Chapter Text
The wet grass tickled my legs. It was so tall that I believed could swallow a human if wanted to, but it didn't want, or maybe didn't know how. Instead, just tickled; it doesn't know the potential was wasting on that. Maybe it's better this way, considering I'm running through it. I wouldn't like to be swallowed by mutant grass. They're green… would my corpse turn green too? No. I don't even want to think about that. What am I doing—
"Shu? You're spacing out again~ That's why the teacher complained about you in class, you're really slow.” Rei Sakuma. Ahh. He wasn't wrong. The teacher had really mentioned that… 5? 9? I lost count a long time ago, but it doesn't matter. In racing stories, the slowest one always wins. Well, at least in "The Hare and the Tortoise" it's like that. So I don't see any reason to worry… I mean, there wouldn't be, if my whole class didn't start laughing at me every time, including my best friend! Rei.
“Shut up! I'm not slow, I'm strategic… I was thinking.” Sakuma's laughter got louder, he really had no clue at all! When I tell his mom about this she— “GAGH!” The impact echoed through probably the entire forest. "You?! Why did you stop??"
"Ehh, sorry! But there was this tree and, look! Scratches!" It wasn't a lie, the tree was really there, it was big, like an old tree… Had it survived from the dinosaur era? If so, that would explain the scratches.
"I mean, yeah? Look at its size, it was probably a dinosaur." There's no way it could be anything else, right? They were big, so I suspect they're from some T-Rex. No, I think the tree wouldn't be there if it was really one of them… So maybe lots of small dinosaurs? Okay. That must be it. "You're silly to worry about that, kakaka, look who's slow now."
"KEKEKE! You're really funny, Itsuki, that's why I'm your friend." Rei's laughter was humiliating, what else could it be? He didn't know anything, I'd studied a lot about the Jurassic eras in a kids' cartoon and I wouldn't tolerate— "I heard there are bears around here, it must be that."
Silence.
"Ah, I get it! You're joking, right, Rei? You shouldn't do that, you know bears scare me, that's another thing I'll tell your mom." I don't know why I kept hanging out with him, it was clear it was just another prank, it was enough at school, who in their right mind would go into a forest with bears, and who would go and bring their best friend along? This really can't be serious.
"What are you talking about? I only came here for that. Shu, don't worry, bears aren't scary, I've watched Masha and the Bear enough to know that, actually I want to find their house, so keep an eye out for a giant tree with some door in the middle."
"Oh, I didn't know that. They're not dangerous, right? Grandpa always told me I should be very careful with them because they're strong and brave." I think I'd seen news about attacks too; mom kept the newspapers on the counter and whenever I had access, I'd grab one or another. Well, grab them, but with her permission! Attacks aren't very uncommon, especially in this region.
"Hm? And you believed that old fogey? You know how many years the writers of Masha and the Bear needed to make the series? A lot! They definitely studied more about it, they wouldn't put false information." Rei's eyes were always so piercing when he spoke like that. "And besides, there are lots of other proofs that bears are nice, duh? You've never seen Brother Bears. Humans are the bad ones, so they make those fake news stories."
"You sure? We’re kind of still invading their space." The grass was still hitting my shoulders.
"I wouldn't lie, we just need to make friends with them. Now let's go! I'll be the first bear friend in Japan." Rei had already taken off. How hasty he was. The wind cut my skin as I tried to catch up to him and—
Gone. God, I didn't know the way home, everything in these woods looked the same. We should have left candies or something, anything to guide us, but no… I went and believed Rei’s stupid map and word, who now isn't even here.
Everything was green and brown, maybe a little yellow, and blue from the sky, but that doesn't matter. There was no chance of getting home like this, or even finding Rei. But I didn't have much choice, damn it! After this I'll never look at his face again. I'll tell my teacher that he got lost and he'll be the one humiliated in class. Though he could easily turn the tables. I detest him. "Rei!! Rei!" I'll kill him when I get out of here. "Rei Sakuma!"— AGHH
Another tree, blood gushed from the impact, my nose burned. "Damn…! I'll finish you off." I mean, it was easier said. The wood was really hard. Though… more scratches. They were all over the place. Rei was following them, right? He wanted to find bears, and his story makes sense.
“ITSUKI! GAHHH!!” For a moment, everything stopped. Breathing, voice, all paralyzed, except my legs. The tall grass was still swallowing me. Rei stayed in front because of that, glorified by a few extra centimeters he could escape the green abyss. Not that it mattered now. He was asking for my help. I would be useful to him. Finally I could prove to him that I'm not slow, nor—
Rei was there. Crimson red covered all of him… Where's his right arm??
"Itsuki! Help…" The smell of wet iron flooded my nostrils, mixed with the dew. A huge bear was covering the entire field of vision. Damn it, the news reports were true. Rei was bloodied. The bear was running for another attack, but…
Salty tears ran down my skin. I could taste them on my already dry lips, but my muscles no longer worked, nor my vocal cords. Maybe I'd spent everything while running here and, as punishment, I'd have to watch my best friend being swallowed by a bear.
"Itsuki?! Why are you—!! AHHH" More crimson. That color always looked so good on Rei, it was pretty in his eyes, but now it made my stomach churn. Why had we come here?
It wasn't long, maybe half an hour? The bear left along with a large part of Rei; and only then could some trembling steps emerge. The wet grass seemed smaller, but still covered everything. "Rei… Rei, Rei, Rei…"
It was stupid. When Rei still had consciousness, I couldn't do anything, and now I was talking to some organs and a deformed face. "Rei, please, please, Rei. I need you, you're my best friend." More tears. They burned more than the previous ones. Maybe they'd never stop, maybe my eyes had now turned into the mouth of a river to make up for what I'd done. "Rei, don't leave me! Rei! Rei!" I wanted to see his mocking face one more time. Maybe I'd laugh, for the first and last time, at some mean joke. I needed him here, with me.
Rei was heavy, he always had been, but now I could carry him. Some stubborn guts kept insisting on falling, but he was in my lap. Would he like that?
It was unfair. The grass didn't seem to care about anything, though I thought we'd had some connection. It was so easy to make friends with Rei, but it still swayed from side to side, ignoring everything. What an idiot.
The sound of approaching voices was still kind of blurry, but it existed. Were they guards? Why hadn’t they arrived earlier?
I can't say much. Right?
No. Rei couldn't die here. There had to be some way to put him back together.
There wasn't.
My teacher was right, maybe that's why he got his diploma.
I hadn't been invited to Rei's funeral.
And he hadn't turned green.
