I Really Don't Want a Girlfriend Anymore

Chapter 624 624: The Cycle Begins, Kanade Will Disappear

A strange atmosphere flowed between the two of them. Time seemed to stop as they gazed at each other.

"Kanade, it's already this late, what are you doing here alone?"

Yuu was the first to break the silence, his tone casual as if making ordinary conversation.

However, Kanade didn't follow that atmosphere. She removed the small smile at the corners of her lips and stared straight at him with innocent and calm eyes.

"How can you remember me? In my current condition, there shouldn't be anyone who can find me."

"Because I have Sora Doraemon," Yuu said with a smile, one hand in his pocket, "Plus help from a meddling angel, even if you disappeared to the ends of the earth, as long as I make it in time, I can find you."

"..."

Ignoring the made-up words at the end of his sentence as if already used to it, Kanade mostly understood after hearing Sora's name.

Using the power of miracles, it wasn't difficult to find a ghost.

Although she didn't know what was meant by the meddling angel, the actual reason wasn't important to her—after all, before long, she would truly disappear completely from this world, even Sora wouldn't be able to find her again.

Just as Kanade didn't need to be picky about the quality of dishes other than Mapo Tofu, she was also too lazy to think about such things.

After several moments of mutual silence, Kanade brushed the long hair falling in front of her eyes back behind her ears. Suddenly she sighed softly, and her gentle and melodious voice was carried by the wind before him.

"...Did Sora send you to bring me back?"

Yuu raised his eyebrows, didn't give further explanation, and continued her words, "Anyone who disappears at will, the next meeting I'll definitely tie you to a chair, then eat three bowls of your favorite Mapo Tofu in front of your eyes—so she said."

As soon as this sentence came out, Kanade's expression clearly stiffened. Her eyes dropped slightly from guilt, and she hugged her arms as if a bit confused.

Eyes that had been firm and spirited blinked rapidly, like a defendant in court working hard to find words for self-defense.

"Isn't that punishment a bit too excessive... At least, at least change it to one bowl?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly remembered—wait, she would disappear in a few minutes, how could Sora tie her to a chair to do something so cruel?

The wrong worry... Although a bit out of place, Kanade couldn't help but sigh in relief, there was a feeling of gratitude.

Yuu saw her expression that wasn't very obvious but was very rich in changes, his eyes filled with smiles. He continued speaking, "While you were gone, Sora worked hard alone for a long time. She has many complaints for you."

"I know. I'm very sorry to her."

Saying this frankly, the guilt and anxiety from before directly disappeared into established calm. Kanade gazed at his eyes calmly and firmly, "Even so, for your future, I must disappear."

She bowed respectfully, ninety degrees. Her transparent snow-like sparkling silver hair covered her small and gentle face. An unshaking voice came from beneath the shadow, "Please convey my apologies to Sora. I who would only become an obstacle if I stayed, the best choice is to return to where I should return..."

"I also believe, she can, like now, open your future with her own power."

"—Because, she is also my hero!"

Raising her face, Kanade smiled faintly. That relieved expression was without a single shadow. Her crisp and clear voice rang out, dispelling all gloom on the rooftop.

"So, please don't stop me."

"Live happily together with Sora, Iroha, and everyone!"

As long as she wasn't there, fate could surely be changed, and such an ending would surely come sooner or later.

Anyway, Kanade would firmly believe in that.

"..."

Unfortunately, just like singing the beauty of heaven before an atheist, such words couldn't touch anyone.

If Sora were there, she would probably charge directly, grab her collar, and scold her thoroughly.

Then say: "Stop making yourself moved! Is what I need your sacrifice? I just want you to be by my side! Or something like that."

Clear tears would scatter in the air together with harsh words. Trembling eyes would be filled with an expression of reluctance gritting teeth. The two beautiful girls would struggle passionately under the setting sun...

Imagining such a scene in his mind, Yuu was almost moved by himself.

And this proved, he basically treated the girl's declaration as wind passing by.

Whether it was firm conviction, or just trying hard.

Yuu who still hadn't remembered anything, and only acted based on information, when facing this familiar stranger, he couldn't just be moved by her, like throwing pebbles at a frozen lake surface.

Even so, he couldn't just turn around and leave.

He still had words he had to finish. After that, whatever choice she made, it wasn't Yuu's business.

A farewell under the setting sun couldn't end just like that.

"Don't worry, I don't intend to stop you."

Suddenly, Yuu stepped forward toward her.

Since who knows when, lies had become the most useful tool for him. A mask more real than reality could be easily worn by him.

Like an actor changing scripts in hand, as long as he wanted, he could naturally become someone else from the bottom of his heart, more than anyone.

Thus, with just one step of his foot, his perfect acting had completely transformed him.

"It's just, have you ever considered my feelings? Kanade."

A gentle smile slowly emerged, but in his eyes was embedded indescribable loneliness and bitterness.

Yuu walked before Kanade. In the midst of her increasingly disbelieving gaze, he slowly extended his trembling hand, bent down, and carefully embraced that fragile small form, as if he were holding a glass statue, not even daring to use too much strength.

He took a deep breath. His unstable and hoarse voice whispered softly in her ear.

"Just met again after so long, but you already want to leave me again... Where is the happiness in such a future?"

"Rather than welcoming a world without you, I'd rather disappear together with you..."

The end of that sentence trembled. Yuu gradually tightened his arms. He hugged the girl with feelings of pain and nostalgia. His jaw clenched tight to hold back surging emotions, and his cheek pressed against her face became tense.

As if they would completely melt in the dusk, the two leaned on each other's bodies, but only one thin shadow remained on the ground.

Unconsciously resting her chin on his shoulder, Kanade opened her eyes wide in confusion, letting her body sink into that familiar warmth. Her mouth slightly opened, unable to produce any sound.

The distant horizon felt like it was pulled close in an instant. The cool breeze on the rooftop that usually never stopped, was now calmer than before.

So calm, that the sound of a heartbeat she hadn't heard in so long, beat loudly from her chest again.

Was it her own heartbeat, or his?

Kanade blinked. Uncontainable tears dripped. The feeling of wanting to cry almost exploded, couldn't be held back anymore. The world was forced to blur.

(Did he also return? Does he remember?)

Since Kanade witnessed Yuu's death with her own eyes, this endless journey had truly lasted too long... So long, she had almost forgotten how happy it felt to be embraced by him.

Yuu...

Just calling his name in her heart, like returning to times when nothing had happened yet, just dating him.

Familiar warmth, familiar strength, and familiar soothing aroma.

Although hundreds of years had passed, those familiar things had never left her. It's just that she forgot them temporarily.

Although tears kept flowing on her cheeks, wetting his clothes, Kanade still squinted her eyes. She showed an extremely happy smile to the distant sky that warmly enveloped them both.

Since the day the trial started, she had been anticipating this moment.

There were many things she wanted to say to him, and much longing she wanted to express... If she could be by his side forever, even if she had to be a ghost only he could see, it might be okay.

Swallowing the sob that rose back to her throat, Kanade smiled calmly. She raised her arms as if wanting to hug him back.

Then, she slowly pushed his shoulder.

"Thank you, you made me recall beautiful memories."

"...Kanade?"

Seeing Yuu's confused gaze, Kanade gently shook her head. Her palm touched his chest. Her gentle voice sounded, "You are him. No matter which world, you are the Yuu I love most. That will never change."

"It's just, you haven't remembered yet, right?"

Like a lovesick boy whose heart was shattered by an evil woman, Yuu opened his mouth slightly in confusion. His breathing was somewhat gasping, as if wanting to say something to refute.

However, under her gaze as clear as a mirror, his wavering and anxious expression gradually returned to calm. He slowly eliminated all expression and sighed in resignation.

"...My acting should have been perfect."

Why was he exposed so quickly?

Logically, playing himself should be harder to detect than playing someone else. Even if there was a slight flaw, Emotion Transmission released with full power should have been able to cover it...

So, it wasn't that he was too terrible, but Kanade had a pair of eyes that could see all lies?

"There's no such thing as perfect, you know."

Kanade wiped the tears on her face, seeing him slightly unconvinced. She couldn't hold back a small laugh and said, "Most importantly, your heartbeat is different from the Yuu I know... I think, you haven't even remembered the memories of this world yet, right? Did Sora tell you about me?"

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Yuu propped his cheek with one hand, replying to her guess with a helpless gaze.

...No wonder, the girlfriend he taught himself. This reasoning ability was equivalent to his.

And just from a heartbeat, Kanade could guess so many things, doing what he couldn't. Thinking about it, the defeat of perfect acting wasn't in vain.

It's just that Yuu didn't know if this was an ability the Light Orb gave her, or a miracle Kanade possessed herself.

"Why did you do that?"

Pressing down her school uniform skirt, Kanade also elegantly crossed her legs on the tiles before her. She didn't care if it was dirty or not. She just tilted her head slightly, gazing at him in confusion.

"Consider it repayment," Yuu sat upright, replying to her gaze frankly, "After learning about all the things you did for me, although I still can't remember anything and find it hard to empathize, I also can't accept it calmly."

That's why he wanted to pretend to be himself from the first world line, give Kanade a comforting embrace, and hope she'd think it over. If Kanade just disappeared like that, forget Sora who was still there, wouldn't himself in that world line also be pitiful?

After all, sometimes, being forgotten is more terrifying than death.

"Although I don't know if it's too late to ask... But Kanade, have you ever thought about it?"

Yuu gazed at her eyes and said seriously, "Once you disappear, the me in that world line won't have a reason to try anymore. Even the reason to face death won't exist anymore—all memories, all time, all things only you both remember, will all truly disappear because of you."

"Even so, will you leave that past again?"

Kanade nodded lightly. Beyond Yuu's expectation, in her eyes there wasn't a bit of doubt or hesitation.

"I already made such determination the day I entrusted everything to Sora."

She said calmly, "If always imprisoned by the past, you'll never see the scenery of the future."

Yuu replied, "Then, by doing this, can you see the scenery of the future?"

"Sora will see it for me. I believe in her, just as she believes in our research results, and works hard until now."

Kanade calmly faced his skeptical gaze. In her pale golden eyes, firm and steadfast light shone.

"I should have faced death, but I still exist as a ghost. I should have disappeared, but I regained consciousness in a dream."

"If not for encountering many miracles, I should have left this world long ago. Continuing to stubbornly survive won't help the future at all..."

"I'm afraid of being forgotten, but I'm more afraid my existence will hurt others."

She showed an apologetic expression to Yuu, "So, sorry."

"Goodbye, Yuu."

As soon as those words were uttered, at the clock tower shrouded in dusk, the minute hand pointed straight to the number twelve.

Five o'clock in the afternoon, the time had arrived.

On the distant horizon, night shrouded rapidly like ink spreading on white paper. The setting sun disappeared without resistance at the horizon. The world suddenly became dark.

But if observed, it wasn't the darkness of night, but rather thick black space devouring the entire city like a black hole, shrinking and disappearing rapidly inward, with them as the center, like a shrinking ball.

Since who knows when, the city was already silent. In the world about to be repeated, as if only he and Kanade remained as living people.

After brief shock, Yuu pulled back his gaze observing the surroundings. As if nothing happened, he continued gazing at the girl before him.

"I already said, I don't intend to stop you from disappearing, and also don't intend to hold you back."

Kanade tilted her head—already at the end, why was he still saying these things?

Yuu raised one finger, ignoring her confused gaze, and said, "First, according to Sora, my relationship with you outside the trial, that is in the real world, is very good. You and Iroha are the juniors I value most."

Kanade quickly understood his meaning, smiled a bit helplessly. Her gaze was mature and gentle, "Don't worry, what will disappear this time is only me, and all things related to me alone. The ordinary me that you and Iroha know won't be affected at all."

So, after she disappeared, a new Kanade would appear in the new world, and continue being their friend knowing nothing.

Their memories of Kanade would also return to normal.

All this would be like a scribbled page torn from a notebook. Except for Sora the system administrator, there would no longer be records of her in any corner of the world.

"Really? That's good then."

Yuu nodded, then extended a second finger.

As he said before, his eyes were very calm. Not a single ripple because the deceased being before him would disappear.

Kanade could understand.

As long as it wasn't someone he cared about, Yuu always acted indifferent.

"Second, Sora actually asked me to stop you from repeating this disappearing trick again... Unfortunately, it's proven I completely can't persuade you."

"Mm, sorry," Kanade apologized in a low voice, as if also speaking to the absent person.

The black wave devouring the entire world had now surrounded the last area, namely Sobu High beneath them.

But when devouring this school, influenced by who knows who, the speed of the black wave suddenly slowed. It spread slowly from the school gate toward the field, and was estimated to still need time before reaching the school building where they were.

Continuing to ignore the approaching darkness around them, Yuu stared at the top of her head. He said earnestly, one word at a time:

"So as compensation, I will watch you until the moment you disappear."

"Until the end, I will watch you disappear, see you off."

"!?"