夜が終わる直前。
まだソラに星が見える境界をヤツは好んだ。
暇を持て余したオレは、特に興味もないクセに、
一番好きな星はなにか、と訊いた。

「シリウスだよ」

観測時にもっとも強く見える光。
地上からソラを見る―――
地球から遙か彼方を航海する時の灯台のようだろ、
とヤツは子供のように、得意げに微笑んだ。

……そりゃあない。
あんまりにも皮肉な話だったから、
いつものように腐すこともできなかった。

「なあ。『最後の人間』とやらになったら、
　何をするんだよ、おまえ」

そうだなぁ、と。
涼しげに、少しだけ淋しそうな目をして、
ヤツは言った。

「とくに目標は設定せず、気ままな旅に出る、
　というのはどうだろう」

今でも、その未来（ねがい）を想っている。

「何もかも新しくなった、その海を越えて」

眩しい、朝の光にも似た。

The moment right before night comes to an end, when you can still see the stars in the sky. That was the time of day he liked best.

One time, when I had nothing better to do, I asked him which star was his favorite, even though I didn't give a rat's ass either way.

"Sirius."

He said its light is the strongest you can see when observing the night sky. He went on about how it was like a lighthouse showing us the way from Earth to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, while smiling a know-it-all grin.

...No fair. It was so damn ironic I couldn't even bring myself to take the piss like usual.

"Hey. What're you gonna do once you're the last human?"

It was a good question, he said. He followed it up coolly, but with just a hint of sadness:

"Would you believe me if I said I'm thinking of going on a trip wherever the wind takes me, with no destination in mind?"

I still think about what that future would've been like.

"I'd start by crossing that ocean and seeing how everything has changed."

In that moment, he was as bright and dazzling as the morning sun.