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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 5 Chapter 4.5

Nonomiya asks Kiyomi after seeing Shiki get off the transport trailer that also serves as the mobile headquarters, 「Ah, Kiyomi-san. Is being an honorary advisor really that great? 」

「What’s with that question all of a sudden? 」

「It’s been almost two years since I started this job, and all I have seen the Honorary Advisor do is drink every day. To be honest, I wonder if there’s any meaning in my following her around. 」

「That just makes your work easier, so it’s ok. 」

「I’m not happy about it. I have no idea why someone like that is called a GREAT 7 or why she is called an Honorary Advisor. 」

「Well maybe then now you can see how amazing the Honorary Adviser is. 」

As she stepped out of the well-cooled vehicle, the hot sun hit Shiki. Nanaejima welcomes early summer and it is another great day. In the middle of this weather Shiki with a lazy expression walks while swaying.

「Aaaaah, I can’t do it. I’m so bored. I want to go home and drink beer. While I’m at home drinking beer, most of the other guys are going to break the treaty and come out. If you’re going out, try not to be caught, or do it when I’m not drinking beer. 」

Shiki, who has had hardly any time for the alcohol to wear off, walks through the parking lot and enters the hospital through the back door. According to Kiyomi’s deduction, this seems to be the escape route Sansa took.

「Oh, interesting. 」

As soon as she enters the air-conditioned hospital, she is in an open space. It looks like a break area with benches and vending machines.

「Hmm? 」

There, Shiki suddenly stops. She stopped because there was a can of Japanese beer on the bench in front of her. Strangely the can was opened.

「No no. An open beer in a hospital is ridiculous. It’s impossible. 」

I waved my hand in front of her face, however the smell of beer wafting from the mouth of the open can has manipulated the nostrils of the inebriated Shiki.

「No no. That’s not right. 」

She holds it in her hands studying it for some reason.

Hmmm, this 350ml can has a milliliter or two too much liquid in it. Moreover, it has a slightly different smell mixed with the smell of beer. There’s something in it. We look around for obvious traps.

Even though there is an evacuation advisory, so there’s no one here, I can still feel someone’s gaze faintly.

Once again Shiki thought about it. It’s not like they attacked randomly. The only victims are our soldiers. They were taking care not to hurt any of the sick.

「Ah, this is stupid. 」

In the end Shiki drinks the can of beer in her hand in one go.

「Gah! It tastes awful! 」

Shiki lays down on a nearby bench and surrenders herself to the sleepiness that has attacked her.

「….Ah, Kiyomi-san. The Honorary Advisor, she fell asleep. 」

「Inform all members of the Special Forces. The Honorary adviser was caught in the enemies trap and fell asleep. It has been deemed impossible to continue the battle. The 4th Special Forces will begin withdrawing immediately. 」

「Eh, but what about the Honorary Advisor? 」

「That’s Nonomiya’s job, of course. You deal with her. 」

The trailer then drove away, leaving Himeko Nonomiya who had been kicked out of the vehicle alone.

「What is with this squad? 」

5

The suspects look down at Shiki who is sleeping comfortably. She looks happy in her sleep.

「No way! I’m surprised anyone would get caught by such a trap. 」

「Was this even a trap? 」

Sansa patted Kira and Tetsu on the shoulder, both of which had subtle expressions on their faces.

「Now that we’ve overcome the biggest hurdle, let’s head back to Shima. 」

As the group went out from the back door, a bright red convertible ran alongside them as if they had planned it.

「Elder Sister, I have come to pick you up. 」

As the three get in, the driver who is wearing sunglasses steps on the accelerator.  The car speeds off, leaving burnt rubber on the asphalt. The car takes off suddenly and runs alone on a rough road with no other cars in sight, spewing exhaust.

After a while  Tetsu who is in the back seat asks, 「Elder Sister, what will happen to Yun? 」 to Sansa who is smoking in the front passenger seat.

When she glanced at the rear-view mirror, she saw Tetsu had an uneasy expression.

「Que sera sera. 」

As she exhales smoke, Sansa thought back to when she first met Yun.

A few months ago, Sansa used the 《Arrow of Destiny》, a newly acquired powerful nanana collection. Its effect is to point the way to a clue that leads to the object the user desires. At first it seems pretty useful, but the effect is rather fickle. It can respond to any of the user’s desired wishes, or even trivial things that come to mind, and points to one of them. Because of that you can’t tell what it will be pointing at.

The first thing the arrow pointed at was the convenience store near the hideout, and the next thing was Sansa’s favorite bar on the other side of the island. I can’t tell you how many times it pointed to Koma Mutsumi’s residence.

In trying and failing so many times Yun ended up being one of the things the arrow pointed to. She was an unconscious girl that Tetsu carried in his arms. To be honest, I didn’t know which of my desires made the arrow point at Yun. I didn’t understand, but I didn’t care either. As usual, we thought it was just a kid who had nowhere else to go. When Yun regained her health Sansa had Tetsu keep her under surveillance. I considered the possibility that she was involved with the nanana collection, but to be honest, Tetsu didn’t seem to want to leave her side. Then when Yun went missing and hearing about his single-mindedness in finding her, Sansa became convinced.

Yun was the guidepost to what Sansa wanted.

「Even so, that’s not right. 」

A girl who unexpectedly died once and a young man who is deeply concerned about her.

For two people who secretly love each other, this fate feels a bit too heavy.

It strangely annoyed me. I feel like punching someone.

Now, who am I going to blame?

God, fate, or Nanana?

「Elder Sister, we have a pursuer behind us. 」

Hearing the words of her henchman driver, Sansa turned her eyes to the side mirror and saw several military vehicles chasing her. They were shouting 「Stop! 」 and 「We’ll shoot! 」. This was getting dangerous.

The frustrated Sansa Kurosu says a few words, 「Kira. I’m in a very bad mood right now. Give me a sound that will make my head feel better. 」

「Roger. I’m going to play some flashy rock at my Elder Sister’s request. 」

Kira smiles in the backseat. Then, after putting on some cute sunglasses from her pocket, pulls out a heavy firearm from her case.

The three vehicles chasing right behind the red convertible were blown away cleanly with three explosions.

Everyone in those vehicles were seriously injured, but no one died.

Is it a miracle or just a coincidence?

Who knows?

6

「So tired.「」

After a series of meetings with visitors, Isshin fell into a drowsy haze as soon as he lay down on the bed in the silent hospital room.

He dreamed of the old days.

I joined the adventure club simply out of curiosity. I have never been particularly good at anything. That’s why I thought that if I joined a special club, I could become special.

A while after joining the adventure club, a girl classmate joined. I was still young and couldn’t talk to girls well but I tried my best to be positive and talk with this girl. The reason I did this was simple, because I fell in love at first sight.

We laughed together, we cried together, we went on adventures together, and she became an irreplaceable special person to me. The days of exciting adventures with wonderful sempai and loved ones were just the best time. I was satisfied. So satisfied.

She was a special person who could do anything just by being there. That too would soon come to an end. Kasumi Imai, the head of the club, left when she graduated.

At that time, Imai-senpai gave me the gift of the 《impersonation glasses》. I felt as if she could see through my complacency with simply belonging to the Adventure Club. In retrospect, it may have been a warning.

Perhaps she knew this because she had won the 《game》 and was the top challenger at the time. Using a mirror to look into the future, she could see the tragedy that was to follow.

So that day, when we went to the 《ruins》 with Senjou Hiya (who had become the second club president) we were confronted with a tragedy. As the 《ruins》 crumbled she fell in front of me. But I couldn’t move. All I could do was watch what was happening in front of me.

Up until now, sempai from the Adventure Club would have helped her out of such a predicament. However, this time only I was available. But I couldn’t help her. All I could do was watch. And after that she could never walk again.

This was a reminder. I was nothing special. I am the same person I was when I joined the club, a nobody.

She told me that she had to leave the island because she had nothing.

「I should have never joined this club. 」

The year I spent with her in the adventure club was irreplaceable for me. So that one sentence was the same as denying me of my own memories. And this reminded me that I am powerless. I am helpless. I have nothing.

Something inside me had definitely broken with a bang.

After that, in the midst of my peaceful everyday life, I kept thinking. Why do I exist when I have nothing. The answer I arrived at was that I am nothing more than a part of someone else’s life. A supporting role to add color to the life of another person. It doesn’t have to be one person. It can be anyone. I’m a mere commodity that can be substituted at any time.

I will never be the main character.

I didn’t like it so I put in the effort. I was trying to change myself. But no matter how hard I worked on myself, no matter how much I tried to improve myself, no matter how many women I was able to seduce, nothing satisfied me. After all, I am just a part of someone else’s life.

I just can’t get rid of that thought. Because I couldn’t grab her hand at that moment. As long as you can’t let go of your past self, you can’t be proud of your present self.

I want to erase it, but it won’t go away. No matter how much I wish, that nightmare will never disappear. How can I make it go away, and how can I get rid of the miserable me of that time?

I want to help her.

At that time, as she was falling, she looked at me. She reached out her hand, but I was too weak. I couldn’t even reach out to her.

But if I was strong I should have been able to catch her. If I can prove that I am stronger than anyone else, I can become an existence that can obtain everything in this world.

If I can be the best, I’m sure I’ll grab her hand…

「…Was that a dream? 」

When I opened my eyes it was completely dark outside. I sat up and put my hand on my cheek. It was slightly wet. It’s a dream I hadn’t seen in a long time. It was a nightmare where she falls. But at the same time it seems like the only way I can see her anymore.

How long has it been? I see, it’s been a long time since the night when I lost to Yaman-kun and lost that cane.

「Kagetora, are you there? 」

When I muttered this in the lightless hospital room, I heard my friend’s familiar voice saying ‘Yeah’.

「Kagetora, am I doing the right thing? 」

I asked this without thinking. I couldn’t help but ask. Sansa Kurosu’s words, the darkness in my heart, made me ask that questions truthfully.

「You won’t know if it’s right or wrong until it’s done. 」

「You’re a good man Kagetora. 」

「That’s something you once told me. 」

I was surprised to hear that. I’m sure I used to say such things.

「I am single-minded. That’s why I am lending you my strength. 」

Isshin tells his friend, who reminded him of feelings he had forgotten, 「Thank you Kagetora. I’ll use it. 」

No matter what I have to sacrifice, no matter what I have to do. I will obtain the title of the strongest in this world.

All eyes are on the clock. The date has changed.

July 7th.

「This is the Tanabata festival? 」

Today is the special day only once a year when Hikoboshi and Orihime are allowed to meet. (TN: the story for the tanabata festival is about the meeting of these two deities)

But I may never see her again.