Chapter 127: The Opening Sequence (Long Chapter)
The time for the final day had finally arrived; tomorrow would be the day they left Itomori Town.
Today was also the day of the town's official ritual.
Since early morning, the area surrounding the Miyamizu Shrine had been decorated far more grandly than before. Almost everyone who owned a home-based shop had headed there to set up small stalls.
Women and girls were dressed in beautiful Kimonos, waiting for the evening to take a stroll and watch the fireworks. The men had prepared their sake, promising one another not to head home until they were thoroughly drunk.
It was one of the few major annual festivals in Itomori. Even if it wasn't as significant as it once was, everyone still attended with joyful hearts.
And last night, the comet had indeed been visible in the sky—though it was still just a tiny blue dot, it was far brighter than any of the surrounding stars.
By midday, Akishin's group was walking down the street. They planned to go fishing at Lake Itomori again. Until evening fell, the ritual activities had nothing to do with them.
Halfway there, they happened to run into Mitsuha, who seemed to be in the middle of some urgent business.
She was wearing a white sailor-style school uniform with a red ribbon at her chest. Beneath her blue skirt, her pale, clean calves were visible. Her hair was tied back with a red silk cord, making her look cute, fresh, and beautiful all at once.
It just felt a little strange—hadn't she had long hair before?
Akishin watched the hurried Mitsuha, remembering that when he saw her yesterday, her hair had still been long. To think that after not seeing her for just a single day, that beautiful long hair was gone.
He didn't mean anything by it; he just felt that for a girl, something like that was a pretty big deal.
Take Shizuka's long hair, for instance—it almost reached her waist. Even though Shizuka herself lived a very laid-back lifestyle and maintenance was a pain, she still kept her hair in perfect condition.
Generally speaking, a girl might prefer to eat slightly less delicious food if it meant keeping her hair well-maintained, which showed just how important it was to them.
"Mitsuha, did something happen? You look like you're in a total panic."
Kaiko stepped forward, catching Mitsuha before she could trip, and asked with a worried tone.
Back in middle school, she had been in the same class as Yuika and Mitsuha. While they weren't extremely close, they were on a first-name basis.
"It's not... it's not about me, it's... it's about Itomori..." Miyamizu Mitsuha—or more accurately, Taki Tachibana—shook her head. She looked at Akishin (why did this guy look so familiar?), Shizuka, and Yuika in turn, then cried out anxiously: "You guys, get out of here, fast..."
...
"What? You're saying a comet is going to fall here!?"
After hearing Mitsuha's (Taki Tachibana's) frantic explanation, Kaiko and the others wore expressions of shock, followed by disbelief and even a few skeptical smiles.
"Mitsuha, did you just have a nightmare? The experts on TV said the comet only appears once every 1300 years and will only pass through the atmosphere. How could it possibly fall down here...?"
"Exactly! Hahaha, Mitsuha-nee, even a kid like me wouldn't believe something like that. If that comet actually fell and landed right where we are, that would be some legendary bad luck..."
"Mitsuha-san, this... it's really hard for us to believe..."
This was a normal human reaction. It wasn't a mistake, and you couldn't call it stupidity. Based on the nine years of compulsory education they had received, anyone would find this impossible to swallow.
It was like talking about a war in the Middle East; even if you knew a fierce battle was happening there, it was so far removed from daily life that after hearing the news so often, you subconsciously equated it to a video game.
It felt mundane.
Because it was so far away from one's own life—or rather, because war was so distant from their reality—it didn't feel real, and people naturally didn't believe it.
Telling someone that a comet would fall here tonight carried the same weight as telling them the world would explode tomorrow; both would be treated as a joke.
"No, I'm not lying! This is real, please believe me...!"
Miyamizu Mitsuha (Taki Tachibana) continued to explain desperately. Kaiko and the others looked troubled—not because they didn't want to believe Mitsuha, but because the whole thing was just too absurd.
However, there was one person there who was different.
Akishin squinted, turning his gaze toward the distant Lake Itomori. A fragment of a falling comet... it wasn't impossible. It had passed by and fallen 1300 years ago, so it wasn't strange if it dropped another piece while passing by again 1300 years later.
Actually, it was impossible!
Was this a joke!?
What kind of place had such terrible luck that a comet would pass by twice and target the same spot for a bombardment both times?
Did the comet have a personal grudge against this town? Or was there some kind of demon sealed underground that needed to be purged by the heavens?
Only two days ago, he had thought such a thing couldn't happen, but today Miyamizu Mitsuha had nearly shattered that logic.
Everything in this world was possible.
Besides, there was another crucial point...
Akishin stared at Miyamizu Mitsuha (Taki Tachibana), who had given up the argument and was preparing to leave. Thanks to his almost instinctive powers of observation and analysis, he subconsciously felt the girl was strange.
Not strange in a bad way, but he felt she was different compared to yesterday or before—as if she had become a completely different person.
Predicting the future? Or a rebirth?
He himself had died and come back to life, even undergoing transmigration twice, so Akishin had begun to believe in things that usually only appeared in fantasy works.
After all, it was his own personal experience!
How could he not believe it?
On the contrary, rebirth wasn't that hard to imagine. At least in Akishin's eyes, transmigration and rebirth had a higher probability than a comet strike.
"Miss Miyamizu—actually, never mind, let's stick with Mitsuha-san." Akishin stopped Mitsuha (Taki). Once Mitsuha (Taki) turned around, Akishin looked into her eyes with a serious expression and asked: "Are you really Miyamizu Mitsuha?"
Instantly, Akishin saw the other party's pupils shrink, followed by a flash of panic and confusion.
"I... I, of course I'm... I..."
Taki Tachibana initially wanted to say he was Miyamizu Mitsuha, but under Akishin's intense, searching gaze, the words wouldn't come out.
Under that pair of eyes, he felt as if there was nowhere to hide.
No, that wasn't it. That shouldn't be the focus right now.
Taki Tachibana bit the tip of his tongue. The pain forced him to focus and cleared his mind on the real issue. He looked at Akishin and asked: "Do you believe what I said?"
Not going to say it, huh?
Akishin thought for a moment, then nodded. "You could say I believe you, mostly because my own life is on the line." He then raised a hand, pointing toward Lake Itomori as he addressed the group. "A comet strike is possible. Have you all forgotten? This place was actually formed because of a comet strike. Falling one more time isn't out of the question." (Note: In the film, it seems the residents of Itomori didn't know about the event from 1300 years ago. It's unclear, but in this setting, the premise is that they know.)
Taki Tachibana was stunned. He hadn't expected anyone to say that. He was just trying to find someone to talk to, hoping to get a little more help.
In reality, the plan he had with his two other companions was the real deal—as long as everyone evacuated to Itomori High before the comet fell, everything would be fine.
Shizuka and the others were also stunned. They hadn't expected Akishin to say something like that either.
But once it was said—especially with him pointing at Lake Itomori and mentioning the event from 1300 years ago—even if they didn't believe it immediately, they at least started to consider it.
At the same time, Akishin asked Patch in his mind.
"Patch, is the comet really going to fall again...?"
Patch: [Akishin does not currently have the qualifications to know information at this level.]
It wasn't that the comet wouldn't fall—if it wouldn't, it would have been simpler to just answer 'no'—but rather that he lacked the qualifications... which meant the comet really was going to fall!
Akishin's face darkened for a moment before turning somewhat strange.
He must have 'saved' the world in his previous life; otherwise, there was no way he'd run into something like this.
This was the first time in his life he had taken the initiative to go on a trip, and the first time he was traveling with someone he liked.
Two beautiful things combined should have resulted in something even more beautiful, so why was he meeting a comet strike instead?
He glanced at everyone, seeing their various shocked reactions, then turned back to Mitsuha (Taki Tachibana) and asked seriously: "Tell me everything you know. What time will it fall, where is the impact point, and where is the safe zone? Explain it clearly. If possible, we can help."
Mitsuha (Taki) spoke with sudden excitement. "You guys are willing to help me?"
Akishin nodded. Strictly speaking, the simplest and most beneficial method for him right now would be to take the people he cared about and immediately leave Itomori by car.
At that point, whether the comet fell or not wouldn't be their problem.
However, that kind of method...
It didn't align with Akishin's Sword Heart.
Knowing clearly that these people were going to die, and knowing how to save them, yet offering no help—that would lead to self-reproach and leave a shadow on his heart.
For anyone who still had a conscience, they should help when faced with this. Not helping would be the real issue.
Besides, it wouldn't hurt him, would it?
In the end, if he really couldn't persuade them, then leaving wouldn't be too late. By then, it wouldn't be his fault—I did what I was supposed to do; if you still didn't believe me and died, it just means you had bad luck.
Akishin believed in things like fate. Just as some people could find a large sum of money just by walking down the street, while others worked themselves to the bone and still couldn't save a ten-thousandth of that amount.
It was simple unfairness. An even greater unfairness was birth.
Some people were born already having everything. They only needed to enjoy their ancestors' legacy to live a comfortable life that others couldn't even imagine.
But Akishin didn't accept destiny. Even if he couldn't choose his birth, he could choose his future through reasonable means. Even when a shift in fortune occurred, he could seize a portion of it and become that 'ancestor' himself.
Believe in fate, but don't surrender to it.
If he truly surrendered to it, his 'sword' would become dull.
—The greatest person in the world isn't the general leading the charge, nor the ruler sitting on high, but the person who has seen the true nature of life and yet still loves it.
Next, Akishin and the others listened to Mitsuha's (Taki Tachibana's) explanation and learned that the comet strike would happen in the evening after the ritual began—at least after eight o'clock.
Furthermore, what would fall was a fragment of the comet that broke off during atmospheric entry. As long as the people in three specific areas around the Miyamizu Shrine evacuated, they would be safe. The best place was Itomori High School.
The meteorite wouldn't hit there.
After Mitsuha finished speaking, Akishin reflected for a few seconds before saying: "Right now, your biggest worry is trying to persuade your father, Toshiki Miyamizu, to change his mind, right?"
Mitsuha (Taki Tachibana) froze for a second, only then realizing that Toshiki was her father, then nodded. "That's right. We already have a plan to evacuate the crowds, but as long as my father notices, this fake plan will fail."
"I understand." Akishin nodded, then looked toward Itomori High in the distance. "Leave that matter to me later. When you guys start your plan, I'll go see Mayor Miyamizu."
"Is... is that okay?"
Mitsuha (Taki Tachibana) felt a bit hesitant.
"It shouldn't be a problem." Akishin's eyes narrowed. "At the very least, I have the title of Kendo Champion. This pride of mine should still be worth something..."
...
Miyamizu Mitsuha (Taki Tachibana) left. She still had other things to do, or rather, other people to convince. After getting Akishin's assurance, she felt much more at ease.
However, she didn't want to bet everything on that, so she had to make more preparations. What if the plan failed?
On the road, Shizuka stared at Akishin with a serious expression.
"Chishima-kun, are you serious?"
"Shizuka, do you think I'd be this ridiculous for no reason?"
"The comet is really going to fall?"
"I don't know for sure myself..."
"Then..."
"But that kid wasn't lying. The eyes are the window to the soul. We can't gamble with the lives of nearly a thousand people. Even if it is a lie, we don't actually lose anything, do we? The ones who pay the price are actually them. Besides... the boy who cried wolf at least got two chances to try!"
The three members of the Kondo family glanced at one another, then looked up at the sky together. A lot of dread was hidden in their eyes.
Because of this event, the fishing plans were naturally canceled. The five of them headed back the way they came, but before returning to the Kondo residence, they first went to the Sakurai house.
Akishin stepped forward and asked the Sakurai couple to pack their belongings, wrap up their valuable furniture, take as much as they could, and head to Itomori High as soon as they were packed.
Based on Mitsuha's (Taki Tachibana's) words, the Sakurai house was also within the strike zone.
Even if it was only on the edge and might not be a direct hit, when a meteorite falls, the seismic vibrations alone would likely be enough to wreck these houses.
As for the others...
As long as they survived later, that would be enough. Notifying them to pack their belongings wasn't their job.
The Sakurai couple didn't hesitate. They packed their things very seriously. They didn't think for a second that Akishin would lie or joke with them like this.
They even went to persuade the neighbors, but everyone treated it as a joke, so they didn't bother further.
This was everyone's own choice. Whether the outcome was good or bad, they had to bear it themselves.
The Kondo family had already packed their things earlier. They immediately loaded their luggage, and before evening arrived, two moving trucks were parked on the forest road behind Itomori High.
After six o'clock, the sun disappeared. The sky was incredibly clear, a flawless azure blue. Everyone could see the beautiful neon-blue comet.
The comet glided slowly across the dome of the sky, leaving a long trail behind it. It was breathtakingly beautiful, as if God had made a brushstroke across the heavens, or like a small stone skipping across the water's surface, creating gorgeous ripples.
Akishin felt this scene was very similar to the starry sky background photo he had taken with Shizuka.
Around the Miyamizu Shrine, lanterns with lit flames hung high. Various small food stalls were set up. Women wore Kimonos, leading children happily through the crowds, and the aroma of food drifted everywhere.
Everything indicated that the ritual was proceeding vibrantly. The festival joy made everyone forget their daily worries.
And it was at that moment that Akishin headed toward the Town Hall alone.
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