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A light sigh escaped her lips as Mitsuba slowly leaned forward, using her only functional right hand to gently embrace the crying Butterfly before her.
"Butterfly, there is something I have never told you before."
Unlike Butterfly who was crying and shedding tears, Mitsuba's tone remained calm. She raised her hand to gently stroke Butterfly's long hair and slowly said:
"My mother passed away from this illness back then.
It was also because she always concealed her condition while she was alive, so at first, I didn't realize that I actually had the same disease as her.
I had always mistakenly thought it was just ordinary finger numbness, nothing serious.
It wasn't until later, when the problems became increasingly severe—from one finger to several fingers, then to an entire arm... that I gradually realized all of this.
Butterfly, I actually knew about my physical condition long ago. After all, when I was young, I personally watched how my mother died from illness.
Now those symptoms that once appeared on her body are reappearing on me one by one. With such a reference, how could I possibly miscalculate my own time of death?"
A trace of a smile appeared on her face. Holding the person in her arms like this, Mitsuba rested her chin lightly on Butterfly's shoulder and comforted her in a gentle tone:
"I understand, you have already done your best. These past few years you have been trying every possible way to delay my death, and I have seen all of this. I have never thought of blaming you.
Rather, knowing early on that I was someone about to die, you were still willing to waste your own time continuously investing in me—for this... I am already very grateful."
Finally, a bit of tearlight appeared at the corners of her eyes, but Mitsuba's tone remained unchanged as she smiled and said:
"In my entire life, I have never met anyone who cares about me as much as you do... So, please don't be sad anymore, alright?"
"But, but I..."
"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the normal state of life. I am merely walking a bit faster than others. Although helpless, this is actually not a big deal.
Butterfly, you are willing to stay here, accompanying me—a person destined to die soon—willing to work so hard for me for so long. I am truly already very grateful and very satisfied."
Leaning gently in Butterfly's embrace like this, Mitsuba's eyes gradually dimmed, yet a smile still remained on her face.
"So, please don't waste your precious time on me anymore. You have stayed here with me for too long.
You are a physician. You are only in your twenties. You are still very young.
After me, you still have to go to many, many places. There are still many, many people waiting for you to save them, and many, many stories belonging to you waiting for you to experience.
You still have new tomorrows. You will surely meet new friends, and together with them experience new stories, won't you?
Butterfly, thank you for arranging everything for me tonight.
Having someone who can take me to play without any reservations, argue with me, make me happy—even if it was only for one night, I am already very satisfied. Truly... thank you."
"Mitsuba... I'm sorry... truly sorry... it's my fault... I couldn't save you... sorry..."
In the courtyard, Butterfly's sobbing continued for a long time without ceasing. Mitsuba let her hold her like this, raising her hand to gently stroke her long hair.
"It's alright, Butterfly, truly..."
"..."
Parting is the normal state of life.
In this world, no one can stay forever, and no one will never leave.
Butterfly left.
Just as tonight's fireworks festival ended, she packed her luggage and, under Mitsuba's watchful gaze, left this town overnight.
Of course, this was also Mitsuba's persuasion.
Butterfly herself wanted to stay and accompany Mitsuba through this final time.
But Mitsuba, as expected, still didn't want her to see the ugly state of her final death.
Letting everything end here, stopping at this night that was happy and joyful for both of them—perhaps this was the most suitable ending.
After all, Mitsuba herself could die and have everything end with her.
But Butterfly was still alive; she needed to continue moving forward. Mitsuba didn't want to stuff too many sad memories into her recollections—this would only increase the burden of her future life.
Facing Mitsuba's final wish, no matter how reluctant Butterfly was, she could not refuse.
"To actually use this kind of method to force my own friend—I truly am a cunning person..."
Late at night, supported by her maids as she slowly returned to her room, Mitsuba looked at this empty and cold room before her. The hustle and bustle she had experienced at the fireworks festival not long ago seemed to once again echo by her ears.
Gently, she slowly closed her eyes.
Recalling that opera she had watched together with Butterfly on the stage earlier, Mitsuba raised her right hand in a sword-holding posture and suddenly shouted loudly:
"Who goes there?"
As her words fell, she immediately moved her steps, putting her right hand behind her back, raising her chin, and replying in a deep voice:
"A wandering swordsman."
"What is your purpose?"
"To take your head."
"What?"
Making a surprised expression on her face, the Mitsuba with closed eyes changed her steps again in the room, deliberately panicking as she said:
"What grudge do I have with you? Why must you take my life?"
"Hmph, you villain have plundered the countryside, violated women—wherever you go, even the yellow dogs at the village entrance get kicked twice. Such heinous crimes, everyone has the right to punish you!"
"Fine! Since you press me so hard! Then let us see the truth beneath our hands! Take thi—ugh!"
Her steps suddenly stumbled, and Mitsuba's entire body uncontrollably fell heavily to the ground.
Stimulated by the pain, she subconsciously opened her eyes.
In an instant, all fantasies in her mind disappeared.
There was no villain, no wandering swordsman, no crowd of onlookers, no maiden waiting to be saved by her.
There was nothing in her mind at all. She had once again returned to this empty room, surrounded by utter silence—here, there was always only her alone.
A soul trapped in the Tsugikuni family, a body... of rotting flesh about to reach its end.
"Ha... hehe..."
Her kimono in disarray, struggling to prop up her upper body, Mitsuba leaned halfway on the ground like this and suddenly laughed out.
"Hahahaha..."
Her laughter grew louder and louder, her shoulders shaking along with it.
"Hahahaha!"
Tears uncontrollably poured out, sliding down her cheeks. Mitsuba laughed and cried like this.
"Ah... ah!!!"
A heart-wrenching cry came from her mouth. She lay on the ground like this, her tears completely soaking her sleeves.
"Don't leave me here alone... don't..."
At this moment, all pretense was completely stripped away. The unrestrained sobbing filled the entire room, voicing the unwillingness and despair hidden deep in Mitsuba's heart.
She actually had never been that free and easy, nor had she ever been that calm.
She was actually filled with terror at death. She didn't want to die at all. She also wanted to live well...
She actually didn't want to be satisfied with merely this one night of happiness and joy. She wanted to live the life she wanted every day, doing what she wanted to do.
She actually didn't want Butterfly to leave at all. She really wanted Butterfly to stay by her side, accompanying her until the very last moment of her life.
But, but...
"How pitiful, little Mitsuba."
By her ear, a male voice carrying a smile suddenly sounded.