Q1: Prove Your Eternal Love. There Shall Be No Heroine Correction.

Outside the door, Nagisa was not there.

It was Monday after the vacation. The clear blue sky was somehow unrealistic. It looked just like yesterday’s sunny day, but it seemed completely different.

The next thing I knew, I was sitting in a chair in the classroom and the teacher was signaling the start of the exam. All at once, I heard the sound of papers being turned over. I was the only one who was a step behind.

The cluster of printed equations danced in a blur. It was no good. I couldn’t get it into my head. I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate. All that came to mind was what I did yesterday. I hear the sound of graphite hitting my desk. The sound was like the motor sound of a Ferris wheel, and eventually the taste of mint rose in my throat and I covered my ears.

The bell rang to end the exam. Laughing at the blank answer sheet, I closed my eyes and shoved the candy into my mouth like a pill. I couldn’t tell what flavor was spreading on my tongue.

When I opened my eyes, a small folded piece of paper appeared in the corner of my desk. There was no sign that anyone had put it there, so Kuroiwa must have used her time stop. I opened the paper, wondering what it was, and found that it was a letterhead. And for some reason, it was the same love letter I had gotten from Yuno.

『After school, on the roof』

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary call, but on the back, it read.

『Letter of Challenge』

“Take responsibility.”

Kuroiwa, who was looking at the scenery over the fence, turned around when she noticed me, crossed her arms and said that. Her face seemed to show her displeasure fully.

“…Sorry.”

I had no choice but to apologize. It was a fact that my plan did not go well. Even though the odds were against us, this was the result after I had forced Kuroiwa to cooperate with me for a long time. There was no room for excuses.

But Kuroiwa’s expression suddenly relaxed.

“I don’t mean to be petty.”

She put her crossed arms behind her head and circled around me.

“Eh, you’re fine?”

“Well, I did my best. In the end, your plan failed, but I got on board with it because I thought I had a chance. So my result was my responsibility. I know what I’m doing. Don’t look down at me too much, okay?”

When she returned to her original position, Kuroiwa’s cool expression changed and she stiffened as if she was holding back tears.

“About Yuno, she actually faced me properly. She told me a lot of her true feelings. I’ve never seen her talk like that before. In the end, I was rejected, but that’s okay now. I can’t thank you enough for that.”

“So…I see. I can’t thank you enough, either. So, Kuroiwa. Is this the only reason you called me up to the roof?”

I received a 『Letter of Challenge』 from her. I was not going to call this conversation an exchange of thanks.

“What? You want me to tell you that I’m trying to get you to squeeze my chest?”

“Haha. No way.”

I laughed, but Kuroiwa didn’t even smile a little bit, even though she said it herself. A damp breath spilled from her mouth.

“This is the end of our cooperation. So, from now on, you and I are not lovers.”

“That’s right. Well, it was a short time, but it was fun—Ohwa!?”

Before I could finish, my vision suddenly switched, and Kuroiwa disappeared from in front of me, replaced by a blue sky. No, a time stop. As I felt the warmth of the rubber chip floor, I realized what was happening. I’m lying on the roof, I think.

“What are you doing in the middle of a breakup?”

“What am I doing? I’m gonna kiss you and take your trump card. Because I’m a bigger loser than you.”

The white clouds that were drifting by were interrupted by Kuroiwa. She stepped over me, still not getting up, and looked down at me coldly. I couldn’t believe that she had been my lover just now.

“Who knows. I’m pretty much a big loser myself.”

“Also, after you failed to persuade Nagisa-chan, what’s the use of having it anymore?”

That was true. I was about to be convinced, but I hurriedly denied it in my mind. I haven’t given up yet.

“You never know. There’s still a week left. There are…still possibilities.”

“Like forcing Nagisa-chan to use it by kissing her?”

I gritted my teeth. I was not going to do that again. It was just a mistake. My feelings for Nagisa were too strong, and I couldn’t control them.

I reached out for both of Kuroiwa’s legs. I tried to pull her down, but time stopped and my fingers were quickly released. I calmly mutter in my mind, this is my chance. I slipped out from under her crotch and put as much distance between me and Kuroiwa as I could. I turned around to see Kuroiwa staring at me, unable to leave the spot. There was hostility, and then surprise.

So I’ll tell her in kind. To my embittered partner.

“Your skills are completely broken. Sorry.”

There were only two weaknesses in the skill that she had revealed to me. The time limit to stop time, and the location limit before and after stopping time.

However, there was one more weakness that she was hiding that was not to be underestimated.

“After using the skill, there’s a period of freeze time. After you stop time, you’re put back in your original position — and you can’t leave it. The duration…is the same as the time stop, maybe five seconds? I’ve seen that if you use it more than once, it extends the freeze time even further.”

It was only a hypothesis. My suspicions were aroused last week when Kuroiwa unnaturally stopped in the café. I wondered if she was stuck for some reason. Thinking back, she always stopped time and never started moving immediately afterwards. That was why I only just now tried it, and was only sure of it when she twisted her face in frustration at this moment.

“I knew it. That’s what I thought.”

I grabbed the fence nearby and thought. What should I do now? Anyway, my first priority was to get out of here. Kuroiwa would continue to target me, so I’ll need to come up with some sort of plan, but at any rate—I was going to make a dash for the exit while I can!

“Mmm, that’s annoying. You! Shirase!”

Kuroiwa shouted as hard as she could at my fleeing back, but I didn’t stop. If I could get far enough away that Kuroiwa couldn’t catch up to me in five seconds, I would win. Just as I was about to reach the doorknob — I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen. Unable to stand, I crouched down on the spot.

“Kuro—IWA!”

I turned around while enduring the pain. Kuroiwa gave her signature smile and pointed her clenched fist at me like a beckoning cat. Damn, I didn’t expect her to hit me!

“Shirase, you’re amazing. How could you have seen through the weakness of the freeze time? If I use a time stop once, I get five seconds of freeze time after it ends. If I use Time Stop before the stiffness ends, I’ll get an extra five seconds as a penalty. I had a hell of a time hiding it from you, you know. But there’s no point in trying to hide it now. This is not a game of chase anymore, it’s now a fist fight.”

“You said, this is a game of love challenge. Why do I have to be beaten up one way or the other? Give me a break.”

I managed to get up and this time I put my hand on the knob. But—

“Then I’ll finish you off with the next one.”

Her cold-hearted voice reached my ears on the wind. I turned around to see Kuroiwa, who seemed to have finished her freeze time, happily stepping left and right. She punched out one-two and shadow punches like a boxer, and showed her double teeth to provoke me. At that moment.

“G──AH──!!”

I reflexively winced. I think I lost consciousness for a moment. As my flickering vision returned to normal, I noticed that my breathing was erratic and I couldn’t get it together. It hurt so much that I couldn’t even tell where the attack had taken place. With shallow breaths, I search my body from top to bottom. Finally, I realized that the dull pain was centered in my lower abdomen. I haven’t felt like this since a fight in elementary school. —Kuroiwa, you actually did it!

“Are you alright, Shirase? I think I took it easy on you, but did you still get crushed?”

She has been kicking me in the abdomen for a while now.It was so painful, so painful that I couldn’t even complain. Yeah—No good. I found myself lying on my back on the floor of the rooftop again.

“—Checkmate, huh?”

Mounted position. Kuroiwa, who was riding on top of me, snapped her fingers happily.

“No. It’s still a check.”

I said back, glaring at Kuroiwa. The weight on top of me was only that of a girl. If I really put up a fight, I could just brush her off and run away.

“You’re stubborn, Shirase. But…now I’ve won!”

This time, she said sadly, with a look of guilt on her face after all this time. I got up and tried to push her away as hard as I could—Eh?

What the heck is this?

Impossible. Why won’t Kuroiwa budge? It was not like the weight on me was heavy at all. And yet, even if I tried to push her back with my body, she would never move like a tree with its roots firmly planted.

No…No way. I thought of her tactic and sighed. It was not that she won’t move. It was that she was stuck in this place right now. She has gotten me. I didn’t know there was such a use for a weakness.

“Hey Kuroiwa. How many times have you stopped time now?”

“Don’t know. I think I stopped time at least twenty times.”

That meant a hundred seconds. During the hundred seconds of freeze time, Kuroiwa would not be able to move from her current position. No matter how much leverage I have, I won’t be able to make her move an inch. That was the weakness of her skill.

I see, this is—a complete defeat for me.

“…Do it.

I gave up and stopped resisting. When she kisses me, I have no choice but to meekly obey. My goal was now completely unattainable. And when I thought about it, for some reason relief came over me.

That was right. If my last hope was taken away, I would be able to give up completely. Just wait for the game to end, and forget all about the feelings for the kouhai who was always next to me, the strong enemy who said she liked me, and the friend who I thought I could get along with. Nothing changes, and we return to the continuation of our lives, voicing our eccentric ideals at the top of our lungs.

“At least be gentle with me, Kuroiwa. This is a special kiss for me, too.”

I stared into Kuroiwa’s eyes as I surrendered myself to the end. Kuroiwa Aika was strong. Although she could not achieve her love, she stood up to Yuno with a strong will. She was able to push me over the edge without difficulty. She was now red in the face and her eyes are swimming.

“S-Shut up, please. I’m, making up my mind right now.”

…No, isn’t that a strange reaction?

“You’ve been doing this for a long time. What are you so shy about now?”

She was “a hundred battle-hardened slayer”. She has caged every man who came close to Yuno, got with them, and kissed them, over and over again to keep them away from Yuno.

　And yet, what was Kuroiwa hesitating about? She has a wish that she wanted to fulfill at any cost, and she could get it with just a kiss. She don’t have to think long and hard in a hundred seconds, there was only one step.

“It’s-I-I-I-It’s not like that!”

Kuroiwa slapped my chest as hard as she could without any restraint.

“Ouch—What the heck, it’s not like that, what is not like that?”

“I’m…not that kind of person. …The rumors are all lies. I tried to be erotic, but I just went out with him for a bit and then dumped him right away. I didn’t let him touch me, not even with my fingers.”

My shirt was crumpled up in Kuroiwa’s hands as she twisted her face in frustration.

“Haa? No, because you were bold enough to take off your clothes in front of me and let me touch your chest.”

“I figured that’s what a simple-minded man like you needs! I did my best to embarrass you in order to burn out your reason! And you’re wasting it all, Shirase’s an idiot!　Pervert! You’re the worst!”

Kuroiwa’s hands ran over my chest, clawing at my clothes as if they’re about to tear. She seemed to be desperately fighting something inside herself while hitting me.

“It’s obvious that you should save everything that’s important for the person you love!”

And then she shouted.

It was stronger and more fierce than the time when she had thrown her secret feelings into the sky with all her might.

“Haha…That doesn’t sound like you.”

It was not about the process, was it? The result was everything, wasn’t it? I thought she would do anything for that.

It was a contradiction.

But I guess that contradiction was about love. Even though it went against my aesthetics, even though it was irrational no matter how I think about it, even though it was so obviously wrong. I just can’t ignore it. I can’t control it. These feelings are swirling around you, aren’t they? I understand.

“What? What is it? What are you complaining about?”

The tears that spilled unrestrainedly wet my cheeks.

“No. Not at all. In fact, I’m jealous of you.”

There is a whirlpool of emotions that I don’t know whether they are beautiful or dirty, but they are stirred up in me. When I took Nagisa’s lips on the Ferris wheel, I was swallowed by that whirlpool. It would have been so much easier if I could have jumped back in, but my rational mind would never allow it.

“I don’t want to forget. I really don’t want to forget. I don’t want to… Yuno, hey, why, Yuno…”

It was the same for me. I don’t want to forget either. And yet, why?

I could see the tears in my eyes, reflected for a moment in the teardrops spilling from Kuroiwa.

The sky was dazzling. The sunlight, mocking our defeat, scorched us. The sobs of the two of us continued quietly and erratically as we counted down the hundred seconds.

　　＊＊＊

I had a dream. In the dream, I was being kissed by Nagisa.

—Fufu, Suguru-senpai. I finally got you. …Please go out with me.

She looked cute and happy. Just a little bit guilt-stricken. I nodded irresistibly to Nagisa’s command with a complicated smile on my face. In my mind, I was saddened that I have been beaten, but at the same time, I was relieved. I won’t lose Nagisa in the future.

There was no such thing as an unchanging feeling.

That’s what I said. But this was not right. I was confused. My feelings for Nagisa had grown much bigger than before the game started. I felt like I was going to stop being me.

I walked out the front door and put up my umbrella. What kind of weather was this at a time like this? I looked down at my cold feet and my heart sank even more. I prayed that the weather would clear up, but such a miracle would never happen again.

That was what I was thinking.

“Suguru-senpai, good morning!”

When I looked up, there was a radiant smile in my line of sight. I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating, and chewed on a candy. Still, the real image of Tokiwa Nagisa remained unchanged.

“N-Nagisa!? …I thought you weren’t coming anymore.”

“I’m sorry. I just overslept a bit yesterday. The scope of geography was larger than I expected, and I blame it on studying late.”

I was relieved to see that Nagisa’s smiling face was the same as it had been a week ago, or even a month ago. I was so relieved that I patted her head—and put my right hand in my pocket.

“Well, good for you. How was the exam?

“I think I did well, thanks to you. I think I got an average score.”

“Good. Well then, let’s aim to get above average next time. I’m going to teach you very hard.”

“TIME, TIME! Have you awoken to the joys of teaching?”

I don’t know what we’re talking about. We both knew that the next study session would never come.

“…Something’s still the same.”

Even though I knew it would be a damper, I muttered honestly. My voice was not lost in the rain, and it seemed to have reached the ears of Nagisa, who was walking next to me.

It’s natural. This is the last week that I will spend with my beloved Suguru-senpai. Is this also a bad thing? Do you think it should change?”

I put the umbrella above my shoulder, and looked up. Nagisa’s pleading gaze waits patiently for my answer.

“No, of course not.”

These are the days that are important to me too, this time that was irreplaceable. Even if it all disappears, I hope that at least until the end, I can immerse myself in the comfortable atmosphere of spending time with Nagisa.

“…Ah. But you still have a motive to go after my lips.

I took a step away from her to make a joke. But Nagisa shook her head in a mature manner. Her umbrella swayed from side to side in time.

“It’s all right. It’s not that I didn’t feel the impact of Suguru-senpai’s words. I’m not going to be able to force you to do something you don’t like that much. So my future is already a straight path. To forget about my feelings for Suguru-senpai. That is the only way to cure my overly complicated mind.”

Nagisa stretched out her arms wide and raised her umbrella high into the sky.

“…I see.”

It was just two words. That was all I could say, but it was strangely hard to come up with a reply as it caught in my throat.

It was a natural consequence of Nagisa’s declaration. No matter what I say, it won’t change. I understood her thought process. So I understand. This was not a ploy, a bargain, or anything else. It was a conclusion that was so natural to her that there was no room for wavering.

In other words, a situation like this morning’s dream would never happen. That’s good, isn’t it, Shirase Suguru? I muttered deliberately in my mind and told myself.

Even though I was using an umbrella, I felt as if I was getting soaked. The sensation of losing my breath in the cold shower was clear. And instead of the sound of rain, her words, “Forget it,” refrained in my mind.

I tighten my grip on the handle of the umbrella. I hear the sound of vertical rain pattering down on me.

“…Nagisa. Has the time limit for performing miracles expired yet?”

“No? You can always move my heart, Suguru-san. I won’t stop liking you for one more week, not even for one more moment.”

As expected, she was embarrassed. Nagisa tilted her umbrella towards me and hid her face.

I really wanted to see her embarrassed face, so I bent down a little and gently lifted the edge of the umbrella that blocked her.

“What a coincidence. Me too.”

“…Then. How about going out with me?”

“I’m flattered, but that’s not how it works.”

I lowered my eyebrows in trouble and relaxed my cheeks. I wonder if I’m smiling well now. I couldn’t read the expression on Nagisa’s face as she puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction.

“Mmm. You’re stubborn.”

“I don’t want you to be the only one to say that. …I’m going to make a miracle happen.”

Is it something to lose? Is it something to give up? Is it something to let go of? Nagisa. And yourself.

“Is that so? I’m looking forward to it.”

The girl, looking for the same everyday life, laughed and twirled her umbrella in a good mood, but with a hollow feeling, I was convinced that she believed in me.

She must be convinced that I, being strong and weak at the same time, can’t perform miracles.

The declaration of making a miracle was just a bluff.

　　＊＊＊

Since then, time has passed without any progress.

July 15th has turned into the 16th, and there were only five days left for the Confession Quartet. Today, I was still in bed, thinking. I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

How can we, who cannot understand each other, make a miracle happen so that we could understand each other?

I couldn’t think of an answer, no matter how long it took. I’ve thrown all my feelings and theories at her on that Ferris wheel. There was nothing to move her anymore. The only thing I can do was accept the results. I was just neatly heading towards the end of losing this beautiful feeling.

But I won’t give up my future with Nagisa, I’ll keep holding onto it.

The repetition of vague thoughts eventually turned into a whirlpool, and before I knew it, I was gazing at the whirlpool from afar.

Eventually, I took one step, and then another. As if lured by the call, I approached the whirlpool.

As I stare at the surface of the water, the other me admonished me from behind, telling me to stay away from it — because it will be baked and hardened into cookies. But I ignored him and threw myself into the water. The splash of water that was supposed to taste like cocoa was tasteless and odorless.

I grabbed my hand as hard as I could. Let me go, I scream, and yet I won’t let go, I screamed.

I couldn’t change Nagisa’s target. So our feelings would disappear together.

But I still want to be with Nagisa forever.

Then I have to accept eternal love.

That was the answer I came up with, but it was an answer I could never accept.

Yeah—it’s a contradiction.

While chanting this, I fell into a dream, into the depths of my consciousness.

I heard something rustling. I thought I heard some kind of sound. Was it the sound of me turning over in my sleep? No, no. The springs made a slow, creaking sound. I felt as if a slight wave was coming over my body floating on the water. I opened my eyes and muttered to myself.

“…This is a dream, isn’t it?”

I ask the vaguely floating shadow. The girl who crawled on all fours and covered me was silent for a while as if looking for an answer to me, and then.

“Yes, this is a nightmare. So all you have to do is surrender yourself to it.”

Aogashima Yuno smiled lustrously.

Yeah, I’m not sure which one it is, really. I reached under my pillow, but couldn’t find the drop can. If it were a dream, it surely wouldn’t be there. So this is a bad reality.

“Yuno. Where did you come from?”

“Trivia. You can make a duplicate key if you know the key number. …Two preliminary inspections, it’s perfect.”

Yuno told me in a rather boastful voice. In other words, she had used her omniscient abilities to create a duplicate key beforehand, and had broken in through the front door with impunity. It was a bit too much of an abuse.

“So, what do you want at this hour? I’m sure it’s urgent.”

Out of the corner of my eye, the clock on the wall read 1:30 am. It was a time when not only good kids but also bad kids are already asleep. I would have lost my temper if it wasn’t very important.

“On this day, in this place. You and I are going to kiss. I’ve come to recreate a definite future.”

“That’s a lie.”

I immediately denied it.

“It was true. The day I kissed Shirase Suguru for the second time was July 16th. The place is—on the bed in Shirase Suguru’s bedroom. With my omniscient skills, I’ve already investigated it.”

I don’t need to examine her words. I want her words to be a lie. She was bluffing to make me give up. That was what I determined, and asked the shadows stirring in the darkness.

“…Did you have this situation in mind all along?”

I nodded my head, and Yuno’s figure became clearer. She was wearing a pajama that seemed to be lime green, as if she had intended to share the same bed with me from the beginning. I immediately looked away from the bosom peeking out, but Yuno did not miss the moment and let out a sigh.

“So all that time you spent on my lips last week didn’t mean anything to you?”

“It did mean something. You like girls who make an effort. So I tried to show you how hard I was working. That’s why I tried to kiss you…”

“What’s that? The direction of your effort is too misdirected…”

“I couldn’t think of anything else.”

I could smell the faint scent of citrus in her hanging black hair. Her hair was still slightly damp. Well.

“Hey, Yuno. Did you take a shower at my house by any chance?”

Yuno nodded shyly, giggling again. No, you’re being too free spirited.

“Just the shower. I brought everything else with me.”

“Did you really think you were gonna get away with that?”

“I’ll send you the water bill later.”

“You’ve got my account number?”

Ignoring my dumbfounded look, Yuno lovingly combed my hair. IShe went with the flow, checking the shape of my ear and tracing my cheek. Her fingertips travel down my neck, stopping at my collarbone, and draw circles in a hurried manner. In the repeated motions, we continue our exchange of words.

“…I guess you still chose me rather than Kuroiwa.”

“It’s been the same since the beginning. …Aika is my best friend.”

“So it’s fine for you to forget about Kuroiwa after you confronted her? Is that it? Are you here to take away my trump card, just like Kuroiwa?”

Yuno’s brusque fingers stopped for a moment and then started again.

“I’ll forget about Aika. It was true that I have faced Aika as you said. I’m sure you’re right. …But that’s only in the quartet. After the quartet, I’m sure I’ll… continue to hurt Aika again, so we can’t be together anymore. So I don’t need the trump card of the 【Loser】.

Was her choice cruel? Or was she being kind?

—I don’t want to forget.

I remembered Kuroiwa’s crying face. What their relationship should be like was an area that I can never weigh. But was it something that she alone can decide?

Yeah—what is right and what is wrong? I don’t even want to think about it anymore.

“I’d like to be left alone, please.”

I muttered to myself. Even so, Yuno gently cupped my cheek with her cold hand while smiling like a saint.

“You should choose me, Suguru-kun. I’m the only one who can comfort your broken heart.”

“I said, that’s—”

It has no meaning. The choice was not even on the table. I’ve said many times that I was not willing to accept eternal love. And yet, there was no wavering in Yuno’s eyes.

“The quartet would continue even if you choose me.”

“…That is a lie.”

It’s impossible. Because she’s targeting me. …Wait, am I?

Yuno shook her head firmly, as if to shatter my hopes, like she did that one day.

“I did not make you my target.”

That declaration messed up my mind. The whole premise was broken, and I felt like I don’t know what to do. No, calm down, this was a lie, of course it was a lie.

“…Then you should have told me from the beginning. How can I believe you now?”

“Even if I had told you from the beginning, you wouldn’t have believed me. But I thought you might want to believe me now. Besides, if you have any doubts, I could prove it to you with your skill.”

“…If we are going to kiss to certify it, it doesn’t matter how true your statement is.”

“It does. Because I want to kiss you a second time, as your lover.”

I looked away from her feverish gaze, because I was afraid that the momentum would swallow me up.

In the unlikely event that Yuno’s target was not really me. One big problem would arise. Unlike Nagisa, Yuno’s love for me won’t disappear after the game.

“A problem for Suguru-kun. When this game is over, when you lose your memory of the game, when the relationship between the defeated participant and the target rewinds to before they fell in love, what would still remain?

The question effectively seeped into my mind. I knew the answer immediately. Aogashima Yuno was about to confess her feelings to me that day.

“…The love letter.”

A pink envelope from an unknown sender. It was a clumsy message of love that would remain in my shoe box even if the relationship between me and Nagisa disappeared. What would I do when I receive the love letter and go to the rooftop and Yuno confesses her love to me?

“After the quartet, you would have gone out with me.”

“No way, that’s not possible.”

Although I denied it, I couldn’t help but think that it was not impossible. I was not going to accept Yuno’s confession right away, at least not yet. But after that, if I knew that she liked me and spent the appropriate amount of time with her, there was definitely a chance that we would get together.

As I freeze at the end of my thoughts, Yuno’s lips come close to my ear. Her breath warmed my earlobes.

“So, please choose me.”

Yuno continued.

I had two purposes. The first was for me and Suguru-kun to go out after the quartet. The other purpose was for the current me, who would disappear after the quartet, to go out with Suguru-kun. Even if it is only for a short time, or even only for one night, it’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with choosing me here. Choose me. Give yourself to me. I’ll accept all you.”

The whispering voice, the only sound in this space, confused me.

It was as if I had been kissed on the brain. Instantly, I couldn’t think of anything else.

Yuno, who was once again on all fours, looked at me, who was stunned, with satisfaction in her eyes. It was as if she opened and closed her carefully stored jewelry box and seemed to be thrilled with her own personal collection.

“…Why didn’t you target me?”

At my question, Yuno tilted her head curiously.

“You’re the one who should know.”

“Do I?”

I don’t know. In response to my silence, Yuno replied, brushing her hair up in a slightly disappointed manner.

“I want to get what I want on my own.”

The way she said it without hesitation took my breath away. I wonder if she was ever this beautiful.

I just realized now that Yuno and I were very similar. She, too, did not want to gain anything from the game. She just joined the game out of necessity, but because it would be detrimental to her if she left it.

“I wanted to know what it felt like to love someone. I’ve had a lot of favors thrown at me, and I still don’t understand them.”

For a second, I thought about just accepting it.

Yuno and I would get along just fine. Both in the quartet and in the world after the quartet.

“I’ve always wanted to fall in love with someone. But I thought it would be different to fall in love with someone for such an impure reason.”

Torrentially. Or haltingly. Why do I feel that Yuno’s speech is so contradictory?

The whirlpool continued to spin in my head. I was still desperately trying to hold myself together.

“But that day. I found you. I saw you crying. I thought that this much emotion is necessary for love. I don’t have it. I’m not qualified. That’s why I want to know more. That’s what I thought. At that moment, I was captivated by you, so I called out to you…”

I was crying on the bench and Yuno was standing next to me. Just like that time, my heart was about to wear out. Just like that time, I wished that someone would be there for me. I began to think that Aogashima Yuno would be the perfect person for that. I was beginning to think so.

—The memory of that day was starting to come into play. Yes, like a slow-acting poison.

That was exactly what happened. The poison that has started to circulate was eating away at me and leading me to the easy way out.

The me in my memories was laid down on Yuno’s lap. I shed tears again, sobbing aloud. Eventually, a single tear moved down on my cheek and entered my mouth—

“…It’s a lie.”

I muttered, following my intuition.

“It’s true. I fell in love with you at first sight.”

“That’s not true. …That’s a lie.”

The suddenness of it all made Yuno raise her eyebrows and narrowed her eyes. She tried to make sense out of my gaze, but she didn’t seem to understand. Or pretended not to understand.

“What do you mean?”

I supported myself from the weight I had put on the spring. I reached out to both of Yuno’s shoulders and pushed her away while raising my body.

“I now know the true nature of your 【Cunning Trap】. You were the first to use your trump card. …Rather, there must have been a restriction that allowed you to use it only right at the start of the game.”

I slowly moved my mouth. I have to wake myself up.

“Yuno. You—tampered with my memories.”

I couldn’t believe it even now. I could remember it so vividly. My memory of that day — you standing next to me, the conversation, all of it — was a fake. Because the tears in my memory did not taste good.

The handkerchief that Yuno lent me could not be found even though I searched the whole house. That’s how it should be. I hadn’t been given such a thing in the first place.

“…Good answer, Suguru-kun. I could only use my trump card at the start of the game. The effect is to 【 Modify ten minutes of someone’s past memories】. A more detailed activation condition required me to say the same words as the falsified memory in my first conversation with you. …And so I stood on the same playing field as her.”

With a blank expression on her face, Yuno confessed in a thin voice that sounded hoarse.

—What’s wrong, Suguru-kun?

On the second day of the game, I had contact with her. At that point, was I trapped already?

Yuno was silent, anxiously waiting for my words. I think she was trying to figure out how I was feeling. Was it anger, sadness, or disappointment? I couldn’t even decide. The one that fits best was—

“You got me, Yuno.”

It was pure frustration that I’ve fallen for her trick. This was a game, and her actions were in accordance with the rules, so there was no reason to be angry or sad.

“The fact that I love you is undeniably true. As I watched you from afar, as I chased after you who had no interest in me, my feelings grew.”

Yuno pressed her chest as if in pain. She inhaled, exhaled, and then.

“Shirase Suguru-kun. Please, go out with me.”

The entirety of her soul was in her voice, and it hit me.

“I can understand you, Suguru-kun. I’ll take care of Suguru-kun. Together with Suguru-kun—”

If I don’t stop her, she was going to keep saying these things forever. I looked straight at her and shook my head. A short, end-of-the-world voice came out of her weak, sullen mouth, “Ah, ah….”

“Yuno. I’m glad you feel that way for me. Even if it’s a false memory, you’re there for me and you saved my life. But…I can’t go out with you.”

Because the people who were really there for me all the time were much closer to me.

“…Okay. And that’s fine.”

Tears overflowed from Yuno’s beautiful eyes at once.

I couldn’t help but admire the figure painted in this square room with only moonlight as a light source.

“My wish would be fulfilled by me after the quartet. So—”

I was taken by surprise.

Yuno’s lips touched mine in a trajectory like a fluttering butterfly. The cold and warm feeling soon left me.

It was a kiss as promised by the omniscient skills of the scenario.

It was a momentary kiss, just before the fragile love burned itself out.

“—Don’t worry about me anymore.”

The absolute order that she gave was nothing less than a renunciation of her participation rights.

“Is that really what you want?”

I asked her a similar question when we first kissed. The answer would probably be the same. But I still felt that I had to ask.

“I wanted to use my power to obtain you. So that’s enough.”

Yuno threw her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up easily. Her hair spread out softly for a moment, and the back of her hair was scary beautiful.

Without looking back, Yuno’s left in bare feet with a refined movement from heel to toe—

“…I’m sorry. I guess I really can’t.”

“Eh?”

Right after she said that, she retracted her previous statement. When she turned her head to look at me, her face was still soaking wet and she was shaking uncontrollably.

“Suguru-kun. Hey, Suguru-kun. I want you to hug me. Just for one minute. For one minute, I want you to love me.”

With both arms outstretched, Yuno threw herself forward. It was not like her to have a sincere voice, and she wanted to give me everything she has.

“Yu…no.”

I didn’t want to see her like that, so I looked down at the wrinkles on the bed.

“Please. I don’t want anything more than that. Nothing more.”

“But I don’t have—”

“I know. I understand, so don’t say it.”

The only wish that Yuno Aogashima has was a simple wish that could be fulfilled right now.

But still, no.

I can’t hug her. I rejected her. I don’t love her. There was only one person in my heart.

I slowly got off the bed, my clothes rustling.

Gently approaching Yuno’s front — I stroked her sobbing back as gently as I could, only pretending to hug her. Her cries grew louder with each stroke, echoing in the darkened room.

The Confession Quartet, a game that aimed to achieve romantic success. Yeah—That’s quite a bullsh*t.

Nagisa was crying.

Kuroiwa was crying.

Yuno was also crying now.

No one would be happy. I knew this game was wrong.

And yet, I…

I was playing a terrible game against my principles. Eternal love. I couldn’t deny it anymore.

I was really afraid of losing Nagisa. Even if I forget that I lost her.

　　＊＊＊

I was on my bed, holding a stuffed animal, breathing.

Today was the 20th of July. The last day of the game. I wonder how much time I’ve wasted since then.

I haven’t left the house since the short exam break. In a square room with no stimulation, I kept going through the same route of thinking.

By the way, I think tomorrow was the first day of school to go over the exam.

I had also received a message from someone saying that there would be a meeting of the culture festival committee.

But I don’t have time to think about tomorrow. In the first place, what would be the point of me thinking about it now? Because the moment tomorrow came, this game, the Confession Quartet, would be over.

Every now and then, in remembrance, I took out my smartphone and repeated writing and erasing.

There were less than four hours left before the date would change.

In my mind, the struggle was still going on.

My fingers typed the words I had been ruminating over and over again towards the period. The words peeked out at me, but I didn’t give in and let my finger slide to the end.

Go out with me.

As I looked at the text on the screen, I let out a deep, deep sigh.

This, was all I had left.

This, was all I needed.

I like Nagisa. I love her. I want to be with her for the rest of my life. Isn’t that enough? The result is the same anyway. I’ll love her forever. I swear it right now. So, why not get ahead of the game and get eternal love?

To love someone so much that you want to bend your principles.

That was the miracle she was talking about. It was the proof she wanted.

And yet, I hesitate to take that last step. I slide my finger over the individual message screen and look at the conversation log with Nagisa. As we talked every morning, we don’t exchange much. A picture of her entrance ceremony passed by, a thank you for White Day passed by, a picture of us together at her acceptance speech passed by. A long text comforting me passed by. A message wishing me a happy birthday passed by. I wondered where all of this communication would start to disappear.

Eventually, I arrived at a dead end. The first time I exchanged contact information with her was when I had a strategy meeting with her to surprise Minagi on our first anniversary.

I remembered the tears of joy on Minagi’s face.

I had made a vow in front of that votive tablet, but I had completely forgotten about it. Whenever I felt like my heart was about to break, whenever I feel like losing. I had decided that I would remember Tokiwa Minagi, the girl who was walking ahead of me. Now was the perfect time.

I looked for her name in my contacts and opened it. The last conversation was about her arrival at the shrine. I touched the mark on the receiver. I lied down and held the phone to my ear. The call went once, twice, three times. Each time it rang, the taste of mint and the beating of my heart intensified, and it felt like an eternity.

『Hello?』

Eventually, the moment that nostalgic voice shook my eardrums. The taste of mint receded like a wave. The sandy beach of memories exposed in this way depicted a number of pleasant memories, which instantly warmed my heart.

“…Hello. It’s been a long time, Minagi.”

My voice trembled because of my nervousness. It might be the first time I’ve done something like this since I confessed my love to her.

『Yeah. It’s been a long time, Suguru. Wrong number?』

“No, it’s definitely addressed to Minagi. I’m relieved you didn’t block me.”

『Why would I block you? You are my precious, precious ex-boyfriend. And what’s wrong with you at this time of night? You weren’t like that when we were dating, were you?』

“There’s something I wanted to talk to you about. Is this a good time?”

Minagi cleared her throat gently. I cleared my throat too and got down to business.

“In fact, I’ve found someone I like. I’d like to go out with her.”

『Oh, that’s great, congratulations. What’s she like?』

“She’s younger than me, friendly, and very cute. She’s as warm and bright as the sun, but also a little dangerous, so I want to stay next to her and protect her.”

『Heh, heh, that’s nice. Youth.』

Minagi teased happily. I couldn’t tell her that was her sister yet.

“But you know, in order to date her, I have to accept her eternal love.”

『Sorry, I suddenly lost track of the conversation. What? What do you mean?』

“Sorry, but I’ll spare you the explanation. Anyway…That’s the way it is.”

『Well, whatever. But Suguru, you said it yourself. That it’s not eternal love that’s important, it’s striving to make love eternal.』

“That’s why I’m in trouble. I can’t be next to her without twisting my principles and accepting the consequences of eternal love. What do you think I should do?”

I knew I was making a mess of things. The fact that I thought I could get through to her was my trust in Minagi, and I think it was her sweetness. Even if I broke up with her, it didn’t mean that the time I’ve accumulated with her would disappear. The area of my heart that I have forgiven her for was still there no matter what.

『You’re still a pain, Suguru.』

“I’m embarrassed to hear you say that.”

I gave a half smile and Minage let out a long sigh. Specifically, it was about two years long.

『Suguru, do you ever think that if you continue living the way you are, you might regret it someday?』

“…No, I don’t. It’s not the result that shapes me, it’s the process. Because if you go through the right process, even if you don’t get the result you want, there would always be something left behind for you.”

『So, have you ever actually regretted anything? For example, breaking up with me.』

“It dragged on for a while, but I don’t regret it. Look, we can even talk now.”

Even if I had tried to force myself to continue my relationship with Minagi, it would have eventually fallen apart and I would have never been able to talk to her like this again. So, I have no regrets.

『Awahaha. It was dragging on for you. I see, I see.』

“Why do you sound so happy? I’ve been suffering for over six months. I’ve only recently gotten over it.”

『Then I’m glad you’re back on your feet. Suguru and I understand each other reasonably well, and we’re former lovers who went through a lot together. I still need you in my life.』

“Yeah. I didn’t know you felt that way about me.”

『I was not going to tell you. This…is embarrassing.』

Minagi mispronounced the end of the sentence, and quickly cleared her throat. Back to the topic at hand.

『So, you know, Suguru is confident that you won’t regret it, but sometime in the future, a long time from now. The circumstances surrounding Suguru will change, and Suguru’s way of thinking will change as he gains more experience in life. Then, you might regret it.　In the future, you may become an old man who lives alone, and the neighborhood kids may call you the eccentric process obsessed old man, and you may feel lonely…You might end up like that. Like, if I was going to be this miserable, I should have been honest with myself, twisted all my principles, fixed all my bad points, and went after Minagi no matter what, no matter how miserable I was.』

“Please don’t tie me to a future that is too disgusting. I can’t fix everything that’s wrong with me. That’s part of who I am.”

『See, you were always stubborn like that, and you never did what I wanted you to do.』

“Sorry. I’m sorry, but so is Minagi—No, let’s not go there.”

It was no use starting a dog fight now. Minagi, on the other end of the phone, cleared her throat in a slightly grumpy tone.

『……So. That’s why I’m a little jealous of that girl. Honestly, this Suguru is trying to bend his principles for her. Haa. I think I’ll power harass her as her predecessor.』

“Cut her some slack, will you? I mean, what’s with the predecessor? Why is being my girlfriend such a clerical position?

I asked back, but there was no reply. Minagi laughed bitterly as she was caught in her own knot.

『Sorry, I’m getting off track. In other words, no one knows what the future holds. So it’s very important to stick to your own principles. ……But for me, I want Jie to stick to both his feelings and his principles.』

The conclusion was laughably simple and greedy. I couldn’t do it, and it was a contradiction, and that was why I’ve been struggling with this.

“There is no such way.”

『Hmmm. It’s there, if you think about it. It’s because you’re looking too close. Your principles are the guiding principles of your life, so you need to look farther.』

Minagi spoke with a voice full of hope. It was an answer that seemed to be understandable, but not understandable, yet still understandable at the same time.

“I have to look farther and wide, huh?”

One thing I just thought of. One thing I’ve been reminded of.

In the middle of the Confession quartet, all I could think about was the game. Even after this game was over, my life and Nagisa’s life would continue forever. I thought I knew that, but I didn’t. Nagisa, Yuuno, and Kuroiwa all knew that. I was the one who was the most obsessed with this game, as I was the one who rejected it from the beginning.

“…Hey, Minagi.”

『What is it, Suguru?』

“Well, did you grow up without telling me?”

『Ahaha, I don’t know. It’s been a long time since we broke up, so I probably did grow up. Without your permission, too. Besides…Suguru has changed too. You have gotten a lot cooler.』

I choked up at the unexpected words.

“Yeah, it’s been a very long time since we’ve talked like this. I’m a little embarrassed. …But thank you so much, Minagi. If it weren’t for you, I’d be lost.”

『Mmm. Well, I had a great after service. I don’t want you to regret your decision to go out with me.』

“That’s not the only thing. I’ve never regretted a single moment of my life. Not in the past, and maybe not in the future.”

『Fufu, thanks. Me too. I hope we can make each other happy.』

“It’s gonna be okay. You and I are going to be happy. I guarantee it.”

I have no proof. But still. If you decided to be happy, you would be happy.

『Then. Good night, Suguru.』

After a long silence, the words ‘See you later’ were added.

“Yeah. See you later, Minagi.”

I hung up the phone without leaving even a shred of lingering emotion.

A single drop of tear spilled from my eyes. Perhaps it was the first taste of that day.

I wondered if this conversation would be a thing of the past tomorrow.

No, it won’t. Even if it disappeared, there must be a connection somewhere. I would connect them again.

I’ve made up my mind.

This time, I would make a miracle happen.

I got up from the bed and put my feet on the carpet. As I took off my loungewear, I hurriedly got on my smartphone.

“Sorry to call so late, but can you come to school now?”

As soon as the call went through, I told the other end of the line without waiting for the other person to say anything back.

The time was past twenty-one o’clock. There was still time until the date changed. I opened the closet, checked the small paper bag left in the corner, and nodded to myself.

　　＊＊＊

Glancing at my watch, I shoved my hands into my pants pockets and looked around. Beyond the crosswalk, in front of the closed school gate, there was already a single figure.

—It was Aogashima Yuno.

What’s the matter, Suguru-kun? Isn’t it too hot in that outfit?

As Yuno pointed out, it was honestly hot. Even though it was night time, it was the peak of summer. Despite this, I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and a uniform jacket, which was probably too hot as others could see.

“…well, I guess I was just a little, you know, fired up.”

“There’s something going on. Weird. …the last of my omniscient abilities, is now the time to use it?”

Yuno flicked her notebook at me with a swoosh. You’ve still been saving it?

“You’d be better off using it for something else. We are almost out of time.”

“…That too. …So, Suguru-kun. What do you want from me? No way, a big reversal confession?”

“Sorry, but no. There’s something I didn’t get a chance to tell you the last time you were at my house. I’ve decided to go out with Nagisa before this game. So I…can’t go out with you after the quartet.”

At my declaration, Yuno squinted her eyes into a half-moon shape in displeasure and stared at me.

“Suguru-kun, I’m quite miserable. Overkill is too much. That’s why you went to the trouble of calling out the person who you rejected and saying those words?”

“Right, I’m sorry about that. …To apologize, I’m going to be honest with you. The truth is, I was a little lost. It’s not a bad idea to go out with you…No, it’s not a good idea.”

I was too embarrassed to tell her head-on, so I looked up at the night sky and told her. I tried to find the moon, but it seemed to be hidden by clouds.

“…Eh.”

Yuno took a step back with her fist on her chest, as if to say she couldn’t believe it.

“I think you probably took about ten percent of my heart. I thought it would be fair to tell you about the process.”

I held out my right hand. Yuno grabbed it without hesitation. In addition, she squeezed me really hard. You know, your nails are digging in.

“It’s not fair. Unfair. You don’t make any sense. You have no sense of delicacy.”

“But this is a game, and if it’s a game, the results should be well displayed. There are many other important factors besides the results of winning and losing.”

“…Yes, it’s a game. Then. My answer is this.”

Yuno unclasped her hand. Slowly and deliberately, she points her index finger at me.

“The next time—I won’t lose.

And then she showed a wink that was as good as an idol’s. I was surprised. Did she really practice this?

“All right. I’ll accept your challenge.”

I smiled fearlessly and went along with the challenger’s declaration.

The next person to appear was Kuroiwa. From the direction of the bus stop — She came from behind me and lightly poked me on the shoulder in a grumpy manner.

“What is it, Shirase? What are you doing calling me at this late hour?”

“Yeah, I’ve been waiting for you, Kuroiwa.”

I turned around and raised my hand lightly. Yuno, who had been hiding behind me, nodded her head.

“…Long time no see, Aika.”

“…Uh, eh, Yuno? Y-Yes. It’s been a while. …Why?”

A slurred greeting. I knew they hadn’t talked since their date.

“I mean, this is not a good ending, is it?”

“That’s…true. It’s all over and gone. There’s no point.”

Sulkingly, Kuroiwa twirled and played with the gold thread that bounced slightly next to her ear. When I looked closely at her face, I could see that her eyes were red from crying and swelling. Why does she have to be so strong at times like this?

“Then I’ll leave this to you.”

I put my hand into my pocket and took it out and held it out to Kuroiwa.

It was—my trump card.

“Hah? No, what’s this, what’s this all of a sudden! You’re supposed to be using it on Nagisa-chan.”

Kuroiwa hurriedly took a step back. I quickly closed the distance. I grabbed the palm of her hand, which was facing me like a wall, and forced her to hold the card.

“I don’t need this anymore.”

“What…do you mean? Hey, have you given up!? I’m not going to let that happen. You, and you alone, must make your wish come true. Otherwise—”

Yuno grabbed me by the shoulders and spun me around like a lever messenger. That made me irresistibly happy. We’ve become such good friends over the past three weeks, I thought.

“No. I’ve made up my mind, I’m ready. …I’ve chosen the path I should take — or rather, the path I wanted to take.”

Before we knew it, the moonlight was gently shining down on us. The clouds that had been hanging over the sky had all cleared. It was not quite a full moon, but it was a beautiful enough circle in the night sky.

“So, you know. You two need to talk about whether or not you want to use that.”

Kuroiwa cried because she didn’t want to forget, and Yuno wanted to make her forget because she didn’t want to hurt her. The answer to the conflicting feelings could only come from the two of them.

“Yes. I’ll be back. …Thanks Shirase. I’m sorry for everything.”

The ponytail that she wore was far too short for her. I couldn’t help but blurt out, “Haha!”

“Don’t apologize. It’s not like you.”

“Haaa? Even I apologize when I feel bad. I still have common sense! I can study better than you, I can play video games, and I can’t even cook! What!? Are you mocking me!?”

“No, I’m not…”

As Kuroiwa finished her unintelligible snarl, I looked around in awe.

“So, where’s the most important person, Nagisa-chan?　Aren’t you going to tell her? Your answer.”

“Yeah, that’s why…She hasn’t come in yet.”

If Nagisa received my call and came here, she should have arrived at the school by now. But I still couldn’t see her anywhere. So I started to worry a little.

“We’re running out of time. You should call her soon.”

It was true that the date would change in an hour or so. It was not like we wouldn’t make it in time. Feeling uneasy, I tried to call her. Then, I heard Nagisa’s voice.

『…Suguru-senpai?』

“Nagisa, where are you?”

『”…A bench on the station platform. I was supposed to be at the school in less than ten minutes.』

Supposed to? I couldn’t reply to the unpleasant past tense.

『I was very worried about going there. …But, I guess, it’s okay. I wanted to see you one last time, but it would only make me sad. I’ve already decided my answer.』

“Wha—Don’t say that! Just wait there. Don’t move. And keep the call connected.”

『The battery is about to run out. So I’m going to have to end this—』

“Don’t tell me it’s going to end. I will not accept that this is the end of our relationship.”

I took my smartphone away from my mouth. I turn around and check with both of them.

“Sorry, can I go pick up Nagisa?”

“What? Of course. I was going to knock you down if you said you weren’t going.”

“…Be careful.”

The moment I nodded my head and looked forward again, the crosswalk in front of me showed the way forward. Staring at the green LED, I ran as fast as I could.

“Nagisa. Nagisa! Can you hear me? I’m on my way. Don’t run anywhere.”

『No, I don’t want to. I’ve decided to forget about it. I don’t want to think about things and worry about them anymore.』

“Yeah, is that so. But I’ve thought about it. I thought about it so much that it almost fried my brain. And I thought about going out with you. I was almost ready to accept eternal love!”

I turned at the crossroads and entered the shopping street in front of the station. I went backwards along the road I walked with Nagisa every morning.

『…I’d be happy if you were ready to accept it. But you’re not, are you?』

“Yeah, that’s right. In the end, I couldn’t bend my principles. I couldn’t escape what I thought was right.”

『So you’re going to try and talk me out of it again?』

The shopping street was dark and lined with neon signs. We hadn’t eaten a single croquette, takoyaki, or melon bread that we had talked about eating together.

“That’s not it. I just want to talk to you one more time in person.”

『I don’t understand. I don’t understand what Suguru-senpai is talking about now.』

“It’s about you and me, about our lives.”

『…What does that mean?』

“I saw the game as an obstacle that was twisting our normal relationship, so I tried my best to work through it and keep our relationship alive. But that’s not it. In the end, that’s not the solution. The anxiety you spoke of that day, the fear of change, it won’t go away.”

It was getting harder to breathe. My chest was aching and hot. Even so, I didn’t stop trying to speak. As if to weave through the interruptions in my breath, I continued to talk to Nagisa.

“This joke of a game — the Confession Quartet — is just a part of the process of life we’re walking through together. We have to make it a necessary process for us.”

It was not about denying the game and undoing it. We would use this game to get to the best future for us that we could get to exactly because of this game. We would not bend our principles, and we would not give up on our love.

“So—I thereby declare, Tokiwa Nagisa. I’ll make a miracle happen.”

『Miracles, huh? What do you want me to believe in?』

“Eternal love, of course.”

There was no such thing as eternal love. Eternal love was a fake. But the desire for eternal love was real.

Nagisa was silent for a while. In the background of her silence, a ping-pong-pong sound was heard.『The train will be arriving on track two shortly,』 Then Nagisa said in a voice that could not be drown out by the announcement.

『Then, senpai. Make—』

“Nagisa? Nagisa!”

In the middle of her dialogue, her phone went dead. Her battery seemed to be dead.

She probably said, get here in time.

The train would be here soon. But only if it was this far away. If I ran faster, or even faster, I should be able to make it just in time.

It didn’t matter if my heart was ripped out or my legs were torn off. I ignored my screaming body and increased the speed of the scenery passing by.

I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets. It was okay. It was right here.

I’ve always been a recipient of gifts, but I wanted to give her something.

On the way home from a day at the amusement park with Nagisa — a gift that she would love and that would be perfect for the current situation, even though she was disappointed when she couldn’t find it. I didn’t get a chance to give it to her in the end, but surely, it was all for this occasion.

So please, let me be on time.

I turned the corner and saw the station. As the up train slowed down, I ran up the stairs, dashed through the ticket gates, and ran up the stairs to the platform. The first step. The third step. The moment my right leg landed on the sixth step. The sirens sounded a warning.

Please, please, wait!

By the time I finally made it down to the platform, the doors were already closing as if to reject me.

—It was too late.

My eyes met with Nagisa’s in the car. But my vision was shaky and I couldn’t see her face.

“Nagisa!”

I shouted. I know I can’t reach her, but I didn’t stop. Knowing I can’t reach her, I jump for the door. Please. Even if it’s just my arm, please let it reach me. I beg you—

At that moment, I prayed to the god of marriage in heaven.

I felt a shock and a dull pain in my head.

“Ouch! Uh, eh—?”

I did indeed fly. I flew into the train with huge momentum as the train door closed. But what was the situation now? Why was I now looking at the ceiling of the train? Why was I lying on the floor on my back?

Did I make it in time? I stood up, unable to comprehend the situation. I finally realized that Kuroiwa Aika was looking at me from the middle of the stairs on the other side of the closed door. Yeah, so you stopped time and tossed me in.

My trusty friend breathed heavily and shouted at a volume that could be heard through the window.

“I really, think, you need to, get some exercise, you’re so slow! You weakling!”

I didn’t have the ability to shout so loudly back, so I just said, “Thank you,” using mouth movements to express my gratitude. Kuroiwa seemed to be exhausted and leaned back on the bench, not saying another word.

There was a ding sound, and the train began to move slowly.

I glanced at the screen, my smartphone trembling in my grip.

『The result was that you were two seconds short without her skill. Was Aika able to make it?』

It was a message from Yuno. Yeah, I made it. I’m really glad she had one last try left. But I’ll return her favor in the future.

“Nagisa.”

I turned around and called out to my beloved kouhai.

Perhaps it was because it was a late night train ride. There was no one else in the car except Nagisa.

“I made it in time.”

“Suguru, senpai—”

Nagisa stared at me in surprise. In response, I felt a sharp pain in my head. It seemed that I hit my head pretty hard. In addition, I seem to have cut the inside of my mouth, and I could taste the blood. But on the contrary, it proved to me that I was in reality.

“Ah, no…Sorry. Hello, good evening.”

She turned her head to the side to hide her moist eyes, and then looked at me with tears.

“I didn’t expect a normal greeting at this time.”

“Just so you know, this is not a miracle. It’s just that Suguru-senpai did his best.”

“I don’t know whether my kouhai is being harsh or kind. …But this is not a miracle. The miracle is only just beginning.”

I desperately sucked in the missing oxygen and felt my breathing gradually calm down. My back was already covered in sweat. I felt uncomfortable sitting next to her, so I stood in front of her.

“I don’t do anything anymore. There’s nothing I can do. I’ve already given my trump card to Kuroiwa.””

“…What do you mean by that?”

Nagisa, unable to read my intentions, tilted her head and looked up at me.

“I’ll just wait with you until the end, which is coming soon. And then I’ll forget about the quartet and my love for you. Just like you wanted…but I’ll fall in love with you again. And this time, I’ll confess my love to you.”

Just as if the false memory that Yuno created was broken. I was sure that I could, and would, remember this feeling. I believed in myself.

Quietly, I waited for Nagisa’s words. Even though the train shook, our gazes remained locked onto each other.

“…There’s no way you can do that.”

It was natural to deny it. That was because that was what the rules dictated. Anyone would think that it cannot be overturned. Still, I…

“I want you to believe in me.”

I want to spend time with you, not in the result of a miracle, but in the process of believing that a miracle would happen.

And we don’t have much time left for that.

“How? How do you expect me to believe you?”

The hands on her knees were clenched tightly in a polite manner. Without taking my eyes off her small fists, I pulled out a small box in my pocket.

“It might be a little too heavy for our current relationship, but—”

I slowly kneeled down and opened the box to reveal a silver ring that I had bought with all my money. A single diamond in the center of the ring glistened in the reflection of the car’s interior lights.

“Eh, this…Eh?”

Nagisa looked at me and the ring twice, alternately. She probably realized the meaning of the ring. But she still couldn’t believe it, pinching her cheeks and blinking several times.

“Nagisa, listen to me.”

“…Yes.”

Nagisa put her fumbling hands on her knees again. Instantly, her cheeks turned red and the mood was tense. Still, what enveloped us were only warm memories.

I lift up the edge of my mouth in a mischievous manner and pull out the words from my head.

“In sickness and in health. …And what was the rest again?”

I choked up too quickly, and Nagisa laughed, “Fufu.” The mood was ruined. But that was exactly the kind of relationship we have.

“At any time, from good morning to good night, to the end of hell—That.”

“That’s too random.”

I gently took Nagisa’s left hand while she was giggling. Her hand was as light as silk.

Nagisa’s voice leaked out, “Ah.” Her face, which had turned bright red up to her neck, tilted upward in a desperate attempt to keep me from seeing her. What was with that reaction? I almost laughed, even though I was still in the middle of my vow.

“Nagisa.”

“No, because, this, is too embarrassing…”

Nagisa let out a trembling voice, exposed her loose mouth for a moment, and she quickly covered it with her right hand. Her beautiful eyes were swaying like waves.

Before I knew it, we were on an elevated railway track, and through the window I could see a night scene with a few lights.

We were alone in the world and going up higher now. So I made up my mind and led the vows to the conclusion.

“I, Shirase Suguru, swear that I would love Nagisa Tokiwa forever.”

And then, slowly — for what seemed like an eternity — I slipped the ring onto her ring finger.

“…Eh. Amazing. It fits perfectly. How did you know?”

“It’s like. No, I chose it on a hunch, but I’m glad it fits.”

There was no way I could tell her that it was because her slender fingers were as thin as her sister’s. In the first place, she was so excited that she didn’t seem to be able to hear what I was saying.

“Amazing. It’s amazing. It’s beautiful. It’s sparkling, it’s really, really splendid.”

Nagisa held up her fingers and fluttered them enthusiastically as if enjoying the sparkle. Her smile, which shone brighter than diamonds, was too dazzling for me.

“Now, do you believe me?”

But Nagisa denied it with a big smile on her face.

“Not yet. We still have a lot more to do.”

I wondered if she was talking about the ritual.

I chuckled as I gently stroked her hair from her midsection. The ostentatious pretense of raising the veil felt deliberate, and somehow very embarrassing.

“Nagisa—”

I gently pulled on her cheek with my fingertips

Nagisa’s face moved closer to mine, drawn by the slightest friction.

It was like our relationship, it was getting a little bit closer and closer to zero distance, just before we achieved our feelings. I hesitated for a while, just before our lips could touch.

Then I put my own lips on hers.

As if to make up for the mistake on the Ferris wheel, as if to overwrite a sad memory, as if to make up for the time that had passed between us, it was a long, gentle, and heartfelt kiss.

I felt the faint taste of mint in my mouth.

With that as my cue, I pulled away from Nagisa, regretting the end of the show.

Then, I quietly announce my last command.

“—Please, do not forget the days you spent with me.”

That order, which was against the rules, would never be fulfilled.

But still.

I believed that this wish, which was against the rules, was worth wishing for.

Standing up with a full-blown smile, Nagisa hugged me vigorously. I almost fell down, but this time I was able to support her.

“Of course. I’m not going to forget it even if you ask me to forget it.”