Finally… I'm going to talk to Airi.
Yuuta watched as Airi stood up from her bench. His heart pounded.
She's coming to me...
But just as she reached his direction, Airi turned away—and walked right through the school gate without a word.
"What...?" Yuuta froze.
Hikari smirked. "She's never going to talk to you."
Then she called after her. "Airi, wait! I'm coming too!" and hurried after her.
Yuuta slumped. "Hah… I got excited for no reason. Of course she wouldn't forgive me that easily."
He clenched his fists.
"I guess I have to apologize first... if I even get the chance."
That Hikari... she's really getting on my nerves.
He sat back down at his desk, the weight of everything pressing down on him. His eyes began to blur.
Then—another memory surged forward.
---
He saw Sakura on her knees, crying.
"It's all my fault... If only I'd done something. If I had just made a different choice..."
She sobbed, her voice breaking.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Airi..."
---
The memory vanished.
Yuuta gasped, gripping his head.
"What... was that? I've seen Airi's memories before… but this one was Sakura's."
His heart pounded as he paced.
"These aren't dreams. These are like... pieces of another world."
He exhaled sharply.
"If this is another me… then why can't he just say things clearly? Why is everything always some kind of puzzle?!"
Frustrated, he grabbed his bag and walked toward the school gate.
Ahead, he saw Airi and Hikari standing together.
Are they... waiting for me?
He shook his head. "No, probably waiting for someone else."
He tried to walk past them.
"Oi! We were waiting for you!" Hikari called.
Yuuta blinked. "Huh? Me?"
Hikari crossed her arms. "We don't have a choice. Airi wants to talk to you—about the assignment we were given."
Yuuta stiffened.
Wait... Airi wants to talk to me?
"Airi, what is it you want to say?" he asked, hope rising.
But Airi looked away, silent.
"Hmph. I'll speak for her," Hikari said. "So listen."
Yuuta hesitated. "Okay... go ahead."
"If you want to do the assignment with us, there are rules."
"Rules? What kind of rules?" he asked warily.
"Rule number one: Don't talk to me."
"What? How are we supposed to interact then?"
"No problem," she said. "Saya and I will be there. So will my sister and Renji. You won't need to talk to me."
Yuuta sighed. "Alright. What's rule number two?"
"Don't try to get close to Airi. No talking to her alone. No approaching her."
Yuuta stopped. He glanced at Airi, but she still wouldn't look his way.
"…Fine. I won't."
"And one last thing," Hikari added. "The assignment will be done at Airi's house. Be there at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow."
Yuuta nodded. "Got it."
"Anything else you want to say?" Hikari asked flatly.
Yuuta turned to Airi. His expression hardened with resolve.
"Yes. There is."
He took a breath. "I just want to say... I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I just wanted you to know that."
Airi finally looked at him, her face unreadable.
She opened her mouth to respond—but another voice cut in.
"Oi! Didn't I tell you not to get close to Airi?" Sakura snapped, suddenly stepping between them. "If you keep this up, she's never going back to you."
"I know," Yuuta said quietly.
Hikari tugged Airi's sleeve. "Let's go."
The two walked away.
Yuuta stood still, watching them disappear down the street.
I don't think Hikari's trying to get close to her... at least not like I did.
But still... I said it. I said I'm sorry.
He turned, heading toward home.
Tomorrow… I'm going to Airi's house. Maybe something will change.
---
Meanwhile, at Airi's house…
"I'm home," Airi mumbled as she stepped through the door.
She went straight to her room, collapsed onto her bed, and stared blankly at the ceiling.
"He apologized… after two months..." she whispered. "But his eyes—they were different. He looked... determined."
She shut her eyes. "And I saw it. That love he still has for me…"
A beat passed.
"But I don't want to be hurt again. I'll keep my distance."
She rolled over, facing the wall.
"…Ah—wait."
She grabbed her phone. "I forgot to ask him about that message…"
She opened a message from a month ago—the one she never responded to.
> Yuuta: Airi, don't believe him. He's after y—
The message cut off.
Airi's eyes widened.
"…What were you trying to warn me about?"
If you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to add it to your library so you won't miss the next part of Yuuta and Airi's story!
And if you felt the emotions hit just right... show some love and drop a Power Stone! 🌟
Your support means everything—it keeps this world alive and growing.
See you in the next chapter!
—KazukiYami 💫