Beyond the Boundary: I'll Be Here - Future

Something dim and distant...

...fades away into the hazy mist beyond.

These are memories I should have held on to.

But before I knew it, they were gone.

I try to recall them,

but they continue to disappear as if running away.

For example, memories of a child you once played with.

Performing in a class play in primary school.

And cheerfully playing together after school.

We ran around, collecting all of these memories.

Those glimmering moments we experienced fade away with the passing days

and eventually disappear, as though none of it had ever occurred at all.

Just which memories do people need in order to continue to live on?

Throughout the thousands of days we've lived through

and the tens of thousands more we have ahead of us,

No U-turn

we feel.

And we forget.

If I were told that I am just an amalgamation of a vast collection of faint memories,

then that would be too fleeting and uncertain for me to bear.

Which is why, in order to continue being who I am,

and so that I can keep being myself,

I say this:

Will you...

Will you...

Beyond The Boundary

The Future

Literature Club

In regards to the Literature Club's

reason for existence

Shiba

Shibahime

An old man and his wife lived in a place far away.

The old man went into the mountain to cut grass...

Wait.

What is it?

Why's he going off to cut grass?

It's probably his job.

He's making a living off cutting and selling grass?

Is he a landscaper?

He might be collecting it to feed livestock.

Which means that these two live and work on a farm, is that right?

Probably.

The old man's wife washed some clothes in the river...

Wait.

What now?

Why's she going down to the river to do her laundry?

Well, that's her job.

That's odd.

I thought we just agreed that this household runs a farm.

I don't think we really agreed on it, but hold on.

"Job" here is talking about chores, right?

So she's a housewife, then.

Well, probably.

Die.

Why?!

Inequality towards women. And to add to that,

your outdated views that women should be doing household chores.

Well, I can't help that!

I mean, this story itself is outdated!

She's washing clothes in the river.

I wouldn't be so sure about that.

For example, this might be in a world 3 million years after a war divided the universe.

It could be a story about an Earth-type planet whose science and technology have all been stolen.

Space

Shibahime

That's way too ambitious.

Anyway, I suppose this is enough to count as a greeting.

That was your way of greeting me?!

I started off with this idle talk just for you,

since you're a communication-deprived boy who can't even say "Hello." or "Good morning." honestly.

You should be thankful.

Which one of us isn't the honest one, I wonder?

I don't want to hear that from you.

It's been a few months since then.

Alright, alright.

The Beyond the Boundary went back inside me,

and the world returned to its usual form.

Kuriyama-san even came back.

Mitsuki stayed in the Literature Club,

and continued the literature selections which seemed to progress at a snail's pace.

Ayaka-san and Ai-chan continued appraising youmu at the photo studio.

Nino-san, while continuing to be dumped by men,

Ninomiya-sensei got dumped last night!

would vigorously seek to defeat youmu as if to vent her anger.

And Hiroomi, having graduated high school,

succeeded the Nase household in light of Izumi-san's disappearance.

We all thought that everything had gone back to normal.

But inside one of us, something was changing.

Umm...

And, so...

If I could stop... If I could stop, I would have stopped a long time ago!

Senpai!

How unpleasant.

Why are you...

Why are you so nice to me, Senpai?

And, so...

...who are you?

I'm not sure if that was the Beyond the Boundary's final act of defiance,

or if this was some necessary sacrifice in order for Kuriyama-san to continue to live on.

But either way, Kuriyama Mirai's memories

were cleanly and beautifully sheared off.

The memory that she was a member of the Cursed Blood's clan,

and her fight with the Beyond the Boundary.

And...

Even the time the two of us spent together.

Any changes?

Nah. My height, weight, and blood pressure are all normal.

I don't mean you.

Kuriyama-san.

She hasn't changed.

Thankfully.

I see.

Is that really something to be thankful for?

Mirai.

I-Inami-san?

Sakura's fine.

Oh, sorry.

What were you doing?

Umm, this is...

This is a collection of things I think are nice, or pretty.

Bon...?

Old...

I don't want to forget anymore.

I don't want to forget the things and people I'm fond of.

That's why I'm collecting these and leaving them behind.

But even if I do forget again, they'll just be the same.

What's this?

Oh, that's...

What?

Umm...

What?

No, it's...

What?

Okay, I'll tell you!

And? What is it?

This is...

It's something I thought was really pretty.

I thought it would be nice to go to a place like this with someone important to me.

Mirai...

Mirai-chan!

Sakura-chan!

Why am I here too?

Huh? Because Sakura-chan...

Try it out for yourself!

Currently recruiting!!

Come to tennis club

I thought that you might like tennis.

I appreciate your kindness, but I'm not really suited for this...

Alright, next person please!

Okay!

Here I go.

There!

Nice return! You're incredible!

Oh, it's nothing. I'm only simply just trying very—

D-Do I have to do this too?!

Here I go.

There!

Okay!

You're doing it!

No I'm not!

That concludes our club experience session!

I'll be awaiting all your replies!

Okay!

Where have you been playing tennis until now?

What? I'm not really sure...

They're really scouting her.

Chase them, Mirai!

I'm not suited for tennis.

Besides, I don't want to join the tennis club in second year.

Then what club do you want to join?

W-Well I don't really want to join, but...

One of the cultural arts.

Drama Club, SciFi Research Club, Film Discussion Club.

There's also... the Literature Club...

There's no such club.

There is! I saw it written down!

Why the Literature Club? You don't really read books.

Well, it just seems kind of quiet...

And I was thinking I might want to read some books.

And the truth?

That is the truth!

Kanbara-senpai has nothing to do with it!

I'm... going to... drink some water.

Ow!

I told you before,

Kanbara Akihito is just a pervert who happened to pass by.

I... I said he's got nothing to do with it!

He's a dull and introverted guy.

And he's at the bottom of the "Guys who you want to date" list in our class.

Why are you telling me that?

You... shouldn't go near him.

But he was the first person I saw when I came to.

It was Senpai.

I keep telling you!

But—

Mirai!

Mirai!

Mirai...

My head feels kind of funny.