One + One = Two

“I was waiting for you.”

Tadashi arrived with a grim expression, hands in his pockets and a piercing gaze. He said nothing at first — he simply took a lighter out of his pocket.

“This time, it won't be cheap, Death. That was the last scare you'll give me!” Tadashi warned, lighting the lighter. “I bought this during my delinquent phase. I've never lit a cigarette... but I'm going to light you up."

I knew why he was angry. When Tadashi read the mysterious letter, he turned it over to find something unexpected:

Yo, Tadashi. Sorry, I just wanted a hook for the previous chapter. Your family is fine. Meet me on the terrace.

Your Friend Death.

“Sorry, Tadashi, but you can't do anything to me with a little fire.”

“That's where creativity comes in. This item doesn't do anything on its own, but with an auxiliary item, it becomes a flamethrower,” Tadashi pulled his mini deodorant out of his pocket, which he always used after kendo training.

“Haha... Y-you still can't do anything. I'm intangible,” I reluctantly said... HE DEFINITELY NOTICED!

“Yeah, we'll see.”

Shit, I'm toast. LITERALLY.

I started rolling on the ground trying to put out the fire on my clothes.

“I knew it! I made a whole inventory of my clothes, these are all mine! Even the wig is my dad's.”

It was true, I could be intangible, but my beautiful stolen clothes were not.

"AHHH I DON'T HAVE THE CREATIVITY TO CREATE A LOOK, SO I JUST BORROWED SOME CLOTHES! PUT IT OUT, I LOVE MY STYLE!"

The problem with being intangible is when you try to roll on the floor and end up going in and out of it. Then I had an idea. I dipped my burning wig into Tadashi's jacket, who was desperately trying to escape. Let's both burn then!

It turned out that he and I had to take off all our clothes that were on fire. I was left with only the wig. I was literally no skin and all bones, but impressively, the palest one was Tadashi, in his underwear and shoes.

“Get the fire extinguisher. I think they leave one on the floor below!” shouted Tadashi, who was promptly answered in seconds. “Good, now use that!”

To be honest, I may have been a little nervous. I started beating the fire with the extinguisher until Tadashi took it out of my hand.

“ARE YOU CRAZY? HAVE YOU NEVER SEEN A MOVIE WHERE THEY PUT OUT FIRE? THIS IS NOT AN AXE!” Tadashi took it in his hand, examining it to figure out how to open it.

Out of patience, I just pointed my finger like a gun and...

BOOM! The extinguisher created a mist of foam that spread everywhere. The fire was out, but our clothes were ruined, and we were both completely covered in white foam. In the end, the degrading scene of getting naked ended up happening, and worse, to both of us.

Now sitting on the iron railing of the terrace, Tadashi and I looked at each other and, without thinking twice, burst into uncontrollable laughter, swinging our legs and nearly falling off the terrace. That's when I felt comfortable enough to ask:

"I see a certain determination in your soul. Although I don't like getting angry, I liked the attitude of fighting back. So, this girl really gave you a push forward...By any chance, are you considering accepting my proposal? ”

“Yeah, but I made my decision long ago. The whole idea of restart is not appealing but...” Night fell over the widening sky, which was receding. "Adventuring is simply my dream. Being the first human being to reincarnate with your memories — that seems like a real adventure. Besides, that power is just too cool. It will be interesting to be your pupil."

AHHHH, I'M SO PROUD. I THINK I'M GOING TO CRY... BUT I CAN'T SHOW IT, AWESOME MASTERS DON'T HAVE FEELINGS!

“So why the conversation with the club president?”

"I guess I just wanted to talk to her,” Tadashi scratched his head in embarrassment. “I used these weeks to sort things out... in a way. I tried to open my eyes, all of them, so I could remember this life well.”

The sky, now darkened, hid the brightness of the stars with clouds of smoke.

“Hey Shin-nii, can you see those lights in the sky?” asked Tadashi.

“Yes...“S-shin-nii... Huh, that's a cool name. I never had a brother, so this makes me happy.”

“If we're going to live in the same body, I can't keep calling you Death." 

In the sky, for entities and the few talented humans, it was possible to see a beautiful flow of energy running. Particles of souls that were released from all living beings, each contributing one, created a light show in the big cities.

“I never saw this until recently. At first, I thought I suppressed my power so I wouldn't see them... but I think it's simpler than that. I never had a reason to look up.”

Watching together as the multicolored lights rose to infinity

“Now I'm ready, but I want something. Erase me completely from this world.”

“I had already seen it in your soul, but I couldn't believe it. Could you tell me why?”

“Let's rip off this band-aid quickly. If I'm going to disappear, I don't want anyone looking for me, much less thinking I'm dead.”

"Huh... if that's your request, it’s going to be a bombshell. Management is going to be pissed off." I extended my hand. "So, we have a deal?"

He shook my trembling hand.

"What's the matter?”

“It's nothing!” I turned away, avoiding Tadashi's gaze. “I'm shaking for the same reason you are.”

IT'S SO EMOTIONAL... I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING IN THOUSANDS OF YEARS, I'M NOT USED TO THIS LEVEL OF DRAMATICITY ON STAGE.

“I'm shaking from the cold. You said you don't feel temperature... Seriously, are you okay?” That's right, we're both half naked, aren't we? Please forget about that minor detail, otherwise the scene will lose all its impact.

I placed my open hand on his chest, still trembling. 

“I've never killed anyone... directly. I will have to dispose of your body to take your soul. It's almost like a bloodless death.”

“W-will I feel any pain?”

“Of course not, I would never let you feel pain. It will just be a feeling of...”

EMPTINESS.

Tadashi was gone. Everything about Tadashi was gone in an instant. 

His parents were already home, walking to the now ownerless room.

“Hey, we never thought about it, but how about turning this guest room into an office. No one ever comes here anyway.”

His mother put her hand on her chest:

“No... let's keep it as a memento... I mean, precaution” An mysterious tear rolled down her cheek.

The sister, on the subway with her friends, felt a tightness in her chest and had to sit down:

“Asaka-san, what's wrong? Are you okay?”

“I-I don't know... It's like,” the girl tried to put the feeling into words. “Like my best friend died.”

A letter was waiting for Asaka on her bed.

A note on top of it read: If you invest this in anything other than your dream, you will be cursed for 1,000 years. No wonder his room was empty; he had secretly sold everything in it. All of Tadashi's light novels, video games, and even clothing had been sold — the money placed there.

With the rest of the money, Tadashi bought several gifts that he hid around the house. They were small things that he knew his family wanted, the idea being to leave several things that they would eventually find and enjoy. A momentary happiness caused by his lost son.

As for Tadashi's last action, it seems I wasn't the only one who had the idea of writing a letter. I hope Tadashi thought carefully about his words.

President Chiyo went to get her shoes from her closet when she came across a letter. Without an envelope or much fanfare, the folded paper read as follows:

President,

I doubt you remember me now, but once you told me that unspoken love is nothing but a futile desire. I do not write this to declare my love, but to ensure it doesn't vanish into oblivion.

I am leaving Japan, but I leave behind my admiration. Thank you for being so persistent in teaching me to be more determined.

No matter where or when, one day you will feel a strange itch in your ear — that will be me, celebrating every success in the world. You should have asked me out when I was still just a nobody :)

All joking aside, thank you for all the advice and scoldings.

P.S.: Take a break sometimes; it will do you good.

The signature was surgically blurred.

Rationally, she didn't understand why, but a smile spread across her face.

“So you've made up your mind...” The words came out with an unprecedented happiness filling her soul.

Those had been Tadashi's actions... but there was one more thing. Not far from Tadashi's house, in the bookstore, a confused police officer was trying to understand the saleswoman.

“I swear, I had the recording here. A boy broke down the door and messed up the whole place. At first I thought I had forgotten to tidy up, but it was too messy!” said the elderly lady.

It was true, I had forgotten to tidy up the place.

“Ma'am, if you don't have the video of this mysterious intruder, I can't do anything. Are you sure you're not confusing something?” On the camera screen, a flurry of static filled the entire screen with a large message saying “file corrupted.”

“You idiot. Are you calling me old? I'll teach you to respect your elders.”

Dispatch, this is Unit 12. We have another 10-92, elderly female assaulting an officer. Requesting immediate backup.

Yes, perhaps Tadashi's request was for the best.

During all this, I was walking through the streets of Japan on my way to the meeting place when:

HEY, WHERE AM I? WHAT A STRANGE FEELING

I opened a hole in my belly, where the blue flame of my friend's soul lay.

"You're inside me, so your soul won't end up getting cold."

Eh? But wasn't it going straight to the next body?

"Well, maybe I omitted a small step. I never had a brother, but I have an older sister. We'll have to break into her house."

Sister?

"Yeah...she’s Life, by the way."

EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?

Seriously, Tadashi, this chapter will end the same way as that other? What a disaster....