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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 5 Prologue

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“TRANSLATOR:TheNix/EDITOR TheNix”

Prologue

In a pitch-black room a girl was crouching alone, holding her knees.

Her head was horribly confused. Why did this happen? Regrets and doubts mulled her mind. Dark thoughts clung to the girl.

This dark room is like a prison for a girl who is tormented by guilt.

「Geez it’s dark. 」

As this maddening voice spoke the light suddenly turned on in the room. The girl squints her eyes while blocking the bright light with her hand. The now illuminated space appears to be a women’s room with a calm atmosphere.

There was a woman with a bob cut hairstyle standing at the entrance of the room who had turned on the light switch. The woman approaches the girl who is sitting on the floor and holds out a mug in her hand with a smile.

「Here, drink this. 」

The bewildered girl took the warm mug with both hands and peered into it. There was a black liquid inside. But it smells faintly sweet. The girl timidly put her mouth to the cup.

「…Sweet and delicious. 」

「It’s hot cocoa. Sweet and warm cocoa is the best when you’re in the dark. It warms both your mouth and your heart. 」

With a laugh the woman sits on a chair and looks at the girl who is sipping hot cocoa.

「That dress suits you. 」

The girl is currently wearing a maid outfit with a cute design. With frilly lace stocking, it is in the realm of perfection.

「Um, why are you wearing a maid outfit? …it’s not a costume is it? 」

「It’s the uniform of our shop. Isn’t it cute? 」

「Yes. 」

「Don’t you like it? There are quite a few boys who come to see us because of our uniforms. 」

「No, it’s not like that…」

「I’m sorry, that’s the only cloths we have that fit your size. And I can’t just leave a girl looking like that. 」

The girl’s body twitches and stiffens as she silently looks down.

「I’m sorry, but I disposed of that uniform with blood on it. 」

「…No. Thank you very much, you helped me. 」

Seeing the girl drop her eyes to the cup in her hand, the woman tries to be more cheerful.

「OK, let’s calm down and introduce ourselves.  I’ll give my name first, Ooshima Natsu. You can call me whatever you want, most people call me Natsu-san or manager. 」

「Manager? Come to think of it, is this a shop of some kind? 」

「Well, when you were invited through the back door, you went through a black cloth so you couldn’t see. Our store is on the first floor of this building. It’s mainly a cake shop, but it’s also a café. 」

「That explains the uniform. 」

「That’s right. The second floor is my home and office, and this room is my private room. So? What is your name? 」

「Saki, Saki Yoshino. 」

「Hmmm. Saki-chan huh? 」

「…No. You should call me ‘Yun’. 」

「Huh? What is that, a nickname? 」

「Yes. …It’s a second name given to me by someone I admire. 」

「Oh, that’s kind of cool」, Natsu said with a laugh and a smirk.「Can I ask why you don’t like your real name? 」

「Um… it’s like, I don’t feel it. It’s like I’m not myself. 」

The scene burned into my head and the unpleasant feeling left in my right hand are still vivid in my mind. Why did I do that? I can’t organize the feelings in my heart.

「I see. Something seems to be going on with Yun-chan. In that case, people who don’t know shouldn’t get too deeply involved. 」

「…Natsu-san, do you know something? 」

「That’s right. About what you’re doing and why you’re running away or what you’re worried about, I know nothing. Ah, that was a metaphorical expression, I actually know. It’s not a secret. 」

「Then why did you hide me? 」

「The same reason you fled here. The heavens told you to. 」 Natsu smiles and points at her own temple.

So Saki knew everything. Natsu, like herself, had received an <<order>>.

「Yun-chan. My order is to hide you here until the time comes. No more, no less. I have no idea what the consequences of hiding you will be. I’m just doing this because I was told to do so. Do you understand? 」

「I understand. It’s the same for me. I was…. ordered to. 」

「Ordered to, huh? 」

「? 」

「Oh, don’t worry. 」

「Um, when did this start for you Natsu-san? 」

「When? I wonder when this started to happen…」

In response to Yun’s timid question Natsu folded her arms and thought ‘Hmmm’.

「I was in my second year of college, so maybe five years ago? 」

「Did you die then? 」

「Even if you’re dead, you can’t believe that… Could it be that Yun-chan was saved when she died? 」

「Yeah. 」 Saki nodded.

「Wow! 《God》 is amazing! 」

「God? 」

「Oh I don’t really know his name. I just call him <<God>>. At least that’s what I’ve been asked to do. 」

「Do other people call him that too? 」

「I don’t know. I don’t even know if there are other people like us. 」

「You don’t? 」

「Well I think there are, but that’s just speculation. I don’t really know though, does Yun-chan know? 」

「No, you’re also the only other person I’ve met. But I’m the same as Natsu-san. I believe there are other people like us. 」

「You know, if you went out on the street and asked in a loud voice some people might raise their hands. 」 Saki wanted to ask Natsu to do that as a joke.

「Um… what did you do Natsu-san? 」

「Ooops, you’re stepping in it Yun-chan. 」

「S..sorry. It’s fine if you don’t want to say. …But I’m a little worried.” 」

Even though my words are a bit muddy, in reality I am just uneasy. Something happened to me because of someone I don’t know. I wanted feel a bit more at ease by learning about the woman in front of me who was in the same situation.

「Yeeeeah, but my thing is a bit hard you know. Well I’m going to change it in a slightly fantastic way, so feel free to guess what it really means. 」

「? R..roger that? 」

「Once upon a time, it was about 5 years ago. There was a very pretty girl who dreamed of owning a cake shop. Oh, that girl is me. 」

「Uh-huh. 」

「However, one day without warning Little Red Riding Hood is suddenly attacked by a pack of wolves. When this happened Little Red Riding Hood desperately resisted, and because of this all of the fingers on her hand were taken off except for the thumbs. 」

Saki’s eyes widened in surprise. Natsu spread her hand out to show her. The fingers she mentioned had stitches in them like old wounds.

「The wolves were all shot dead by the hunters, and Little Red Riding Hood was rushed to the hospital. The doctor who managed to put Little Red Riding Hood’s fingers back on said, ‘It’s hopeless to get them back to the way they used to be’. For Little Red Riding Hood, who has always dreamed of owning her own shop, it was an unreasonable desire and a reality that she could not accept. 」

「…」

「That night, after crying and falling asleep in the hospital bed, Little Red Riding Hood heard God’s voice say, ‘Do you want your fingers back?’. Little Red Riding Hood of course nodded yes. Then God said, ‘Then let’s make a contract’. When she woke up the next day her fingers felt strangely warm. A few months later, Little Red Riding Hood’s fingers had miraculously recovered and were moving just as they had before the injury. Little Red Riding Hood worked hard and trained and now she’s able to own the shop she always wanted. 」

Natsu spoke cheerfully, but it seems that it was a very traumatic experience. But if that’s true, the one that got Natsu’s fingers moving again and moreover saved her life must be an amazing being. That’s exactly why Natsu calls it God.

However there was one question that arose in my mind.

「Um… Natsu-san. Do you have any connection to the Nanana Collection? 」

「Nanana Collection? What’s that? 」

Yun hurriedly waved at the dumbfounded Natsu.

「Ummm, sorry. Just forget it. 」

It seems that Natsu and I are in completely different situations.

「So what is the contract you made with God? 」

「A request will be made from time to time and I have to follow it. Like this time. It doesn’t happen very often, maybe… a third of the time? 」

Natsu tilts her head and answers with a rather vague look.

「So you’ve had to do things before? 」

「That’s right, but I don’t remember. 」

「Is that so? 」

「I remember helping, but the details are vague. Or rather, I don’t usually remember anything after I’m done, strangely. It’s like having a switch on your head that only turns on when you need it. Like just now. 」

Saki knew how that was.

Yun didn’t have any memory events either until Yuiga Isshin, who she had stabbed, pointed it out. As soon as I was pressed about my own memories and identity, I suddenly would have a switch flip. My memories would awaken.

My body would move naturally and the actions I should take just come to mind. Then Saki stabbed Yuiga Isshin with a knife that had appeared in her hand. Saki’s body began to tremble on its own at the memory that was vividly recalled.

Noticing this, Natsu approaches Saki and gently hugs her.

「I was so scared. But I’m safe as long as I’m here. 」

Saki’s eyes naturally overflowed with tears as she was hugged so gently. Her emotions welling up from her chest became a sob, and Saki cried aloud into Natsu’s chest.

Natsu just hugged Saki this whole time.

「Have you calmed down? 」

「Yes. Sorry. 」

Saki was able to calm down quite a bit by shedding tears on Natsu’s chest.

Natsu laughs while stroking Saki’s head.

「Well, I think there will be a lot of trouble coming your way, but for today take a bath and get a good rest. You can use my bed. Starting tomorrow I’ll have you working hard. 」

「W..work? 」

「Those who don’t work, don’t eat. Since you are in hiding, the most I can have you do is prepare early in the morning and clean up after closing. No, you were saved. Preparing the cakes for the Tanabata Star festival is hard work, and I was just thinking that I needed someone to help me. 」

「A-huh. 」

「This year’s Tanabata festival will be a chance for our shop to prosper. I must keep my spirits up. 」

For a moment I didn’t understand what Natsu was saying. Then Saki remembered the plan in the corner of her mind.

「Tanabata festival. 」

「Come to think of it, did Yun-chan make a wish yet? 」

「I haven’t done it yet… that’s why. 」

「Think about one soon. The deadline for your wish is coming soon. 」

「But that kind of thing won’t happen. 」

「But if you don’t make a wish, it won’t come true for sure. 」

「…」

「Anything is fine, just write what you want to do now. Tanabata is that kind of a day. 」

「What I want to do now…」

Natsu guides Saki to the bathroom where she gives herself up to the warm shower. It’s a strange thing. I feel like various things are washed away when I take a shower. Among them, Saki suddenly remembers. About the boy that always walks home with her.

「Tetsu, are you worried? 」

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