Volume 1 — Chapter 13.1: Extra Story — Minoru’s Hidden Feelings

The summer evening was quiet.

The filming location had finally become peaceful after a long day.

Most of the staff had already left.

The actors were returning to their rooms, talking about the next day's schedule.

Minoru Shihai remained outside for a little longer.

He stood near the entrance of the building and looked toward the darkening sky.

The day had been exhausting.

But somehow...

He wasn't thinking about the filming.

He was thinking about Yoko.

Minoru sighed.

"Why am I thinking about her again?"

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"She's my best friend."

He said it as if repeating those words could solve everything.

Yoko was his best friend.

That was all.

At least...

That was what Minoru believed.

He looked toward the road where the buses had disappeared.

He remembered Yoko's smile earlier that day.

She had seemed nervous about the filming.

Yet whenever someone encouraged her, she smiled and tried again.

That was one of the things he admired about her.

She never gave up easily.

Even when she was frightened.

Even when she was confused.

Even when she didn't understand what was happening around her.

She always tried to move forward.

Minoru smiled.

"That's just Yoko."

He looked at the sky again.

But then another thought entered his mind.

What if she needed someone?

What if she was hiding something?

What if she was hurting?

His smile disappeared.

He remembered the day Yoko had collapsed.

The day she had suddenly disappeared.

The day she had returned home without understanding what had happened.

He remembered how frightened he had been.

At the time, he hadn't understood why his heart had felt so heavy.

He had simply known one thing.

He wanted to make sure Yoko was safe.

That was all.

Right?

Minoru lowered his eyes.

"Maybe I'm just overthinking."

A voice suddenly came from behind him.

"You're definitely overthinking."

Minoru jumped.

"Naoki!"

Naoki Takeru stood behind him with a grin.

Minoru frowned.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough."

"How much did you hear?"

Naoki pretended to think.

"Almost everything."

Minoru's expression became serious.

"Forget it."

Naoki laughed.

"Why are you embarrassed?"

"I'm not embarrassed."

"You are."

"I'm not."

"You definitely are."

Minoru sighed.

"You're annoying."

Naoki smiled.

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"I know."

They both laughed.

For a moment, the tension disappeared.

Then Naoki looked toward the road.

"You're worried about Yoko, aren't you?"Minoru became quiet.

"She's been through a lot."

Naoki nodded.

"I know."

"She's trying to understand everything."

"She doesn't have to do it alone."

Minoru looked at him.

Naoki continued.

"She has Airi, Haru, Ayaka..."

"And she has us."

Minoru smiled slightly.

"You're right."

Naoki looked at him.

"But you seem especially worried."

Minoru immediately turned away.

"She's my best friend."

Naoki smiled.

"Of course."

There was something about the way he said it that made Minoru suspicious.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Naoki."

"I said nothing."

Minoru narrowed his eyes.

Naoki laughed.

"You're really easy to tease."

Minoru shook his head.

"Sometimes I wonder why we're friends."

"Because you need someone to keep you from becoming too serious."

Minoru laughed.

"Maybe."

They walked back toward the building together.

But Minoru's thoughts remained with Yoko.

Later That Night

Yoko was already in her room.

She had been exhausted after the day's events.

She sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the teddy bear beside her.

Momo.

She smiled softly.

"You're still here."

She picked him up.

For some reason, holding Momo always made her feel calmer.

She remembered how he had helped her after the nightmare.

She remembered how safe she had felt.

Yoko hugged him.

"Today was a long day."

Momo obviously didn't answer.

Yoko smiled.

"I know."

She laughed quietly.

"You're not very talkative."

She placed him beside her pillow.

Then her phone vibrated.

Yoko looked at the screen.

A message from Minoru.

Minoru:

Did you get back safely?

Yoko smiled.

She quickly replied.

Yoko:

Yes. I'm already in my room.

A few seconds later, another message 

appeared.

Minoru:

Good. You looked tired today.

Yoko stared at the screen.

Her heart began beating a little faster.

She placed a hand over her chest.

"Why does he always notice?"

She typed:

Yoko:

I'm fine. Don't worry.

Minoru replied almost immediately.

Minoru:

You always say that.

Yoko froze.

Those words felt strangely familiar.

She remembered the future.

A backstage room.

Minoru sitting beside her.

"You always say that."

She closed her eyes.

For a moment, the memory almost became clear.

Then it disappeared.

Yoko opened her eyes.

"Minoru..."

She smiled sadly.

Yoko:

Thank you for worrying about me.

The reply took longer this time.

Minoru:

Of course.

Yoko stared at the word.

Of course.

Simple.

Normal.

Friendly.

And yet...

Her heart felt warm.

She hugged Momo.

"I don't understand myself anymore."

Momo remained silent.

Yoko sighed.

"Maybe you understand me better than I do."

She laughed softly.

"That's impossible."

Minoru's Room

At the same time, Minoru was staring at his phone.

He had just sent Yoko a message.

He placed the phone on the desk.

Then immediately picked it up again.

He checked whether she had replied.

She had.

He smiled.

"She's okay."

That was enough.

At least, he told himself it was enough.

Then he remembered something.

Yoko had looked pale earlier.

She had seemed tired.

She had been quieter than usual.

And during filming...

She had looked at him several times.

Minoru wondered why.

"Did I do something?"

He thought about it.

"No."

He couldn't remember anything unusual.

He lay down.

Then another thought appeared.

What if Yoko was uncomfortable because of the movie?

The film they were working on was a love story.

A boy who lost his memories.

A girl who loved him.

A forgotten relationship.

A second chance.

And eventually...

A confession.

Minoru remembered the script.

His face became slightly red.

"That's just acting."

He closed his eyes.

"Of course."

But then he imagined himself filming the confession scene with Yoko.

He immediately opened his eyes.

"No."

He sat up.

"Why am I imagining that?"

He shook his head.

"It's only a movie."

He tried to laugh.

But his heart was beating faster than usual.

The Next Morning

The filming group gathered early.

Yoko arrived with Airi.

She looked more energetic than the previous day.

Minoru smiled when he saw her.

"Good morning."

Yoko looked at him.

"Good morning."

Their eyes met.

For a second, neither of them spoke.

Then Yoko smiled.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Mostly."

Yoko laughed.

"Mostly?"

Minoru looked embarrassed.

"I was thinking about the script."

Yoko froze.

"The script?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

She looked away.

Minoru noticed her cheeks becoming slightly red.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes!"

Her answer came too quickly.

Minoru blinked.

Yoko looked embarrassed.

"I'm fine."

He smiled.

"Okay."

From behind them, Naoki watched the conversation.

He whispered to another member of the group:

"They're both terrible at this."

The other idol tried not to laugh.

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing."

Naoki smiled.

Rehearsing the Romantic Scene The director gathered the actors.

"Today we're going to rehearse the confession scene."

Yoko froze.

Minoru also became silent.

The director continued.

"This is an important emotional moment."

"The male character has finally begun remembering his feelings."

"The female character has spent the entire story trying to reach him."

"And now..."

He looked at both actors.

"They finally confess."

Yoko swallowed.

Minoru nodded.

"Understood."

The director looked at them.

"Don't worry about making it perfect immediately."

"We'll do several rehearsals."

Yoko nodded.

"Okay."

The first rehearsal began.

Yoko stood opposite Minoru.

She looked at him.

The scene required her character to confess her feelings.

But the words wouldn't come.

"Minoru..."

She stopped.

The director called out:

"Cut."

Yoko immediately bowed.

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize."

The director smiled.

"You're thinking too much."

Yoko looked down.

"I'll try again."

The second attempt began.

She looked at Minoru.

Their eyes met.

For a moment...

The script disappeared from her mind.

She remembered another Minoru.

An older Minoru.

A Minoru who had stood beside her in the future.

A Minoru who had comforted her when she cried.

A Minoru who had never demanded anything from her.

A Minoru who had simply stayed.

Yoko's eyes became wet.

"Minoru..."

Her voice trembled.

The director remained silent.

Minoru noticed.

He stepped slightly closer.

"Yoko..."

She looked at him.

For a second, it didn't feel like acting.

Then she remembered the scene.

She continued.

"I don't care if you don't remember me."

"I'll make you remember."

Minoru answered with his character's line.

"I don't know why..."

"But whenever I look at you..."

"My heart feels like it already knows the answer."

Yoko's heart skipped.

Those words were fictional.

They were only part of the script.

Yet they hurt.

Because somewhere inside her forgotten memories...

She felt that they might have once been true.

The director called:

"Cut."

Silence.

Then one of the younger idols whispered:

"That was really good."

Another whispered:

"They looked like a real couple."

Yoko's face immediately turned bright red.

"What?!"

Minoru also became embarrassed.

"We're acting!"

Naoki started laughing.

"Nobody said otherwise!"

Yoko looked at him.

"Naoki!"

He raised his hands.

"Okay, okay!"

Everyone laughed.

Even Minoru couldn't hold back a smile.

A Quiet Conversation

Later, Yoko sat outside during a break.

Momo was beside her in her bag.

She quietly touched the bear.

"Why does everything keep reminding me of the past?"

Minoru approached.

"Can I sit here?"

Yoko looked up.

"Sure."

He sat beside her.

For a while, they watched the sky.

Then Minoru spoke.

"Are you really okay?"

Yoko smiled.

"Yes."

"You're doing it again."

"What?"

"Saying you're fine."

Yoko laughed softly.

"You remember everything."

"Only the important things."

She looked at him.

"What's important?"

Minoru answered without hesitation.

"You."

Yoko froze.

Minoru realized what he had said.

He quickly corrected himself.

"I mean... you're my friend."

Yoko looked down.

"Right."

Friend.

That word again.

But this time...

She didn't feel hurt.

She simply smiled.

"Thank you."

Minoru looked at her.

"For what?"

"For always being there."

He smiled.

"That's what friends do."

Yoko held Momo closer.

"Then..."

She smiled.

"I'm glad you're my friend."

Minoru looked away.

"Me too."

But neither of them noticed how quiet the other had become.

Neither understood what their hearts were trying to say.

Not yet.

Minoru's Secret

That evening, Minoru stood alone near the ocean.

The wind was cool.

The sound of the waves filled the night.

He thought about Yoko.

He thought about her smile.

Her tears.

Her strange memories.

Her fear.

And the way she had looked at him during the confession scene.

He closed his eyes.

"I want to protect her."

He paused.

"That's all."

He smiled faintly.

"She's my best friend."

He repeated the words again.

But this time...

They sounded less convincing.

He opened his eyes.

He didn't know whether his feelings were friendship.

He didn't know whether they were something deeper.

And he wasn't going to force himself to find the answer.

Not yet.

If Yoko needed him as a friend...

He would remain her friend.

If she needed someone to listen...

He would listen.

If she was afraid...

He would stay beside her.

That was enough.

At least for now.

Minoru looked toward the distant lights.

"Yoko..."

He quietly smiled.

"Whatever happens..."

"I'll be there."

And somewhere nearby, without Minoru knowing...

Yoko was looking at the same ocean.

She held Momo in her arms.

Her eyes were filled with quiet uncertainty.

She didn't know what the future wanted from her.

She didn't know why her memories kept returning.

And she didn't know what Minoru truly felt.

But for the first time...

She wasn't afraid of not knowing.

Because she had people beside her.

A best friend.

A strange teddy bear from forgotten memories.

New friends.

Old friends.

And a future that was slowly becoming something different.

The waves continued to move beneath the night sky.

Two people stood apart, thinking about each other.

Neither confessed.

Neither understood the truth.

But something had already begun changing.

And the forgotten future...

Was getting closer.

To Be Continued...

End of Volume 1 — Chapter 13.1: Extra Story — Minoru’s Hidden Feelings