Epilogue: My Heart Is Full of Love
The turbulent night had passed, and I hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep.
I couldn’t forget Hinamori’s actions, and everything that had happened in the past few days had just been way too intense... Honestly, I’m overloaded.
…How did things end up like this?
To make it worse, right now... beside me are Suzune, looking annoyed with her arms crossed, and Rurina, who seems puzzled.
“I wonder what you were doing with Sakura last night~?”
Suzune asks me with a smile.
It’s strange. Even though she’s smiling, I can’t feel any kindness in it.
Actually, if anything, it’s scary.
“...We were just talking.”
“Okay, doubt.”
“Huh?”
“Sakura hugged you, didn’t she?”
“You saw that?”
“Ah, so it was true. I only saw the part where I was leaving, though... hmm.”
“Ahaha...”
“Nothing else happened?”
“Yeah. Nothing in particular.”
“I see.”
Looks like she didn’t see the important part, but she still nailed me.
Well, anyway, I’ve got to think about what’s next.
I need to come to a proper conclusion... clearly.
[Ritsu, if you’re troubled, I’ll listen (I’m here for you when you need help)]
“That kindness stings my eyes. Thanks.”
[I’m with you (…I’ll heal Ritsu and cheer him up. That’s my mission)]
As she said that, Rurina gently patted my head.
It was a comforting gesture that really put my heart at ease, but...
I glanced at Suzune.
Unusually for her, she was puffing out her cheeks.
“...Then, I guess I can, too (I’m gathering my courage...)”
Suzune said, closing the distance between us.
But she couldn’t bring herself to do something bold like Hinamori had—she just nestled quietly against me.
“...I’m cold.”
“Want my jacket?”
“That’s not what I meant... idiot.”
She said that and pulled my arm over herself, as if to cover her.
“...This is what I want.”
“‘This’ is kind of... awkward in a lot of ways...”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
(…Nice. They look so close, I’m jealous.)
Rurina, who had been watching silently, looked like she wanted to join in too.
But the way she simply watched the close couple without doing anything more—that was just like her, and it made me smile.
(I’m happy when Suzune and Ritsu are close. But... it also makes me feel a little lonely. So then...)
From behind, Rurina snugly pressed herself against me.
With her body close, now both in front and behind me—it was a bit of a crisis from my perspective.
I couldn’t process the unexpected situation, and my emotions couldn’t keep up. My thoughts weren’t functioning properly either.
I couldn’t even move, sandwiched in this warmth, and all I could do was give a vague, awkward laugh—“Ahaha...”
...What am I supposed to do in this situation?
Even hearing their inner voices, I couldn’t come up with any way to handle it.
I was just completely overwhelmed by the straightforward feelings directed at me.
And then, in the middle of that chaos—
“K-Kaburagi-san, I’ve found you~! It’s break time now, so... wait, what are you doing!?”
Hinamori showed up at the worst possible time.
“What? We're hugging, obviously.”
“H-Hugging in broad daylight!? That’s so improper! Besides, Kaburagi-san looks clearly troubled!”
“...Says the girl who did that before even dating him.”
“Y-Y-You saw that!? (Y-You saw my first kiss... That’s so embarrassing...)”
“Wait, that reaction... Are you for real...?”
Hinamori, don’t fall for such a simple bluff so easily.
Well, I’m not one to talk either...
“Ritsu~? That’s not what you said earlier, is it?”
“No, that was... uh...”
“You’re going to explain this, right? (No way, are they already that far ahead!? I can’t just sit back and let this happen!)”
(...Me and Ritsu too. Just thinking about it makes me feel warm. I want to stay like this even longer...)
The unfiltered thoughts of the three of them overflowed.
From a distance, my sister was watching with a smug grin on her face.
She made no move to help, just gave me a thumbs-up as if to say “Good luck.”
(I told you, Ritsu. No matter how many emotional walls you build, if they’re meaningless, then they’re meaningless.)
Hearing my sister’s voice in my head, I couldn’t help but smile wryly.
Even though I could hear thoughts and was good at anticipating others, I couldn’t keep up with this kind of change.
I thought I was handling things well... but man, this is seriously tough.
I meant to move forward, but isn't this more like sinking into a quagmire?
To think my strategy was this full of holes—my future’s looking rough, and it’s giving me a headache... Hahaha...
What am I supposed to do with this situation?
I looked at the three of them and let out a sigh.
Apparently, my heart was completely full of love.
Volume 3 END
(This is not the end, I think, or maybe this is an open ending; for now I’ll assume I completely translated this. Thank you for reading!!!)
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