Purity Online - The World For The Fallens
Day 63: Forgotten Memories - Sakura in the Snow (Part 17)

"So, what are we gonna play?" ask Yuukaru. The children, the manager, Grandpa Yurato, Otomura, and Yuukaru were sitting in a circle.

Yuukaru turned his head towards Otomura. "Otomura, do you have a suggestion?"

The golden-haired cold man was seen turning his face away and putting on an indifferent facial expression. Moments later, he realized that everyone's attention was on him.

"Whatever. You guys are playing. I'm not following along" Otomura said with a jutek.

"Come on!!" persuade Yuukaru. "It's gonna be fun."

"For me it will be boring." Otomura maintained his cold speech style and his docile expression.

"Then, what if I challenge you?" yuukaru asked in a tone that seemed challenging. "It could also be a spectacle for the kids here."

"challenged? I'm lazy."

"Oh? You scared?"

"No."

"Aren't you afraid to lose, are you?" One of the boys tried to heat up Otomura.

"What?! Afraid?! It's delicious!!" Feeling challenged, Otomura finally turned his face towards Yuukaru. "I accept your challenge."

"Good, good." Yuukaru smiled happily.

"But, what are you two going to fight for?" ask Grandpa Yurato.

"How about ...." The manager stood up and stepped up, then took something from inside the wooden drawer, then walked back into the circle and placed it before everyone. "Shogis?"

"May too" Otomura said. He turned his head towards Yuukaru. The look in his eyes seemed to be filled with vigor, even his two pupils seemed to be burning with fire. "Alright, let's start the match, Yuukaru!!"

—————————————————————————————

"Hm ...." Otomura fumbled his slippery chin as it was watered by sweat. He looked confused and was thinking hard. His body was flooded with cold sweat. His gaze focused on the pieces and the shogi board lying in front of him.

"Should I take this one? Ah, naw. Later on, my attack formation will be broken!! Shit, what am I supposed to do?" So confused, he ruffled his own hair.

"Sister Otomura!!!" One of the children cried out in a loud voice. "Fight!!!"

"Yes, defeat Brother Yuukaru!!!" The other child chimed.

"Just believe in yourself!!!"

Those spirit-givering cries made both of Otomura's eyes widen. The dusty, worn out memory that had been hidden in a dark corner of his mind, began to shift itself until it was overwritten by the light of memory. A flash of memory from a forgotten past began to project in his mind.

————————————————————————

The moon shone brightly in the dark blue sky. A golden-haired teenager with a gray sweeter and a jet-black scarf stepped across the snowy streets in a fairly quiet and deserted alley. His head bowed lethargic, no matter what was in front of him. The young man sighed heavily until it looked as if smoke was coming out of his mouth due to the effects of the cold air. He looked like a man who had no spirit in life.

Yes, that man is Otomura. Since the death of her sister, she had lost all her happiness. He never smiled again and always put on a sad face. Even the flickering lights on the Christmas tree he had met several times along the way home were unable to comfort him. His openness completely controlled his heart.

"Maybe I'll live the rest of the winter of the year with sobriety and disillusionment with destiny" he said. "For ever, this year will be a damned year for me. The year in which all that was precious to me was taken from my grasp."

"Yes .... Nobody cares about me at all .... Even Santa and the Gods."

"The only person I trust in this cruel world is Iruna, and now she's gone a long way. Maybe I won't be able to trust anyone again for the rest of my life."

Unknowingly, Otomura had already arrived in front of his own house. The young man took the key and raised his head, intending to open the lock of his house. But what he did get was a surprising sight. A completely senseless, but beautiful sight. His eyes widened when he saw that the cherry trees in his yard were in perfect bloom, but now it was winter and not spring. The pink flowers swayed slowly in the night breeze.

"Thou-Impossible!!!" Otomura. "This is impossible!!! It makes absolutely no sense!!!"

He hurried to open the padlock and approached the cherry tree. Around the roots, sakura petals fall. The combination of the white of snow and the beautiful pink of sakura creates a combination that truly reconciles the heart.

At the same time, Otomura recalled the words that Iruna had spoken. The promise they made together. His sister's voice came back to his head.

"We're going to bloom flowers that are even more beautiful than all these cherry blossoms."

"Hey, hey!! You're kidding me, aren't you?" Otomura stared in disbelief at the blossoming cherry blossoms. "This is impossible .... Where is it possible, anyway, Iruna-"

Suddenly, Otomura's body moved on its own. He unlocked the door, opened the door, entered the house, washed his feet, and entered Iruna's room, then lifted Iruna's pillow lying on the bed. Something seemed to lie under his pillow. A letter with a small handwriting.

He hurried to get the letter and read it.

"Good christmas, brother!!

When you read this letter, I may not be with you anymore. But, don't let brother lose his spirit of life just because of this, huh. I'm sure you can definitely find a new purpose in life, because you're my big brother.

I also hope that my brother will remain an unyielding man and continue to uphold the principles of my brother. One day, I will find him. People who love their sister sincerely. I'm sure of it. Keep looking for a true friend and continue to be a person who trusts others. I believe, brother can do it. Just trust your own abilities.

Big brother, I have indeed left big brother physically, but that does not mean I will leave big brother alone. I will continue to accompany my brother. It's just that, maybe big brother won't realize it because maybe I won't be reincarnated into a human anymore. But, I don't care if I'm going to be reincarnated into what kind of creature. Even if I am not reincarnated into a human again, I will continue to keep our promise. I will try my hardest to bloom the most beautiful flowers in the world."

A drop of tears began to fall and wet the paper, followed by the next drops. With a teary face, Otomura opened the curtains and stared at the cherry blossom tree behind the window glass.

"So so, yeah ...." He smiled full of haru."All this time, he kept me company. It was just me who didn't realize it. I'm never alone. It's just my feeling. He is with me, though in a different form."

Suddenly, Iruna's faint figure appeared on one of the branches of the cherry tree, appearing to be smiling."Don't give up and keep fighting, brother!!!" The voice was ringing in Otomura's ears.

"Yes ...." Otomura spoke in a low voice followed by the loss of the spirit form of Iruna. "You too ...."

Yes ....

All this time, I was the one who was mistaken ....

The gods always look at me.

I'm the one who didn't realize it.

I'm too focused on the trauma of Iruna's death.

Now ... I .. believe in miracles.

Apparently this is the Christmas gift Santa gave me. It was not Iruna's death, but this miracle. Not a blessing, but a blessing.

Behind the bitter destiny I lived ..., it turned out that there were hidden wonders and blessings in abundance ....

Basis .... How can I forget this precious memory?

I should never have forgotten him, and never killed those people.

Well .., but it's not too late to change.

I'll keep going forward.

I just realized now that magic isn't bullshit, and Happy Ending isn't just in fairy tales.

I'm going to make that Happy Ending happen in my life.

I can't lose to Iruna who is now living her next life as a cherry tree.

I must also ... spread the most beautiful flowers in the world ....

In accordance with our promise ....

——————————————————————————————

"Hey, Otomura? Otomura?" Yuukaru shook his right hand in front of Otomura's face.

"Why brother?" ask one of the children closest to her in a worried tone.

"Sister crying?"

"Otomura? What's up?" Grandpa Yurato also asked. He also looks worried.

"Stupid, I'm just flickering." Otomura raised his teary face while smiling. The lights of life on everyone's chest that had appeared dark black to him had now changed to bright green. A color that symbolizes purity and sincerity. "Stop your bullshit. Now, let's continue this match."

"Realized ...."

"There are still many good people in this world ...."

To be continued