The Man Who Believed He Was Guilty
Clean Version
Efa: Whaaaaat!?
Her scream echoed through the entire market.
Rin immediately replied:
Rin:
— Keeeeep it down… If we draw attention now, we're in for a really bad time.
Lowering her voice, Efa muttered:
Efa:
— So you're saying… without this Dream Sand, no one can sleep?
— Exactly, Rin answered firmly.
Efa let out a long sigh, then slapped her cheeks to refocus.
— Alright… Let's keep searching.
They walked for a long time, questioning every merchant they came across. Their steps eventually led them before a massive, luxurious restaurant, illuminated by golden chandeliers.
Rin sighed:
— All the testimooooonies point us riiiiight heeere…
Exhausted and nearly ready to collapse, Efa pushed the restaurant doors open.
Inside, she froze. The golden chandeliers, the spotless tablecloths—and especially the waiters.
All of them were men… wearing frilly maid outfits.
The strange atmosphere blended with her crushing fatigue, leaving her unsure of what to feel.
The customers, on the other hand, were all wealthy women enjoying their meals.
Then she heard a voice nearby:
???
— Here is your dessert, dear lady.
???
— Oooh, what a charming man!
Efa turned her head… and screamed:
— HARVEY!?
Harvey, completely horrified, dropped his tray and bolted toward the kitchen:
— Don't loooook at meeeee!!
Efa rushed after him, grabbed his arm:
— Why are you running away from me!?
Noticing the commotion among the customers, Harvey grabbed Efa's hand.
— Boss, I'm taking my break!
Without waiting for a response, he dragged her outside into a dark alley.
A mischievous smirk formed on Efa's face.
— It actually suits you, you know?
Harvey flicked her on the head.
— Oh, shut up!
Then, calmer:
— I never thought there'd be other survivors besides us…
Efa:
— … Us?
— Yeah. Us. Me and Arata… we made it. Physically, at least.
Efa fell silent, her heart tightening.
Harvey continued:
— Let me explain. After the explosion, everything went black. I couldn't see a thing. And the next moment… I woke up right in the middle of this restaurant. The roof was gone. The part of the train I was in crashed right here. The owner screamed, "Look what you've done to my beautiful restaurant!!!"
He rolled his eyes.
— And now… I have to work to pay off the damages.
Efa:
— And Sakurai? What happened to him?
Harvey's expression darkened immediately. A shadow crossed his gaze.
He silently took Efa's hand and led her further away. Rin followed quietly.
— You still haven't answered me, Efa whispered, her voice trembling.
They arrived before a small, isolated tent dimly lit from within.
Harvey took a long breath.
— Sakurai… was right beside me during the crash. We weren't hurt. Not a scratch. Physically, we were unbelievably lucky.
He paused.
— But mentally… Sakurai may never be the same man again.
— Sakurai! Efa cried, tears filling her eyes.
Inside the tent, a man was crouched on the ground, trembling.
His once-bright red hair was now dark, almost black.
His glasses were shattered.
His eyes… hollow, lifeless.
And he repeated, over and over, in a broken voice:
— It's my fault… I killed them… I killed them…
Efa covered her mouth, unable to speak.
---
Meanwhile, somewhere in Dream Desert…
A man dreams.
Or… was it a forgotten memory?
???
— How many years has it been now? Twelve, right?