NOVEL NEXT chapter 14
To start from here
Facing Towa in front of me, I was bewildered.
I had seen this face many times in the mirror, but when confronting him like this, he seemed like a completely different person, not myself. Whether it was just a dream or something that had actually happened, I felt the need to tell him something.
“…I’m sorry. For taking over your life…”
I didn’t know why it happened, but the fact that I had taken over Towa’s life was an unchangeable reality. It was undeniable that Towa’s consciousness had disappeared due to my intrusion. Regardless of the cause, I felt the need to apologize for it.
I was inwardly nervous about what words Towa would say to me, but his response was not what I had anticipated.
“No need for that apology. In a way, you being here is something I wished for.”
“…What do you mean?”
Towa said that my presence here was something he had wished for himself. I tilted my head in confusion, prompting Towa to continue.
“After it’s all over, you can realize many things. What I learned was that Ayana had been suffering all along. She acts normal in front of me, but sometimes there’s a shadow in her expression. When I ask her what’s wrong, she won’t tell me, and in the end, she never did.”
Though his words were fragmented, I could now grasp the true identity of the Towa standing before me. Rather than looking closely, I realized he appeared slightly more mature than my current self… it was almost certain.
“…The future Towa?”
Towa nodded in agreement.
“Yes… foolishly, I failed to notice the darkness in Ayana’s heart and ended up hurting her. I cursed myself as an idiot while clenching my fist tightly. Then, lifting his lowered face to meet my gaze, he expressed a wish.
“I probably wished for something deep down. Someone who would save Ayana, someone who would protect her heart.”
In other words, that someone was me.
Regardless of the uncertainties, was there a moment when my and Towa’s wishes coincided in a sense? My wish to somehow change that future I saw, and Towa’s wish to be saved by anyone while lamenting the bygone past.
Upon hearing the story, I also thought about how convenient it was, but with the fact that I had become Towa, I couldn’t definitively deny the possibility… Well, I’ve already come to terms with the fact that entering the world of the game itself is impossible.
“I don’t know what I can do. All I can do is talk to Ayana face to face.”
“That’s enough for me. I couldn’t even do that.”
Looking at Towa, who seemed to have given up on everything, I couldn’t help but feel a bit annoyed. I approached Towa and smacked him on the head.
“Ouch!?”
“Don’t look so down! It’s unpleasant to be looked at like that, you know.”
It’s tiring to be asked to do something unilaterally. Besides, although I do want to save Ayana now… there are quite a few other troublesome matters to deal with, like Shuu and family issues. Dealing with Ayana’s mother is a hassle.
“…That’s… yeah, I’ll do my best.”
“Like it’s someone else’s problem!”
…Well, this is it. In the end, will the relationship between Ayana and her mother remain strained until the future?
“What I wanted to do was for Ayana. Even if things are resolved in a good way, I’m not sure if my consciousness will continue to exist.”
My wish is simply to make the future better. If even a slight change occurs in the predetermined future and my wish is fulfilled, it’s doubtful whether my existence will continue unchanged. It’s even possible that without realizing it, I’ll return to the world I originally belonged to. …That in itself is a bit lonely too.
“I think it’ll be okay. You’ve noticed, haven’t you? Our souls are intertwining. The you living in this world is unmistakably Yukishiro Towa. I believe that won’t change. So, you don’t need to feel guilty about the current situation.”
“…I see. But in the end, all the trouble will be left to me, huh?”
“…………”
I see, I see, understood perfectly.
I managed to hold back the fist I had raised. However, what I cared about the most was that. Although I’m not sure if I can call it the person… being told that did bring a little relief.
The mysterious encounter with Towa, has this time also come to an end as light shines into the dark space.
“Farewell. Do your best—Yukishiro Towa.”
Do your best… How does it feel to be told that when looking at a face identical to your own? Nevertheless, once you’ve come this far, there’s no choice but to go through with it.
“I’ll do what I can!”
With those words as the last, I left that space.
“Do your best, and please, save Ayana.”
As if urged by something, I woke up. The familiar whiteness of the infirmary spread before my eyes, faintly smelling of medicinal substances. I sat up and checked the clock.
“…It’s already after school.”
It seems like I had slept quite a bit. I thought someone could have woken me up, but considering how pale I must have looked, they probably left me sleeping. As I got up from the bed, the teacher entered.
“Oh, you’re awake. …Hmm, you look better.”
“I might have been accumulating fatigue. Thank you.”
“You should thank Nonomiya more than me. He came here every break time, you know?”
“…I see. Understood.”
Saying that, I left the infirmary and headed towards the classroom. Along the way, I was greeted by classmates, assuring them that I was fine seemed to put them at ease.
With a lightened body and in perfect condition, I hurried to the classroom, where only one person remained.
“Oh, Towa-kun!”
The one left was Ayana.
She ran towards me in a rush. Her actions warmed my heart. It seems what Towa conveyed to me in that space was indeed true. While I still didn’t quite grasp the concept of souls intertwining, there was a strong sense that my identity as Towa was now firmly established.
“You’re all good now. And, thank you, Ayana. You’ve been checking up on me every break time, right?”
“Of course. But… I’m really glad. You seem to be feeling better now.”
“Yeah, I’m all good.”
Raising my thumb to show some enthusiasm changed Ayana’s expression from one of anxiety to her usual smile.
(…That’s right. This smile. I’ll protect this true smile, not some mask or facade.)
The future that lay ahead, despite some deviation, would likely unfold as it had been if nothing was done. I couldn’t explain why, but I had an unwavering conviction that it would definitely turn out that way. Remembering many things, and with memories connecting me to Towa, I felt from the depths of my heart that I wanted to protect this child before me.
“Hey, Ayana. Can you hang out after school?”
“Of course, no problem. Starting now?”
“No… How about in that park in about an hour?”
“That park? Understood.”
Honestly, I still didn’t know what to do. But… I thought it would be best to first settle the things that burdened Towa, rather than myself. That’s why I chose the park, a place full of memories. There should be a soccer goal there, too.
“Well then, Towa, see you later.”
“Yeah. Until then.”
Parting ways with Ayana, I headed straight home.
Arriving home, I unpacked my things and went to the storage room. It wasn’t too dusty, probably because my mom occasionally opened it, but there was still some dust floating around. Amidst a few coughs, I searched for the item I was looking for… and found it.
“Well, partner, I’ve neglected you for quite a while.”
What I retrieved was a soccer ball, the one we used when Towa still played soccer. Holding the ball, I took out my phone one last time to make a call to a certain person. She was probably still helping with her work like before, so I hoped she would answer.
“…”
After a few rings, the person I was calling picked up, prompting me to get straight to the point.
“Sorry. Can I retract our agreement from back then? I… I like Ayana.”
There was a sound like a swallowed breath on the other end of the line, followed by a response that I cut off immediately.
Turning off the phone and slipping it into my pocket, I headed to the park where Ayana was waiting.
I didn’t know how things would turn out, but I was going to do what I could.
Hey, Towa, if our souls are intertwined, can you hear my voice too? Let’s give it our all together. Let’s put an end to this ambiguous relationship that has continued since then, and truly move forward into the future with Ayana.
“It’s strange. I don’t feel nervous at all… Well then, let’s go.”