Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/822139843121925685/episodes/822139843210269383
“Um… I’m Yukina… Is now okay?”
Several tens of minutes later.
As if switching places, Yukina arrived at the room.
“Hey, come on in!”
When I replied, Yukina, dressed in her uniform, entered the hospital room.
“Yukina…! I’m so glad you came to visit.”
I welcomed her warmly.
—That was when it happened.
For just an instant, I saw a charm clutched in Yukina’s left hand.
—That charm was tattered and worn, just like the cross Karen had carried.
No way…
“…Hey, Yukina, can I ask you one thing?”
Before I knew it, the words were out of my mouth.
“Sure… What is it?”
“Well… That charm… Why is it so worn out…?”
I asked, my gaze fixed on the charm Yukina was holding.
“Huh… this charm? …You’re right, it got all tattered without me noticing…”
Yukina seemed unaware herself.
“This is actually my third one… I guess holding it all the time made it fall apart.”
“Huh… I… I see…”
Yukina stared intently at the charm.
Written on the charm was ‘Guardian of the Feet’.
A charm specifically for feet…?
…I’ve never heard anything about Yukina having bad feet… Nine times out of ten, she got this for me.
Yukina clutched the charm tightly, then fixed me with a dim, shadowed gaze—
“I… I’m not a doctor, and the only thing I can do for Yuu is pray. So I prayed a lot. Probably most of the day, every day…?”
“Huh… I… I see…”
Yukina’s just like Karen, huh…!
She was just saved by me, right?
Would anyone normally get this depressed over that?
I didn’t die, I just broke my leg. I’m alive and well, you know?
“Um… I’m really happy you prayed for my safety… but isn’t that a bit much?”
“That… is impossible. Because Yuu sacrificed his life for us so many times…”
Yukina said that much, but—suddenly, her words caught in her throat.
“…Huh? What was I just saying… risking his life…? Yu’s alive, right…?”
She looked confused and started muttering to herself.
“Yukina? Is something wrong?”
“…N-no, it’s nothing. Yeah, I’m fine, really, it’s nothing…”
“Is that so…?”
First Karen… and now this? Something’s definitely off with them.
Both of them seemed confused about something.
“Yeah… sorry, don’t worry about it. Anyway, let’s get back to what we were talking about.”
Yukina shifted her focus and returned to the original topic.
“You say I’m overthinking it… but you risked your life to save us. I think I should be prepared to give up everything to make it up to you.”
“Th-that…”
When she brought me into it, I couldn’t say anything.
“…Could it be?”
Then, Yukina’s eyes widened as if she’d realized something.
“Was I… a bother?”
“Huh?”
“Did you hate being worried about by someone like me? …Right? I mean, I did think terrible things about you before… It’s only natural you’d hate me.”
Yukina’s expression was—painted entirely in despair.
Her hands trembled violently, her eyes unfocused and vacant.
“Yukina? I don’t think that at all—”
“—It’s because… Yuu is kind. That’s why you’re being so considerate.”
“Huh…? N-no, that’s not—”
“—I hesitated about coming here today. I wondered if I even deserved to be by your side.”
N-no. No good. No matter what I try to say, Yukina cuts me off…!
And then, Yukina just kept firing off words in rapid succession.
“Because Yuu is kind, you can’t push me away. So… maybe I should be the one to create some distance from Yuu… I mean. I think… that might make Yuu happier…”
“Hey, please tell me… honestly? Am I in the way? Would it be better if I never showed up again? …If that’s how you feel, please tell me honestly… I beg you.”
Yukina suddenly lifted her face—
“I… I don’t want to hurt you anymore…”
Yukina said in a voice that seemed to be squeezed out.
Her face was wet with tears, her eyes flickering with anxiety.
She looked just like… a puppy that didn’t want to be abandoned.
“Of course you’re not a bother!”
Before I knew it, I was shouting that.
“Eh…”
“You’ve got it all wrong, Yukina. I don’t hate you. I don’t think you’re a bother. Absolutely not…!”
“…R-really? …You can tell me honestly?”
“This is how I truly feel. I was really happy you came to visit me today.”
“…I-I see…”
Yukina looked away, slightly embarrassed.
Seems she was happy after all.
Alright, this is the spirit.
I’ll keep this up and clear the clouds from Yukina’s heart…!
“I’m happy when Yukina stays by my side. I want you to stay as long as you like.”
“Huh…!? As long as I like?”
For some reason, Yukina reacted strongly to the words ‘as long as you want’.
“Yeah, if you want to be here, you can stay as long as you like. I’ve got time, and being with someone like you would definitely be fun.”
Getting to spend time with such a cute girl is a reward in itself.
Then, Yukina fell silent, staring off as if deep in thought.
…What on earth is wrong?
“Um, hey… If that’s the case, I want to ask… Does that mean ‘for life’ is okay too?”
“Huh…? Well, if you want to spend your life with someone like me, I guess that’s fine…”
“…!”
The next moment, Yukina’s face lit up brightly.
What… what?
Could this be… a confession of love…?!
“I see… You’re giving me a chance to make it up to you for the rest of my life…”
“Eh, um… Yukina?”
Yukina looked down, her eyes wet, murmuring something softly.
Correction.
It doesn’t feel like a confession of love at all.
Then, Yukina suddenly lifted her face.
“Thank you… Yu. I’ll devote my entire life to you. I don’t think that alone will repay your kindness, but I’ll try my best…”
“Huh…? Wh-what…?”
This… wasn’t supposed to happen…?
I was trying to ease Yukina’s guilt and clear her clouded expression… that’s what I was thinking.
—Actually, isn’t it still clouded?
“So, Yu. First… is there anything you want? Or anything you want me to do?”
“Eh… no, not really…”
“………………………… I see.”
Wait, wait, wait.
Yukina-san? Please don’t look like the world is ending…!!!
“Uh, um… Well then! Maybe I want a game?! I mean, hospital life is boring, right? I’d want at least one game, wouldn’t I?”
“Got it…! A game console. I’ll get one ready!”
Yukina said that with a beaming smile.
I felt relieved… but only for a moment.
A few dozen minutes later, the latest home game console and a massive pile of game cartridges—easily over a hundred—arrived.
I had forgotten.
That they were—the Ceo’s daughters.
“Hm…? What’s this…?”
I picked up a single letter.
Apparently, it had been sent along with the game console.
I opened the letter… Inside was a single, glossy black credit card.
Accompanied by the words:
“You can buy whatever you want with this. I’ll take care of all the payments.”
…W-what do I do with this…?
————————————————
“Why did I think Yuu was dead…?”
Yukina murmured in puzzlement after returning home.
Then, after a few seconds of thought—her eyes widened in shock.
“—Why do I have memories… of Yuu being dead…?”
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