The Empty Box and Zeroth Maria
Book 5: Chapter 6

A 60.5-Foot Gulf, SCENE 2

1. BASEBALL FIELD (NOON)

A game is on. It’s the final of a regional tournament. Bottom of the ninth inning, two outs, players on first and third, with a count of two balls and one strike. The score is two to three. A middle school—aged Haruaki Usui is on the mound. Wiping his sweat away with an arm, he peers at the catcher’s sign.

HARUAKI (VO)

He’s the best.

He confirms the sign with a nod.

HARUAKI (VO)

The senior coaches aren’t happy about it, but he’s the reason I can ignore them and stay in this middle school baseball team even though we use softballs.

HARUAKI (VO)

I’ve seen plenty of seniors who people expected would go pro in the future. Some of them, I was sure they’d make it. But I never felt threatened by any of them. Far as I could tell, none of them were better than him.

He lets out a big breath.

HARUAKI (VO)

Every play he makes is a thing of beauty. Just watching blows me away. Makes me wonder if I’ve even got the stuff to be a player.

He lifts his leg.

HARUAKI (VO)

I’m enough of an athlete that any elite baseball club would ask me to come on board. Any kid who plays baseball dreams of standing on the mound at Koshien, but for me, it’s becoming more than just a fantasy. It’s a challenge I have to complete. It’s safe to say even the pros are in sight now. [He winds up his arm.] Still—ever since I first started playing baseball in elementary school, I’ve just been imitating him.

He throws a hard fastball. The batter whiffs. Seeing the ball enter the catcher’s mitt, Haruaki lets out a yell and flexes.

HARUAKI (VO)

That’s why I don’t think I stand a chance against him.

The catcher takes off his mask. Holding it in his hand, Daiya breaks into a smile. He then runs up to the mound and practically leaps to embrace Haruaki. The rest of their teammates gather round, forming a ring of celebration.

HARUAKI

Hey, get off me, Daiya! I don’t want any hugs from dudes! Plus, you’re all sweaty and smelly.

Still, Haruaki is grinning.

DAIYA

Not any worse than you, so don’t worry. You stink, too.

Daiya is smiling as well.

HARUAKI

Wh-what?! Somebody get me some deodorant! The manager’s gonna hate me! I was gonna seduce her when I gave her the winning ball and made up some story about how I got that winning strikeout for her!

DAIYA

Ha-ha, our team doesn’t have any girl managers.

The players assemble in a line on the ground.

HARUAKI (VO)

There was a scout I knew, and I once secretly had him take a look at Daiya in action. [Everyone bows.] I wanted to play together with him in high school, too.

The players begin to run toward their fans sitting in the stands.

HARUAKI (VO)

The scout wasn’t impressed. He thought Daiya was good for a middle schooler, but because he hadn’t put in the effort to perfect his skills, any dramatic improvement would be difficult, and that meant he might not be able to become a regular on the team. Getting a scholarship would be a long shot at best. That was the scout’s evaluation. It’s true that Daiya’s physical abilities are mediocre. I can sprint faster, my grip is better, and my back is stronger. All the same, I believed that Daiya had enough ability to slightly compensate for at least that much.

The players bow to the stands.

HARUAKI (VO)

That scout’s observations may or may not be correct. But I came to understand, from an objective viewpoint, that he’s not considered anything special as a baseball player. Yeah… Maybe I knew it all along, too. Maybe it wasn’t the way he played that blew me away. Maybe I left Daiya in the dust long ago when it comes to talent and actual skill for baseball. That doesn’t change my personal ranking, though. I’ll never upset him, even if I become an ace in the major leagues.

Kokone is in the stands. She is slightly teary in happiness. And those eyes are only for Daiya. Daiya turns a weak but gentle smile on Kokone.

HARUAKI (VO)

Daiya will always be the star.

Haruaki grins as he watches the two of them gaze into each other’s eyes.

HARUAKI (VO)

So I gave up on my first love.

Daiya Oomine 09/11 FRI 6:00 PM

“The screening of Breaking of Close Ties has ended.”

The movie ends without any credits, and the instant it does, I’m in front of the video billboard. It’s my old friend teleportation.

A chuckle escapes me in the empty entrance.

“I’ll crush you.”

I get it.

It’s as mean-spirited as it sounds.

Kazu’s attack is like a finger jamming straight into the wounds of my past—working around, widening the gash, worsening the memory to completely drown out my wish with pain.

That bastard sure knows how to be cruel.

“—”

That’s right. Why am I letting myself be at his mercy? This is a deliberate attack from Kazu.

I mean, is the information in this film even correct?

The events that happened are definitely the way I remember them. However, they were presented from Rino’s perspective, so there are also parts I don’t know.

It’s entirely possible those portions are fabricated. I don’t know if the movie’s depiction of what went on in Rino’s heart is the truth or not. No one but she would know.

“It would seem you’ve been dealt quite a blow.”

I look up in surprise at the voice.

“…Who are you?”

There is a girl with long hair whom I’ve never seen before. Her prim uniform is reminiscent of a lady working the reception desk of a department store, and she has a scarf around her neck. From her face, I would guess she’s around the same age as me.

“My name is [A], and I am the concierge of this theater.”

However, she exudes a bewitching aura that makes me think she’s not a member of my generation. I wouldn’t quite call it “class”; that word is too positive. No, her aristocratic air is more the irritating kind. Someone with that kind of detached dignity could probably kill someone with a placid smile on her face, believing her victim isn’t of the same species.

She’s also frightfully beautiful, a cut above even Maria Otonashi, who’s intimidating to just about everyone.

“…[A], you said? That’s a silly name. Who are you? Why is someone here when there isn’t supposed to be anyone?”

“To explain it in a manner easy for you to comprehend, I am a pseudopersonality that accompanies this Box, the Silver Screen of Broken Wishes. I am not a person who exists in reality.”

So in short, she’s like what Noitan was for in the Game of Indolence.

Between Noitan and her, is there some rule that says these hosts have to be unpleasant?

“A pseudopersonality, eh? If so, does that mean you’re going to be nice and tell me about this Box?”

“Yes.”

“Let me ask you straight out. What kind of Box is this?”

“It is meant to crush your Box. The films on our program, Breaking of Close Ties, A 60.5-Foot Gulf, Repeat, Reset, Reset, and 15 Years Old and Earrings, have all been prepared to make you abandon your wish.”

Though this is what I expected to hear for the most part, the truth is that the upfront declaration wears on me. It’s never pleasant to hear about your own demise in such unambiguous terms.

“As clever as you are, sir, I expect you harbor doubts as to the credibility of the events depicted in Breaking of Close Ties. On this point, I shall answer that they are not.”

“What?”

Why would she explain that to me? Even if it is true, the revelation lessens my mental burden dramatically. That goes against the purpose of this Box.

“You appear uncertain, but please put yourself at ease. This fact in no way implies you should relax your attention. Breaking of Close Ties was made from the memories of Miyuki Karino. I simply spoke as I did because memories are on occasion distorted, which makes them imprecise.”

I see. The faithful replication of Rino’s memories in the movies means she unmistakably despises me at this point in time. Damn. I would laugh, if it were the slightest bit funny.

“…Just to make sure I’m working from the right premise—are you telling the truth?”

“I have been created in such a way that I can speak nothing but the truth.”

“What proof do you have of that?”

“It is a difficult question to prove. All I can do is ask that you believe me. I do apologize.”

…I guess that makes sense. How foolish of me.

But despite her courteous words and apologies, I don’t sense that [A] is being in any way humble toward me. In fact, her gracious manner makes it seem like she’s mocking me. Why would Kazu choose such a loathsome woman as a guide? Is this his type? Now that I think of it, she is kind of like Otonashi… Either way, I’m sure that’s not the case.

…Hmm, oh. That’s got to be it.

“…I’ve noticed something. Do you mind?”

“What is it?”

“You’re O, aren’t you?”

The woman who calls herself [A] does not respond.

“The mascot of the Game of Indolence, Noitan, was an expression of Kamiuchi’s twisted nature. However, Kazu is the way he is. I can’t imagine him expressing such an off-putting personality, so why do you exist? There are two possibilities. One is that this isn’t Kazuki Hoshino’s Box. The other is that you found your way in here,” I explain.

[A]’s demeanor completely transforms. The smile on her face becomes one I know very well.

“I should have expected as much from you.”

There’s no mistaking it.

This is O.

“I had thought I might play the guide for a tad bit longer. I never expected you would see through my ruse so quickly.”

“…Why would you do this?”

“This Box is quite the formidable foe for you. I started to worry you might be undone in a one-sided struggle, so I took this form in order to gift you with some information.”

“Is it a problem for you if I lose? You’re on Kazu’s side, right?”

“I don’t have a problem with you losing, but I do have a problem with you losing so easily. Have you forgotten that I seek to observe Kazuki? Now that I’ve learned of him, I want as many opportunities to observe him as I can get. An easy victory for him doesn’t suit my purposes. That is the gist of it.”

“But if you aren’t careful in aiding me, I might end up winning.”

“If that is how things turn out, then so be it. I hope to avoid that, though.”

It would appear they’re being honest with me. Come to think of it, back in the Game of Indolence, O did say: “Kazuki has no faith in my whims.” If O really doesn’t care if I win, then Kazu was right.

That said, it doesn’t change the fact that O is more on Kazu’s side than mine. O can afford to say such things only because they don’t believe I will triumph.

“If fun is what you want, then how about giving me some more valuable intel? All you’ve given me so far is that if I don’t escape from here by the time all the movies end—by the end of today, basically—then I lose.”

“That’s true. But I’ve changed my mind about giving you any further information, since you were capable of discerning my true nature so quickly.”

Man, they’re really overestimating me.

Still, that remark is a hint in and of itself. It’s like they’re saying the info I have so far is all I need to shatter the Silver Screen of Broken Wishes.

“Now then, as you have deduced who I really am, I suppose I shall take my leave for the time being.”

“Be my guest; not like I can say no… Oh yeah. One thing I want to ask before you go. Who is this awful woman you’re pretending to be? Is she in one of the upcoming movies?”

“No, she’s unrelated to you. She most likely won’t be appearing in the movies, either. But there is a reason I chose this form, of course.” O’s reply is completely unhelpful, and they immediately turn their back to me and begin walking away.

Their footsteps fade, and I’m alone.

I look at my watch. The time is 6:15 PM. Fifteen minutes left until the start of A 60.5-Foot Gulf, the next movie on the docket. I have five hours, forty-five minutes remaining overall.

Even now that O is here, my situation hasn’t changed. Kazu has me hog-tied and is continuing to give me a one-sided beating. I have a weapon called Crime, Punishment, and the Shadow of Crime in hand, but as I’m trapped in this place, I have no way of striking back at Kazu.

…No, wait. Can I really not hit him back?

I look at my own shadow.

Crime, Punishment, and the Shadow of Crime definitely exists.

You can use a Box inside a Box. That was proved before when Maria Otonashi remained an owner inside another Box. I’m still an owner, and I’m still a Ruler.

But who am I supposed to use it on? There’s no one here for me to use Crime, Punishment, and the Shadow of Crime on.

“…There’s no one here?”

Then where are they?

Obviously.

In the outside world, there are 998 Subjects who can act on my behalf.

“—”

Now, let’s think.

What can I do to defeat Kazuki Hoshino?

If I can destroy this Box, I can get out of here. The simplest method would be to Control a Subject and have them murder Kazu.

But that wouldn’t be a victory. I do think I need to win, but I shouldn’t kill him. If I want to heighten humanity’s sense of personal morality, then murder—especially using someone else to do it—is absolutely off-limits. Willingness to do such a thing is another issue entirely.

It’s possible my mind would be finished the moment I murdered Kazu. The damage would be great enough for those 998 shadows of crime to consume me and shatter my psyche. If I reach a point where Kazu’s Box will inevitably crush mine, then I must consider killing him in desperation. But that should be only as a last resort.

So I need to find a means of convincing Kazu to do away with his Box on his own.

I have to find a way to jab at his weakness the same way he’s prodding at my past.

Kazu’s weak point is—

“…Yeah.”

It comes to mind immediately.

“Maria Otonashi, huh?”

The Silver Screen of Broken Wishes is not going to grant me a moment’s peace to brainstorm, and I’m trapped in another theater.

The next film, A 60.5-Foot Gulf, will be my torture.

Well, I do feel a little better this time, though. After all, I have a fellow audience member. It’ll be less depressing than watching by myself.

“Hey, isn’t that right, Yuri Yanagi?”

Yuri Yanagi, sitting behind me and to the right, doesn’t have the wherewithal to answer my sudden rhetorical question. She’s frantically taking in her surroundings, her face white.

I check again to make sure I succeeded in summoning her here. Just as Maria Otonashi did with the Rejecting Classroom, it really is possible for owners to enter Boxes and interfere with them. Of course, they can’t escape, so it’s a one-way deal.

“Um? Uh? Am I in a movie theater? When did I move from the entrance?! Wh-why am I in a chair all of a sudden?!”

I’m totally used to it, but this is Yanagi’s first time teleporting. As expected, she’s surprised.

But it’s too much trouble to explain.

“So I’m the only one whose past is being shown, even with another person here. Does that mean this Box exists just to crush me?”

Something about this seems off in my mind, but I can’t put my finger on it.

“Y-you’re ignoring me…? …Ah! What’s with these people here?! It’s like they’ve had their souls sucked out! I’m scared!”

I’m trying to think here, and she just won’t shut up.

“Quiet down, slut.”

“S-slut? What’s wrong with you? That was completely uncalled-for! I’ll have you know I’m the good-girl type!”

“If you can make jokes, you must not be too upset.”

“…Huh? Uh, that wasn’t…a joke… O-oh? Maybe that’s all in my head…? I don’t cut my hair short, and I haven’t bleached it or anything… But none of that matters! Please explain! The one sitting next to you is, um, Kazuki’s friend, right?”

“…Yeah.”

At my side is the empty husk of Haruaki Usui. It would seem he’s the next lead.

“I don’t feel like explaining, but I will say one thing. Under no circumstances will you tell me what you think of this movie.”

Yanagi seems confused. Naturally, I don’t tell her anything else.

I called her into the Silver Screen of Broken Wishes as one of my Subjects.

This allowed me to confirm several things. First, I can use Crime, Punishment, and the Shadow of Crime in here without problem, and anyone sharing my Box can enter, even if they aren’t a normal owner. Also, time in here is synced with the outside world.

However, my primary objective in inviting Yanagi here wasn’t to check those things.

“Yanagi, what were Kazu and Otonashi doing?”

It’s to get a grasp on their situation.

Those who share Crime, Punishment, and the Shadow of Crime can’t communicate their thoughts freely. At most, they can share faint sensations. Though I can use my Box, I can’t issue accurate commands if I have no idea what’s going on outside.

That’s why I sent this order to my Subjects: “Find out what Kazu and Otonashi are going to do.”

Thanks to this lack of telepathy, I need to hear the findings from someone.

Yanagi is here as that messenger.

“…Do I have to tell you?”

“It seems you still don’t grasp your role here.”

I use Crime, Punishment, and the Shadow of Crime to incite Yanagi’s sense of guilt.

“Uh, ungh! Nnngh! …Nh—”

I had intended to just give her open wounds a little nudge, but Yanagi lets out a cry of distress and begs me to stop with her eyes.

Yanagi’s crime is the same as Shindo’s: murders in the Game of Indolence. She even killed Kazu with her plotting; there’s no way she can escape the guilt of such a grave transgression so easily. That’s why she suffers so greatly.

“K-Kazuki doesn’t want Otonashi to get caught up in this. He’s doing everything in secret from her, it looks like.”

“So I was right… Still, why is Otonashi being so cooperative? She’s the last one I’d expect to keep her mouth shut and listen to Kazu when there’s a Box right there in front of her.”

“I…wouldn’t know…”

“A worthless slut like you is good at manipulating people, right? How would you keep Otonashi out of action, if it were you? Just for reference.”

“H-hey, you’re being really mean to me, don’t you think?! …F-fine. Well, I don’t think I would have much chance of persuading Otonashi once I came out and told her the truth. So I guess I wouldn’t have any choice but to lie. Like, I might say I have a good plan and then suggest launching it sometime after today.”

“Do you think she would believe such an obvious lie?”

“Otonashi trusts Kazuki, so I’m sure she’d believe anything he said, no matter how suspicious it sounds.”

“…I see.”

Yeah, coming from Kazu, Otonashi would probably swallow the most pathetic lies. Meaning it would be unexpectedly easy for Kazu to pull the wool over her eyes.

“Nicely done, Yanagi. I guess I have no choice but to admit that my capacity for deceit can’t hold a candle to yours.”

“…Um, that isn’t praise, is it? You’re insulting me, aren’t you?”

“Obviously.”

“…You really come to life when you’re mean to me. Perhaps you’re actually quite fond of me?”

“What? Don’t get full of yourself, slut. You look like one of those little teru teru bozu dolls.”

“I-I’m a teru teru bozu…? I’ve never heard that one before… I don’t know quite how to respond…”

Yanagi’s bangs are usually straight, hence the comparison to the simple little dolls children make when they want good weather. She parts her bangs down the middle and asks, “E-even now?” Of course, I ignore her.

“I learned something thanks to you, though.”

“Huh? Is there some hint on my forehead?”

“Oh yeah. It says, ‘Go to hell.’”

“Geez… You’re so mean…”

“First of all, I’m now convinced that Kazu has used the trusting relationship he’s built with Otonashi.”

The bond of trust between Maria Otonashi and Kazuki Hoshino is already false, and Kazu has been hiding the fact.

What’s more, he’s even used that trusting connection to his own ends.

“I figured out a way to summon Otonashi here.”

My mouth softens into a smile as the breakthrough comes into focus.

“All I have to do is tell her the truth.”

I just need to confront her with the fact that their goals have already diverged.

If I inform Otonashi of Kazu’s betrayal, the two of them are finished.

Kazu will lose his purpose, and the victory will be mine.

An image appears on the screen.

It’s Haruaki back in middle school, wearing a familiar uniform.