“I’m not necessary for Kotaro-san. The person he seeks isn’t me either. That’s why, it’s not him I’ve fallen for—it’s you.”
The encounter was ordinary.
Meeting in the classroom during the high school entrance ceremony, exchanging brief words.
Just that.
But from then on, she became strangely close to me.
“Ryoma-san is, how should I put it… imperfect. He seems complete, but something is missing. I wanted to fill that gap, that crevice… I always thought that by reaching out, I could make Ryoma-san complete as a person. That’s what I selfishly believed.”
Even though I never asked, she devoted herself to me.
Always caring, always rushing to my side whenever something happened, always wanting to be near me.
But she would also keep her distance if needed… yet, she would always come back once that time passed.
Such convenience in Yuzuki was too good for me.
I had assumed that maybe she… like Azusa and Kirari, got caught up in my ‘likability’ towards girls.
Kirari seemed to understand and forgive me even so, but… I hurt Azusa, and I feel sorry for that.
I don’t want to hurt Yuzuki like I did Azusa.
That’s why I came here, thinking like that.
“A while ago, Ryoma-san didn’t even notice me… He seemed to suppress himself and revel in self-sacrifice. I didn’t fall for that, so I ended up feeling really uncomfortable.”
“I’m … sorry about that.”
I wanted to make Yuzuki happy.
I felt like I should take responsibility for making her fall for me…
But that was the very thing she despised the most.
“Please reflect on this, okay? And don’t underestimate me. I fell for Ryoma-san of my own will. Please don’t take responsibility for that. I’ll clean up my own mess. Don’t underestimate me… I’m not a weak heroine who needs protection.”
Yuzuki always seemed timid and cowardly, but she had a strong core.
She always had her unchangeable ‘self’.
“We met on the day of the entrance ceremony, in the classroom… It was love at first sight. Since then, I’ve loved you deeply. I love your tyranny, your cruelty, your selfishness, your arrogance, including your selfishness. Please accept these feelings of mine. No, please understand. Stop assuming things and deciding for me.”
I doubted her love.
I misunderstood that I made her fall for me.
But with Yuzuki… it seemed like this was really happening.
“My encounter with Ryoma-san was a ‘miracle’ for me. It’s neither more nor less than that. So, please believe in that miracle.”
Not opportunism.
Yuzuki expresses her love for me as a ‘miracle’.
Or maybe she’s just deluding herself.
The truth might be somewhere else entirely.
Honestly, I don’t know the right answer.
But if Yuzuki believes it’s a miracle… I knew I shouldn’t deny it.
