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Vol. 1 Chapter 5.5
Yuzuki Minato won’t turn back
Translated by 64990022
Chapter 5: Yuzuki Minato won’t turn back
Part 5
That saturday.
Minato promptly responded to my call. As usual, we met at Yukito’s cafe.
She wore a chic black blouse and tight denim jeans. Unlike our previous outing to Kyoto, her attire was clean and gave the image of maturity. Like usual, it really suited her.
Unfortunately though, there was no time for that.
“I think I might have figured it out.” I began after taking a sip. The Sprite did a good job of blowing off the jittery.
“Figured what?”
“The condition of your ailment.”
A flicker. For a second, her eyebrows knitted.
Her reaction made me wavered a little, but there was no turning back now. “I changed my methods.”
“And?”
“The hint was in the people you liked, just not what I thought to be.”
“There’s a connection?”
“Yes, there was one thing I looked over. Fortunately, I happened to be the only one who could verify this theory.”
I looked at my palm. She saw the gesture and her eyes widened in recognition.
“I wasn’t sure at first, but I tried it anyway. There are thirty people you currently like,” I spoke silently, “I used my powers on them.”
Of course, the process was grueling. But that didn’t matter.
I couldn’t do much in other cases, but I didn’t let any of the Kuze students slip. Well, I could stop halfway if the tendency suggested otherwise. However, well

“Thirty people, I checked on twenty eight. Twenty seven of them–”
Her frown deepened.
“–Likes you”
Aoki, who picked up her handkerchief. That plain boy who had never talked to her. Third year senpai who talked with her during lunch break. Angel consultant, Makino.
All of them liked her.
“I also tried on the ikemen that you haven’t fallen for yet.”
“And?”
“It turns out he already has a girlfriend, so he has zero interest in you. I also tried on the others with conditions similar to his.”
“But there’s a lot of people who don’t like me
”
“And that’s precisely why.”
Her face flickered and she suddenly looked relieved. She brought her hand to her chest and closed her eyes. I was curious about her reaction, but I need to conclude first.
“Minato, you’re probably liking people back because they liked you. Or more precisely, you are reacting to the affection expressed.”
That was my theory.
All thanks to Reiji.
“And that fell in line with the fact that you haven’t fallen for me yet, despite how much we have talked. I don’t have any romantic feelings for you, so you, in return, don’t either.”
I drank the rest of the soda in one gulp. Because of how much I had drunk, the fizzing in my mouth was faintly audible. Although I smarted at the pain it brought, it did a good job at clearing my head. And I probably couldn’t stand this silence if I hadn’t drunk.
Minato’s face continued to shadow as the somber atmosphere fell in between us.
Although this was a big step forward, it was still a long way until we can cure the Falling-in-love Peculiarity. I had thought that this would be a small respite for her, but she just looked down painfully.
“And the guy from the neighboring school we walked past, it’s probably him falling at first sight and you’ve felt it. I can’t be hundred percent sure yet, and I need some time to test it out under different conditions. Still, when that is finished, we can move on to–”
“It’s okay, there’s no need to check,” her tone was weak, filled with resignation.
It was as if she had to force it out.
“Eh? You said you’d definitely have it cured?”
“I said that I’d do anything. And you would reach the same conclusion anyway. I had suspected the same thing
”
“You have? What
?”
Since when?
And why didn’t she tell me?
“Thank you, Io.”
Pain. Her face contorted in pain.
Crying, but no tears came. Her face was like that. Unfathomably poignant.
“This is where my consultation ends. I’ll take care of myself from now on.”
“Hah? Hey!”
She put down a thousand yen bill and stood.
Before she left, she glanced backward once, telling me not to follow her.
“We might now know the trigger, but the cause is still unknown! Stick it to the end!”
She ignored me and closed the door, the bell chimed merrily.
My eyes went across the counter and saw Yukito looking uncharacteristically concerned. Somehow, I was glad he looked that way.
Pathetically, helplessly, I stood there like a fool for a long time.