Before My Memories With You Melt Away in Tears - Episode 31

Akari, who said the same thing as Kyoya, looked at me with kind eyes.

“I think it’s really admirable that you try to avoid conflict with others by putting on a smile. But like I said before, I don’t want you to hide your true feelings. Please don’t hide your heart behind a smile.”

“My true feelings?”

“Yes. It makes me sad when I can’t know them.”

Fujino nodded seriously in agreement.

I was grateful to have friends who accepted me even when I showed my flaws. It made me happy that they wanted me to express my feelings honestly, without pretending.

I might not be able to stop smiling right away, but I really wanted to be sincere in front of the two of them. I truly felt that way.

“By the way, it’s almost Ikeda-senpai’s birthday, isn’t it?”

Having made up with everyone, I realized that there were only 15 minutes left of lunch. As I quickly started eating the lunch I had brought, Fujino suddenly mentioned it.

“Is it?”

“Yeah, I think so. Why don’t you know, though?” Fujino said with a puzzled tone.

I pouted while shoving a piece of tamagoyaki into my mouth.

“Because I never know when it’s the right time to ask about birthdays and stuff.”

“The timing doesn’t really matter. You can say something like, ‘I’ve been really into astrology lately~,’ or ‘Oh, today is our homeroom teacher’s birthday, by the way! When’s yours, senpai?’ There’s always a way to ask.”

“Are you a genius at asking about birthdays, Fujino?”

“Well, well, it’s all about technique, you know? Just kidding, I’m not that good!”

I couldn’t help but admire how easily the ideas came to her.

Even though I had finished my trial period with Kyoya and we were now officially a couple, there were still so many things I didn’t know. I didn’t know what he liked or what he usually did, and there was still so much to learn.

“When we were in middle school, whenever it was Ikeda-senpai’s birthday, there’d be a line outside his classroom, right?”

“Some people even came early to leave gifts on his desk.”

Fujino and Akari, both from the same middle school as Kyoya, knew him better than I did.

“So, you two know when Kyoya-senpai’s birthday is, right?”

“Of course.”

“Could you tell me…?”

I asked, somewhat reproachfully, but both of them just laughed and exchanged looks.

“You have to ask him yourself,” Fujino said.

“Yeah, yeah. I think the fun part is learning about Kyoya-senpai through these little things,” Akari added.

I couldn’t argue with their logic. I was left speechless.

“Well, I’ll help you pick a gift, so you can ask him about his birthday yourself.”

“…Got it.”

I nodded, and the two of them smiled at me with satisfaction.

On my way home that day, I was thinking about how I should ask Kyoya about his birthday. Would asking about his horoscope be easy? Or should I ask about our homeroom teacher’s birthday… but I didn’t even know when that was! Was it okay to just say “today”?

Maybe asking about astrology would be the safest bet.

As I continued to think, I suddenly realized Kyoya wasn’t walking next to me anymore.

“Huh?”

I looked around and noticed he had stopped about 10 meters ahead of me.

“Wh-what’s going on?” I called out, running to catch up with him.

Kyoya had an exasperated look on his face when I reached him.

“Finally noticed, huh?”

“Huh?”

“You’ve been spaced out the whole time. Didn’t you hear me call you a few times?”

“Oh… sorry…”

“I was wondering how long it would take for you to notice. I was teasing you a bit.”

Kyoya smiled mischievously like a mischievous child. Feeling reassured by his smile, I quickly apologized again, “Sorry!”

“I was just thinking about something,” I explained.

“Thinking about something?”

“Yeah. I was wondering when your birthday is and how I should ask you…”

“My birthday?”

I realized too late what I had just said.

By blurting it out, I had ruined the chance to casually ask or find a clever way to bring it up.

“Ahhh, I’m sorry! Forget I said that!”

“Forget it? Should I pretend you didn’t ask?”

“Well, um, if you pretend I didn’t ask, I’ll have to ask again, so… Actually, maybe it’s better if you pretend I didn’t ask after all…”

“Hahaha, what’s that about?”

Kyoya couldn’t hold back his laughter. I felt embarrassed, curling up slightly as he laughed at my serious words.

“Hey, Ayaka-chan?”

“Please, don’t look at me right now.”

“Why not?”

“Why? Kyoya-senpai, you’re doing this on purpose, right?”

“Hehe, Ayaka-chan, you’re cute.”

“What?!”

I looked up, thinking I was being teased, and saw Kyoya laughing joyfully.

“…You’re such a tease.”

“Sorry, sorry.”

“…If you don’t tell me your birthday, I won’t forgive you.”

At those words, Kyoya widened his eyes before laughing again, this time more playfully.

“Ayaka-chan, you’re really cute.”

“Ah, n-not the time for that!”

“It’s July 10th.”

“Eh…?”

Kyoya whispered in my ear and then pulled me up by the hand.

“Is it okay for me to expect something?”

He teased, laughing mischievously. He looked so happy.

I wondered if he knew how much it made me happy to have him laughing like this by my side.

I smiled to myself, savoring the happiness I felt in that moment.