ある日、大雨の中、外を歩いていると、傘も立てず、雨に打たれながらフラフラと歩いている女の子を見つけた。心配になって、声をかけてみたけど、返事がなかった・・・というより茫然自失の様で、こちらに気づいてない様子だった。再度、肩を叩いて、声をかけると、しんどうそうに顔を僕の方へ向けて、ようやく反応してくれた。少女は光の失せた目で「・・・・お主は我の復活を祝福してくれるのか？」とぼそぼそと呟いた。僕は少女が言っている事の意味を図れず、返答に窮していると「・・・我に祝福を与えてくれ。我は、我は、折角、長い眠りから醒めたのに、我は、一人ぼっち・・・。なんの為、我は・・・。」と、とても深刻な顔をして、ぶつぶつと少女は呟き続けた。 彼女の言っている意味は明確にはわからない。けど、彼女がとにかくの悲しみに暮れていて、その悲しみが払拭されるには、彼女の言う『祝福』というのが必要であるというのはわかった。 他人の僕が彼女の事情も知らずに何かをしようと言うのも、おこがましい話ではあると思うし、そもそも、彼女に関わってもめんどくさいだけかもしれない、妖怪の類なら命の危険もあるし、大の男が少女に声をかけるのも勘違いがされるような事もある。放っておいた方がいいような気もした。したけれども、俯いた彼女の表情はただただ無表情で、ただ無表情で。 腰は重かったけど、余計な親切一つをしてみる気になった。 祝福しようと僕は彼女の肩を軽く叩いて言った。少女はピクリと反応した後、ゆっくりと顔を上げて、力ない目で僕を見据えた。 祝福するよ。とりあえず、ここで君に会えた事をさ。 と自分ながら気障くさい言葉(これでもかなり言葉を選んだつもりだ)を吐いて、にこりと精一杯の作り笑顔をすると。少女の無表情に僅かな戸惑いを見せてわっふるわっふる。

One day, as I was walking outside in the heavy rain, I saw a girl with no umbrella teetering along, the rain beating down on her. Worried, I tried calling out to her but met no response; rather, it seemed that she hadn't noticed me, deep in some sort of stupor. I tapped her on the shoulder and called out again, and she finally responded by turning her trembling face toward me. With the light gone from her eyes, a whispering voice murmured, "Wilt thou give me thy blessing for my recovery?" I was at a loss for a response, not understanding what she meant. With a serious look on her face, she continued muttering: "Lend me thy blessing. For I... I have finally risen from my long sleep, and yet I am all alone... why am I..."

I didn't understand exactly what she meant. I did manage to grasp, though, that she was racked with sorrow, and alleviating it would require the "blessing" she was talking about. However, I had to consider various things; the thought of me deciding to help her despite not knowing anything about her situation at all; the ridiculousness of her story; that it might be a big pain to get involved with this; that it might be dangerous if she's actually a youkai; that a grown man calling out to a little girl could be misinterpreted. I had a feeling it would be better to just leave her be. Her eyes were cast down, her face thoroughly expressionless. Although still a bit hesitant, I decided I would grant her this one unnecessary kindness. "I'll bless you," I said as I tapped her shoulder. As soon as I did, she twitched, slowly raising her head to gaze at me with feeble eyes. "I give you my blessing... that I found you here, at least," I told her with the biggest and most forced smile I could muster, sounding rather full of myself (though I guess I did choose the words myself). The girl, whose blank face now showed a slight tinge of confusion... to be continued