The feeling of powerlessness caused by the mother's hatred for his father's philandering, the pain of wanting to change but being unable to do anything, the loneliness of being forever regarded as a transparent person.

In the gloomy days.

That boy will always choose her unswervingly and stand on her side.

Because she is too guarded and doesn't want to rely on others or let others know.

However, that person seemed to have noticed her distress from the beginning.

That's why she was so anxious, trying to keep a distance from him, but couldn't help but care about him.

Even though she was so indifferent to him and so fierce that she didn't care what he thought.

But that self-righteous boy really fulfilled his promise.

Not only did he extend his hand to her who had been fighting alone, but he also stayed by her side and even cared more about her own affairs than she did.

It was like the fuzzy wind blowing into an air-conditioned room, making her chest extremely hot.

I don't know when her name for him changed.

From "Iwanami-san" to "Yusuke".

Even though it was a helpless cooperation at the request of the other party.

However--

Just a slight change in the way of addressing her made her feel close to her without permission.

Obviously, in order not to get involved in unnecessary trouble, she has always been indifferent to anyone and anything, and has lived a lonely life.

——But for the first time, I have someone I want to trust.

She also wants to have close friends.

Everyone has fun together every day, fights and fights, occasionally quarrels and then make up.

Have a lively chat with your good friends about the boy you like, or discuss with them about the boy you like.

This was the first emotion she noticed after meeting the person in front of her.

She doesn't want her original life at all.

She was just imprisoned there.

In fact, she also wanted to move forward bravely like him and wanted to laugh happily.

Unknowingly, she began to look forward to the opportunity to talk to him, thinking that she could live such a life in the future.

Then a series of things happened...

The boy I like is framed, the girls in the class take revenge, the mother is bored, the best friend commits suicide...

Dizzying things come one after another, with overwhelming pressure, intending to completely destroy people.

But before she could react, things ended one by one...

"From school to home.

Things about Yuko, things about mother...

That man's promises were all fulfilled in the end, he is my hero..."

The girl's voice was choked with sobs, mixed with a thick nasal sound.

"...I have always been afraid. If I establish a relationship with someone, if I have someone I value, will I lose them all one day?"

"Will I hurt others and be hurt by others? Will I have to let go of the hand I hold? I'm really scared."

"But……"

The girl sniffed gently and hiccupped "gu, gurgling".

"That person is so dazzling...

No one has ever chosen me so firmly. He always tries to face my heart, making me want to rely on him unconsciously."

She stopped for a moment when she said this, her long eyelashes trembled, her eyes were filled with a layer of mist, she bit her lip, and there was a hint of crying in her voice.

"...In the end, I lost him..."

Couldn't continue.

Sayu lowered her head and closed her eyes tightly, her chest rising and falling irregularly.

He placed a hand lightly on it and breathed hard for a few seconds to calm himself down.

Then.

She opened her eyes again and said in a deliberately calm tone:

"Even though it was just a dream, maybe it all sounds so unrealistic that no one even remembers it except me...

But...if you know anything, please tell me..."

As the words slowly settled.

It's like suddenly coming back to consciousness from a certain state.

Kato Yusuke's eyes changed from trance to clarity, and then he transferred his consciousness from the void to the girl opposite.

His face, which looked more mature than he remembered, was illuminated by the dim light in the store, casting an illusory shadow.

That beautiful figure and lonely look made his chest feel painful, but it didn't show on his face.

He looked at the other party calmly and whispered: "...I don't have what you are looking for here."

Wow, it was like a bucket of cold water was poured on me.

The long speech just now seemed like a lie.

Sayu suddenly woke up from his dream.

Pattering, the emotions receded like the tide.

"and you……"

She opened her mouth and tried to say something, but was interrupted by the boy.

"...I'm sorry I can't help you. Anyway, thank you for telling me this. This story is very interesting. I may consider using it in my creations in the future."

Kato Yusuke looked up at the clock on the wall and tapped his fingers on the table.

"As a thank you, even if I've invited you to have this coffee, it's already getting late, so it's almost time for me to leave. Nice to meet you, Miss Ogiwara."

After saying that, he stood up, took the bill and walked to the cashier.

Seeing him about to leave, Sayu panicked for no reason, couldn't help but stood up and shouted: "...Please wait a moment!"

Kato Yusuke stopped, with no unnecessary expression on his face, "...Miss Ogiwara, is there anything else you can do?"

"..."

Sayu was speechless for a moment.

She wanted to continue to seek confirmation from him, but the other party had already made his attitude clear, and she had no reason and no idea how to stop him.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help lowering her eyes in disappointment, and then slowly shook her head, with a reluctant smile on her face.

"...Nothing, thank you for listening to me. I'm sorry for wasting your time..."

Tick ​​tick tick, the clock ticks slowly.

"..."

Looking at the soft smiling face with a weak expression, Yusuke Kato unconsciously clenched and unclenched his fingers on the bill book and asked.

"……Where do you live."

"Eh?"

Sayu who suddenly heard this question couldn't help but was startled, his eyes flashed slightly, then he lowered his head and stared at his toes and whispered:

"...I came in a hurry and haven't found a place to stay yet."

A brief silence.

"...Follow me later and I'll take you to a nearby hotel."

Kato Yusuke said without emotion, and then walked past her to the cashier.

A hint of guilt flashed in the girl's eyes, and she hummed softly: "...Thank you."
Chapter completed!