Chapter 18: They were wrinkled and wavy.

Translator: Soafp

---

[Haruka Pov]

Days went by when I let out a sigh.

“You haven’t been well lately.”

“Is something wrong, Narimiya?”

　I hear the worried voices of my colleagues and juniors, but it’s hard for me to respond. But I want something to blow over.

“Shall we go out for a drink today?”

“Really!”

　Maybe I can start falling in love now. It might be dull after meeting Toki-kun.

“Oh, no, with everyone”

“Y-yeah, got it.”

　Toki-kun says I’m invincible.

　What is that?

　That can’t be true.

---

　The letter was filled with memories of Toki-kun and me.

　I never dreamed that Toki-kun would write to me, that he would remember me.

　When I was a little girl. When I was about two years old. That’s when it all started. I didn’t think Toki-kun would remember at all.

　No, he must have heard it once.

　But he said he didn’t remember that.

　Eh, why, it was definitely there, what did I say? It really made me feel a little sad.

“What…you remember so much…Fufu, haha, ha, ha ……”

　I can’t stop the tears from falling onto the letter.

　Memories that will never fade away come back to life. From Toki-kun’s point of view, I was shining so brightly. Toki-kun thought so much of me.

　Who on earth is this nice girl?

　Why don’t you say it out loud?

　Toki-kun, you’re always looking at me…you’re not in love with me…

　That’s why I was relieved.

“The class play…”

　That’s right. I played the role of a princess… and I remember how Toki-kun annoyed everyone by saying he wanted to be a prince… and then I stopped Toki-kun because I said it would bother everyone…

　But the truth is, I was happy.

“…forest school…”

　That’s right. The one where we look down from a high cliff. There was that one…the one where I was supporting him from behind. Squeaking… I can’t believe how cute he was like that…

　That’s what I was thinking.

“…the school festival…”

Right. I can easily see that now that I think about it. It’s not surprising that he hated me so much that he wanted to kill me. In the letter…Toki-kun actually thought about it, too. But he said that he couldn’t hate me, that he had to endure through his feelings and hatred.

Aah, I have nothing but regrets….

　There were many other things written in the letter. The days were wonderful until I betrayed him, and after I betrayed him, the writing pressure was as different as if he wrote with a lot of effort.

　And then there was Toki’s mother.

　I can’t believe he had to go through this. I had no right to think that it was terrible…but I did!

Aah, to say it wasn’t traumatic is a lie.

　I don’t want you to lie to me anymore.

　I don’t want those lying eyes.

　I can’t stop my heart from making a racket inside my chest with the itch of feeling like I can’t reach him.

　I look at the clock.

　I get ready to run out of my mind.

　But it stops dead in its tracks when I read the last sentence.

　I wish Haruka happiness.

　You are always invincible.

　Toki Asaba.

　This is… a farewell letter.

“Fufu…what…invincible…hahaha. Then let Toki-kun be dropped!　Let me start over!　That’s what makes me happy,…my enemy is the past me…how am I supposed to defeat that thing!　I couldn’t time-leap no matter how many times I wished for it. …… I’m not invincible… there is no such thing as invincibility.”

　I miss you. Toki-kun.

　I don’t want to say goodbye after all.

　I can’t be invincible.

　I ran away to Kurosaki because I was weak.

　You don’t understand.

　You knew that, and you wrote that, didn’t you?

You’re so kind, it’s terrible.

“Aah, I can’t, I can’t read the second time…I can’t read it….”

　The letters, blurred and distorted by my tears, were wavy.

　The sparkling days before the betrayal were rippling and wrinkling.

　I cried again, as if those memories would be taken by the waves and disappear into the distant haze.

---

“O-oi Narimiya, don’t fall asleep. You’re too drunk.”

“……Toki-kun…Toki-kun…I’m sorry…”

“I wonder who is this Toki-kun…is he your fiance?　Come to think of it, you never told me who he is.”

“Fiance… are things not going well?”

“Ah, I’m happy! No good. Can you help…..? If you want, we can start right now…”

“Idiot. Are you going to fly my carrier? I’ll call you a cab.”

No, in fact, she seemed to be having a hard time lately… If you push her now, you might have a chance. Harada-senpai is very kind.”

“….I see. But first, let’s talk about her fiance.”

---