Reunion

The day after I had my conversation with Kobayashi.

Sakura was waiting for me in front of her house. We used to go together, but this time there was a worried expression on her face.

"Did something happen?"

"We need to talk."

We started walking side by side as Sakura prepared the words in her mouth.

"So?"

"Yesterday after school, where did you go?"

After school? That was when Kobayashi dragged me to the school rooftop. I definitely won’t tell her what we talked about, but lying would only make things worse—Sakura might have seen us walking together.

"I went with Kobayashi to the school rooftop."

"For what?"

"She just wanted to talk with me in private."

"Talk about what?"

"What kind of invasive questions are these?"

"It definitely wasn’t something like a confession."

"And if it was, why so much interest? Don’t tell me you were jealous."

"Idiot, why would I be jealous of you?
That’s not the issue here."

"Issue?"

"Yes. Aren’t you going to tell me what it was about?"

"I’m not sure if I should, it was something private."

"… Was it about Kaede?"

I couldn’t hide my surprise. When Sakura started questioning me, I knew I couldn’t let the topic slip, but I didn’t expect her to be so close to the truth.

"Your reaction already answers my question."

"What is this? Were you spying on us from behind the door?"

"So you’re not denying that’s what the conversation was about, idiot."
"I don’t know what that girl told you, but it definitely wasn’t anything good."

"It was nothing serious."

"Hikaru."

"Hm?"

"You might be oblivious to the rest of the class, but everyone knows she doesn’t like the Revixits, even though no one knows why.
There are rumors that she posts hate comments about the Revixits on NeNe forums through anonymous accounts and that she’s been to anti-Revixit protests.
Everyone expected her to change her stance regarding Kaede, but that doesn’t seem to be the case."

"Well, I think it’s pretty clear she doesn’t like the Revixits..."

"Hikaru, I don’t know what she said to you, but don’t listen to that crazy girl."

"Don’t worry, it was nothing serious…"

"Hmf…"

As if I could tell Sakura that I agreed to help that crazy girl turn the whole class against Kaede.

Kobayashi’s words came back to me: "It’s like swimming against the current." She probably already knew there were people like Sakura who would try to stop her plans.

In any case, I can’t just ignore my best friend’s advice. Maybe I should talk to Kobayashi again and decline her proposal for an alliance, at least for now.

...

After class.

I couldn’t focus during the lesson; my mind was entirely consumed by the dilemma I found myself in.

On one hand, facing my fear and trying to make things go back to the way they were before.

On the other hand, going back on my word and being labeled a traitor.

Though, isn’t what I’m doing to Kaede far worse than betrayal anyway?

I decided to choose facing my fear, but before I could get up from my desk, my fear came to me—just like she used to do before.

"Yo, Hikaru!"

"Kaede…"

"Don’t think you can keep avoiding me.
But I get it, now that I’m a zombie, maybe you’re afraid I’ll bite you."

Kaede struck a ridiculous pose with her hands, imitating a zombie.

She had realized I was avoiding her, and even so, she took the initiative to make sure things wouldn’t stay that way. With a mix of sincerity and playfulness, she’d placed me in checkmate.

"It’s not that…"

"It’s okay, it’s okay.
I won’t get offended if you’ve got an issue with my current situation."

"Current situation," huh? She treats her own death so lightly.

"It’s just that I’m still not used to it..."

To the idea that you’re already dead, was what I thought of saying.

"Makes sense… Actually, I’m not used to it either.
It’s all so… new?"

"New?"

"It’s not like I can explain the feeling, but I think the best way to describe it is that it feels like I’m playing a game after the credits roll."
“You know, you can visit the places and NPCs you liked so much, but the story is already over. It's a nostalgic and melancholic feeling.”
"Wait, I'm not calling you an NPC!"

"A game? Only you could make that kind of comparison."

"But that’s how it feels!
It’s so sad to think that I’m dead and that I’ll soon have to say goodbye to everyone. But at the same time, I feel happy to have the chance to say one last farewell."

We never know how we’re going to die. Or who’ll be next. But deep in my heart, I still can’t accept it.

"I… No, I think no one can really believe it…"

"That I jumped off the school rooftop?"

"How can you say that so easily?"

"But that’s what happened.
I can’t change the past. My situation is what it is because of the mistake I made."

"Mistake? So you…"

"I don’t remember what happened to me before I died.
They say they erase the memories of our final moments to avoid trauma while being a Revixit.
But if you asked me, ‘Kaede, did you plan to jump?’ I think ‘No’ would be my answer.
Taking my own life isn’t something that matches how I think."

"That’s exactly why it feels like a huge lie."

"Well, can I tell you a secret?"

"… Y-Yes?"

"I had a terrible habit of sitting on the edge of the rooftop.
I know it’s risky, but I loved the view of the sunset from up there."

"That’s…"

"There’s a guardrail, but it still could’ve been just a slip on my part.
Well, at least that’s what I want to believe."

"That’s what I want to believe?" I’m absolutely certain she would never have jumped on her own!

And even so, even if the answer is that it was just an accident, how can I accept that it was her, of all people, who had to die?

"I still… Whatever..."
"I’m happy you came to talk to me.
I think talking like this, with you by my side, was what I needed to realize that things can go back to how they were before."

"I’m glad I can talk to you again…"
"Osh! All right, enough of this melancholic talk!
Let’s talk about something fun!"

"O-Okay…"

"Actually, I came to give you an invitation, I just wanted to set things straight first."

"An invitation?"

"The girls insisted on throwing a party to celebrate my return."
"It’ll be tomorrow at Nana’s place!"

"Oh!"

"You’re now officially invited, and I expect to see you there!"

"S-Sure!"
"I’ll do my best to come."

"Hikaru…"

"?"

"Even if you don’t come, don’t abandon me."
"I want to stay your friend until graduation."

"… Yes."

Kaede, what kind of guy do you think I am? How could I refuse when you say that to me with such a gentle look?

…

I needed to find Kobayashi urgently. Sakura was right. I only listened to that crazy girl because I was still confused about my feelings.

The conversation I had with Kaede helped clear the fog in my mind. I want things to go back to the way they were before!

I searched everywhere for Kobayashi, but with no luck. Her friends said she went straight home.

…

The next day.

“Nana” was our classmate who came as an exchange student. Her family had grown wealthy over generations through agriculture in Brazil. “Nana” was just the nickname she asked us to use and not her real name.

Her house was huge and easy to find, and inside there was a perfect leisure area for a party like the one organized for Kaede.

Among the familiar faces from class, there was one that caught my attention.

"I thought you weren’t coming."

"And I thought we weren’t supposed to hurt her feelings," Kobayashi whispered.

"Well, about that, I need to talk to you."

"Now’s not the time. I’ll wait for you in the student council room tomorrow."

I don’t think she understood my intentions.

"No, it’s that—"

"Hikaru!"

Sakura walked up to me, clearly intent on interrupting whatever conversation we were about to have.

"Come on, Kaede is waiting for you."

She grabbed my arm and pulled me away from Kobayashi, giving me a slightly annoyed look.

"What did I tell you?"

"It’s not like that…"

"Whatever, just come with me."

Sakura dragged me further away from Kobayashi until we were at what she must have considered a “safe” distance.

Before I knew it, I was face to face with Kaede. She looked more beautiful and radiant than ever. Her more casual outfit had a touch of lightness and elegance.

"Hikaru…"

"Kaede…"

Seeing her so beautiful like this—my heart can’t take it anymore! …Enough of being a coward; it’s time to finally confess my love for her!