Before she knew it, Shiki’s heart had found some peace.
His kindness was like a drug.
Just being with him, just talking to him, made her forget the pain.
“And… you’ll come back, right…?”
“Of course. I won’t abandon you.”
“…O-okay! Th-then, that’s fine!”
She turned her face away in embarrassment.
Amamori Yuuto seemed to smile at the sight.
“Yeah, I’ll come back. Wait for me.”
Surprised, she looked at him, but his expression had already returned to its usual blankness.
She felt a little disappointed that she hadn’t seen his smile.
But she was happy that he said he’d come back.
“Okay, I’ll wait. I’ll wait…!”
Shiki Iroha shouted with a smile.
Pouring all her joy into those words.
After that, Amamori Yuuto came back often.
Maybe once a day, or perhaps at slightly longer intervals.
As always, no one else came.
The darkness was lonely, cold, and the filth was disgusting.
But it was okay.
Because Amamori Yuuto was there.
Every time he came, he brought kindness to Shiki Iroha.
He gave her water, cleaned up her mess without hesitation.
He gently patted her head, spoke to her.
一He was always on her side.
Before she knew it, Shiki found herself thinking about him all the time.
Shinzaki Yasuhito and others were long gone from her mind.
When would he come next?
What would they talk about?
Would he pat her head again?
Would he finally smile next time?
Even in her misfortune, she was happy.
She had never felt such immense happiness before.
Her youth felt so fulfilling that it made her past life seem boring.
Her heart was healing.
一That’s why.
When Amamori Yuuto stopped coming, her heart trembled.
Why, why? Was she abandoned?
Such anxieties一no, there weren’t even any.
All she felt was worry for Amamori Yuuto.
Had something happened?
Had he been caught on his way here?
Or had Shinzaki Yasuhito gotten to him?
Various fears crossed her mind, growing, casting shadows on her heart again.
The initial despair was nothing compared to this.
She was so consumed by thoughts of him that she felt like she was losing it.
Why, why?
Why can’t I be of any use to him?
How much has he saved me?
This time, I want to help him.
If that’s what he wishes, I’ll do anything for him.
Not just to repay his kindness…
It’s because I want to.
I want to be useful to him.
If I can do that, I’m sure I’ll be able to stay by his side.
He might pat my head again.
He might hug me.
He might even smile at me.
Thinking that far… she finally understood.
“Ah… I’m in love with him.”
The moment she realized it, something inside her cleared.
No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say it broke.
There was no more anxiety, only worry lingering in her heart.
It didn’t matter what happened to her.
一As long as Amamori Yuuto was safe, that was all that mattered.
She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath.
There was no more fear behind her eyelids.
Even when she closed her eyes, the only thing that filled her heart was her feelings for him.
……I’ll leave this place and go see Amamori Yuuto. With that resolve, she opened her eyes.
It’s not enough to just be saved.
I have to save him一I have to save him.
And to do that, what can I do?
As she thought that far一she suddenly noticed something.
The commotion she could hear from far away.
“……? Wh-what’s…?”
The noise gradually grew louder.
It sounded like men fighting each other.
The deafening roar of battle, the clash of weapons, the sounds of destruction.
She froze in fear… but then, the noise suddenly stopped.
“……………?”
Curious, she turned her gaze toward the source of the sound.
And then一with another loud crash, a blinding light poured into the warehouse.
She instinctively closed her eyes at the sudden brightness.
But then, a familiar gentle scent made her body tense up.
“Sorry, I’m… a little late.”
Ignoring the pain in her eyes, Shiki Iroha opened them wide.
Her vision was blurry,
but she could see the entrance to the warehouse had been completely shattered.
The light spilling in from outside was soft… and standing there, backlit by that light, was a boy.
His body was covered in wounds.
Battered and bruised, he walked toward her.
“Ama…mori…!”
“……They weren’t showing any signs of backing down. I had no choice but to take them all out.”
As he said that, he undid Shiki’s restraints.
His body looked more fragile than ever, his bloodied form illuminated by the light.
The moment she was freed, Shiki tightly, tightly embraced Amamori Yuuto.
“I’m so glad, so glad…! You’re safe, you’re safe!”
“……I managed to save you too… I’m really glad.”
Amamori also hugged Shiki back.
The light from outside enveloped the two of them.
Shiki’s heart was filled with joy, relief, and a hint of embarrassment as she breathed in Amamori’s gentle scent.
And then, she smiled happily.
(I really do love this person.)
The one who saved me.
The one who was kind to me.
The one who risked his life for me.
If it’s for him, I’ll do anything.
If he tells me to, I’ll even kill someone.
If it’s for his sake, I’ll even deceive a god.
If I can be useful to him, I wouldn’t mind dying right here and now.
I love Amamori Yuuto that much.
I’m crazy about him.
I love him, from the bottom of my heart.
“……Yuuto. I love you more than anyone else in the world.”
And so, Shiki Iroha fell in love with Amamori Yuuto.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
☆☆☆
That was the prologue to this conflict.
It happened a little before the sports festival, during Golden Week.
When I stepped out of the warehouse, I realized it had only been five days.
It felt much longer than that… but strange things happen sometimes.
Also, I couldn’t identify the class that had kidnapped me.
It seems they ran away after Yuuto beat them up, but I couldn’t see their faces in the darkness. The only face I remember is the boy who first abducted me… but for some reason, I’ve forgotten what he looks like.
Maybe he used some kind of ability to make himself unmemorable… but oh well, what’s forgotten is forgotten. All I need is Yuuto. I have no interest in any other boys, and as long as I can live my life thinking about Yuuto, that’s enough for me.
……Honestly, I can’t help but laugh at how much I’ve fallen for him.
No matter how many words I use, there’s no lie in these feelings.
To me right now, everything but Yuuto is trivial.
[Good day, Class C duo! Shiki Iroha here! I’m joining your group today, all for Yuuto!]
I wanted to be with Yuuto, so I joined [Night Banquet], the group he’s a part of.
The members, Kurashiki and Kurotsuki, were so shocked their jaws practically dropped… but honestly, if you told me this would happen just a little while ago, I wouldn’t have believed it either.
Of course, the others would never imagine that Yuuto and I are connected.
Even if I told them, they’d probably just brush it off as a joke.
That’s why I was so happy一I might actually be able to be useful to Yuuto.
[Shiki, I want you to keep acting the same way you always have.]
[Got it!]
That was all Yuuto said to me.
I put my heart and soul into fulfilling his wish.
After Golden Week, Shinzaki didn’t say anything to me.
About the fact that I’d been kidnapped, or that I was now back at school.
He didn’t bring it up at all, so I didn’t either.
If I mentioned it even once, things wouldn’t stay “the same as always.”
So I thoroughly played the part of [Shiki Iroha].
……Well, when Yuuto’s name came up, I might have been a little, just a little, shaken… but it didn’t show, so it’s all good.
“I wonder what Yuuto’s thinking right now.”
He’s probably fighting Shinzaki right about now… I think.
I’m not there, so all I can do is imagine.
Strangely, I’m not worried about him right now.
Back then, I was so worried I thought he might die.
But the more I got to know him, the more I realized he’s not someone I need to worry about.
一To put it mildly, Amamori Yuuto is the strongest.
There’s no way he could lose.
Well, he did lose to Shinzaki once in front of me, but I’m sure there was a reason for that. He’s kind, cool, and above all, logical一he’d never do something without a purpose.
So一there must be a reason he saved me too, Yuuto.
I looked back.
……I don’t want to admit it, but I don’t dislike Shinzaki.
I feel somewhat indebted to him, and I doubt there’s anyone in Class B who dislikes him.
Betraying someone like that… I do have some mixed feelings about it.
一But, Shinzaki.
I’m sorry, but I’m happier than I’ve ever been devoting myself to him.
Before and after, the only one I care about is that person.
Even if the whole world becomes my enemy, I’ll always stand by his side.
To do that, I’ll do anything.
一Even if everything about him is a [lie].
My love won’t waver.
No matter how much he hides from me.
Even if our beginning was nothing but lies.
I’ll accept it all with a smile and love him all the same.
Nothing more, nothing less.
I’ll live my life devoted to his will.
That’s who I am now.
……Well, I’ll apologize to you later, Shinzaki.
So just give up already.
No matter how hard you try, you can’t beat him.
☆☆☆
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