Act 3: The Happiness of Having You by My Side
Yuzuhana woke up about two hours after she had fainted.
“Here… is…?”
“Whoa! You’re awake!”
“Hyah!? D-Don’t just yell like that out of nowhere!”
Her eyes were still drowsy, but that had just now completely snapped her awake. Her eyes widened, and her breathing grew faster.
“S-Sorry. I was just so happy… You suddenly collapsed, so I was really worried. Was it heatstroke?”
“No.”
“Then did you pass out from hunger?”
“That’s not it. Well… I won’t deny that I’m hungry, though.”
“I see. Then here, eat this.”
I handed Yuzuhana a sandwich.
She stared blankly at the plate in front of her.
“Where did that come from?”
“The lady at the shop gave it to me.”
After Yuzuhana suddenly fainted, the lady at the shop got worried and let us use this room. The second floor of the shop was her home, and she let us use a bed.
I took her up on her offer and laid Yuzuhana down, keeping an eye on her. Even though it was the busy lunchtime rush, she still went out of her way to bring us a sandwich.
“She said, ‘You don’t need to pay, just eat it together when she wakes up.’”
“And yet, I see clear evidence that it’s already been eaten.”
Just as Yuzuhana pointed out, about eighty percent of the sandwich was already gone. Sure, I had been starving, but I hadn’t eaten out of sheer greed.
“I needed to keep my strength up. Since you weren’t waking up, I was thinking about carrying you on my back to the taxi stand.” [Kohei]
“You didn’t eat the omurice?” [Yuzuhana]
“No. They hadn’t made it yet, so they said I didn’t need to pay.” [Kohei]
“Even though plenty of time had passed before I collapsed?” [Yuzuhana]
“They said they got too caught up in our conversation.” [Kohei]
“Well, after hearing a conversation that was practically a proposal, I can’t blame them for getting distracted… Ugh, now that I’m remembering it, I’m getting embarrassed. Seriously, you like me way too much.” [Yuzuhana]
“Yeah. I love you.” [Kohei]
“… Enough to want to marry me?” [Yuzuhana]
“Enough to want to marry you.” [Kohei]
When I met her gaze and answered, she smiled bashfully, as if embarrassed.
Trying to cover up her shyness, she gave a little snort.
“Next time you propose, make sure you don’t end up bawling.”
“That couldn’t be helped. I was really hap— Wait, what!?”
…Bawling?
“H-How do you know? That I cried my eyes out when I proposed…”
I had told her about the proposal. How, when I took my eyes off the telescope, Yuzuhana was already in tears—that part, I had shared. But I never mentioned that I had cried from happiness after seeing her like that.
Which meant… could it be…?
As hope swelled in my chest, Yuzuhana narrowed her eyes gently.
“Thank you, Kohei. For working so hard for me.”
“Your memory’s back!?”
“Hyah!? I told you, stop yelling all of a sudden! You don’t have to worry—I remember everything now.”
“R-Really? You really got it all back?”
“I wouldn’t joke about something like this.”
“Really, truly!?”
“You’re so persistent… Do you not believe me or something?”
“That’s not it… It’s just… You were so kind after losing your memory. I was scared you might be pretending it came back just to be considerate toward me…”
“If that were the case, I wouldn’t know that you bawled during the proposal. …Also, the way you’re putting it makes it sound like I’m not usually kind, you know?”
“N-No, that’s not what I meant. You’re plenty kind, Yuzuhana.”
She furrowed her brows in discontent.
“Hah? ‘Plenty kind’? You always add these unnecessary little words.”
“W-Well, it’s true, isn’t it? You do show kindness in the end, but first, you get mad like a raging fire.”
“That’s because you always do things that deserve getting yelled at! …W-Why do you look like you’re about to cry? If I said too much, I’ll apologize, so don’t cry.”
Yuzuhana was comforting me.
Really, she is kind—despite everything.
By the way, I wasn’t crying because she scolded me. It was simply because I was happy.
“They’re happy tears. That just now convinced me. Your memories are really back.”
“How does getting yelled at convince you!? You’re making me sound terrifying!”
As she shouted in frustration, I couldn’t help but wrap my arms around her.
“I’m so glad… Really, I’m so glad…”
“H-Hey, that hurts…”
“S-Sorry… I just hugged you out of nowhere…”
When I loosened my hold, Yuzuhana, looking slightly flustered, mumbled,
“I-It’s not like I’m mad or anything. You don’t have to stop hugging me…”
“So… you want me to hug you?”
“T-That’s not what I’m saying! I just want you to be a little gentler!”
Yuzuhana averted her gaze, as if trying to hide her embarrassment.
I hugged her again, being careful with my strength. Through her clothes, I could feel her warmth gradually seep into me. The sensation of something soft pressing against me made me suddenly aware of the situation, and I started feeling embarrassed.
Before my face could turn red, I let go—but Yuzuhana’s face was already flushed. If she looked like that, then my own face was probably even redder.
We both ended up blushing, creating an awkward silence between us.
…Maybe I should change the subject.
"For now… wanna drink some water?"
I held out a half-empty bottle of water, but Yuzuhana shook her head.
"I'm not that thirsty."
"But you're sweating a lot."
"...If you say I smell bad, I’ll seriously get mad."
"N-No way! I wasn’t saying that at all! I’m just worried about you. Before you pass out from hunger, just eat the sandwich already."
"Then let's eat together."
I had already eaten, but if Yuzuhana wanted to eat together, then I had no reason to refuse.
We split the last two pieces and took a bite.
She must’ve been really hungry—her face lit up the moment she tasted it.
"The egg is sweet and delicious."
"The sweetness of the egg and the saltiness of the ham go perfectly together."
"The soft bread and egg make the crunch of the lettuce stand out… Fufu."
Suddenly, Yuzuhana let out a cheerful laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"It's not funny. I'm just happy. We kept our promise—we got to share our thoughts on a meal together."
I froze for a moment.
Instead of sharing thoughts about manga, we’d share thoughts about food—that was the promise I made with the memory-lost Yuzuhana.
"...Hey, how much do you remember from the past few days?"
"Everything. How you woke me up, making me scream… how I swung a frying pan at you… how you still haven't given my tracksuit back."
"Ah—crap. I totally forgot. I’ll wash it and return it."
"...You haven't washed it yet?"
"I couldn’t bring myself to wash it. Your scent was still faintly on it…"
"...Are you some kind of scent freak?"
"I'm not a scent freak. I just like your scent. Anyway, your memories are really intact, right?"
"They are. Why are you so hung up on this?"
"Of course I am. I wanted you to come back, but that doesn’t mean I wanted her to disappear."
The Yuzuhana who was wary of me.
The Yuzuhana who gave me something to drink.
The Yuzuhana who was unimpressed by my merch spending.
And, in the end, the Yuzuhana who smiled at me.
The thought of her no longer existing anywhere in this world—just imagining it made my chest tighten.
Maybe she sensed my unease, because she spoke gently, as if to soothe me.
"I don't really know how to put it, but… it's not like I took over her personality or anything. It's the same me. My memories are intact, and so are my feelings."
"...Your feelings, too?"
Yuzuhana nodded.
"When you started talking about time travel at the school entrance, I seriously thought you were a dangerous person and got scared. And when you told me about blowing all your money on gachapon, I was completely dumbfounded."
Hold on a second.
That was something I couldn't just let slide. I quickly stopped her.
"You're the one who blew all your money." [Kohei]
"You spent all of yours too!" [Yuzuhana]
"I still had 200 yen left!" [Kohei]
"Same thing!" [Yuzuhana]
"No, it's not! You had 50 yen left, I had 200 yen—see? That means I win!" [Kohei]
"Don't act all smug over just 200 yen!" [Yuzuhana]
"I used that money to buy you juice!" [Kohei]
"You drank half of it too! And did you forget that I bought you a drink the other day?" [Yuzuhana]
"You told me I didn’t have to pay you back!" [Kohei]
"I never said you didn’t have to be grateful!" [Yuzuhana]
"I never forgot my gratitude. When you were nice to me back then, it really saved me… It reminded me of when I lost my wedding ring." [Kohei]
"Ohh, that. It was a good thing we found it at the golf course." [Yuzuhana]
"Yeah, and golf was fun too." [Kohei]
"You were worrying about what would happen if you got a hole-in-one for no reason." [Yuzuhana]
"Because I wasn’t covered by hole-in-one insurance!" [Kohei]
"You didn’t have to worry! Like that was ever going to happen. You don’t even have the strength or skill to hit it that far." [Yuzuhana]
"But I still had the better score." [Kohei]
"Ugh, again with the one-upmanship…! Did you already forget how I took care of you when you got muscle pain the next day? I’ve never seen someone who literally couldn't walk from muscle soreness before!" [Yuzuhana]
"Not my fault! We played two days in a row and walked all the way to the golf course. But seriously, thanks for taking care of me, Yuzuhana. I really appreciate it." [Kohei]
"You're welcome." [Yuzuhana]
Even as we exchanged playful jabs, there wasn’t a trace of hostility.
If anything, the back-and-forth felt comforting.
This, too, would remain a cherished memory.
"That was a good meal."
After finishing the last bite of our sandwich and washing it down with a sip of water, Yuzuhana climbed out of bed.
"You sure you're okay to move?"
"Yeah, I'm completely fine now."
"Alright, let’s go then."
Together, we stepped out of the room and headed downstairs. The shop was lively, with a steady flow of customers.
Noticing us, one of the shop staff called out with a concerned voice.
"Are you feeling better now?"
Yuzuhana bowed politely.
"Yes, thanks to you, I'm completely fine now. Thank you so much for letting me rest in your bed."
"And the sandwich was amazing. How much do we owe you—"
"No, no, don't worry about it. I'm just glad you're feeling better."
"Thank you! We'll come back to eat here again."
Hearing that, the shopkeeper smiled warmly. "I'll be waiting."
After offering our thanks once more, we stepped out of the café.
It was just past 1 PM. The sun was directly overhead, and the heat was at its peak for the day. The air was thick and heavy, wrapping around us like a humid blanket. Sweat beaded on my skin, even though I wasn’t doing anything.
Maybe it was because of that, or maybe it was something else, but—
"Alright, let’s head home."
At my words, Yuzuhana's expression turned a little forlorn.
Then, in a soft, almost pleading voice, she murmured,
"The observation tower… won’t you take me there?"
My heart skipped a beat at the adorable request.
Her memories were back, and our main goal had been accomplished. But if I had the chance to go on a date with the girl I loved, I wasn’t about to pass it up.
"Yeah, let’s go. Might as well make the most of today."
When I held out my hand, Yuzuhana took it with a delighted smile.
The road ahead was just an ordinary street under the blazing summer sun—
But with her by my side, it sparkled like a path to somewhere magical.
*
And then.
Yuzuhana and I visited the observation tower filled with memories and made our way to the observation deck.
The observation deck was completely surrounded by glass, offering a panoramic view of the cityscape from a height of 130 meters.
Since this was a classic date spot in the area, the room was bustling with young couples.
Perhaps influenced by the lively atmosphere, Yuzuhana’s face lit up with excitement as she ran toward the glass window.
"Look, Kohei! The view is amazing!" [Yuzuhana]
"Good thing the weather’s nice." [Kohei]
"Right? It’s always sunny when we go on dates, so maybe I’m a hare-onna." [Yuzuhana]
"Would a ‘hare-onna’ really carry a folding umbrella around?" [Kohei]
"There you go again! Just say ‘Yeah, that’s true’ like a normal person." [Yuzuhana]
"Yeah, that’s true. You’re a hare-onna." [Kohei]
"…It’s kinda creepy when you agree so easily." [Yuzuhana]
"You always have a comeback for everything, huh?" [Kohei]
"Same goes for you. Ah, see? Because of your weird conversation, someone else took the telescope." [Yuzuhana]
"There are other telescopes, aren’t there?" [Kohei]
"I wanted that one. Because… you proposed to me at that spot, remember? Don’t tell me you forgot." [Yuzuhana]
"Like I could ever forget. I was seriously freaking out back then, wondering how it would turn out." [Kohei]
"You really thought I’d turn you down? I even placed a wedding book in plain sight to drop hints." [Yuzuhana]
"No, I got your message loud and clear. It’s just… that advertisement could only be seen through that telescope—" [Kohei]
"Ahh, right, right. You kept holding my hand and awkwardly leading me around the observation deck in circles." [Yuzuhana]
Yuzuhana softened her expression with nostalgia, but even now, just remembering that moment made my heart race.
"Exactly. Every time we walked around, another couple would start using the telescope, and I seriously panicked, thinking the sun would set before I got my chance."
The billboard advertisement was lit up at night, but it was harder to see compared to daytime. If she didn’t notice the ring ad, the entire plan would have been ruined.
"Since we’re here, want to take a lap around?"
"Yeah. This time, we can actually enjoy it."
Hand in hand, we strolled through the observation deck, surrounded by other couples.
Just then, something caught my eye—a poster for an anime was plastered on the wall.
Apparently, the restaurant one floor below was hosting an anime collaboration event.
"Ah!"
The moment she saw the poster, Yuzuhana let go of my hand and dashed toward it.
"Look, Kohei! They’re collaborating with AniPara!"
"Don’t shout. You’re disturbing people."
"It was just so shocking! As expected of AniPara, they’re collaborating with all sorts of places—zoos, observation towers, you name it!"
Yuzuhana was clearly dying to go.
"Since we’re here, why don’t we stop by on the way back?"
"Really?!"
"I don’t see a reason not to."
"But… Kohei, aren’t you full from the sandwiches?"
"We walked a lot today, so I’m still hungry. And besides, you want to go, right?"
"Of course!"
"Then we’re going."
My memories had returned to normal, but the goal of today’s date was to make Yuzuhana smile.
She beamed with joy.
"Thanks! As a reward, I’ll let you take as many pictures of me as you want!"
…Pictures?
I had a bad feeling about this.
"W-What do you mean by that?"
"It means you can use them as your wallpaper. That way, you can look at me anytime you want, right?"
Damn it! I knew it!
I was glad my memory was back, but I really wished she had forgotten about that…!
"T-That was just a joke back then! Like I explained before, I only took those pictures to show my family proof that we went to the zoo!"
I tried to play it off, but she wasn’t buying it.
Yuzuhana giggled mischievously.
"No need to be shy. Or… do you not want a wallpaper of me?"
"T-That’s…"
Taking date photos with a digital camera had always been our unspoken rule. Asking to take one with my phone now felt embarrassing, which was why I never brought it up until today.
The truth was, even when I was at home, I wanted to see her face. Admitting it out loud was embarrassing, but she already knew how I felt. I might as well be honest and start taking pictures of her on my phone, too.
"It’s not that I don’t want one…"
"Then I’ll let you take one."
Taking her up on the offer, I raised my phone. Yuzuhana struck a pose, flashing a smile and a peace sign. I snapped the photo and immediately set it as my wallpaper.
"Just one? That’s enough?"
"For now, yeah."
"You don’t have to hold back, you know? You like me enough to take secret photos anyway, don’t you?"
Yuzuhana grinned mischievously and brought it up again.
Letting her have the last word felt like losing. I had to say something—anything—to turn the tables… That’s it!
"Oh yeah, speaking of that AniPara poster, you were bragging about being an old-school fan, weren’t you?"
I could almost hear the sound of her flinching.
Yuzuhana averted her gaze awkwardly.
"A-Ah, that? That was just a joke. I didn’t miss a single episode from the start. It’s just… back then, I wasn’t at the stage where I could talk about anime with you. You know, admitting you’re an otaku takes a lot of courage."
"Yeah, yeah. I’ll let you off the hook, Miss 'I’m totally fine with caterpillars' Yuzuhana."
As I teased her, Yuzuhana’s face turned bright red.
"Don’t bring that up! I just… I wanted to look cute in front of you, that’s all…"
"You don’t have to try so hard. I already think you’re cute."
"But you wouldn’t say it very often!"
"Well, back then, we had just started dating, so I was embarrassed… Besides, I figured you already knew even if I didn’t say it. And anyway, you never called me cool either."
"Oh? If you want me to say it that badly, fine. That time you walked around half-naked in broad daylight? You looked sooo cool, Kohei."
"S-Stop! Don’t remind me of that…!"
I clutched my head in despair, while Yuzuhana smirked at me.
"Oh, come on. No need to be embarrassed—it’s a good memory. Besides, you always wore embarrassing outfits anyway." [Yuzuhana]
"Don’t lump my casual outfits into the ‘embarrassing’ category…!" [Kohei]
"That ridiculously over-chained outfit—where did you even buy that?" [Yuzuhana]
"Don’t call it ‘ridiculously over-chained’! I seriously thought it looked cool back then! Wait… how do you even know about that? I only wore it back in middle school." [Kohei]
"Your mom showed me a picture. She said, ‘Make sure Kohei doesn’t buy clothes that are hard to wash.’" [Yuzuhana]
"Mom! Just because you two get along doesn’t mean you have to show her everything…!" [Kohei]
"Well, to be fair, your fashion sense has improved a bit since we started dating." [Yuzuhana]
"See? I got better!" [Kohei]
"I don’t really mind what you wear, though. Want to go shopping for chain-covered outfits again?" [Yuzuhana]
"No way. We’d both end up embarrassed." [Kohei]
"I wouldn’t care. No matter what you wear, I’ll still like you. I fell for what’s inside, not how you look." [Yuzuhana]
"…I-I see." [Kohei]
Hearing her say something that was basically a confession made my face heat up.
As we continued chatting, we made our way around the observation deck. Just then, I noticed that the telescope we had been aiming for was finally free, so we headed toward it.
Yuzuhana immediately pressed her eye against the telescope, scanning for something.
A moment later, she exclaimed, "Found it!" Her voice bubbled with excitement. She gestured for me to look, so I leaned in and peered through the telescope.
The same building where I had proposed came into view.
A billboard was displayed on the rooftop, but instead of the ring advertisement from back then, it was now an ad for clothing.
"I can’t wait until it’s a ring ad again," Yuzuhana said with anticipation.
She was looking forward to the day I would propose to her.
If that was the case—if I wanted us to reach that day without any issues—then there was something important I had to talk to her about.
"Yuzuhana, there's something I need to confirm with you."
I pulled away from the telescope and turned toward her.
Noticing the seriousness in my expression, Yuzuhana’s own face became more solemn.
"Confirm what?"
"The day before you lost your memories… didn’t you get an email from your father?"
"How do you know about that?"
"So I was right."
"Right about what?" Yuzuhana looked puzzled. It seemed she hadn’t realized that her father’s email had triggered her memory loss.
"To be honest, I talked to Akabane-senpai and figured out what caused it."
"I thought I just hit my head… was it something else?"
"I thought the same at first. I mean, you do toss and turn a lot in your sleep."
"Excuse me? Sorry for having bad sleeping posture."
"Hey, I wasn’t making fun of you."
If anything, I actually liked it when she rolled over and clung to me. And the way she acted so mature when awake but turned into a restless sleeper was kind of cute.
"Anyway, back to the point. You didn’t hit your head. If you had, you would’ve woken up on the floor, and you didn’t seem to be in any pain either."
"That’s true… so what was the cause?"
"Anxiety about the future." I paused before continuing, "Akabane-senpai told me that sometimes, when people go through emotional distress, their minds protect them by making them forget the painful experience."
"Forgetting to escape from something painful…"
Yuzuhana repeated my words under her breath, her expression shifting to one of understanding.
"That… actually makes a lot of sense. After you fell asleep that night, my head was just spinning with worries."
Then, she finally told me what had been weighing on her mind.
She had been afraid because her father had said he didn’t want to see me—worried that I hated her uncle.
She had been afraid because she was told we would never get along—worried that things between her uncle and me would turn hostile.
"I was told that no one would celebrate my marriage, and I started to feel anxious about growing distant from my family—
“If I repeat the same thing as last time, won’t the result be the same? I was afraid that I’d end up divorcing Kohei again…”
To avoid going through such a painful experience ever again—to avoid ending up hating the person I love so much—she sealed away all her memories of me.
“I'm sorry. I couldn’t reassure you back then.”
“It's fine. You did reassure me, didn’t you? That’s why my memories came back like this… But if anxiety about the future is a trigger, then the same thing might happen again, right…?”
A little unease won’t be enough to rip her memories away, but if every moment of doubt leads to memory loss, that in itself becomes a new fear… A vicious cycle that could end with her losing her memories once more.
To make sure that doesn’t happen, I make a vow here and now.
I squeeze Yuzuhana’s hand tightly and declare with conviction,
“I won’t let you feel anxious. No matter what happens from now on, I’ll protect you. I’ll eliminate every trace of doubt. So stay by my side without worry.”
As I speak from the heart, light returns to Yuzuhana’s face. The anxiety vanishes from her eyes, and she smiles softly as she squeezes my hand in return.
“I want to stay by your side too, Kohei.”
“Thank you. I’ll become a man your uncle can acknowledge. I’ll make him bless our marriage.”
“Yes, I believe you. From the bottom of my heart.”
Yuzuhana no longer believes that the past will repeat itself. No matter what happens, she doesn’t think she’ll ever come to hate me again—because of that, her memories have fully returned.
To move toward the future Yuzuhana desires, I need to hear about her uncle’s email.
“What kind of email did your father send?”
“He said he’ll be visiting during summer break, so if I have a boyfriend, I should introduce him.”
“Then introduce me.”
“I don’t want to.”
“You promised you wouldn’t run away anymore.”
“That doesn’t mean we have to rush. You’re not muscular yet, and if you overwork yourself trying to bulk up quickly, you’ll hurt your body. What if you end up with lasting damage? That would make me even more anxious about the future.”
“But… wouldn’t you rather eliminate any sources of anxiety as soon as possible?”
Yuzuhana shakes her head with a bright expression.
“I’m not anxious at all. Because I believe in you. Not just about my father—no matter what happens from now on, as long as you’re by my side, I won’t be afraid of anything.”
"…You won’t lose your memories again?"
"I won’t. That’s why we should take our time building up strength. Then, after you graduate from university and secure a job, we’ll go greet him."
As she spoke about the future with a dreamy look, there wasn’t a trace of anxiety on her face.
This time, I’ll make sure we have a happy married life. I’ll become a man her uncle can bless on our new journey!
With that resolve in my heart, we continued our date.
*
Late July.
On the morning of the first day of summer break—
Drenched in sweat from sleep, I took a shower. Then, standing shirtless in front of the mirror, I struck a bodybuilder pose.
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Sana walked in.
"Whoa! Big Bro is playing hero!"
"This isn’t a transformation pose."
Even as I said that, I casually showed off a side chest pose.
Sana stared intently at my body… then tilted her head slightly.
"Big Bro, did you get bigger?"
"That’s right! I got bigger! You noticed?"
"I knew it! My eyes can’t be fooled! You've been eating a lot lately, after all."
Sana looked even prouder than I did.
It had been about seven weeks since I decided to bulk up. The first thing I did was study muscle training.
According to a blogger who went from scrawny to muscular in just a year and a half, food is just as important as training when it comes to muscle growth.
My ultimate goal wasn’t my uncle’s wrestler-like physique but a bodybuilder’s frame. Since I was in a bulking phase, I was eating as much as possible. Once I hit my goal of gaining fifteen kilograms, I’d start cutting fat.
So far, in these seven weeks, I had gained five kilograms.
I felt like I was getting bigger, but I wanted an objective opinion. That’s why I had timed my posing for when Sana woke up.
"Thanks for the compliment!"
It really felt like my efforts were paying off.
"You’re welcome! Now give me a compliment too!"
"You’re starting to look more mature."
"Yay! I’m one step closer to being an adult!"
Sana looked delighted and cheerfully started washing her face. I dried my hair beside her, and we both headed to the dining table.
Our mom and dad were already there.
"Oh my, you two look like you’re in a good mood."
"Did you have nice dreams?"
"Big Bro praised me! And I also had a great dream! A hawk was flying in front of Mount Fuji with an eggplant in its beak!"
"That’s all the best symbols of good fortune lined up. I dreamt about racing a motorcycle down a mountain pass."
"Dad, that’s so cool!"
"I used to be quite the rider back in the day."
"I dreamt about buying a lottery ticket," Mom added.
"Buying a dream in a dream… that’s kind of romantic!"
"If I win the summer jumbo lottery, we’ll go out for a fancy meal."
"Yay!"
As always, our dining table was lively. With Sana leading the conversation, even the smallest topics turned into big discussions. It made sense that even someone as shy as Yuzuhana was able to feel at home here so quickly.
If only Yuzuhana’s father were more like my family, maybe we could’ve warmed up to each other right away… Not that thinking about it would change anything, and my resolve to get muscular wasn’t going to waver.
"Kohei, what kind of dream did you have?"
"I don’t remember."
"For someone who doesn’t remember, you sure seem in a good mood."
"He's probably happy because he gets to spend time with Koikawa-chan."
"I-It's not like that!"
Even though I had properly introduced Yuzuhana to my family, I still got embarrassed when they brought up my relationship.
That said, while I reflexively denied it, Mom’s words weren’t exactly wrong.
We had already been seeing each other every day, but at school, we couldn’t be too affectionate with everyone watching. During summer break, though, we could actually do more couple-like things without worrying about others.
"You're going to Koikawa-chan’s house again today, right?"
"Well, yeah, I guess…"
"Knew it. Waking up early just to see her during summer break—you two are really close."
"I’m looking forward to the future!"
"One day, we’ll have to meet Koikawa-san’s family too."
"When that happens, make sure to introduce me in a good light!"
They seemed excited about meeting Yuzuhana’s family, but in my first life, that never happened.
Things had soured between me and her father, and she had grown distant from her family. I couldn’t exactly tell my parents that, so I made an excuse: "Her father is too busy with work to even attend the wedding."
It was a weak lie, and while my parents didn’t press the issue, I knew they had been disappointed.
This second life—I wasn’t just going to make Yuzuhana happy. I wanted to make her father and my family happy too.
If we could bring both families together, everyone could smile.
And to make that happen, I needed to get muscular.
With my resolve renewed, I devoured my extra-large serving of rice and returned to my room.
The time was just past 8:30 AM.
It was a little early, but I decided to send Yuzuhana a message.
[Good morning. Are you up yet?]
As soon as I sent it and started changing into casual clothes, my phone beeped.
[You can come over anytime. Don’t forget your homework.]
[Homework? On the first day of summer break!?]
It was a culture shock. In all my years, I had never once started on summer homework on the very first day. Wasn’t that the kind of thing you didn’t even think about until August?
"If you don’t finish it early, you’ll be in tears on the last day, you know?"
"Might be thrilling and fun, though."
"No way it’ll be fun. Just imagining it is scary... I’m starting to feel anxious."
The emoji was crying, but Yuzuhana wasn’t actually crying. She was just acting worried to convince me. I understood that in my head, but still... there was always that small chance.
"Alright, I got it! Let’s have a homework date today!"
Doing homework right at the start of summer vacation was a hassle, but if I ran into any problems, I could ask the smart Yuzuhana. Besides, if we finished early, we’d have the whole summer to enjoy.
"I’ll be looking forward to our homework date."
The emoji looked happy, and Yuzuhana was probably smiling, too. I couldn’t see her face, but I was sure of it.
Even though I had just seen her smile yesterday, I was already eager to see it again…
Hurriedly, I got myself ready and headed to the apartment where Yuzuhana was waiting.
After going straight to her apartment—
I found myself in the air-conditioned living room with Yuzuhana. We had our homework spread out on the table, sitting on the carpet, facing each other as we studied.
...For six whole hours.
The clock had just passed 3 PM.
Even though we had taken a lunch break, we’d basically been going at it non-stop.
We called it a "homework date," but at this rate, it was no different from a regular class. Sure, unlike school, it was just the two of us, but we weren’t doing anything couple-like.
Maybe she was too embarrassed to act spoiled around me since I was the one who suggested we do homework.
Thinking that, I tried to create a bit of a mood—when I came back from the bathroom, I gently patted her head.
No reaction.
"……"
I returned to my spot and sneaked a glance at her.
Yuzuhana, now wearing glasses, was staring intently at her workbook with a serious expression.
Noticing my gaze, she looked up, furrowed her brows, and lightly tapped her workbook with her pen.
Her eyes clearly said, "Focus."
I sighed a quiet got it under my breath and turned back to my workbook—but once my concentration was broken, it refused to come back.
Hearing the constant scratching of Yuzuhana’s pen, I hesitantly spoke up.
"Hey, Yuzuhana…"
"What? Another question you don’t get?"
With a resigned sigh, she scooted over next to me.
The moment she did, a gentle, sweet scent drifted over.
She was already lightly dressed, and with just the two of us alone, maybe she had let her guard down a little. As she leaned in to peek at my workbook, I caught a brief glimpse of her bra.
This is the reason.
Because I gave in to this temptation, I ended up spending six whole hours doing homework with her.
But if I don’t resist the temptation—if I don’t wrap up the homework soon, I’ll be completely drained before my workout.
"So, what part don’t you understand?"
"Well, it’s not that I don’t understand anything… but how about we call it quits on homework soon?"
"You’re stopping already?"
"‘Already’? We’ve been at it for six hours! Aren’t you tired, Yuzuhana?"
"Not at all. It doesn’t even feel like six hours have passed. It’s true what they say—time flies when you’re having fun."
"Did you always like studying this much?"
"It’s fun because you’re here, Kohei. Let’s keep going and finish all of it today."
"Today!?!"
"Why are you shouting like that?"
"That was a scream! There’s no way we can finish in one day!"
"Even so, the sooner we’re done, the better. I want to go to the beach and the amusement park with you this summer."
"We can still go even if we don’t finish the homework right away…"
"But we can enjoy it more if we don’t have any lingering homework, right?"
"Well… that’s true, but… at least let me do my workout before I collapse from exhaustion."
Since Kurose Kohei’s Muscle-Building Plan was essential for their future, she probably couldn’t argue against it too much. With a sigh, Yuzuhana relented.
"Fine… We’ll stop for today. But in exchange, we’re doing homework again tomorrow."
"Yeah, yeah, I’ll do my best."
After making me promise, Yuzuhana leaned her head against my shoulder.
"…Sleepy?"
"Nope. I just thought I’d let you pet me. You wanted to, didn’t you?"
We had already wrapped up the homework. It felt a little late for this now, but… it’s not like I didn’t want to.
Besides… Yuzuhana was looking up at me like she wanted it, too. She might not have reacted earlier, but that was probably just her holding back to stay focused on the homework.
I reached back with my left hand and gently ran my fingers through her hair. It was smooth, soft to the touch. As I enjoyed the silky texture, Yuzuhana let out a breathy, ticklish sigh.
A perfect, ideal day.
I wanted to stay like this, just the two of us, savoring this peaceful moment… but I couldn’t neglect my training.
For the sake of our future, I resisted the temptation and pulled my hand away from her silky brown hair.
"…Already done?" [Yuzuhana]
"Yeah. I’m satisfied." [Kohei]
"Then it’s my turn next." [Yuzuhana]
"Wait, you’re gonna pet me?" [Kohei]
"What, you don’t want me to?" [Yuzuhana]
"It’s not that… It’s just… I still have trauma from when my hair got yanked out." [Kohei]
"N-No way! I didn’t do that!" [Yuzuhana]
"You totally did. We got into a fight, and you grabbed my hair—yank, yank, rip." [Kohei]
"It wasn’t on purpose! It just… came out on its own!" [Yuzuhana]
"Don’t say it came out on its own!" [Kohei]
"Fine, fine! Sorry for pulling out so much!" [Yuzuhana]
"Don’t say so much! I’ll never forget the look on your face when you were like, ‘Huh? That much…?’" [Kohei]
"Well, I was surprised… But it won’t happen this time. We don’t fight like that anymore, and they said hair loss can be caused by stress, right? Besides, even if you’re worried about it, I don’t care. I fell in love with you, not just your hair." [Yuzuhana]
"But… wouldn’t you feel embarrassed introducing me to people?" [Kohei]
"Not at all. I’ll proudly say, ‘This is my wonderful husband, whom I love so much!’" [Yuzuhana]
"So cheer up," she said softly, running her fingers through my hair.
The comforting sensation had me completely hooked, and I let her continue for a while. But eventually, I stood up.
"Alright, time for my workout."
"Did you bring your dumbbells?"
"Left them at home. Today’s chest and triceps day."
Strength training follows the supercompensation theory.
When you put stress on muscles, they break down, and when they recover, they grow back stronger than before. This cycle of breakdown and recovery makes them bigger and more defined.
But rather than adding stress before full recovery, it’s more effective to wait until the muscles have fully healed before training them again.
Since different muscle groups recover at different speeds, I split my training into sections.
Today was push-up day—time to work on my chest and triceps.
"Alright, let’s do this!"
Changing into my workout clothes, I focused on maintaining proper form and started my push-ups. Lowering my chest all the way down to the floor, I kept my target muscles engaged with each controlled repetition.
"…Thirty!"
After a short break, I repeated this for three sets of thirty.
At first, I used to hit my limit quickly, but lately, I was finishing my sets with energy to spare.
Maybe it was time to graduate from bodyweight training.
"Hey, mind sitting on my back?"
"Ehh…?"
Still sitting on the couch, Yuzuhana made no effort to hide her reluctance.
She once told me she liked my scent, but… maybe she wasn’t a fan of sweat?
"The weight isn’t enough anymore. Come on, do it for our future."
Maybe it was the mention of "our future" that got to her, but Yuzuhana let out a resigned sigh.
"Fine… But if you say I’m heavy, I won’t forgive you!"
Ah, so that’s what she was worried about.
No matter how she looks, Yuzuhana is Yuzuhana—the girl I love. But if she’s self-conscious about it, I should be careful not to bring it up.
"I swear I won’t."
"Alright, then…"
Yuzuhana climbed onto my back—a soft sensation surged through me!
"Why are you lying flat on me!? You’re supposed to straddle my back!"
"If I straddled you, wouldn’t it bend your back weirdly?"
"You don’t have to worry about my spine. Just sit normally."
"No way. For the sake of our future, I need you to stay healthy."
Turns out, I was just as weak to that phrase as she was.
Even though the feeling of her pressed against me was… distracting, I had to focus. If I lost control, I could get injured.
"Hold on tight."
"I will. I’ll count for you, so just focus on your push-ups."
I nodded and directed all my strength to my arms.
"Oooooooooooohhhhhh!!!"
Nothing. Not even a millimeter!
"Nope. This is impossible."
"Wha—at least lift me up once! You’re making it seem like I weigh a ton!"
"What do you want me to do? You’re seriously heavy."
"You said it!! I told you not to!"
"Quit yelling right into my ear! Our future would be in trouble if I went deaf, wouldn’t it?"
"…You think you can get away with anything by saying that, don’t you?"
"I’d be lying if I said no, but… anyway, I’m sorry. I really am."
"Hmph. Well, fine. I’m sorry for yelling in your ear too."
After making sure there were no hard feelings left, Yuzuhana got off me.
Since I couldn’t add extra weight, I decided to make up for it with volume. I pushed through another 30 reps, then attempted one final set—but by the end, my arms completely gave out, and I collapsed onto the carpet.
"Haaah… haaaah…"
"Good job. You worked hard."
"Yuzu… protei…n…"
"Yeah, yeah, I’ll make it now."
According to fitness bloggers, protein absorption is highest right after a workout, making it the best time to drink a protein shake.
I collapsed on the spot for about five minutes, then downed my banana-au-lait-flavored protein drink in one go. At first, I thought, "Protein must be all powdery and taste awful," but it actually went down like juice.
"Well? Do I look strong?"
I stood in front of Yuzuhana, shirtless, and struck a confident pose.
"You look stronger than Kohei did yesterday."
"Oh yeah? So I do look strong!"
Hearing Yuzuhana give her seal of approval filled me with both joy and relief. If I keep training like this—again and again and again—I'll become the kind of macho guy that old man likes!
Firming up my resolve once more, I wiped off my sweat with a body sheet and changed into my usual clothes.
"Are you done with training?"
"I've hit my quota for today."
"Which means... you're free until tonight?"
"…You're not seriously gonna say we should do homework again, are you?"
"I was about to say just that—but I'll let it slide today. Want to go shopping instead?"
"For groceries?"
"Nope. To buy your clothes."
"Mine? I’ve already spent too much on workout gear—I don’t have the money for that."
"I'll buy them for you. Think of it as a reward for all your hard work. You train every day, and that shirt’s already too tight when you button it up, isn’t it?"
Now that she mentioned it, it did feel a bit snug compared to before. Not like I had to rush out and get new clothes, but… I did want to go out with Yuzuhana.
"Alright, then. Shopping date it is."
With that, I stepped out into the scorching sun alongside Yuzuhana, who nodded happily.
*
Around 4 PM, we arrived at a clothing store on the far end of the shopping district.
It was a stylish shop, with Aloha-style clothing prominently displayed. The brightly lit interior was filled with cheerful background music, naturally lifting my mood.
It was my first time coming here in both this life and the last…
"Do you come here often?"
"Nope. Just once, back in my first year of high school. The store clerks are the type who actively start conversations, so I never came back after that."
For Yuzuhana, who’s shy around strangers, aggressive sales talk has the opposite effect. Before we started dating, she mostly shopped at stores in malls where the staff wouldn’t engage too much.
There was a chance that same clerk from back then was still around, but since I was with her this time, she must have felt safe enough to come back.
"By the way, was that clerk a guy?"
"No, a young woman. Why?"
"No reason. Just asking."
Yuzuhana smirked.
"Aah, I get it. You were worried if someone was hitting on me, weren’t you?"
"T-That’s not it!"
"You're such a bad liar. It's written all over your face—‘I was worried if someone was hitting on her.’"
"You’re imagining things."
"Nope. I know that face. Remember when I told Kohei I wanted to get a part-time job?"
"In our second year of college?"
Part-time jobs can be a valuable social experience, but Yuzuhana’s father firmly believed that a student’s duty is to study.
Maybe he was just worried about his shy daughter, or maybe he was concerned about guys hitting on her…
Either way, instead of letting her work, the old man sent her a hefty allowance every month.
At first, Yuzuhana simply accepted his generosity, but at some point, she must have decided she couldn’t stay shy forever. That’s when she asked me for advice about getting a job.
I still remember how anxious I was. Yuzuhana had a severe case of stage fright—whenever she got nervous, she’d start speaking in broken sentences and end up biting her tongue. Could she really handle a part-time job?
But more than my worries, I respected her determination to face her weaknesses. That’s why I suggested a job handing out tissues.
It would give her practice starting conversations while keeping interactions simple.
…That said, I had seen college guys hitting on tissue-distributing girls before, and I couldn't stop worrying about Yuzuhana getting caught up in the same thing.
Just in case something happened, I secretly kept watch so I could rush in to help if needed. Of course, Yuzuhana had no idea.
"Kohei, you were secretly watching over me back then because you were worried I’d get hit on, weren’t you?"
"Wh-What? How did you know…? I even disguised myself…"
Flustered, I accidentally admitted it, making Yuzuhana grin triumphantly.
"Hiding your face with a mask and sunglasses doesn’t help when you're wearing those clothes."
"S-Sorry for dressing weird, okay?!"
That day, as soon as she finished handing out tissues, I quickly left the scene and later showed up at her house, acting casual—"Yo, how was work?"—but to think she saw right through it all… Damn, now I feel embarrassed.
"I’ve never been more grateful for your outfit than that day. Thanks to you, I noticed right away and felt safe while working. So… thanks for watching over me."
Well… if she’s this happy about it, I guess it’s fine.
"Of course I’d protect you—we’re dating. So if you ever do get hit on, I’ll step in. With these arms that are seriously starting to bulk up."
"Yeah, yeah. I’ll be counting on you."
With Yuzuhana smiling beside me, I browsed through the store while listening to the upbeat background music.
"Still… it’s all Aloha shirts in here." [Kohei]
"They give off a nice summer vibe, don’t they? Not a fan?" [Yuzuhana]
"I’ve never worn one before. I get it if you’re at the beach, but wouldn’t it stand out too much in the city?" [Kohei]
"You’re worried about standing out? After all the weird outfits you’ve worn?" [Yuzuhana]
"H-Hey, cut it out! I thought they were cool back then!" [Kohei]
"In that case, I’ll help you think Aloha shirts are cool too." [Yuzuhana]
"Help…? You mean you’ll tell me I look cool every day?" [Kohei]
"If you tell me I’m cute every day." [Yuzuhana]
"…If you planned all this just to get me to say that, you’re a real strategist." [Kohei]
"I didn’t plan anything! I just want to hear it, that’s all—wait, what are you making me say?!" [Yuzuhana]
"You’re the one who walked into that one! Fine, I’ll compliment you. You’re cu—" [Kohei]
"Wait! Save today’s for later!" [Yuzuhana]
Yuzuhana hurriedly stopped me.
It’s not like we set a one-per-day rule or anything…
"So when am I supposed to say it?"
If it’s whenever I think she’s cute, then I’d be saying it right now.
"I'm buying clothes too, so say it when I do."
"Got it. Then you have to say it when I do too."
Yuzuhana nodded. Sounds fair.
We continued browsing through the store—
"Oh, how about this one?"
She held up an Aloha shirt with a pineapple print.
The fabric felt smooth and breathable—probably comfortable to wear.
I trusted Yuzuhana’s sense of style completely, so I decided to go with it. I took off my current shirt and tried the Aloha one on.
"How is it?"
"Yeah. You look cool."
"O-Oh… yeah?"
Even though I knew she was going to say that, hearing it directly still made my face heat up.
If I’m the only one blushing, it feels like I’m losing.
I’ll make sure she hears a truly special “cute” from me.
With that in mind, I took off the Aloha shirt and held onto it, then followed Yuzuhana for her turn. Normally, her shopping took forever, but today she seemed to have something specific in mind. She walked straight to it.
A tropical-patterned bikini.
Just looking at a bikini on a hanger didn’t make me feel much, but… imagining Yuzuhana wearing it suddenly had my heart racing.
"You’re going to try that on?"
"Of course. And you better say it properly, just like we promised."
"Y-Yeah, I got it. Hurry up and go change already."
"Why? You really want to see, huh? Pervert."
"I-It's not like that!"
"So you don’t want to see?"
"…I wouldn’t say that, but…"
"Pervert."
She smirked teasingly, making me even more flustered.
"Fine, whatever," I muttered in defeat as we headed toward the fitting rooms.
"I'll just browse around here. Call me when you're done changing."
"Will you stay close enough to hear me?"
She had a point. The store’s music was pretty loud, and if I wandered too far, I might not hear her. But standing right outside the curtain felt too nerve-wracking.
"I’ll come back in five minutes."
"Five minutes, okay. Got it."
The curtain snapped shut.
As I walked away, excitement building, a sudden stomachache hit me. Must’ve been that canned juice I chugged on the way here.
This was definitely going to take more than five minutes. Before heading to the restroom, I went back to the fitting room to let Yuzuhana know. Raising my voice over the lively store music, I called out—
"Yuzuhana! I'm gonna run to the bath—"
"Shh!"
A hushed but urgent sound came from behind the curtain. Too weird to be just a sneeze.
"What do you mean, 'shh'?"
"Uh, n-no! It's nothing! I, uh— Yeah! That's right, Dad!"
"—!?"
My heart clenched.
After I left, her father must’ve called. Thinking she had a full five minutes before I got back, she must’ve answered, assuming it was safe.
But I’d come back in just one minute—shouting her name on top of it.
…He didn’t hear that, did he?
My pulse sped up as I held my breath and listened through the curtain.
"N-no, you’ve got it wrong! It’s a different Yuzuhana! Someone next to me is also named—wait, no, that’s not it! Don’t you trust your own daughter?"
She was arguing.
I couldn’t hear her father, but it was obvious—he suspected she wasn’t alone.
Yuzuhana kept denying it, but her voice wavered. Lying to her father was no easy task, and the more he pressed, the more frustrated she got.
"I said you’re wrong! …What!? Why would you say that!? You haven’t even met him yet, so don’t just assume the worst! He’s not like that! He’s wonderful!"
A pause.
"…Yeah. …Yeah. …That’s right! You’ll definitely like him!"
Another pause. Then—
"…His voice? That’s all? …Yeah. …Yeah. …Alright, fine."
The curtain cracked open, and Yuzuhana motioned for me to come in.
Tension gripped me for two reasons now.
Stepping inside, I saw she hadn’t changed yet.
But my mind was too occupied with a much bigger problem to care about that.
"…What’s going on?"
I whispered, careful not to be overheard.
Yuzuhana looked annoyed.
"Dad wants to say hello. He says we don’t have to meet in person, but he at least wants to hear your voice."
Just the voice. If it's just the voice...
"…Are you okay?"
"Ah, yeah, I'm fine. No problem."
I take the phone, take a deep breath, and then respond.
"This is Kurose Kohei speaking!"
『I won’t ask what kind of relationship you have with my daughter! ──But if you intend to date her, then meet me face-to-face!』
"Face-to-face!?"
"Hah!? What’s that about!? That’s not what we agreed on! Kohei, you can just ignore this!"
Yuzuhana says that, but if I refuse, the marriage introduction will be a disaster—
I can already see him yelling, 『You had the intention to date her, yet you refuse to meet me? How disrespectful!』
I'm not macho yet. I'm not his type yet.
But if I refuse, it'll be just like the first time all over again.
There’s only one choice here.
"Understood. I’ll meet you!"
『Then I’ll be coming in two weeks on Saturday! Tell my daughter that as well!』
Click—The call ended.
"…Did you hear that?"
"I heard it… Why did you say you’d meet him?"
"If I refused, my impression during the marriage introduction would be the worst. It’s fine, I have two weeks."
Sana said I’d "grown," and Yuzuhana said I "look stronger than yesterday."
Compared to last time we met, I’ve become more rugged.
If I push my body to the limit for two full weeks, I should look even stronger.
Convincing myself of that, I calmed my heart.
*
If I leave Yuzuhana feeling uneasy, the nightmare of memory loss might return.
With that sense of urgency, I decided to invite Yuzuhana to karaoke to lift her spirits.
After letting her blow off some stress by singing her heart out and enjoying a duet together, we headed to a family restaurant.
I ordered a shortcake along with dinner, and Yuzuhana ate it happily.
Thanks to that, she seemed to be feeling less anxious, but she was still against me meeting her father so soon—
"I was thinking, what if we made a photoshopped image of you as a macho guy?"
As we walked down the night-lit street on the way to her apartment, she suddenly suggested that.
"I don’t have the skills for that."
"Then find someone who does and ask them! If we can make a convincing edit, my dad will accept you!"
Trying to get me on board, Yuzuhana spoke in an upbeat tone.
"I already promised to meet him. A photo won’t convince him."
"Then just say you got sick."
"That would ruin the 'strong man' impression."
"Then say you have family obligations… Whatever it is, you don’t have to force yourself to meet him. I’ll go along with it too. If I refuse to meet him, my dad will give up on coming."
"That’s not an option!"
I stated firmly. Yuzuhana stopped, looking confused.
"Why not? We can postpone the meeting until you become macho."
"If we do that, you and your dad will grow distant again."
This is my second life. This time, I swore to make Yuzuhana truly happy.
And yet, if I let my own circumstances be the reason they drift apart again… There’s no way I can accept that plan.
"But… as long as I have you, I’m happy."
Yuzuhana treasures me more than anything. That feeling makes me incredibly happy. Truly.
Even so—
"Even so, I don’t want to do anything that creates a rift between you two. You don’t actually want to be estranged from your dad, do you?"
"Well, no… He raised me all on his own… And even though I yelled at him earlier, I really am grateful…"
"Then I’ll meet him. I’ll make him accept me."
To be honest, the thought of meeting her father fills me with nothing but anxiety.
But compared to losing Yuzuhana, meeting him isn’t scary at all.
That feeling I once told her—that losing her would be far worse than meeting her father—wasn’t a lie. It wasn’t a lie, but…
That doesn’t mean I’m not afraid to meet him.
Of course, I couldn’t let her notice my unease.
"If you’re that determined… then for the next two weeks, forget about homework and focus completely on training. I’ll support you with everything I’ve got."
"Thanks."
With our resolve set, we started walking again. When we reached her apartment—
"Alright, I’ll come by first thing in the morning tomorrow."
"Yeah. I’ll be waiting. See you, Kohei."
Yuzuhana waved at me, and once I was alone, I trudged home with heavy steps.
"I’m home…"
"Welcome back, Big Bro! The bath just opened up!"
As soon as I got back, Sana, dressed in her half-sleeved pajamas, greeted me cheerfully.
I should take a shower and reset my mindset.
"Got it. I’ll take one."
I set down a paper bag containing an aloha shirt in my room, grabbed my change of clothes, and headed to the changing area.
Taking off my shirt, I looked in the mirror—staring back at me was a guy with a worried expression.
"…Don’t make that face."
You’re growing properly, aren’t you? You’ve even gained five kilos. There’s visible change. Even Sana said it herself—
that you’re getting bigger.
As I reassured myself, Sana suddenly entered the changing area.
"Huh? Big Bro, you haven’t gotten in yet?"
"I was just about to. What are you doing here?"
"I came to brush my teeth."
"I see… Hey, can I ask you something again? How do I look?"
I trained hard today.
One day isn’t enough for any major changes, but if she can notice even a slight difference from this morning, then I’ll feel confident that I can get even stronger in two weeks.
Sana smiled brightly.
"You look bigger! I think you grew about a centimeter!"
She said it in a cheerful voice.
…A centimeter?
"What are you talking about?"
"Your height! You’ve been eating a lot lately, after all."
That’s nice to hear, honestly. I always wanted to reach the 170cm range.
But that’s not what I meant.
What I wanted to ask about wasn’t my height—
"What about my physique?"
"Your physique?"
"Yeah, my physique. Do I look muscular?"
"You don’t look muscular."
She answered instantly, and a wave of anxiety surged through me.
"…Not at all?"
"Yeah. Because if Big Bro were muscular, then I’d be muscular too."
…What is she even saying?
"The way you put it, that makes it sound like you and I are on the same level."
"We are about the same. Look!"
Looking proud, Sana rolled up the sleeve of her half-sleeved shirt.
Her exposed upper arm… was about the same size as mine.
"W-What happened to your arms!?"
"If you join a sports club, even girls can get this much muscle. Even my abs, see?"
She lifted her shirt slightly, revealing faintly defined abs. (T/N: Bruh)
…They’re better than mine.
So what, I’m weaker than a middle school girl? What the hell. This is terrible.
There’s no way anyone’s going to see me as a strong man like this.
"Huh? Big Bro, aren’t you getting in the bath?"
"I’ll take it later…"
This isn’t the time for a bath. I need to train my body—right now.
Feeling like I was being crushed by anxiety, I went back to my room and stuffed weights into my backpack.
If I did push-ups while wearing this, it would put a lot more strain on my muscles.
I had already completed today’s routine, but it wasn’t enough. Not even close.
If I don’t train harder, I won’t build muscle—
I won’t reach the future I’m aiming for.
"Ugh… Hh… Nn…!"
Gritting my teeth, I pushed through my push-ups. Normally, I’d focus all my attention on the muscles I was working,
but my mind was elsewhere.
Doubt clouded my thoughts.
This won’t do.
This isn’t what a strong man looks like.
Like this, her father will never accept me.
I have to try harder. I have to change.
If I don’t—
I’ll repeat the same mistakes again.
I’ll end up taking Yuzuhana away from her family again.
No. No. No, no, no. That can’t happen!
I swore I’d make her happy this time.
This time, I will make her happy!
And yet—like this, I’ll just bring her misery again—
"──ッ"
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my head.
Maybe I pushed myself too hard. My muscles must be under serious strain.
If I push even harder, I’ll get stronger.
I will—but if I break my body, I’ll just end up making Yuzuhana sad.
That’s not an option.
I never want to see her cry again.
I set down my backpack.
Just for a bit. Just a little break.
And when I wake up—…
Act 3 END
Maybe he loses his memory too?
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