The answer to this question may not be known to even the smartest of people.
There is no right answer. Moreover, it takes different forms for different people. Therefore, there is no answer that I, a mere high school student, can give.
But I can say this.
The driving force of love may not be ârightâ or âwrongâ at least.
âDid you start to dislike me, Ryu-kun?â
I did not shake my head at that question, of course.
I could not lie, because I did not dislike Kirari.
âHmm? Then, I wonât give up, right? No matter how much Ryu-kun rejects me, if he doesnât hate me, Iâve decided to do my best.â
The words were heavy, symmetrically to mine.
She was down-to-earth, and yet I could see a glimpse of her unshakable core strength.
Thatâs why I felt sorry for her.
I think itâs wrong for her to be so attached to me.
âKirari, I have someone else I like. I canât accept your feelings.â
I tried to reject her somehow.
What I just said was not a lie.
I like Yuzuki.
Otherwise, I wouldnât want to make her happy.
âŠDamn.
Itâs frustrating that I doubt that even this thought is correct.
Do I really like Yuzuki?
Iâm just trying to atone for my sins with a stupid sense of responsibility and duty?
Such doubts are going through my mind.
But I deliberately pretended not to notice these thoughts.
I could not persuade Kirari with such doubts in my mind.
I felt as if I had to face her now.
Thatâs how serious she was looking at me.
âSomeone you like? I already know that.â
Kirari was still unmoved by my words.
Her spirit was so strong that it almost made me back away from her.
âI chose ⊠Ryu-kun, knowing that you are that kind of person. I donât care if you like someone else. Someday you will like me too, and thatâs all that matters.â
I wonder if such a convenient thought is possible.
Iâm not sure if this girl is also a victim of my âprotagonismâ that has made her crazy.
So, I make a statement that is convenient for me.
I was wrong because she said it that way.
âKirari⊠I know itâs not right for me to say this ⊠but let me say it. Your thoughts are wrong. Donât say things like that, like youâre fine with being a mistress⊠You should be with someone who loves Kirari first and foremost. Youâll be happier that way.â
You and I are both wrong.
Thatâs why distorted romantic comedies like harems are born.
Itâs time for us to be right.
If not, we canât be happy â thatâs what I told her.
But Kirari snickered at my words.
âI donât care if itâs right or wrong. I fell in love with Ryu-kun. Thatâs all that matters, so why do you keep making excuses? There is only one person who can make me happy, right? Only âŠRyu-kun is the one I love.â
It will not break.
Strong will easily dismisses my light words.
âŠThis is impossible.
No matter what words I spin, Kirari will never change.
She has her âselfâ. She will not change herself by the words of others.
She wonât be like me, who was drastically changed by my childhood friendâs words.
ââŠDonât underestimate my romantic comedy.â
And with this one comment, I was the one who broke down.
âI will not let my past experiences go to waste. Even if my love doesnât come true in the end, I will say âI had a good romanceâ. Thatâs the kind of romantic comedy Iâve decided to make, you know.â
Laughing, Kirari patted me on the shoulder.
As usual, she smiled at me in a friendly and ⊠cheerful way, like friends.
âSo, are you ready for this?â
âUhâŠ!â
I couldnât shake her off.
Unlike Kirari, Iâm too frivolous.
There was no way I could twist Kirariâs hard, heavy, strong willâŠ