me then?

予言？%K%P
A premonition?

それとも、犯行予告……？%K%P
Or was it an advance declaration of his crime...?

ここに至って私は、ゆにという少年が何者なのか、その疑問がいまだ解消されていないことに気づく。%K%P
Upon arriving here, I realized that my doubts as to who Yuni was had not yet been erased.

なぜゆには、避難小屋とスフィア、両方にいるのか。%K%P
Why was Yuni at both the shelter cabin and SPHIA?

避難小屋が２０１１年でスフィアが２０１２年ならば、これは何を意味するのか。%K%P
If it's 2011 in the shelter cabin and 2012 in SPHIA, then what did this mean?

『２０１１年のゆにが私に語ったことを、１年後の２０１２年になって実行に移した』%K%P
"The Yuni of the year 2011 told me about something that would occur in the year 2012."

その可能性は、考えられないことではない。%K%P
It's not like that possibility was completely unthinkable.

私の喉は、カラカラになっていた。%K%P
My throat was completely dry.

息が苦しい。%K%P
It was painful to breathe.

胸の動悸が、激しく脈打つ。%K%P
My heart continued pounding furiously.

なぜ、ゆにはここにいるの？%K%P
Why was Yuni here?

なぜ、こんなに泣いてるの？%K%P
Why was he crying like this?

もしも……。%K%P
If....

ゆには、私や悟が遭遇している転移現象を、実はすべて知っているのだとしたら？%K%P
Does Yuni actually know everything about my and Satoru's personality transfers?

『なにもわからない無邪気な子ども』というのは、実は演技なのだとしたら？%K%P
What if being "an innocent child that doesn't know anything" was really just an act?

『嘘をついている』のは、ゆになのだとしたら？%K%P
What if the one "lying" was Yuni?

そんなはずはない。%K%P
That can't be.

こんな子どもにそんなことができるはずがない。%K%P
For a child like him to have done that, it can't be.

理性ではそう思っていても、心の奥底では、ゆにに対する薄気味悪さが湧き上がってくる。%K%P
Despite all the calm reasoning I had done, deep in my heart, I had begun to think that there was something eerie about Yuni.

この子は、何者なの？%K%P
This child, just who is he?

まさか、この子があの男を殺したの？%K%P
It can't be... but did he kill that man?

この子が、悟を襲ったの？%K%P
Did he... attack Satoru?

誰か答えてよ……もう、わけがわからないよ……。%K%P
Somebody answer me... I don't know what's going on any more....

内海「どうしたの！？」%K%P
What happened?!

新たな声は、キッチンへと繋がっている階段の方から聞こえてきた。%K%P
I heard a new voice coming from the stairs that were connected to the kitchen.

緊張感に満ちた様子で、内海が階段を降りてきた。%K%P
Utsumi climbed down the stairs anxiously.

今まで彼女はどこで何をしていたのか。%K%P
Where had she been and what had she been doing until now?

疑心暗鬼に追い込まれている私は、とっさにそんなことを思ってしまう。%K%P
Driven into a corner by distrust, I wondered that momentarily.

さっき、私が『誰か』に襲われた時も、内海の姿はどこにも見当たらなかった。%K%P
When I was being chased by that "someone" before, Utsumi had been nowhere to be seen.

彼女は、信用できる人間なの？%K%P
Was she someone I could trust?

内海は私の疑念には気づかず、部屋をゆっくりと見回した。%K%P
Utsumi slowly looked around the room, not paying attention to my suspicious glare.

そして死体に気づいて驚き、%K%P
And then, surprised by the corpse,

内海「こ……これ……は……？」%K%P
T... this is...?

続いて血まみれの穂鳥を見て――%K%P
Continuing to look at the blood-covered Hotori――

唇をかすかに歪めて――%K%P
Curving her lips slightly――

ニヤリと――%K%P
She grinned――

笑った――。%K%P
and laughed――

こころ「……っ！？」%K%P
Ah...?!

確かに見た。%K%P
I'm sure I saw it.

見逃さなかった。%K%P
I hadn't overlooked it.

私の背中を、悪寒が走る。%K%P
A chill ran down my spine.

なんで？%K%P
Why?

なんでいま、内海は笑ったの？%K%P
Why was Utsumi laughing right now?

内海「……殺したの？」%K%P
...Did you kill him?

こころ「……え？」%K%P
...Huh?

内海「殺したのね」%K%P
You killed him, didn't you?

内海の声は冷徹だった。%K%P
Utsumi started talking in a cool voice.

なぜそんなに落ち着いているのか、私には理解できない。%K%P
I couldn't understand why she was so calm.

内海の目は、まっすぐに穂鳥を見つめていた。%K%P
Utsumi's eyes immediately locked onto Hotori.

穂鳥がその視線に気づき、%K%P
When Hotori noticed her gaze,

穂鳥「…………ぁっ！」%K%P
......aah!

血まみれの手で、自らの髪を掻きむしった。%K%P
She tore at her own hair with her blood-soaked hands.

きれいな長い髪が、ボサボサに乱れていく。%K%P
Her beautiful long hair became disordered and messy.

真っ黒な髪に、紅い血がこびりついていく。%K%P
The red blood soaked into her black hair.

内海が、すっと目を細めた。%K%P
Utsumi slowly shut her eyes halfway.

微笑んでいるようにも見えた。%K%P
I thought I saw a smile for a moment.

私は恐ろしくて、声をかけることができない。%K%P
Terrified, I couldn't even raise my voice.

内海「あなたは……危険だわ」%K%P
You... are dangerous.

内海「殺人鬼を野放しには……しておけない……」%K%P
We can't just let a murderous monster... run loose...

内海には、私やゆにの姿は目に入っていないようだった。%K%P
It was as though Yuni and I were not in Utsumi's field of vision at all.

その視線は、穂鳥に向けられ微動だにしない。%K%P
Her gaze didn't move an inch from where Hotori was.

内海「危険だから……死んでちょうだい」%K%P
You're too dangerous... so please die.

こころ「……え？」%K%P
...Eh?

なに言ってるの？%K%P
What did she just say?

内海は何を言ってるの？%K%P
What did Utsumi just say?

違う。%K%P
No.

いつもの内海じゃない……！%K%P
This isn't the normal Utsumi...!

誰も信じられない。%K%P
I can't believe anyone.

何もわからない。%K%P
I don't know anything.

『みんな嘘をついている』%K%P
"Everyone is lying."

内海「罪は……償わなくちゃね」%K%P
Crimes... must be punished.

穂鳥「……ぃぃぃやああああああっ！」%K%P
...nnooOOOOOO!

内海の言葉を引き金に、穂鳥の口から悲鳴がほとばしった。%K%P
Incited by Utsumi's words, Hotori started shrieking.

発作だ。%K%P
She was having a fit.

でも、ということは、いま表に出ている人格は、穂鳥だということなの？%K%P
But did that mean that the personality that was in control now was actually Hotori?

犬伏景子ではないの？%K%P
Wasn't she Inubushi Keiko?

穂鳥「はぁっはぁっはぁっ……！」%K%P
Haah haah haah...!

荒い呼吸を繰り返す穂鳥の視線が、ふと下を向く。%K%P
Breathing wildly, Hotori's gaze dropped to the floor.

内海も同じ方を見た。%K%P
Utsumi was looking in the same direction.

私もつられる。%K%P
I followed their eyes.

ナイフ……%K%P
The knife...

死体の横に転がっている、血まみれのナイフ。%K%P
The blood-covered knife that had fallen next to the body.

そのナイフに、私と内海と穂鳥の目が釘づけになった。%K%P
All three of us had our sights fixed on the knife.

３人とも、ナイフまでの距離はほぼ同じ。%K%P
Between the three of us, the distance to the knife was more or less the same.

いや、私だけが少し離れている。%K%P
No, I'm a little bit further away.

こころ「…………」%K%P
......

内海「…………」%K%P
......

穂鳥「はぁっはぁっはぁっ……」%K%P
Haah, haah, haah...

ピリピリとした緊張感が、部屋を支配している。%K%P
A feeling of strain and tension held the room in its grasp.

誰も、指一本ピクリとも動かさない。%K%P
Nobody moved a finger.

隙を見せないように、じっと相手の出方を窺っている。%K%P
In order not to show any openings, I watched their movements closely.

牽制するように、ナイフと互いの顔とを、せわしなく見比べる。%K%P
As if keeping each other in check, we stared at the knife and each other's faces restlessly.

私は思いを巡らせる。%K%P
My thoughts go around in circles.

あのナイフは――%K%P
That knife――

あのナイフは、身を守るための武器。%K%P
That knife was a weapon for protecting yourself.

あれを手に入れれば、殺人鬼は手を出せない。%K%P
If I got my hands on it, it wouldn't land in the hands of the murderous monster.

他のふたりに――部屋の隅で泣いているゆにも含めれば３人に――ナイフを奪われたら、私の命は限りなく危険にさらされる。%K%P
The other two in the room――three if you count Yuni, who's crying in the corner――if one of them snatches it away, my life will be in immeasurable danger.

誰が犯人なのかわからない以上、他の誰かにあのナイフを渡すわけにはいかない。%K%P
I don't know who the culprit is, so there's no way I'll hand the knife over to anyone else.

でも――%K%P
But――

ナイフを手にした瞬間、犯人以外の人間は、私のことを殺人鬼と誤解するだろう。%K%P
The instant I get my hands on the knife, everyone but the culprit himself will misunderstand and think that the murderous monster is me.

本物の犯人にその隙を突かれたら、%K%P
If the real culprit managed to take advantage of that opening,

私だけでなく、全員が殺されることになりかねない……。%K%P
not just me, but everyone else will also be killed...

それに――%K%P
And besides――

ナイフを手に入れたところで、私は――%K%P
Assuming I can get the knife, I――

私は、ナイフを使えるのだろうか。%K%P
Can I even use it properly?

いざというとき、襲いかかってきた殺人鬼を、刺せるのだろうか。%K%P
When the time comes, can I stab the murderous monster if they attack?

無理だ……私には、身を守るためであっても、人殺しなんて……%K%P
There's no way... even if it was to protect myself, to kill someone...

どうする。%K%P
What should I do?

どうすればいいの、冬川こころ。%K%P
What do I do, Fuyukawa Kokoro?

穂鳥「はぁはぁっ……あああっ！！」%K%P
Haa, haah... AAAH!!

穂鳥が悲鳴とともに、ピクリと身を弾ませた。%K%P
Screaming, Hotori sprang forward.

内海もすかさず動いた。%K%P
Utsumi too made her move without a moment's delay.

私ひとりだけ反応が遅れた。%K%P
Only my reaction was late.

ダメだ、このタイミングじゃ届かない……！%K%P
No good, I won't reach it in time...!

私は……私は……！%K%p
I... I...!

そのまま見ている
Keep on watching

それでもナイフを取る
Try to take the knife anyway

ほぼ同時に、穂鳥と内海がナイフ目がけて飛びかかった。%K%P
At almost exactly the same time, Hotori and Utsumi both sprang for the knife.

私は動けなかった。%K%P
I couldn't move.

足が竦んでしまっていた。%K%P
My foot was cramped.

もしも――%K%P
If――

穂鳥と内海、どちらがナイフを手にしても――%K%P
If either Hotori and Utsumi gets hold of that knife――

いずれにせよ、誰かが傷つく――%K%P
Either way, one of them will definitely get hurt――

私を含む誰かが、死ぬ――%K%P
Someone close to me will die――

内海「あっ……！」%K%P
Ah...!

穂鳥「……はぁっはぁっ！」%K%P
...Haah, haah!

紙一重だった。%K%P
A hair's width of difference.

一瞬だけ、穂鳥の伸ばした手の方が速かった。%K%P
For a single instant, the hand that Hotori was reaching out went further.

死体を挟んで、穂鳥と内海が睨み合った。%K%P
Hotori and Utsumi glared at each other, separated by the corpse between them.

穂鳥の手に、ナイフは収まっていた。%K%P
The knife was in Hotori's hand.

ナイフに向かって飛んだ。%K%P
I jumped toward the knife.

思いがけず、私の行動は素早かった。%K%P
My movements were surprisingly quick.

そうか、私は今、悟の身体にいる。%K%P
That's right, I'm in Satoru's body right now.

いつもより、ずっと素早く力強い。%K%P
I'm faster and stronger than I usually am.

ナイフを奪うことができれば、彼女達に負けることはない！%K%P
If I can manage to snatch away the knife, I won't lose to these two!

懸命に、ナイフに向かって手を伸ばす。%K%P
I reach for the knife with all my might.

しかし――%K%P
But――

こころ「ッ！？」%K%P
Ngh?!

左手に激痛が走った。%K%P
An intense pain shot through my left hand.

私の利き腕は、悟の左腕は斬りつけられていたのだ。%K%P
My dominant arm, Satoru's left arm, was cut.

ナイフに一瞬だけ指が触れたが、掴むことはできなかった。%K%P
My fingers brushed the knife for an instant, but I wasn't able to grasp it.

血塗れたナイフが床を滑る。%K%P
The bloody knife slid across the floor.

そして、それは穂鳥の足下で止まった。%K%P
And stopped, right at Hotori's feet.

まるで、穂鳥はすがるようにナイフを手に取った。%K%P
Hotori took it in hand as if clinging to it.

内海「……くっ」%K%P
...Kuu.

死体を挟んで、穂鳥と内海が睨み合った。%K%P
Hotori and Utsumi glared at each other, separated by the corpse between them.

私は、転がるように立ち上がる。%K%P
I all but rolled into a standing position.

穂鳥「――――ッ！」%K%P
――――ng!

声にならぬ叫びを上げ、穂鳥はナイフを構えていた。%K%P
Letting out a voiceless scream, Hotori gripped the knife.

穂鳥は必死の形相だ。%K%P
Hotori had a desperate look on her face.

だがその頬を、すっと涙が伝う。%K%P
However, tears rolled softly down her cheeks.

なんで泣いてるの……？%K%P
Why was she crying...?

内海「渡しなさいっ！」%K%P
Give it to me!

今まで聞いたこともないような、内海の険しい声だった。%K%P
Utsumi commanded in a sharp voice I had never heard before.

穂鳥は首を振り、震える手で内海にナイフを向けた。%K%P
Hotori shook her head and pointed the knife at Utsumi with trembling hands.

焦った様子で、内海は後ずさった。%K%P
Utsumi stood back with an impatient look.

内海「また殺すの？」%K%P
Are you going to kill again?

内海「今度は、私を殺すの！？」%K%P
Are you going to kill me this time?!

ゆに「やだぁっ！」%K%P
Noooo!

いきなり、ゆにが絶叫した。%K%P
Suddenly, Yuni screamed out.

ゆに「ダメだよぉっ！！」%K%P
Stop iiitt!

ものすごい勢いで立ち上がると、頭を抱えたままわき目もふらず走り出す。%K%P
He stood up with amazing vigor and started running, covering his head with his arms.

私が止める暇もなかった。%K%P
I didn't have a moment to spare.

意表を突かれたのは、穂鳥や内海も同じだった。%K%P
Hotori and Utsumi were equally surprised.

穂鳥「……あああぁぁぁっ！！」%K%P
...AAAaaah!!

穂鳥は怯えているようだった。%K%P
Hotori seemed frightened.

あきらかに、錯乱している。%K%P
She was clearly very confused.

悲鳴を上げると、彼女はめちゃくちゃにナイフを振り回した。%K%P
Letting out a scream, she swung her knife randomly.

そのすぐ横を、ゆにがすり抜けていこうとして――%K%P
From right beside her, Yuni turned and――

ゆにを狙ったというよりも、ナイフを振り回したところにタイミング悪くゆにがいた、という感じだった――%K%P
It seemed that what would occur next was the result of Yuni being in the wrong place at the wrong time, not because he was targeted――

ゆに「ぎゃああっ！！」%K%P
Gyaaa!!

鮮血が舞った。%K%P
Fresh blood splattered everywhere.

ゆにの小さな身体が、力を失って倒れていく。%K%P
Yuni's small body lost its strength and collapsed.

こころ「いやああああああっ！！！」%K%P
NOOOOOO!!

死んだ……ゆにが死んだっ……！%K%P
He's dead... Yuni's dead...!

こころ「いやぁっ！　いやよぉっ！！」%K%P
Noo! Noooo!

ゆにが倒れた衝撃で、ゆにの手から携帯ラジオが吹っ飛ぶ。%K%P
A portable radio flew out of Yuni's grasp from the impact of his fall.

ガシャンと音をたてて落ちたラジオが、私の足下まで転がってきた。%K%P
The radio fell with a crashing sound and slid over to where I stood.

錯乱した穂鳥は、なおもナイフを振り回して内海に迫っていく。%K%P
Deranged, Hotori headed for Utsumi, brandishing the knife.

内海「ゆ、優希堂くん！」%K%P
Yu, Yukidoh-kun!

内海「この子を止めてっ！」%K%P
Stop her!

こころ「なんてこと……なんてことをっ！」%K%P
How could this happen... How could this happen!

内海「優希堂くん！」%K%P
Yukidoh-kun!

私は我に返った。%K%P
I regained my composure.

穂鳥が、いまにも内海に向かってナイフを振り上げようとしているのが目に入った。%K%P
The scene of Hotori facing Utsumi with the knife held over her head entered my vision.

なんとかしなきゃ――%K%P
Do something――

私が、なんとかしなきゃ――%K%P
I, I have to do something――

夢中だった。%K%P
This is a dream.

私は足下のラジオを拾い、穂鳥に背後から駆け寄った。%K%P
I picked up the radio at my feet and ran at Hotori from behind her.

ラジオを、ナイフを持つ穂鳥の腕に思いきり投げつける。%K%P
With all my strength, I threw the radio at the arm that held the knife.

穂鳥「はぐっ……！！」%K%P
Hngg...!

ラジオは穂鳥の手首に直撃した。%K%P
The radio connected with her wrist.

ナイフが落ちる。%K%P
The knife dropped to the floor.

穂鳥はひるまず、振り向きざまに私に殴りかかってきた。%K%P
Unflinchingly, Hotori turned around and started hitting me.

その腕をつかみ、羽交い締めにする。%K%P
I grabbed her arms tightly and pinned them to her sides.

こころ「もうやめてっ！」%K%P
Stop it!

なおも暴れる穂鳥を、必死で押さえつける。%K%P
I frantically tried to suppress Hotori's violent struggling.

こころ「お願いだからもうやめてぇっ！」%K%P
I'm begging you, just stop it already!

涙で視界がぼやけている。%K%P
Tears blurred my vision.

そんな私の目に、内海がナイフを拾うのが見えた。%K%P
Through blurry eyes, I saw Utsumi pick up the knife.

鋭い目で、私を――%K%P
With sharp eyes, she looked at me――

違う、私が羽交い締めにしている穂鳥を――睨みつけてきた。%K%P
No, she was glaring at Hotori――who I was pinning down.

こころ「え……？」%K%P
Eh...?

内海が腰だめにナイフを構える。%K%P
Utsumi lowered her stance and readied the knife.

何を……？%K%P
What is she...?

内海「死……ねぇっ！！」%K%P
Diiiieee!!

こころ「…………っ！？」%K%P
Ha......?!

完全に無意識の行動だった。%K%P
It was a completely unconscious movement.

私はとっさに穂鳥をかばったのだ。%K%P
I covered Hotori with my body instantly.

内海の動きが、ビクッと止まった。%K%P
Utsumi quickly stopped herself.

その隙を逃さず、私は夢中で彼女の手を払った。%K%P
Not missing that chance, I knocked her hand away while she was still dazed.

内海の手からナイフが弾け飛ぶ。%K%P
The knife flew out of Utsumi's hand.

内海「うっ……！」%K%P
Ha...!

こころ「…………！」%K%P
......!

ナイフは床の上を転がり、棚の下へと消えた。%K%P
The knife slid across the floor and disappeared underneath a shelf.

内海が、私を睨みつける。%K%P
Utsumi glared at me.

憎しみに満ちた、修羅の目だった……。%K%P
There was carnage in her hate-filled eyes....

こころ「な……んで……？」%K%P
W...hy...?

私は呆然と内海を見つめ返すことしかできない。%K%P
I could do nothing but stare back at Utsumi in blank surprise.

と、右手に激痛が走った。%K%P
And then a sharp pain ran through my right hand.

右手の手のひらが、ぱっくりと切り裂かれていた。%K%P
There was a gaping cut in the palm of my right hand.

血が溢れ出す。%K%P
Blood began to flow from it.

内海「よくもっ……」%K%P
How dare you...

内海は苦々しく呟き、唇を噛んだ。%K%P
Utsumi muttered with loathing, biting her lip.

そして踵を返すと、階段を上がっていった。%K%P
And then, turning her back to us, she climbed back up the stairs.

私は立ち尽くしていた。%K%P
I stood there frozen.

混乱の極致にあった地下倉庫に、再び静寂が訪れる。%K%P
Silence returned to the once-chaotic basement.

誰かの『ゼイゼイゼイッ』という激しい呼吸音が聞こえる。%K%P
I could hear someone wheezing roughly.

誰だろうと思ったら、私自身の口から発せられる音だった。%K%P
As I wondered who it was, I realized that it was me who was coughing.

穂鳥は、気を失っていた。%K%P
Hotori had lost consciousness.

ゆに……ゆには……？%K%P
Yuni... Yuni is...?

ゆに「ううっ……うっ……」%K%P
Uuu...uu...

額を押さえてうずくまっていた。%K%P
He was crouched down, putting pressure on his wound.

良かった、生きてる……。%K%P
Thank goodness, he's alive....

私はのろのろと、ゆにへと歩み寄った。%K%P
I headed over to Yuni with sluggish steps.

こころ「ゆ……に……」%K%P
Yu...ni...

ゆにの身体が、ビクンと跳ねた。%K%P
Yuni's whole body jerked in surprise.

ゆに「く、来るなぁっ！！」%K%P
S, STAY AWAY!!

鬼気迫る声に、私はかける言葉を失う。%K%P
I couldn't find any words with which to respond to his voice full of dread.

ゆにが顔を上げた。%K%P
Yuni looked up.

その額が、血に染まっている。%K%P
His wound was dyed in blood.

吹き出す血が、コンクリートに点々と落ちた。%K%P
The spurting blood turned into scattered spots upon the concrete.

だが、その血を拭うこともせず、ゆには怯えた目を私に向けた。%K%P
However, Yuni stared at me with frightened eyes, not even bothering to wipe up the blood.

慌てふためいた様子で、後ずさった。%K%P
He stood back with a look of panic in his face.

ゆに「来ないでよ……来ないでよぅ……」%K%P
Stay away... stay away...

ゆに「ぼくを殺さないでよお……！」%K%P
Don't kill me...!

こころ「キズを……見せて……」%K%P
Let me... see your wound...

私は、手を伸ばす。%K%P
I reached out my hand.

血にまみれた手を。%K%P
A hand covered in blood.

ゆに「そ……その手でぼくに触るなあ！」%K%P
D... DON'T TOUCH ME WITH THAT HAND!

こころ「怖がらないで……私はこころだよ……」%K%P
Don't be afraid... I'm Kokoro...

ゆに「違う！　違う違う違うッッッ！」%K%P
No! No, no, noooo!

こころ「こころ……なのに……」%K%P
Even though... I'm Kokoro...

私はがっくりとその場に崩れ落ちる。%K%P
Discouraged, I crumbled where I stood.

男の死体が血溜まりを作っている。%K%P
There was a pool of blood gathering under a man's corpse.

私の手は真っ赤だ。%K%P
My hand was drenched with blood.

ゆにの額からも血が流れ続けている。%K%P
Blood continued to flow from Yuni's wound as well.

血。血。血。%K%P
Blood. Blood. Blood.

地下倉庫は、死の匂いが充満する赤い地獄だった。%K%P
The basement storeroom was becoming a red hell filled with the scent of blood.

誰を信じればいい？%K%P
Who can I believe in?

何を信じればいい？%K%P
What can I believe in?

ねえ……悟……%K%P
Hey... Satoru...

助けて……助けてよ……%K%P
Save me... Save me...

こころ「もう……嫌だ……」%K%P
No... more...

私は、ゆっくりと意識を失った。%K%P
Slowly, I lost consciousness.