Chapter 64: Don’t Take Away My Hope

You still haven’t told me why you’re upset with me.

Knowing she had to answer Kanzaki Sou’s question, Kondo Haruka opened her mouth, but couldn’t make a sound.

She couldn’t bring herself to say what had affected her emotions.

If only she’d said it before.

If it was before Kanzaki Sou agreed to sign up for the Borrowed Item Relay with her, she might have been able to say it.

But now, it was absolutely impossible.

“Because I found out that Miura Koharu invited you to the Borrowed Item Relay, so I felt uncomfortable.”

Even if she’d said that before, it wouldn’t have been the worst.

It was still something that could be remedied.

But.

“After knowing that Miura Koharu invited Kanzaki Sou to the Borrowed Item Relay, and then asking Kanzaki Sou to sign up with me—”

That was just too underhanded.

Even as the person involved, she felt ashamed.

“Knowing about Miura Koharu’s private message,” “Asking to pair up with Kanzaki Sou for the Borrowed Item Relay,” and “Pretending not to know about Miura Koharu’s message.”

If only two out of the three existed at the same time, it would be fine.

But she’d done all three.

If Kanzaki Sou found out.

***

He’d hate me.

Kondo Haruka bit her lip instinctively.

That, at least, was something she never wanted.

I, I—

Wrapped in such conflicted feelings, Kondo Haruka stammered.

In the end, she gave up and managed a vague explanation.

“It’s fine now, Sou-kun.”

“I was just agonizing over whether to tell you about inviting you to the Borrowed Item Relay.”

Kondo Haruka looked up, forcing a natural smile.

“Because I was afraid you’d think I was childish, you know? Like, someone so amazing joining a silly event or something… haha.”

“It’s not childish at all.”

Watching her quietly, the childhood friend who understood her better than anyone spoke.

“This sort of thing isn’t childish.”

He looked at her widened eyes, speaking naturally.

“What event you participate in is your choice. Even if you don’t join Sports Day, nobody can say anything.”

“—Because you want to change, so you want to try.”

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.”

The boy smiled gently, his words bringing comfort to his childhood friend.

Is that so.

I see.

Kondo Haruka’s heart warmed instantly.

“—Yeah! You’re right, Sou-kun!”

“Yeah, whatever I want to join is my freedom, that’s how it should be—”

That’s right.

There’s no reason to be so timid.

She was Sou-kun’s childhood friend.

For so long, they’d always been together.

She could say whatever she wanted to Sou-kun, do whatever she wanted.

There was no space for a third person, no possibility for anyone to interfere.

Whether it was other girls or Miura Koharu, nobody could surpass her place in Sou-kun’s heart.

There was no need to feel anxious because they wanted to get closer to Sou-kun.

No one could “take” Kanzaki Sou away from her.

She would always be number one.

“Hmph, that’s a relief…”

As if she’d regained the righteousness of her actions from Kanzaki Sou, Kondo Haruka’s confidence returned.

“—Patapata—”

“…Huh?”

Just as the maroon-haired girl felt a surge of victory in her heart, she seemed to hear quick footsteps retreating behind her.

Is someone there?

“Haruka, if that’s all it was, then it’s resolved now, right?”

As the urge to turn around rose in her mind, Kanzaki Sou called out to her.

“So don’t keep sulking, okay?”

“If you keep this up, even if it’s not me, others will notice you’re in a bad mood.”

“If it’s settled, don’t trouble your friends around you.”

“What’s with that~!”

Kondo Haruka glared at Kanzaki Sou.

“I wasn’t trying to bother anyone, and anyway, you’re the only one who noticed.”

“That’s why I said ‘if you keep it up’.”

“Geez… In your mind, am I really that much of a troublemaker? Ah, I’m sorry your childhood friend is such a headache, boooo~”

Back to her lively self, Kondo Haruka pinched her lower eyelid with her right hand and stuck out her tongue at Kanzaki Sou.

So you’re at least self-aware.

Kanzaki Sou smiled wryly, spreading his hands.

“—Sou-kun~!”

“Alright, enough, let’s go back to the classroom.”

The girl’s long hair fluttered behind her, as if escaping from the wind that clung to her.

Miura Koharu didn’t know where she was running.

By the time she realized what her body was doing, she’d already run dozens of meters.

…Why does something like this happen even when I’m just wandering around?

Kanzaki Sou hadn’t replied to her message.

Kondo Haruka had always disliked her.

She didn’t even want to do these things.

If possible, she wished she hadn’t seen that scene.

Sports Day, Borrowed Item Relay, Kondo Haruka, Kanzaki Sou, System, Game—none of it had anything to do with her.

She had already worked so hard.

***

Even if she hadn’t actually accomplished anything, just overcoming the mental hurdles was already a struggle.

Every time she spoke to Kanzaki Sou, she was cautious.

Every time she wanted to get closer to Kanzaki Sou, she thought it over and over.

Outside of Kanzaki Sou, she tried her best to blend into this world.

She wasn’t really a high school girl, yet she was forced to play along in school games, to compete for her childhood friend with these high school girls who didn’t even seem to understand basic social rules.

Even so, she tried her best.

Why was she being toyed with like this?

She was the one who sent the invitation for the Borrowed Item Relay, so why didn’t Kanzaki Sou reply?

Kondo Haruka had plenty of other events to join, and even as a class activity she could have invited Kanzaki Sou—so why did it have to be the Borrowed Item Relay, the very event that clashed with hers?

Why wouldn’t Kanzaki Sou reply to her, wouldn’t accept her invitation, yet agreed to pair up with Kondo Haruka here?

Not caring where her legs carried her, Miura Koharu ran through the school with furrowed brow and bitten lip.

She just wanted to escape.

Anywhere would do.

But she couldn’t.

There was nowhere for her to run.

Even if she left the school, nothing would change.

Whether it was the street or home, there was nowhere she could escape this “world”.

Why.

Even though she’d already reached a dead end.

Even though she was struggling to survive.

Why did Kondo Haruka have to take away even her chance to try?

She had plenty of other events, plenty of time to be with Kanzaki Sou!

Why did it have to be her one and only chance that was taken?

Unspeakable emotions exploded inside Miura Koharu’s heart, almost making her scream.

She couldn’t take it anymore.

She couldn’t go on.

“Haa… Haa… Cough—haa…”

Finally out of strength, Miura Koharu came to a stop and leaned against the corridor wall.

Ignoring the strange looks from students chatting outside the classrooms during lunch break, she raised a trembling hand to cover her swirling eyes.

***

Her attempt to get closer to Kanzaki Sou during Sports Day had failed.

Kondo Haruka would pair with Kanzaki Sou for the event, and their relationship would quickly deepen.

After that, no matter who took the first step, their bond would become so strong that nobody could come between them.

It was only a matter of time before Kanzaki Sou entered Kondo Haruka’s Personal Route.

It was all over.

Kanzaki Sou’s refusal to accept her invitation but agreeing to team up with Kondo Haruka meant he was rejecting contact with her altogether.

Even if there was no reason, if his heart refused contact, nothing she did during Sports Day would matter.

She wouldn’t be able to do anything, even if she forced herself.

Already—

“—Ring ring ring~”

Just as Miura Koharu’s heart was sinking into darkness, a clear chime sounded from her waist.

It was the sound of a message from her phone, cool and clear, pulling her heart back from the abyss.

It was a LIME private message notification.

Miura Koharu didn’t have many contacts added on LIME.

Like waking from a deep dream, she hastily pulled her phone from her pocket.

At the top of the notification bar, the [SS] icon was flashing.