Chapter 42 - Usagi

When I woke up, I was warm. Too warm.

Something soft was wrapped around me. Like a sushi roll. Not even the good kind—more like the one that falls apart halfway to your mouth.

“…What the heck…” I muttered.

“Ah, good. You’re awake,” came Hina’s calm voice.

I turned my head. She was sitting cross-legged by the futon like a bodyguard who hadn’t moved for three hours.

“You collapsed halfway here,” she explained in that usual deadpan tone. “Honestly, running in the middle of a snowstorm without wearing a coat. You carried with. Who does that?”

“I—I was in a rush, okay…” I said. My throat still felt sore.

Hina’s lips curved in the faintest smirk. “A rush to freeze yourself to death? Very impressive, Yuuji-kun.”

“Can you not say it like that…”

“Anyway.” She stood, smoothed down her skirt, and gave me that flat gray stare of hers. “I'll give you both some privacy”

"Both?"

Hina nodded.
And with that, she slid the door shut behind her.

I turned around saw her, my breath caught.

Airi? No Usagi sat by the window, her short hair glowing silver under the moonlight and snowstorm.

For a second, I thought I was dreaming again. After reading that letter… hearing those voice notes… I’d been sure she was gone.

“...Usagi,” I whispered, almost afraid if I said it too loud she’d vanish.

She blinked, then smiled at me like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Yuuji-kun… geez, you’re hopeless. You know that, right?”

My throat tightened, My chest ached. “…You're... here.”

“Of course I am. Who else is going to scold you, Santa?” she said, puffing her cheeks in mock annoyance. “Running in a storm, not wearing your coat, scaring poor Hina half to death—seriously. Do you have a death wish?”

“That’s… a lot of complaints in one breath.”

She sighed and shook her head. “Honestly… what am I going to do with you?”

I wanted to argue, or laugh, or cry, but my body felt so heavy. The weight of the whole day was pressing down on me, dragging my eyes half-shut.

Usagi noticed right away. “Don’t even think about moving. Just stay there.”

She walked over, pushed me back down onto the futon, and without asking, made my head rest on her lap.

“H-hey—”

“Nope,” she cut me off. “You don’t get to argue. This is non-negotiable.”

I gave up, Her lap was warm, Too warm. My body instantly melted into it.

“…You’re ridiculous,” I mumbled, my voice already slurring from exhaustion.

Usagi laughed softly. “Maybe. But you like me this way, don’t you?”

I closed my eyes. “…Yeah. I do.”

For a while, neither of us spoke. The room was quiet except for the wind outside. My heart kept thumping too loud, and I wondered if she could hear it.

Then Usagi’s suddenly speaks up in the softest voice known to mankind.

“Hey, Yuuji-kun… thanks. For everything. For putting up with me. For treating me like I was real, even when I wasn’t sure I was.”

“Don’t say it like that—” I started, but she shook her head.

“No. Let me say it.” Her fingers brushed through my hair lightly, almost trembling. “I know I was just… a part of Airi. But you never treated me like a fake. You smiled at me, argued with me, worried about me. You made me feel like… like I was real.”

Her voice cracked. I felt a drop—warm, not cold—fall onto my cheek.

“Usagi…”

She leaned closer, her smile wobbling. “Even if I disappear… the part of Airi that loves you will never go away.”

She stopped there. With both hands, she gently tilted my head so I was looking up at her. Her eyes were watering, but she was still smiling.

“So, in a way… I’ll always be with you.”