Before My Memories With You Melt Away in Tears - Episode 55

The two of us entered an empty classroom nearby. It was the same classroom where I had shared lunch with Kyoya yesterday.

“So?”

Kanna said, her tone forceful, as if to pressure me. I refused to back down. I didn’t want to show weakness in front of her. I didn’t want to lose to someone like her. I looked up at her with those feelings in mind.

I took a small breath and then stared straight at Kanna.

“I broke up with Kyoya-kun.”

“…Really?”

Kanna narrowed her eyes, staring at me with a suspicious look. She seemed to be trying to figure out whether my words were true or not, giving me an intrusive and rude look.

“Yes, it’s true. If you want, you can ask Kyoya-kun.”

“Is that so? You didn’t just get your story straight with him?”

“Eh?”

For a moment, I couldn’t understand what she meant, but then Kanna sneered at me.

“You look like you didn’t even think of that possibility.”

“Of course I didn’t! I wouldn’t do something like that…”

“You never know. How can you expect me to believe anything you say?”

“So what should I do then…”

She didn’t know how much pain I’d gone through to tell Kyoya that we should break up. If she knew, she wouldn’t say things like this.

Frustrated, I glared at the floor, but then Kanna suddenly smirked, as if something had occurred to her.

“Oh, I know! Prove it.”

“Prove it? How am I supposed to do that…?”

“It’s simple. Come here.”

Before I could react, Kanna grabbed my arm and started walking away.

“W-where are we going?”

“You’ll find out when we get there.”

She kept walking without looking back, pulling me along with her. I hesitated, unsure, but followed her anyway.

“If we’re this far, we’re almost there… Hmm, maybe the classroom first…”

She mumbled to herself as she walked, retracing her steps. I realized we were heading back in the direction we came. If we kept going, we’d end up at the entrance.

“…!”

When I saw who was ahead of us, I finally understood what Kanna was trying to do. As if she had read my mind, Kanna laughed softly and said, “This is the most obvious way, right?”

“Your personality is the worst…”

“I don’t care what you think. But look, Kyoya-kun is coming this way.”

We stopped just before the stairs leading up to the second floor, right where Kyoya would have to pass if he was heading to class. It was impossible for him not to see us.

I didn’t want him to notice us, didn’t want him to look this way. But Kanna shattered that wish.

“Kyoya-kun, good morning!”

Kanna called out as Kyoya walked near us. He looked up at her.

“Good morning, Tanizaki-san.”

“Ugh! I’ve told you to call me Kanna!”

“Sorry, I’ve decided to only call my girlfriend by her first name.”

“Well, I guess that’s true…”

I felt my stomach twist. Kyoya was speaking to Kanna so casually, in a way that was completely different from how he spoke to me. He was smiling in the same way he had yesterday, and it hurt. My heart squeezed painfully, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel butterflies.

“By the way, Kyoya-kun…”

“Ah, sorry, I have to head to class. If you want to talk, we can chat later.”

With that, Kyoya turned his gaze to me.

“Ah…”

But he didn’t say anything to me. He gave me a brief nod, like a stranger, and then continued up the stairs, as if I didn’t even exist.

“…!”

I knew this was going to happen. I knew that Kyoya would eventually forget me. I had prepared myself for it, but now, seeing the coldness in his eyes, my chest ached so much I felt like crying.

He had forgotten all the days we spent together. The “I love you” he said, the “I love you” I told him, everything—gone.

I had been ready for this, but now it was too painful. The distance in his gaze hurt so much, it felt unbearable.

“Hmm, so you really did break up with him.”

Kanna’s voice brought me back to reality. She was watching Kyoya’s retreating back with amusement.

“Are you still going to say you made up some story?”

It was my last attempt at holding onto my pride, but Kanna laughed, as if she had already lost interest in me.

“You can tell just by Kyoya’s attitude. You know what? He’s already forgotten about you. He doesn’t care at all. It’s like the two of you were never even together in the first place.”

“…I see.”

I could tell now. Kanna had really loved Kyoya. I looked at her and felt a little bit of pain. She had loved him so much, and now, just like me, he had erased her from his life.

But I still couldn’t bring myself to like her. I understood her pain now, but I couldn’t bring myself to care for her the same way.

“Well, whatever. But listen, don’t go anywhere near Kyoya from now on. If I see you around him, you know what will happen, right?”

“…I understand. But please, don’t tell anyone about Kyoya-kun.”

Desperation filled my voice as I tried to cling to whatever I could.

“Of course not.”

With just that, Kanna turned her back on me and quickly ran up the stairs, disappearing around the corner.