Twenty-two – DATA

“The colors of this world are indeed dull. But sometimes it can be very vibrant and bright.”

▪ ▪ ▪

November 9, 2017.

It’s just November.

So it’s obvious that there will still be snow falling down from the gray clouds. The roofs of the houses are white. The tree branches without their leaves are also white. The roads, the wires, the cars, the hats of the melted snowmen, and the reminiscence of the room I dwelled for two years all appeared to be white.

Yes, it may seem that the whole world turned into a lifeless place because of the gray clouds and the white snow.

But I feel like I switched places with the world just for today. I am full of colors, and I can feel like I can color the world.

In the past, the world is full of colors in my eyes, and I am the only one being monotone. My skin, my hair, my eyes, my clothes… my existence—was once the embodiment of the absence of colors.

But because of certain turn of events, I was influenced by the world’s colors and I was then dyed with those. Then I realized that the world that revolves around me is my family.

Every people whom they understood and I understand—they are my family. They were the ones that gave me an opportunity to obtain a life with vibrant colors.

At least once, I have thought to myself if I really do deserve this happiness I’m currently experiencing.

The scar that I got from almost killing myself was far from vanishing, but it was dyed with red.

That color wasn’t intended to mean as my demise, but my hope.

The color in the shade of red healed my wound and it kept from healing every wound I receive.

“Gin! Sorry for keeping you waiting.”

What a great timing. There she is…

The “apple of the eye.”

No pun intended.

“Shall we go, then?”

“Yeah.”

Hey there, this is Gin Sakato.

***

Hey there, this is Ringo Akanami.

…

And I’m going on a date with Gin today.

And I’m going on a date with Rin today.

Oh, the cliché and the cringe.

▪ ▪ ▪

Earlier in the same day at lunch break.

“Man… It sure is hard to clean every time we eat in the rooftop.”

“At least I admit that it was my and Akira’s fault that we took the responsibility of this, Shiro.”

“Ahaha… I guess it’s also my- Bentley’s fault.”

“It’s a good thing I provided a mat and a cover for the bench. Though, it cost me a bit.” being the only one working, I had to say that although unnecessary.

“Ho~ The humbleness of a wealthy man, huh.” teased Jean.

My reasoning turned against me.

“At least try to become a sous chef and work your butt off for more than a week now because you have to pay your own bills.”

“So that’s why you’re grinding at the restaurant, Gin?

But I saw that your electric bill was just like a bit in the range of 800 Laxes this month." Rin explained.

Hearing that, it was unavoidable for Nagi to express his surprise. "That's some insane energy saving that you have there."

Occasionally, however, the four of them still imagine Gin and Rin as a married couple because of how they act, as if they are living under one roof.

In the end, Gin can’t do anything about it anymore.

“Well, yeah it’s true that I minimize my electrical usage and that’s also because I frequently use the gas stove instead of the electric stove.

Also, my water bill wasn’t that bad because I store backup water… and they are also easy to carry even though it’s full."

Service of tap water in this country is very poor, after all.

"My internet is also fairly on the good side but I started to use LTE more, so it adds a bit to my consumption.”

“Seriously?

If your bill wasn’t that of a killer, then why do you work a lot since last week?” Jean asked in a rather serious and curios tone.

“Hmm… How should I put it…

Well, one reason is so I can save up a fair amount of cash in the bank whenever I fall short.”

“…And?”

“Huh?”

“And what’s the other reason?”

“What the… Jean’s awfully curious today…”

“Hahh…

Sorry, that’s as far as I can say. It’s just that I think the next year will be quite something.”

“Next year? You never told something about next year, Gin.”

“Well, I can’t also say it to you, Rin. It’s because I still don’t know what’s going to happen.

I was just signaled that I may just need to work a lot until the year ends. I’m not being promoted so I don’t really know what to expect.”

“That may just make a tiny bit sense, Gin.”

“I wonder what came up with Akira’s idea.”

“There are still four months remaining in this school year, and mind you, it’s almost December so employees usually get their yearly pay in that time.

But I still don’t get why.”

“Maybe your boss has something for you?”

“Ehh… I don’t really know. Though, that’s just another reason.”

I shrugged it off, but I carelessly hinted which made them more curious.

“Huh? There’s still more?”

“That, I can’t definitely say. I’ll just keep it to myself.”

That’s what she said.

Our conversation was interrupted as the school bells rang that meant that lunch break is over.

“Oh, lunch break is over. Let’s get going now.”

“What’s the next subject?”

“Comm. Arts.”

“Thankfully, I did my homework.”

“You guys go first. I’ll just lock the door.”

“Sure, Gin.”

The five of them is now leaving the rooftop. Rin is the last to leave. Just before she entered inside, I shamelessly shouted.

“Oh, shoot! The mats are getting caught by the wind!”

“Huh?”

But they’re not. At least there is wind blowing.

Rin immediately turned her head to the rooftop as he saw me just standing there.

“Uhh… Gin? The mats aren’t caught in the wind…?”

“Yeah, they’re not. I know.”

“Eh?”

“Is there something wrong Gin?”

“Nope, nothing at all.”

“Then…?”

“It’s a good thing I studied the lesson last night. Let’s skip class for once, but I’m going to teach you the lesson here.

Is that good?”

“…?

Sure…?”

Don't skip classes, children.

“Alright.

Why do you think I’m working hard for some time now, Rin?”

“Why ask? I don’t really know it myself.”

“I’m working hard so that I can express my gratitude. But that’s for you to know later.”

“Uhh…?”

“Well, yeah, sure. Hiro just gave me a hint so I’m still working a lot. But I don’t really know what those two are up to.

Actually… Should we study first? Then after that, I’ll tell you something.”

“Eh… Sure. Though, you’re really acting weird today.”

“I’m always weird anyways. Let’s start.”

~ ~ ~

“Thankfully there is no quiz today otherwise our scores won’t be recorded for today.”

“…”

“Oh, sorry for leaving you hanging.

Uhh… how should I say this… hmm…”

Blank-faced Ringo is online.

“Hey, Rin.

How about we go on a date later?”

“Eh?”

Blank-faced Ringo turned into Surprised-face Ringo.

“Date?”

“A date.”

Surprised-face Ringo turned into Blushing Ringo.

“You heard me right, Rin. You’re ears aren’t playing with you.

But your… reaction is a bit exaggerated…”

Blushing Rin’s hands multiplied by tenfold as she randomly gestured everywhere.

“Kawaii…”

Her hands are still multiplying. That’s some insane afterimages.

“Uhh… Rin? You okay right there?”

“Date?”

“Date.”

“You just said date, right?”

“I just said date, yes.”

“And you’re asking me out today?”

“And I’m asking you out today.”

“…”

She’s been silent for at least five minutes. I guess it’s the right decision to not attend the current period (But seriously, don’t skip).

“Then…

…”

She’s still red. And boy, the suspense.

“Let’s go on a date.”

Wha-

Her facial expression changed in an instant. Is that even real or did Rin develop a genjutsu?

“Well…

Thank you for answering to my invite.”

“Likewise.”

“4pm… Is that good?”

“Yeah, sure.”

~ ~ ~

After school.

“Hey, you two. We have club today. Where do you think you’re-“

“Sorry, Nagi! Something came up so we need to go home with Anna today, so bye~!”

Thus, I ran with the wind.

“…”

“What…”

“The…”

“Heck?!”

~ ~ ~

And so, Rin came out of their house while I’m waiting in their front yard.

“See you later, you two.

Take care of that little sister of mine, Gin.”

“Got it, Sis.

We’ll be back at 7.”

We started walking away from our neighborhood with the view of the gray clouds as the snow once again fall to the slippery road.

“Since when did you get close with my sister?”

“Getting jealous aren’t we.

Well, I sometimes help her with her work because she mostly worked in your house, right? And sometimes, I accompany her when she needs a lift to their offices.”

“Eh?! You can drive?!”

“I still have a student license but yes, I can drive. That’s also one reason why I’m working a lot—to get a legitimate license, I mean.”

“But why does she ask help from you?”

“Oh?

First, it’s because of my act of goodwill. Second, she inspired me to work harder. Third… I’ll just quote what she actually said.

‘I want to test my future brother-in-law in a lot of things.’”

“Sis is really unbelievable…”

“It’s just typical cliché to me, anyways.

I’m also kind of used to your dad calling me ‘musuko.’”

“We’re at the intersection now. Where are we going now?”

It is 4 o’clock in the afternoon and I haven’t forgotten that it’s rush hour, so the intersection is pretty much filled with the crowd of students and a few corporate employees.

“We need to get out of here quickly.

Rin! Give me your hand.”

“Uh, eh?

Here, hand.”

Together, we ran through the waves of people coming opposite to the direction we are running. I let Rin who is on my right to run beside me instead of her just tailing at the back.

Her warm hand was also tightly held on my right hand that is being warmed up by hers. It’s cold but at the same time, it’s not. And on rare occasions just like this, my heart started to race.

“We’re here.”

“A camping themed restaurant?”

“Yeah. I discovered this last month when I was randomly doing my shopping. I stopped by and went inside to see how it looks, but I ended up eating my dinner here.

Then I became a regular customer here.”

“I swear you’re easily baited by your restaurant radar here.”

In rare cases, Rin was ignored. But it was not noticed.

“Hey~ Marty! Is a table open for two?”

“Yo! I assume she’s your girlfriend? On a date?”

“You got both of them right! Her name’s Ringo.”

“Hey, quit bragging about us.”

“The red table is open on second floor. Is that good?”

“For two?”

“Yep!”

“Then it’s good. Let’s go, Rin.”

“Ah, sure.”

~ ~ ~

The restaurant is slightly dim but the warm tint of red, orange, and brown emphasizes the cabin-like theme of the walls. The wooden design of the restaurant along with a fireplace gives off the feeling that you’re really on a camp.

Inside, there will be seen not a chair. Customers will eat on a very comfortable mat or carpet topped with a table that has a stove underneath that can act as your heater since it’s winter. The mats also are color-coded and we coincidentally got the red table. How nice.

“Do you have something to order now, Rin?”

“I think I’ll go with ribs and potatoes.”

“Good choice. Then let’s also have a small hotpot while we’re at it.

And dessert, of course. Why don’t we have fresh strawberries in our dessert? I know that you like strawberries.”

Woah, there. She just heard strawberries and her serious expression shifted to a very excited one. Just how much does she like them and just how many times will I saw her eyes glimmer with excitement?

“Strawberries…

I like you- I-I mean I like them, yeah.”

“So that’s our menu for today, then. It’s my treat after all.

Waiter!”

…

After a sumptuous dinner with an adorable strawberry-liking girlfriend, we went to the cat café where I got Haku and had a sip of coffee while playing with the cats there.

Our small excursion to the cat café ended and it finally reached the final leg we needed to go for this date.

“Umm… Gin? Why are we here at Giotto’s? I’m already full.”

“Nah, we are not going to eat again, okay? I’m just here to borrow something.

Good evening, guys. Is Sean still here?”

“Oh, good evening, chef. He’s at the office right now.”

“Guess so.”

~ ~ ~

“Knock knock, this is Gin. Can I come in?”

“Sure.

Ms. Akanami is with you?”

“You might be forgetting why I’m here. Though, I didn’t say that I’ll be with Rin.”

“Oh, right the keys.”

We took a seat on the couch as we watch Sean flipping his table upside down to find a certain key.

“Here it is. Be careful on your way there.

Oh, Hiroomi’s staying there right now. I’ll be sleeping in my house tonight.”

“Thanks.”

“Wait a minute. Does Ms. Akanami know of that place already?”

“Ah, not yet.

It will probably surprise you once we get there, Rin.”

“…?”

I borrowed a car from Sean because there is one place I definitely wanted to come back, but not alone.

~ ~ ~

“I promised that I’ll be with Tenth when I come back here, but I guess it doesn’t always go as planned.”

After two months, I came back to a very familiar sight. A seemingly abandoned greenhouse that became overgrown reflects the moonlight from the glasses that once became the bridge of life for the plants.

“This is beautiful…”

“Yeah, this place is indeed beautiful. This is also the first time I saw this place upon our arrival. I only had a look of this when I was about to leave this place.”

“But isn’t it suspicious that even thought this is an abandoned greenhouse, none of the glasses were broken?”

“That’s because it’s not abandoned. On the contrary, it’s well maintained, that’s why the glasses are intact.

A little fun fact for you—that kind of glass is the same with those in Blue Ink.”

“Really?”

“Well, let’s just go down.”

“Go down? To where exactly?”

“…

To the place that saved my life.”

This is indeed, the outskirts of Cotona.

“I’m sure that you’re really confused as to why there is a hidden entrance to a stairs that then led to an elevator out of nowhere.

You’ll understand soon enough.”

The underground base has three floors. But the scale of a floor is equivalent to two floors aboveground. It’s just like a fallout shelter-

That was a reference, isn’t it?

Anyways, they need a lot of space to breathe in since they don’t leave this place.

“It wasn’t really that deep underground, but it’s quite a sight to see.”

The doors of the elevator opened.

What met our eyes are people who have a genuine happiness seen on their faces. They may be working, just chilling around, playing or resting. But their looks show that they were enjoying their lives.

“Gin… What is this place?”

“We should give them a proper greeting.

Hey folks~! It’s me, Gin! I’m back!”

That loud shout of a greeting echoed in the big walls of the base that made the people turn their heads to the elevator.

“Gin?”

“Gin… Is that really you, Gin?”

“Big bro is here!”

“Yo! Seriously?!”

“GIN!!!!!!!!!”

“Woah, easy! Let’s calm down for a second and let it sink in to you, okay?

Gin Sakato really is back in the base!”

On the other hand, Rin is seeing Gin being carried and thrown by the people that instantly ran to him.

“Quite the scene, I’d say. But I am amazed and confused to what is seriously happening.” she thought.

“Alright, alright. Put me down now, guys.

I haven’t seen you in a while now.”

“That goes the same for us. We really missed you in here.”

“Welcome back, Gin.” a familiar man walked towards the two.

“Hiro.”

“I know that you will come here today, but you caught me off guard when you said that you were here with Ms. Akanami.”

“So she’s Ms. Akanami that you were talking about, Hiroomi?” an Exile asked.

“Yeah, that’s her.”

Now that I have observed it, this is probably the first time that they will meet a non-Exile in ages. But it doesn’t look like they were bothered or scared. Hiro and Sean probably told them stories about her.

“Well, I guess I need to introduce her to all of you, then.

Her name is Ringo Akanami. She’s also my neighbor in the place where I’m currently living and a classmate.”

“Wait, is that it?” confused, Hiro dryly asked.

“Is Hiro expecting something?”

“Oh, also… she’s my girlfriend.”

“…”

“HUUUUUHHHH?!” even with his expectations, he still let out, surprised.

“Hold up, Hiro! Why do you look so surprised?”

“What do you mean why do I look surprised?! Since when are you two in a relationship?!”

What… in the world is Hiro saying?

Oh…

“Man, didn’t even take a hint, huh…

We’re always together cooking in the resto and you still didn’t get a hint to everything I said?!

We’ve been in a relationship for more than a month now and you still didn’t know?!”

Gin Sakato finally snapped.

“Even though Gin looks like he’s angry, it feels like he still wants to brag about us…”

“But on the serious note, why did you choose to visit us here in this time and with Ms. Akanami instead of Tenth?”

“I can say that I have something to announce with Tenth, but I had a change of plans and I ended up going with Rin today.”

“You have… something to announce?”

“Yeah.

Not even Rin knew about this.”

“Huh? Me?”

“I can’t tell you all not to be surprised but please don’t smack my face after this…”

Without me even noticing, the top floor of the underground base got filled with people. I think I’m seeing every Exile present inside this base—perhaps around 200 people.

“I have already decided this alongside with the former leader who is soon to be coming here once again. I’m sure that all of you wanted to see him after many years.

I have decided… that I will… No.

I am now an Exile.”

.

.

.

“Huh?!”

“Gin?!”

“Do you realize that you’re saying such consequential words, Mr. Sakato?!”

That big floor managed to be brimmed with echoes of whispers and mutters while they display a face of worry.

“Don’t worry, everyone. I chose this myself, and I shall carve those words to your memories. But I think some of you are getting the wrong idea.

I did choose to become an Exile because I was inspired by the hard work you have shown to make this shelter a real home. For a short time of staying here, I admired all of you because you have the will to live, and you wholeheartedly accepted an outsider just like me.

I was moved by the kindness you gave me. If not because of those who lifted me up from the chasm, I would never have regained the will to live I once had when I was in deep despair.

So I want to thank all of you, and Rin—to being my inspiration that made me who I am right now. You reached out all of your hands when I really needed them. I felt all your warmth and that saved me from the frost.”

Some of them are smiling, and some of them are weeping. I am so glad that I chose the right decision. Those emotions are the proof that they are not disposable beings, as the aboveground treated them.

I was attacked by warm and bright embraces coming from one person to another.

“Honestly, I would rather live in this place instead of the above.

But if Nagi’s words in the past were the current condition of this world, I bet that this place would be much better.”

~ ~ ~

“Hey, Rin.”

“Hmm?”

“I have a surprise for you.”

“Surprise…?”

“You’ll know soon. It’s something that you won’t find anywhere but here.

So, can you stay here for a while? I’ll just have to sort out something.”

“…?

Okay, then.” she then sat on a couch in the huge room.

As I left, the children came running to her wanting to play. It’s amazing that children don’t tire out quickly.

“Yo, Hiro. I need your help.”

“About what?”

“I’ll enter the Room of Reality for five minutes.”

“You’re going to enter the Room?! But for what reason?”

“Yeah, I said five minutes in the time here outside. Twelve hours will be our maximum time inside.”

“Wait a second, did you just say ‘our?’”

“Don’t ask anymore. You already know what I’m up to anyways.”

Vague as it is, he understood and deduced what I meant.

“Thankfully, I recovered all of your stuff there. Your things are in the midpoint room.

I’ll go and set it up.”

“Alright, I’ll just call Rin. I also didn’t forget my clock, by the way.”

“Be quick, then.”

~ ~ ~

“Rin, I’m back. I have something to show you. Grab my hand."

In no time, I came back with her.

"Before you even ask… Yes, this is my surprise to you.”

…

“Gin, I think you’ll at least need one bag before I set the room up.”

“Actually, Hiro, just make it six hours. I changed my mind.”

“Geez, make up your mind…”

“Gin? What is this?”

“A white box.”

“Huh…?”

(!)

“Wait, is this… that room?” for reasons that she herself do not know, her heart started racing.

“Indeed, it is. This will probably be the longest five minutes of your life.

It’s about to open. We should get ready now.”

“But… why let me enter it?”

“Don’t worry. Gravity won’t change in just six hours. Also…

I want my agonizing experience inside the Void to become a happy one.”

Once again, I heard the creaking sound of the slowly opening door to the unknown realm.

“To tell you the truth, it took a week until the doors completely locked. That’s why I had the opportunity to grab the things you left inside. And yes, I have been inside so I have seen your view for two years.” Hiro explained.

“By the way, can I borrow the original copy?”

“So you’re making her read those, huh.

You better get going now, you two.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go, Rin?”

“Should I close my eyes?”

“It’s up to you.

Well, here we go.”

…

As expected, it’s very bright in here. The doors of the Room closed just like the time I first entered here. Nothing has changed. Everything is white. It’s empty, yes, but this was my first sight in here.

“Hello again, Void. I’m back.”

“Gin… Can I open my eyes now?”

“You can. But beware of Solar Flare, okay?”

She opened her eyes when she was tightly holding my hand. I don’t know if she was worried, frightened, or something. But she doesn’t want to let go of my hand.

“Huh…

It’s white. It’s completely white…”

“Thankfully, it’s a bit warmer here because the constant temperature is twenty degrees.”

“Now that I’m seeing this place with my eyes physically, I can’t help but imagine your experience here for two years…" her hands lost their grip as it trembled together with her knees.

At that moment, however accurate or inaccurate the visions in her mind may be, all she can see is a face of suffering.

"I can imagine a lot of painful things… and I wasn’t there beside you when you were… when you were in such agony…”

Tears.

Indeed it was very painful not only to me, but on the eyes of those who see through the real value of their humanity and life. Yes, such agony exists, and I have experienced it.

Regrets, loneliness, sadness…

If one does wake up with those things every single day, I wonder how or what that one will feel every time the sun rises.

But I can’t bear to hear Rin to say those words anymore.

“I wasn’t there beside you when you were in such agony.”

I want to repeatedly tell her that she’s wrong about that. Every time I fall, she’s always the first one to hold my back and lift me up before I fall to the blank darkness.

“No, Rin.

It’s okay to cry it all out, but what’s more important is I am… we are inside the Room of Reality.

You said that you weren’t there when I was in such agony…”

“…”

Her tears are probably holding back all of the words she wanted to tell me. Rin just continued to listen to me while we sat on the pure white floor.

“The pain and agony is over, Rin. Now, we are here in this room, and you are right beside me and I am right beside you.

We are here sitting beside each other after the storm that came directly to me. You don’t need to experience what I went through. After all, you were the reason why I went out of that door safely.”

“…”

“Have you calmed down now?”

She just gave me a shake on her head saying that she’s still not yet calming down. I tried to hold her hand but it’s not making her pacify. Her hands are shaking strongly.

“Well…”

I guess a tight embrace worked. I managed to stop her shivering and she finally calmed down. Proof of that is when she finally gained composure and wrapped her arms to me.

Once again, this void became tranquil.

“Thank you, Gin.”

“You said your thanks earlier than what I was about to say.”

“…?”

“Why do you think I chose this day to ask you out for a date?”

Though tired, a big burst of surprise suddenly hits her.

“Hahahaha. Let’s just leave it at being the 9th of November.”

As I hear the most silent footsteps, her arms wrapped on me once again with the warmth I mostly yearned for.

“Paying an embrace back?”

“Let me stay like this for some time.”

“Alright, Ojou-sama.”

~ ~ ~

“Do you want to take a rest? I’ll go prepare some sheets for you. I think you need to take a nap.”

“No, it’s o-“

“It’s not okay, Rin, I’m telling that to you now. I’m worried about you, okay? Sleep for a bit and once you wake up, I’ll tell you stories about myself and let’s read my journals together.”

“I hope she doesn’t cry again once she reads my logs.”

“Gin? Where are you going?”

“Don’t mind me. Lie down and let a lovely dream come to…

…your mind.”

“Eh?! So fast!”

I do not want to disturb her rest so whilst building up speed on my body, I immediately ran to the opposite corner of the room. Do not forget that this Void is as large as a villa and I just covered the distance by two or three seconds.

“…

Goodnight, Gin.”

Well, she couldn’t care less anymore now that she got tired. But what I’m wondering is her waking up. I think it can still be quite difficult to wake her up even from a short sleep.

“Sleep well, Ojou-san.”

~ ~ ~

After thirty minutes, she woke up. But it ended up that Rin was the one that wakes me up because I managed to doze off while reading my journals.

“Look at Gin sleeping in that corner…”

…

“We still have at least four hours to waste here. In for the story telling now?”

“Yeah, I really wanted to hear them.”

“Alright then, let’s start on August 27, the day I was hit by the truck. Actually, I was just having a stroll in there…”

Thus, I told her the significant events of my previous time in this room… and some other.

~ ~ ~

“Gin… That’s the first time I’m hearing that. Did the others know about this already?”

“Not yet. You’re one of the few people I ever told you that. Tenth do know that from the start, actually.”

“So your number identity was considered as deceased…”

“Yeah, even though my name wasn’t there, I’m already dead in their eyes.

So it’s actually fitting for me to become an Exile from this point onwards.”

A very little time passed without the two of us talking. I was just waiting for her to speak or say her reply.

Then I realized that she was looking at me from the very start.

“Rin? Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s just that I noticed your hair. You haven’t gone and took a haircut, haven’t you? It has been two months since September and your hair has grown already.”

“My hair, huh. I actually had it cut right after I went out of this room… No, I passed out first, actually. But now that you mentioned it, it has gotten a bit long again.

I don’t have any plans on cutting it, though.”

“’Again?’”

“Let me tell you something…

When I was in here, I managed to grow my hair longer than yours.”

“Eh?! That’s how long your hair was?!”

“I guess… it reached down to my chest? I can’t really say how long my hair was because I didn’t see myself in a mirror for two years.”

“Now that’s surprising…”

I think Rin’s enjoying herself. She’s quite interested in things like this—that’s a new discovery.

“What about you? Your hair has gotten longer too. Are you going to cut it soon?”

It’s gotten longer to the point that her hair is already touching her shoulders; and her bangs are falling off slightly.

“I won’t cut it. I’m planning on growing it a bit more.

Right now my hair is curved in right? But when it grows longer, it will be a bit lighter.”

“Talk about having a wavy hair…

I would love to see you wear a ponytail when your hair grows longer…”

“Eh?”

(!)

And in an instant, I quickly covered my mouth as if I mistakenly said something wrong.

“Did I hear you right, Gin?”

“…

I can’t also believe that I said out loud what I was thinking…”

Oh no, she’s turning red again.

Though I can’t stop imagining her on a ponytail…

“…?!

Gin! This is the first time I saw you this red!”

“Right back at you.

But I guess it won’t be that bad if we became a hair tie duo. Wha, that’s so lame. Hahahaha!”

“A hair tie duo… I can’t imagine you wearing a hair tie…”

“Maybe not yet. But once this got longer, you’ll see me like that when I cook.

Actually, I think my headband was still in the shabby old bag. Let me just get it and see how I usually look when I was in here.”

It is indeed in the bag I left. Fortunately, I took that bag with me before we even entered.

“Here it is. How do I look?”

“Gin has a forehead?!”

“Of course I do.”

“Well… you look surprisingly good when you have that on your hair. Though, I think it’s not good to wear that in the middle of winter.

Your newly discovered forehead will freeze.”

“I guess so?”

Wait, could it be that the title of this chapter is “Hair”?

“Enough of that.

Should I read you a picture book, Rin?”

“Ehh… There’s no picture book in here but only those notebooks…

Oh.”

“You caught on quickly, thanks.

Let’s have a read on my entries for 730 days then.”

“You wrote without miss?!”

“Yeah.”

~ ~ ~

From the first 0827 up to the third 0827.

We read all of them for a couple of hours whilst we’re still sitting or lying down like we’re reading some kind of manga.

She didn’t shed a tear this time. Though she really reacted when she saw what’s written on 0215, as expected. But my blood looked like ink already because it became black.

“I’m very surprised… I’ve learned a lot more about you with this journals. Now it’s clearer to me as to what you’ve gone through in that time.

But why did you even write when you realized that you’re in love with me in a random page?”

“That’s because I do not know when. It just came in to me naturally.

So it can be safe to say that I fell for you even before I was hit by that truck.”

“It does make sense…

Actually, let me tell you a secret.”

“Ohh…? What is it? What is it?”

“Well… I-“

*creak*

.

.

.

NANIIIIII?!

…

Timings can be extremely good or bad. This time, it’s extremely bad.

Right when she’s speaking, the doors opened. That means that the six hours had gone by.

“Oh, the door already opened. Let’s go now.”

“Huh? What about the secret you’re about to say?”

“Uhh… I’ll just tell you next time.”

“Ehhhh… So mean.

You got me excited over nothing, Takagi-san.”

***

Gin’s really getting worked up on that. It’s actually quite funny.

But it’s really not that big of a deal. I just snuck in his house with the keys that he gave me and gave him… a kiss on his forehead when he was asleep.

And that was the time I truly discovered that Gin has a forehead.


Chapter Message:

That wraps it up for chapter 22!

It is really insignificant as to why "DATA" is the title of the chapter apart from sounding like a "date." It is basically a long running meme that I can't take out of my head as I once typed "data" as "date" in the context where "I still don't have my 'date'" in a chat before this story even began initially. And the rest is history.

Ok, shut up, BakaGin.

Somewhere along this chapter, I may have done a few more hinting on what is about to come in the future, and it will be coming soon.

Thank you for reading!

Next

Twenty-three: Kaizo Ryuuya; three months after the program.