The Beautiful Girl With a Kind Personality and Good Looks, Who Happens to Be My Childhood Friend, Seems to Have Eyes Only for Me
Side: Ayase Haru
I think everyone has scary dreams sometimes. I’m no exception—I occasionally have dreams that make my body tremble.
The world that should have been enveloped in light didn’t completely vanish. It wasn’t white, nor was it black. An ambiguous, heavy air hung there.
I was standing there.
—No.
The “being that should have been me” stood there.
Her expression was calm. But deep within her eyes, something crucial was missing.
“…You are me, aren’t you?”
It was the other me who spoke those words.
The future where Yuma-kun never regained his memories. The world where Yuma-kun lived on, unaware of the truth behind the accident.
In that world, I thought this:
—If it took the form of a trial, Yuma-kun would remember and suffer.
—If Yuma-kun didn’t suffer, that was enough.
—Whether it was just or not didn’t matter at all.
I couldn’t place hope in a trial. The verdict the victim wished for wouldn’t be handed down. I knew the outcome would bring no salvation.
So, the “being that was me” chose to execute the punishment herself.
I understand what kind of act that was. But there was no justice there. All that existed was the obsession with Asahina Yuma.
“Yuma-kun… was he happy?”
When I asked, the other me lowered her eyes for just an instant.
“…Yes. On the surface.”
“That’s all, then.”
She smiled. But it was resignation shaped like a smile.
“I returned to Yuma-kun. With a face that showed nothing. I pretended it was all over and erased the Kamiya family.”
But—it wasn’t over.
“What remained inside me was a quiet darkness. Anger, sorrow, a sense of justice. Everything melted away, leaving only something heavy. It didn’t disappear even when I was by Yuma-kun’s side.”
A gesture of clutching her chest. Broken, yet unable to realize she was broken.
“Every time Yuma-kun smiled, it hurt me. Because he never knew what I had taken from him.”
I stated it plainly.
“That isn’t love.”
“…I know.”
The other me didn’t deny it either.
“That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? ‘I’ had reached my limit.”
Our gazes met.
“You chose a different path.”
“Yes.”
I nodded without hesitation.
“The path of talking with Yuma. The path of suffering together. Yet it’s a path with light.”
After a silence, the other me exhaled softly.
“…I envy you. I became alone, using ‘protection’ as my reason.”
Those words held no blame or resentment. They were simply a fact. Her voice carried a hint of regret, a touch of sorrow. When she lifted her face, her eyes seemed to hold emotion, yet felt somehow empty.
Somehow, I understood. I felt I could understand this girl. And I also felt a strange certainty that once I woke from this dream, I would surely forget.
“Please, don’t become like me.”
“I won’t.”
I answered clearly.
“I won’t choose alone anymore. I’ll choose together with Yuma-kun.”
Finally, the other me smiled.
The next instant, light flooded in, as if to interrupt us. I knew instinctively that the moment of awakening was near.
“…That’s fine. That’s the answer I couldn’t reach.”
It wasn’t a smile of salvation, but it was a face that looked a little bit rewarded. This dream was a scene that could have actually been mine.
I awoke.
The room was still dim. Faint morning light seeped through the curtain’s gap.
Feeling the chill unique to early mornings, my consciousness sharpened—and I realized.
I was being held. In the arms of the person I loved more than anyone, the person I cherished most.
“…Yuma?”
No reply came when I called out. Instead, his arms tightened slightly, pulling me closer. It wasn’t uncomfortable. In fact, I found myself thinking he could hold me even tighter… Unable to sleep anymore, I pressed myself gently against him, wanting to feel Yuma-kun’s warmth as fully as possible.
Body heat.
Scent.
The living heartbeat transmitted deep within his chest.
Everything felt so precious, and I felt like I was in the happiest place in the world.
There were still things we needed to do going forward. But—Yuma and I could be even happier. The moment I thought that, the pressure of his arms loosened slightly. Feeling reluctant to let go, this time I hugged him back. Holding his head against my chest.
“…Mmm~?”
“…Cute.”
He murmured softly, but didn’t wake. I wrapped him gently, careful not to suffocate him. This feeling spreading through my chest. Motherly love… maybe? I didn’t know what it was, but it felt incredibly good.
“Ah… Yuma-kun, mouu..”
His face rubbed against my chest, tickling me.
But I didn’t mind.
After a while, Yuma-kun woke up.
“…Waking up sandwiched between your breasts…”
“Does it feel good?”
“Yes.”
He was honest and cute. Pampering him like this, being pampered by him. We finally got out of bed.
“Shall we take a bath?”
“I suppose so… hehe.”
“What?”
“I was just thinking how happy I am, even this early in the morning.”
After that, we took a bath together and spent a lively time with Miyo-san, who was off work.
By late afternoon, I had to go home for an errand. Wanting to touch him just a little longer, I walked arm-in-arm with Yuma-kun as he walked me part of the way.
“Well then, I’ll call you later.”
“Yeah… I’ll miss you a little.”
“…Me too.”
Truthfully, I wanted to stay together forever. But we were still students. The kiss goodbye eased the loneliness just a little—and I headed home.
Just before entering the house, I glanced over at Yamato-kun’s place across the street… but that was all. I had no interest in that trash anymore. All that was left was for him to take responsibility.
Maiasa