In this place, that was often the case . . . . . .

“If . . . . . . if we do become adults without dying, would you be willing to marry me?”

The girl with flaxen hair and a gentle looking face said while crying .

In response to that unmotivated look the boy's eyes slackened . . . . . . However, in some respect, the dry eyes still had an empty feeling, and they stared back at the wet eyes of that girl .

“If we do become adults without dying . . . . . . ”

That sort of thing is impossible .

The boy thought .

No, the girl might have also thought that .

Since we'll die .

In this place . . . . . .

In this orphanage, death is overflowing .

Death is really overflowing .

Even these two small kids understand to that extent; death is overflowing in the world .

That's why that . . . . . .

The girl murmured .

“If we survive . . . . . . would you . . . . . . ”

The boy didn't respond .

Because that girl's murmur, an endless dream that won't come true, like an illusion, was fleetingly heard .

“If we survive . . . . . . would you . . . . . . ”

But her words were then interrupted .

A middle-aged man who wore a black suit on his body, suddenly pulled that girl's small shoulder towards himself, and warned her .

“It's time . The crying ends here . To you, the weakness known as feeling is unnecessary . You'll die if you're weak . It's no more than that . ”

Right .

No more than that .

She understands .

The girl makes a frightened expression in an instant,

“ . . . . . . Yes . ”

And then she nodded .

Once, she peered at the boy's face but, the boy, unsmiling like always, with the look of his unmotivated, slackened eyes persisting, is saying no more .

Somehow or other it doesn't seem like he intends to give a response to the girl's words . . . . . .

“ . . . . . . . . . . . . ”

That's right .

She understood .

After all since they are going to die, there's no meaning in making a promise like that .

The girl's face froze .

I might never smile again .

That's right, she thought .

“We're going . ”

Urged by the man, the girl began to walk .

On a path that doesn't have any meaning . . . . . .

Doesn't have an objective .

Doesn't have dreams .

Doesn't have hope .

Since from now on she'll become this man's puppet .

A marionette .

And––––

“Oi . ”

At that moment suddenly, the boy raised his voice .

Still lacking ambition, in the same tone of voice as always,

That voice says to her .

“You know, you cry too much . Don't say things like we'll die . If it's you, you'll live . Since you're stubborn . And I don't plan to die either . So . . . . . . ”

The girl looked over her shoulder without thinking . Once more, emotion returned to her face .

Tears were brimming over .

Seeing that, the boy worried, with a troubled look on his face; smiled . . . . . . and said .

“So you don't die either . ”

“ . . . . . . Yeah!”

The girl gave a big nod .

A quick, childhood promise .

That promise, was firmly etched into the girl's heart . . . . . .