Prove Your Eternal Love. There Shall Be No Heroine Correction. - Chapter 3 Part 8

Yuuhi was stunned, as if his soul had been drained out of him. If he endured one more time, he still had a chance. He thought he would lose, and his last hope seemed to remain, and then it was no use. It must have been so frustrating.

“Yuuhi—”

But I was close, too. So I was about to congratulate him on his good fight, but before that, I was the first to go. There was one person who gently stroked his head.

“Good, good, you did your best, Yuuhi!”

“M-Minagi, when? I mean, why?”

Catching the hand on his head, Yuuhi looked up at Minagi curiously.

“Yeah, well. I lied about having something to do. I’m in a bit of a difficult position. I’ve been watching from the outside. …Nice try. You really did your best, even though evil will always perish.”

“Hey, I’m not evil.”

“Ahaha. I told you. Bad things are bad for whatever reason—”

I missed the timing to call out to him, but he didn’t seem to need it now. I took my own stamp book from Nagisa and headed for the stamp stand set up in the center of the room. The booklet already had the hidden stamps of the committee members, but I stamped them on top of each other without hesitation. The pattern was too messy to make out. But—Yeah, this feeling, there was no doubt about it.

Memories of Akikusa Yuuhi were flowing into my mind.

—The sunset was very, very beautiful.

Perhaps it was because I was looking through Akikusa Yuuhi’s point of view, but the sky seemed a little farther away than usual.

Unlike when I remembered my own memories, I could not understand Yuuhi’s feelings. However, I thought that the reason he wandered into the park he was passing by was because he wanted to watch this wonderful sunset from a higher place. There, by chance, the boy spotted a girl.

“…Minagi-san, what are you doing?”

At the top of the slide, clutching the railing tightly, Tokiwa Minagi was stretching her legs on the slope. If it had been a blue sky stretching out beyond her, it would have been a mismatch for her grown-up self.

“Hey It’s been a long time, Yuuhi-kun. It’s been about half a year? I guess even neighbors don’t see each other when they don’t want to.”

Minagi turned to Yuuhi and smiled. But it was a different kind of smile. It was the face of a strong person. I recognized it, even though I had no memory of her.

“You don’t look well. It’s not like you, Minagi-san.”

“Yeah, I broke up with my boyfriend.”

At Minagi’s aloof answer, an “eh” escaped from the boy’s mouth.

“W-Why!? You seemed so happy when you two were dating!”

There was a mixture of surprise and anger. It also showed the purity of Akikusa. There was no joy in the fact that he had been given a chance.

“…Then what did I give up for?”

Only the mumbled voice added at the end of the dialogue did not seem to reach Minagi.

“Well, we broke up with each other half a year ago — last October. I don’t know why it happened so suddenly then. I don’t know why, but I suddenly felt it now. It’s strange, isn’t it?”

Yuuhi did not answer.

“Look. The sunset is so beautiful.”

Minagi slowly extended her hand and pointed toward the setting sun. Then, this time, she gave a satisfied smile, not the one with something stuck like before.

“I thought I’d share this with Suguru. Then I remembered that we had broken up, and now I feel sad. It’s strange, isn’t it? I was fine the whole time.”

Minagi turned back around. Yuuhi took two or three steps closer to the slide. He turned his worried voice upward.

“Minag-san. Are you crying?”

“What? I’m not crying. I’m not sad.”

Right now, she was probably happy to share the beautiful sunset and the feeling of loneliness with Yuuhi.

“You’re not sad even though you’ve broken up.”

“Hmmm…yes. I regretted it quite a bit right after we broke up. I was stuck with what he said to me when we broke up. I thought that getting back together with him was not a bad idea at all.”

It was exactly what I had heard on the phone last night, but the tone was more earnest. But this was in the past. Regardless of my feelings and surprise, Minagi continued to talk.

“But I still couldn’t see a way for Suguru and I to be together forever in the future.”

Yuuhi moved from place to place, listening to Minagi’s words. From the side of the slide — to the top of the slide, directly in front of Minagi.

“…Then you can tell me instead. Interesting shaped clouds, a stray cat at the moment of escaping, or a delicious sweet treat. Tell me everything. I finally got a smart phone now that I’m in middle school!”

Minagi was somewhat moved and slid down the slide, aiming at Yuuhi. Without much momentum, she soon found her feet on the ground. As she sat up, Minagi smiled carefree as a familiar sister living in the neighborhood.

“I see, I see. You’re now in middle school. Yuuhi-kun, who was such a small boy, is now this big.”

Minagi’s sudden approach must have been a jolt. Yuuhi was about to back away, but hesitated and chose to remain standing there.

“U-Umm. Minagi-san. …Please go out with me.”

Yuuhi displayed his contact code and pointed the screen at Minagi. Yuuhi’s hands, feet, and voice were trembling. Yet, Minagi was unfazed and giggled in a natural way.

“How many times have you told me that?”

“I-I don’t remember. I’ve been in love with Minagi-san since I was a little kid, and every time I confessed you, you always treated me like a child, but I’m not a child anymore.”

I guessed for him, the proof was his own contact information. What a smile. Minagi felt the same way and loosened her cheeks cracked a smile.

“Oh my God, you are so cute.”

“I don’t think I’m c-cute, call me cool!”

“Yes, yes. That’s so cute, Yuuhi-kun. So, look.”

Minagi reached out and touched Yuuhi’s hip, and turned Yuuhi’s body. Yuuhi let her do what she wanted. Yuuhi was then pulled back and settled into Minagi’s lap, hugged from behind.

“Then. I’ll go out with you, the cool Akikusa Yuuhi-kun?”

With Minagi’s gentle voice, I returned from his memories. I was tremendously shaken with emotion, and it was hard to breathe. In fact, I guess it had stopped. I took a deep breath in search of oxygen.

“Minagi…”

I had to mutter. With all my heart. This was…intense. I myself couldn’t decipher what emotions swirled in my mind. Minagi and I were no longer lovers. I have no memories of her now. And yet, there was still a tug that prevented me from saying that this scene was just a good one.

I turned around and returned to my seat.

“Yuuhi. Did you experience this?”

I was not talking about this memory. I was talking about the time he took my memory. Because Yuuhi was in love with Minagi right now, and yet he knew everything that happened between me and Minagi.

Just like I did now. The time we played badminton at the park where we always meet up. We shared earphones on the green bus. Or the time we hung a heart-shaped ema (votive picture tablet) together at a match-making shrine. Without asking, Yuuhi’s memories kept popping up in my mind.

“Yes, that’s right. I took away your memories, and I was shown your memories…it was soooo hard. …I threw up. I even dreamed about it. Even this morning, just walking normally, two years’ worth of memories of Shirase and Minagi-san suddenly came to mind. I really thought I was going crazy.”

“For what purpose? Why did you go to such lengths?”

I didn’t have to ask. I have his memories now. A number of memories and the line I heard this morning combine in my mind on their own, and I was convinced before he says it.

“It’s to compare my memories with yours. So that I can make sure that Minagi loves me. …At first, I thought I would use the first prize to get Minagi’s true feelings. But I felt it was not cool. I didn’t like the idea of just knowing the answer without going through all the trouble.”

Yuuhi bit his lip. As he turned away, I felt a similar vibe from him as I did from myself.

“Minagi knew all that?”

“Yes. …So this is my responsibility as well.”

Weakly, awkwardly. Smiling faintly, Minagi probably intended to persuade Yuuhi to return the memories, even if he had won.

“I’m sorry. Yuuhi. It’s fine. Don’t worry, it’s okay. …I also realized a lot after Suguru said a lot of things to me yesterday. I’m sorry, but you don’t have to worry about it. I’m sure the two of us will do our best from now on.”

Minagi stroked Yuuhi as much as she could. Yuuhi’s hair got messed up and he complained, “That’s enough!”

“…Then, Yuuhi. It’s an exchange of memories. Okay?”

“I know. I lost. I’ll follow Shirase.”

The hallway just outside the table game club room. In the corner, I hold out my right hand to Akikusa Yuuhi. I expressed my gratitude and respected for my opponent. Yuuhi wiped the sweat from his hands with his trousers, and then placed his hand on top of mine — a handshake was formed.

At that moment. Yuuhi’s memories disappeared. I could no longer recall the memories that had been running through my mind just a moment ago. Instead, my memories of the past two years come back. I remember that I confessed my feelings to her. The study session at home that didn’t go well at all. The letter I wrote to her as a surprise. The last date we went to a shrine for matchmaking. Things that should have faded away are now rather vivid.

That was why I was about to cry. But I didn’t cry. It was as if everything had been poured out somewhere. Not even a single drop spilled out.

I looked at Minagi who was watching behind Yuuhi. Now that I remembered everything, what was the first thing I wanted to tell her? The first thing that came out of my mind was.

“Minagi. …Take good care of Yuuhi.”

“Hey Suguru, that’s the kind of thing you usually say to Yuuhi. You should take care of Minagi. Well, guess we can’t help it.”

That was true. But if we looked at the current situation, I was more right.

“Well, I’ll go get my memories of you back then, too.”

With a refreshed expression, Minagi left for the stairs, hand in hand with Yuuhi. The three of us who were left behind wandered around, somewhat in step, in search of a place where we could settle down.

“Nagisa. Thank you. Aogashima-san, too. …It’s thanks to you two that I got my memories back.”

“Yes. Operation was a success!”

“Shirase-kun ignored the plan, though.”

“I was certainly nervous, but it was cool because it was Suguru-senpai’s style.”

Nagisa’s cheeks were red as she crosses her fingers in front of her chest.

‘T-Thank you.”

It was kind of as if the fight that had just happened had never happened. So for a moment, I had high expectations. I thought that Nagisa’s strategy was to blow the game to Aogashima-san, just like the saying, “To deceive your enemy, start with your friend.”

However, reality was not as sweet as candy.

We were on the first floor of the club building, behind the off-limits tape, past the first meeting room, and further in the back — in front of an unopened warehouse. We were sure that our discussion would not be interrupted here.

“Then, Aogashima-senpa. …The next round is the real thing. Okay?”

Nagisa declared war on Aogashima-san, putting her hands on her hips and making her body look big. Aogashima-san nodded with determined eyes in response.

“I will never, ever lose. I’m the one who will get Shirase-kun.”

The girls then naturally turned to me. As if seeking my consent. Aogashima-san looked at me. Nagisa looked sad. I couldn’t bear to see them like that, so I pleaded with Nagisa.

“Nagisa, please. Please listen to me. You may not know it, but Aogashima-san has changed. She had closed her heart to everyone except Kuroiwa, but she worked hard as a member of the Fuyo Festival committee and came to be noticed by the student council president. She made a lot of friends in class. The most important thing to remember is that the change is certainly something that she herself wanted. I think we shouldn’t deny the process.”

“…I understand how Suguru-senpai feels.”

Nagisa’s eyes were lost. They were shaking. Because, yes. Tokiwa Nagisa was kind. She really didn’t want this. What was driving her now was her constant anxiety.

“Aogashima-senpai, do you think so too?”

“…I get it. I don’t want to deny that I have changed. I fell in love with Shirase, and I tried to change because of that.”

“Even if Suguru-senpai turned his back on Aogashima-senpai, would it still be the same?”

“Even so. No matter how painful or sore it is. …I don’t want to forget. I am the result of such thoughts, because I am me.”

A strong gaze, filled with determination. Nagisa received it, lowered her eyebrows sadly, and leaned against the door. She sighed into the air and bathed herself in it.

“Yes, I see. ……Yes, right. …What am I supposed to do, now?”

Ah, here we were. And here I was, and I should be the one to take away her anxiety. I knew. That was what I was supposed to do, and I was the only one who could do it. If I don’t do it, I feel as if she would disappear behind this door. But I couldn’t think of anything. I couldn’t come up with the right answer.

“I don’t want to be in this kind of unstable relationship anymore. That’s why I wanted to hear Suguru-senpai’s true feelings in this game. I wanted to make sure that his feelings for Aogashima-senpai were gone, and I wanted to get rid of this messed up jealousy. …But, it seems impossible.”

Nagisa, who hid her trembling voice, grabbed my uniform with both hands. Her tear-stained eyes pierced my heart.

“Suguru-senpai, do you still love me?”

“It’s obvious. I love Nagisa.”

“Then Suguru-senpai. Please do it.”

And now Nagisa pleaded with me.

“Please forget about Aogashima-senpai.”

“That’s—”

I can’t allow that. If I choose to do so, I would be denying the process, my principles. Not just deny the process of memory. I would only get the result of solving the problem, which is to “forget” with supernatural power.

“Please. Bend your principles for my sake. Then I can be at ease. I can put up with it even if Aogashima-senpai still likes Suguru-senpai.”

“I—”

Nagisa’s index finger rested on my lips, which I opened hesitantly. She smiled fleetingly and shook her head, “There’s no need to rush.”

“I’ve prepared one more option for you in case you can’t make a choice.”

Spinning. Nagisa turned her back to me. I couldn’t see her expression.

“That’s to end the relationship between Suguru-senpai and I. Then you can go out with Aogashima-senpai, just as it was supposed to happen in this world.”

“W-What are you talking about, Nagisa? There is no way I would choose that.”

“I’m sorry. I know you think I’m being mean and troublesome by saying this, don’t you?”

“I don’t think that.”

The options presented by Nagisa were quite obvious.

If this situation remained unresolved, I am bound to feel uneasy. None of her arguments are unreasonable. I am the one who is unreasonable.

“I understand. No one is to blame. Neither Suguru-senpai nor Aogashima-senpai. If it were normal, it would be the worst. But it’s not a normal situation to begin with. But I’m not a bad person either. But we can’t all be happy together. That is the rule of this world, of this reality. So this—is our destiny that we have to overcome.”

“…I think so, too.”

I have no choice but to accept my options.

A naive answer that I couldn’t choose any of them was never acceptable here.

Or if we were to make another choice. If only I could think of another way to relieve her anxiety.

But time was running out.

I was going to fall in love with you all over again. I swore to Nagisa, and in the end, I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t change.

The time for us to soar together, the time for a little sleep, was over.

I took out the can and spread the taste of lemon on my tongue. We have long since awakened from our dream. What we were about to see was reality. Yes, this was a common choice between two realities. It was a choice that I have never even come close to before.

Either I come to terms with reality, or I stick to my principles and continue to dream.

“Suguru-senpai. And Aogashima-senpai. I’ll accept it no matter what the outcome is.”