Original Author: Korota
Date Submitted to Syosetu: 2017/01/20

"Damn it! What's going on!? How did they get their hands on information that should have been erased!?"
"Hey, does anyone know where the executive director went!? ...He's overseas on paid time off at a time like this!? Call him back!"
"General manager! I've received a call from Sasayama Construction that they're going to scrap the project that was in progress...!!"
"Gather the branch managers for an emergency meeting!! Don't even try to think you'll be able to go home today, you screwups!"

Ah, scary, scary. This is what you'd call a black company.
It's terrifying that the past me used to think this was normal. Though it's also a bit scary that this is bringing up a feeling of nostalgia in me.
I climb up the emergency stairs while hiding from the busy employees.
Thanks to my small size, I haven't been discovered yet. That still doesn't change my desire to get bigger. About 10 more centimeters should be good. Anyone who's having trouble with being too tall, please give me a few spare centimeters. I'm willing to pay a high price.

Still, what's with the security in this company? Despite the number of security cameras, there are so many blind spots it's practically inviting me to go ahead. Well, as an infiltrator, it's convenient for me that it's so easy.
Even the internet is full of holes and anyone that knows what they're doing can hack all they want. While thinking that, I arrive at my destination.
---It's been a long time since I knocked on this door to the president's office.
I knock lightly and enter without waiting for a response.

"Who are you?"

I'm greeted by a low, heavy, and dignified voice.
Sitting imposingly on a large chair in front of a tall desk, a man in his sixties looks at me with a sharp glare in his eyes.
This man is the current presdient of the Kashima Group, "Hideyuki Kashima". He has a lot more gray hairs and wrinkles compared to the last time I saw him, but his condescending and bold attitude is the same as ever.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Mitsuki Shiba."
"This is no place for a kid. Get the hell out of here."
"Sorry for not contacting you in advance. However, if I didn't see you today, I might never get another chance."
"...I told you to get the hell out of here."
"Are you even listening to me, you geezer? You've really gotten old. Are you losing your hearing?"
"Get out!!!!"

With an angry roar, he flings an ashtray at me and I quickly avoid it.
The ashtray that's hard enough to kill a person if it hits a dangerous spot crashes on the wall and rolls to the floor, scattering cigarette butts and ash.
Wah. Still the same obstinate and hysterical father.

"You've got little time left to act like that. Your days as head of the Kashimas are numbered."
"You... are you one of Levatille's lackeys?"
"Not quite. I'm the mastermind."

Ahem! After I declare that proudly, the old man lifts his massive body and stands up from his chair.
His enraged face has the power to strike fear into the hearts of all who see it.
Aah, just as I thought, I'm still scared. I can hear my heart thumping and I can't stop my limbs from shaking. I'm on the verge of a breakdown.
However, I can't take my time with this.  I have to finish this "small task" before anyone else comes.

"Masayuki Kashima has been handed over to the police earlier. They have all the evidence they need. He will be arrested for sure."
"Hmph... looks like he remained a failure to the very end. Despite the decades and money I spent raising him, he's never managed to produce any results. It's a waste of all the resources, but I guess it's time to cut him off before I lose anything else."

As I thought, the man who stands on the summit of the Kashimas thinks differently.
Even if it's his own successor, he doesn't hesitate to cut him off when it's advantageous to do so.
It looks like we were nothing more than disposable tools to him after all.

"Masayuki is not the only one who is going to be cut off. The same will be happening to you, Hideyuki Kashima."
"...What?"
"There's nothing strange about that, it should be obvious. The Kashimas are no match for the Levatilles. That's why everyone here will be looking out for themselves and will cut you off to not get caught up in the downfall of the Kashimas. You've done this many times but it looks like now you're finally the one on the receiving end. In the past, you repeatedly told your daughter that might makes right and the weak are worthless garbage. This time, I'll be saying the same back to you. Do you understand?"
"Daughter...? Aah, that's right, I had one. Unlike my son, she was capable and quite brilliant. Despite her talent, I could no longer use her anymore so I disposed of her before she could bite back at me. So, what's wrong with what I told her? The fact that I'm strong hasn't changed. I'm not like the others."

I wasn't expecting anything.
I didn't think the cruel parent who gave the order to have me killed would feel a shred of kinship.

"You're mistaken. The one who has the power here is me. You're the weak one."
"...What did you say?"
"Your days as head of the Kashimas are numbered. I came here to see that end with my own eyes."

Even if I didn't go out of my way to meet him, the Kashimas would still collapse.
However, I think I need to face Mitsuba Kashima's father to put an end to my regrets.

"Don't screw around with me, little girl!! Who do you think I am!?"
"You're nothing more than a filthy old man with a big mouth now... and I am nothing more than a normal high school girl."
"I am eminent! There's nothing I can't do! I am the strongest!!!!"
"That's all in the past now. There's no meaning clinging to that."
"Shut up!!!!!"

I avoid the jar that comes flying at me. I avoid the bulky books that fly at me. I knock down the pen that flies at me.
He threw everything he could get his hands on and after running out of things to throw, he charges at me himself.
He tries to grab me, but my hands catch his. He might be old, but he is still very strong. If I don't put my all into resisting, I'll be overpowered immediately. We're at a deadlock now, but I'll probably be at a disadvantage in a prolonged battle.
I let go of his hands to catch him off guard and circle around behind him while he's still surprised. I didn't think I'd be able to beat him with martial arts, so I'll take the low road and use the stun gun I brought.

"Too slow."
"Wha-"

I should have been behind him, so why---
When my eyes met his muddy eyes, I realized too late that I messed up.
My body couldn't react to his unexpected move and I could not escape what is coming.

"Gaaah...!!"

I did not intend to let my guard down. However, I couldn't dodge because I left an opening.
I should have diligently practiced martial arts in addition to training my body... Aah, looks like that's one more thing I'll be regretting.

"Haah, haah..."

The red liquid that flows silently from my abdomen stains the expensive carpet.
The drops keep on spilling out, making the red stain bigger.
I fall to my knees, unable to bear the intense pain.
There is a knife stuck to my stomach. If I pull it out now, the blood will splurt out even faster. I'll have to leave it like this.

"Hahahahahaha! How's that!? Do you understand now!? There is no one who can stand against me! I am strong! I am right!!"

Suddenly, my vision is getting blurry. Ah, this is bad. This is no joke, this is seriously bad.
I can't even move my body due to the pain so I can't run away or fight back. I'm not even sure how long I can maintain consciousness.
I'm bleeding a lot after getting stabbed in the stomach. If I don't get medical attention soon, I'm going to bleed to death.
The worst-case scenario crosses my mind and I break into a cold sweat.

(Am I going to die?)

I'm dying.
Wasn't this the end I wanted?
With this, I'll be released from my guilt. I can finally be at peace.
In that case, this conclusion is also a happy ending.
I'm sorry to everyone who was kind to me, but I...

"...Ah."

My consciousness is fading.
Ah, this feels familiar.
It's ridiculous, but this isn't my first time dying. That's why I already know I'm dying.

(...So this is the end, huh?)

I can tell that my body temperature is gradually dropping.
Dying sure is quick.
Though unlike in my previous life, Mitsuki Shiba's life overflowed with happiness.

I had parents who lovingly raised me.
I had friends who I happily played with.
I had people who gently watched over me.



I had someone who said they loved both the past me and the current me.



---Remember.

What did that person say? What kind of face did they have?





"I'm not going to let you die. I'm definitely not going to allow that."





I can see her figure behind my eyelids.



"I love you."



Her words and her feelings give me hope.

(I don't want to die.)

Thump. My heart beats louder than ever.

(I definitely don't want to die.)

Wake up. Pull yourself together. Live. My heart runs wild, trying to rouse me out of my stupor.
My cold body begins to heat up again as my body temperature rises higher and higher.
My muddled thoughts gradually become clearer.

(I want to live.)

Ah, that's right. I decided to live.
I'm an idiot for thinking that I wanted to die again.
What was that about hurting so much that I can't move? Don't underestimate me. I can handle this level of pain.
After all, when I died in my previous life, my body was completely messed up everywhere and it was much worse.
Compared to that, this is just a scratch.

I take a breath and psyche myself up.



Now, get up.
Just a little further and I'll reach the conclusion I wanted.



"Haah... hahaha, congratulations on your new charges! You won't get off lightly for stabbing a high school girl!"
"What!? You can still mo---"

This time, I'm the faster one. You let your guard down.



"Thank you for bringing me into this world. That will be the only thing I thank you for. Pass that message along to mother as well."



I press the modified stun gun against his body and hit the switch.



"Farewell, father."



The man's body shakes violently and falls to the floor.
I set the output to be just enough to knock him out since I didn't want to kill him.
After confirming that he is breathing and is definitely unconscious, I lean against the wall and sit down.
My spirit might be fine, but my body is at its limit. I've lost a lot of blood so it's going to be extremely bad if I keep moving.
I can't pull out the knife and I'm in no state to tend to the wound myself, so all I can do is leave it to fate now.
Using my cell phone, I contact the bodyguards I slipped away from who have been looking all over for me. I got them to contact the police and call an ambulance. All that's left is to relax and wait.

"I guess it's over."

I look at the unconscious president of the Kashima Group.
So it had to end this way after all. I didn't think we would be able to talk things out.

To tell the truth, I was a little optimistic.
It was really very slight, but I had my hopes up.
After all, various people have taught me that this world is kind.
It is not everywhere, but warmth and kindness exist in this world.
That's why I wanted to check.
If such a thing can be found between my father, mother, brother, and me.

In the end, I found no such thing.

I already suspected as much.
There's nothing more to be done.
This is enough.
I was able to check, so this is enough.
With this, I feel like I can move forward a little bit now.

"First, I should prepare myself for a stern talking to."

I'm in this mess because I acted on my own without a plan. I'm sure I'll be receiving lectures from all directions.
Maybe I should come up with an excuse now. Ah, but I'm feeling a little sleepy.
I've worked really hard today and feel exhausted. I'll just rest for a little while.
Someone else will take care of the rest.

So I close my eyes.
Only my ragged breathing and heartbeat echo in my ears.





"----------"



"?"

A voice I've never heard before but feels somewhat familiar is calling me.
Who is it? I don't know, but I feel like I've been wanting to hear this voice for a long time.



"-----"



The voice calls my name once again and I lose consciousness.