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

“────!”

I jumped up from the bed. My heart beating incessantly, my breath uneven. My sweats from the night clung onto my pajamas. The taste of blood, no—

“…Tears?”

Tears were welling up in my eyes. Why? I asked myself, but there was no answer.

I think I was dreaming a while ago. I don’t remember what it was about…But I was sure it was a very sad dream. My tears wouldn’t stop.

I don’t know why I felt so uneasy in my chest.

It was as if something was missing, as if I had left something behind. I felt as if my heart was not in my chest. But when I touched it, my heart was beating properly.

The exam break was over and it was back to school from today until the end of the school week. After getting ready for the morning, I walked out the door. I was momentarily blinded by the dazzling sunlight, and for some reason — I saw a mirage of Tokiwa Nagisa.

—Good morning, Suguru-senpai.

The dainty mirage faded out with a big smile, and all that remained was the taste of mint.

“Why do I remember you like this?”

Nagisa was the younger sister of my ex-girlfriend Minagi. I had talked to her a few times when I was dating Minagi, and we had hung out together a few times. But it was the kind of relationship where if Minagi wasn’t between us, we’d just not hit it off. I knew that we were in the same school, but of course, we were not talking to each other. But why?

And then I realized belatedly. This ache in my chest was exactly the same as the one I felt the day I broke up with Minagi.

I was sure that didn’t happen yesterday.

With a certain sense of discomfort, I got on the usual train, went through the ticket gate, walked aimlessly through the shopping street, cross the big crosswalk, and pass through the school gate. The sound of regular footsteps approached me from behind, and I turned around with only the slightest expectation.

“Ah. …Good morning, Shirase-kun.”

“Good morning, Aogashima-san.”

The smile on her face was much more natural than before, and my heart jumped slightly in my chest.

“Have you prepared for today’s committee meeting?”

“Yeah. I’ve thought of some ideas. We’ll go over them during lunch.”

Aogashima-san nodded her head, looking a little happy. The two of us walked to the entrance of the school, exposed to the stares of the people around us.

It was just about three weeks ago. Aogashima-san, who was said to be the most beautiful girl in the school, unexpectedly confessed her love to me. I was summoned to the rooftop with an anonymous love letter, found Aogashima-san huddled behind the water tower, and she kept silent until just before lunchtime was over, then I finally got the words out of her.

I agreed to Aogashima-san’s offer.

But that didn’t mean I was going out with her. Our relationship was still that of friends.

—Shirase Suguru, kun. I like you. But you still don’t know me very well. So, first of all, I want you to become my friend.

I couldn’t help but laugh when I heard the words she squeezed out.

I didn’t mean to make fun of her. It was just that I happened to know someone who had made a similar confession.

It was me. In the second year of junior high school, I called Minagi, whom I barely knew, to the rooftop and offered the same. This was because I valued the process of getting her to know me more than the result of a relationship. And once we were friends, we started dating and then broke up.

…Huh, that’s strange.

No matter how much I think about Minagi, I couldn’t recall the taste of hackberry.

I was not relieved about it, I was sad about it. I guess today…Is a bit strange.

“—kun? Shirase-kun?”

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I’m having a bad day. I’ve been having these weird dreams.”

“Dream? By the way, I had a dream too. …I woke up and there were tears in my eyes.”

“Really? Quite a coincidence, it was the same for me. Maybe we had the same dream.”

“I don’t remember what it was about. But it filled my heart with wonder.”

Aogashima-san shook her head and put her hands on her chest as if she was holding something important in her heart. I was a little disappointed, probably because I wanted to have something in common with her.

“Well, I guess yours wasn’t like mine. But I’m glad it was a good dream.”

Our current relationship was that we are friends. But…I had a feeling that I would end up going out with her. We had the start of a confession, and Aogashima-san invited me to run for the cultural festival committee, and we studied together and went out several times on holidays. We’ve been through a lot, and the distance between us has definitely shortened, and now it was just a matter of time.

That was how it should have gone.

For some reason, I can’t stop feeling a buzz inside my chest.

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

For a moment, I had a terrible headache, as if I was being punched from the inside. I wondered if I have ever uttered such a phrase before. What the heck was this memory?

“What’s wrong, Shirase-kun?”

Something was wrong.

It was an uncomfortable feeling that I would soon forget if I let go of it even for a moment.

But I felt like someone was shouting somewhere that I shouldn’t let go.

“No…I’m fine.”

“That’s good. —Well, I’m on duty.”

We waved lightly at each other and parted ways. As I watched in a daze as Aogashima-san was walking into the stairs, I suddenly felt a light tap on my shoulder.

“Good morning. Shirase, what do you think about Yuno?”

Kuroiwa Aika. She was a close friend of Aogashima-san’s who jas been pestering me a lot lately.

“What’s going on all of the sudden, Kuroiwa? What do you mean? Well, I think we have a good relationship.”

With her ponytail bouncing, Kuroiwa turned her head away bluntly, “Hmm, I see.”

“I’m not going to let you get away with anything if you make Yuno cry.”

She said, pointing her finger at me and threatening me with a scary smile.

“I don’t want to make my dearest friend cry if I can help it. That includes you.”

“Ha? S-S-Since when am I your friend!? You are my rival!”

Kuroiwa, to my surprise, seemed to like Aogashima-san. I knew there was something wrong with her because of the way she treated me, but the other day she slipped up and revealed it to me. We shared a secret, and our relationship had become blurred like we were enemies and allies at the same time.

“By the way, do you have time after school? Do you have time after school to get that new drink that came out the other day?”

“I do, but why me? Shouldn’t you go with Aogashima-san?”

Kuroiwa let out a deep sigh at my honest point. It was like taking a deep breath before jumping into the sea.

“That’s not what I meant. Well, umm, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”

“You want to talk to me? That’s unusual.”

“Ha? Is that bad? You know…I’m thinking of telling Yuno about my feelings.”

“Well, that’s sudden.”

“Yeah. But should I choose a good day or something? …I wonder if Yuno would be disappointed if she know how I felt.”

“No, Aogashima-san won’t.”

Somehow, I could have sworn. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was smart enough to have noticed it from the beginning.

After taking a moment to chew on my words, Kuroiwa slapped me on the shoulder even harder than before.

“—Ouch! What are you doing?”

“I really like that about you. Then don’t leave me behind, partner!

When she told me one-sidedly, Kuroiwa scuttled off to her shoebox without waiting for my reply.

“No, when did we become partners…?”

As I was putting on my shoes, muttering to myself on the wooden floor, I noticed someone hugging my shoulder. Don’t just use my shoulder as an opportunity to communicate.

“Hey, Suguru. You’re hot in the morning.”

“I’m quite calm. Sakuma’s the one who’s hot, sticky, get off me”

“Speaking of sticky, when are you and Aogashima-san going to get together, huh?　Well, if that happens, the whole school will be on your case. Or are you aiming for Kuroiwa? You’re a serious guy and Kuroiwa’s a playgirl, that would be quite a surprise, wouldn’t it?”

“Just shut up.”

As I pulled out the drop can to shove it in Sakuma’s mouth, I realized my mistake. This was a can filled with only the mint flavor, which I hate. I don’t know what the heck I’m doing. Gently, I put it back in my chest pocket, grumbling.

“But you know, it’s Aogashima-san. Now that she and you have become friends and the equilibrium was shattered, if you let it go, there will be a war for it and someone will get it in no time.”

As we walked side by side to the classroom, Sakuma warned me. I don’t know, but I feel like we’ve had a similar exchange before. Yes, that time, I believe—

“Ah, Sakuma. You know, you said something strange before, didn’t you? The kind of matchmaking that will always bring you together with the person you love—Ocupido-sama, the one that goes on in the warehouse.

“Haa? What is that? If there is such a thing, I want to do it.”

Huh, is that so. Then where did I get this story?

I ran backward through my memory and thought back.

Thinking back, I realized.

My memory of the last three weeks has no flavor. …No, some of it was still there. But it was all patched together like my memory was made up.

No way, that was ridiculous. It couldn’t be.

This was it. For some reason, I couldn’t put any effort into my studies and my final exams were a disaster, so my mind was just tired. Surely, I would be back to normal in no time once the summer vacation starts.

As I was walking up the stairs, I suddenly saw a familiar figure behind me.

“What what, how did you know!? Four hits in a row can’t be a coincidence!”

“No, no, it’s because you’re too easy to figure out, Nagisa-chan!”

Two skirts lined up in a row are swaying and squealing. It was Tokiwa Nagisa and her friend.

“Mumumu. No, not that. I have a good poker face.

“Now to the right.”

“Eh, are you an esper? Ah, how about this? Between 1 and 100, what is the number I’m thinking of right now!”

“No, that’s impossible.”

“If you guess it, lunch is on me.”

At that moment, I overtook a first-year student who was going slowly.

I don’t know why.

I felt like I tasted mint.

“—It’s two!”

I found myself looking back at her and shouting the number that came to mind.

My kouhai, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, had her eyes all round and her mouth wide open.

“Eh, um, well, umm…It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Suguru-san?”

“Who?” “Who?” Nagisa’s friend and Sakuma’s voice overlapped.

“My Onee-chan’s ex-boyfriend” “My ex-girlfriend’s imouto” Both Nagisa’s and my voices overlapped.

Yes. That was all we have, a relationship that was almost at most an acquaintance. But why was I doing this now?

“Umm, the number, did I get it right?”

I scratched my sweaty cheeks and asked her if I was right or wrong, trying to disguise the strange atmosphere.

“Eh, well, it is, but it’s a little scary. What kind of passing miracle is that?”

“You’re lying. Are you sure I got it right…haha.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I really couldn’t help but laugh at this subtle miracle.

“So you’re buying me lunch?”

“No, no, no, aren’t you my senpai!?”

“I’m just kidding. Speaking of which, how is Minagi?”

The conversation went from exploring the distance to finally soft landing into normal small talk. I could feel the tense atmosphere loosening up a bit.

“Yeah. Onee-chan has a new boyfriend. She’s really into him.”

“I see. I’m glad to hear that. Tell her I said congratulations.”

“Okay. What about you, Suguru-san?”

“Me? Well, I’m not doing so bad. It’s getting crowded. Well, I’ll report back sometime. …See you later.

I tried to end the meeting when it had turned into a friendly one. And yet.

Nagisa. Why are you…

“…Why are you crying?”

There was no warning. Tears were pouring out of both of her beautiful eyes.

“Eh? No, what are you talking about? I’m not crying—Eh? Ehhh?”

Nagisa curiously touched her cheeks with both hands and wiped her eyes in disbelief. But the tears still spilled out, and the hand that wiped them couldn’t keep up with them. She kept asking herself “Why? Why is this happening?”

I felt like I knew those tears.

Maybe that was why. Unable to stand still, I grabbed my kouhai’s small hand.

“Come here for a minute.”

I pulled her along and ran up the stairs.

“Wha, wha-wha-wha, what is it!? Let go of me, please!”

I want to hear the answer to that, too. What is it, what am I doing?

“Sorry, but there’s something I really need to figure out!”

Still, something motivated me, and I aimed upward with accelerating steps. At the end of my ascent, the door to the rooftop opened with a bang. The air was filled with the scent of summer and enveloped us.

“Haa, haa—”

While our shoulders are trembling, we let go of our joined hands with broken breaths. I leaned against the wall, and Nagisa turned over on her inner thighs with her hands on her middle knees.

“What’s wrong with you, Suguru-san? No, I was also crying suddenly, and it was quite strange… Maybe you were shocked by Onee-chan’s recent developments?”

“That’s not it. …No.”

I was definitely surprised. I was quite surprised. I was very surprised. But that was not it.

“Nagisa. I don’t know why, but I feel like I’ve missed you.”

There was almost nothing to build on. It was a relationship that we’ve only played together a few times. I still don’t know much about this Tokiwa Nagisa person.

“…What? No, no, no, no, how can that be?”

“I don’t know, I don’t know either.”

I looked up at the sky, but the answer was nowhere to be found.

“I had a dream.”

I muttered to myself. The more I tried to remember, the more I chased after it, the more something left me. My head, my heart, became lighter and lighter. It was as if an angel took something important from me and carried it up to the sky.

“I feel like I’m about to forget. Forget everything and feel refreshed. But I don’t want to forget it. Maybe that’s the real one, and the one in my head is the fake one.”

Ohh, I was saying crazy things now. Nagisa pinched my sleeve in concern.

“P-Please calm down.”

The tears that had been running down her cheeks had already dried up.

If it weren’t for those tears, I would have already forgotten about it.

“Didn’t you see it, too? A dream? A sad dream?”

I put my hands on her shoulders and asked her.

A little taken aback by my vigor, Nagisa tried to shake her head, then stopped and pondered for a moment. With a puzzled look on her face, she opened her mouth with a questioning look.

“…I’ve probably seen. I forgot about it until just now, but I still remember a little bit of it. It was very sad and sorrowful. And there’s one thing that remains in my heart.”

What was that thing? I asked into Nagisa’s eyes. She seemed to have understood my intention and recited it.

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

Her face, which was supposed to be strong, quickly changed into a big smile, shining like a mirage this morning.

“Well, I don’t remember what I was talking about forgetting at all…Kyah!?”

I couldn’t help but love her at that moment, and I hugged her.

With a slight hint of hesitation, she also wrapped her arms around my back, tightly and firmly, so that I couldn’t pull away.

“Nagi, sa.” “Suguru, san.”

“Nagisa.” “Suguru-senpai.”

“Nagisa!” “Suguru, senpai!”

We called each other’s names as if to confirm the feelings that were there. It was as if something that had been driving us had suddenly disappeared. It was as if the petals of fireworks that had bloomed so vigorously in the night sky were burning up and disappearing in free fall.

“Well…What are we doing?”

“…No, I don’t know. I wonder.”

Why was I desperately hugging my ex-girlfriend’s sister?

“But. Why do I feel so calm?”

“It’s quite strange, isn’t it?”

Of course, I’ve never hugged her before. And yet I feel strangely comfortable with her.

“At any rate, this feels like an affair of indecency, so how about leaving?”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

The state of closeness was released. Embarrassed by our crossed gazes, we turned away from each other’s flushed cheeks. We take a step outward and lean against the door again.

“Hey, Suguru-san. Would you like to play sometime after a long time? Just us three.”

“I like that. That sounds great.”

My mind was calm, and yet my heart felt like it was about to jump out of my chest.

There was no process, but somehow we are attracted to each other.

We don’t know each other well yet, but we felt like we knew each other well.

Yeah, how contradictory it was.

How could I give form to such contradiction?

Do I send her words of love? Do I try to hug her again? Or put our lips together?

No, none of them. Our relationship right now was so fragile and vague that it would collapse if I defined it. So what was the best way to keep it that way?

In order to connect this moment eternally. I thought about it desperately with a cool face, and the answer that came out was.

—Let’s play a game.

From the depths of my memory, I heard Nagisa’s voice. Yeah, that’s good. I was convinced of it on my own.

“Nagisa. Let’s play a game.”

“…Heh? What’s that?”

At the sudden invitation, Nagisa seemed to have a hard time understanding the situation.

So I briefly explained the rules of the game.

“If I fall in love with you from now on, and you fall in love with me from now on. …Then we go out with each other at the time, why don’t we play that game?”

I couldn’t understand what I was saying.

But I was sure that this was the best choice. I knew that the rules had to be this way in order for my relationship with her to fit neatly into the game.

“Eh, what is that? How is that a game? How do I win?”

Nagisa’s puzzled question made me suddenly realize. Yeah, I hadn’t thought of that. But the victory condition should be as simple as possible.

“In the end, the one who feels more for his or her opponent wins.”

“I really, seriously, don’t know what’s going on here.”

Nagisa smiled in confusion, but she didn’t seem to reject it. It seemed that there was no option not to get in this game.

So I guess we had the same dream and felt the same amount of sadness.

But what we were about to see was reality.

I turned over the drop can in my chest pocket and offered her candy.

It was an unnaturally white candy. Nagisa took it and immediately chewed on it.

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

“Good. It’s a serious game. I’m not going to lose, Nagisa. Then—Let the game begin.”

I also threw the same candy into my mouth.

This declaration of war was mint-flavored.

It was sweet and yet bitter. Even with such a contradictory taste, I could almost like this flavor now.