Before My Memories With You Melt Away in Tears - Episode 52

Kanna glared at Ayaka before raising the corners of her mouth in a cruel smile. Her expression was like a predator eyeing its prey, and Ayaka’s shoulders involuntarily trembled.

“U-Um…”

Kyoya, who had just left moments earlier, still hadn’t returned. Ayaka wasn’t sure what he was doing, but she knew it was best not to get involved with Kanna. She could just send Kyoya a message saying she’d gone back to the classroom. Luckily, Kyoya had taken his things with him, so he might not come back right away.

“Excuse me,” Ayaka said, standing up and trying to pass Kanna.

“…”

Kanna grabbed Ayaka’s arm so tightly it almost hurt, then smiled sweetly.

“I came here because I wanted to talk. Don’t just run off without saying anything.”

“T-Talk…? I don’t really…”

“I have something to say. You don’t need to have anything to say. There’s still plenty of time during lunch break, so let’s have a nice chat.”

Ayaka didn’t understand what Kanna’s intentions were, but Kanna dragged her over to Ayaka’s desk, the one she had been sitting at earlier. Kanna forced her to sit down and then took the seat across from her—the one where Kyoya had been sitting.

“Hm? You were eating with Kyoya-kun here just now, weren’t you?”

“….”

“You should at least answer me. Or is it that a lady like you can’t even talk to someone like me?”

Kanna tapped the desk in irritation, her finger drumming loudly.

The reason for Kanna’s words was not what she said. Ayaka could already see that whether she agreed or disagreed, Kanna would just twist everything to make her feel bad.

So, Ayaka chose to stay silent.

But even that seemed to fuel Kanna’s anger.

“Honestly, it’s so frustrating. You should’ve been dumped already, but even after a month, you’re still together. It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Why do you think it doesn’t make sense?” Ayaka snapped, unable to keep quiet after being attacked by Kanna’s unjust anger.

Kanna’s eyes widened. “Huh!? You think you’re good enough for Kyoya-kun? Know your place!”

“That… That may be true, but…”

But Kyoya had told her that he liked her, just as she was. He wanted to be with her.

She didn’t have to explain herself to Kanna.

“But Kyoya-kun told me that he’s okay with me, just as I am. So, as long as he doesn’t say he doesn’t want me around, I’m going to stay by his side,” Ayaka said firmly.

“You’re so cocky. You’re really not going to break up with Kyoya-kun?” Kanna asked, her voice filled with venom.

“Of course not,” Ayaka answered without hesitation.

Ayaka loved Kyoya, and of course, she didn’t want to be apart from him. But more than that, she couldn’t bear the thought of making him sad. Kyoya, who could always sense other people’s pain so easily, who cared so much for others—it hurt her to think that he might suffer because of her.

“I’m not going to break up with Kyoya-senpai,” she said again, this time with even more conviction.

Kanna looked at her with an expression that seemed to almost mock her.

“What’s so funny?” Ayaka asked, confused.

“Oh? Heh, it’s just that you’re getting so worked up over this,” Kanna teased.

Ayaka felt her bl00d boil at Kanna’s mocking attitude. Kanna had forced her to sit here, but there was no reason to keep talking to her.

“I’m going back to the classroom now,” Ayaka said, standing up.

“Hmm? You think you can just do that?” Kanna said, as if she found Ayaka’s attempt to leave amusing.

“Of course, I can… I’m just going back to class—”

“I know Kyoya-kun’s secret,” Kanna interrupted.

“Kyoya-kun’s… secret?”

Ayaka’s heart lurched, the bad feeling growing in her chest. Could it be the secret about how his memory loss was triggered by the tears of someone important to him? Or something else…?

“Kyoya-kun, he let his real parents die, didn’t he?” Kanna said with a twisted smile.

“…!”

Ayaka froze, struggling to find words. She didn’t know what to say. She stayed silent, unsure of how to respond, and Kanna grinned even wider.

“Oh, so you knew about it too. Heh, it’s pretty awful, isn’t it? Letting your own parents die like that…”

“That’s not true! He didn’t just let them die!” Ayaka protested, her voice trembling.

“But that’s what the newspapers and magazines said, right? That he abandoned his parents to save a lost child and they died. Such a horrible crime, yet he’s still treated like a popular hero at school. I couldn’t help but laugh when I found out.”

“Stop… please, just stop…” Ayaka whispered, her voice breaking.

“What do you think would happen if I told everyone else? Maybe Kyoya-kun would even hear about it…” Kanna’s voice was dripping with malice.

“No, stop it!!” Ayaka shouted, her voice filled with panic as her eyes stung with tears.

She couldn’t hold them back anymore. Despite telling herself not to cry, the tears fell down her cheeks.

“Don’t do this… Please don’t hurt Kyoya-kun…”

Kanna’s smile only grew wider as she leaned in closer.

“If you really don’t want me to hurt him, then you know what you have to do, right?”

Her voice was thick with a twisted, almost predatory satisfaction.

Ayaka could see it now. Kanna’s intentions were so clear—too clear. And it made Ayaka want to scream with frustration.

“How low can you get?” Ayaka muttered, barely able to contain her disgust.

“Say whatever you want. It doesn’t matter to me,” Kanna said dismissively. She touched her cheek, then looked at Ayaka with a playful expression before letting out a cruel laugh.

“No one wants their secret about letting their own parents die to get out, right?”

Ayaka felt like she was losing control. Her heart raced, and the weight of everything became too much to bear.

“I didn’t give in to you,” she said, her voice trembling as she spoke through clenched teeth.

“I don’t want to hurt Kyoya-kun.”

“So…” Ayaka paused, gathering all the strength she had left.

“I’ll break up with Kyoya-kun, so please… don’t say anything. Please…”

With those words, she bowed her head, her face pressed to the desk. Kanna placed her hand on the back of Ayaka’s head, pushing it down even more. Ayaka’s forehead slammed against the surface, but she gritted her teeth and endured it.

She was doing this for Kyoya.

For the person she loved. To protect his heart.