Satoko went to join the children playing in the schoolyard.

Since I didn't feel like going, I decided to stay at home.

...Most likely, she wouldn't be back until the evening.

When Satoko wasn't around... I had ways of spending time without her.

Besides, that was what I wanted to do anyway.

I stuck my hand deep inside the pile of winter futons in the closet, and pulled one out.

Next, I filled a stylish-looking glass with ice.

The ice made in the freezer smelled of chlorine, though, and didn't taste good.

Store-bought ice would be the best. But since Satoko kept asking me what I was using it for, I stopped buying it.

...But it might be worth spending time to think about a good excuse for that if it meant I would be able to enjoy ice without ever again smelling the chlorine.

I filled the glass with mineral water...... and then poured a little bit of another liquid into the glass.

Watching the color mix into the transparent water was a very pleasant thing.

This wasn't the right way to drink it, but I liked it that way, and didn't want to hear any complaints.

My body is very convenient, because I can get drunk with only a tiny amount.

That's why I dilute that small amount with a full glass of water.

And thanks to that, I could enjoy a single bottle for a long time. It wasn't bad, if you thought about it like that.

I put a cushion on my favorite spot by the window... and with the glass in one hand, I enjoyed the familiar view and the soft wind brushing through my hair.

A slightly sweet ripened aroma tickled my nose.

......And just when I was about to start enjoying the atmosphere, the annoying one came back.

She didn't like this bad habit of mine, and she complained every time I tilted the glass.

She started nagging me noisily.

"Shut up.

Be a little more tolerant. I can drink and eat whatever I want."

"Y-You can't...!

Kids aren't supposed to drink alcohol!"

I tried to ignore her, but she started making a fuss, as if trying to ruin the atmosphere on purpose.

...There was no way I could enjoy getting drunk like this.

I glared at her, and threw the drink out the window.

"...Do you want to know why I'm depressed?

...I'm depressed because the way I die has been decided."

It seemed like she finally understood why I wanted to drown myself in alcohol.

"You don't have to feel down.

I get to die instantly, so it's not that scary."

My body will be burned and cut in pieces, but I'll be able to die instantly.

"...But... not yet."

"I know.

......Not yet.

...When am I going to die again?"

".........I think it's the night of the 25th of June."

"It's about a week after the Watanagashi festival.

...Well, that sounds reasonable."

"Is it......... my fault?"

"Of course it is.

Are you serious?"

"...Au au au..."

She was the one who asked me, yet she cried when I told her she was right.

...Ah, geez! She's always so annoying.

"Let's keep trying.

...I'm sure I'll get six in a row on the next board game."

June 25th.

...I still had ten more days.

...I was going to relax and enjoy those ten days.

I still had some wine left, too...