Love of Amnesia [1]

​“I'm so glad. I'm looking forward to our future together.”

​Having said that, we all sat down on the couch as Miyu and I sang Happy Birthday. Then we cut the cake and ate it, but as usual, Chiyoko didn't eat—even on her birthday. I didn't want to force her, so I left her alone.

​Maybe she's not a fan of sugar. Then, after we ate, I gave her the small box with the indigo-colored wrapper. She opened it, and inside, there was a ring. It wasn't anything expensive. In fact, it was only ¥100,000.

​Most rings cost way more than that. But I'm not rich, so this was the best I could do. Like I said before, it's not the amount of money that matters; it's the amount of effort.

​She took it and held it tight as she brought it close to her heart as if hugging the accessory. Then she murmured wholeheartedly:

​“Thank you so much, Hiro-chan. I don't deserve any of this. I'm so glad, so happy that I met you. I'm forever grateful, and I'll remember these gifts always.”

​Wait, isn't she supposed to say I'll treasure these gifts always? Maybe it was a typo on her part. How cute.

​“Listen, don't ever tell yourself that you don't deserve something. You're a person too, and that means you deserve to be spoiled from time to time, just like everyone else. I'll probably be spoiling you our entire lives. Wanna know why?” I looked her directly in those ruby like eyes as I held her warm yet cold hands. “Cuz that's just how much I love you.”

​I could tell that she was trying to hold back, but she simply couldn't anymore. The tears rushed down her cheeks as her head leaned on my chest while she placed her hands on the back of my neck.

​“Thank you so much, my love. I promise you, I'll love you forever, and I don't care how long I'll have to wait. As long as I'll get to see you again..." she raised her head to meet my passionate gaze. "Then I'll wait patiently. Because that's just how much I love... you.”

​“Uh… what do you mean by that? Is that some sort of vow?”

​“Not exactly. What I meant by it is that, I might not get to see you anymore. There's a high chance I might go away soon.”

​“Go away? Go where? What are you talking about? Jeez, I've been asking a lot of questions like this lately.”

​“I can't tell you where I'm going. All I can say is... I'll be waiting patiently... again.”

​“No, seriously, what are you tal—” Before I could finish my sentence, Miyu hit me with a karate chop right on the pressure point on my neck as I fell off the couch.

​“Sorry, bro. This is for your own good.”

​Before my eyes closed shut, I saw both of them standing over me with cold expressions that hid the pained layers of both their doll-like faces. Miyu crouched as she caressed my hair with her right hand while I murmured:

​“Why are you… doing this… Mi-yu…?”

​Miyu clenched her jaw as the corners of her eyes reddened, while Chiyoko just let her tears roam free like a calm yet lonely river. As my eyes closed—everything faded to black.

*****

​[Sunday, August 13. 07:00]

​“My head, it hurts. What happened to me anyway, and… where am I?”

​I sat up as I looked around the room. It was pretty unfamiliar, and it looked kinda old, too. Had I been kidnapped? Of course not—get a grip, Hiroshi. There's probably a logical reason I'm in this room.

​I swung my legs to the side as I tried to stand up. I didn't stay standing for long as I fell to my knees. What the? My legs are complaining. Why? I just got out of bed.

​I tried again, this time with more focus and willpower. I remained standing, but it wasn't easy. I limped towards the door as I opened it carefully. Then, I scoped out the passageway as I left the room slowly but surely. Then, I took a few steps towards the light as the door to my right opened.

​A very familiar face popped out as she jumped towards me with as much energy as I remember. “MIYU?!”

​“Big bro!”

​“What are you doing here?”

​“Uh, hello, I live here.”

​“Wait, you mean this is... Gran's house?”

​“Are you feeling okay?”

​“No, I'm not feeling okay. My legs won't listen to me, I have a headache, and I'm in this strange house. What's going on?”

​“I don't know what to tell ya besides that you need medical help. Don't worry, I'll tell you how you got here.”

​It actually worked, Miyu murmured to herself.

​Just like that, my annoyingly charming little sister dragged me to who-knows-where as she told me everything. Thirty minutes later, I was seated in the kitchen, from what I was told and what I was seeing. Mom made me rice porridge as I ate.

​She also thought I had a mental condition. From what she told me, I arrived in this place called Kiyomizuzawa or something, and basically asked her to come get me.

​That was pretty weird because the last memory I have is where I was talking with Dad about visiting the two of them. I had no recollection of anything they were telling me. My mind was completely blank.

​I continued eating my porridge. As I took each bite, it became more and more bitter and plain. Which was odd, seeing as Mom makes some of the best dishes you could ever eat. She's a one-woman arsenal. She then asked:

​“Hiroshi, should I take you to the clinic? I'm getting worried.”

​“No, it's fine, Mom. Please don't trouble yourself. I'm fine. I guess I'm just having a bad case of amnesia. I'll remember eventually, promise.”

​Wait, why does it feel like I'm forgetting something important? I'm probably imagining it.

​“Pumpkin, do you remember the anime 'Prince of the Two Kingdoms'?”

​“I do, but I didn't like it. It made me cringe one too many times. Hiroshi likes it, though. I think what peeved me was the 80s art style.”

​“Well, you'll be glad to know that we'll be doing a remake of the entire anime, and there'll be a new art style the author chose alongside us.”

​“Really?! I might just give it another chance.”

​“What about you, Hiroshi? Are you looking forward to it?”

​“Wait, can you say the title again?”

​“It's 'The Prince of the Two Kingdoms'.”

​“The Prince of the—”

​I stopped mid-sentence as I held my head. It began throbbing over and over and over again. It felt like being injected by a thousand needles. I bore with it until—I couldn't anymore as a spine-chilling scream came from my lips. 

“AhhhHHH!!! ”

[To be Continued...]