Haizaki had already fulfilled his promise.
If he stayed any longer, gazing at Utaha in front of him, he feared he would no longer be able to suppress the surging longing in his heart.
Right now, he wanted to tightly embrace the girl, to feel her body temperature, to feel her presence—to truly, unmistakably feel that Utaha existed.
She was still alive.
But…
No.
At least not now.
If he did that, it would probably leave her at a loss, plunging her into confusion.
The current Utaha had no memories of loving him. Everything was merely the influence of subconscious impulses and instinct.
"Goodbye…" Haizaki said softly.
He turned sideways, about to pass by Utaha, but a faint force tugged at the corner of his clothes.
Haizaki stopped. He glanced sideways at the girl who looked equally startled by her own action.
"I…" Utaha finally uttered her first syllable.
When she realized Haizaki was leaving, her hand instinctively grabbed the corner of his clothes in time. Amid her confusion and uncertainty, all she felt inside was a reluctance for Haizaki to leave.
She seemed to dislike Haizaki disappearing from her field of vision.
An aversion rose spontaneously in her heart.
She absolutely did not want this man to leave.
"Do we… know each other?"
Her free right hand finally, under the control of her consciousness, wiped away the tears on her cheek.
"Do we… know each other?" As if worried that Haizaki had not heard her clearly, Utaha asked again.
If she did not resolve this doubt in her heart, if she could not find the source of the restlessness and heaviness lingering in her chest, she knew that for a long time to come, she would be unable to focus and continue the writing she loved.
And now, the appearance of the man before her, and her body's reaction, made her realize that the reason for her poor condition lay with this man.
"If I say we know each other, would you believe me?"
Haizaki turned slightly and looked at the girl behind him.
"I would."
She chose to believe.
The person in front of her seemed like someone she could trust and rely on.
"We probably knew each other in a past life."
Utaha froze, confused by Haizaki's answer.
How did it suddenly turn into a past life? Such a development belonged in novels—how could it be possible?
She instinctively rejected the idea, yet when she met Haizaki's serious gaze, she found herself uncertain.
Could it really be so?
"I'm just joking. I simply thought Kasumigaoka-san was beautiful and captivating, so I couldn't resist my pursuit of beauty and decided to confess to you. Unfortunately… I was rejected."
No. Absolutely not.
This was definitely not the real reason.
Even if that were true, then why did she cry? Why did she feel reluctant? Why did seeing that unfamiliar face cause such overwhelming bitterness to flood her heart?
This feeling could not be wrong.
It was an attachment—love—for the man in front of her.
Her… body had actually fallen in love with a stranger.
Her body loved a stranger, a man she had only met for the first time today?
Utaha could not help but mock herself.
Something so novel-like had actually happened to her.
Even now, she could not accept it.
Perhaps the world hid a side she did not know.
A truth concealed beneath the surface of the world—something beyond her reach.
That was what Utaha thought.
"I need the truth. I hate lies."
The same as always.
Haizaki once again heard Utaha's familiar questioning tone.
Memories flooded back.
The corner of Haizaki's mouth lifted unconsciously.
"Someday in the future, I think you'll definitely know."
He could not explain.
This time, Utaha's reaction also exceeded Haizaki's expectations.
The moment she met his gaze again, the girl's initial cold and aloof rejection collapsed instantly. Her subconscious still retained feelings of love for him.
It was heartbreaking—and yet pleasing.
Seeing Utaha fall silent, and noticing the surrounding situation, Haizaki reached out with his left hand and gently grasped the girl's right wrist. With a slight movement, her hand that had been holding his clothes slid down under gravity.
"Goodbye."
This farewell would probably mean not seeing each other for a very long time.
Haizaki had no intention of appearing in Utaha's everyday school life.
Moreover, if he did not leave now, he would likely be unable to endure the cruel reality—that Utaha had ultimately lost the memories that represented their bond.
Enduring until now was already his limit.
Even Haizaki, who prided himself on his strong mental fortitude, was experiencing violent emotional turbulence at this moment as he faced Utaha's familiar wine-red eyes.
An intense mixture of sorrow and joy.
Haizaki took another step forward.
Utaha felt empty inside, as though something important was drifting away.
Instinctively, she wanted to step forward, but reason made her remain where she was.
"Your name…"
Yes. Even now, she still did not know this man's name—the name of the man who had made her cry more than anyone else in her life.
"Tell me your name…"
Utaha raised her voice.
Because she sensed that Haizaki did not intend to tell her.
"Next time we meet, I'll… tell you."
In the end, suppressing the urge to tell Utaha his name, Haizaki gave a compromise.
"Wait. One last question."
Seeing Haizaki stop, Utaha spoke of her own will.
"If I agreed to your confession, what would you do? Would you still go and do the important things you believe you must do first?"
"Yes. Those are things that must be done—things for which I could even sacrifice my life. But…"
Haizaki seemed unwilling, or perhaps afraid, to continue.
"But what? Please tell me…"
She had no intention of giving up on her questioning. She wanted to understand Haizaki's purpose.
"But perhaps, at the same time… I would also have a youthful, enjoyable… romance with you."
That was the scenario he had envisioned if Utaha chose to accept his confession.
"Then I…"
Haizaki waved his hand as he gradually moved farther away.
"…agree…"
She finally forced out her answer.
But at that moment, Haizaki had already turned the corner and disappeared from sight.
Raising her head once more and staring at the empty space ahead, Utaha stood there blankly.
The moment she struggled and made up her mind to accept the confession—choosing to do so in order to search for the true source of the turmoil in her heart—had come too late. The man had left before hearing her final words.
Or perhaps he had heard them, but only accepted her first answer?
Utaha was at a loss. She did not know what to do next.
Should it end like this? Or should she chase after him?
As she thought, and thought again, her anxiety grew, and tears once more fell beyond her conscious control.
Her right hand covered her chest. Deep inside her heart, something important had, within just five minutes, been lost, found, and lost again.
She seemed to have missed something important in her life.
…
-----
LEND ME YOUR POWER OR I'LL MAKE YOU EXPLODE WITH THIS KI BLAST
(っ•̀ㅁ•́)っ≡≡≡〇