Take Two, Pt. 5

"M-Megumi... This is..."

I didn't know what else to say. What could I even say? She was pretending to be asleep the whole time! And if that's the case... then she must've heard everything.

"There you go again, Shohei. Speaking around me — for me — instead of talking directly at me. Doesn't it ever get old?"

"I... I was just—"

"Just what? Because again... I just can't take this any other way. I've lived my whole life with people telling me what I should and shouldn't do. Sometimes, they never tell me straight up. The whispers in the walls, the cracks in the seams — it all leads to me eventually. And you know what happens next? I find out too late, and by then, the damage is already done... just like with you."

"Me...? What do you mean?"

She let out a humorless chuckle.

"Do you really think I moved on from you, Shohei?"

"W-what?"

"You had asked me to leave. That's fair. It's your place after all. But I... I wish I hadn't listened to you. I wish I had stayed and made you suck it up. Because these last three months... were torture for me."

"Megumi..."

Suddenly, she planted a finger on my lips with a small, "Shh. Let me finish first."

And reluctantly, I nodded my head.

"I took on an acting gig," she said, retracting her finger. "Big mistake. Don't get me wrong, though. The show turned out to be a great success. Even calling it just that is a massive understatement. It's getting positive reviews all over the internet, and I really couldn't be more grateful. Doesn't mean it wasn't an absolute nightmare just getting through a day on set."

"But... Didn't you say you had fun filming it? At the PR event."

"Heh. I did, didn't I? Well, just like with everything else, that was a lie. I hid my real face behind a fake smile. That was... never really an issue for me anyway. I guess being an actress has its perks."

It was then that I noticed it. Her brows twitched, her eyes were unfocused, and her entire demeanor changed — only for a split second.

"You're lying again," I said.

She glanced up to look at me, then forced a smile.

"You could tell?"

"Yeah. Guess I have you to thank for teaching me what is and isn't acting."

"Haha... I guess so. You're right. I was lying about that. As much as I tried to hide it, I couldn't keep it up for long. I went so many nights without sleeping at all, so I had to wear a bunch of makeup to cover my bags. We had to cut so many times because I just... broke down for no apparent reason. But I... I know why. Honestly, it's a miracle that I was even able to make it through the whole filming process."

"And... It's all because of me, huh?"

I didn't even have time to feel anything else before Megumi flicked my arm. Stunned, I kept my gaze on her. She blinked at me, heavy and drowsy, as if she were fighting to stay awake.

"Did I say that?" she asked. "Or did you go and decide that for me?"

My mind blanked.

Without realizing it, I did it again. I thought I knew what she was thinking, and before I could even think about it, the words just... came out.

"S-sorry... I didn't mean to."

"Pfft~ Can I ask you something, Shohei?"

"Of course. Anything."

"Why did you wait so long for me? How come you didn't leave an hour later, or at most two hours later? Instead, you chose to wait for six whole hours."

"Well... I guess the biggest reason is that... I really wanted to see you again. No matter, I just had to. If I had to wait six hours, then that's that."

"But it wasn't just six hours, was it? A whopping eight hours, if not just a tiny bit more."

My voice hitched before I even found it. Her eyes curled as a gentle smile formed beneath them.

"...H-how... did you...?"

She reached over and poked my nose before leaning her head back on her arms.

"Before, I had asked you if you think I'd gotten over you. And the truth is..."—she let out a long, heavy sigh—"No. I didn't. Not even for a single day. As much as you wanted to see me... I can guarantee that I wanted to see you even more."

That was when it hit me — why she showed up right as I was leaving. She must've been there just as early as I was, waiting in the cold, watching me from a place I couldn't see her.

"So you were out there... that whole time?"

"Mhm."

"That..."—I glanced away—"T-that was reckless of you."

"I know. But at the end of the day, it was a choice I made. I wanted to know how far you'd go. I wanted to hope that maybe, just maybe... There was a chance."

With a harsh gulp, I replied, "And? Did you find what you were looking for?"

"Hmm... I'm still not sure, but... I want to believe I did."

At this point, I can't keep denying it. From her words to the way she's looking at me right now, it's hard for me to believe that there wasn't something here... In us.

"Shohei," she whispered.

"Yes, Megumi?"

"Say it."

"...Huh? S-say what?"

"Whatever you were gonna say before, while under the impression that I was asleep... Say it directly to me."

That alone gave me hope, but I made myself a promise. I planned on sticking with it. Just like earlier tonight, I'll give her the choice.

So I lifted a hand toward her, and thankfully, it didn't take long for her to reach back, wrapping her fingers around mine and caressing them.

"Megumi... I..."

"Go on, Shohei. I'm all ears."

A deep breath.

"I'm willing to do everything I can for you. More than anything, I want you here with me. So if you're still looking for somewhere to belong — in a place where someone really, really wants you around... and if you'll have me... then I'll gladly have you. I know this is selfish of me to ask, but... Will you stay here? With... With me?"

We met each other's gaze once more.

Megumi no Hana sat there, impossibly radiant, with the kind of beauty that didn't just catch my eye, but lingered long after. At least, that was how she looked to me. And sitting right beside her was just me.

If anyone were to look at us, they'd probably laugh at the contrast. She was a celebrity — admired, adored, overflowing with warmth and presence wherever she went. Someone who could light up a room just by being in it.

And me? I was ordinary. Forgettable. Just a guy who'd stumbled into her world by coincidence.

Still... Maybe she saw something I didn't. And if that were true, then that alone was more than enough.

Megumi exhaled softly. Her fingers loosened around mine, slipping away with a gentleness that somehow hurt more. Even more so when she turned her face aside.

In an instant, everything inside me just... stopped. My thoughts went quiet. My lungs forgot how to breathe. And my heart — especially my heart — felt like it had disappeared altogether.

So this is it.

This... is her answer.

I can't even bring myself to feel shocked. This is my fault, after all. I'm the one who pushed her away. The one who hurt her. The one who made her cry. Losing her feels like the natural consequence of my own mistakes.

She didn't choose me. Not this time.

And just like I had promised... I will accept it.

I slowly pulled my arm back, blinking hard as my chest tightened. A thick blur hovered at the edge of my vision as I was ready to stand... ready to walk away—

"Shohei."

I froze and looked at her.

"Y-yes...?"

"It's cold. Hold me."

She still wasn't facing me. Her hair hid her eyes, making it impossible to read her expression. Even so… I never would have expected this.

I remained there, stunned, until Megumi tilted her head just enough to glance at me.

"Well?" she said quietly. "What are you waiting for?"

"Ah... Um..."

I closed the gap between us just slightly, if only a small, extremely subtle shift. Then, I carefully pinched the sleeve of her hoodie.

"L-like this?"

"Tch..."

Megumi suddenly jerked toward me. Before I could even rationalize it, she was already on my chest, in my arms.

"You're so dumb sometimes..." she whispered. "You know that?"

I couldn't answer. Couldn't even move a finger, much less my mouth. My heartbeat accelerated so much that I knew she heard it. She must've.

"Shohei..."

"...Y-yeah?"

"Will you let me be my own person? Will you let me make my own choices instead of deciding for me?"

"Huh? Ah! I m-mean... Yes. I will."

"Are you going to cast me aside again... and give up on me? Like you did last time?"

"...No. Never again."

"Can I trust you?"

I... I won't answer that. Instead, I'll show you that you can."

"Hah. Good answer. And, most importantly, Shohei..."

A deep breath. Once, then twice. She lifted her head just slightly, peering up, her eyes still drowsy. But that smile... it was as beautiful as the day I lost it.

"Can you make some more curry bread for me tomorrow?"

At that moment, it felt as though the weight of the past three months finally slipped away. I had imagined seeing her again a thousand different times, replaying the moment endlessly, wondering how it would unfold — yet none of those visions had ever ended like this.

With a quiet sigh, I released my thoughts and let my head fall, slowly... until it came to rest against hers.

"Of course, Megumi. Whatever you want."