Prove Your Eternal Love. There Shall Be No Heroine Correction. - Chapter 3 Part 5

When I came to the first conference room, the fortress of the Fuyo Festival Committee, I found the committee members lined up in a row in the hallway. What was this situation? I called out to a nearby female student at random.

“Good morning. Umm …Could it be, the door is locked?”

“Ah, no…”

The female student gave an answer before knocking three times on the entrance at the rear of the conference room. Then the door opened easily, and only President Fuyuki’s face peeked out.

“Oh, you’ve come, Shirase-san. We have just started the battle.”

Dead eyes, dark circles. The listless President Fuyuki beckoned me in with a whisper that escaped her lips. I leaned against the closed door, next to the President.

A large number of empty energy drink cans were lined up on the teaching table at the front of the conference room. Did this person ever finish all her work? When I looked at her reproachfully, she raised her arms and shook her head as if she couldn’t help herself.

“The truth is, I haven’t finished processing the after-party at all, not even a little bit. It was a necessary sacrifice.”

Why does she have to do it alone? No, what was more problematic now was — Kuroiwa and Aogashima-san, who were staring at each other in the center of the room. What in the world could have brought about this situation? Both of them glanced at me, but then their gazes immediately collided with each others again.

“I told you, I’m going to return the stamps. That’s enough, right?”

“No. Stealing stamps is a crime. It’s a nuisance to other people.”

Aogashima-san chastised Kuroiwa with strong words. I understood at a glance that she was angry.

“…but it can’t be helped. If I don’t, the game is over.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. I’ve been trying to lose since the beginning.”

“But. I don’t want Yuuno to lose.”

Kuroiwa, on the other hand, clenched her slender fists tightly, but her rebuttal was in a weak voice.

When I have a general grasp of the situation, the President gave me an earful.

“Hey. I have no idea, but were you guys taking bets on the stamp rally?”

It was a fair question. An outsider would have little idea what they were talking about. I didn’t think she would believe me if I explained it to her.

“Ah, well, basically. In the meantime, we have to stop the two of them—”

As I was about to walk toward them, I was stopped by a firm grip on my shoulder. Even though I appealed to her to let go of me with my eyes, she did not move at all.

Wait a minute. Listen, Shirase-kun. This is the time to keep quiet.”

“No, I don’t see how this could be such a time.”

President Fuyuki, however, seemed to have an idea, silently and slowly shaking her head. Meanwhile, the two continued to argue.

“I know what Aika is thinking. Is it for me? Or for Aika yourself?”

Kuroiwa cannot answer that question. She probably doesn’t have an answer either. Her eyes were swimming and her head seemed to be spinning frantically. Without waiting for an answer, Aogashima-san continued.

“Aika. Is it true that you hit someone in the baseball team?”

“Ah—that was just, you know, some innuendo a long time ago.”

“I’ve heard all about it. I know that person. When I was a freshman, he was a senior who persistently approached me. The one Aika chased away in the hallway.”

Kuroiwa took a step backward, breathing roughly as if frightened by Aogashima-san. But Aogashima-san quickly took a step forward. One more step.

“…Hey, Aika. Is it true that you dated that person?”

“────, ─ ─!”

Kuroiwa’s clear eyes blanked, cold sweat dripped from her forehead, and her throat rose and fell. What should not have been exposed was exposed. That was the reaction.

A Hundred Battle-Hardened Slayer.

That was the nickname given to Kuroiwa Aika. She dated men and broke up with them soon after. I knew that rumor, too. Her open manner and flirtatious appearance certainly gave that impression. But as I got to know her better, I came to believe that it was just a common misunderstanding. Besides, the rumors had been completely quiet recently.

But…now guessing it by that reaction. Kuroiwa was really messing around with a lot of men.

“That’s right.”

Kuroiwa replied quietly.

“To protect Yuno from pests, I went out with a lot of people, not just him.”

Now Aogashima-san flinched at Kuroiwa’s statement. Surprised, her eyes fluttered, and she held her chest with both hands as if in pain.

“But listen, Yuno. I didn’t let anyone do that to me. I don’t like anyone. I dated them, made them fall in love with me, and then dumped them. Sure, I’ve had some close calls. They almost force themselves on me. But I was able to escape, and that’s all that matters—”

“Why would Aika go that far?”

The question that Aogashima-san painfully uttered was a continuation of what she said earlier. Is it for Aogashima-san’s sake or for Kuroiwa’s? It was dangerous to define it, I thought.

Because doing something for someone else was not simple like that. It couldn’t just be a simple choice between the two.

“President, let’s not do this again. This is obviously not good.”

“…Hey, Shirase-kun. Do you think humans can understand each other?”

As President stared at them, she looked for some reason sad.

“What? What is that, at a time like this?”

“Humans cannot fully understand each other ever. We will never be able to understand each other perfectly. I have always believed that.”

Of course. If it were that easy to understand each other, there would be no conflict in this world. But—

“…Even so. Trying to understand each other is what is important, isn’t it?”

It was always the process, not the result, that was important.

“Yeah. You are absolutely right, Shirase-kun. So, you see, don’t you? That’s what was going on now. That was their way of understanding each other, I think.”

That was certainly true. But if she say that, there was no way I could ever get in between them from the start. Then what was this person’s intention in inviting me into this conference room? What does this person see now?

Kuroiwa’s tightly closed lips gently undo themselves. Why does Kuroiwa go to such lengths Aogashima-san? The answer to that question was.

“—It’s because I love you.”

Kuroiwa’s small voice did not reach us. Or even to Mr. Aogashima. So she repeated once more.

“It’s because I love Yuno!”

The overflowing feelings would not stop.

“Did you hear me? I said I love Yuno!”

Aogashima-san nodded cockily. I had heard earlier that Kuroiwa had confessed her feelings to Aogashima-san during the summer vacation and that she had been rejected.

“But I was also rooting for Yuno and Shirase. Yuno has changed. Unquestionably because of Shirase’s influence! I know that Shirase rejected you. It’s natural to want to forget. I know exactly how Yuno feels. I know that very well. But even so, I, I—I want you to be the Yuno who experienced that. Because I love Yuno with everything included. The record of my favorite Yuno’s best is being updated all the time!”

The thoughts and feelings that were surely heard all the way to the hallway must have reached Aogashima-san as well. However, Aogashima-san just quietly stared at Aika Kuroiwa with a blank expression on her face.

“I would do anything for Yuno! So I want you to rely on me more. I want you to tell me what you want to do. If you don’t know, I want to think about it with you. Hey, Yuno—”

Kuroiwa clenched her own fists tightly, turned her head down, and let out her earnest thoughts.

“Listen to me. Aika.”

At Aogashima-san’s call, Kuroiwa looked up.

“Aika is right. I don’t really want to forget. I can’t give up on Shirase-kun. So, I am glad that you understand me and that you are trying to help me. I’m so happy.”

Kuroiwa’s face lit up immediately. She closed the distance again and took both of Aogashima-san’s hands.

“Right, Yuno? There’s no way Yuno would give up on Shirase. I’m glad you told me your true feelings. I’ll cooperate with you no matter what.”

“…But. I didn’t want that for Aika. I didn’t become friends and best friends with Aika to get her to do that.”

Aogashima-san slowly removed Kuroiwa’s hand, and her downcast eyes no longer meet hers.

“…Eh?”

Impossible. Unbelievable. I could hear it in Kuroiwa’s voice that she was thinking that way.

“And so…Get out.”

Slowly, Aogashima-san lifted her right arm until it was parallel to the ground and pointed to the exit of the conference room.

“Eh, Y-Yuno, ha ha…why. Why is that?”

Aogashima-san did not answer. Instead, she just shook her head stubbornly.

“I don’t, understand, anything, at all!”

Kuroiwa took the stamps from her bag, which was on a long desk nearby, and tossed them on the floor. She gritted her teeth and spun around. She strode with big strides to the doorway on the other side of the room, her grumpy ponytail wagging as she walked out, making deliberate noises.

“K-Kuroiwa!”

Too late, my call was intercepted by the closed door. No, even if she had heard me, she would not have responded even a tiny bit.

“…President Fuyuki, are you satisfied with this?”

Without turning to the President, I asked her in an angry voice. The line that came back to my ear was.

“Ah. It was a great clash. Therefore, Shirase-kun. I am now appointing you guys as a special committee member. Your mission is, of course, to mediate between Aogashima-kun and Kuroiwa-kun.

“Heh? Haa…?”

What a cute line that came to my mind for a moment, then the word “you guys” catches my attention. Me and who else was appointed?

Before I can ask back, my back was suddenly pushed out of the way, and with a staggering step, I stumbled across the long desk and leap in front of Aogashima-san. Aogashima-san’s expression was dark.

“Ah, Aogashima-san. It’s true that Kuroiwa went too far, but I don’t think it’s a figure of speech to say that she was doing it for your sake. Anyway, why don’t you two talk it out a little more calmly?”

Aogashima-san’s response was almost none. But I don’t have any witty words on hand that I could use against her on the spur of the moment. All I have left is…that topic.

“Ah, let’s see. Yes, Aogashima-san. I want you to listen to me. I failed to tell you this morning, but I actually found something. I found a way to not have to throw away any memories.”

Aogashima-san finally raised her face, which had been downcast. Her eyes were shining brightly, a complete change from before. It was just as she had said earlier. She really doesn’t want to forget either.

“…Really?”

“Yeah. There is a hidden rule in this game: if you put a stamp for another participant in your stamp book, you can intercept that memory. You can then exchange those memories for other memories. If we apply this to this game—”

Before I could finish, Aogashima-san smiled. Her cheeks were slightly tinted and the edges of her mouth hung open.

Then, as if it were natural and obvious.

She hugged me tightly.

“A-Aogashima-san…!?”

Why are you doing this?

My whole body was pulsing strongly and fast. I felt the warmth of her body, but at the same time, I was worried. I was afraid that my rapidly rising heartbeat might reveal my hidden feelings to her.

“I am happy. Shirase-kun. Thank you. For finding it for me.”

What’s that? Because earlier, Kuroiwa answered that it was for Aogashima-san’s sake, and that was why their relationship broke. What was the difference between that and this? I don’t understand it at all. I tried to think, but the blood rushing to my head and the scent of perfume dancing in my nostrils prevented me from thinking properly.

“W-What are you talking about? Just let me go.”

There was no need to ask. I was stronger than her, so I could just shake her off roughly. And yet, I couldn’t reject Aogashima-san. Her breath sounded painful, and every time she breathes, I felt a pang of guilt in my chest. I had rejected her, even though I don’t remember.

“I don’t want to. I finally got you.”

“Eh…?”

Excuse me? You…finally got me?

“Shirase-kun. I’m sorry. I lied. …I don’t want to forget you.”

“Ah, yeah. Yeah, it looks like it.”

Then, why was she spewing to Kuroiwa earlier? That was why I told Aogashima-san the strategy. She’s starting to not make any sense. No, it does. I realized. She just said it was a lie.

“I don’t have the slightest desire to forget. I never had any intention of forgetting.”

If that was the case.

“…You don’t mean what you said on the rooftop was a lie? Was this whole thing about wanting to forget an act?”

Was I being set up? She was saying that she was suffering on her own, and it was all part of her plan? Even so, I still don’t understand her intentions. It was different. My train of thought kept avoiding one place. It was dangerous. Don’t go any further. I knew it, but it was too late.

“What did you do that for?”

As if waiting for my question, Aogashima-san’s mouth smoothly moved to my ear.

“Shirase-kun still likes me. Don’t you?”

“T-That’s—”

Something was rapidly swelling in my mind. Yes. I could see it outside the window — it was like a balloon. My heart pumped blood even faster. Each time the balloon expanded, it seemed as if it was about to burst. What would happen if it burst?

“Before I lost my memories, I noticed Shirase-kun’s feelings. I wrote it down in my diary, to inspire myself. So I—decided to do this.”

I couldn’t say anything. What the? I couldn’t even hide it properly.

“I was sure that Shirase would have searched for a way not to forget, whether I said I wanted to forget or not. The result is the same. But—the process is different. If I said I didn’t want to forget too, it would mean that Shirase-kun was working for everyone’s sake. But because I said I wanted to forget, it meant that Shirase-kun was only working for me. I was sure he thought about it a lot for me.”

In this way, Aogashima-san tried to create a situation where I would take her side and bring to light the love I had tried to hide. It was all for the sake of the present moment.

“Hey, Shirase-kun. Can you choose? Me? Or Nagisa Tokiwa?”

“Of course I can choose. I only intend to go out with Nagisa.”

My heart ached. But it was a necessary pain. Even though I have contradictory feelings in my heart, there was no reason for me to betray Nagisa. That was enough.

And yet Aogashima Yuno was not satisfied. No good. She immediately exploited a gap in my heart.

“Even if you still have feelings for me?”

“I told you, that’s—”

I couldn’t say that it wasn’t, I just couldn’t say it, and I clammed up, in that moment of silence.

Then I heard a dull thump.

A few clanks. Empty cans that should have been lined up on the teaching table fell over, one by one. One of them hit my leg and stopped.

I lifted my eyes from my feet and looked in the direction of the sound. There was a small glimpse of red cloth sticking out of the podium. My heart jumped so hard that it almost stopped. It was more than a chill down my spine. My whole body went rigid, and I began to tremble. …No way, right? There was no way she was there.

I hurriedly escaped from Aogashima-san’s embrace and fell on the ground.

“…N-Nagisa, are you there?”

The red ribbon did not respond to my call. Instead, it was President Fuyuki who spoke up.

“…Ah. It’s your girlfriend, isn’t it? No, I guess not. Anyway, I saw her around there this morning, so I stowed her away for now, but I had no idea it would turn out to be such a battlefield. Of course, this was an unexpected turn of events, hahaha.”

The President echoed an awkwardly dry laugh. By “you guys,” she meant me and Nagisa? After the not-so-happy answer session was over, the real battlefield finally began. From behind the table, my potential lover appeared in full force.

“I was suddenly taken away and stowed away on the teaching table because I seemed to know what was going on, and to top it off, I was shown this scene…I’ve never had thought.”

Nagisa trembled. How nice it would be if this were a dream. I touched the can in my chest pocket and reminded myself that this was not a dream.

So…So, Suguru-senpai. What do you mean, what are your intentions?　 Do you have an excuse? I was watching you, all of it!”

Nagisa, who was coming closer, looked as if she was about to start crying.

Anyone would have done the same. How could anyone be calm after being exposed to such a situation?

“Sorry, Nagisa. Me and Aogashima-san—”

Nagisa got down on both knees on the floor, hovering over me. It was the same position as in the manga café that one day. She grabbed both of my shoulders and shook them.

“That’s not all! What is that, a way for all of us to get our memories back! I didn’t hear a single word about that! Why, why didn’t you tell me!”

I thought if I told you, you would be sad.

I didn’t want to cause you unnecessary worry.

I thought this was my problem to solve, not yours.

I could come up with any number of excuses, stinging and aching like soda bubbles. I looked at it as if it were someone else’s problem, and I was disgusted at my own shallowness.

What did I think of Tokiwa Nagisa?

A small, fragile, girl who liked me and whom I want to go out with?

I was chasing after ideals, making a big show of it, and only putting up cool lines. And yet, in the end, I didn’t trust Nagisa in front of me. I had misjudged her.

“…Sorry, Nagisa.

“No. What I want to hear from Suguru-senpai is not that…”

Her trembling voice was mixed with tears, but there was a strong will in her eyes trying not to.

“Nagisa. I…made a mistake.”

“Maybe so. …But it was also Suguru-senpai who told me that if I found out it was a mistake, I could correct it from there.”

Nagisa stood up quickly and reached out her hand to me with a straight face, which was not typical of her. I took her hand and she pulled me up with all her strength.

“Suguru-senpai. I told you that I don’t know, right?”

“Yeah, you said that before. And I remember that.”

When I tried to stop Aogashima-san. In other words, it was when I asked if I tried to bring back memories for Aogashima-san. I wondered if she would get angry.

“I understand now… I hate it so much. I’m probably angry. You might think I’m not cute. But I can’t help it. Because I love Suguru-senpai so much—”

Her uncharacteristically deep breathing was surely a time for choosing words.

“Because I can’t help it, I want to make the Suguru-senpai in Aogashima-senpai disappear.

“Nagi-sa…”

What should I do?

Aogashima-san no longer said she wanted to get rid of the memories. The ideal I set forth has been achieved.

But the reason why Aogashima-san doesn’t want to throw away her memories was because she realized how much I like her.

As a result, it became irrevocable.

The thread that I wanted to untangle became more tangled and messed up.

It was because I had made a mistake, but what could I do to correct it from here?

“Aogashima-senpai. Please. …Give up on Suguru-senpai completely.”

Nagisa faced Aogashima-san. But Aogashima-san doesn’t answer.

“Suguru-senpai already likes me.”

“…I liked him first. Shirase-kun really likes me too.”

“I-I don’t know anything about that. And I don’t care.”

“I understand your feelings. But I, too, no longer intend to give in.”

“Then… it’s a game. Aogashima-senpai. From now on, we will play one-on-one in the Table Game Club.”

“Nagisa, that’s—”

That was not the strategy I had planned.

But the girls were already out of my reach. They were not in a place where I could intervene.

“If I win, Aogashima-senpai should forget about Suguru-senpai, as per our original agreement.”

The thread that has become entangled must now be cut. That was what Nagisa probably thought.

But I don’t want to cut it. But without finding a way to persuade her, the situation was rolling like an empty can out of my hands.