[Ryoma Ryuzaki’s Perspective]
It was indeed too late.
“―― Goodbye, Onii-chan Ryoma.”
With a smile, Azusa said so and left without looking back.
After seeing her off until she disappeared from view… I collapsed right there.
“…I can’t even get a chance to atone for my sins.”
Once, I made a mistake.
Azusa confessed to me, and I didn’t even give her a proper response.
Because Azusa called me “Onii-chan” and cherished me.
And I, thinking of Azusa as my little sister, cared for her.
I thought that was enough.
Because she wanted it… Without considering Azusa’s feelings, I selfishly decided that no other emotions were necessary.
Because she’s my sister, it’s natural for her to be by my side.
Because she’s my sister, it’s natural for her to cherish her older brother.
Because I had such arrogant thoughts… I ended up hurting her.
And without properly apologizing for hurting her, Azusa distanced herself from me.
And so, Azusa found a new path and started walking on it.
“I really did something terrible.”
I felt it again.
Seeing Azusa, who used to flinch around me, hurt my heart.
If only I had been decent, there could have been a different path.
For example, becoming lovers with Azusa — there was definitely a possibility.
I crushed that possibility.
I trampled on Azusa’s feelings.
I can no longer atone for this failure.
There’s nothing I can do for Azusa anymore.
At least… I’ll engrave it in my heart to not make someone else feel the same.
“―― I need to apologize while I still can.”
There’s still a girl I hurt.
Kirari forgave me. She still had expectations for me.
I’m grateful for that.
But there’s one more… There’s still a girl whom I might be able to apologize to.
“I need to properly apologize to Yuzuki too…”
I want to bow my head properly to that girl who has been by my side all this time.
Even though I don’t think I’ll be forgiven even if I apologize.
Even so, if Yuzuki still has feelings for me, like Azusa, I want to cut them off so that she can embark on a new path.
Because that’s the only thing I can do.
“―― Shall we go?”
With that, I started walking towards her house.
I didn’t dress warmly, but I didn’t care about the cold now.
I’m still wearing slippers, but that’s fine.
Because I want to free Yuzuki as soon as possible.
(But what should I say?)
While walking, I search for words to say to Yuzuki.
But I can’t come up with anything… Before I knew it, I had already arrived at her house.
It’s a distance that would take about ten minutes by bus, but it took me over an hour to walk.
It’s already late at night. I hesitated for a moment before pressing the intercom without hesitation.
I want to finish this quickly.
Otherwise, I felt like I would collapse from regret for what I had done…
