Before My Memories With You Melt Away in Tears - Episode 54

The train pulled away from the platform, and the surroundings fell silent. Ten seconds, twenty seconds… Ayaka couldn’t tell how much time had passed as she simply kept her head lowered.

“I see…”

She clenched her fist tightly.

She couldn’t lift her face. She couldn’t look at Kyoya.

Tears fell, one after another, creating dark spots on the station platform.

“…Don’t cry.”

Ayaka heard Kyoya’s gentle voice.

“I’m fine, so don’t cry.”

“…!”

Ayaka wasn’t the kind of person to cry over something like this. She bit her lip and wiped away the tears with the back of her hand.

“I’m sorry.”

When Ayaka looked up, her eyes met Kyoya’s. He was smiling.

“It’s okay. It’s only natural to fall in love with someone else.”

Even though he had to be hurting, Kyoya spoke with concern for her. His kindness made her heart ache. She had hurt such a kind person.

But that’s why… she had to face this until the end. This was her punishment for hurting Kyoya.

“Thank you for everything, until now.”

“…Yeah, thank you too.”

Because of Kyoya, Ayaka had come to like the person she had hated the most—herself.

The words almost slipped out of her mouth, but Ayaka swallowed them down.

What good would saying it now do? She didn’t want to be the bad person. She wanted to end things as a beautiful memory. Her own selfishness made her feel like her feelings were transparent.

“Well then…”

Ayaka turned her back to Kyoya. She had already decided that she wouldn’t look back, taking a step forward.

“…Ayaka!”

Kyoya called out to her back.

“I love you, Ayaka! I might forget this memory, but my feelings for you won’t disappear!”

“I-I…”

She too loved Kyoya.

She didn’t want to part ways.

She wanted to be with him forever.

Fighting back the overwhelming feelings that threatened to flood out, Ayaka ran away as if to escape.

Kyoya’s voice sounded as though he were crying.

Ayaka sprinted to catch the train that was closing its doors.

At this point, even if Kyoya tried to chase her, he wouldn’t catch up.

“…Ugh… sniff…!”

Tears poured uncontrollably.

Though people around her were staring, Ayaka didn’t have the strength to care.

She leaned against the closed door and slumped to the floor.

It was really over. This was the end of everything.

Just as Kyoya had said, he would forget about Ayaka.

The theme park they went to together, the conversations they had, the detour they took on their way home—everything, all of it would fade away.

But there was no other choice. To protect Kyoya, this was the only way.

“I-I…”

I love you too.

Even if Kyoya forgets me, my feelings for him won’t disappear.

The memories of the time we spent together, I’ll remember them all.

Now and forever, I will always, always love Kyoya…

“…I love you…”

The words that slipped out were drowned out by the sound of the train and vanished into the air.

The next day, Ayaka stood in front of the mirror, her eyes swollen and red. Last night, as she tried to sleep, she kept thinking of Kyoya, unable to fall asleep no matter what.

She remembered the things they had talked about, and it made her feel happy, sad, and in pain all at once. She cried over and over again.

She didn’t want to go to school looking like this, but there were still things she had to do.

She had no appetite, so she drank only some salad and orange juice and left the house earlier than usual. At this time, Kyoya probably wasn’t around yet.

Even so, at the transfer station, on the train, and at the platform, she found herself searching for Kyoya.

She knew it would hurt if she saw him, but she still wanted to see him so badly.

But Kyoya wasn’t anywhere to be found.

With mixed feelings of relief and loneliness, Ayaka made her way to school.

She had been wondering where she should wait, but it turned out to be unnecessary worry. The other person had been waiting for her.

“Good morning.”

“…Good morning.”

Standing in front of the shoe locker, the person spoke to Ayaka.

“So?”

“…Can we go somewhere else?”

Ayaka suggested. She was worried that others might overhear them.

The person snorted in response and started walking. Ayaka quickly changed into her indoor shoes and followed, walking briskly behind them.