Seirei Gensou Ki Vol 1 Chapter 1

Former Life

Modern day Japan. This is a story that is already several years old.

In a certain suburban neighbourhood, a sorrowful parting between a boy and girl was taking place.

Standing beside a moving van, a girl, in tears, clung onto a boy. Her name was Ayase Miharu. She was still only 7 years old on that day.

Trying to soothe her tears, the boy embraced her while confidently reassuring her.

Haruto had to move to a distant country with his father.

Haruto’s parents were divorced. Although his mother and younger sister continued living in this town, Haruto had already moved out of their apartment.

“Noo, don’t go. Haru-kun!”

That was why, whilst putting on a strong front, he kept telling her “It’s alright”, “We’ll see each other again” to try and alleviate her crying. Though, the truth was, he was grieving inside and wanted to cry as well.

For the two of them to have met, was it fate or mere coincidence? Their parents moved into the same apartment building and by chance, shared neighbouring rooms. Coincidentally, they were both born in spring allowing them to become acquainted when growing up.

Ever since birth, the two of them were brought up together. If one had to describe it, “childhood friends” would be an appropriate term to express their relationship.

They recognised each other as special existences in their lives despite having yet to understand things like love and affection. Even if an opportunity to fall in love did not exist, they were still destined for each other.

“Haru-kun, Haru-kun. I want to stay togetherrr.”

However, her crying would not stop. Miharu continued clinging on to him while bawling her eyes out, leaving Haruto at a loss.

Just being together with Miharu made him happy.

In that case, he will, one day, attain that wish. He wanted to forever be together with Miharu, to always walk by her side. Therefore, he would convey his feelings. It was the only thing he could offer right now.

Haruto seized his once in a lifetime chance and boldly confessed to Miharu.

Without pausing for breath, Haruto shouted. *Dokun Dokun* He felt his heart beating wildly in his chest.

In a hesitant and trembling voice, Haruto asked.

“I will. I will. I will marry Haru-kun!”

Relieved by her answer, Haruto swore to uphold his promise.
No matter how much time passes, he will not give up. It is a promise he will keep. He will protect that smile before him. Resolving himself, he gave her a light kiss and thus, Haruto parted from Miharu.

It was nothing more than a verbal promise, a fleeting pledge made in their childhood days.
How the future will unfold, nobody knows. It was a promise without a planHowever, it was a promise Haruto carved into his heart. It became the reason for his existence, the backbone of his life.

From that time on, the young Haruto kept dreaming about his reunion with Miharu and continued making an effort to fulfill his promise. I want to see Miharu. I can’t stop until I meet Miharu. Fully believing in their promise, he would put his utmost effort into anything and everything that he believed would help him accomplish his goal. And as he grew older, he eagerly anticipated their reunion.

Perhaps noticing Haruto’s dedication and drive, Haruto’s father permitted him entry into a famous high school in the neighbourhood where they formerly resided.

And then, he caught sight of Miharu’s uniformed figure. Haruto stood there, gazing in her direction, fascinated and at a loss for breath. Even though she was all grown up, he knew without a shred of doubt, that it was her. So far, yet so close. She was his significant other.

Miharu grew up into a beautiful girl, one anybody could mistake to have come straight out of a painting.

Standing beside Miharu was a boy whom Haruto did not recognize.

That day, Haruto returned home with the day’s incident weighing on his mind.

The time spent with Miharu was a special memory to him. Their promise together allowed him to pursue his dreams without straying from his path.

It was possible that it was no longer possible to regain their past relationship anymore. Miharu may have already found another person she loves. Like a fool, he constructed and lived in his own fantasy.
However, even then, Haruto longed to meet Miharu.

Tomorrow, he would summon the courage to speak to her.

She was absent the days following the entrance ceremony. She had suddenly left school and simply disappeared.

Being only a mere high school student, Haruto was unable to do anything, not even gaining a hint as to what could have happened. As time moved on, Haruto became overwhelmed with regret.

On that day, at that time, if he had called out to Miharu, things may have ended up differently. He could not help but mull over the “what if” scenario.

I won’t give up. I don’t want to give up. A despairing cry echoed within his soul.

Having said that, he had not put in any effort to search for MiharuHaving lost sight of his path, Haruto slowly began to lose much of his vigor and drive.

*  *  *

And so, four years have passed since the day Miharu disappeared.

However, time has stopped for Haruto. Despite attending University, he no longer puts much effort into his studies and his work as a part-timer at an upper-class cafe was just something to do to pass the day.

His situation from a third party’s perspective would seem relatively normal for a college student. He continues to wander aimlessly in an unchanging world, watching as the days go by― hoping that something would happen.

Haruto boards a bus near the university campus with an air of coolness, striking a stark contrast with the scorching summer heat.

Besides the occasional stop announcement, only the bus’ engine can be heard. Haruto directs his attention out the window, watching the scenery pass as the bus makes its way down the road.

Suddenly, Haruto notices a flickering in his periphery and turns towards the source. Sensing a shift in his attention, the elementary school girl quickly sits down.

Haruto faintly recalls who the girl is. Some time ago, she dozed off on the bus and missed her stop. He ended up helping her find her way home when she started crying on the bus.

Perhaps noticing that Haruto is gazing back at her, Suzune quickly breaks her line of sight and looks down.

Despite racking his brain, he cannot recall doing anything that may have bothered her.

Is it just my imagination? He thought to ask if there was anything wrong but did not want to come off as a suspicious person. Recent events had led to an emphasis on children’s safety.

Yeah, let’s not― Feeling slightly irritated, Haruto lets out a small sigh. He decides to ignore Suzune’s probing eyes.

At that moment, the bus suddenly shakes violently.

“Ah… Ah, ha…”

His whole body feels hot as if boiling water was poured over him and his consciousness starts to dim. As his vision begins to fade, he can barely make out the crushed interior of the bus.

Barely holding on to his consciousness, Haruto is somehow able to piece together what just occurred.

“Ah… Gaha, gaha.”

(Mii… chan…)

―Haru… to…

Immediately afterward, geometric patterns flood his vision as he begins ascending from the Earth’s surface

“And for our next story tonight, a collision between a bus and sem-truck occurred this afternoon at 3:23 in __ prefecture, Tokyo. All three bus passengers were killed on site. Despite suffering serious injuries, both the bus driver and truck driver miraculously survived. Sources are reporting that the truck driver may have dozed off―”

Chapter end