Three Days of Happiness

She continued to look away. “So long as you understand.”
Now I see why I was worth 300,000 yen, I thought. I was a step
away from doing something there was no taking back.
“Dangerous job. There’s no shortage of guys like me, I bet? Guys
who go nuts when they’re about to die, and take their anger out on
their observer.”
Miyagi gently shook her head. “As a matter of fact, you are an easy
case. There are many who go to much further extremes,” she said,
trying to preserve my calm.
I wanted to ask about the wound on her knee I’d been curious
about since we met, but I kept quiet. It’d be like a slap in the face
for me to try and show concern now, and only result in depression.
Instead, I asked “Why would you take such a job?”
“To put it simply, because I had to.”
“Tell me the not-simple version.”
Miyagi looked surprised. “I would have thought you had no interest
in anyone but Ms. Himeno.”
“That’s not true at all. If I didn’t feel some charm in you, I wouldn’t
have tried to do what I just did.”
“...Is that right. Thanks, I suppose.”
“You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.”
“Well, I have nothing particularly to hide in my past... Um, I already
told you that other than lifespan, one can sell their health and time,
yes?”
I nodded.
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