Have You Ever Carved Your Name in a Tree?

?

Have you ever carved your name in a tree? And if you have, would you take that back now, and leave the tree unscratched?

I have, and now I've made up my mind.

Not as a mighty being, but as a simple girl. 

As the girl next to him. 

For that tree, I may be a passing wind. Maybe I'm a playful schoolgirl who just happened to look upon this young sap. Still, I've appreciated it as a sapling with a bright future.

For a moment, I thought about leaving my mark on it, so that the world may remember me. No, the world knew about me, but I wanted him to remember.

But I thought about it again, and understood that it would be selfish of me.

However, I had already done it, and I felt so at ease.

But I had the power to change it. 

If there was ever a moment to wipe that name, it would be when I'm no longer here, right? Before that name turns from a fond memory to a scar, I should erase it.

And that's what I did, so that the sapling may grow big and strong without me holding it back.

Oh, and while we're at it, maybe this whole forest should forget this terrible day has ever happened~

*****

"Where is this place? Where are we? Chigira?"

"I'm here... I'm right next to you."

"It's like a white void. There's nothing around us. Are we floating? Where are we?"

"Hihi... That's a lot of questions. Shino, you're awfully talkative now of all times! But relax... We're safe here."

"Safe? What about Tyrant? What about your wounds? the battle isn't—"

"It's done, Shino. It was a bit abrupt... sorry about that. I didn't have enough time to plan all this, so I hope a silly face is enough to make you forgive me. Ehe!"

"Forgive you? Chigira, what have you done?"

"Shino... Can I grab your hand?"

"Sure... but why—"

"You know, Shino, all of this time... I've been a bit selfish..."

"Selfish? How?"

"You see, I could have ended this fight long ago... But I hoped to find a better option..."

"Chigira... why is your hand so cold? What have you done?"

"Do you know what the best way to deal with evil is? Embracing it. If you embrace the evil with all you have, it will melt away sooo easily. But you have to give it your all, no half-hearting it!"

"Give it your all? You mean—"

"No... that's wrong. Let me start again. I've been selfish for much longer. I'm sorry..."

"That's what I'm asking. What do you mean by—"

"You know... In this world, there are things that can never exist together in the same spot. Fire and water, light and darkness, time and eternity, but also... humans and gods. I'm sorry, Shino. The truth is, I should have run away the moment I woke up in your apartment, but I didn't."

"Chigira... I don't get it..."

"And it's because I remained that I've dragged you here, into this battle that you should have had nothing to do with. Battles between gods have been going on for a looong time, and we've always made sure not to affect the people around us..."

"But now I'm here, so what are you telling me all of this for?"

"You see... the thing with gods is that we're never truly alive. Neither are we dead. We go away and come back. We take from one another, and each of us finds themselves ruling the world one day and falling into obscurity the next one."

"Chigira, please answer my questions! Why are you getting paler? What's going on? Tell me!"

"Now now... I've never seen you so agitated before. You're holding to my hand a bit too tight, you know? And what's that in your eyes... don't tell me..."

"That doesn't matter now! What's going on with you? And where is that monster?"

"He's gone. I've embraced him, and he went away."

"You've embraced him? You mean..."

"Yes. I've embraced him with all that I am. I'm sorry, Shino. It seems this isn't nature's big comeback. It seems the world doesn't want me back, so I've done all I can. I've combined all of the elements—all of what I am—and made sure that Tanaka or the curses won't bother you again. For me, that's a win already. Hihi~"

"What are you laughing for? What do you mean you've used all that you are? Then are you really—"

"I've told you. Gods and humans don't go together. You're smart, Shino. But even the smartest people are still only humans. You can't follow us, and we can't stay with you. I'm sorry. I've been selfish; it's my fault that you're hurting now..."

"Cut the crap, Chigira! You think I'll just let you go like that? We've made a promise, remember? I promised I'd keep you safe!"

"And I am safe, just not the kind of safety you're familiar with. You see, us gods—"

"Don't give me that excuse! Who cares about what gods do? When did I ever think of you as a god? You've been a flower, a girl, and a powerful woman. You've never been a god in my eyes, so stop talking nonsense!"

"..."

"Chigira? What's with that smile again?"

"Is that how you see me? I'm so happy~"

"Ha—happy?"

"So I did get to be a normal girl for once... Mhm! Thank you, Shino! Thank you for giving me that chance!"

"A chance? Of course! That's what you've been for me! And that's what you'll remain!"

"I see, I see. Okay then. Let's play a little game! Let's pretend we're both at school. We are on top of the building, sitting with our feet dangling over the edge. It's my last day here before I graduate. We're watching the sunset, aware that we'll be together for the last time. How does that sound?"

"It sounds stupid... you know I've never been to a normal school."

"It's okay, it's okay! Let's just pretend! That way I can truly feel like a real girl."

"If you say so... Just don't pull any weird trick and vanish on me."

"Ahem!... Chigira sits next to Shino. 'So, what are you going to do after this?'"

"I don't know. Probably go back to slaying monsters..."

"Monsters? Hihi, what silly things are you talking about again? There aren't any such things as monsters. Do you mean the pressure of society or something?"

"That's— Ahem! Yeah... I'll graduate and get a job one day... or whatever normal people do..."

"Hmm... I don't know a lot about that either. Hey, I know! Why don't you grow a garden or something? That seems fun!"

"A garden? Maybe I will..."

"Or a whole forest! You could plant a thousand trees! No, a thousand of every type of tree! And then you can—"

"Chigira... you're getting off track."

"Ah! Sorry! Forget what I said! Ahem!... Chigira leans in closer, her shoulder touching Shino's."

"Still. I think you should at least grow a flower... It could keep you company when you start missing me~"

"When that happens, I think I'll stay with the memories. Those feel the realest."

"You mean you won't forget me like you did with your targets—sorry... classmates?"

"Of course I won't. What kind of jerk do you take me for?"

"Hmm... but we can't have that..."

"What did you say?"

"Ah, nothing. Oh! I think the time has come. It seems like the energy is starting to dissipate..."

"What? Already?"

"Hihi~ Graduations happen in a second, isn't that right?"

"I wouldn't know. I've never had one..."

"Chigira wipes Shino's tear, then she stands up. 'Still. You've taken this like a champ! Maybe I didn't leave such a deep scar. Well then... Goodbye—'"

"Shino gets up on his knees and hugs Chigira before she can take another step."

"Oh?"

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Chigira! Sorry for failing to protect you! Sorry for not figuring you out earlier! If I did, we could have looked for a solution! Sorry for being a weak human who could do nothing but drag you into more trouble!"

"Chigira sighs and pulls Shino's head to her chest."

"Chigira...?"

"Listen here, Shino. If it weren't for you, I would have been lost around the streets of Tokyo with no knowledge of how this modern world works. You've saved me from all that, so don't you dare feel sorry for it. Besides, we both made the same promise. I held mine, so there's no need for you to worry about yours."

"What kind of twisted logic is that..."

"Now it's really time for me to go, Shino. I don't want you to see me fade away, so let me just go down those stairs myself."

"Hk... Shino lets go of Chigira..."

"Chigira runs down the stairs~"

"Shino waves at her, holding back his lame tears."

"By the way! I wasn't joking! You should really grow some plants! It may help you when you feel lonely!"

"And I wasn't joking when I said that I'll think about you whenever I feel lonely!"

"'That alone I won't allow! You have to live your own life! We can't have you going crazy about some god nobody knows about! Talk about a bad villain backstory...' Chigira whispered under her breath, right before fading into the dark corridor."

"Wait... Wha—"

*****

"Lastly, may this prayer keep him safe when I can not, and when he wakes up from his long dream, may he pick up a wonderful flower, and continue his life as if nothing happened."