Chapter 20

It was three days before the school entrance ceremony. I was intentionally walking around the town to make myself more knowledgable about things and places in the town.

There are many popular places here. Such as Grand Blue which I already know, a beautiful park with a fountain in the center, the biggest amus.e.m.e.nt park in this country was also in this town and many more.

Right now I am walking leisurely while looking right and left in the shopping center located in the center of the town. Suddenly a crying voice of a child can be heard somewhere near. I looked around and saw a little girl crying in the back alley.

'What is a little girl doing in a place like that' thinking that, I approach the girl to ask what makes her cry.

"Hey, what's wrong kid, are you perhaps separated from your mom?" I gently asked.

"Are you okay? Do you need Onee-san help to find your mom?" beside me someone also asked at the same time with me. It's a girl with beautiful silver hair and a pair of dazzling blue eyes. I think I recognize this girl from somewhere... At any rate, because we need to calm the little girl first, I will just ask her name later.

"*hiks* *hiks* H-Hikari's mom g-got lost a-and we got separated..." The girl said while crying.

'No no, No matter how you look at it you are the one who got lost, girl!' that's what I want to say but let's just refrain myself.

"Don't cry, you are a good girl, right? Onee-chan will help you search for your mom okay?" The girl said with a kind smile.

"Indeed, a good girl does not cry you know. And Onii-chan will help you search for your mom too!" I said as I gently patted the little girl's hair.

"Um... Hikari is a good girl, so she won't cry anymore. Onii-chan, Onee-chan please help Hikari!" She said while she wipes down her tears from her eyes.

"Please leave it to us!" The girl said eagerly.

Thus the journey to find the little girl's mother or maybe the house is starting. We looked around the shopping center first and politely asking local people if they know a woman who searching her daughter.

We asked many people from pedestrians to shopkeeper, unfortunately, none of them know anything about a woman who looking for her daughter.

We change the place of our search to the near neighborhood. Looking around to find anyone who looking for her daughter. We also asked Hikari-chan if she knew the way she came to the shopping center. But she said she didn't remember the way she comes there.

It's evening an hour before the sunset. We still haven't found Hikari-chan's mom. Because of it, we decide to ask the police officer about it.

"Officer-san, do you know if there is a woman who searching for her daughter?" I asked.

"There isn't any today. But I will confirm it first, what is the girl's name?" The officer politely asked.

"Her name is Hikari-chan," The girl replied.

"Wait for a bit okay." The officer said then he typed something on the computer. Not long after that, the officer finished his search.

"Unfortunately there isn't any missing people list with that name," The police said.

'Okay, this is weird. There is no way a mother didn't search for her lost daughter' the girl beside me most likely also think about it.

"Oh right, speaking of a girl called Hikari. Two weeks ago, there was a little girl who died from an accident near the shopping center. It seems she got crashed by a car while looking for her mom." The officer suddenly said something that made us very shocked.

""Eh.."" The girl and me looking at Hikari-chan with a shocked expression.

"Come to think of it, you two are searching for a mother who is looking for her daughter right? Did you find a little girl or something?"The police asked.

We didn't or should I say, we can't say anything. The fact that he is asking means he can't see Hikari-chan beside us. Looking back, whenever we asked people about that, there aren't any people who look at Hikari-chan. Come to think of it, the first time we meet, it's weird no people sympathize with a crying little girl even though the shopping center was crowded.

"N-No, it's fine Officer-san, Thank you. We just asked because our friend asking our help to complete his research." I said hastily.

"Your welcome, please tell your friend to do his best on his research." The officer kindly said.

"S-sure thing officer-san. We'll pardon ourselves then, once again thank you, officer-san" The girl said. Then we walk away from the police station.

We walk around silently, Hikari-chan also still beside us.

"Hikari just want to see her mom for the last time..." Hikari said with a sorrowful expression. Looking at her sorrowful expression, I decided to do something for her.

"You two wait here okay!" I said to them and I run back to the police station.

"Officer-san!" I said.

"Oh you again, what's up this time?" The police asked kindly.

"Can I know where is the mother of a little girl who died two weeks ago? My friend might need it." I asked politely.

"That's privacy, young man. There is no way I can give you that information." The officer said with a frown.

"Please! I swear I won't do anything bad with it." I said while I bow my head. The officer just stares at me thinking about something.

"*Sigh* Fine, If I know you exploit this for a bad reason. I will make sure to catch you okay." He said subsequently he told me where is the house of Hikari-chan's mother. Really what a kind officer-san we meet today. After that, I run back to where The girl and Hikari-chan are.

"Thanks for waiting, let's go!" I said then I took both of their hand and started walking toward the address.

"W-where are we going?" The girl asked.

"To meet Hikari-chan's mom. And you, please use this before we meet Hikari-chan's mother," I said subsequently I handed a Noh mask to the girl.

"What are we using this for?" She asked curiously.

"Just use it! It's for magic!" I said. She looked at me weirdly, but she uses it, nevertheless.

Fortunately, the house isn't that far from the police station, so we can reach there with 3 minutes running. When we reach the place, I ring the bell to announce our arrival. Not long after, a woman about 25 years old come out from the door.

She looks so thin and there is a sign she was just crying on her eyes, probably still reminiscing about her daughter.

"Who are you guys?" She asked with a hoarse voice.

'As might be expected, she can't see Hikari-chan beside us.'

"W-we are-" Before the girl finished her sentence. I interrupt her.

"We are Death Parade. We do errands for the dead. Presently we are here to convey a message from someone." I said. The girl and Hikari-chan's mother looking at me weirdly.

"But because this is a special message, the soul would need to say it herself. Now, when the sun is about to set, the magic will come to effect." I said then I flicked my fingers.

Under the setting sun, from the eyes of Hikari-chan's mother slowly a little girl can be seen.

"H-Hikari...Hikari!" The woman looked at Hikari with a shocked expression, then she started running to embrace her tightly while tears flowed from her eyes.

"*Hiks* Mom!" Hikari also embraces her mother tightly.

"*Hiks* I'm sorry I didn't obey what you said to wait for you mom!"

"It's fine! You can do as you wish..."

"I'm sorry I didn't eat the carrots every time I eat!"

"It's fine, I would eat it for you!" the more she answered, the more tears flowing out from her eyes.

"I'm sorry I always said something selfish."

"It's fine! Your happiness is my happiness!"

"And I'm sorry mom... Hikari can't be with you til Hikari grew up..."

The pair of mother and daughter cried loudly in each other embrace. The girl beside me also crying silently inside her mask, tears also flowing from my eyes unconsciously.

Then the end has come, the sunset has ended, now the moon switching its place. No matter how strong my magic right now, you can never revive the dead. That's why you need to be grateful for what you have now.

"This is a goodbye mom. Again, I'm sorry and Thank you for everything. Please move on, Hikari doesn't want mom to be sad." She said with a smile while tears gently flowing from her eyes.

"Onii-chan, Onee-chan. Thank you for granting my wish. Goodbye," She said then her body slowly becoming particles of light from her feet until the last tear falling from her eyes. The woman just crying silently while embracing the nonexistent body of Hikari. After some time she finally calms down a bit.

"Thank you, Death Parade. Because of you, I can see my daughter for the last time." She said while she cried but with a smile this time.

"This is just our job, to do an errand from the dead. Now our job here is done, this is farewell. I wish you happiness, Ma'am." I said then I took the girl's hand who was silent this entire time and walk away from Hikari-chan's mother.

Not far from there, we found a park, so I make her sit on the bench while I buy drinks for us.

"Here for you," I said while giving her an orange juice and sit beside her.

"Thank you..." She said still looking down.

"Your welcome... come to think of it, we haven't introduced ourselves, right? My name is Kitahara Izumi, about to be a high schooler in three days at Shuuchiin Academy." I said.

"My name is Shirogane Kei, a second-year middle school student at Shuuchiin Academy." She lowered her head as she introduced herself.

"... well, do you want to talk about it?" I asked with concern.

"No... Looking at them, I just miss my mom," She longingly said.

"Did your mom also..." I asked hesitantly.

"No... She is alive, just my dad and mom have been separated for some years and I haven't met her since then." She explained with a sad tone.

"I see, how about visiting her?" I suggested.

"But these years she hasn't visited nor contacted us even once. I'm scared she doesn't want to meet us again..." She said uncertainly.

"There is no way right? That's what I want to say, but I don't know what will happen," I said.

"..."

"But, there is no result if you don't try it. So why not just try it first, then you can think about what should you do next," I encourage her.

"That's true, but still..." She uncertainly said because she is scared at that time, her mom doesn't want to meet her.

"Well, then how about this. I will accompany you to meet her at that time." I suggested with a smile.

"Really? Will you do that for me?" She asked with an expectant expression.

"Why not? We know each other, even experiencing something unusual together. If that doesn't make you my friend, then what?" I said as I smilingly looking at her.

".....Thank you" She looked at me with dazed expression then giving a beautiful smile to me. Instantly I got mesmerized by that smile. But I somehow able to replace my expression and look at her calmly.

"At that time, please help me Izumi-senpai," She smilingly said.

"Ou, You can count on me!"