The Memory Store at Kurama 2nd District

Chapter 3 | The Feeling I Want to Know

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The morning sky mirrored the evening sky from the night before. The store was still there. Inside, Momose-san waiting for me with the same shady look from yesterday. When he saw the teddy bear in my hands, a smile appeared on his face.

I made my way through the guest room, and sat after being prompted by Momose-san, who dipped his head. 

“I’m sorry about the other day. Please feel free to say only what you’re comfortable with and allow me to dispel any of Shiro-sama’s regrets.”

“O-okay…”

“Because, if you truly did not want to meet me, you wouldn’t have been able to.”

It wasn’t that I trusted him, but for some reason, my mouth started moving. The feelings I hadn’t been able to share with anyone up until now, overflowed like a broken dam.

“—Why did my parents leave me to my grandpa? Was I a burden for the two of them as they worked abroad?”

“Shiro-sama… Would you like to see your deceased parents again?” Asked Momose, who had been listening to me, in a raised voice, resounding from his throat.

Too many things had been happening at once that I was still trying to digest.

A “memory store” located in an alley invisible to other people, perpetually covered by dusk, and surrounded by talking crows; that alone could give someone a mental breakdown. 

However, this was the one thing I understood clearly.

I hugged the teddy bear on my lap tightly. 

“Even if I could meet my parents, they wouldn’t want to see me.”

“Doesn’t Shiro-sama treasure her parents greatly?”

I frowned at Momose-san’s irrelevant question.

“I’m not sure.”

Even if I closed my eyes and desperately tried to remember, I couldn’t picture the faces of my parents. I only recognized their faces when I saw them in photos. I could only recall watching them as they turned their backs on me and drifted further and further away. I’d possibly been abandoned by my parents. Wasn’t I forced upon my grandfather to be taken care of? Confirming that to be the truth would be too scary.

“It doesn’t matter how your parents feel, because they’re dead. But you’re alive. Just your feelings are enough. If you ever want to see your parents on a whim, I will help you with that.”

“Can you really do that?”

“Yes, this is the memory store. I will exchange your real memories with Shiro-sama’s memory items.” 

I remained unable to respond as Momose-san continued.

“It was fate that we met here. Other people weren’t able to see it, right?”

The very existence of this person may be a profound mystery of some kind. It had only been two days, but before I noticed, he had already wormed his way into my daily routine. 

“Destiny…” 

“Yes, Kurouan exists for the sole reason that Shiro-sama desired it.”

The appearance of Momose-san’s throat moving up and down, making a peculiar sound, was terribly eerie. 

“But I’m scared.”

I’d always run away like this.

I didn’t want to feel any pain or sadness if I could help it. So, until this point, I treated the very existence of my parents itself as if it just was a fault of mine, a defect. 

However, I couldn’t escape from it forever.

“…I want to meet them. My mom and dad…”

When Momose-san heard my words, he took off the haori he had been wearing, then put on a flashier haori with white feather embroidered on the sleeves. The crow, Katatamaru, held out a fox mask to Momose-san with his beak.     

“Do you use that mask for your work?” 

“Yes, it’s my formal attire. Actually, it looks a little bit like Shiro-sama.”

“I’m sorry you have bad eyesight1!”

“No, I think it’s adorable. I like women with slant eyes.”

 “That…!”

Momose-san once again made a laughter-like sound that emitted from his throat. After that, he put on a serious face, and muttered a few words.

“Then, let me start by asking a few questions, okay?”

Momose-san spoke to me, choosing words that were easy to understand. 

I didn’t really understand the process in detail, but it seemed my teddy bear wouldn’t be returned because it would be exchanged for the memory. 

“…Does Shiro-sama have a grudge against her parents?” asked Momose, looking timid, after I presented him with the stuffed animal.

“I don’t have a grudge, but I don’t think I was loved.” 

“Shiro-sama was lonely, wasn’t she?”

Momose-san picked up the teddy bear and stroked its head. Even though I wasn’t the one being caressed, I couldn’t help but avert my gaze in embarrassment, pretending to look around awkwardly. Katatamaru’s visage then got entwined within my line of sight.

“Then, young lady. Let’s get started.” 

“Ah— yes, please.”

I wasn’t sure what was about to start, but regardless, I gave Katatamaru a small bow. Momose held the teddy bear with both hands and presented it to Katatamaru.

“I present to you the memories of Shiro-sama.” 

“Thank you for the meal.” 

I was stunned for a moment.

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Translator’s Notes:

She’s saying he has bad eyesight because she doesn’t think it looks like her.