Chapter 68: His own strength.

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Translated and Edited by: luccayn.

Common Honorifics:
-san: A polite suffix, but not excessively formal.
-kun: A common suffix among friends and younger people.
-chan: A common suffix among people you're close with, mostly used for feminine nicknames and girls, since it's cutesy and childlike.
-senpai: A common suffix and noun used to address or refer to one's older or more senior colleagues in a school, workplace, dojo, or sports club.

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Tsukino’s POV

Torokko Hozugawa Gorge Station – Nearby Bench

A lot of time had passed since we got off the train. The clock had already passed 1:00 PM.

Sitting on the bench in front of the station, I found myself flustered by the elderly women who smiled at me as they passed by. But as expected of someone who works at an izakaya, Shinji-kun casually asked, “How’s it going?” without the usual awkwardness that characterized him.

Or maybe… he was just a grandma's boy.

“You two have been together for a long time?”

“Oh, no, we're not in that kind of relationship.”

“Oh dear, I'm sorry. You two just seemed so comfortable together that I assumed.”

“Don't worry about it. I just look old for my age.”

…Well, putting this idiot aside.

What caught my attention was how he kept turning toward the entrance every time the trolley, which arrived twice an hour, pulled in.

…Well, putting this idiot aside.

What caught my attention was how he kept turning toward the entrance every time the trolley, which arrived twice an hour, pulled in.

I only just realized that he was waiting for someone. But as soon as the elderly women we were speaking with entered the station, Shinji-kun let out a sigh.

“Let's go. Hareta might leave soon.”

So he did know where Kou-kun had gone. If he had waited here for three hours, that meant he was absolutely confident in his deduction.

When reasoning goes too far, it might as well be clairvoyance. Looking into Shinji-kun's resolute eyes, I felt as if I were being drawn in by an overwhelming force.

But somehow, that overpowering strength felt reassuring now—because I could trust that he was on my side.

“Who were you waiting for?”

“…Well, you know.”

He seemed reluctant to answer, so I didn't press further. With no other choice, I stood up from the bench and followed after him.

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As we walked toward the Hozugawa River, we came across an old, dilapidated temple. It seemed abandoned—overgrown weeds covered the small courtyard, and the temple plaque that should have displayed its name had been removed.

“Is it okay to go inside?”

“Probably not.”

Even as he said that, Shinji-kun stepped into the temple grounds. I followed, but almost immediately tripped on a rock. I stumbled forward, catching myself against his back.

“Here.”

When I looked up, he was offering me his hand. I steadied myself and, though I wished I could keep holding onto him, he let go almost immediately and continued forward, nearly tripping himself in the process.

We reached the side of the main hall, and from around the corner, three voices could be heard—one of them belonged to Kou-kun. Another… Was that Shizuku-chan? No way—so even students from Hiden Academy and Bōshō Commercial ended up on the same schedule?

“The day I met Kazetani, I ran into Saori too. She helped convince Kumoi.”

“Huh. You never told me that.”

“Saori was at that location because high schools from the same area partnered up to book the same hotel for a group discount. I confirmed it last night with Suwa from our student committee.”

…So my reaction gets ignored, huh?

“What kind of person is Suwa-san?”

“A girl from the class next door. Hamabe's girlfriend.”

“…Oh, I see. That light-brown-haired girl, huh?”

Apparently, Shinji-kun had successfully paired up Hamabe-kun and Suwa-san. He was almost too smooth about it—it was kind of unfair.

“That's why I told Hareta about Bōshō Commercial. He didn't run away—he came here to settle things with his past.”

We turned the corner, and the three of them looked toward us. Among them was a boy I didn't recognize. But I didn't need to think too hard about who he was.

“So you were the first to figure it out, huh?”

Shinji-kun gave a lonely smile. I had never seen that expression on him before.

“Yo, Shinji. This guy here is our dear ‘Somebody-kun,' right?”

Introduced by Shizuku-chan, “Somebody-kun,” now properly known as Mizukubo Kaito, gave a bashful grin. He was different from Kou-kun—his skin was tanned, and he had a rugged, masculine face. He was pretty handsome. Probably from being in the rowing club, his biceps and shoulders were impressively built.

He looked strong. It was hard to believe that this was someone who had once been drowning in insecurities. Boys really are unpredictable.

“Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you. …That's the right way to put it, isn't it?”

“Who knows? What did Kumoi say about me?”

“That you're the second-coolest guy after him.”

When I glanced at Shizuku-chan, she was smirking at me. What? As if that's enough to make me jealous now.

“So, Hareta. Have you finished with your past?”

“Yeah, I have. It was great. And I even gave them my blessing, so I feel refreshed.”

It seemed that Shizuku-chan and Mizukubo-kun were together now.

I wasn't sure if I should be the one to say it, but I realized something. Kou-kun had everything—but he had never managed to obtain the things he truly desired.

…Apologizing now would be the worst thing I could do.

“Is this the conclusion you wanted?”

“Yeah. I'm truly grateful to you.”

What did he mean by that? I tilted my head in confusion, and so did Shizuku-chan and Mizukubo-kun. But Shinji-kun simply let out another small sigh and, for some reason, shook his head.

“…You could wait just a little longer, couldn't you?”

I couldn't believe my ears. It almost sounded like Takatsuki Shinji was trying to hold back someone who had finally decided to move forward.

He despised people like that—he looked down on them more than anything. And yet, here he was, suggesting that Kou-kun reconsider a decision he had already come to terms with.

And in that moment, I finally understood.

“It's fine. I was never more than that kind of man to begin with.”

Shinji-kun… had always acknowledged Kou-kun's abilities more than anyone else in the world.

“…How did you know Kou-kun would be here?”

Shinji-kun scratched his head and gave me a look of mild surprise. It was nice that he recognized my insight, but thinking I had actually figured it out was giving me way too much credit.

“Honestly, it was mostly intuition. If I had to pinpoint something, I just figured that if Hareta wanted to meet Mizukubo, this was the only place it could be. It was just too fitting.”

“…Ah, the children’s temple retreat.”

If Kou-kun hadn't been ready to face forward—if he hadn't truly resolved to settle things with his past—this wouldn't have been his conclusion.

In other words, this meant Shinji-kun trusted Kou-kun.

He chose this place because it's what he would have done. That was what he was really saying.

“You know, I had a feeling. Probably only Takatsuki would've been able to find this place.”

“…Yeah.”

Shinji-kun bit his lip.

Why did he look so pained?

“I’ve been thinking about it ever since Michiru rejected me. Why did I fall in love again? Even after going through so much pain, I just couldn’t understand it.”

“Did you find an answer?”

“No, I didn’t. That’s why I left everything to you.”

And yet, I wondered—had Kou-kun realized it?

“But just now, watching Shizuku and Michiru looking so happy, I finally understood.”

That he was crying—without even making a sound.

“A girl who’s truly in love… That beauty, which can only be granted when she chooses just one person… Before I knew it, I was captivated by it.”

Mizukubo-kun and Shizuku-chan patted Kou-kun on the shoulder.

And with that, tears spilled from his eyes.

As if the dam of emotions that his blank expressions and oblivious nature had been holding back had finally burst, he let out a laugh—one filled with self-mockery, even as he cried.

Shinji-kun turned his back to us and gazed up at the sky.

…And then, after a while—

“Alright, Takatsuki. Since I don't have the strength, tell me about their pasts. Once we get back to the hotel, I'll finish everything, calmly and cleanly. If I choose no one, then it's simple.”

“…Alright.”

“Haha, as you probably guessed—I had already decided. If you were the first one to arrive, then I would choose no one. Just like you must have done, I'd destroy everything, reset to zero, and maybe… go look for love again.”

…What had Shinji-kun been feeling as he watched the trolleys come and go?

What was Kou-kun feeling as he looked at me and Shizuku-chan?

“I’m sorry, Hareta.”

Shinji-kun muttered, still looking upward.

“Huh? Why the hell are you apologizing? That makes no sense.”

“If it were me now, I could have done things better. I could have saved you. What I lacked was my own ability—it wasn’t their fault.”

I wanted to deny it, to tell him that wasn't true.

But then, who was at fault? I couldn't answer that.

“I wanted to deny it. I wanted to believe I wasn't wrong. That's why, back then, I was so pissed at you.”

That was why I couldn't look away from his trembling back.

“To someone like you, who gathers a harem so easily, maybe any girl I fall in love with would be satisfied with just a little bit of attention from you. No matter how seriously I tried, the moment you smiled at them, they'd abandon me. Just thinking about that… terrified me.”

Mizukubo-kun unconsciously clutched Shizuku-chan's hand.

“That inferiority complex of mine… It even tainted the one thing that gave my existence meaning—helping others. I was just jealous of you, so I twisted everything around. And I made Michiru go through hell because of it.”

He didn't trust anyone.

He longed for devotion, yet he was the one who distrusted people the most.

And that—was the very kind of person Shinji-kun despised more than anything.

More than betrayal, more than indifference—Takatsuki Shinji hated no one more than himself.

How twisted could he get? Seriously.

“I was wrong.”

He wiped his eyes and turned back to face us.

“…Damn it.”

He had grown up again.

“Alright, let's start. But… Kumoi, Mizukubo, you're fine hearing this?”

“Yeah. If anything, they've already been dragged into this. I want them to know everything about me.”

Then, slowly, he turned to look at Shizuku-chan and Mizukubo-kun.

Shinji-kun let out a resigned chuckle, then began to speak—quietly recounting the pasts of the three.

The wishes Shinji-kun had never shared with us.

It seemed that Kou-kun had resolved everything—using only his own strength.

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