The person who likes me is a yandere.

"I'm not ugly!"

"Very good, very good. I'm leaving now. You two should hurry back before dark, you ugly freak and you virgin."

"Hey, this teacher has such a foul mouth!" Mr. Hachiyo laughed heartily and left in his slippers.

"Sister, what are you doing?! I'm sorry, Qianyu-kun."

"Oh, it's alright, I'm fine... You seem to be having a hard time."

I said this as I looked at Mr. Hachiyo's back, which seemed to sweep across the landscape like a gust of north wind.

"That's true. But my sister was just trying to comfort me..."

Is that what you call comfort?

"My sister is always the same. My sister and I moved here from Osaka because of family reasons. At first, probably due to cultural differences, I couldn't adapt to the situation here and couldn't integrate into the class."

People from Osaka are often perceived as quite unique among people from the Kansai region, and this is understandable.

"So I stopped going to school, which was really annoying for Xiao Chen, and then my sister comforted me in a really ugly way."

Ugly? Is this supposed to be a consolation prize? People from Osaka are really unique.

My sister told me, 'Even if you're ugly, even if people hate you, no matter what you become, you'll still be my sister, so don't worry.'

"Oh...I see..."

No matter what she becomes, she'll still be my sister... right...?

"Huh? Why am I saying all this to Qianyu-kun? How embarrassing, forget it, forget it!"

Hachiyo's face turned bright red, and she waved her hands frantically.

"Okay, then forget about it. Leave it to me."

Forgetting is, after all, one of my greatest strengths.

"Really? Thank you, Qianyu-kun."

Hachiyo's mood finally improved, and she revealed a bright, sunny smile.

"...I should be the one saying thank you!"

"Huh? Why?"

"Ah, that..."

"Is there anything I should thank you for?"

Oh no, I wasn't going to say that. I feel uneasy just having Hachiyo thank me, and Hachiyo has such a beautiful smile... How could I possibly say that?

"Thank you for talking to me this morning. I'm very happy."

I still spoke my true feelings.

"Qianyu-kun..."

Hachiyo stared straight at my face—

"...Qianyu-kun, have you really lost your memory?"

Then he adjusted his glasses and asked me this.

"It's true, let me say it a few times. But the doctor said the amnesia won't last forever, so it should recover eventually... but who knows exactly when."

It could be tomorrow, it could be the day after, or, given the current situation, it could be 10 years from now. Just thinking about it makes me feel discouraged.

"Oh, I see. It will recover... That's a bit of a shame."

"Huh?"

"Because it's easier for Qianyu-kun to talk now."

"...Easy to talk to?"

"Ah, I don't think that's a good way to put it... But, consider this something I'm just learning from my older sister. No matter what Asami-kun becomes, she'll still be Asami-kun, so there's no need to rush. Oh dear, look at me making it sound so impressive. Sorry, let's go now."

Hachiyo smiled shyly and took a step forward.

"Let's go, Qianyu-jun, it's getting late."

"...Ah, um"

Hachiyo waved to me, and I took a step as if being pulled by her. But at that moment, my mind was being dominated by another thought.

The memory will return, what a pity.

...That's understandable.

Today, after a day of experiencing school life, one thing became crystal clear to me. No one in the class wants that annoying, rude, self-centered, lying, and heartless siscon, Aki, back in their class. Of course, I don't want to go back to being the person I was before either. So, for whom am I regaining my memories?

For my own sake?

For Ayase?

For Ayase and Dr. Miyazaki, the me before the incident was the real Aki Renjo, and they had no doubt that I would regain those memories. But for me, it was nothing more than being suddenly given a fabricated personality one day. So, why did I want to regain those memories?

Besides, does Aragaki Asago really exist inside me? What is it that I want to remember? What have I forgotten? What have I forgotten...?

"Aaaaaah—!"

"Wow, that startled me!"

Suddenly, a loud sound burst from my throat that startled even myself, making Hachiyo jump.

"Hey, what's wrong, Qianyu? Why are you yelling like that all of a sudden..."

"Oh right, I forgot. I...forgot..."

"Qianyu-kun?"

Yes, I finally remembered.

I realized... I forgot something very important.

"It's too slow!"

A sharp sound, comparable to ultrasound, shook the gates of Hachigaoka High School.

"It's taking way too long, brother! What have you been doing all this time?!"

...Oh no, I messed up.

I've completely forgotten about Ayase Toru.

"I'm sorry."

I couldn't think of anything to say, so I just kept my head down.

"Waaaaah~~~. We promised to go buy your brother's phone together, and visit so many places full of memories together. Ayase spent the whole morning thinking about the route, and now it's all ruined! Brother, do you know how sad it is to see all the plans disappear one by one while you're waiting!"

I'm so sorry!

"I've already completely forgotten about her once, how many more times do I have to forget Ayase before I'm satisfied!"

Since things have come to this, I can only sincerely apologize to you!

"No, that's not it, Ayase-san. It's all my fault. Asagami-kun wanted to go back, but I dragged him away. I'm sorry, please don't scold Asagami-kun anymore, okay?"

Hachiyo couldn't stand it anymore and joined me in apologizing. Right now, all I feel is a deep sense of apology.

"……Who are you?"

Upon seeing an unfamiliar upperclassman girl suddenly interrupt, Ayase glared at her with a slightly cold look.

"Ah, I'm your brother's classmate, my name is Hachiyo. You must be Ayase-san? You're so pretty, just as cute as the rumors say!"

"…………"

"Even their feelings and perceptions could be idols."

"…………"

"……Ha ha ha ha"

Hey, say something! Even Hachiyo-kun is speaking up for you.

"elder brother!"

"Oh, what are you doing!"

My prayers as the older brother were completely ineffective; Ayase suddenly pounced on me.

"Hey, stop it! Didn't you say not to stick to me at school?"

"do not want!"

"Let go! Everyone's watching!"

"No way!"

Huh? What's going on? This girl won't let go at all. I tried to pull her away, but my angry little sister just clung to me even tighter. And she's staring at Hachiyo with such hostile eyes...

"That's our relationship!"

What the hell are you announcing?!

"Huh? Ah, um, uh..."

Hachiyo-kun was stunned for a moment—

"……I see"

Then he adjusted his glasses, which had slipped down, and nodded.

Hey, what exactly did you admit to, class monitor...?

"That's right."

Ayase nodded contentedly... What are you so satisfied with?

I had no choice but to accept my fate. The school bell rang, signaling the end of the school term, disappearing into the sky filled with fragmented, fiery clouds.

Chapter Twenty-Two: Shameful Photographs

"Brother, you're here!"