Epilogue – Surely, forever and ever

Source https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818792438390033934 ā€œ—-… wake up… wake upā€”ā€ A faint voice reached me. Slowly… I forced my heavy eyelids open. The oppressive sunlight streaming through the window made me want to shut my eyes again immediately. ā€œAkito? Wake up?ā€ But. That incredibly sweet soprano voice made me feel like she was calling my name. I forced … Read more

Episode 86 – The Promise of the Friendship Bracelet

Source https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818792438382562773 ā€œBecause… I like you, Renka.ā€ Before I knew it, those words had slipped out. To my own surprise, I’d confessed my feelings to Renka without a single hesitation. ā€œā€¦Eh?ā€ A faint voice escaped from Renka. Feeling the warmth of her soft body against my back, I kept walking forward. We should be coming … Read more

Episode 85 – Warm back

Source https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818792438306828899 ā€œWay back when… like, first grade or something. Back then, I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere.ā€ His voice was incredibly calm as he spoke. Over his shoulder, I caught a glimpse of his profile, where an innocent smile played. ā€œI couldn’t study or play sports, and my looks were just plain ordinary. … Read more

Episode 84 – The smell of mud and sweat

Source https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818792438304740822 The police officer who helped Akito took Sakuma-senpai and the others away with him. Soon, this place would be… just me and Akito. He. Akito leaned against the roots of a nearby tree, ā€œDamn, that hurts… That bastard really hit me hardā€¦ā€ Akito sighed, ā€œHaah.ā€ His expression was smiling, but his mud-covered body … Read more

Episode 83 – Serves you right

Source https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818792438278662855 Interrupting Renka’s performance. Ah—what a strange feeling, I thought. Right now, without a doubt, my head is more bloodshot than it ever has been in my life. My whole body is seething with irritation. I can feel anger bubbling up from the pit of my stomach. Because—my important childhood friend was crying. And … Read more

Episode 82 – The sound of fireworks scattering and…

Source https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818792438253655417 “Sakuma. What, you know this cute girl?” “Yeah, I do. She was a junior in my club back in middle school.” “Ah, she mentioned something. Wasn’t that why you got suspended?” Something. They… were staring at my face and body while talking about something. ā€œSeriously though—haha, you caught a big one! This girl … Read more

Episode 81 – I want to see you

Source https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818792438252155284 I reached the Lost Children’s Center right away. The boy who’d been following behind me spotted someone who looked like his mother and immediately started running toward her. He burst into tears and hugged her tightly. After watching that, I hurried to go find Akito, ā€œHey! …Really, thank you so much. You saved … Read more

Episode 80 – A truly happy time

Source https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818792438076178475 Licking a sweet strawberry candy, I walk side by side with Akito. The yakisoba we bought earlier seems to have been finished already. Right now, Akito is happily biting into grilled squid. Ah—this is fun, I thought. The thought of Akito hating me is really scary. Hurting him is even scarier. But more … Read more

Episode 79 – The True Nature of Pain

Source https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818792438089013517 (…That’s right, isn’t it? The Rinka of late is just like the Rinka from back then…) What came back to me were memories from when we were still in the lower grades of elementary school. Rinka… had gone through a period where, due to certain circumstances, she suffered severe bullying. But Rinka never … Read more

Episode 78 – Strawberry candy

Source https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818792438069151597 By the time we arrived at the venue, the sun was slowly beginning to set. Under a sky that blended clear blue with sunset hues, creating a somewhat fantastical atmosphere. Renka and I made our way through the noisy crowd. ā€œWow, it’s packed, Akito. The food stalls are really crowded.ā€ She said it … Read more