When the Story Returns to the Present, the Prologue Ends
An unfamiliar sensation.
It felt like I was lying somewhere hard, nothing like my bed at home. On top of that, I still had the headset on, which made everything a little uncomfortable.
Then the headset was pulled off.
“Mmm...”
Did someone take it off for me...? I couldn’t tell.
More importantly, I wasn’t dizzy or cold the way I had been that morning.
...Though the loneliness was still the same.
Is anyone even here?
With my eyes still closed, I reached out and took the hand of whoever had just removed the headset.
A large hand. The only hands I had ever held before belonged to girls, so this one was the biggest I had ever felt.
Who is it...?
I didn’t even find it strange that someone was beside me. I simply focused on the feel of the hand I was holding. Then the person next to me began to speak.
“...Are you awake?”
“...Haa.”
“...We met.”
I was still half-asleep, so the words didn’t fully register, but at least I didn’t dislike the voice. If anything, that comfortable voice made the loneliness gradually fade away.
“...I think I’m... toward Senior...”
I had the feeling I’d just heard something really important. I just couldn’t make it out clearly.
What did they say?
“...Mmngh.”
Ah, I can’t even form proper words. Hmm... No choice... Guess I should get up.
“Hmm... Huh? Gachi?”
When I finally managed to open my eyes, Gachi was sitting beside me, looking at me with worried eyes.
...Wait? What was I just about to do? I can’t remember a single thing.
“Yes, Senior... Are you okay?”
“Yeah... This place... a hospital?”
“Yes. I went to your room and found you collapsed, so I brought you here in a hurry.”
So it wasn’t a dream. Even now, listening to Gachi, it still felt a little like I was dreaming.
“But... why were you in my room?”
The words still wouldn’t come out properly.
“Well... I was watching Eve’s stream and...”
Gachi’s words didn’t fully sink into my head, but the phrase “watching Eve’s stream” rang out with strange clarity.
...You watched Eve’s stream again?
You only ever watch Eve’s streams?
Then what about me?
What about Kiri...?
“Eve again?”
“Eve again... You only watch Eve’s streams... Why... don’t you watch me?”
Look at me. Don’t look at anyone else.
I only look at you, Gachi...
Why.
“I’m really sorry about what happened at the café...”
The café? Ah, right. I’d actually been feeling hurt ever since then.
I’d been holding it in, pretending I wasn’t.
I was so hurt!
“Yeah... It was the same that day. I was right there... and you didn’t even look at me... I was hurt...”
“Senior, it doesn’t seem like you’re fully recovered yet...”
I squeezed the hand I was holding—Gachi’s hand—with everything I had.
“You’re not listening to me...”
“Yes...”
...I can’t hear Gachi properly. I need to get closer.
Tap-tap.
“Come... closer.”
Only then did Gachi lean in. Yes, now I could see and hear clearly.
You’re not still listening to Eve’s stream right now, are you?
I asked to see the ears just in case, but thankfully there were no earphones this time.
“Good, none.”
But should I even be happy about that? Thinking about it just made me annoyed. Why did I have to fall for someone like this.
...Still, I want Gachi to stay beside me.
Always.
“Look... at me.”
“I’m looking.”
“...Liar. You’re not looking at me.”
“I really am looking.”
Liar.
Ah, now I feel hurt again.
“Then... why do you only look at Eve?”
“Why... don’t you look at me?”
“Why... don’t you watch my streams...”
“Having you... gave me strength.”
“Why... won’t you... watch Kiri’s streams? Gachi... I...”
I poured out everything I had been holding inside, one after another. Thanks to that, I gradually woke up, my condition improved, and my mind started to clear.
“I like you.”
With those words, I fully came to my senses.
...If only I’d come to my senses a little earlier!!!!
Ah, wait... Did you hear that? You must have, right? Then why aren’t you saying anything!?
“Um...”
“Do you... remember everything I just said?”
I asked in a slightly trembling voice. Gachi shook his head.
“No, I don’t remember very well.”
Thank goodness~
“The shock of the last thing you said made me forget the rest.”
Aaaaaah!!! That’s the part I wanted you to forget the most!!! More than the fact that I’m Kiri, I wanted you to forget that!!!
I had planned to tell you myself, but I spilled everything while half-asleep.
Is this okay?
Is this really okay!? No, how can a confession be this uncool!
“...Uuuuugh.”
Now my head hurt for a completely different reason. What do I do... In cases like this, people usually consult Thomas Unnie... Huh?
“Ah.”
Right... I need to contact Unnie. I went offline mid-stream today and never even called, so she definitely tried to reach me.
Let’s see...
Wow... I’m dead.
One hundred and ten missed calls? And of course it’s the number Bibi hates.
The ones who called the most were Thomas Unnie and Eve. Tita and Bibi called a lot too. I’m really loved, aren’t I...
I guess I have to pay the price for that love now?
I asked Gachi to step out for a moment, then called Thomas Unnie first.
She picked up immediately.
“...You’re okay, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I can get mad, right?”
“...Yes.”
After that she unleashed a rapid-fire scolding that felt like a freestyle rap straight into my ear. Around the twentieth time I said I was sorry, she finally let out a long sigh, told me to rest properly, and said Eve had been really worried so I should call her.
Eve must have been really worried too, right?
“Unnie!? *sob*... Are you okay?”
“Yeah, don’t worry. I’m fine.”
“I’m not fine!! Why didn’t you pick up!!! You just turned the stream off all of a sudden... Why would you stream when you were that sick... *sob*.”
Apparently I had turned on the stream unconsciously even though I had a cold. What professional dedication...
More than that, Eve was worrying even more than I expected. Really... I can’t even hate her. She’s cute, and she follows me so well—my little sister.
“Sorry, Eve. Once I feel a bit better, let’s go on a date together.”
“*sniff*... Okay. Keep your promise...”
“I will. When our schedules match, I’ll come pick you up.”
“...That smells like a K-style promise...”
Honestly, the chances of this promise evaporating into thin air are pretty high... But this time I mean it for real!
“*sniffle*. Okay... Then later, show me a picture of the person Unnie fell for.”
“Ah... Yeah. Sure.”
I couldn’t bring myself to say no right then.
After finally calming Eve down, I called Bibi and Tita next.
“Don’t make us worry so much.” / “When you’re struggling, just take a break from streaming. We worry!”
Thankfully it didn’t drain my mental energy as much as Unnie or Eve had. Still, I felt bad for worrying them, so I apologized to both of them too.
Only then were all the calls finished.
“Haa...”
I let my head drop and let out a deep sigh. Even so, as the oldest sister I was the one making the younger ones worry, and Unnie relies on me quite a bit too...
“Senior!? Does something hurt?”
I must have looked unwell, because Gachi asked about my condition.
It hurts... my heart... My body is completely fine now. If I had at least switched from silent to vibrate, maybe none of this would have happened.
“Well... Even though I knocked pretty hard on your door for a while and you didn’t come out, I figured you probably wouldn’t have been able to answer the phone either.”
I think so too...
Huh? A message from Unnie.
“Just a second. It’s the boss again.”
“Ah, then I’ll wait outside.”
“No need. It’s just a text. Hold on... Eh?”
She’s coming here!? She already left!? No, Unnie!!
Gachi is still here... What do I do?
If she sees me with Gachi it’ll be dangerous, right? She might misunderstand that we’re dating... No, I already confessed!!
But I don’t want to send Gachi away... I still haven’t heard an answer to the confession...
No, I don’t want to hear the answer while feeling like this. For now, I should tell Gachi it’s okay to go home. Keeping him stuck at the hospital this long because of me is just a nuisance.
“Um... She says she’s coming here?”
In the end I told him Unnie was coming, and Gachi understood how I felt and said he would head home right away. As he turned to leave, I called him back.
“...Hey, Gachi.”
Because there was still something I hadn’t said.
“Thank you. I... haven’t said that yet, have I?”
I had confessed and come out all in a daze. But the truth was, the moment I opened my eyes and saw Gachi there, I was so glad.
Just seeing Gachi made me feel relieved.
Really... Thank you for staying with me. Gachi.
Almost the moment Gachi left the hospital, a woman in sunglasses—Thomas Unnie—arrived at the emergency room.
“Oh, Unnie? Did you run here?”
“Haa, haa... Of course I did. More importantly, you’re really okay, right?”
“Yeah, don’t worry.”
“...Don’t... worry?”
Unnie pinched my cheek and pulled it, baring her teeth in an angry expression. With those black sunglasses, she looked even scarier when she did that...
“S-sorry...”
No matter how much I apologized, Unnie showed no sign of calming down. After a few more minutes of that, she finally let go.
Ow... My cheek hurts.
Only then did she seem to settle enough to explain what she had done.
“Haa. Anyway, I put up a notice about Kiri and said we’re taking tomorrow off. So rest properly until tomorrow. Absolutely no streaming. Got it?”
“Yeees...”
“Don’t trail off.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Haa. Still, you somehow made it to the hospital?”
I flinched.
What do I do? Should I tell her? That there’s someone I like, that person brought me all the way here, and that I ended up telling that person I’m Kiri and that I like them...
...
..
.
Yeah, I’ll keep quiet. Honestly, even if I said it I don’t know what I’d be saying.
I’ll leave the headache for future me.
“I just... somehow got here...”
“Next time, contact me. Why do you think I know all your addresses?”
“That’s true...”
Thomas Unnie has everyone’s addresses just in case of emergencies.
It’s pure luck that the university is near the company. That’s why Unnie could come find me so quickly.
“Anyway, I brought the car, so once the IV is done I’ll take you home... You’re going straight to sleep, right?”
“Yeah.”
As expected, a kind Unnie. A lot of people think she has no warmth because of how cool and sharp she usually is.
But this Unnie has more heart than anyone; she just isn’t good at showing it.
I know that, so I trust her and follow her.
“Then get some sleep.”
“Yeah. Thanks, Unnie.”
“It’s nothing.”
Speaking curtly, Unnie only left for home after confirming I had gotten into bed. She probably wanted to stay and sleep here, but she didn’t have the courage to say so. Honestly, that side of her is cute.
Just one thing to that Unnie.
Sorry, I’m going to make a quick call before I sleep...
“Gachi... probably isn’t asleep yet, right? The light was still on.”
Thump-thump.
Tremble-tremble.
Ah, please, body. Calm down a little.
Even if I’m calling the person I just confessed to, it doesn’t need to get this bad.
1. First, take a deep breath.
“Haa, hoo.”
2. Now make the call.
“...Can’t.”
3. Thirty-six stratagems, run away... Wait, I just thought about it too much like a stream bit out of habit. Run away from what...
Even normally, if something seems usable as stream material I end up running it through my head without realizing it, so I forced my weirdly drifting thoughts back on track.
After waiting a few more minutes, I finally dialed the number I had saved for Gachi.
~~
Come to think of it, I felt like I’d heard this ringtone somewhere a lot.
It’s the BGM Eve uses a lot...
“Haa, seriously...”
Please, someday let that ringtone become a BGM Kiri uses a lot too... No, that would be weird...
The tension suddenly dropped, and with a calmer heart I waited for Gachi to pick up.
Finally, Gachi answered.
“Hey, Gachi. Your room light was still on so I called just in case. You’re not asleep yet, right?”
“Yes, I’m still up. Are you okay, Senior?”
...Anyone could say that kind of worry, but when Gachi says it I get happy for no reason. Am I just an easy girl?
“I’m not completely better, but I’m better than earlier.”
“So you’re not completely better. How did you get home?”
“Don’t worry, the boss drove me so it was comfortable.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Yeah...”
“Yes...”
Awkward. Well, of course. I confessed to Gachi.
In this situation I shouldn’t push for an answer... So do I just keep waiting with this feeling?
Whether he knew about my restless heart or not,
Gachi stayed quiet for a while, then—
“Um, Senior, about what you said at the hospital... after you woke up.”
Finally he brought up the topic.
Calm down. Don’t worry.
Our atmosphere has been good until now... probably.
Gachi seemed to enjoy being with me too... probably.
I’m sure Gachi feels the same way I do... probably.
I prayed to a God I don’t even normally believe in, begging that Gachi would give me the answer I wanted.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”
God betrayed my prayer.
“...Huh? Pretend... you didn’t hear it?”
What... does that mean? Is it a rejection?
“Yes, so please don’t worry about it either, Senior.”
He’s being considerate of me. So it’s not a rejection, right? Right?
Surely... some other... meaning...
What am I even escaping from reality for...
He just said it in a roundabout way.
He doesn’t want to date me... Gachi doesn’t like me...
The next morning.
I didn’t sleep at all. I didn’t even lie down on the bed.
Strange. The cold was already gone, but today I felt even worse.
Well, of course. I got dumped... I’ve dumped people before, but I’ve never been dumped myself.
So now I know. Heartbreak is this hard.
It was only a week of knowing someone, only a week of built-up feelings.
And yet it hurts this much.
“...I can’t even cry.”
They say when you’re too sad the tears don’t come. Looks like it’s true.
Right now everything just feels annoying. Honestly, I was glad Unnie had announced a day off.
There was no way I could do a proper stream in this mood...
“Haa... I don’t want to do anything...”
Even though I was already doing nothing, I wanted to do even less. I don’t know how you do less than nothing, but...
Staying home like this just made the gloomy feelings pile up inside with nowhere to go. I needed to release them somewhere...
Yun-a knows who Gachi is, so I somehow didn’t want to tell her...
Then the only ones left are these three.
Eve, Tita, Vivi. The Utopia members.
Maybe because I made them worry yesterday, the moment I posted in the group chat the three of them went online right away.
And then.
Silence...
Why isn’t anyone saying anything.
Since I had said the person I fell for was an Adami, Eve asked carefully.
Don’t worry, Eve, it’s not your fault... probably.
While Vivi and Tita sent gloomy emoticons, Eve stayed silent. Then—
Ring-ring~
A call from Eve.
For reference, by age order it’s Kiri = Tita > Vivi > Eve.
Vivi is a year younger than me, but we got close during trainee days so we just speak casually. Eve follows me so well that she calls me Unnie.
Because that Eve is so cute, I take good care of her too, and we’ve become close like this.
Remembering Eve’s cute side for a moment, I let out the first small laugh of the day and answered her call.
“What’s wrong?”
“Unnie... Can I come over to you right now?”
“How are you going to get here... I’ll come find you later.”
“But... I want to be with Unnie right now...”
Be with... For a second that sounded like Gachi. I’m in deep...
“..Huh?”
Maybe it was hearing Eve’s voice.
The tears that hadn’t come until now started trying to spill out little by little.
Really... Why all of a sudden... *sniff*.
“I-I’m fine... It was only someone I knew for a week. It doesn’t matter at all... D-don’t worry...”
“...I know. Unnie doesn’t fall for just any guy... You really liked him, right?”
I said I’m fine...
“I’ve always just leaned on Unnie. When Unnie is having a hard time, I’ll be the one who supports you.”
“...*sniff*. Eve...”
I was about to say thank you. Having a little sister who would say that made me truly happy.
“So... I’ll give Unnie my virginity.”
“Hey, hey, don’t ruin the mood.”
“In exchange, give me Unnie’s virginity too!”
“Wow, this brat is suddenly changing routes. Save that stuff for streams only!!”
Eve suddenly switched to joking, leaving me so dumbfounded that I snorted out a laugh and shot back. Hearing my voice, Eve started giggling, then spoke again in a serious tone.
“If it helps Unnie feel better, I’ll do anything. When it’s hard, call me anytime, and I... it’s hard for me to go see Unnie, but come to me whenever you want. Or should I just come after all?”
You idiot... What do you mean come. It’s hard for you.
“...I’ll come today.”
“Okay, then I’ll wait. Ah, eat before you come. I already ate.”
Ah, so you’ve already eaten~?
In the end I have to go after eating alone?
Hehehe... Yeah, this is so Eve. Thanks to her I feel a bit better.
“Haa, okay. I’ll just eat and come... Wait for me.”
“Okay! Come quick~ Ah, my stream today is at 1 p.m.”
With that, Eve hung up. Does that mean we only hang out until 1, or that we stream together?
Haa, maybe I just shouldn’t go.
But I couldn’t actually not go, so I left the house to eat. I had washed up simply, but there was no need to put on full makeup just to grab a meal, so I only took a light handbag and stepped outside.
“Eat and go straight there. I don’t want to be alone right now... I don’t want to be alone...”
Thinking that made me feel like I might run into Gachi again somehow, so I shook my head hard.
Please, let the usual coincidences not happen today.
You didn’t answer my prayer yesterday, so you can at least grant this one, God!?
However.
“Oh.” / “Ah.”
God betrayed my prayer again. I’m seriously going to lose it... Should I just burn down every church that exists.
“...H-hi?”
Even if I got dumped, our eyes met so I couldn’t just ignore him. I greeted him awkwardly.
“Yes, hello. Are you okay, Senior?”
Unlike me, Gachi answered brightly and naturally.
...What is this? Why does it feel like I’m the only one flustered.
“Yeah... I’m fine. My body is.”
My heart is still recovering. So please, don’t talk to me any more today.
“Haha, well, that can’t be helped.”
Laughing there is not okay... Ah, seriously, even in this situation why can’t I hate Gachi!
“...Yeah, it can’t be helped.”
“Have you eaten yet?”
“...No, I just woke up... More accurately, I couldn’t sleep.”
“What?”
Why are you surprised... It’s because of you... You know that and you’re still making that face...
“Would you... like to eat together?”
What? You’re saying that in this situation?
Was “pretend I didn’t hear it” supposed to mean that? That we should just stay friendly like before?
This... isn’t right...
“So that’s... all it was to you, Gachi.”
I felt hurt. Fine that he didn’t accept my feelings. But it felt like my confession hadn’t affected him at all... A little stubbornness flared up.
“Yeah, then let’s go eat.”
If you’re going to act like that, then I’ll act like nothing happened too. I’m the older one... Don’t look down on me.
So smile. As naturally as possible... I don’t know if it’s working.
We headed to the place we had gone last time. During the walk, conversation between us barely happened.
Gachi kept trying to talk to me, but I kept cutting the conversation short.
When we arrived and Gachi offered to treat me—
No thanks... I have money.
“No, let’s pay separately.”
So we just sat at the same table while existing in different worlds, still not having a proper conversation. It wasn’t because it was awkward.
I didn’t want to talk.
Because I hated the me who still felt happy that Gachi was talking to me.
While we kept creating that awkward atmosphere, the owner brought out the food we ordered.
“Ah, the couple from last time?”
“Ah, no, that’s—”
“We’re not a couple.”
A completely different response from last time. The moment I cut down the owner’s assumption in one stroke, he awkwardly scratched his cheek and went back to the kitchen.
“Let’s eat.”
“...Yes.”
In that atmosphere we started the meal. Thanks to that, Gachi stopped saying anything at all.
Eating without talking naturally made the meal finish quickly, and I stood up to put on light makeup.
I just want to go to Eve already.
“I’m going to the bathroom for a bit. You can head back first.”
“Ah, no. I’ll wait.”
“...Okay.”
I had basically said “leave already” in a roundabout way, then leisurely did my makeup in the bathroom. Since I was going to see Eve I should keep it light... but for some reason.
It ended up looking like I put more effort into it than I planned.
“...Whatever. Just go like this.”
Gachi must have gone home by now. No matter how much he said he’d wait, he’s not that clueless.
So when I go out, Gachi won’t be there. The reason I put on makeup is because of Eve.
It’s just that my heart still isn’t healed so I couldn’t control the makeup properly.
...
“He still hasn’t left.”
Then why... when Gachi is actually still here, do I feel relieved...
I’m such... an idiot.
I had clearly planned to leave the restaurant and go straight to Eve, so why was I still walking toward the apartment building with Gachi.
Even in this moment I thought this was wrong, yet I still couldn’t head to Eve’s place.
No choice. Once we reach the apartment building I’ll go to Eve’s. It’s not like it’s that urgent anyway.
With that thought I walked to the apartment building, but there was still no conversation between us.
“Wa Sol Senior.”
Only after we arrived at the apartment building together did Gachi finally open his mouth.
“Did I... make some kind of mistake?”
What mistake did you make. Rejecting a confession from someone you don’t even like isn’t a mistake, is it?
I did think there was no need to talk to me so casually the day after dumping me, though.
“...No, you didn’t make a mistake, Gachi.”
“But right now Senior... no matter how I look at it, you’re different from usual.”
Different from usual... What do you even know about me?
What is “usual.” We’ve only known each other for a week... Yeah, just someone I’ve known for a week.
Then why do you take up so much space inside me. Why! Why do you shake my heart like this!?
Until now, and even now... Please just leave me alone!!
“Stop it!”
When I came to my senses I was already shouting.
“Like usual? What even is my usual? How much have you even seen of me!? No, even if the me you know really is the usual me... there’s no way I could act like that... Was that whole thing such a light matter to you, Gachi?”
Even if it was a confession from a girl you had no interest in. Even if it was a half-asleep mistake.
It was my true feelings!
“Senior, I really don’t understand. Let me say this first—I’ve never once thought lightly of anything about you. Same with what we talked about on the phone yesterday. Because I...”
Then why are you... acting like it’s nothing? Huh?
Why are you so natural about it.
“Why... *sniff*... are you talking so warmly to the person you dumped... If you dumped me then just... leave me alone...”
“...What?”
Why are you surprised. Did you really forget that I confessed?
Does “let’s pretend it never happened” really mean that?
...Please don’t. You’re still the person I fell for... I don’t want to be disappointed like this.
“*sob*... *sniff*.”
Negative thoughts and emotions settled into my head and heart, and the tears I had been holding back finally burst out. In front of that, a flustered Gachi called out to me.
“Um, Senior.”
The next words Gachi said after calling me
gave me a slightly different kind of shock.
“When did I ever dump you?”
...Why. That doesn’t sound like acting at all. It really sounds like he doesn’t know.
There’s no way he would actually forget yesterday just because he said to pretend it never happened.
“...Yesterday at the hospital.”
Just in case he really, really forgot, I reminded him. It’s funny that I’m the one saying this, but...
“I’m... really sorry, but... I don’t remember.”
“...You said you remembered. At the hospital you said you only remembered the last thing I said. That you forgot everything else...”
“Ah.”
Gachi’s mouth fell open as if he had just remembered. See, you do remember.
“Ah, no. That was... I only remembered the part where you said you were Kiri...”
“..,What?”
What is this kid saying right now?
Before I knew it my tears had stopped. I was a little dumbfounded.
“...You said you only remembered... the last thing?”
“Yes, so... you asked why I don’t watch your streams... and after that... you said Kiri...”
“...Huh?”
Wait a second.
Then the “last thing” each of us was thinking of was different.
And when Gachi said yesterday that he’d pretend he didn’t hear it, he meant the part where I said I was Kiri?
...No, I don’t believe it. That can’t be.
I said it right next to him.
“Then do you remember what I said after that?”
“What did you say?”
...No! That’s a lie! That doesn’t make any sense at all!?
This isn’t some 2010s light novel—I confessed right next to him and he didn’t hear it!?
Right now my thoughts weren’t working properly.
Even so, the first thing that came to mind was:
If Gachi really didn’t hear anything, then today’s me must have looked like a bit of... an unpleasant girl.
That worry.
“...Ugh.”
I was embarrassed. I had taken out my anger in a way that didn’t even count as taking out anger.
Gachi hadn’t even dumped me and I misunderstood all by myself... No! Now it looks like it’s my fault!?
“Um, Senior.”
“What!?”
In the first place, the fact that Gachi didn’t properly hear my confession is the problem!
“Then yesterday... did you confess to me?”
Grr!! My teeth ground together.
Until just now I hadn’t hated Gachi at all, but the moment I realized we had misunderstood each other, I really—
Madly, enormously, to the point of going crazy, to the point of wanting to knock him down right now!
Hated him!
“That’s right! I confessed to you yesterday! The moment I opened my eyes and saw you I felt so relieved! And at the same time I was hurt that you were still only talking about other people! With that feeling... I ended up confessing without realizing it!!”
Because of that feeling I forgot where I was and ended up shouting at the top of my lungs.
Huff, huff.
Annoying. Annoying! But... being annoyed is being annoyed and...
“So... what about you?”
I still have to hear what I need to hear.
If I get dumped here too... Ah, whatever! I already thought I got dumped! No problem at all!
“I...”
Gulp... No problem at all. I’m not even nervous.
So... hurry up... and say it...
“I like you, Senior. Will you go out with me?”
...
..
.
Th-that’s a lie! It’s definitely a lie! You’re going to get my hopes up again and then say it was another misunderstanding!? I’ve already figured it all out!
“Don’t lie!”
I know everything. That’s a lie!
“I don’t believe you! You don’t like me!”
“No, I do like you.”
“Don’t mess with me! You don’t like me!”
It was clearly the words I wanted to hear. But once I actually heard them, unknown emotions started bouncing around inside my heart, and I was spouting words even I didn’t understand.
“I confessed because I like you!”
But this isn’t right!
“I was the one who confessed first!”
“That’s true!”
Haa, haa...
In the end both of us were shouting, pouring out our feelings.
“I really like you, Senior. Sincerely.”
“I can’t believe it. It feels like a lie.”
I know Gachi isn’t the type, but right now my emotions were stronger than that thought.
Strong enough that words I didn’t even mean came out.
“Because I’m... Kiri.”
“What?”
“...If you’re with me you might get to meet Eve...”
Like this. Even while thinking he would never think that, I ended up saying the delusion I had cooked up alone.
I hate this me. I also hate the me who can’t stop this me.
“*sob*... That’s why you’re saying you like me.”
I also hate being the first one to cry so cheaply.
“Then can you stop watching Eve starting today?”
I also hate saying something like this even though I know how much Gachi likes Eve.
“See! In the end there’s something higher priority than me! How is that liking someone!?”
No. I don’t think that.
“Then don’t watch her! Only look at me!”
I don’t want to say things like this.
“I’m jealous! I’m hurt! I want you to only look at me!”
Really... Why am I... always so emotional and then ruin everything.
If I keep this up, even Gachi who liked me will end up hating me...
“I...”
Gachi must have been disgusted looking at me right now. He must have thought he didn’t want a bothersome girl like this...
*sniff*... Why am I always...
“Um...”
Then a voice came from somewhere that wasn’t Gachi.
When I turned my head that way, a woman who seemed to live in unit 102 was looking at us through the window.
...Did she hear everything?
“Um... I went to bed a bit late yesterday, so... if it’s a confession, could you maybe do it somewhere else, or at least more quietly?”
She heard everything...
In that moment my head finally cooled, and I immediately apologized to her.
“I’m sorry!”
“I-I’m sorry!”
At the same time Gachi also bowed his head and apologized.
Looking at us and not knowing where to put her eyes, she gave an awkward smile and waved her hand.
“And... if possible, I think it would be good if you both calm down first and then talk properly. You two... it’s obvious how much you already like each other.”
Leaving only those words, the woman closed the window again. After that we fell into an awkward atmosphere once more. Still, it was a more pleasant awkwardness than at first.
On top of that.
...It was incredibly embarrassing and I felt bad,
but thanks to her I was able to calm down. Thank you, person from unit 102.
“...Gachi.”
When I called him for the first time today, Gachi also turned his head toward me.
And for the first time today I properly looked at Gachi.
“Not here for now.”
“Ah, yes. Um... somewhere else.”
Yeah, let’s talk somewhere else. I have a lot I want to say.
Somewhere with no other people... somewhere only the two of us can be...
“...Let’s talk at my place.”
“Yes... Yes!?”
“Shhh!”
He was about to raise his voice again without thinking, so I made a gesture for him to be quiet.
Then, seeing Gachi cover his mouth with both hands,
I ended up smiling a little without meaning to.
“M-me, going to Senior’s house?”
“Yeah... Hurry and follow me.”
“B-but is it really okay for me to go to Senior’s house...”
Hesitating Gachi. Seriously, do I have to say this with my own mouth?
“If you’re the boyfriend, you can come to your girlfriend’s house, right?”
After saying that one line, I took Gachi’s hand and pulled him along.
He followed me surprisingly easily.
And so I brought Gachi to my place, and the story returns to the present.