The person who likes me is a yandere.

There must be something there that can save her. She kept searching, thinking this.

Therefore, I absolutely must go. Although our relationship may be over, and it's too late, I should still see her one more time and confirm it with her in person. Simply running away won't do.

I was just running, I couldn't think of anything else. All I knew was that I was running. Running through the corridors, running out of the teaching building, running out of the school gate.

Right by the school gate, Aki Tomoya was standing there.

"Hey~" He gently raised his hand. On his hand was my bicycle, which had been missing for a long time.

"You rascal, that's not..."

"I found this near the station. I took it home and tidied it up a bit because it was in such a bad state before."

Just as he said, the two bicycles are now in much better condition than before they went missing; they're practically sparkling clean.

He handed me the bicycle. That guy, he always gives me what I need when I need it.

My only true friend, who has been by my side ever since we became friends, so that I don't feel lonely.

They raised me to be someone who could live without interacting with others, someone who spoiled me more than anyone else.

And one day, my friend will also leave me.

"You need this, don't you?"

Aki Tomoya asked in his usual tone, and I nodded.

"...Sorry, thanks."

I'm off.

Faster than ever before. I've never worked this hard, not even during sports meets.

He just kept staring intently at the bicycle.

Sakura-san once ran desperately to catch up with me, who had been running away from her, but I never even turned my head back.

That day, Tohka was unable to keep her promise.

So today it's my turn, this undignified, cowardly me, to greet her.

Chapter Forty-Two: Comfort

The sky was covered with dark clouds, and the intersection turned black.

The Milky Way on Earth divides the sky into four parts.

It's on an overpass right here.

She is right here.

Tohka stood there as if she were enduring something. Even her usually beautiful profile seemed dimmed.

It showed signs of fatigue.

The distance between us, though seemingly as far as light-years, is actually just a step between our hearts.

I took a deep breath, preparing myself for the shout that was about to come.

No matter how loud the surrounding noise was, no matter how far away I was, I tried to get my voice through to her.

Take a deep breath; this time, it will definitely reach its destination.

"Yatogami, Tohka——!!"

A shout made with all the strength in his body.

She looked at me in surprise. The emotion on her face was definitely fear. Sadness, embarrassment, rejection, a complex expression.

They seemed to be whispering something. I couldn't quite hear what they were saying. Then, Tohka seemed frightened, turned her back, and ran away.

It's truly tragic that people can't stop moving forward even though they know what fate awaits them.

Just look at the end of the road and take a step.

For me, the end of the road was the dark country lane where I lost my way after failing to get off the bus. For Grandpa Tadokoro, it was that supermarket, and for her—

She once said that her fight as student council president was a fight to protect others who followed the rules. These people lived by the established rules, so it was necessary for her to fight for their lives.

All of this might just be self-satisfaction. Nobody really knows where justice lies.

That day, the first time I spoke to Tohka.

The classroom, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, was a blend of orange, yellow, and the colors of rice paddies. She sat alone in her chair, utterly alone.

Such a simple scene touched a part of my heart. I never imagined that such a beautiful scene could exist in the world.

"Oh, student council president?"

I couldn't help but strike up a conversation with her, and Tohka looked at me. She seemed a little angry because I skipped class to go to the infirmary every day.

"My name is Tohka. Please don't call me by my title."

"Ah—, um, sorry, sorry."

"Where have you been all this time, Qianyu? I haven't seen you since lunch break."

I went to the infirmary briefly.

"...You seem to go to the infirmary quite often."

"Ah, haha~ No, no~."

"If you're really not feeling well, I have nothing to say, but I need to remind you that if you don't study hard, you'll have to repeat a grade."

"No, it's nothing. I've calculated this very well."

"Calculate? You mean you're skipping class on a planned basis?"

"Oh no, this is terrible."

"What's wrong? Get serious..."

"Huh? What's with the wind blowing today?"

There was nothing there.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

"..."

"Hoo hoo—even the heroes of justice have their bad days."

"...A partner of justice?"

"Isn't he the student council president?"

"The student council president isn't always right. She might just be a self-centered person, and someone you might dislike."

Is that so?

"........."

I don't think so.

"Uh?"

Because, that—

That day, Tohka got hurt. But today, I'm inflicting the same pain on her again.

That's why I came over. Texting won't work, and neither will calling.

It won't work to put it off until tomorrow, and it's even worse to put it off for several days.

My feelings—feelings connected to my past self and my future self—must be conveyed to her right here.

So I chose to run, even if it kills me, I will run there.

This is the last chance left between us, no matter how tired, how painful, or how hurt we are.

I can only keep running, so that nothing becomes a lie.

My body is perfectly normal. I have no fever, no abdominal pain, and I'm in good condition. I have no excuses.

So run! If you can't catch up now, it's over.

Run, run, run. My feet are made for this. Not to run away, but to chase.

To shorten that one and a half steps!

I abandoned my bicycle and crossed the traffic. I crossed the road that she couldn't cross back then.

I stepped into her personal domain. I just ran with my head down, traversing countless paths.

We finally caught her. Her wrist was warm, radiating human body heat.

Our breathing was a little erratic. We rested for a bit.

Tohka stared at me. It was the look of someone looking at their enemy. The look I feared most. The look that makes one feel lonely.

Are people lonely? Can't lonely people survive?

Between people, there is a sense of distance called loneliness, which always stands between us.

It's clearly very hard and sad to be alone.

It is because of this contradiction that we have had such a hard time. We struggled desperately, and finally managed to persevere.

Why did things turn out this way? The reason is still unclear.

Even so, I still think that people cannot live in sadness.

Even if you emphasize that people are lonely and that others are just unnecessary beings, you are still hypnotizing yourself in this way.

Let the truth remain buried in one's own heart, and let the tragedy of reality continue to unfold.

But does this really offer any comfort?

Would people be able to survive if they did that?

The inability to say no stems from personal cowardice.

Pretending to understand reality, distorting right and wrong, and shamelessly pretending to know everything.

It was all just to cover up their own cowardice.