Himuka Short Story - Budding of True Love

Translation source: https://www.tumblr.com/thewild--flower/693001766741164032/translation-olympia-soiree-budding-of-true

'Undertaker! You're here already, that was fast. Alright, please get on.'

I nodded and climbed into the back of the cart.

'There's two of them lying there. Today one is ‘bluish-purple' and the other is just over there. They found them near Kunado. It'll be a bit cramped, but it'll save time transportin' them. Alright, here we go.'

Though people had gathered around the cart, no one tried to meet my eyes.

That was a given. The cart was carrying corpsesーーーand not only that, they were people who had ended their own lives, and as such, were shunned and hated on this island.

'Today's corpses were found separately but…… apparently it was a lovers' suicide.'

I gently pulled back the burlap sack next to me.

It was a girl with hydrangea-coloured hair, her face not yet showing signs of post-mortem discolouration. It did not look as if she had suffered much, so the poison she had taken must have been very potent.

The other was a man with light brown hair. His face in death also looked peaceful, so perhaps they had taken the same poison.

'Well, ya know, perhaps they were better off dyin' than gettin' caught by the military.'

Not only was today's corpse-bearer quite chatty, it seemed he was quite empathetic as well.

The others usually never wanted to speak to me, nor did they say anything as if to mourn the dead. I prayed that he would experience a small happiness.

ーーーThese two had been killed by this world. I wanted to completely erase the foolish ones responsible for creating this cruel world.

'Oh yeah, should be time for Lady Olympia to take to the stage soon. What was it they called it, "replyin' the light of down" or some such complicated phrase.'

It was 'receiving the light of dawn', I replied.

Inside my mind that is.

Dawn was the beautiful light of a new day. When she danced, the darkness was cleansed, and the light of the sun shone, so that is what some had begun to call it.

'I was born in Yomi, so when I die I'll become the sun. There's nothin' good 'bout living on this island, I wouldn't even mind dyin' as soon as possible, but if I offed myself, I wouldn't be able to see Lady Olympia anymore, on top of causing you trouble.'

In other words, what he wanted to say was something along these lines.

The sun that existed in this world used the souls of those in Yomi as sustenance in order to shine.

When Olympia of the White dedicated her prayers on stage, she offered up the souls of those who had become Shou.

In contrast, the souls of those on the surface were dedicated to Ama no Mihashira, bringing colour to the pillars.

Those were the customs of Tenguu Island.

But the souls of those who killed themselves were unlucky, so they were put on a cart and taken to the northern beaches, just like these two. And then I would be the one to send them off.

'I look up to Lady Olympia, ya know. One time I got lucky and got to see her up close, she was so beautiful, almost thought I'd fall over in shock. Until then I'd never felt grateful for gettin' drafted into being a corpse bearer. The other guys in Yomi can't see the sun or Lady Olympia, but as you see, because of my work transportin' the dead I can go freely between Yomi and the surface. Hey Undertaker, have you ever seen Lady Olympia before?'

'......I have.'

Countless, countless times.

But from far away, so that she would not see me, always from far away.

'Lady Olympia is the only survivor from the White ain't she? It's already been more than ten years since then, that ghastly incident……the moon and the ocean looked as if they were runnin' with blood. Ah, but that might have been not long after you were born? Maybe you don't remember.'

This corpse bearer was not only empathetic, but a poet.

I wished that he would find happiness.

'Lady Olympia was the first real White that I've ever seen. I didn't quite believe that they were really pure white, but she really was completely white from head to toe. Maybe she's white in all the important places too, I'd like to see that at least once, heheheh-'

I take back everything I had just thought.

You won't be able to become happy saying such disrespectful things, so take my curse instead.

'That's right, speaking of Tennyo Island. I heard when the moon was full, a Ferry would set sail. And if you boarded it, a beautiful woman would be waiting for you on the island. But now all of them are dead.'

It was as he had said———they had all died. That night, every single one of them, leaving only her behind.

I could never forget that red coloured moon and sea.

That was why all the more, this time for sure, I wanted her to become happy.

'Oh, we're almost at Corpse Beach. I'll leave it to you now, Undertaker.'

Thank you.

You were a bit of a chatterbox, but surely not a bad person, so please become happy after all.

— — —

[Flashback to the time they were on the boat together - Himuka’s POV]

'Kyaaah!?'

Suddenly, a large wave came and tilted the boat at a steep angle. I immediately went to protect her.

'Are you alright? You didn't hit yourself on anything, did you?'

'I-I'm alright.'

I was glad she didn't seem to be hurt. My most precious, precious one.

'H-Himuka? I'm……alright now, so-'

Huh?

Soft?

There she was beneath me, and I was touching the nape of her neck with the palm of my hand. Why was she so hot?

Why did she smell so sweet?

Her white cheek was so close to me.

As I touched it gently, it was velvety soft and a little moist, and I wanted to keep touching her forever. I couldn't stop myself.

Gently, gently touching for the first time.

The one who was more important, and more beautiful, than anyone or anything in this world.

That is why, even though the truth was someone like me ought not to touch her, I couldn't keep myself from doing it.

As I traced it with my fingertips, I could tell that her cheek was becoming even hotter.

But that warmth was so excessively pleasant, my foolish self couldn't help but touch her more.

'Himuka, I'm happy that you collect the Shou, and I'm grateful. But don't say you'll turn someone into Shou all of a sudden. Your job isn't to take the lives of others, am I right?'

Yes, that had certainly been what she had said.

Why are you so hot?

Why are you so soft?

Who—who— are you?

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