Traces of the first oath. With whom and where did I make this promise? As I reflected on this question, memories of the past, trapped deep in the dark abyss I had built for the last fourteen years, resurfaced.
Southern Imperial Archipelago. The small island located at the southernest end of the archipelago, Queen Island. That day, I was swimming at the beach.
—Agh!
Damn it. Another failure today. After wringing the water from my soaked clothes well, I crossed the beach and climbed the rocks. I opened the bag I had thrown there and unfolded the map of Queen Island I had kept inside.
"The beach, between the rocks on the left, below…"
I checked again that I hadn't forgotten any points and then picked up a pen. I marked a big X on the map, right where I was, the land beach.
—Now that five spots have been failures, there are about seven spots left.
I looked at the sky, which was already half-red. Nights on the island passed quickly. I thought I should return home before it was too late. After picking up my bag and shaking off the dust, as I moved, I stopped for a moment in the gaps between the pines and caught a glimpse of something.
"There's that man again."
It was the third time I had run into his face today. The first time was on the west beach, the second on the northwest beach and now on the northwest-north beach, Land. It was something that couldn't be attributed simply to pure coincidence, unless one was a fool.
—He doesn't seem to be a resident of Queen Island.
His clothes also looked strange. Why was he still following me? "Is he just a crazy person wandering by the sea?" The world was going crazy and people too. For some reason, I felt a little sorry for that man.
The next day I went swimming in the sea again.
—Uf!
Unfortunately, at the time when the sun was still high in the sky, raindrops began to fall. Judging from the state of the clouds and the air current, it was soon going to rain intensely.
"Of all times… Should I go back?"
The newly discovered beach was twice as large as the western beaches, so it would take at least two or three days to search the area exhaustively. If I wasted time like this, the search would be delayed, and if it kept being delayed…
—Okay, no. Depressing thoughts end here.
It would be even worse if something happened while I continue exploring. I decided to pick up my bag and return home. But then I saw that man again. The man with strange clothes and strange hair. Normally, I could just ignore him and pass by, but maybe because I was planning to waste the entire day anyway, my steps naturally led me towards the man. I reached the rocks where small raindrops were falling and dropped down next to the man, asking him.
—Sir, who are you and why do you keep following me?
The man raised an eyebrow as if surprised that I was talking to him, then a mischievous smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
—I came here first today.
—So do you admit you were following me until yesterday? Do you admit it?
He closed his mouth because it didn't suit him. With narrowed eyes, he examined my face and broke into a slightly deeper laugh.
—It's fascinating.
Fascinating?
—Is this your first time seeing a person?
—It's not that it's the first time I've seen someone, but… isn't it fascinating enough to meet the only resident of this island?
Perhaps it was because of his normal and logical way of speaking, but the man seemed even stranger to me. Why did this perfectly sane man come to a deserted island that had been burned to the ground? What was his purpose? No, was there even a purpose? Maybe he just wandered all day.
"He's suspicious."
Without saying anything more I started walking towards home. As I walked, the raindrops became heavier and it was hard for me to see. And finally, when I got home and opened the front door,
—You've been walking for a long time, wandering those distant beaches.
What? When did he start following me? I stared at the man who was standing behind me with a bold face.
—Do you have any business with me? If not, please leave.
The man didn't even bother to listen to what I said when I entered my house.
—You're cold. Weren't you the one who fixedly chose to meet me there? Wasn't that an invitation to dinner?
—That's not it.
—Then how about we do it now? I'm giving you a valuable opportunity to invite me to dinner.
—I don't want to…
It was then that it happened. Not far from my house, a tree was struck by lightning and collapsed with a loud noise. It was a common sight on Queen Island. If this unnecessarily tall man were hit by lightning while walking… That would be a quite heavy burden of guilt.
"Is it okay to let this man in?"
It might not be okay, but if I refuse, this man will surely get wet in the rain and could even catch a severe cold.
—…Come in.
As soon as I let the man in, I closed the door. Then I lit a fire in the wooden fireplace with the matches stored in a junk box. As the heat spread, the unpleasant moisture of the rain dissipated slightly. The man looked around the messy house and let out a brief comment.
—What a romantic house. I can feel the breath of nature.
—Don't worry. It won't collapse with this kind of storm.
—Really?
The man, with his back hunched, grabbed two buckets that were on the floor collecting rainwater and poured it out of the door. He was strong.
—Thank you.
—You're welcome.
Nauseating dust under the torrential rain and the wind entering through the plugged holes in the wall. This house was not actually our home. Our house was burned completely, leaving only the ground. I was borrowing this relatively intact building from the neighborhood to temporarily take shelter. I searched the burned neighborhood for fabrics that could be used and items for daily use, and I always had dry firewood to prepare for days like today. Stocks were limited, but I could still survive for a while.
I poured water into a blackened pot and asked.
—Sir, are you trapped on this island? Did the ship you came on break down?
The man, who had been looking with interest at every corner of the house, looked at me strangely.
—Trapped? Well, I have something I'm looking for.
—Does it have anything to do with me or this place?
—Oh, the imagination of young ladies your age is particularly rich.
—Then why did you follow me?
—Simply because. Being alone ends up being boring.
It was an unexpected response. Maybe he wasn't looking for something desperately.
—In a way we are the same. I am also looking for something.
—So, is that why you stay alone in these ruins, unable to leave this dying island?
I shrugged, not wanting to answer. Today's meal was special. A can of tomato soup found among the blackened piles of ash. I poured the hot soup into a clean cup and handed it to him. Even though he was an uninvited guest, he was still a guest.
—Please take some.
The man accepted the cup without hesitation. He seemed like the type who accepts anything.
—Hmm. What a splendid hospitality. Thank you, I'll enjoy it.
He drank the soup without hesitation and remained silent for a while. As if he were frozen. Just looking at the bottom of the cup.
—Isn't it… good?
Did it spoil? It had rolled through the fire several times and had been exposed to the scorching sun for a long time.
—Can I empty my stomach and return?
—Is it really spoiled? Wait a moment, let me bring a bucket for vomiting…
—It's a joke.
Then he emptied the cup with a second sip, which annoyed me. I hung a clothesline between the walls, placing it near the fireplace.
—Hang your clothes here. If you keep wearing them, they won't dry well and, in the worst case, you could catch a cold. There is no medicine here, so you have to be careful.
—At this moment, in a room with only a man and a woman, are you telling me to take off my clothes?
—It's okay. I'll undress too.
—That's sexual harassment.
What was he saying? This shameless scoundrel walked in and even got a free meal. But even though he insisted with a sexual harassment accusation, it wasn't like I could undress him by force. I opened a second junk box and threw a generous set of blackened underwear inside.
—You can catch a cold, so undress. Take off your clothes and put this on.
—You're being too direct on our first meeting, it's confusing, Miss. Did you fall in love with me at first sight? It happens often.
—If you keep irritating me, I'll kick you out. Do you understand?
While I threatened to open the door wide, the man began to unbutton the clothes he was wearing one by one. For his comfort, I went out and washed the dishes with rainwater. I was tired. When I returned to the room, the man was sprawled out on my bed, wrapped in a blanket. Ignoring him, I stood in front of the fireplace and began to undress. The man turned his body towards the wall and talked as if he had been waiting.
—It's a bit loose, but it fits quite well. Are these clothes also something you bought?
—That's my little brother's clothes.
—It seems your little brother was quite tall.
—Yes, he was. He was the tallest in this island. When I was little, he used to tease me by calling me "little." Then I'd pinch his cheeks until he cried.
—Is that so? Both brothers are brave. Is your little brother also on this island?
I didn't answer and dried myself with a towel. Ah, now that I had put on dry clothes, I felt alive again. The night was already as dark as dawn and I felt as sleepy as ever. I didn't have the courage to sleep on the wet floor, so I pushed the man towards the wall and occupied half of the bed. The man groaned as he hunched his large body.
—Not only did you undress a man you just met, but you also put him to sleep in the same bed. Your hospitality is something extraordinary.
—I'm sorry, but I don't have energy to respond to jokes right now. Just remember that I'll only let you sleep here tonight.
—You're kind.
Will it be because it had been a long time since I felt so much heat? I felt strange. While I fell asleep weakly with the rough sound of the rain in the background, the bed creaked and shook. The slope of the bed decreased, as if the man had gotten off. Feeling his presence heading towards the old wooden chair, I fell into an even deeper sleep.
I hoped I could find my little brother tomorrow.