Episode 9 – Free, Yet Unfulfilled — Shota’s Subtle Dissonance

Shota, Who Was Supposed to Be Free

“Shota-kun! Over here!”

A cheerful voice called out from a table at the café.

It was Akari Yuki.

Shota’s… current girlfriend.

“Did I keep you waiting?”

“Nope! I just got here!”

She smiled brightly, and as Shota sat down beside her, she naturally wrapped her arm around his.

Warmth.

Gentle, comforting warmth.

And yet—for some reason—it felt oddly out of place.

(Wait… Aren’t I supposed to be happy right now?)

He was free.

No one scolded him for anything he did, wherever he went, or whomever he talked to.

He could check his phone during work, eat lunch with anyone, or go out for a drink on a whim.

No rules. No control.

And still—

“Shota-kun?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah… sorry.”

Apparently, he’d zoned out.

Akari leaned in, looking up at him with concern.

“Is something bothering you?”

“No, not really…”

Even as he answered, Shota struggled to make sense of the haziness inside him.

What is this feeling?

“Oh! Hey, how about we go somewhere this weekend?”

“This weekend?”

“Yeah, like an aquarium or a movie! I’m happy to go wherever you want!”

She sounded genuinely excited.

(Where I want to go?)

He couldn’t think of anything.

Actually, it had been a while since someone had even asked him what he wanted to do.

(Wait… how did things used to be, again…?)

As he tried to recall, an image surfaced in his mind—

“Come on, Shota-kun, this way.”

“If you keep spacing out like that, I’ll leave you behind, okay?”

Ryoko’s unmistakable voice—confident, unwavering.

She’d always been the one to decide their weekend plans, their meals, everything.

—No one ever asked for his opinion.

—And yet, he’d never once felt dissatisfied.

(…Why not?)

Shota raised a hand to his forehead.

His head felt strangely foggy.

“Shota-kun?”

“…Ah, no, it’s nothing.”

He was overthinking it.

Ryoko was in the past.

Now, he was dating Akari—

“How about the aquarium, then?”

“…Yeah, sure.”

He gave a vague response, and Akari smiled brightly in return.

But even as he watched that smile, Shota’s heart felt anything but light.

(I’m free… so why does it feel like something’s missing?)

Reunion at the Aquarium

“Wow, amazing! I can’t wait for the dolphin show!”

Akari clung to Shota’s arm, bouncing with excitement.

In front of a massive aquarium window, fish glided through the blue water, casting a dreamlike scene.

Standing beside her, Shota found himself staring at the tank absentmindedly.

(…Why do I feel so restless?)

Even though he was here on a date with Akari, his mind kept drifting.

She was kind, easygoing, and never controlling.

And yet—

“…Shota-kun?”

—A chill ran down his spine.

He heard a voice he knew all too well.

Startled, he turned around—and there she was.

“…Ryoko-senpai…?”

Ryoko stood there.

—And she was beautiful.

A black chiffon dress, heeled sandals.

Her softly curled hair rested on her shoulders, exuding the elegance of a refined woman.

But what captivated him the most was the intensity behind her eyes.

“It’s been a while, Shota-kun.”

She said with a gentle smile.

“…Why are you here?”

“I like aquariums too.”

Ryoko turned her eyes to the tank.

A large stingray swam gracefully across the glass.

Next to him, Akari tightened her grip on Shota’s arm.

“…Isn’t this a little too convenient to be coincidence?”

“You’re right.”

Ryoko chuckled softly.

“It’s not a coincidence.”

—Another shiver ran through him.

“I wanted to see you.”

Her eyes locked on his—and pierced right through.

(Oh no… this is bad…)

The moment he met that gaze, he remembered—

Once she had her eyes on you, escape was impossible.

“Are you happy now, Shota-kun?”

Just as her hand reached out to gently brush his cheek—

“Don’t touch him!!”

A sharp voice rang out.

Akari stepped between them, swatting Ryoko’s hand away.

“Shota-senpai has nothing to do with you anymore!”

Ryoko calmly looked at Akari.

“Can you really make Shota-kun happy?”

“...!”

Akari was at a loss for words.

Ryoko then looked directly at Shota again.

“Tell me, Shota-kun… have you really forgotten about me?”

—His heart skipped a beat.

He couldn’t answer.

“Because I… I haven’t forgotten you.”

Ryoko’s fingers lightly touched his.

And in an instant, that feeling came rushing back—

The strange, comforting sensation of being completely controlled.

(…My heart’s wavering…)

This isn’t over—not yet.