A Past Confession

20 years Ago, The Night Before The Final Battle – Suzuki Yuto

I was alone in my room for the first time in a while. We had spent every waking moment together for the last month to prepare for what was coming tomorrow. We had defeated many enemies just to make it here and I could feel it taking a toll on my body already. It was clear that it would end tomorrow, one way or another. My emotions weren't stable at all anymore. But I was sure the same was true for Mirai. spending so much time together doesn't leave your personal relationship unaffected and I felt like we grew closer every day. The way she looked at me now was different from what it was when this all began and I'm sure the same was true for me. But I wasn't sure we were on the same page with all of this. How deep were these emotions? And what would happen after this was all over? What was her idea of the future? I knew what I wanted to do and I didn't plan to compromise on any of it. At the same time I had an idea what she was thinking, but it was also a scary thought so I tried to keep it down as much as possible. These were decisions that affected your whole life, so who wouldn't be somewhat afraid to make them? Maybe once we had made it though all this I could think about things properly and make a decision that would do us both justice.

I heard a knock on the door and I knew who it would be.

“Come in.” The door opened and Mirai entered.

“Am I bothering you?” she asked, in the typical meek voice she used when she wanted to get on my good side.

“No, of course not. I was just thinking.”

“About tomorrow?”

“Among other things,” I answered. I didn't know why I kept it so vague. But maybe I just wanted to keep the conversation from moving towards our feelings. Mirai bowed her head. Another one of her gestures.

“I think we did all we can,” she answered. She was right. We had tried our best to perfect our abilities and we battled many times to get to a point where the only enemy that was left was the cause of all this anguish. There were only hours left till it would arrive here and we would meet on the battlefield, not knowing whether all we had done was even enough to beat the enemy.

“I was thinking as well,” she said after a I didn't reply. I closed my eyes. I knew this was coming and I didn't want to deal with it right now. But maybe there was no way of avoiding it.

“About what?”

“About tomorrow as well. And about us,” she replied. Of course. There was nothing else that would make her come to me right now.

“And did you come to any conclusions?” I asked her.

“About tomorrow?” she asked. “Yes, I think it will all work out in the end. There is no other way. Don't you think so Yuto?” I looked at her and her face seemed strangely void of emotion.

“I think so, too,” I replied. Another sentence that didn't convey anything. Everything to avoid the real topic at hand.

“But I more so thought about us. After what happens with us after tomorrow.” I braced myself for what was about to come. Would she actually say it right now? And what would I reply?

“Do you want to let me know?”

She bowed her head again and she kneaded her hands nervously. I knew I should probably take her hand or even embrace her, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Then she suddenly looked up and our eyes met and I never saw someones eyes so clear.

“I love you, Yuto.” The words hit me harder than I expected. But not in the way I was imagining in my head all this time. It didn't stir up my emotions nearly as much as I had anticipated, but instead I could feel something inside me break. Something shattered and I felt that we went beyond a point where we could go back to where things were. Why couldn't she have waited until this was all over?

Of course there was always the possibility that we would never have the opportunity to say anything to each other after tomorrow ever again, so maybe she just didn't want to have any regrets, but I felt like she was putting me on the line in a way that could only end badly.

After a couple seconds I gave her my reply.