One's Love Is Another's Solution

"Neo, I need your help; I'm in love with a guy named Kensuke. You probably don't know him; he used to be a student at C.L. Academy, my former school. He's a boy with dark brown hair that's slicked back. When Saya mentioned her name, I remembered Kensuke's words and thought she was angry because Kensuke had talked to her about me. Anyway, we need to talk, but not now. Send me a message later."

Neo took his cell phone from his pocket. His heart began to race as he turned it on. The phone was easily unlocked as it had no password. He searched for messages, but it was empty. There were no applications, no photos, no videos, nothing. Looking at the contacts list, he saw the names of his siblings, his father, and some people he couldn't remember. Scrolling down, reached the letter M. His mother's name wasn't there, but there was Melody's.

"Melody, I read your message," Neo sent to her. He stared at the screen without answering, put the phone down and looked at the ceiling. A message beeped on the boy's phone. "Finally! I thought you'd never send me a message! What happened to your phone?" she replied.

"Nothing, why?" Neo asked.

"I sent you several messages and you didn't respond to any of them. Well, I'm glad you read it."

"I know Kensuke. He transferred to my school and is in love with Saya, his childhood friend."

"I already knew that. I just didn't expect that he would change schools for Hoshi so easily."

"Before we talk, may I ask to meet you?"

"Why?"

"There are things I would prefer to discuss in person."

"All right, would you like to meet me at my work?"

"Better not. I have a better place. I'll meet you after your work."

Can't solve his own problems, has to solve people's problems, irony.

Len entered the room and the atmosphere became tense because Neo didn't talk to him.

"Has something happened between you and Saya?" Len asked, knowing that this question would reveal what was wrong with Neo.

"Nothing happened," Neo replied coldly.

Len sighed, sat down on the bench and took off his shoes. Tired, but needing to get Neo to talk, he continued, "She seemed really sad at school today."

Neo lay down with his back to the wall, ignoring Len. Len grabbed a towel and some clothes from the closet. "You should go to school. It's not right for you to stay here. What happened? This sudden change isn't natural."

Neo felt pressured and had to answer. "I have some problems I have to solve."

"See if she's giving you any trouble." Len hesitated before continuing, "As your friend, I'd advise you to give up."

Neo was surprised. "I can't give up!"

Len was already at the bathroom door. "But you can't stay like this."

They didn't speak again. The next day, Neo went to the Union District, passed a pet shop, bought food and water, and waited for Melody to finish work. They walked in silence until they reached a wall with a hole in it.

Neo went under the wall and Melody hesitated a bit. But after seeing the hidden place, she was fascinated, especially by the number of cats. She sat down on a bench while Neo filled the bowls with food and water. When he finished, he sat down next to Melody and they watched the cats eat.

"I come here from time to time to take care of the cats. This is where I woke up," he explained.

Melody was a little confused, and Neo, noticing that, decided to explain the whole story.

"So, you lost your memories?"

"Yes, that's right. That's why I didn't answer. My father had my phone."

Melody looked at the sky as if her thoughts were flying away, pondering her friend's situation. "It must be terrible."

"It was a bit. I still haven't regained all my memories, so there are things I don't remember."

"Like what?"

"About my life before, my friends, and especially who I was."

Melody thought about it and before she could answer, Neo added more information. "My father told me I was a terrible person. Ever since then, I've been conflicted about recovering all my memories."

Melody laughed slightly. "I don't think your father was telling the truth."

Neo doubted what he heard. "Are you sure?"

Melody sighed, analyzing the situation more objectively. "You are clearly different from what I remember. But do you think I would be friends with someone as bad as you say?"

"I don't know. I don't remember everything from the past, remember?"

"That's true!" Melody said sadly. But this sadness quickly turned into a smile when she remembered something. "You always had a good heart. I remember something that will make you happy."

Neo became interested in what she was saying and paid more attention. "I met you when I started studying music with your mother. I miss those classes; there were so many students, and we talked about music all day."

"I liked music too?"

"Yes, you did, but not as much as those singers. Your mother taught you to play the piano so you could accompany the rest of the class. But you definitely didn't have the same talent for it as you did for sports."

"Right, so I can play the piano?"

"Yes. You even played in the big competition we had. All the students participated. It was a great opportunity to show off to the town. So many people watched."

"And were there many talented people among the students?"

"Yes! Everyone was capable. When I heard everyone sing, I couldn't pick a winner. I beat two boys and ended up against a girl who beat two other girls."

"And did you lose?"

"Of course not! Who do you think you're talking to?" Melody said, getting annoyed and even forgetting what she was talking about. Need to concentrate to keep talking. "But I wasn't as happy as I thought I would be when I won. I kept thinking that maybe I didn't deserve it. The other girl was just as good as me, and she cried a lot when she lost. She never came to class again; I just don't remember her name.

"So where do I fit into this story?"

"True! I almost forgot. You comforted the girl."

"And I knew her?"

"No! That's what impressed me. You went over to her and talked to her a little. I couldn't hear from where I was. The girl stopped crying and her eyes sparkled with hope and joy."

Neo thought about it, searching his memory for what his friend had said. "I don't remember."

"It was a long time ago. I was very happy with what you did. I wished I had your attitude that day, but I kept thinking the girl might think I was showing off." Melody explained and then sighed before concluding. "That's something a bad person would never do, Neo. You've always been as selfless as your mother."

"Thank you, Melody. I feel safer now."

She smiled back, swinging her legs lightly. The two sat in silence, enjoying the quiet of this late afternoon, watching the cats.

"How are things with Saya? That's what we came here to talk about," Melody asked, breaking the ice.

Neo didn't want to hear it. He thought about lying, but when he saw her face and her concern, he couldn't.

"Honestly? Not very well."

"Why?"

"You know Kensuke you mentioned? It seems like he's 'winning the battle' against me," Neo said with an awkward smile.

"He was never good at losing." Hearing these words from Melody, Neo remembers when he faced him in the baseball tournament and she continues: "I wanted to ask for your help because I really don't think that Saya likes Kensuke.

Neo was surprised to hear that. "But that can't be. They've been friends for a long time."

"Neo, if that were true, we would make a great couple, wouldn't we? Are you in love with me?" Melody said, striking a pose and winking.

"Of course not."

"Well, the same goes for Saya. I saw the two of you at the cafe and she seemed very happy with you. Are you sure she didn't show you anything?"

Neo thought about the kiss.

"In the message, you said that she was angry because Kensuke knew about you. What did you mean by that?"

"I thought that Kensuke had talked to her about me. That it had something to do with it. Not that she was in love with him. It didn't seem that way."

"Then why did she get angry?"

"I don't know. Don't you know her better than I do? Didn't she say anything about it?"

Neo remembered what she had said before she kissed him.

"Maybe she did. My mind is a little confused."

Melody sighed. "Don't tell me you have more amnesia?"

"Blame my father."

Even with all this information, Lenner's words made him uneasy.

"But what if you're wrong? What if she's happy with Kensuke? My friend thinks I should give up. Maybe he's right," Neo concluded. "If she's happy with Kensuke, why should I chase after her and ruin that happiness?"

"How do you know she's happy with Kensuke?" Melody asked contradictorily.

"She seems to be," Neo replied, agreeing with her somewhat.

"But she didn't tell you that, did she?" Melody asked, causing Neo to reconsider his thoughts.

"Yes. But what if I'm right?" he asked worriedly.

"If you're right, it's not a problem; you'll just get a 'no.' The problem is that you're not sure, so why give up?" Melody said.

"I don't want to cause her any problems," he replied, a bit annoyed.

The atmosphere became tense; obviously, Neo was very upset about the whole situation. That's when Melody had an idea.

"Well, let me ask you something else. What about your happiness? Do you think you would be happy with Saya?"

"Very much," he said, more excited now.

"So, do you think it's worth fighting for her? Even if you risk everything?"

"I do. I would risk everything," Neo said confidently.

"Everything? Does that mean you think you could risk even a little of her patience?" Melody asked, laughing.

"It makes sense."

"All joking aside, Neo, don't give up," she said, looking deep into his eyes. "Go all the way, don't give up until you hear her 'no.' The fact that this is bothering you shows that you haven't given up yet and won't be able to give up so easily, just like me."

Those words rekindled what had been extinguished in him.

"Yes, you're right. I think even if I end up 'annoying' them, it's worth a try."

"That's it. If you get your Saya, I get my Kensuke. So, make an effort. I'm counting on you."

She held out her hand and Neo shook it. They both smiled.

Later, Neo returned to the dormitory and faced a reversed situation. He entered the room tired, while Len was lying down reading a book. Gradually, the boy took off his shoes and clothes, which seemed heavy after a long day, and then took a shower. After getting dressed, he lay down on the bed and looked at the ceiling.

Neo thought about the afternoon he had spent, the uneasiness growing as he became more determined.

"Len..." he called weakly.

"I can imagine what you're about to say, and I'm afraid of it," Len replied.

"I want to keep trying things with Saya," Neo said firmly.

Len sighed. "That's everything I didn't want to hear. Are you sure about this?" he asked worriedly.

"Absolutely," Neo replied even more confidently.

"You know this could end very badly for you, right? I don't want to see you in the hospital," Len warned.

"What would I be if I weren't at least a little reckless?"

Thinking about the crazy things his friend had been through, Len thought it made sense.

"Well, if you really want to do this, I'll help you," he replied, giving in.

Neo smiled and put his fist on the floor of his bed.

"Thank you, really."

Len held out his hand and they greeted each other with a light slap.

"Now, about the plan..." the thoughtful boy said.