The Happiness That The Shinigami Gave Me - V3 Chapter 5

Volume 3 Chapter 5

Rattle rattle.

Rattle rattle.

I could hear the sound of a shaking train.

A sky-blue train carried me away on a single track that ran next to a river.

In a daze, I gazed at the scenery.

‘Where am I?’ I felt a sudden unease and started to look around.

I knew this place. The train was supposed to take me across the Sanzu River. Did that mean that I passed away?…

My body turned cold.

How? No way that could be the case! I was supposed to die protecting Suzuno! I haven’t even done anything of that sort yet!

I don’t want to die, not like this!

With both hands holding my head, I cowered.

I wanted to ask the shinigami for an explanation. I wanted to know what was going on.

Then I looked up.

It was a familiar roof of a certain old apartment.

No way.

The sight was more shocking than the train. I could feel dread starting creeping up from the bottom of my stomach.

The small fridge, the leaking kitchen faucet, the torn fusuma and the worn out tatami mats. (T/N: Fusuma is the paper door often found in Japanese houses.)

The sight scared me. My legs trembled.

But at the same time, I felt nostalgic.

This was where I used to live with mom.

Tears started to trickle down my cheeks.

Things that happened in this house; The beatings she gave me, the kicks I had to receive, the long days when she starved me, and the hugs that gave me happiness.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang with a distinct sound.

‘No way,’ I thought, looking at the front door.

Could it be? Mom?

The rusty door opened with a creak. My heart started to beat faster to the point that it hurt.

Someone was on the other side of the door.

The afro shinigami.

I could feel anger rising from the bottom of my stomach.

Why him? I wanted to see mom. I’ve missed her so much.

His expression looked strange, blank and expressionless. With indistinct voice, as if he was using a voice filter, he told me,

‘Save her…with your…life…’

‘That’s the reason…why I brought you…back to life…’

He didn’t need to tell me that.

I knew that. I was supposed to die, but it was he who brought me back to life.

He was the one who cursed my life and showed me my future.

Just as he said, I met my fated girl.

The girl who brought me so much happiness just by thinking about her: Suzuno.

I only existed to protect her; that was the whole reason why I was alive.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep my promise.”

I told the shinigami.

“I’ll give my life for Suzuno…”

It was just…I was too afraid to die.

Funny, wasn’t it?

I loved her so much. I always thought that doing this much for her was nothing. And my love for her got stronger as time passed.

And yet, I was afraid of dying.

Why was that the case, even though I loved her so much?

I loved her, love love love, really loved her.

But why was I so afraid of dying?

It was either me or her.

There was only one conclusion.

Rattle rattle.

Rattle rattle.

Before I knew it, I was back in the sky-blue train.

Ah, I see. This was a dream.

A vivid dream caused by my fear.

The sky-blue train moved forward. Slowly, but surely.

And it would never turn around.

TL: Iyo

ED: samheart564

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