Chapter 7: The Girl, Tearfully, Weeps

"Why go that far…?"

That soft murmur held clear bewilderment toward a girl being far too stubborn.

After all, it was Hinata herself who once said that forgetting your past life was supposed to be normal.

If Keita had no trouble forgetting, then neither should she.

There was no responsibility. No reason to feel burdened.

…And yet, she kept desperately clinging to her memories.

He couldn’t understand it—the point of such self-punishing behavior.

His wavering eyes said exactly that.

“…If you’re feeling guilty toward the family you once had, then I think you’re wrong. When I visited your house, Hina-chan, I could still hear kids laughing in the background while we talked. It was lively and warm, and it looked like a really happy place. Of course, it seems like losing one of their own is something they’ll never fully get over… But even so, I don’t think you have to keep suffering for it.”

“…No, that’s not it. I’m not the kind of person who would punish herself out of some noble sense of justice. …The reason I don’t want to forget—it’s just for me. That’s all.”

“For yourself…?”

But Hinata couldn’t bring herself to properly meet the boy’s eyes.

Her vision had already blurred mid-sentence, her tears welling up too fast for her to stop.

…Even after explaining this much, the words she wanted to say still frightened her.

The comfort she felt in leaning on the bond they once shared—as lovers in a previous life—was far too soothing. She had wanted to stay in that warmth forever.

But once she said it out loud, once the truth was revealed, she knew they’d never return to the way things were now.

Even so, her feelings broke through like a dam, spilling over with trembling tears.

“When we reunited, you said it was a miracle—being able to meet again, even after dying once. I think so too. I still do. Even if Kei’s memories are gone, that hasn’t changed. If I could… I’d want us to stay together, always.”

In their past lives, they were lovers. In this life, childhood friends.

They had been side by side for so long, it had become natural. Keita was now an irreplaceable part of Hinata’s world.

“Then why—”

“But… maybe these feelings I have are only because I remember the old Kei. If that’s true, then what happens if I lose the past too…?”

It had been nearly ten years since "Kei" lost his memories.

He had been living as “Keita” all this time. A new self, a new personality, had clearly taken root. When he said he liked her now, it could only be based on that new self.

“You know the coffee I always drink? Back in my past life, I loved it—I could down it black, cup after cup. But now, just one sip and I gag. My tastes haven’t changed that much, but I can’t even figure out what I liked about it. …And maybe Kei will end up being the same.”

Most of her past life memories had faded. But even so, Hinata was still “Hyuga Hinata.”

Unlike Keita, her present self was built on the foundation of her past life.

And now, even that foundation was beginning to crumble. No one—not even herself, especially not herself—could predict what she would become.

Would it be wiped away entirely? Or would everything tangle together and rebuild as something new?

Either way, she would no longer be the same “Hinata” she was now.

And when that time came—would she still feel the same way about him?

That uncertainty was what terrified her more than anything.

“Dressing up for someone you love, getting nervous just from holding hands… That’s how a normal girl acts, right? If I turn into someone like that, I’ll probably forget everything too—just like Kei. That’s why… I can’t let myself fall for Keita. I’ll stay the way I am, and I’ll keep loving Kei. That’s what I’ve decided.”

—To stay in love with “Kei,” she must not fall in love with “Keita.”

It was like locking away a snowman—made from a special, once-in-a-lifetime snow—in the freezer, trying to keep it from melting.

To preserve it, she couldn’t ever take it out or touch it again.

A ridiculous paradox, she knew. And still, Hinata had no choice but to cling to it.

All just to remain with the person she could never replace, for even a moment longer.

“…I knew how you felt, and I still kept ignoring it. I’m sorry. I’ll say it clearly this time. I can’t return your feelings, Kei—or rather, Keita. …I’m sorry.”

As she said it, Hinata scrubbed her tears away roughly with her coat sleeve.

She knew full well how selfish this confession was—how it stomped on the heart of her childhood friend.

Even so, it was the unshakable truth for her.

That’s why she couldn’t let herself bind him any longer.

…Keita, being as popular as he was, would surely find someone else before long.

Just imagining a stranger standing beside him was enough to make her chest feel like it would tear open, but her desire for his happiness was genuine.

But Kei—

“It’s okay.”

He gently wiped away the tears on Hinata’s cheek and pulled her into a soft embrace.

“W-w-w-wait—”

Caught completely off guard, Hinata froze.

…Setting aside that accident a few days ago, they had been lovers in their past lives—this wasn’t their first hug.

In fact, they had gone much farther than that.

But somehow, it felt different now that they had been reborn. The embarrassment hit her like a truck, sending her flailing and flustered, scattering the grief away.

“Kei! Were you even listening to what I just said!? I told you—I’m not allowed to fall in love with you!”

“I heard every word. I didn’t miss a single one.”

“Then why are you doing this!?”

“Why? Because… it’s okay.”

“What part of this is!?”

The moment she was released, Hinata puffed up like a cat, bristling. Kei met her eyes calmly and smiled.

“If I’m not just imagining things, what you’re afraid of… is not liking me anymore someday. Right?”

“…Y-yeah.”

“Then I’ll promise you this: even if that happens, I’ll make sure you fall for me all over again. No matter what. So don’t worry. I want to be with you too, and that won’t change.”

The two of them stared at each other in silence for a moment.

“…Your ears are bright red.”

But it was Hinata who shattered the mood with a merciless jab.

…He’d probably tried his best to act cool.

But he was clearly at his limit—he looked like he might burst into flames and collapse at any moment.

“If you’re not used to it, don’t push yourself…”

“Ahaha… Well, I mean, I’ve never actually confessed like that head-on before.”

Kei scratched his cheek, trying to play it off.

“…But, you know. Let me at least try to look cool for a bit. I’ve always kind of admired this kind of moment.”

It was probably just a passing comment.

But the instant she heard it, Hinata’s eyes widened—stunned.