Himitsu – Kuro no Chikai

Prologue

Prologue

A breeze gently brushed against their cheeks.

The town, overlooked by the deserted temple ruins, was dyed in the beautiful orange of the sunset.

From the roof of the Tandolman Temple, there was a clear view of the townscape of the human realm. Although it was ignorantly called the place closest to God, currently it wasn’t being used as a place of oracle, and only as far as being a spot for angels to rest their wings. Those that approached it were few.

The angel that took the appearance of a girl, with sorrowful blue eyes, quietly clenched her fists.

“Will you go, no matter what …?”

Not even a shadow of the girl’s usual bright, cheerful demeanor showed in her expression.

“….Rin. What do you think of this world?”

Without answering the girl’s question, the angel that looked like a young man gently laughed. Crystal clear blue eyes that seemed to draw you in. For some reason, whenever she saw that smile, she would always fall into a helplessly saddened mood.

“What do I think…? …We are angels. I don’t understand humans very well, but… Angels have their own world, and humans have theirs. Every one of us are all just living fulfilling our missions in our respective worlds, aren’t we?”

This world—-It was the masterpiece made by God pouring in His love and compassion. She had no complaints with this world. Or rather, she held no doubts towards God or the world He had created.

“I see… I think that God is cruel.”

She felt a shock from the boy’s words, as if she’d been struck on the head. Up until now, she had never heard him desecrate God or the other angels. No matter when, he never showed negative emotions. Always, with a warm gaze and gentle smile, he was more compassionate than anyone, with his comrades, with God, and with this world. What could have possibly changed that?

With a gentle tone, he continued.

“God created us angels before humans. We’re proud just to be loved by God. But God didn’t grant it to us. He didn’t allow us to have it. The ‘most important thing’ that the living beings in this world have.”

The girl felt troubled. She didn’t know what the boy was talking about. No, it was better said that she couldn’t comprehend it.

“'The most important thing’ ….? That’s 'life,’ isn’t it ….?”

“Life is a necessity. But have you ever thought about 'for what reason’ that there is life?”

“Angels live to serve as the connection between the human world and God and Heaven. This world’s entire well-being and circulation is our only mission. For this reason, we devote our whole lives. Hasn’t that always been so for you?! You are my very important… my very precious comrade! I don’t want to lose you! So, why…..?!”

“Rin…… Thank you.”

Suddenly, her view became wrappedin sheer white. Feeling warmth, she realized that she was being embraced. The warmth of his arms was the same as before. However, only the wings of his white angel appearance were pitch black, giving a stark contrast.

“My heart, in the past and now, hasn’t changed at all. This body, this life… for what reason is it here….? Don’t you understand…? Whenever I’m happy, I can tell you thank you using these two arms, just like this.”

“But, those wings….? Why? How ….?!”

“For what reason am I living…. One day, the time that you’ll understand that meaning will come, surely.”

“I don’t get it, I don’t understand! If you leave….! You’re my closest brethren…. I-I thought you to be my most precious partner….!!”

Letting out the feelings that she’d been enduring, tears ran endlessly down her cheeks. The days spent with him were going to end. She didn’t want that. It would be too lonely–

The boy’s larger hand laid over her fist that had been tightly clenched, and gently lifted it. He dropped something in the palm of her hand. It was a small, cross-shaped earring–the one he always wore on his right ear.

“I’ll give this to you. It’s a charm that I’ve held precious next to my life, as I’ve lived as an angel until now. …I’m sorry, Rin. Thank you…. for everything.”

The orange sunset illuminated his jet-black wings. With elegant movements and lightly flapping wings, he fell into the amber-colored world spread out below.

The outstretched arm that sought to restrain him, grasped vainly at the air.

“ ”

Hearing his name shouted that last time, the boy looked back for a moment and laughed. Blurred by the glare of the backlight, a single something gleamed and shone on his cheek, then rolled down.