Tatsuhiko Takimoto - Welcome to the NHK!

That’s why…

That’s why, in this world, conspiracies exist.

However, there is a more than a ninety-nine percent chance that the plausible-sounding conspiracies that you hear about from others are simple delusions or even intentional lies. When you visit a bookstore, the books with titles like The Great Jewish Conspiracy to Ruin the Japanese Economy! or The Super Conspiracy of the CIA That Hides Their Secret Pact with Aliens! are all just trivial delusions.

Even so…

Even so…

A tiny percentage of people actually have stumbled upon a real conspiracy. There is, in fact, one person who witnessed with his own eyes a conspiracy that exists, at this very moment, in the most extreme secrecy.

Who is this person?

It’s me.

What was the enemy’s name? I knew it. I had known it for a long time, the name of the evil organization that tortured us, the terrible God for which Misaki had earnestly wished. Its name was…

N.H.K.

That’s right! I remembered everything now: the name of my enemy, my mission, the reason for my existence, the reason I had continued to live until now, and the reason I had spent every day empty and vapid. Yes, my life has existed only to save you. This is probably true. It’s all true, so listen to me!

Still embracing Misaki so she couldn’t pull away, I explained in brief detail. “Listen, Misaki. In this world, there is an evil organization. Its name is N.H.K. N.H.K. is a huge organization that spans the entire globe. They’re an evil, secret society, and they’re the ones who put us through this pain. It’s all the N.H.K.’s fault. After this, if anything bad happens around you, it’s all the N.H.K.’s doing. Everything is the N.H.K.’s fault!

“For starters, the name N.H.K. itself is simply a coincidence. The actual name doesn’t matter at all. If you don’t like ‘N.H.K.’, you can call it whatever you want. If you wish, you can even call it Satan. Or call it the evil God. It all means the same thing.

“It’s true. The names don’t matter at all. They’re just a set of sounds. An imaginary enemy torturing you: That is the real essence of N.H.K. For example, take that girl from my high school literature club. To her, it could signify the ‘Nihon Hiyowa Kyokai’ [38] The Japan Weakling Association. , as her own weakness continually defeated her. She was weak in both mind and spirit.”

Please, stop trying to slash your wrists. Please, become happy, somehow.

I continued, “In the case of Misaki, N.H.K. means ‘Nihon Hikan Kyokai.’ [39] The Japan Pessimist Association. Because of the misfortunes you were born with, Misaki, you saw everything in a pessimistic way. Please, forgive me for being alive. Don’t hate me. You always were self-defeating like that.

“Then, my own N.H.K. …

“Well, it’s actually the N.H.K.’s fault that I became a hikikomori, just as it’s their fault that you suffer, Misaki. That’s the truth. I learned this through a certain technique. I fought with them. I’ve been fighting them for a long time, but it’s no use anymore. I’ve finally fallen victim to them, and they’ll kill me before long. But Misaki, you’re fine. You must live on, in health.”

Misaki clearly was frightened as I kept spewing nonsense.

I released her and took a step back. Now, I would show her a miracle, a great miracle, in order to prove the N.H.K.’s existence. I would reveal my true nature as a strong soldier who battled the N.H.K., and I would defeat them for her.

If I did that, Misaki probably would believe my story. She would live on, smiling. She most likely would stop hating herself, and her pessimistic personality probably would be healed.

That was the answer. I would give her immutable love. You were afraid. You were afraid of being hated by others. You were afraid that others’ feelings might change. But you’ll be okay. My feelings won’t change. I love you, and that feeling absolutely will never change.

And the reason…?

“Ah! I can’t go on! It’s a psychic attack by the N.H.K.!”

I rolled around in the snow.

“Do I look like I’m going crazy? If so, then that, too, is caused by the N.H.K. I’ll be killed soon! I’ll be killed by the N.H.K.! But I’ll return the blow! Just you watch!” I got up and ran, heading for the edge of the cliff.

I started out running slowly.

“Goodbye, Misaki! My legs are moving on their own. I’m going to be killed by the N.H.K. But in the moment that I die, I plan to do something to return their strike. I’ll destroy them!”

My speed gradually was increasing.

“That’s right! In order to defeat the N.H.K., I have to sacrifice my own life so that I can use my special attack. This is why I must go, but I’ll protect you!”

I was moving at full speed now.

I had to run out into the night sky with all my strength. The cliff edge was nearing. Ah, I’ll jump. I’ll dive. I’ll use my special attack.

Because of my unbelievably idiotic end, Misaki would have to believe in the evil organization. Due to my special attack, she might see the end of that evil organization. And it probably would bring her happiness.

And despite everything, Misaki would not need to feel guilty at all.

This was all I had wanted. I always had intended to die.

I would fulfill my own life’s purpose and also save Misaki. Truly, this was the clearest way to kill two birds with one stone. I was the one who had planned to die. I always, always had planned to die.

After all, I even had tried to starve myself to death. But that had proven to be impossible. A weak-willed person like myself couldn’t carry through with something like a fast: My limit was four days. Then, I had worked to earn my living expenses. That was the single time I had worked hard before my death. I always had been searching for some way to die.

In short, I was a much crazier person than you. It proves that, emotionally, I am an abnormal person. I mean, if I weren’t, then I couldn’t do something like this, right? Misaki, while you look down on me, at the same time, please accept my love or whatever it is. I’ll die soon, but Misaki, you must live on. I will defeat the N.H.K. and get rid of the evil organization. Please, believe this. If you do, you can stay alive. Misaki, you can keep living.

Watch my special attack and burn it into your mind. Look, can you see it? Can you see the Revolutionary Bomb, brightly shining in my right hand? It’s the Revolutionary Bomb that Yamazaki refrained from using, an earth-shattering bomb that destroys villains. It’s very, very weak, far too weak to blow away the N.H.K. But it’s more than strong enough to snuff out this minuscule, pathetic, worthless living creature — in short, me. And if I die, my N.H.K. also will disappear, because the N.H.K. is God. It is the entire world. And with my death, my world will dissipate. And the N.H.K. will disappear. That’s exactly why I need to do my special attack right now, with the legendary Revolutionary Bomb.

I was going to die. I was going to dive from the cliff soon. Behind me, Misaki was screaming something, but her voice no longer reached me. No one could stop me now.

This was the best! My body ran like the wind. Ah, I felt good. I felt invigorated, running as fast as I could, atop the cliffs, in the dark.

I also was scared. I didn’t want to die.

There was no reason for me to live. I didn’t want to live.

Soon, I would die. Only a few feet remained before the cliff’s edge. In mere seconds, the space of one heartbeat, I would soar out into the wide-open sky.

After just a few more seconds, swinging my arms as hard as possible and sticking out my legs as far as I could, I would dive. For the first time, I could truly escape, leave my six-mat, one-room apartment and fly higher and higher into the open sky. I would jump and fly.