Chapter 28: Confession

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Translator: Soafp

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“Shiho, have you been waiting long?”

“No, I just got here too.”

It was 1:00 p.m.

Just like Shiho had asked, I came to the entrance of the amusement park we used to visit together often.

“Sorry for the sudden call. For just calling you out like this.”

“Oh, no… I didn't have any plans today anyway.”

When I said that, Shiho gave a gentle smile.

“How do I look?”

“How…? You look the same as always, don't you…?”

Shiho had always dressed modestly, and today her face looked nearly bare of makeup, just like always.

The only time I'd seen her fully made up and dressed fashionably was that time we reunited at the group date.

“Actually, I debated whether I should put on makeup today. But… since I'd be seeing you, Haruki, I wanted to show you the real me—not a dressed-up version.”

“The real you…?”

“Yeah. Just like back in the day… when we were really close. It's a date, after all.”

“Huh? A date!?”

“Yep. Come on, let's go.”

With a beaming smile, Shiho grabbed my hand, and the two of us entered the nostalgic amusement park for the first time in a long while.

---

“Shiho, when did you become okay with thrill rides? You used to hate them.”

“Yeah, somehow I started enjoying them once I got older.”

After enjoying various attractions, we made our way to the haunted house next.

Once inside the dim haunted house, old memories came rushing back.

The interior had changed from what I remembered, but the nostalgia still overwhelmed me.

“Hey, Shiho, don't cling to me like that.”

“Come on, I'm scared.”

Now that I think about it, she used to cling to my back like this too.

But now, she doesn't really seem scared—more like she's enjoying this situation.

“Are you actually scared?”

“A little. But more than that, I'm having fun.”

Haunted houses… I remember we did one for our high school culture festival.

Back then, Shiho came to visit my class's haunted house too…

“Hey, Shiho. We met again at that group date, but… did you have any contact with Shiraki before that?”

“Nope. I hadn't seen him since middle school. Actually, I don't even remember talking to him back then.”

Shiraki… back then at the culture festival, what did he say again…?

“Shiho, you came to my high school's culture festival when we were in our first year, right? So that means…”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Ah, no… never mind.”

I held my tongue.

It felt like it would be better not to ask any more.

No, maybe I was just running away from the truth.

Even so…

“That haunted house was kind of underwhelming.”

“Yeah. The beginning was scary, but…”

Since it was a kid-friendly attraction, it didn't have any truly shocking moments.

After that, we had coffee at a café inside the park and watched a magic show… It really felt like we had gone back to the old days, and time passed peacefully.

“We used to ride this Ferris wheel a lot too, huh…”

“Yeah. Fun times go by in the blink of an eye.”

It was past 5:00 p.m. now—already evening.

Whenever we came to this amusement park, we always rode this Ferris wheel at the end.

From the top, you could see a beautiful sunset—that view hadn't changed at all over the years.

(The view from up here… it's still the same. But our relationship…)

My relationship with Shiho had changed.

We were close.

We were special.

But back in middle school…

No… I shouldn't think about that.

It's all in the past now.

That's what I always told myself.

Yeah… it's all in the past.

And now, I've been able to reconnect with Shiho like this again.

“Hey, Shiho. What's up with you today?”

Shiho felt different today.

She was more assertive, less reserved than usual.

Until yesterday, after our reunion at the group date, she had always seemed hesitant—probably still feeling guilty about what she'd done to me in the past.

“Nothing's up. I just wanted to be with you, Haruki. This is the real me.”

That's right…

It's not strange.

It's just like the old days…

This is the real Shiho.

Bright and lively—the kind of person who could pull someone like me, always hiding in the shadows, into the sunlight.

“Shall we head back?”

“Yeah…”

We got off the Ferris wheel and left the amusement park, starting our journey home.

“That was nostalgic. Let's come back again sometime.”

“…Yeah.”

A familiar place, fun times… In those old memories, Shiho was always by my side…

After riding the train for a few dozen minutes, we reached our local station.

We didn't really talk during the ride.

When I checked my phone, I noticed a message from Seina sent a few minutes ago.

[My training's done for the day. Mind if I come over to your place now?]

To that, I replied:

[I'm out right now and heading back to my parents' place, so just use the spare key to get in.]

I wasn't really going back to my parents' house, but since I'd be walking Shiho home, it was close enough.

As we got off the train, the sun was beginning to set and the sky was gradually darkening.

“Hey, Haruki. Want to stop by somewhere for a bit?”

Shiho, walking beside me, pointed toward a small park near both our family homes.

A place we used to play at a lot as kids.

A place where our relationship fell apart once, back in middle school.

Without waiting for my response, Shiho started walking toward the park.

I quickly followed after her.

---

“Thanks for today, Haruki. It really felt like we'd gone back in time. I had so much fun. How about you?”

“Ah… yeah. I had fun too.”

Shiho and I sat down on a bench in the park.

Right now, no one else was around.

“Hey… Haruki.”

She started to say something, but then stopped—and silence followed.

Did she bring me here because she had something to say?

I didn't interrupt, just waited for her to speak.

“Haruki… today was really fun. Like we were back in the past… Things were so fun back then, huh?”

“Yeah… we did everything together.”

Back then, we didn't need to think about studying, jobs, or the future. Every day was just fun.

And we spent all of that time together.

“Do you want to… share time together again?”

“You mean, hang out again like today?”

“No. We're adults now, right? Do you really think we can be satisfied with just friendship between a man and a woman?”

Shiho stood up from the bench and moved to stand in front of me as she said that.

I couldn't look her in the eye—I lowered my gaze, shaken.

“Back then… I liked you, Haruki.”

She'd already told me that yesterday.

That she couldn't bear the thought of someone else taking me, and so she made a terrible mistake…

“What did you think of me back then? Was I just a friend? Just a childhood buddy?”

“Well…”

I hesitated for a moment, but…

“…I liked you too. I liked you, Shiho.”

I decided to be honest.

Something about this conversation felt important—something I shouldn't lie about.

That's how I felt.

“I'm so happy… We were in love with each other all along.”

“Y-yeah… I guess so.”

Shiho gave me a quiet smile… and just seeing that smile made my chest tighten.

“Hey, Haruki. Do you enjoy being with Endo-san?”

“Huh…?”

Her sudden question threw me off.

She must have noticed my unease.

“Y-yeah… I enjoy it.”

I like spending time with Seina.

The time I've spent with her means a lot to me.

But…

“I see. But… is that all?”

The smile she had earlier disappeared, replaced with a serious expression.

“Haruki, what do you think of me now?”

Shiho continued pressing.

“I… I think you're…”

“As for me…”

Before I could finish, Shiho interrupted me.

“I still love you, Haruki.”

…I didn't want to hear that.

“I've loved you, Haruki—both then and now.”

…I’m such a coward.

“Haruki, do you really love Endo-san?”

I didn't want to face reality.

I was… a coward, spineless…

That's why—I just wanted to protect the present, no matter what.

“I… I…”

After Shiho confessed to me, I was clearly shaken.

The time we just spent together at the amusement park, the times we used to play in this park… all the countless memories I shared with Shiho flashed through my mind.

And even so… even so, I…

“I'm sorry. I… I love Seina.”

After hearing my answer, Shiho widened her eyes in shock… and then looked down.

I couldn't see her face as she hung her head low.

But… I saw the tears fall from her eyes and drop to the ground.

“Shiho… I'm really sorry. I… I can't return your feelings—”

“Liar…”

I heard Shiho's trembling voice.

And then, the next moment, she threw her arms around me with all her strength.

“H-Hey, Shiho, what are you—”

“I love you, Haruki.”

I felt the soft sensation of lips on mine.

Shiho's gentle kiss and the pleasant scent of her filled my senses.

I was so stunned, my body froze.

Shiho's tender kiss lasted only a few seconds.

When it ended, she clung to me even tighter.

“Haruki… listen. I…”

Feeling Shiho's warmth… knowing her feelings…

…I gently wrapped my arms around her as she pressed against me.

“What… are you doing?”

A voice called out from behind us.

A voice I knew well—and I immediately realized who it was.

“S-Seina…”

When I turned around, Seina stood nearby in her suit—her expression stern.

“Haruki… what are you doing with Fukase…?”

“Seina… why are you here…?”

“You said in your message that you were going back to your parents' place. I was coming to meet you… and happened to pass by here.”

“O-oh…”

Seeing Seina, Shiho let go of me and stood by, watching what would unfold.

“More importantly, answer my question… What were you doing with Fukase? What were you two doing just now?”

“Th-that's…”

Did she see the kiss between me and Shiho?

I desperately tried to think of a way to cover it up, but…

“We kissed. Haruki and I kissed.”

Shiho openly declared the undeniable truth to Seina.

“Why…? Haruki…?”

“It wasn't Haruki's fault. I kissed him. But… he didn't push me away. He didn't reject it. He let me kiss him.”

Shiho kept pushing forward.

It was true—I didn't reject Shiho's kiss.

It took me by surprise, sure, but I could've stopped her if I really wanted to.

But… I didn't.

“Seina… I'm sorry.”

“What exactly… are you sorry for…?”

“Seina, I—”

Saying “I love you, Seina” in this situation wouldn't convince anyone.

“Haruki… why did you hide from me that you ran into Fukase again at the mixer?”

“That's…”

“Why didn't you tell me in your message that you were meeting with Fukase today?”
“Seina…”

“Why didn't you reject Fukase's kiss?”
“……………”

I had no words.

Even though my girlfriend stood right in front of me, looking heartbroken… I couldn't say anything.

“Enough!!”

Seeing me remain silent, Seina turned and ran out of the park.

I couldn't tell if she was sad or angry… I just didn't know.

Even so… I—

“Seina!”

I called her name and immediately decided to run after her.

“Wait! Haruki!”

But the hand that grabbed mine and stopped me belonged to Shiho.

“Haruki… please don't go…”

“Shiho… I'm sorry.”

I shook off her hand and ran after Seina.

“Haruki… it's okay.”

Just as I was about to leave the park, I heard Shiho whisper behind me.

What she meant by that… I didn't have the presence of mind to think about it at the time.

---

[Seina PoV]

“Hah… hah… Haven't run like that in ages.”

Just a moment ago, I saw Haruki and Fukase kissing.

I ran away from Haruki, and now I'm standing alone on a dimly lit street at night.

“Jeez… What the hell… was that?”

The image of Haruki and Fukase's kiss,

Their embrace—it was burned into my mind and wouldn't go away.

“Childhood friends, huh…”

I don't have any childhood friends, so I honestly don't know what that even means.

“Fear of women? Fear of men? Sounds like plain old cowardice to me… So stupid.”

My body was trembling.

I've never felt like this in my entire life…

“Guess I'll just have Haruki hold me again… Oh, right… are they getting back together? Is this a reconciliation? Am I getting tossed aside? Ha… co-dependence?”

My body trembled even more. My heart too.

“Ugh… I'm parched… Haruki… I'm so thirsty.”

I forced my drained body to move and started walking down the night road, all alone.