V2Ch10: Reunion…and Awakening

Translator: Soafp

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The call came to me suddenly.

“You’re kidding me. ……. Why?”

After receiving the call, I kept running, not thinking about anything else.

I was going to the hospital.

But it wasn’t the hospital I usually go to.

It was the first hospital I had ever been to.

I was running along the sidewalk, running like a maniac.

“……m-mother …… why ……!”

I got a call that she had collapsed at work.

On the way home from school, the fun times that Mai and I had spent walking home together were shattered, and I felt my whole body run out of blood.

I didn’t feel alive.

Naturally, I still don’t feel alive.

My mother should not have collapsed. I didn’t really care what happened to her, but it was inexcusable that such a kind person should fall ill!

I’ve been running unceasingly.

“……Wait,……Ryosu,……ke,……”

Mai calls out to him behind his back.

Mai, who is not very good at sports, could not catch up with Ryosuke.

The desperate desire to “meet his mother” has narrowed his vision.

It was the first time since the false accusation that Mai’s voice did not reach him. Mai still chases after Ryosuke, but he finally pulls away from her.

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I arrived at the hospital about an hour after getting the call.

It was a very large hospital, but the reception area was easy to find.

I went there first.

“W-Where’s my mother?!!”

“—-Yes!?”

I was the center of attention because of my loud voice.

But it didn’t matter.

I had to see my mother as soon as possible.

I went with the doctor who came after me to the hospital room where my mother was.

“—I’m sorry for worrying you.”

When I visited her, she got up from the bed and spoke to me apologetically.

“…..Thank goodness”

She was conscious.

She spoke to me in her usual gentle tone.

It was the same old Mom.

I felt relief.

I was relieved from the bottom of my heart.

If something happens to his mother, one of the main reasons for Ryosuke Yamamoto’s life will be lost.

If that had happened, the value of life for Ryosuke Yamamoto would have dropped dramatically.

“…………… Ah!”

To my relief, sweat began to pour out of my body.

Come to think of it, I came running. …… If I was in a hurry, I could have taken a cab.

Mom looked at me worriedly.

The doctor told me it would be best to let her rest a bit and I left the hospital room quietly.

It was the first time for me to be in the position of visiting her, and to be honest, I was very anxious.

I definitely prefer to be the opposite …… position, I don’t want to see someone I care about weak and hospitalized.

……

I wonder if my mom felt the same way about visiting me.

I’m really a terrible child …… with not a shred of filial piety.

I can’t believe I’ve been tormenting my mom all this time. …… It’s the worst.

“Due to overwork……?”

The doctor told me the cause of my mother’s collapse.

“Yes,……, I think she pushed herself a little too hard.”

I listened in silence. Mom had fallen ill because she had pushed herself too hard.

He also asked me to let her rest at home for a while after she is discharged from the hospital.

…… overwork?

…… lack of sleep?

…… was she pushing herself too hard?

That’s my fault, right?

Definitely it is, …… because it’s a long way from home to work, and she accompanies me all the way to the hospital. ……

Aah, it’s my fault. …… I’m the one who made her fall collaps. …… it’s my fault.

It’s my fault she had to move, and if I was healthy, she wouldn’t have had to go to the hospital.

I’m dragging her down, and I’m a much heavier weight in her life than I thought. It’s more than just a lack of filial piety.

Don’t bother the people you love!

That’s what I’ve been telling myself!

I told myself over and over again to die!

And yet here I am, wasting my life!

Mom was suffering so much that she collapsed.

And yet I want to go to school and be happy?

“What was wrong with you… but–“

It’s okay….. to dream of being happy for a little while.

Is that wrong too?

—I sat down on a bench in the courtyard and stopped moving. My mother wouldn’t be …… happy if I was alive.

The next thing I knew, it was getting dark around me.

It was almost time for me to be forced to leave.

I ran away without even checking on my mom and sat here, doing nothing.

I hate myself so much. I’m sure I’m hurting the people I care about just by being alive.

Then I should just die.

But …… I’m still trying to live.

I don’t even have the courage to die…….I can take the first step toward school, but I can’t take the first step to throw my life away.

I’m a disgusting man to the end of the line.

“—Ryosuke, I’ve missed you so much.”

“………… Eh?”

I was called and looked up.

Nee-san was standing there.

Nee-san always shows up when I’m feeling weak.

I knew she would definitely come.

…. but—

─ ─ Something is …… wrong compared to usual.

“I got a call from this hospital too. I didn’t think it would help that we were seperated—- and I was sure Ryosuke would be there, so I …… rushed over here?”

“………… Huh?”

I didn’t remember you talking about this clearly.

And her whereabouts are strange,…… not at my feet, but standing right in front of me.

And the presence is unmatched by the usual …… Nee-san has a terrifying aura.

I just met her at the door of my house a week ago, but there is no comparison to that time.

She seemed like a different person on a level that made me wonder what Nee-san had been like for the past six months, the one who shows up at random.

“I really missed you …… —- look, I’ve dressed up extra fancy today.”

Nee-san came closer and closer.

I’m scared and terrified…… of Nee-san today, even though she’s farther away than usual, she’s the scariest person I’ve ever seen. There is something inside me that is sending out a danger signal, ‘stay away from sister’.

But I couldn’t escape.

My whole body was paralyzed.

The danger signal was meaningless.

And I was thinking of defeating such a monster.

“…… Ryousuke.”

As it was, she put my face between her two hands and forced me to face the front. The face of Nee-san was at eye and nose level.

With no warning, she did something terrible.

Sweat poured from my forehead due to nervousness,……, and Nee-san wiped it off with her fingertips.

Help me mother,…… Ah, she was in the hospital.

Mai was …… ah, I left her behind.

There is no one to protect me…….

Then how can I escape from this demon?

─ ─ Will they forgive me if I die?

“Give me a break,…… okay I’ll die, I’ll die, get away from me!”

“No, …… I’ve put up with myself for a long time… and why do you need to die? You’re going to live with me, unencumbered from now on, okay? I won’t let you fall down like mother …… and I’ll always protect you, okay?”

{Then just hurry and die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die !!}

“You don’t have to say ‘die, die, die’ so much, I know! So get your hands off me! I’ll be brave and die!”

“I see, you’re hallucinating,……, poor Ryosuke… but it’s been hard for me too, not seeing you for months.”

{I see, you are hallucinating, you’re crazy, can you hurry up and die already!!}

“I’m not hallucinating. …… I don’t know anything about that!”

“Rest assured, healthy or abnormal, you are still my dear brother. And I know that seeing me will make your symptoms worse. But rest assured, I will stay by your side no matter how bad it gets —- I won’t let you go even if you die, okay?”

{Because of you, mother collapsed…..That’s why you should just hurry up and die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die…..Aah however I won’t let you go even if you die, okay?}

“……………………… ………………………… ………………………… ………………………… ……………aaa”

Apparently it’s no good even if I die.

I’m done. …… I really can’t do it anymore. …… I’m done.

She won’t even allow me to die in peace.

Even if I die, she’s going to come after me all the way to hell.

There’s a limit to how terrifying it can be.

……

So what do I do?

How do I escape?

I’ve got a plan. ……

Nee-san…

I’m not going to lose…

…………………

………… No, stop.

There is no need to take any countermeasures.

It’s better not to think about anything.

Even if I run away, she will find me soon, just like today.

Then don’t think about anything.

Yeah, all the hard stuff is going to the dump.

……………… I did my best.

………………I probably did my best.

………………I tried like I was going to die.

……………… but it didn’t pay off.

………………That’s all there is to it.

………………There are many people who work hard but are not rewarded.

………………I’m not the only one who gave up.

Th3n wHy d0n’t 1 just c@ll it qµits?

Th!s iS th3 eNd 0f th3 r0@d f0r m3 anD 1’m go1ng t0 g1v3 µp now.

……………………………

……………………………

{You ……… are ……….. cancer ……..}

{Ryousuke, are you afraid of dying, you are so pathetic…… then just disappear.}

{Brother ………… please …………… do your best………}

{Ryousuke, that’s your mother’s name, she kicked me because she’s Yurusu.}

{You …………………………..}

{Don’t listen to that crybaby, just close your heart my cute cute little Ryosuke}

{Big brother…………………………}

{Ryousuke’s little sister, you’re so annoying, you don’t have to do your best}

{…………………………………..}

{Give up, Ryousuk}

{……………………… ……………}

{GIVE UP, RYOSUKE}

……………

So that’s how it is.

I’ll do that.

Giving up is important.

And I think I’m the one who persisted.

I slowly closed my eyes.

The next time I wake up, I won’t be myself anymore.

[Thank you all …… for everything ……… and goodbye.]

In the end, I lost, both to Nee-san …… and to myself…

“—Stay away from Ryosuke!!!”

“……Guu?!”

Mai rushed to the scene and hit Kaede with all her strength.

Even the weak Mai’s power seemed to work when she was completely off her guard, and Kaede fell to the ground.

“………………”

However, Mai arrived too late.

Ryosuke doesn’t even look at Mai anymore.

His eyes were staring straight ahead, but he was looking far away all the time. He could not even see his beloved Mai.

What Dr. Takamiya had feared more than anything else had happened in reality.

Ryosuke died in the real world and completely left for the “other world”.

“…… Ryosuke …… You’re lying ……”

There were many ways to escape.

If he had not been so upset when he got the call that Rinka had collapsed and had come to the hospital with Mai, he would not have been alone with Kaede.

The reason why Mai arrived so late is because Ryosuke did not inform Mai of the hospital where Rinka was taken.

If he had told her where he was going, she would not have been so late.

It was as if God had created this scenario in order to make Ryosuke suffer. As with Kirishima’s visit to Takamiya Psychiatry, fate has relentlessly pursued Ryosuke to the end of the line.

“……… Ryosuke …… I…… I’m right in front of you …… hey?”

“……………………… ………”

Mai stares at Ryosuke, who is now a broken man.

He showed no reaction.

He was literally a dead man.

Ryosuke can no longer come back.

“…… Ryosuke……, I see. …….”

Kaede, who had been pushed to the ground by Mai and was lying on the ground, smiled wryly at the sight of a completely broken Ryosuke.

Then she slowly approached and hugged Ryosuke.

Of course, he would have resisted if someone did something like this to him.

But now Ryosuke did not show any reaction at all.

That made Kaede happy. She feels happy and her life is worth living because she can touch him without being rejected.

After the false accusation, Kaede shuns Ryosuke and encourages others to do the same. She then planned to make him dependent on her by treating him tenderly when he was lonely.

This twisted plan was thwarted by Mai’s love, but now Kaede has Ryosuke in a different way.

Instead of making him dependent, she made Ryosuke her own by destroying him completely. Kaede’s abnormality has finally caught up with Ryosuke, who has been running away from …… her for a long time.

Even if Ryosuke didn’t show up here now, in a few months she would have hired a detective and traced back Ryosuke’s location,…… there is no doubt about that.

It was only a few months earlier.

The future was set for him as soon as he was spotted by his older sister.

“Ryosuke,……, let’s go to sister’s house,……, I’m worried about my savings, so I won’t be able to lavish you with luxuries for a while,…….but from today on, we’ll be together all the time. It’s ……”

“……………………”

Pulled by Kaede, Ryosuke slowly stood up from the bench in the courtyard.

He showed no signs of resistance.

He was exactly Kaede’s ideal obedient brother.

“W-Wait! Don’t take Ryosuke away from me. ……!”

But Mai desperately resisted even if Ryosuke did not resist.

Come to think of it, I have some unfinished business.”

“……Eh? AUGH!!”

This time Kaede pushes Mai away.

It’s not so much revenge …… as it was earlier, but envy toward Mai, who was spending time with Ryosuke …… just taking it out on her.

Kaede, who usually engages in sports and is good at exercising, is much stronger than Mai.

“…..It hurts….”

She was slammed to the ground with great force.

Still writhing in pain…… Mai quickly stood up. Mai was not going to stand idly by and watch as Ryosuke was taken away from her.

“…………”

Even in this situation, Ryosuke was unfazed.

He stood there for a long time without trying to help Mai, even though she was being hurt.

“…………………”

………

Mai……

I have to help her……

Ah, but I can’t…… move……

No matter what, my body won’t move……

I thought I could do something for my beloved person……

But I guess not, life is not that kind.

But I think Mai will be happier if she leaves me.

Don’t bother about this troublesome sick person,…… please live your life freely.

I’m sorry I can’t help you from Nee-san.

All I can do is just sit back and watch.

“—Move away! Mai Nakazato!”

“N-no can do!”

“Tsk…..I want to go home before it becomes a fuss… If Ryosuke wasn’t falsely accused, he would have never looked at you, you loser!”

“….I-I know!! but—“

“There is nothing you can do to beat me! You’re not smart enough, your face isn’t as good as mine, you’re gloomy, you can’t say what you want to say, and you’re too shy …… you don’t deserve Ryosuke!”

“………T-thats—“

“You want to say that your love for Ryosuke is stronger than his love for you? How can that be? You can’t do anything for him. It is impossible to protect a broken-hearted Ryosuke, …… and you know that, don’t you?”

“…………”

Say whatever you want. ……

She needs help as soon as possible. ……

Anyone will do……

Just pass by here ……

…………

…………

{No, you have to help her}

I can’t. Even …… I can’t move my body.

{Do your best.}

I already tried!

I got up again and again and again, and I still couldn’t do it!

{One last time.}

I already used that.

When I opened the front door, I was ready to do this one last time. That’s why there is no last time left. Because I used it then, …… so I can’t do it anymore.

{Can’t you stand up for yourself one more time?}

Oh yes, that’s for sure.

It’s far beyond what I can make up for with effort.

{Even if you can’t stand up for yourself, you can stand up for Mai as many times as you want.}

…………………… No… …but…

{No but}

………b-because

{No because}

You’re so annoying!

Don’t act like you’re “me”!

I’m “me” who knows me better than anyone else?! I can’t do this anymore?! I’ve been trying to save Mai since a while ago, but I can’t move my body!!

{Then I guess I’ll have to abandon you now.}

Don’t say it like that. …… Please.

I shook off ‘me’s’ crazy talk and listened to the exchange between Mai and Nee-san.

I wanted to escape from ‘me’ at any cost,…… because it’s a bothersome, weak habit.

“—-Stop bullsh*tting”

“Hmm? What? You got mad at me for telling you the truth?”

“…… What do you mean Ryosuke is broken?”

“That’s the truth —- but don’t worry. I’ll take care of him until the end.”

“….Fool.”

“what?”

“Stop—

Stop making a fool of the person I love the most!!!”

Mai cried and screamed.

Mai’s passionate words of love rang out around her.

Kaede checks around.

She is afraid that someone will notice her.

“…… Shh, what if they hear us!”

“Why are you so worried about what people might think? You can only sneak around behind the scenes! You’re the one who’s the biggest fool!”

“W-What the hell did you say!!”

She let go of the hand she was holding with Ryosuke and went to Mai.

Then, as before, she grabbed her by the chest.

“……Guku…..!”

“My mother stopped me back then,……… this day I won’t allow it. I’m going to hurt you before I leave here!”

─ ─ She raised her arm wide to slap Mai’s cheek.

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“Stop making a fool of the person I love the most!!!”

……… Mai’s screams seeped into my five organs. I was so happy I could cry. I was so battered that I couldn’t move, and I lost the energy to help Mai,…… but still, she loves me so much.

Leaving Mai like that,…… am I going to run away?

{What about it}

No, no, no way.

It is true that “I” am right, if it were for myself, I would never get up again,……, but for Mai’s sake, I would be able to do it over and over again.

{Then I’ll leave the rest to you.}

………………………

………………………

………………………

……………………… Understood

And I am sure what little reason was left for me to know who I am. I’m glad you’re still alive.

………………………

………………………

………………………

……………………… Okay, one last time.

No, no, I’m willing to add more times for Mai, and I will never use the word “last”.

I will return the favor to Mai.

If I think so, I should be able to stand up.

I love Mai with all my heart.

Besides, think about it calmly.

What’s so scary about that woman…… She’s just a lunatic, right?

………

…… Yes, that’s right.

I can see it clearly now.

Mai’s screams brought ‘me’ back.

I just made fun of the power of love. …… Sorry, but I stand corrected. Mai’s desperate fight for me gave me hope and courage.

I have someone in front of me who loves me.

That woman loves me so much.

And not only Mai, but also my mother, Usui-kun, Mai’s parents…

Uncle Kotaro, ………, and…

—-Dr. Takamiya, the director of the hospital.

Himekawa-senpai, who protected Mai from violence.

Nagisa, who tried to reconcile with Mai even though I coldly rejected her.

…… How can I say that I am lonely, that I can’t stand up, that I can’t trust anyone, when I am protected by so many people?

That is blasphemy against those who really suffer from loneliness.

Think about it.

And remember.

…… I’m delusional, everything about my sister looks horrible.

…… and I’ve been swept up in hallucinations.

What do I really look and say that I should get off my chest?

Why don’t I just look at the woman who told me that …… instead of making a fool of the one I love…….

I can repeat it as many times as I want,…… I was really happy.

But you know what, Ryosuke Yamamoto,…… don’t just stand there and watch the girl you love get beaten up.

And Nee-san…… no, Kaede Nee-san.

You’ve been doing whatever you want to me, taking advantage of my lack of resistance. ……

But I will never run away from you again.

I have the courage to stand up to you …… and Mai has shown me a strong determination that will not be defeated by anyone.

Don’t worry, I’m very calm. I can face Kaede with my own will. There’s no way she’s at my feet.

First of all, not being able to stand up for Mai’s predicament is something I will never allow myself to do!

“………A……”

I awoke from my slumber and immediately went to the two of them.

At the very moment she was about to hit Mai,…… I grabbed that hand that Kaede Nee-san raised.

“You’re going to pay for what you’ve done”

I can’t let Mai see me looking any worse.

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