I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

"Thank you for the time we spent together. It made me the happiest girl in the world."

"I have never regretted any of the choices I made because of you!"

Tachibana Kanade laughed from the bottom of her heart, a small, radiant laugh, like a field of sunflowers in full bloom.

That smile, if described as beautiful, still carries a hint of naivety and coquettishness; if described as cute, it cannot hide the elegance and tranquility beneath.

Despite this, the two are not contradictory at all; on the contrary, they are blended together in a harmonious and gentle way.

If we really had to find a "vocabulary" that could definitively describe it, then we could only say that...

Is it the smile of an "angel"?

"...Should I say, 'You're welcome'?"

After a long while, Yuu Tenkuji finally snapped out of his daze, took his hands off the piano, and said to her with a wry smile.

Tachibana Kanade shook her head. The piano music was coming to an end, but she still pressed the black and white keys lightly, adding a few more improvisational segments to the piece that should have ended.

"This is what I, in the past, said to you, in the past. You don't have to take it to heart."

"I see." Yuu Tenkuji breathed a sigh of relief for some reason.

She paused, then added, "And now I understand why Xiao Qiong specifically gave me this sheet music."

Yuu Tenkuji looked puzzled: "Didn't I tell you to make a final farewell that you won't regret?"

"That might be one of the reasons, but the most important one is the power of the luminous jade attached to this musical score."

The last syllable echoed crisply in the music classroom, lingering for a long time.

Tachibana stopped playing, slowly exhaled, and then reached out to remove the sheet music from the piano stand.

She didn't know how she used it, but the stack of yellowed papers suddenly turned into a bright blue ball of light, lying quietly in her palm, like a light bulb with low power, seemingly having no energy left.

"This is the 'Jade of the Sky'... It was something that Xiao Qiong specially created using her own existence and the energy of the system so that she wouldn't lose to me."

Tachibana Kanade handed him the luminous orb, her eyes softening with a hint of helplessness: "If it weren't for this, I wouldn't have been able to survive the last cycle of reincarnation, and I wouldn't be able to meet you here."

"There's no other way but to say goodbye with a smile, is that it?"

Tenkuji Yu raised his gaze from the light orb, sensing the hidden meaning in her words, and quietly waited for her to finish speaking.

Tachibana Kanade turned around halfway, her pale golden eyes staring at him directly and earnestly.

"Yu, I'm going back."

"The past me is going to find the past you."

"This is not disappearing... it's going home."

Tenkuji Yu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized.

"I won't forget your existence?"

“Yes, thanks to Sora.” Tachibana Kanade nodded, watching him carefully put the jewel into his pocket as if it were a precious treasure. A slight smile appeared on her lips as she said softly, “Although only you and Sora will remember ‘me’... for a ghost that has been dead for hundreds of years, there is no more satisfying ending than this.”

Although she felt regret at not being able to witness his final happy ending, she felt no lingering attachment or obsession.

Because Tachibana Kanade believes that in this world, in this Tenkuji Yu... he can definitely do the things that he couldn't do in the past.

She had confirmed this from his playing during their ensemble performance.

In the end, he became even more absorbed in playing the chords, completely immersed in the music, and willingly opened his heart for her accompaniment.

This is something that the proud and headstrong Yuu Tenkuji in the past could never do willingly.

...Perhaps such a change doesn't mean anything?

Even so, as Tachibana Kanade slightly raised her gaze, scrutinizing his familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar features and pondering various matters concerning the future, no unease arose in her heart.

Just as if he had completed his mission and handed the final leg to the last and strongest runner, he watched his back with peace of mind and hope as he sprinted toward the finish line filled with honor.

After all, he had said 'yesterday' that he would fulfill his wish—and Tenkuji Yu had never broken a promise to anyone.

"Yu, I want to ask you for a favor."

Suppressing the warm, burning emotions in his chest, Tachibana Kanade suddenly spoke.

"what's up?"

The silver-haired girl waved to him, and trusting her, Tenkuji Yu approached with a puzzled look on his face.

He had barely lowered his head when she grabbed him with both hands and pulled him into her arms.

"!?"

His body stiffened, and he reflexively tried to straighten up and break free from her hands, but after hesitating for a long time, he sighed helplessly, slowly relaxed his body, and stopped struggling.

...As for the 'benefactor' who would soon disappear, Yuu Tenkuji didn't intend to dwell on it too much and would just go along with her wishes for the time being.

Fortunately, Tachibana Kanade didn't intend to do anything excessive. She simply pulled his head close and placed it against his unremarkable chest, and stopped moving.

It has body temperature, but you can't hear its heart beating.

While pondering this matter with a subtle expression, Tenkuji Yu felt the girl's humble and lovely softness, and couldn't help but recall his younger sister after she grew up.

They were supposed to be good friends, but their body shapes have gotten worse and worse as they've grown up...

Her fresh and rich fragrance wafted into his nose, and Tenkuji Yu gradually cleared his mind of all distractions, waiting for her to explain herself for taking the liberty of "doing it on" to him.

He believed that she did this for a reason, rather than simply wanting a farewell hug.

"After you pass this trial, go find me in the real world... even though she probably doesn't know anything."

Silver hair obscured Tenkuuji Yu's eyes, and Tachibana Kanade lowered her head slightly, whispering in his ear:

"If I still like you now."

"Please acknowledge her feelings and listen carefully to her heartbeat."

"Then, I will bring her the miraculous happiness that I once possessed."

Chapter 76 I want to fall asleep to the sound of a familiar heartbeat

I leaned against her chest, inhaling the fragrance of her hair and listening to her soft, melodious voice.

Yuu Tenkuji, however, was completely unable to immerse herself in the moment. Instead, she frowned in slight distress and hesitated before speaking:

Even if you say that... I still can't date someone I have no emotional connection with.

This was still his rather tactful way of putting it.

Towards Tachibana Kanade, Tenkuji Yu felt only gratitude and pity, not much romantic affection—without recalling anything, even if this girl was as beautiful and kind as an angel, she was merely a stranger he was speaking to for the first time.

Listening to her feelings is fine, helping to take care of her is also no problem, but you have to treat her like you used to, and give her that so-called "miraculous happiness"...

I'm sorry, but all I can say is that this is a treatment that only Iroha Isshiki receives.

Nothing can shake his devotion!

A true man is one with one love for life—no matter how many girls like him, as long as his heart still belongs to that little devil junior, he will never betray her!

His resolve hardened once more. He'd calculated that enough time had passed. With unwavering devotion to his girlfriend and a serious, stern look in his eyes, Tenkuji Yu prepared to leave the silver-haired girl's embrace.

Then, she let out a soft "ah" as if suddenly realizing something, and explained with a hint of apology, "I'm sorry, it was my own assumption that if we met again, we would definitely fall in love with each other. I didn't mean for you to have to date 'me' in the future."

"If you really don't like 'me,' then please just say it clearly and directly."

Although it will be very sad, as long as I know your true thoughts, I think I can accept it, right?

"Lihua..."

Slightly startled, Tenkuji Yu looked up and saw her gentle smile, devoid of any gloom, through her hair.

The girl's expression was very relaxed, so open-minded and at ease, like a centenarian who had a premonition that he would pass away in his sleep the next day, content without any regrets.

...That makes sense.

Knowing that he already had a girlfriend, asking him to date his future girlfriend is definitely not something Tachibana Kanade would do.

At least, it doesn't fit his impression of the current "Tachibana Kanade".

Realizing that he had misunderstood her, Tenkuji Yu couldn't help but laugh awkwardly twice. Just as he was about to say something, Tachibana Kanade suddenly leaned her face closer.

"Oh right, I forgot you haven't remembered your past yet... Although you should be able to regain your memories on your own after some time, it's faster this way..."

As he murmured to himself, his cool forehead touched hers, and her long, curled eyelashes were right in front of him.

Before Yuu Tenkuji could react, his body froze in place, petrified and unable to move.

"This, this is..."

As if a missing piece of a puzzle had been placed, a flood of memories instantly filled my mind, not only filling a gap but also rewriting the reality I had taken for granted.

What was thought to be an experience shared by only two people turned out to involve a third person.

What I thought was a time only for the two of us turned into a time of joy and peace of mind that only comes with three people.

Before dating Iroha Isshiki, he had a very important junior classmate.

—That color was by no means superfluous.

Because of her presence, the three of them were able to connect so closely, adding more vibrant beauty to each other's lives.

I vaguely remember that in the student council room, she sat in the main seat carefully reviewing documents, while I supervised Iroha Iroha's work from behind.

The three of them would chat occasionally, complain about each other occasionally, and sometimes sit down to make a cup of tea and have some snacks, relaxing and chatting about whatever came to mind, before heading home together before nightfall.

I thought this familiar daily scene would continue until graduation.

Little did they know that their chance encounter at the fireworks festival would be the last time they ever saw each other.

Since then, the two of them have not only never seen her again, but have also completely forgotten her existence, enjoying their time together without a care in the world...

That was her best friend.

She was also his most beloved junior schoolmate.

For the two of them, Tachibana Kanade was almost the most important person besides their family. As a result, after she disappeared, not to mention that they suddenly felt a sense of loss when they were about to graduate, let's just talk about the time when Tenkuji Yu met her on the rooftop.

None of the memories they had shared surfaced; he even spoke to her in such a cold and indifferent tone, saying things like "there's absolutely no emotional foundation between them"...

As his memories gradually returned to their rightful place, Yuu Tenkuji's expression was quite remarkable, changing like a neon light. Then, towards the girl who had raised her face again and was looking down at him with slight worry, he slowly forced a smile that was uglier than crying.

"Should I... should I say it's been a long time, Li Hua...?"