Coffee shop, second-floor terrace.
"They're moving. Starting to head out."
Like a trained veteran soldier, Masuzu set down the binoculars. She turned toward the stairs with decisive movements.
Yuigahama hurriedly followed. Her expression looked stunned, as if still processing.
She hesitated briefly. Seeing the silver-haired figure waving ahead, she couldn't hold back from asking, "Masuzu, what exactly is the relationship between Yuu-kun and Yukinon…"
"What you should ask is whether Haruno-san and Tenkiji-kun's relationship is really as simple as she claimed earlier."
Walking nimbly like a fairy, Masuzu weaved through the crowd. The corners of her lips showed a pleasant smile. She said unhurriedly, "Of course it's not that simple, unless Haruno-san has mental issues. But as for the details, I don't know how to explain it to you."
"Then, they said something involving you…"
"Hmm, maybe that's the reason I fell in love at first sight with Tenkiji-kun?" Saying it casually, Masuzu raised her hand. She unconsciously touched the curve of her lips. A thoughtful expression appeared in her eyes.
Back then, when she said these words—even if just joking—disgust would reflexively rise in her heart. She'd want to stomp the letters forming those words into dust and spit on them.
The old Masuzu deeply hated anything related to love.
…But now, there was someone she could treat specially.
Though she remembered nothing, though she knew little about Tenkiji Yuu's affairs, he occupied a crucial corner of her heart—so crucial it unconsciously influenced the beliefs she lived by.
Like a master key, he easily unlocked her heart and rearranged the furniture inside as he wished.
And those three now were likely discussing this reason—as one of the involved parties, Masuzu felt she had the right to eavesdrop openly.
Whether Yuigahama knowing this would cause trouble for Yuu… She didn't care at all.
Love or hate, Masuzu just wanted her memories back and to use any means to fulfill her increasingly insatiable desire.
"Haruno-san, and Masuzu too… What really happened…"
Trailing behind, Yuigahama's brain was in chaos from too much information and mysterious people around. She didn't know where to start untangling the messy threads around her boyfriend.
She could only rush toward the Ferris wheel with Masuzu.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Haruno, I need to tell you one thing first."
No honorifics, using the same tone as that summer.
Yuu ignored Yukino's cold observing gaze from behind. He looked at the college student ahead. He said earnestly, "Though I still have past memories, all feelings that arose because of you vanished after you lost your memories."
"…"
As if expecting this, Haruno's expression wasn't too shocked. She touched her beautifully curved chin. She narrowed her eyes, pondering briefly.
"Meaning, you've been so cruel to me since I lost my memories not to avoid the past, but because you truly have no feelings for me anymore? So, even with memories intact, you won't do anything special to restore mine or return to our old intimacy?"
Yuu nodded. "Like childhood friends long out of touch. I thought since you forgot the past, we'd live peacefully apart. No more interfering in each other's lives… Who knew you'd suddenly regain your memories."
"Yes, God's jokes are unpredictable." Haruno smiled, agreeing. But her tone emitted a faint dangerous aura, like a hidden knife behind the smile.
"If I hadn't kept feeling something off since losing my memories and persistently bothered you, maybe by now I'd have stopped caring. I'd let you live happily as a trio with my sister and her friend—Ah, come to think of it, did I wrong you? Sorry~~"
"Ahem ahem…"
Such high sarcasm intensity.
Not just ahead, the gaze behind grew sharper. Yuu could only clear his throat twice, forced to defend himself. "You can't say that. It's not like I wanted you to lose your memories…"
Haruno shrugged, neither confirming nor denying. "Yes, you didn't. So I deserve your cruel treatment. Reviving old love just burdens you. That's why I apologize. Tenkiji-kun, forgive me."
"…"
Such strong, thick resentment—she must have held it in.
Yuu somewhat understood her feelings. So he didn't say much, just sighing helplessly.
And that victim expression frustrated Haruno more. She unconsciously lifted her heels, taking a deep breath to suppress her emotions.
Meanwhile, Yukino behind Yuu looked confused. She seemed to want to ask something. But bound by her promise not to interrupt randomly until they finished, she could only stay silent, lips tightly pressed, arms folded, observing the two like a judge.
"Hmph… Forget it. Who made my boyfriend abnormal? Unusual situations call for unusual responses."
Saying that, Haruno lowered her folded arms. After a light breath, she looked at Yuu with calm eyes.
"Though I have many questions for you, the most important now is confirming your stance."
"My stance is clear. Since my feelings were taken by God, even with memories, to me you're just… Yukino's big sister."
Without hesitation, Yuu directly met that determined, emotional gaze.
Even if reality was cruel and heartless to her again, he didn't want to give fragile soap-bubble hope with lies just to comfort her.
Because in this timeline, the ones he loved were Yuigahama and Yukino. The ones he was responsible for were them, not that once-warm, unforgettable romance.
"Sorry, Haruno… Now there are people more important than you. So forgive me for not reviving old love."
Of course, that was Yuu's stance.
Haruno stared silently. Like a statue, she didn't respond for a long time.
Suddenly, Yuu seemed to see a lake surface.
Her eyes like a winter-frozen lake. Clear and coldly frozen there. All rippling light locked beneath the ice. Sparkling clear, yet not allowing it to melt into tears.
Haruno expressionless. But in the lake's depths, lingering sadness and pain slowly surfaced.
She bit her lip slowly. With a deep breath, Haruno slightly opened her mouth—and showed her usual bright smile.
"If it's you, you'd definitely answer like that."
"Definitely?" Yuu was slightly surprised.
"Yes. Though I didn't want to imagine it, your attitude toward me hasn't changed since then. Of course I could guess your answer." Like a mature adult, Haruno spoke openly. She seemed unbothered by the cruel rejection.
But her fingers and voice trembled slightly.
Noticing that embarrassing reaction in Yuu's eyes, Haruno clenched her fists. She gently rubbed her nose. She slowly eased her breathing and voice.
"Memories without feelings no longer matter to you, right? Yuu-chan."
"…" Yuu unconsciously wanted to deny. But before leaving his mouth, his voice was choked by thoughts arising in his heart.
(Wouldn't it be better to fully part with the past?)
{If you back down and soften here, what if someone else regains memories later? Will you let them fight? The winner continues the old relationship with you?}
(Wouldn't that be crueler to them?)
(Things that can't be accepted must stay outside. In the end, as long as Yui and Sora are by my side, it's enough…)
"So, a rental boyfriend can never become the Original?"
Like grasping the last thread, Haruno asked very seriously.
But after hesitation, Yuu stayed silent, head lowered.
"I see…" Haruno murmured softly, as if realizing. She still smiled.
Whether pale or bitter, this mask must not break.
Because Yuu once said he liked her smile—Haruno, who rarely gave her heart, once she loved deeply, became less rational. She'd think the man's feelings mattered more than her own.
So stupid. About to be left, why still care about his feelings?
Because stupid, it's special.
Just like his seemingly cruel but softer-than-anyone choices. Precisely because they both struggled in contradictions, advancing wounded, growing up.
Thus, feelings accumulated until now became so strong she wouldn't yield even if sad enough to cry, right?
"Yuu-chan, do you still remember?"
Haruno smiled. Suddenly she stepped forward.
"I sought you as a rental boyfriend to experience love. We met without liking each other—July 24, I still didn't like you."
Under Yukino's shocked gaze, she stepped again.
"First date at the sports center. You were like God-sent to knock me back. You crushed me in every activity. You passed all my tests. It made me know such a monster exists—July 26, I started caring. I thought you could give me a good love experience."
One more step. Haruno stood before Yuu. She looked up at his stunned face.
"I once thought fakes couldn't become real. Created lies and loneliness could only continue endlessly. Someone like me should sacrifice future for family, small self for greater… Dating might only happen in affairs."
Haruno smiled brightly, as if no sadness could leave a mark. Her eyes sparkled, clear as starry skies.
"Before God changed the world, you already changed me."
"That's why I love you so much. Like loving this life with you in it, like loving this world with you in it."
She raised her hand, as if to touch his face. But after brief hesitation, she lowered it. She reached into her bag instead.
In the dark stair corner, only her voice clear as morning light.
"We kissed at the mall event. Hugged on the resort balcony. All places we visited, delicious foods we ate, and that last night, the vows we made together at the amusement park, the future we decided…"
Haruno took a deep breath. She slowly stopped smiling. She looked at Yuu seriously, almost coldly.
"If you want to forget all this, if you decide to discard it, if you truly want to pretend nothing happened… Tell me you hate me."
"Then, from today, we part completely—I'll beg my parents to let me study abroad. You won't need to worry about running into me."
More than firmness, it was tragedy.
Discarding all weakness, suppressing knife-like emotions, she slowly pulled a bracelet from her bag.
Carefully wrapped in plastic. It showed how precious. Even in the dimly lit stair back, it softly sparkled like clear crystal.
Yuu stared at the bracelet. Images slowly emerged in his mind. He unconsciously remembered many things.
His eyes widened. He asked somewhat disbelievingly, "Is that handmade…"
Handmade bracelet. The gift he once made from start to finish for Haruno, to leave the most beautiful memory.
Though simple, all his reluctance and blessings were woven in. It held purer, denser sincerity than a wooden comb.
Unfortunately on the way to the hotel, whether snagged or poorly tied, the beads came loose and fell. Haruno wanted to pick them up, but he stopped her, saying no need.
Things meant to vanish would, sooner or later.
"Yes. I spent days specially making a prettier bracelet than the one you gave."
As if unaware of his increasingly complex expression, Haruno unwrapped it. She gently touched the beads. She said proudly, "And the structure is specially reinforced. It won't break easily like that day again!"
"…Why?" Yuu opened his mouth. That was all he could ask.
Haruno smiled.
"Because the next thing you said will never come true, right?"
"So, what you couldn't do, I'll do for you."
"You back then, me this time… Everything you gave, feelings you experienced."
"If this is the end, I want to walk the same path as the one I love most in my memories."
"This is my most precious Original."
Amid Yuu's shocked, speechless expression, Haruno handed him the bracelet. Her smiling eyes sparkled with longing.
"Yuu-chan, extend your left hand for a bit."
This too was a phrase she once said.
Only then it was full of romance and beautiful light. Now, shadows enveloped them both. Even observers couldn't help falling silent.
"I'll give you three seconds. If you don't extend, it means you've answered that you hate me."
Though Haruno said it casually, every word, every sentence pressed the air. It made Yuu forget to breathe momentarily. He didn't even know if he should raise his hand.
He just wore a stiff, shocked expression, as if locked in Haruno's gentle gaze, unable to move.
"Three."
—Can't go back. All resolve made. Don't worsen things.
"Two."
—Stop yourself here. Fewer hurt the better. After all, this is the System's fault.
"One."
—Don't be threatened. This is all Haruno's calculation! Think of Yukino, think of Yui. You don't love her anymore. All pity and sympathy after this are just trash-man choices.
During the mental tug-of-war, the countdown ended.
"Ah, too bad."
Haruno smiled brightly with relief.
"Looks like my first love ends here."