Well, but this way there was no waiting time for me,
...That's unusual.
That's the Sanzu's...?
You don't remember? Back then, when you came to my place for flower-viewing.
..Long ago?
It's not weird at all, you know? I've thought that since long ago.
...You really like to say sudden, weird things.
...Huh?
...You really are a kind person.
...But you know, I'm sure their parents wouldn't want their own children to be doing such things.
...Well, being the shinigami I am, I can't fully understand the 'regrets' that people have, so I gave up on that.
"You can't let atoning to your parents become your only purpose"... No matter how many times I tell them, they won't listen.
They seem like they're too young to let go their regrets.
...If I could, I'd want to ferry them across as well... but...
...Isn't there anything that can be done for them?
They seem to forsake the endless cycle of rebirth, believing in things like that.
'Leaving one's parents to grieve is the greatest sin'
They see the path they think is right, and follow it without any knowledge or experience.
Oh, them?
In the end, no matter how hard they work, kids are still kids.
Maybe in 10 years, maybe 20...
Who knows...? No one can tell exactly.
...Then when will those children finally give up by themselves?
When they stop piling stones of their 'own' will, is when they can be brought to Higan.
Those children can't be saved by outsiders.
...Nope.
...I wonder what will become of those children. The story says they are brought to salvation by the bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, but...
...Oh yeah, I saw the children's souls at the Sai no Kawara piling up stones for the first time earlier.
...Sheesh.
It would be nice if all the people I had to carry over were like you.
...That's, I'm not displeased, but still.
Oh, did I offend you?
...Your final wish... geez, you're really something.
...And being delivered to Higan by you makes my final wish come true to the letter.
It was such a blessing.
...As long as there's a chance to attain the same happiness I had before, If I want to achieve that, I have to take some risks.
There's a surprisingly large number of bad ends in a person's life, you know?
If you do reincarnate as a human, I doubt it's a question of "one more time"...
But you know...
...Well, if that's what you wish, who am I to stop you.
But I want to live in this world as a normal human one more time.
Well, that kind of never-ending lifestyle as a celestial may not be bad,
Haha.
That might be a good reason to refuse.
...Would you want to be like that girl who totters around everyday repeatedly saying 'So bored, but there's nothing to do'?
that girl->
If you went there, you could still descend here every now and then, and have a totally worry-free lifestyle, right?
It feels like such a waste.
More importantly, is it really okay that you don't go to heaven?
Well, this job fits the leisurely way I do things more, though.
...Maybe.
Didn't you used to to say something to the degree of 'Maybe I should switch to harvesting spirits instead...'?
...You're sure interested in lots of weird things.
Me?
Huh?
...Speaking of that, wouldn't it be better if you worked as something else besides being a boatsman?
and in the end, there are things I'd like to talk to Komachi about, so this is just fine.
Thanks for your concern... but I'll pass.
If you're thinking you'll become one, you normally can, I think...
...Me, become a celestial?
Could it be that you don't intend to enter heaven and become a celestial?
...In the end, you say...
Ah-ah, it's just your imagination, really.
...And.
It may be my imagination, but we seem to be veering off the Road to Liminality.
Could it be that the person who'd say "The crossing really takes no time at all"-
Ordinary people would falter when shown that kind of behaviour, you know?
But with that attitude you were showing just now...
...That excuse would be more convincing if your everyday behaviour showed a little more eagerness.
So I give myself a break to prepare for the next trip.
I diligently ferried one person over this morning, after all.
Nooo.
...You were slacking off again, right?
You were in such a far-away spot, I had to search for you.
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