Minori Kohana

A very ordinary 23-year-old.

.

It's the end of a normal day at work.

The familiar street I walk down with the wind stinging my cheeks.

I left the locked coffee shop and got lost in the hustle and bustle of the city.

.

No change.

How many years have passed already?

.

I just dress up like a person.

I just work like anyone else.

I just live like anyone else.

I try not to be better than others

I don't want to be left out.

.

As I walk along, I see the usual small park.

A small park with few streetlights.

『PM 21:45』

No one is there.

The only people who come close to it are either drunk people who are in a good mood, or people like me.

.

"Meow!"

Yes, and then there are these curious little beasts.

All the usual suspects clamoring for food.

.

It's the only place I can be myself.

A place for outcasts to gather.

"meow..."

A faint cry on the wind.

Another one in the shadows of the grass.

A smaller outlier.

「A newface...」

Under the cold sky.

With the warmth of a lump on its back.

I've put on fake face again.

『PM 22:22』

.

穂　狐華(みのり　こはな)

ごく一般的な23歳

.

いつもと変わらぬバイト終わり

頬を刺すような風を切って歩く見慣れた道

暗闇の喫茶店を背に紛れた花街の喧騒

.

変わらない

もう何年過ぎただろうか

.

ただ人並みに身なりを整えて

ただ人並みに働いて

ただ人並みに生きる

人より抜きん出ない様に

外れてしまわない様に

.

そうして考えている間に見えてくるのはいつもの小さな公園

街灯も少ない街外れ

『PM 21:45』

誰も居ない　それもそう

余程近付くのはゴキゲンな酔っ払いか自分の様な物好きか

.

"にゃ！"

そう、あとはこの物好きな小さな獣たち

食べ物を寄越せとまとわりつくいつもの顔ぶれ

.

そんな場所だけが唯一自分で居られる

外れもの同士が集う場所

"にゃ…"

風に乗って聞こえる微かな鳴き声

草むらの影にもう1匹

ひと回り小さい外れもの

「新顔か…」

寒空の下

ひと塊のぬくもりを背に

また人の皮を被った

『PM 22:22』