Kafka and the others had been gone from Wood Farm for several days.
Over those days, Goff had gone down the mountain a few times. The Market Town destroyed by the avalanche had already begun rebuilding.
Goff posted a missing-person notice at the town gates, hoping his father would see it if he came there.
Now that the Alliance had declared a general amnesty, Goff could finally walk with his head held high and his back straight.
There was a cemetery north of town, and Goff found his old classmate's grave there.
Goff stood before the gravestone for a long time.
When he left the cemetery, Goff was still dazed, as though he had yet to recover from the shock of being separated by death.
How had that guy ended up dead?
Goff felt a terrible tightness in his chest.
He returned to where he had posted the missing-person notice and found that someone had torn the paper down.
Goff looked to the side and saw a blue-haired clown leaning against the wall, folding a paper airplane.
Goff walked over and said angrily:
"That's the missing-person notice I just put up!"
"What's the point of posting something useless?" the clown said dismissively.
Goff grew even angrier, but surprise soon replaced his anger:
"It's you! I recognize you! You're still alive?"
The clown smiled.
"Was I supposed to be the one who died?"
"What do you mean?" Goff asked in confusion.
"Put these on, and you'll understand." The clown handed him an extravagant pair of Star Glasses.
They were covered in colorful patterns. Goff took the glasses and put them on without hesitation.
The world turned black.
Apart from the clown before him, everyone became a tiny blue flame.
Goff couldn't help reaching out to touch one.
The flame was icy