My Girlfriend is a Death Row Inmate - Chapter 25 - Heaven, Suffering, Agony

Chapter 25 – Heaven, Suffering, Agony

“Even though our faces were completely different, we got along so well that people mistook us for sisters. It depended on who you asked whether I was the older or the younger sister, but without a doubt, we were incredibly close—it wouldn’t be wrong to call us best friends. Kusune back then was so full of expression, and I think she was several times cuter than she is now.”

“Then why did your relationship deteriorate?”

“…Well, I can certainly say that she has absolutely no intention of catching me. I don’t know what kind of good things they’re saying about her on TV, but if I were captured, I would surely be killed. Definitely.”

“…Isn’t Shizuku strong?”

“My strength relies entirely on my special abilities. I’ve never been a match for her since long ago. No matter what I acquire…”

“Speaking of which, are Shizuku’s special abilities something you were born with?”

“If such a thing existed from birth, my family would have been in trouble. Unfortunately, this is something I acquired later in life.”

I wonder if she was modified through alterations. Although I don’t even know where Tenku Village is located, I can’t help but think that a government-affiliated secret organization captured Shizuku and exposed her to radiation to grant her supernatural powers…

Maybe I’ve watched too many movies.

“Does Kusune have any special abilities?”

Shizuku nodded with a meaningful smile.

“If I had to say, perhaps her ridiculous physical abilities could be considered special.”

“It’s not a matter of what appears on the outside. I’m asking if Kusune can also wield abilities like yours.”

When we first met, she mentioned that walking was preferable. She survived because she relied on her own two feet rather than vehicles, which became a crutch for the crime of kidnapping. If her physical abilities surpass those of humanity, it shouldn’t matter what her opponent uses.

There must be some secret specifically related to vehicles.

Shizuku nodded meaningfully and agreed.

“I can manipulate the visual perception of anyone within my field of vision.”

“Eh?”

“It’s not exactly a special ability, but no matter how you look at it, her extraordinary physical abilities are more strange. You would understand if you’ve been around her, though. Regrettably, this too is something acquired later in life. Back then, she was more like an athletic klutz.”

Understanding dawned on me. Her preference for walking over using vehicles must have meant that driving was dangerous for her. Indeed, if that’s the case, it makes sense. Even if you drive recklessly, you won’t die unless something serious happens, but if you drive a motorcycle or a car blindfolded, you will certainly have an accident.

“What about countermeasures?”

“Blindfolds would be obvious, but they probably wouldn’t work.”

I wouldn’t call that a countermeasure. It’s probably been a while since they’ve been estranged, but the information was so useless that I was at a loss for words. Unless the person is a criminal, their power won’t be used, but then again, she was a criminal.

By assisting Shizuku’s escape, according to Kusune’s justice system, I was already sentenced to death upon capture. I couldn’t feel safe just because it didn’t concern me.

“Do you have any other questions?”

“Well, about that. You said it was acquired later in life. What exactly happened for you to gain such power?”

I rode the momentum, ready to hear anything, but I noticed the air around Shizuku suddenly turned cold. Such a thing should not happen, especially not in this pleasant weather.

“Ah, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

“No, I’ll tell you. Just make one promise. Never believe what I say. Call it delusions, lies, whatever. Absolutely do not believe it. Okay?”

I had never heard of someone asking not to be believed when sharing information. Despite my curiosity, I swallowed my saliva and nodded. Shizuku dispersed the children around us and created a situation where it was just the two of us. Perhaps her current questions were getting to the core of everything, as evidenced by her thoroughness in clearing the area.

A chilly wind unlike the season blew between us at that moment.

“Hey Ryuma! Hey, let’s have tea together just once, okay? Please?”

A figure emerged from our blind spots, rushing over familiarly. The true identity of the woman who approached us so casually was Mitsuru Aikura. Whether seen by anyone, there was an inconsiderate woman interrupting what was clearly a date. From an outsider’s perspective, it would seem like infidelity, and from Shizuku’s point of view, it would look even more so. Especially since I had been openly professing my love for Shizuku. I had even groped her chest. Although I was sincere, to her, I must have seemed like an outrageous cheater.

“Uwaah! W-What’s going on?”

“Come on, please. It’s fine, right? Come on, come on, come on!”

“I mean, I’m on a date… Why are you using my name—”

“I just happened to learn it from a kind person passing by. ‘Ryuma’ is such a cool name, isn’t it!”

“You’re being too familiar! Even if we’re the same age, at least use honorifics!”

“You’re definitely free right now, aren’t you? Come on, let’s have some tea! It’ll be quick. Just thirty minutes!”

“I told you, I’m on a date—”

“With whom?”

“With whom? Well—”

There was no woman present at that moment. Shizuku, who had been sitting on the tire, was nowhere to be seen, and there was no one else around the ladder either. It was as if she had never been there at all.

“Uh…”

There was nowhere to hide. Even if there had been, it’s unlikely she could have disappeared from sight in an instant. If she had hidden in the bushes, there would have been noise, and aside from that, there was nowhere she could have concealed herself. Yet, to suggest that all the incidents up to this point were merely my delusions would be utterly unrealistic. It made no sense to force such a nonsensical conclusion for the sake of maintaining realism.

“Just because you don’t want to go on a date with me doesn’t mean you have to lie like that, Ryuma.”

“…No, it’s not a lie.”

“Okay, I understand. Then let’s just leave it at that and go on a real date!”

“Wait, stop it——”

It was impossible to imagine Shizuku abandoning a date halfway through. I convinced myself that she must be hiding somewhere and fled the scene in a panic. We were supposed to spend a leisurely time in this park, but oh well. I decided to shake off Mitsuru and headed to the next location.

——————————

“Haah… haah… … … …”

Running at a red light, trespassing, and coming into physical contact with an indeterminate number of people.

I could only consider myself lucky that there were no police around. My sense of morality had undoubtedly become dull after hiding a death row convict. No, it’s Mitsuru’s fault. I thought she wouldn’t be shaken off with conventional methods, which is why I resorted to these measures. Moreover, she’s also responsible for the trespassing.

“…Sigh.”

Sitting down on a bench surrounded by shrubbery, I held my injured right foot, vowing never to imitate parkour again. Well, it was necessary to shake off Mitsuru. Still, jumping from the third floor of an abandoned building—that was probably overdoing it.

I hadn’t sustained any injuries that seemed out of the ordinary, but the impact on my foot was too great. Landing on my feet from a five-story fall was beyond my capabilities. It was clearly a suicidal act.

The proof of that was the fact that I didn’t want to move at all right now.

“Are you okay?”

“……Ah, Shizu, ku…?”

“Hmm. Looks like you hurt your foot. Consider yourself lucky it’s not a serious injury.”

I wanted to look up at her, but focusing on the pain in my legs only made it worse. Engaging in conversation was all I could manage.

“Wh, where were you heading…?”

“Sorry about that. I sensed Kusune’s presence and ended up hiding.”

“It wasn’t Kusune… it was a weird person…!”

“Hmm, my sensors must have gotten dull. Let me teach you a spell to forget the pain as an apology.”

“A, a spell…? No way.”

As Shizuku’s hands grabbed my ankle, relieving the pain, I reluctantly lifted my hand from the affected area. Her hands, which enveloped mine, were gentler than her usual self, and she was massaging my sore foot.

“Enishibi no ra, shirami no miru ike ra rufuneya.”

“…………?

“Karamokute ni sou ya hara no wa surui mara na rigu no ha sushi kurou to kuma.”

The language… Was it Japanese? It must have been, but the way she spoke was clearly different. It was as if my ears couldn’t recognize it as a language… or perhaps it was another form of words. This ear of mine is certainly hearing Japanese.

“Repeat it.”

“…Eh?”

“I don’t have magic-like abilities to heal others. This is just a spell to make you forget the pain. It means nothing if you don’t chant it.”

“E, um… Enishibi no ra, shirami no miru ike ra rufuneya karamokute ni sou ya hara no wa surui mara na rigu no ha sushi kurou to kuma!”

“Keep going.”

“Enishibi no ra, shirami no miru ike ra rufuneya karamokute ni sou ya hara no wa surui mara na rigu no ha sushi kurou to kuma!”

I wondered what language I was speaking. Just as I was about to spit out nonsense, I looked up—or rather, I was made to look up.

“Eh…?”

The pain was gone. Although it wasn’t completely back to normal, I could easily walk or even participate in a sports festival parade in this state. Looking up, I recognized Shizuku’s figure. Indeed, it wasn’t a delusion. Shizuku Nanagi was truly here.

“…What was that just now?”

“I told you, it’s an incantation to make you forget the pain. I recommend you undergo proper treatment later.”

“Oh, I see…”

A normal person would have quickly ended the date and returned home, but since we had come this far, I hoped to continue. Fortunately, the next place I had planned to visit was somewhere that required no physical exertion.

“Then let’s continue our date.”

“Are you sure? I’m fine with going home now.”

“Your concern is unnecessary. Look over there— it’s because we were supposed to go there.”

Pointing in the direction I indicated stood the large shopping mall “Eon”. The next destination refers to the movie theater located inside it.

“Let’s watch a movie.”