V4Ch5: Part 1

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Translator: Soafp

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[Ayana PoV]

“….Towa-kun?”

“Ayana?”

During the break between classes, I finally reached my limit. With Setsumi and my other friends looking at me in surprise, as if to say I couldn’t take it anymore, I started packing my things together.

“Hey, Ayana?”

“Are you going to Yukishiro’s house?”

“Yes.”

Leaving school early to visit my boyfriend… I understood that even if I told the teacher directly, it probably wouldn’t go over well. However, because I’ve always behaved properly until now… Because I’m trusted by the teacher, I have a plan to somehow get permission!

“How will you explain your absence?”

“Well, there’s a saying that ‘a little lie is sometimes necessary.'”

“I see… Well, if you tell it with a serious face like that, I’m sure the teacher will believe you.”

“I think so too!”

“Seriously… You’re living for love, huh?”

“Well, it’s love!”

…Yes, my love for Towa-kun is infinite.

But it’s not just that… I’m worried—worried that he might be suffering from a cold, of course—but more than that, I’m feeling that same anxiety again… The fear that he might drift away, that the person I fell in love with might disappear…

“Alright then, everyone, I’m leaving.”

“Yeah, do your best!”

“Say hi to Yukishiro-kun for us!”

After leaving the classroom, I quickly headed to the faculty office. A little lie, no obstacles in the face of love… But I still hadn’t figured out exactly what excuse I would use… However, when I entered the faculty office, my homeroom teacher didn’t say anything.

“I understand. Go home.”

“Eh?”

“I’ll make an exception. But don’t think you can do this too many times. Even if I’m lenient to a certain extent, there are limits.”

“…Thank you, sensei.”

“Yeah, now go.”

With a gentle expression from the teacher, I left the faculty office. …Thinking about it now, I realize how blessed I am to have so many kind adults around me.

The moment I changed my shoes at the student entrance, I dashed out as if wings had sprouted on my feet. Though it wasn’t exactly a refreshing feeling, I didn’t want to be crushed by anxiety… I didn’t want to feel that, so I understood in my head why I was running.

“Towa-kun… Towa-kun…”

What is this unpleasant anxiety?

Unlike the air-conditioned school, it was hot outside… Running like this made me sweat immediately, and my breath quickened.

“Haa… Haa…”

As if to leave behind both exhaustion and pain, I headed straight to Towa-kun’s house… By the time I arrived, my body was covered in sweat.

My shirt clung to my skin, revealing my figure… One might even see the lines of my underwear if one looked closely. But I couldn’t afford to be embarrassed by that… Because I could only think about Towa-kun.

“Ah, I need to message Akemi-san.”

While catching my breath, I sent a message to Akemi-san, who was at work. Though she had already anticipated this, she had said I could come anytime, but it’s always best to be polite even with close friends.

After ringing the intercom and waiting a bit, Towa-kun didn’t come out.

I thought he might be sleeping, so I opened the door and hurried into his room. Knocking lightly, I peeked inside… Sure enough, Towa-kun was asleep.

“Fuu…”

Thank goodness… Towa-kun was there. Well, I can’t exactly say it’s good considering his current condition, but just seeing him here gave me some relief.

“That’s right, Towa-kun won’t go anywhere… Because he promised we’d be happy together.”

The promise I engraved in my heart with Towa-kun… As long as that exists, I won’t feel anxious. But why did I feel so unsettled? And why won’t it disappear, even though Towa-kun is right in front of me?

“I feel relieved that you’re here… but what is this?”

Towa-kun… Towa-kun… Towa-kun…

Driven by anxiety, I entered the room and sat down next to the bed, gazing at Towa-kun.

“Haa…”

He looks so uncomfortable… If I could, I would take his place. He seemed much sicker than I had thought from his voice last night.

“I… I… Where… Ay… ana…”

“Ah…”

Towa-kun called my name… Without raising my voice or shaking him, I reached into the bed and grasped his hand firmly.

“Towa-kun… I’m here. I’m right here.”

Surely, Towa-kun won’t get angry if I wake him up… Instead, he’ll probably smile and say he’s glad I came, despite being bewildered by my early departure from school. Or perhaps he’ll insist I go back, saying it’s to prevent him from catching a cold… But I won’t leave. Absolutely not.

“Towa-kun… I love you. Thanks to you, I’ve found happiness. Of course, I intend to be even happier with you from now on.”

The words flow incessantly… As if to reassure Towa-kun, who is suffering from a cold.

“I… was saved by you. I’m sure you think I’ve saved you too. But more than anything, I was saved by you right now… The person I love is you. I’m so drawn to you, and I want to live with you… That’s why I love you.”

Right now… I don’t know why these words came out.

Towa-kun is Towa-kun… He should be the same now as he always was… I don’t think I need to worry about that.

So… I just wanted to convey this… I just want you to know how much I love you.

“Fufu, I’m always telling you this, but… Whispering words of love to the person you love too much shouldn’t be a problem. Ah, but if I’m being too persistent and bothering you…”

I realized something important… It’s true that being too persistent might cause more trouble than kindness! Th-this is something I need to be careful about from now on!

I tightened my grip on Towa-kun’s hand just a little… to convey that I won’t let go here, that I won’t let go.

“Hey, Towa-kun… If you’re looking for me, if you’re looking for a place to return to, there’s no need to hesitate… Because this is your… your place to return to.”

And I… I’ll always be waiting for you… No matter what happens, I’ll always be waiting.

So please open your eyes quickly… Look at me with those beloved eyes, like you always do.

“…Ah”

Even though there's nothing to be sad about, tears start to fall from my eyes. Large drops of tears stream down, and I have no way to stop them… It's not as simple as just wiping them away with my hand.

So please… open your eyes, Towa-kun.

If you look at me… I’ll stop crying.

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[Towa PoV]

“….?”

I felt like someone called out to me. I stared into the void for a while, then refocused my attention on the computer screen. The game, “I Was Robbed of Everything,” had suddenly booted up, and I just kept progressing through the story.

“I was really surprised the first time I played this.”

Technically, it was when I played the sequel, the fan disc that detailed all the behind-the-scenes stuff.

“But man, no matter how many times I see it, Ayana’s expressions are just… something else.”

The erotic scenes featuring Ayana are truly full of allure, and her lines are just filled with devotion to Towa, even though from Shu’s perspective in the main game, it’s pure betrayal. Knowing the full story, Ayana’s words are always filled with thoughts of Towa.

“…Something about this just doesn’t sit right.”

It’s clear that Ayana is devoted to Towa. Yet, the words coming from the game’s Ayana felt oddly unsettling, as if she wasn’t the Ayana I knew.

“What am I saying, ‘the Ayana I know’…”

Loving the game and its characters so much that reality and fantasy blur together—no, I can’t be that far gone!

“Calm down… It’s like when people call anime or manga characters their wives!”

Why am I so flustered?

In my frantic state, Towa and Ayana continued their intimate scene on screen.

“Sorry, you two, for keeping you in that position…”

Since I hadn’t clicked to progress, the two remained connected, and Ayana, in particular, was in a strenuous pose that would challenge even a gymnast.

“Haha, laughing at this while playing an eroge… typical of me. I’ve got a unique perspective.”

After a short while, I reached the ending, and next, I started playing the fan disc that depicted Ayana’s life.

“……………”

As I played through the fan disc, I was perhaps more focused than ever before. I watched the screen intently, unable to look away. The more I saw the path Ayana had walked, the more I felt for her—feeling not just sympathy for her hardships, but a strong desire to comfort her, to be by her side and reassure her.

“I… I…”

What do I want? As I continued the story, a strange feeling of clarity began to emerge in my mind.

“…Ah, I see… I…”

The fog in my mind lifted, and memories became clear. Ah, yes—this was the world I once inhabited. But it was no longer the world I lived in. The moment I realized that, everything came rushing back with incredible speed.

And at the same time, I thought…

“The world where she exists isn’t where I truly belong… A place I could never go, a world that shouldn’t exist. Maybe that’s why… If I hadn’t remembered, I might have been trapped here forever.”

This is likely to remind me that in reality, reincarnation shouldn’t be possible… right? Maybe I’m just overthinking it, and in time, I’ll be able to go back. But there’s no way to be sure—because I’ve already decided to live in that other world.

[Towa-kun… I’m here.]

“Ayana?”

Ayana’s voice echoed in my room, where I was alone. Her tearful voice made me feel that I needed to return to her immediately. I stood up.

“…Ayana.”

The game was paused at a scene where Ayana reveals her inner darkness. The close-up of her face, wet from the rain, had moved not only me but every player who saw her sorrowful expression. I placed my hand on the screen, as if to caress her cheek.

Of course, it felt hard and unyielding, but strangely, it felt just like when I touched her in the game.

“Ayana… I promise I won’t let you make that face. I can’t comfort the Ayana here in front of me, but I’ll protect the Ayana I’ve met and vowed to walk into the future with.”

This is my unchanging will… my feelings.

“Hey, Towa. I can’t comfort this Ayana… So who will? It’s gotta be you, right? Come on, Towa Yukishiro.”

I knew it was pointless… but I couldn’t help saying it. I’ll protect the Ayana I’ve fallen for. Only Towa Yukishiro, who lives in that world, can comfort the crying Ayana there.

“Fue… I guess it’s time to go back.”

Oh, right, I have a bad cold… It’s pretty severe, so should I stay here until I recover?

“…Haha, if it means seeing Ayana, I’ll gladly endure that much suffering. In fact, I welcome it… Alright, I’m coming back, Ayana.”

If I step out of this room, I should be able to return to that world. Just as I was about to head to the door without hesitation, I felt the game screen move behind me and turned around.

“…Eh?”

It was moving… Just as I sensed, the game was progressing. And there was an image I’d never seen before… Towa embracing the crying Ayana, comforting her.

“…Seems like there was no need to worry, huh?”

After experiencing something as mysterious as reincarnation, a miracle like this should be expected. I took a good look at the two embracing and then woke up.