Chapter 2
Translator: True Detective
002. Misconception
"Ah..."
As my body fell backward, I ended up dropping the note I had put in my pocket.
'W-what should I do!'
Even now, Yuna is looking at the note closely. But even looking like that, she's really pretty. Wow.
"Hey, wait a minute."
Yuna's expression hardened at that moment.
"Y-yeah... why?"
"What is this? Why do you have this?"
Before explaining, I hastily picked up the note and hid it behind my back.
I cannot get caught with this. After how I've managed to hide it for over a year. If I get caught, I'll be in big trouble.
'...Because then Yuna won't believe the contents of the notes from now on!'
Yuna really hated me. Because I made her that way.
The things Yuna hates.
I did all of them to the extent that it wouldn't cause Yuna direct harm.
To be specific, maybe the time I humiliated Yuna by looking down on her and calling her a 'commoner' in front of other students...?
But I couldn't think of anything besides that. Because ever since I hit my head hard last time, I keep forgetting things.
The feeling of my head spinning and my thoughts stopping for a moment.
It was then.
"Hey, you."
Yuna came right up to my nose and pulled me to my feet. And she shoved her face so close our noses were almost touching.
I couldn't meet her eyes.
It's super embarrassing, you know.
If the person you like shoves their face at you with such an expression, anyone would look away-
Slap!
"Ah, ugh..."
My cheek flared up hotly. This hurts a bit.
"Don't hide it and give it to me! I said give it! Who are you to have that?!"
"No! Absolutely not!"
I must absolutely not get caught that I'm the one who has been writing the notes all this time.
From that moment on, the trust in the notes would be shattered to pieces. Yuna would absolutely, positively never believe the notes in the future.
Because, we had that kind of relationship.
It's not particularly love or friendship. It's just a one-sided admiration from one party.
You can think my head is messed up. But as long as I'm happy, isn't that enough?
Smack!
Yuna then struck my other cheek.
My body tilted to the opposite side, and I lost my balance and fell once again.
It hurt. Because blood was pouring out of my scraped knee.
"Hey, give that here."
"That's a no too!"
I desperately gripped the note tightly. So hard that it was about to be torn to shreds.
Yuna looked like she was ready to clench her fist and beat the crap out of my face.
Getting hit is fine, but this... I really can't get caught.
This isn't about my life, but Yuna's life on the line.
I curled up my body and swallowed the note, gulp.
"Hey, hey!!! What are you doing!!!"
Yuna stomped on me mercilessly, but I could endure that much.
Since it's Yuna hitting me, after all.
"...Th-this. A person I met earlier told me to p-put it in the abandoned mailbox at the clock tower, so..."
It was then.
Yuna began to tremble.
She pulled me up to my feet.
Because there was almost a head's difference in height, I had to look up at her from below.
And I liked that too. Blonde hair and blue eyes. It's not exactly someone you can easily see in reality.
"Who is it? Who? Who is that person!!!"
"D-don't shake me..."
Yuna had a rather desperate face.
To the point where tears welled up in her eyes.
'Hehehe.'
It's been a long time since I saw Yuna cry. I haven't seen her like this since I was thoroughly ruined.
"I don't know the details. I just met them today..."
"What do they look like? Gender? Way of speaking? What affiliation? What classes are they taking? Answer my questions straight!"
"I, I'm not quite sure about that..."
"Hey! You accepted a request from a stranger so easily? It must be someone you know! Tell me! Please...!"
W-what should I do...?
Yuna's eyes began to turn red.
Is she that regretful about not receiving the note?
'Hehe. It's fine. I'll put it in again a few days later.'
I feel like my left and right brain are acting separately, so I'm not really sure why Yuna is crying after getting angry.
Huh... This won't do.
Still, back in the day, I used a cold face and tone of voice to act like a villainess. So that Yuna would absolutely never get attached to me.
But now, even that doesn't work well. Naturally, I couldn't maintain a poker face.
Should I say my emotions show on my face too easily.
"Hey, you. Why do you have such a worried look on your face? I want to kill you right now."
"As for killing me, um... please hold back."
At least until next year.
Ahem. If I die, I won't be able to see Yuna.
And I won't be able to save Yuna.
"...Hah."
Yuna, who had shaken me several times, let go of me, perhaps because she was tired now.
Thud.
Because there was no strength in my legs, I collapsed right there.
And got completely soaked in the muddy water created by yesterday's rain.
'It's a problem if my uniform gets this dirty...'
I only have this one set of clothes. Will I have to wear this dirty uniform when I see Yuna from now on?
"Hey, you. Don't make such a stupid expression and think carefully. Do you really not remember who it is?"
"Uh-huh..."
"Idiot. Truly useless. Just go die."
"Sorry."
Yuna panted angrily as she said that.
At that moment.
"U-urgh..."
Something spouted out from inside my body. Sticky, dark red blood. A tiny bit of the blood splattered onto Yuna's shoes.
"...Hey."
"S-sorry..."
I flinched.
I completely understand how Yuna feels. She must hate it when something dirty gets on her shoes.
Even so, I can't do something like licking it off. Because my disease might spread to Yuna.
And more than the disease, she would probably feel that I am dirtier.
I apologized while my body trembled in fear.
Since I don't really have to bully Yuna anymore. At the point where I lost everything anyway, Yuna had already made plenty of her own friends.
Plenty enough that she wouldn't be lonely even after graduating from the academy.
I'm satisfied with that much.
Since one of the branching points that determines the game's ending is how lonely Yuna feels.
Yuna will leave the academy together with the best friends. Of course, I won't be the one standing next to her.
"...You be careful. Really."
"Yeah."
"No, I mean... hah. Be careful with your body too. And if you get that kind of request again next time, you have to tell me who that person is."
"Okay!"
I don't want to.
It's Yuna's request, but that is the one thing I can't grant.
Therefore, this is a lie. It was a smile holding a lie.
The 'someone' who gave the notes must remain as a reliable helper to Yuna. The last place Yuna can lean on.
I have nothing, so being a reliable helper or whatever is impossible.
So it's a wish I cannot fulfill.
Thinking about it like that makes it a bit sad.
I slowly stood up from my spot and dragged my leg as I returned to the dormitory.
But there was something attached to the front of the door.
"...Hmm?"
"Why, why did they entrust it to that bitch instead of me..."
To Yuna, that person was very special.
The person who had helped her overcome numerous crises until now, and who had allowed her to make plenty of reliable friends.
The person who, whenever Aria was plotting a scheme against her, would inform her of the contents through a note so she could respond in advance.
She had thought it was definitely an acquaintance of Aria's.
"A stranger...? Hah."
It was obvious that bitch was hiding something.
So she would go find them.
Because the reason she could be who she was now was all thanks to that person.
She had to find them... and properly repay them.
Yuna had that kind of mission.
And.
'...Blood.'
Yuna stared closely at the dark red blood splattered on her shoe.
'I knew she had an underlying illness, but.'
Perhaps the situation had become a bit... no, quite serious.
Of course, it would serve Aria right if she died. Because Yuna hated Aria.
Still, however...
"If you're going to die, die somewhere I can't see you."
Yuna muttered like that.
"What did you say?"
When her roommate Arcana asked back like that, Yuna blushed and quickly turned her head away.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"It's nothing!"
Arcana was an irreplaceable, precious friend.
After overcoming crises together countless times, their friendship had grown even stronger.
The two had met entirely by chance at the entrance ceremony, ended up sharing the same dormitory room entirely by chance, and became close.
Yuna never knew the fact that Aria had intervened in all of it.
The next day.
Yuna was subtly paying attention to Aria.
Because she seemed to be the key and clue connected to 'that person'.
But.
Aria was nowhere to be seen in the academy.
She wasn't particularly worried. Since she'd probably figure things out and do well on her own.
However.
'Without Aria, I can't meet that person.'
Yuna directed her steps toward the dormitory where Aria lived.
About a 15-minute walk.
It was close if you considered it close, but far if you considered it far.
And, she was a bit shocked.
In front of the door to her dormitory room, which had a nameplate saying [ Eviction Notice ] attached to it.
It was because she found Aria collapsed there.
Seeing her running a severe fever, it didn't seem like an ordinary matter.
Yuna reflexively hoisted Aria onto her back.
And she began to sprint.
"...I told you not to die."
Until you tell me that person's identity, you cannot die.
Absolutely.