Even after pressing the intercom, there was no response.
Come to think of it, the lights in the house weren’t on either, and there was no sign of anyone being there.
Maybe she’s away?
“…”
I had come all this way, but there was nothing I could do about it.
It was just bad luck. I sighed, thinking so.
I had come here with such determination, but the fact that I couldn’t consider the other person’s circumstances just showed how selfish I still was.
Well, at least I’m aware of that now.
“…Guess I’ll head back.”
I turned away from her house.
However, the moment I realized my actions were in vain, I suddenly felt the cold.
“Ah-choo!”
I sneezed and unconsciously rubbed my arms.
It was at that moment.
Clank!
I heard the sound of the door opening.
The rough noise was probably due to it being carelessly left ajar.
“…That’s unfair of you.”
I heard a voice.
Startled, I turned around, and the door to Yuzuki’s house was open… and there she was, standing in the doorway.
“Yuzuki, um…”
I tried to call out in a hurry.
But before I could, she rushed out and grabbed my arm.
“Why aren’t you wearing warmer clothes when it’s this cold?”
Her hand holding mine was warm.
That warmth seeped into me.
“I… I guess I wasn’t paying attention.”
“But if you stay outside like this, you’ll catch a cold, you know?”
…Oddly enough, it was the same thing I had said to Azusa earlier.
Recalling her pained expression, my heart twinged.
Would it be alright for me to warm up my body?
Even though Azusa had been so hurt… shouldn’t I be feeling the pain too?
No, if I don’t feel the pain, I can’t calm down.
That’s why I unconsciously choose actions that resemble self-harm.
Maybe that’s why I didn’t bother to dress warmly.
“A cold doesn’t matter to me.”
I muttered quietly and gently shook off Yuzuki’s hand.
Just as I was about to enter her house, I found myself standing still in that spot.
“Yuzuki. I… I want to apologize to you…”
“I don’t care about that right now.”
However, Yuzuki casually dismissed my resolve.
“Just hurry up and come inside.”
“But…”
“—Please come in.”
Without waiting for my response, she grabbed my hand again and pulled me inside.
Her expression was filled with an anger that was not typical of her.
Overpowered by her momentum, I entered the house as she closed the door with a click.
With the cold air blocked out and the warmth of the heater, the chill dissipated.
“…I didn’t intend to leave.”
Finally, Yuzuki seemed to calm down.
“Even if we met, you’d just compromise in the end… I feel like I’m choosing through trivial emotions like obligation and sympathy, even though I don’t need any of that. But… Ryoma-san, you’re still unfair.”
“Unfair…?”
“Yes, unfair. Just by seeing you shivering in the cold with such a painful expression… sneezing like that, I couldn’t just ignore it.”
“Y-You saw that?”
“I didn’t intend to see. But I couldn’t help but be curious, so I peeked through the gap in the curtains… and by the time I realized it, I was already running out.”
After that, Yuzuki let out a small sigh.
Seemingly exasperated, then… just a little, she looked pleased.
“That’s why I can’t leave you alone… I’ve fallen in love with you.”
…Even now, Yuzuki still spoke such kind words to me…
