The scene of war surrounded the girl and the king from every direction. It was as if the sea itself was on fire. Smoke rose from every corner, screams echoed from the houses, and planes roared across the sky.
The king shouted:
"O girl, are we living the Day of Resurrection? I see hell before my eyes! I don't want to burn!"
He gasped, then added:
"I wish I had a picture like this one of the pilot..."
The girl, Akemi, was watching a plane from afar — a plane carrying a nuclear bomb. It glowed with a dazzling light, as if a star were about to fall from the dark night.
When the plane drew closer and flew above her, she cried out:
"Commander! Please, listen to my message!"
Her voice rose against the storm of war:
*"Commander, I know you are defending your country.
We humans are sometimes friends, sometimes enemies.
But we all love our homeland, and wish it to remain safe.
I know you never desired war, yet war broke out, and fires raged.
People here and there are dying in defense.
You pilots — you see the world from above, clearer than we ever can. You are like kings of the skies.
But look at what you carry… look at what you intend to drop on us.
Is it roses? Thistles? Or flames?
The thorns of war can be endured, but nuclear fire leaves behind nothing but echoes of vanished voices.
Commander, among those voices are ones you once loved to hear — but they will be silenced forever by nuclear flames.
Do you want to repeat that mistake?
Please, do not press the button.
I am but a rose, longing to bloom and spread my fragrance to the world, to fill its waterfalls with life.
I am not outside of your time.
I came to let my world live in peace, and to bring you the message of the Disappearing Voices:
'Do not repeat the same scene.'
I want to return to my world — but my destiny lies in your hands.
I am your guest. Please… grant me the greatest gift."*
Akemi then looked at her hands, soaked in the tears of the pilots.
Upon them were drawn faint spots, like signs from another world.
A voice came:
"Your message has been received. We will not repeat the same mistake.
Let the sky remain blue, crossed only by white clouds and blessed by the rays of the sun."