My mother, old people smiling proudly, and even young men and women who looked at me somehow with eyes full of longing.
I bowed to them as well.
"Well then, everyone. Thank you for everything up until now."
My haircut was the final schedule of the day.
No, it was the final schedule in the past.
"Oh my. We're the ones who were grateful."
"Farewell, everyone~"
"Can we see you again later?"
"You're people who'll do great things. We'll probably see you later through the news or papers, won't we?"
I didn't give the people of the past much explanation.
That this place was the past, that they were merely records—I didn't explain any of it.
"Then......"
I turned my gaze to the group, including Gim Suho and Sin Jonghak.
Now, it was time to do what had to be done.
Gim Suho and the group nodded with rather bittersweet smiles.
"I'll be back."
"Yeah."
The group moved toward the positions where they had each placed their crystals, and I went inside Gwangmyeong City Hall. I slowly climbed the stairs and plopped down onto the rooftop floor.
From there, I looked up at the sky.
Below the horizon, the half-veiled sun.
Its final rays were dyeing the world crimson. The sunset soaked the world in beautiful light. It was a breathtaking sight.
I sat comfortably and admired the scenery.
Just then, the purple light vanished from the water tower in the northeast.
I could see I Yeonghan climbing the steel tower in the south.
The fragments of the past were slowly, gradually coming together.
Had about ten minutes passed like that?
I sensed a presence behind me.
"Gim Hajin. Catch."
The first person to come up to the city hall rooftop was Sin Jonghak. He nonchalantly and chicly threw the crystal and went down below the city hall.
Below him, the gang (fan club) that had fervently followed Sin Jonghak all this time was waiting with fistfuls of tears at the corners of their eyes.
"Hey~ Gim Hajin!"
This booming voice came from below.
When I glanced down from the rooftop, I Yeonghan threw the crystal up. I caught it.
"Thanks."
Next was Yu Yeonha.
Yu Yeonha came up to the rooftop where I was, making clack-clack—high heel sounds.
"What. Where'd you get those high heels?"
"I got them as a gift. There were so many people who liked me, after all."
Yu Yeonha approached me and held out the crystal.
"...Ah, right. Hey, by the way."
As I received Yu Yeonha's crystal, I cautiously asked what I'd been curious about inside.
"While you were cursed, you didn't feel a little good or anything, right?"
"...What kind of nonsense is that? Why would I feel good."
"Huh? No, it's nothing. Just ignore me."
Truth is, there was something like that among the discarded settings.
"[Yu Yeonha liked being bullied.]"
It seemed too maniacal, and since the serialization didn't last until that content came out, it couldn't appear in the main story, but.
"Anyway. I'll be going now."
Right as Yu Yeonha was about to go down, Gim Suho came up.
"Gim Hajin! Here, take thi... ugh. What the."
"Let's go down together~"
"I'm supposed to stay with Hajin, hey, hey. What are you doing."
Gim Suho handed over the crystal and was immediately dragged away by Yu Yeonha.
After Gim Suho disappeared like that, the last piece appeared about three minutes later.
"I'm here, Gim Hajin."
Chae Nayun trudged over and held out the crystal to me.
Finally, all six crystals that had been sustaining the past were gathered.
"Are you going to break that now?"
As she asked that, Chae Nayun sat down beside me, gathering her knees.
"Yeah. Get ready."
"Can I watch too?"
"I don't mind."
I gathered the crystals on my palm. And slowly infused them with the mana of my stigma. Instantly, the tattoo on my biceps glowed blue, and the crystals imbued with mana clung together, forming the shape of a very small sphere.
I lightly pressed it between my thumb and index finger.
Chime—
A refreshing, clear, and sharp sound rang out, and the crystals turned into purple dust and flew away.
The change could be felt before long.
Starting from that distant place, the scenery began to disappear.
Crumbling sky.
Collapsing past.
I quietly watched 1972.
"Hey. You know."
Then, Chae Nayun, who was sitting beside me, suddenly asked. Her gaze, like mine, remained on the sky slowly fading away.
"Is forgetting... something like this?"
"...What's with the sudden question."
"No, it's just. I was wondering if forgetting means that person crumbling away inside my heart like this."
Chae Nayun's voice was composed. Her eyes seemed to redden as she thought of her mother, but she didn't shed tears.
"How should I know. Why are you suddenly curious about that?"
"...It's just. No matter how much I try to hold on, I can't remember Mom's voice anymore. Her scent too, the happy days we once spent together, I can't remember them well now. I wonder if they've all crumbled away."
I turned my head to the side. Chae Nayun looked at me too.
Since I'd never experienced a situation like this, the words I'd offer would instead be a phrase I'd seen in a book I barely remembered.
"A flower that never withers gives off no fragrance. Well, it's something like that."
"...What the heck is that. It's so cringy."
"It's exactly as it is."
Memories must fade moderately and wear down moderately to become precious recollections.
"Whatever."
...It seemed I had failed to evoke empathy after all.
I rummaged in my bosom and pulled something out, holding it out to Chae Nayun. And I spoke nonchalantly.
"Here, you do this."
"...Huh?"
"It's a ticket."
At my explanation, Chae Nayun tilted her head.
"A ticket to go see flowers and come back."
My hand cramped up from saying it, but anyway.
This is a time capsule.
A small box locked with a padlock, with numbers displayed on it like an analog clock. The numbers showed January 1, 2018.
"What is this?"
"A time capsule. You know what that is, right?"
"...Who do you think is an idiot. Of course I know that."
This, too, was one of the settings I'd established but never used; I found it by asking the Book of Truth. I probably exhausted a whole day's worth of stigma mana just to find this one thing.
"But what is this? Why are you giving it to me?"
"See the numbers there? If you change them, you can return to the past of that time for a short while. More precisely, you explore a memory. A memory buried in your unconscious."
"..."
Chae Nayun looked at me with wide eyes.
Then, she blankly uttered a word.
"...Really?"
"Yeah."
"Why. Aren't you going to use it?"
My chest stung for a moment.
Honestly, I found this to use it myself.
Someday. About five or six years later, when I'd forgotten my parents' voices, and their faces were gradually growing faint. To cling to even the tail end of my last memories.
But thinking about it, it was obvious that bringing an item discovered in the past to the present would cause some problem.
So rather than that, it was better to give this disposable item to her and have her use it now.
"I don't even know their faces anyway, so what would I use it for."
Chae Nayun quietly stared at me as I spoke roughly and evasively, then set the time capsule down with a tap.
"...Then I won't use it either."
"What? What are you talking about all of a sudden."
"It's cowardly. We both do it, or we both can't. That's loyalty."
For a moment, I was flabbergasted, my nose stuffed up, even on the verge of getting slightly angry. I pushed hard on Chae Nayun's temple.
"...For this, I should've just slapped your cheek instead."
"What? Are you crazy? Bring it on?"
Chae Nayun shook both fists and took a boxing stance.
"Shut up and just use it quickly. I told you. It's a ticket to go see flowers and come back."
"..."
Chae Nayun pouted and picked up the time capsule. Even if she said that, she must not have wanted to give up on it after all.
"Where do you want to go?"
"I'll go...... 2012."
As she spoke, Chae Nayun matched the numbers one by one.
"And March."
"Lastly,"
"the 13th."
"Why that day—"
Pop.
But before my words could even continue, Chae Nayun disappeared without a trace.
Like magic, or perhaps like a miracle.
"...Hmm."
I was suddenly left alone.
I deliberately stretched and turned my gaze.
Half the world had grown dark.
Everyone except me seemed to have returned to the present and vanished.
Though the sun had already scattered like puzzle pieces, the fragments of that sunset still shone upon me by my side.
The collapsing world is beautiful in its own way.
In the slowly vanishing world, I closed my eyes.
The resonance created by the gradually scattering world seemed to echo in my heart.
If I opened my eyes now, I would be somewhere in the present......
"Gim Hajin!"
I opened my eyes to a suddenly booming voice.
I hurriedly surveyed my surroundings.
Before I knew it, I seemed to have returned to the present; the scenery of Baramsan Mountain filled my eyes, and the sunlight falling through the gaps between leaves was dazzling.
"Found you~"
With my eyes half-closed, I looked up at the person who had called out to me.
"There you were~"
Blue-green vegetation. Clear mountain air. Jewel-like sunshine.
Amidst all those present scenery, Chae Nayun was wearing a bright smile.
The End
March 13, 2013.
It was a piece of a distant memory.
A story from childhood that remained faint and dim, yet the reason that day was still so dear was that it was the only birthday when the whole family had gathered together.
My birthday when Grandfather, Father, Older Brother, and even Mother had all gathered; so I simply wanted to look back once more on what had happened that day.
To hold it precious once more, to keep it vivid for a long time.
[2013]
[March]
[13th]
Does this really work?
At first I was skeptical, but the moment I finished setting the time capsule next to Gim Hajin.
Swoosh—
My surroundings were enveloped in a white curtain of light...
...?
Before I knew it, I had become young Chae Nayun and was blankly staring ahead.
I saw the familiar garden scenery that seemed changed yet unchanged.
On that lawn, a birthday party was prepared.
Balloons tied to strings floated, and atop a large table was a cake decorated with a character I'd loved as a child and plenty of delicious food.
"Nayun."
Then, a large hand descended upon my back from behind.
The weight was so startling that my body stiffened.
Then, a kind voice called out once more.
"Nayun?"
A male voice that had yet to fully come out of puberty.
Yet I felt I knew all too well who its owner was.
I barely held back the tears that surged up impulsively.
Today is a good day. Tears don't suit it.
"...Yeah, Oppa. You here?"
My tongue wouldn't move as I wanted, but I decided not to mind.
My older brother, with his youthful face, chuckled and knelt down.
"What present do you think I prepared?"
"A toy car."
"...Huh?"
My brother's face turned flustered for a moment.
An electric toy car for children that kids can ride.
Chae Jinyun had saved up three months of allowance and bought it himself.
"Uh...... what, who told you?"
I merely smiled at my flustered brother.
And nestled into my brother's embrace.
"Thanks."
My brother, who had briefly sulked at his present being found out, quickly broke into a bright smile and lifted me into his arms.
"I'm more thankful, you know."
Then, the area near the main gate grew noisy.
Still in my brother's embrace, I looked over there beyond his broad shoulder.
Father appeared first. He was with Grandfather.
"Oh my, our little rascals.."
Grandfather approached with a kind smile.
My brother handed me over to Grandfather.
Grandfather's embrace was different from my brother's, but firm and weighty.
"Happy birthday, our Nayun."
"Yeah. Thanks, Gwandpa."
"Oho?"
Grandfather's expression turned slightly surprised.
Because when I was young, I had been a little scared of Grandfather.
Grandfather stroked my head and then set me down on the ground.
I stood quietly on the lawn and looked ahead.
My heart pounded and sweat formed in my hands.
The main gate.
There, beyond where the wind rushed in...... finally, that person appeared.
Skin like white jade, with the same brown hue as mine floating about her, yet long hair feminine and unlike mine.
You, beautiful like a flower.
Mother was slowly walking toward me.
"Mom."
I tried calling out that word after a long time.
I felt my face crumple. My lips must have jutted out unbecomingly, and my eyes were probably half-squinted. But merely calling out to her wasn’t nearly enough, so I ran with all my strength and threw myself into her arms.
A full fragrance seeped through my entire body.
The voice I had forgotten after far too many years washed over my ears.
Until I could no longer open my eyes, I cried and cried.
Held in Mom’s arms, I sat at the seat of honor at the celebration party.
Dad asked worriedly,
“Nayun, why are you crying like that? Are you hurt somewhere?”
“Leave her be. Children can be like that.”
My tears finally stopped after five minutes. They stopped the moment I realized this wasn’t reality, but only a dream.
This time was far too precious to waste simply crying. I wiped the tears gathered at the corners of my eyes and looked at the cake.
Grandfather flicked his hand once, and flames lit the candles on the cake.
Mom smiled faintly.
“Nayun, blow them out while thinking of a wish.”
“...... A wish?”
“Yes. If you close your eyes and make a wish before blowing out the candles on your birthday, they all come true.”
I closed my eyes.
A wish.
I wouldn’t ask for anything too excessive.
Only that I could remember today for the rest of my life.
Opening my eyes, I blew out a puff of air.
Clap, clap, clap, clap—
My family applauded.
Held in Mom’s arms, holding Mom’s hand just as I had back then, I smiled brightly.
“Now~ my present is a kick scooter!”
“Oh my? When did our grandson save up enough money to buy something like this?”
“...... Father, you gave him too much allowance. You shouldn’t give him that much.”
“Oh? Are you complaining that your allowance was too small when you were young? Dear, what do you think?”
“I...... Nayun, ta-da! It’s a penguin with glasses~”
Changing the subject, Mom held out a Pororo doll to me. It’s not a penguin with glasses, it’s Pororo. I think that was how I answered back then.
But now, my throat was too choked up for me to reply.
Already, everything around me was beginning to turn white. Slowly, as if the color was draining from ink.
Time had run out.
My heart ached as if it would burst, and the tears I had barely held back began to flow again.
Listening to the voices still reaching my ears, I quietly closed my eyes.
...... Not long after, the world grew silent, and when I opened my eyes again.
I was surrounded by nothing but mountain scenery.
No thoughts came to mind. I simply stretched.
Now, I had to go find Kim Hajin.
* * *
Chae Nayun held out her hand to me. I stared quietly at that hand. Since I was sprawled on the ground right now, did she mean for me to grab it and get up? In any case, I did just that.
“Thanks.”
Once I stood up, Chae Nayun looked at me with somehow renewed eyes.
“Hey.”
“Huh?”
Chae Nayun held out the time capsule.
“What’s this?”
“I don’t know. Even though I used it once, there’s still some left?”
“Really?”
I glanced at my smart watch and confirmed the reason.
“...... You keep it.”
“Huh? What, why? It’s your turn this time.”
Maybe because it had been brought from the past to the present, or maybe because it had already been used once.
The time capsule now had something called a “required amount of magic power to charge.”
That required amount was a whopping fifteen thousand. In other words, your magic power stat had to be at least 15 to use it one more time, and after using it once more, you’d need twice that amount of magic power.
Naturally, proxy charging was impossible.
“No. Use it later, when you want to see them one more time.”
“Ah, that’s not right. Now it’s your turn......”
“I told you.”
I cut Chae Nayun off.
“I’ve never even met them once.”
For a moment, Chae Nayun clamped her mouth shut.
“So you use it. Got it?”
“......... Got it.”
Chae Nayun answered with a prim expression.
I chuckled and turned my body toward the foot of the mountain.
“Hey, hey, where are you going? It’s not that way.”
“I’m tired. I’m going home.”
“What?”
Chae Nayun suddenly grabbed my sleeve. When I looked at that sleeve, she fidgeted and withdrew her hand.
“No. Why, why?”
“Because I’m tired. Aren’t you tired? I seriously feel like I’m going to die.”
“No, but still....”
“I’m not going. I’m going home.”
“........ Tch. Do whatever you want.”
At my firm refusal, she turned away with her lips pouting.
Just then, an alert rang from my smart watch.
[This is my account number. Send the money here. As much as possible