Volume 1. Chapter 72

The warm light of the morning sun filtered through the tent fabric, gently caressing Lily’s face. She had been awake for a while, sitting by the campfire, slowly stirring breakfast in the pot as fragrant steam rose into the air. The memories from the night’s dream wouldn’t leave her alone.

They weren’t just dreams.

She had lived Ken’s memories.

Every movement, every glance, even the taste of strawberry milkshake...

It was so real that Lily couldn’t dismiss it as a mere dream.

She glanced at Ken out of the corner of her eye.

He was still asleep.

Calm, steady breath... in... out...

He was so different in this world.

Here, he didn’t have to constantly prove he was worth something. There was no burden of expectations. Here, he could simply be himself.

Ken stirred.

Lily noticed his eyelids twitch slightly, and then he slowly opened his eyes.

She immediately leaned closer.

Ken faintly felt the warmth of the morning sun on his face and winced. Somewhere nearby, the fire crackled, the air filled with the appetizing scent of breakfast, and close by...

— Good morning, sleepyhead, — Lily’s voice was soft, like a gentle breeze.

Ken lazily opened one eye, squinting at her blurry silhouette.

— Mmm... morning...? — he murmured, still half-asleep.

Lily leaned closer.

— Yes, morning. Though, with how long you’ve slept, it might as well be noon.

Ken furrowed his brow slightly but smirked.

They ate breakfast by the fire. Lily quietly watched Ken as he ate, chewing slowly, as if lost in thought.

But Lily knew.

She had seen him.

— Ken... — her voice was softer than usual.

Ken looked at her.

— Mmm?

Lily set her spoon down.

— I want to tell you something.

He raised an eyebrow.

— Seriously? No teasing?

— Very seriously, — Lily looked into his eyes.

Ken stopped chewing.

She told him everything.

About the exams. About how he took first place.

About bowling.

About baseball.

About the arcade games.

Every moment she had lived through.

When she finished, Ken looked at her for a while in silence.

— And it was all... real? — he finally asked.

— Down to the smallest detail.

He exhaled slowly.

— Those were definitely my memories.

Lily saw something new flash in his eyes — a trace of unease.

Ken rubbed his neck.

— Looks like our minds somehow got intertwined.

— Because of the bracelets?

— Most likely.

He thought for a second, then gave her a slightly amused look.

— So, you saw everything, huh? Even how I crushed everyone in the fighting game?

Lily snorted.

— Yes, yes, you’re unbeatable. I got it.

Ken smirked but then became serious again.

— Do you remember anything else? Any other memories?

Lily thought for a moment.

— No. Just that one day.

Ken nodded.

— So they might surface in dreams. But it’s okay. If it happens again — tell me.

— Okay.

She nodded but didn’t take her eyes off Ken.

Suddenly, Lily realized this was her chance to tell him something he had never heard in his world.

She took a deep breath.

— Ken...

He looked at her again.

— I didn’t just see your victories.

— What else?

Lily lowered her gaze.

— How hard you always try.

Ken tensed slightly.

— You didn’t just win.

She raised her eyes, looking straight into his deep, dark eyes.

— You worked so hard, Ken.

He blinked.

— I...

Lily continued, her voice soft but firm.

— You weren’t born a genius who gets everything effortlessly. You earned it yourself. No one told you “good job,” they just said “genius.”

Ken froze.

— You perfected your bowling throws on your own. Trained at baseball on your own. Learned how the machines worked on your own.

She gently placed her hand on his.

— I saw how hard you worked, how afraid you were to disappoint others, the burden of expectations you carried, and how hard it all was for you.

Ken held his breath.

— But you didn’t give up. You overcame everything through your own effort.

Lily slowly hugged him.

Her warm arms wrapped softly around his shoulders.

— You did amazing, Ken. You achieved it all through your hard work. I’m proud of you.

He didn’t know what to say.

His heart suddenly pounded heavily in his chest.

He wasn’t used to hearing words like that.

Not used to someone noticing.

To someone saying it aloud.

He felt a strange warmth in his chest.

— Thank you... — his voice was softer than usual.

They sat like that for a while.

Without words.

Just understanding each other.

Deep inside, Ken felt this was an important moment.

As if something invisible he had carried all his life — unspoken words, unvoiced feelings — had finally found release.

Lily broke the silence first.

— You know, Ken... — her voice was quiet but firm.

He tilted his head slightly, looking at her.

— You’ve heard so many times that you’re amazing, brilliant, smart... but no one ever told you that you’re just... a good person.

Ken held his breath for a moment.

Lily squeezed his hand a little tighter.

— You’re not just smart and talented. You’re caring. You’re attentive. You never abandon people. Always ready to risk your life for others.

She looked at him with the warmest smile he had ever seen.

— You’re just a good person, Ken. And that’s enough.

Ken lowered his gaze.

It was the simplest compliment.

But for some reason, it was stronger than all those “genius” or “amazing.”

Because it was real.

Ken slowly nodded.

— Thank you... — his voice was quieter than usual. — Honestly, I thought I’d never hear those words in my life.

Lily said nothing more.

She just held him tighter in her embrace.

Ken heard these simple but so desperately needed words for the first time.

At that moment, he realized that all his efforts hadn’t been in vain. Someone finally understood his feelings.

And suddenly, he felt lighter. As if a weight that had burdened his soul... had finally vanished.