Lonely Rock for the Blind.

"…What?"

Iwashita Shima stood there, stunned.

"...You're so annoying...Why do you always have to ask me...Can't you come up with an excuse yourself?"

"what?"

Iwashita Shima stared in disbelief, completely dumbfounded.

"...Is that not allowed?"

Eliza clenched her fist.

"I don't want to say..."

"...Haa..."

Iwashita Shima lowered his head, the brim of his hat obscuring his eyes.

Don't you want to talk about it...?

Iwashita Shima walked toward Eliza.

"Then how about I explain it?!"

"... "

Eliza looked at Iwashita Shima, who had walked up to her, and said nothing.

"You're upset about losing your man, huh? So you're planning to slink back to your hometown?! How can you be such a coward?!"

"... "

Eliza's expression remained unchanged.

"Speak up! Is it what I said?! Because Haru and Kiku are together? Is that it?! Speak up!"

Iwashita Shima continued to roar.

"... "

Eliza remained silent.

"I told you to speak!"

Iwashita Shima grabbed Eliza and pinned her against the wall.

"...Say something...Say something! Is that why?"

Tears glistened in her wine-red eyes.

"If it's because of this... if it's because of this, Qing is fine! Do you know him..."

Just as Iwashita Shima was about to continue speaking, Eliza's voice interrupted her.

"I know, about him being with everyone."

Eliza said calmly.

"?"

Iwashita Shima was stunned and looked up at Eliza.

"...I always knew, even before Kiku joined."

"... "

Iwashita Shima stared blankly at Eliza.

"The only one who didn't know about this... was Shima."

Eliza smiled.

"...Or rather...Kikuri and Haru will be together...and I'll be of help with that..."

Snapped!

A solid slap landed on Eliza's face.

Eliza turned her head to the side, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"…Why?"

"... "

"You're hiding it from me?"

"... "

"help?"

"... "

Iwashita Shima trembled.

"...What are you after?"

"Qing's happiness is enough..."

Eliza smiled.

"What are you even talking about?! I can't understand a word you're saying!"

Snapped!

Another slap.

Eliza didn't dodge; she simply endured it in silence.

"…you…"

Iwashita Shima's voice trembled.

The setting sun shone down on the two people beneath the bridge.

"What do you mean... his happiness is enough?"

"...As long as I can see him happy, that's enough. I never expected things to turn out like this...and I didn't do anything, I just watched from the sidelines."

Eliza tilted her head.

"...Why...?"

Shima Iwashita grabbed Eliza by the collar.

"...I've been lying all along..."

Eliza shook her head.

"But I did occasionally tell the truth... I actually met him before Qing met me."

"what?"

Iwashita Shima raised her head.

"He just didn't recognize it... no, I should say he never remembered it at all."

"...I don't understand..."

Iwashita Shima shook her head, trembling.

"...Please...please say something I can understand...please..."

"... "

Eliza remained silent.

"...Tell me, things can definitely be resolved...If there's a conflict, resolve it. Don't leave, okay? Nobody wants you to leave..."

Iwashita Shima begged.

"...Ah, I just don't feel I should stay."

Eliza smiled.

"...Hey, Shima, what kind of feelings do you have for Haru?"

"I…"

Do you hate him now? Because of him, everything fell apart?

"!"

"But that's not the case... The truth is, I'm just going crazy on my own."

"... "

Iwashita Shima remained silent, then released her grip, and Eliza, now free, suddenly embraced Iwashita Shima.

Shima Iwashita, who was trembling, suddenly froze.

"...Shima...I have to leave...I can only leave, I can't bear to stay...Can you forget me?"

Eliza's voice was affectionate.

“…Tell me the reason…I only need this.”

Iwashita Shima's voice returned to its usual calm, but perhaps it trembled even more.

"Do you really want to hear this, Shima?"

Eliza asked.

"Um…"

Iwashita Shima nodded.

"...I liked Haru even before Kikuri did."

"... "

"Then what…"

Eliza paused for a moment, then leaned close to Iwashita Shima's ear.

"And then... I blinded him."

And so, it was revealed softly.