Monogatari Series - Volume 26 - Chapter 1.28

028

“To Araragi-kun.

“I’m leaving you this letter with peace of mind because I don’t think you, my proud student, have the language skills to be able to translate it.

“Now, where should I start? There’s so much to talk about, though.

“How exciting.

“But don’t take it too seriously.

“After all, my life has been full of lies. I’ve somehow managed to cheat and deceive my way through life, pretending that it was all real.

“I have no idea what it feels like to be up front about my true feelings. Isn’t opening your mouth to speak basically the same as lying?

“Just kidding. Even a claim like this, I’m not really serious about—I just thought it would be a good way to start this letter. It may as well be sleep talk.

“I’m pretty good at sleeping, you see. That’s the truth.

“I’ve spent my whole life sleeping, and I’ve spent my whole life dead—rather, I was never even alive.

“Because I’m a doll.

“Yes… I suppose I should begin there. If I’m going to confess.

“Araragi-kun, I’ve lied a lot to you in the short time we’ve known each other, so in order for you to forgive me, I want you to be able to sympathize with me first.

“I want you to consider the extenuating circumstances.

“I’m pathetic and pitiful, so I absolutely need you to think that you’ll forgive me… Well, I never actually considered it in that way, but maybe you’d be more easily convinced if I said it like that.

“You’d rather not think that you were tricked and taken advantage of by a crazy adult, right? It doesn’t sound very convincing to say it here, but I want children to be able to believe in adults.

“‘I don’t want you to become like me.’ It’s an old and oft-repeated line, but I wished that someone would have told me the opposite.

“‘Become like me. Life is fun.’

“I wanted to meet an adult that would say that to me… Oops, don’t worry. That doesn’t mean I’m going to say that you should become happy in my place.

“There’s no need to worry about that.

“Araragi-kun, I’m sure what you care about the most is ‘why I chose you’, and the rest may not matter at all to you, but I’d like to put on airs and save that answer for the end.

“I’ll save the fun for the very end.

“Because, while it probably isn’t a fun answer for you, I want you to read to the very end.

“One thing I will say, though, is that Oikura-san really isn’t involved… Please understand that it’s not her fault.

“Please be gentle to her.

“Now, it’s time for class to begin. Enjoy.”