Prologue | Continuation – Two Flowers

I’ve always loved beautiful things.

Whether it was the glistening rainbow after a rainstorm, the youth films portraying the camaraderie of boys, or the flowers that captivated me when I was in elementary school.

To grow flowers properly, just watering them isn’t enough. You need to provide fertilizer, the right environment, and your care.

When you do that, they’ll mysteriously bloom even more beautifully. In fact, some studies have shown that flowers grow better when spoken to with kind words.

Someday, if I get my own shop, I’d like to use flowers I’ve grown myself.

After all, flower accessories are the embodiment of my passion. If people recognize my flower accessories, it’s the same as them acknowledging my passion.

I want that girl—who I don’t know where she is or what she’s doing now—to find them and remember me, even if just a little.

It was autumn of my second year in middle school when I first secretly began gazing at flower encyclopedias during class—about two weeks after that fateful cultural festival immediately following summer break.

Back then, lunchtime in my class was a small, recurring event. The moment the chime for the fourth period ended, my classmates would stir and fix their eyes on me.

Clutching my lunch bread and flower encyclopedia, I tried to hurriedly slip out of the classroom.

Just as I reached for the door, it burst open from the other side with great force.

“Yuu! Let’s eat lunch together!”

A cheerful voice rang out as a girl bounded in.

Her pale skin contrasted with her slender frame.

Her large almond-shaped eyes shimmered like translucent marine blue.

Her flowing, long, and slightly wavy hair was a light hue, as though the color had faded.

She had an ethereal presence, like a fairy—a breathtakingly beautiful girl.

Inuzuka Himari.

A classmate who, for some reason, became my best friend after the September cultural festival.

Renowned as the most beautiful girl in the school, she was infamous for countless heart-wrenching tales, earning her the nickname ‘Masho’ (enchantress).

That Himari nearly bumped into me but stopped short with an “Oops!” and staggered slightly. I also stopped abruptly, avoiding a collision just in time.

Her stunning face was right in front of mine. Her hair swirled in the air, lightly brushing against my cheek. The breath that grazed my nose felt oddly warm.

…She must’ve sprinted here the moment class ended.

Himari furrowed her brows at me for a brief moment. But that expression quickly vanished, replaced by her usual dazzling, sunny smile.

“Ahaha! Yuu, what’s the rush all about?”

Then, as if suddenly realizing something, she covered her mouth with her hand.

“Ah! Could it be that you were rushing because you couldn’t wait to see me? Fufu~ You just love me too much, don’t you?”

She repeatedly and gently smacked my cheeks in a mock slap, though it wasn’t painful… more like ticklish.

Himari didn’t shy away from physical interactions like this, even in public. Embarrassed, I instinctively stepped back.

This was our class’s regular ‘Yuu the introvert gets greeted by Himari’ event.

Himari waved at her friends in class. “Himari-chan, again?” “Yeah, kinda,” she replied casually to their teasing before turning back to me.

“C’mon, Yuu. Let’s head to the science lab.”

“…………”

I couldn’t meet her gaze.

My hand trembled slightly as I let it dangle at my side. Cold sweat trickled down my palm. Come on. Be brave. Clenching my fist tightly, I finally forced myself to speak.

“A-actually… today, I thought I’d eat somewhere else for a chan—guh!?”

Before I could finish, something was abruptly shoved into my mouth.

A straw…?

It was the familiar paper carton of Yoghurppe Himari always drank. Speaking in a kind, almost daycare-teacher-like tone, she said softly but firmly:

“Here, drink up~”

“…………”

Helplessly, I sipped from the straw.

Himari watched me with a peculiar gaze, brimming with affection. It felt like being at the dentist—awkward but oddly calming. As my throat moistened, I found myself feeling more at ease. My thoughts grew clearer. Lactic acid bacteria are incredible.

The paper carton let out a slurping noise as it emptied.

At that moment, Himari spoke again. She neatly folded the empty carton and tucked it into her pocket.

“Alright, let’s go have lunch.”

“…………”

With a bright smile, she added pressure to her words.

Her expression screamed, “Fufu~ The cutest girl in the world came to fetch you, so stop fussing and let’s go already!” Yeah, okay, she’s cute, but the world’s cutest? I had my doubts. Also, could she please stop doing this every single time?

“Hurry up!”

“…Alright.”

Resigned, I allowed myself to be dragged out, while my classmates sent me off with amused smiles.

Even in the hallway, curious stares followed us. If anything, passing other classrooms only drew more attention. “She’s here again today?” “She’s persistent,” I heard whispers.

To be honest, Himari was insanely cute. Maybe not the world’s cutest, but she was undoubtedly the prettiest girl in our school. Having someone like her walking around with an introverted pet like me? It looked straight out of a live-action adaptation of a shoujo manga.

Between us, though, there wasn’t much conversation.

Himari kept engaging with other students we passed. She was popular, so there was rarely a moment when someone didn’t call out to her. Every time, I’d feel the wary gazes of her admirers, and my stomach would churn nervously.

“Hey, Himari!”

Someone called out from a nearby classroom. A group of about six boys and girls sat together, laughing over their lunch. They were part of the grade’s most prominent yankee clique.

Himari waved back through the window.

“What’s up?”

“Why not eat with us for a change?”

The group’s apparent leader, a boy with a trendy mash haircut, made the suggestion. Himari gave a casual reply.

“Hmm, maybe next time~”

The mash-haired boy’s expression soured.

He glared at me and muttered scornfully:

“You’re still hanging around with that guy?”

That guy… meaning me.

The other students in the room were also glancing at me and whispering among themselves. But Himari didn’t seem to care. With her usual cheerful tone, she brushed it off and brought the conversation to a close.

“Yep. Okay, see ya!”

“Wait a sec. Hanging out with someone like that can’t be fun.”

“Not really. Yuu’s actually got some surprisingly witty banter, y’know?”

“What? More entertaining than me? C’mon, let me hear it.”

“Mmm, his jokes are kinda niche. Inside jokes that wouldn’t make sense to anyone else, you know?”

I had no memory of showing off any “witty banter,” and clearly, the guy wasn’t letting this conversation go. His group seemed to smirk at the exchange, some chuckling, some rolling their eyes like “Here we go again.” …Except for one girl sitting next to the mash-haired boy, who looked visibly annoyed.

The guy had the air of someone who thought everything would go his way if he just pushed hard enough. And to be fair, he was good-looking. He was probably one of the key figures in his class.

“We’re going karaoke after school today. You haven’t sung in ages—join us, Himari.”

“I’d love to sing, but are you sure you’d want me there?”

Himari suddenly interrupted, cutting off the guy’s words mid-sentence. Her tone was sweet, but her words carried a sharpness. She flashed him a radiant smile, tilting her head slightly.

“I mean, if I really wanted to, I could sing through a loud mic… something like the messages you sent me yesterday?”

“…………”

For some reason, the mash-haired guy turned pale. He gaped, opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water, while the girl next to him glanced at him suspiciously.

Without missing a beat, Himari smiled brightly, waved, and walked off. I scrambled to catch up with her.

After what felt like an eternity of this “dragging me around” ritual, we finally arrived at my sanctuary—the floor where the science lab was located. Being in the most remote part of the school, there were few other students here.

Unlocking the door, I led the way inside the lab.

I took my usual seat at the corner table.

Without hesitation, Himari plopped down beside me. Despite the spacious room, she chose to sit uncomfortably close, her shoulder practically brushing against mine.

Flustered, I leaned away slightly.

“…Don’t you think you’re a little too close?”

“Huh, really?”

She said that but leaned in even closer.

…I gave up and opened the flower encyclopedia I’d brought from class. Himari was always like this—no matter how many times I told her, she never changed.

While I nibbled on my convenience store bread and flipped through the encyclopedia, I brainstormed ideas for the next flower I wanted to grow.

Meanwhile, Himari sat there at close range, watching me with a smile.

An overwhelming silence enveloped us. Just a moment ago, she had been the radiant heroine of the hallways, waving and smiling at everyone. Now, she was utterly different.

…Seriously, where was this “witty banter” she claimed I had?

Whenever it was just the two of us, things always ended up like this. I wasn’t great at starting conversations, and though it might surprise people, Himari wasn’t exactly talkative either.

Honestly, she would’ve had way more fun eating lunch with that group earlier. Even so, she never stopped inviting me. …Himari was seriously an odd one.

“Hey, Yuu. What are you doing?”

Himari finally broke the silence.

Startled, I froze up. I avoided her gaze and muttered in a small voice:

“I-I’m… thinking about flowers to grow for Christmas…”

“Ah, now that you mention it, it’s only about two months away. So, what’s the plan?”

Desperately, I nodded.

Himari always had this way of picking up on what I meant to say, even when I struggled to get the words out. It was comforting but also made me feel like she could see right through me.

“Are you doing something special for Christmas? Oh, are you going to sell your accessories at your family’s convenience store?”

“N-no, it’s not that. Um, the ikebana class I’ve been going to is holding a gallery exhibit…”

“Ikebana class!? Since when? That’s the first I’ve heard of it!”

[T/N: Ikebana classes teach students how to arrange flowers using different styles and techniques.]

Himari’s eyes lit up as she leaned across the table. Her curiosity was always piqued by the strangest things.

“I learned the basics of handling flowers there.”

“Wow. Makes sense, though. How long have you been going?”

“S-since fifth grade…”

“Wow! Are there other kids that young?”

“Not really. Most of the students are at least college-aged. When I first started, they thought I was joking and sent me away…”

Himari burst out laughing.

“Ahaha! Yeah, I can totally see that happening!”

“Haha… yeah…”

Himari always laughed genuinely. That was one of her best traits.

I liked that she never pretended to react politely only to gossip about me behind my back later. Instead, she openly expressed her feelings.

“The gallery is going to display one of my flower arrangements. So I’m trying to decide which flowers to use.”

“Hmm. Will you make it in time?”

“It’s not a large event. Each person only submits one piece, and the size is about this big…”

I made a bowl-like shape with my hands.

Himari watched my gestures closely before commenting with a smile:

“Hey, can I come see it?”

Surprised, I asked:

“Well, technically, it’s open to the public, but… would you really come?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“I mean, it’s Christmas. Don’t you have plans?”

“Hmm? Like what?”

For some reason, Himari responded as though she were enjoying herself, prompting me to explain.

Himari liked to play these little games—dragging out conversations that could’ve been answered with a single word just to enjoy the back-and-forth.

I thought seriously for a moment before answering.

“…Maybe an upperclassman’s mansion hosting a fancy home party with students from other schools?”

Himari snorted.

“Pfft, hahahahaha!”

There it was.

Her loud, uninhibited laughter, like she was expelling all the air from her lungs. She even started slapping my shoulder repeatedly. Where was that ethereal beauty from earlier?

Around me, Himari always laughed like this. I didn’t know what was so funny, but if she was happy, I guess it was fine.

…Was this what she meant by “witty banter”? Honestly, I’d rather she didn’t share this with anyone. I was just exposing my ignorance, after all.

“What’s with that assumption? That’s so over the top! It’s not like this is some Hollywood teen melodrama!”

“So… it doesn’t exist?”

“Of course not! If there were a mansion like that in this countryside, I’d want to see it myself!”

“But your family’s wealthy, right? You could invite celebrity friends or…”

“I don’t have any celebrity friends! The closest would be my Onii-chan’s friend, Enomoto-senpai.”

“Oh, the reader model?”

“Yeah, yeah. But we’re totally on bad terms. If I invited her to a Christmas party, she wouldn’t come. Besides, my Onii-chan would probably stop her anyway.”

“Huh. I thought you guys were close. She even promoted my accessory at the cultural festival.”

“That was a total fluke. Onii-chan won’t say, but he probably had to put up with some major harassment in return.”

“S-sorry…”

“Oh, come on, Yuu. It’s not your fault. I was the one being selfish.”

Himari smiled breezily.

That was just the kind of person she was. She never shifted blame onto others. It wasn’t something taught but a natural part of her. It made sense why she was so popular among our peers.

…Which is why I had no idea why she was so attached to someone like me.

“Ah. There’s that face again.”

“Huh? What face?”

Himari pulled out a Yoghurppe carton from her uniform pocket, stuck in a straw, and began sipping it.

“It’s not a big deal, but, Yuu…”

Himari smiled mischievously.

“Lately, you’ve been avoiding me, haven’t you?”

I accidentally squeezed my bread too hard, crushing it. My other hand, which had been turning a page in the flower encyclopedia, tore the page slightly. …Well, it was a secondhand book from Book-Off, so whatever.

“W-what are you talking about…?”

I averted my eyes, trying to play dumb.

Himari leaned forward, blocking my view.

Her face was undeniably stunning. No, her entire aura was different. She didn’t seem to wear much makeup, but her natural beauty easily surpassed that of professional models. Having someone like her as a classmate would normally be a blessing, but…

“So? Why?”

…She just happened to have a slightly high-maintenance personality.

Usually, Himari could read the room perfectly, but once she fixated on something, she wouldn’t let go until she was satisfied.

No matter how much I appreciated the view, this side of her was undeniably a nuisance. To put it bluntly, this was the troublesome part of Himari.

“L-like I said, I’m not avoiding you. I really don’t know what you mean…”

Once again, I avoided her gaze. But Himari, quick as ever, moved to match my line of sight. When I looked away again, she did the same.

In the end, I looked up at the ceiling. There. Try following my gaze now, Himari, wahaha—hey, stop! Don’t tickle me under the arms! That’s off-limits!

“Yuuu~? If you keep messing around, I’m seriously gonna get mad, you know~?”

“A-alright! Alright, I get it!”

Finally freed from Himari’s tickle torture, I collapsed onto the table, completely drained. Still unable to look her in the eye, I confessed from that position.

“…I’m sorry. I have been avoiding you.”

I braced myself for a punch.

After the cultural festival, Himari had gone out of her way to help with my goal of selling accessories. She’d even lost sleep over it at times.

But no punch came.

When I cautiously looked up, Himari sighed as if to say, Finally, he admits it.

Her Yoghurppe carton made a slurping sound.

“Why? Did I do something?”

Himari’s voice was calm and composed.

As expected of the queen of social interactions, she had nerves of steel. If our roles were reversed and Himari told me she’d been avoiding me, I’d probably never set foot in school again.

Which is why I was able to confess honestly.

“No, it’s not you, Himari. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Hmm? Then why?”

“Well, it’s more of a personal problem, and I don’t really want to talk about it…”

Himari’s marine-blue eyes glinted mischievously.

Her hands wiggled in the air like they were preparing for an attack.

“Yuu~?”

“Alright! I’ll talk! Just, please, no more tickling!”

…I’m really sensitive to tickling under my arms.

Look, it’s not like this is important information, but just so you know. Anyway, I sat up straight and, with a serious expression, began to speak.

“H-Himari-san. I mean, it’s like this—there’s a certain hierarchy to things, you know?”

“Uh-huh. Where’s this coming from? Did you read some self-help book? Or was it an article online? If it’s online, don’t take it seriously. People venting anonymously is just a pastime.”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Then what? You’ve never said anything like this before.”

“Well, uh…”

I couldn’t find the right words.

As I hesitated, Himari let out a soft chuckle. She folded her empty carton neatly and tucked it into her pocket.

“Yuu, you’re seriously so kind.”

“Why’re you saying embarrassing things all of a sudden!?”

“I mean, you don’t have to care about what some random classmates are saying, right?”

Her words struck a chord, and I realized—this was Himari’s game from the start. As expected of the Masho. I’d been dancing in the palm of her hand all along.

“…You knew, didn’t you? About the guys complaining about me?”

“Knew? More like I just pieced it together from how you’re acting.”

“That’s a bit of a stretch, don’t you think…”

“Ahaha. Well, I’ve been hearing similar things myself lately, you know?”

Saying this, Himari finally pulled out a small bento box from her bag. “Man, I’ve been starving. Finally, I can eat,” she said nonchalantly before starting on her lunch.

“So? Are you telling me to stop hanging out with you?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

Himari had been spending time with me for the past two weeks.

In other words, the people she used to hang out with had been ignored for two weeks straight. Both guys and girls had complained to me about it.

“Yuu. Anything else?”

“That I don’t deserve to be around you, Himari.”

Leaving aside the fact that the guys misunderstood my relationship with her.

That wasn’t the point. At the end of the day, perception matters more than reality. How things look is what counts.

“But there’s no need to worry about that, right?”

“It’s not that simple. Himari, you have your own social circle. It doesn’t make sense for you to deal with this stuff because of me.”

Of course, that was just an excuse.

The truth is, being with Himari felt miserable.

Even if we were friends, her presence constantly reminded me of the difference in our social levels. Himari was beautiful, sociable, and always needed by others.

I was aware of it… No, I couldn’t avoid being made aware of it. The brighter Himari shone, the darker my shadow grew in comparison.

The more I admired the beauty of Himari’s friendship, the stronger the feeling that I didn’t belong grew.

Because Himari was someone who bloomed in the sunlight.

Laughing with the others on the other side suited her far better. I felt like I was tarnishing her just by being near. Beautiful things should remain untouched.

“…I see.”

Himari munched on the simmered burdock root in her bento.

“You know, Yuu, I never expected this, but… you’ve got a pretty complicated personality, huh?”

“Ugh…”

Her blunt statement left me speechless.

“I thought you’d be more like, I don’t know… a craftsman type? Someone who doesn’t care what others think and just focuses on flower accessories.”

“W-what? Of course not. I’m human, after all…”

“Well, I’ve never worried about stuff like that.”

“…Born winner.”

Himari chuckled gleefully. Then, laughing even harder, she added, “I mean, it’s true, so I can’t help it.”

“A-anyway, I really think you should reconsider spending time with me.”

“Reconsider? How? I’m not going to stop helping you sell your accessories.”

“There’s a way to do that without us eating lunch together every day. Just contact me when you finish an accessory. Other than that, we can go back to being strangers, like before…”

“…………”

Himari went silent, seemingly lost in thought.

Her sudden cold gaze made me flinch. …Maybe I’d finally gone too far. Of course, she’d be disappointed. I was basically asking her to only help me when it was convenient for me. On top of that, my words were selfish and inconsiderate. It wasn’t surprising if Himari’s feelings toward me had cooled.

…But Himari sacrificing her school life for someone like me didn’t sit right either.

“Yuu, do people often tell you that you overthink things?”

“N-not really…”

Though, my third oldest sister did say that a lot.

“Here. Look at this.”

Himari held out her phone.

The screen showed her LINE chat. The name in the conversation wasn’t familiar, but I recognized it after a moment. It was the mash-haired guy from earlier in the hallway.

“Oh no…”

Just a glance at the messages made me shudder.

The texts were relentless—he was trying everything to win Himari over. Claims like “I’ll break up with my girlfriend for you” or “I’m serious about you” filled the chat. He kept inviting her out.

“This is from earlier, right?”

“Yup. It’s been like this for about a month now. Oh, remember the girl sitting next to him? That’s his girlfriend, but apparently, they’re not doing so great. I guess he thought I’d be an easy rebound.”

No wonder Himari was acting distant.

Toward the end of the chat, he’d even written, “Just once, let me…” It was gross. Didn’t he claim to love her?

“And this is from his girlfriend.”

“Huh?”

Himari switched to another chat, this one with a girl.

The messages were even harsher. Accusations like “You’re seducing my boyfriend!” and “Stop messing with him!” filled the screen, painting Himari as the villain.

“It even says someone saw you leaving a hotel with him…”

“That’s obviously fake. Probably one of their friends stirring the pot for fun.”

“That’s messed up…”

“Yeah, constantly dealing with stuff like this is exhausting. It’s like navigating a minefield—always second-guessing their words while watching what I say.”

“Then just ignore them…”

“I can’t do that. People like me can’t survive alone.”

“Really?”

“Really. I told you, didn’t I? I only get by with the help of others. I can’t do anything on my own.”

Himari’s self-deprecating tone resurfaced. From my perspective, she seemed plenty independent, but she didn’t see it that way.

“In the past, I might’ve tolerated it if there was some benefit to dealing with them. But now, I’m not so sure.”

Her words caught my attention.

“…Did something happen?”

I asked, and Himari responded with a wry smile.

“Well, before I met you, I was dating someone. Turns out he was seeing four other girls too, and… his other girlfriends attacked me.”

“Attacked you!?”

“Haha, yeah. They called me out, then shoved me onto the road.”

“What the heck!?”

She sighed deeply and shrugged.

“Yep. Love-struck girls are scary. After that, I decided to steer clear of romance. I wasn’t even into that guy in the first place, so I broke it off and ran.”

“Then why were you dating him…?”

“I heard he was super popular, so I got curious.”

Classic Himari. Her bold curiosity as a social butterfly knew no bounds. …Curiosity killed the cat, huh?

Himari laughed and pulled out another Yoghurppe. She was drinking more of those than usual today. Watching her calmly insert the straw, I couldn’t help but think.

“What I’m trying to say, Yuu, is this: You think people like me, who are having fun, are beautiful. But beauty doesn’t always mean purity.”

“…………”

I was at a loss for words.

At that moment, I realized something. I had assumed Himari’s life was all sunshine and rainbows because of who she was.

“That’s why, for me, purity is better than beauty. No matter how glamorous something looks, it’s meaningless if it’s rotten inside.”

Himari closed the LINE app on her phone. She placed it face-down on the table and looked me directly in the eyes.

“When you’re making accessories, Yuu, your eyes are so pure. I love that about you. Your passion is every bit as strong as mine.”

Himari reached out and held my hand.

Startled, I looked up at her.

“So promise me you’ll stay my best friend forever, okay?”

She gave my hand a light squeeze.

…I noticed it was trembling slightly. But I chose not to mention it—it didn’t feel like the right thing to do.

“And, Yuu? Don’t fall for me, alright?”

Her tone was casual, but there was something desperate in the depths of her marine-blue eyes.

I’ve always loved beautiful things.

Himari’s friendship was undoubtedly the most beautiful thing in my life. It was a treasure, something I could never give up.

“Of course. After all… I’m your…”

I stared straight into her eyes and mustered all my courage to say it.

“…best friend.”

Himari’s eyes widened.

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she looked away shyly. Her expression seemed to say, “Don’t say something so embarrassing…” which only made me feel more self-conscious.

…This is bad. This tension is unbearable.

Just as I reached out to pat her shoulder, Himari turned back to face me. …And for some reason, she was grinning mischievously.

“You said it, huh?”

“Huh?”

Himari picked up her phone from the table.

She held it up for me to see… and for some reason, the voice recorder app was running. She pressed stop, then hit play. My voice echoed back:

“After all… I’m your best friend.”

My face burned with embarrassment.

“Himariiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!”

“Pfft, hahahahahaha!”

I tried to grab the phone, but Himari easily dodged me. She played the recording again at full volume.

“Yup, got your promise on record! Yuu, you can’t run away from me now!”

“You’re the worst! Delete that right now!”

While chasing her around the table, I accidentally knocked over my chair. Also, Himari, stop jumping on the table! I can see up your skirt!

After a while, we both collapsed onto the table, laughing and out of breath.

Lying on her back, Himari looked up and said:

“Oh, I just thought of something. If a guy comes onto me, I’ll just say I’m dating you. Easy, right?”

“You’re just using me as a boy-repellent! Don’t drag me into your drama!”

“But that’s what best friends do. Don’t you think it’s kind of fitting?”

“No, it’s not! I don’t want that kind of help!”

“You don’t have a crush on anyone, do you, Yuu?”

“That’s not the point. And besides, being targeted by jealous guys would be a nightmare.”

“Oh, come on. Getting to be my fake boyfriend should be an honor!”

“Don’t say that about yourself. Also, what if people take it seriously!?”

Suddenly, Himari sat up.

She reached out and held my hand again. This time, she intertwined her fingers with mine and gripped tightly.

She leaned in close—so close that her nose nearly touched mine—and whispered with a sly smile.

“Well, in that case… why don’t you just date me for real?”

“…………”

I recognized that look in her eyes.

No matter how much Himari teased me with suggestive words, I could always see through the subtle glimmer of expectation in her clear, marine-blue eyes.

I had an answer ready for her.

“Not a chance. Dating you would be the worst idea ever.”

As expected, Himari burst into laughter.

“Pfft! Haha! Yup, Yuu, you get it!”

“Yeah, yeah. Thanks, I guess.”

“Oh, I know! Let’s hold hands and go to the school store like this. That way, I won’t have to deal with anyone confessing to me!”

“Wait, seriously? No! Himari, stop dragging me—hey, let go! No, stop! Hiiiimariiii!!”

As we bantered back and forth, I realized my initial worries had faded. All that remained was the desire to cherish Himari as my best friend.

I still remember the warmth of her hand that day.

Back then, I swore I’d never let go of that hand. Himari and I would stay best friends for life. …But yeah, I know. You don’t have to say it. If I could erase this memory, I would.

Two years later, in the spring of my second year in high school…

I made the mistake of falling in love with Himari.

…If I could turn back time, I’d sell my soul to the devil.