ch321-ch340 · 328-ch328

Chapter 328: The Receptionist Is a Losing Flag 【Watanabe Kasumi】 Part 12

SIDE: Watanabe Kasumi (Haruki's Girlfriend)

'Watanabe-san.'

That is what Haruki-san, who has lost his memory, calls me.

Every time I hear it, it drives home that this is not the Haruki-san who loves me.

But if only his memory returned, I believed, he would go back to being the Haruki-san who loves me—the Haruki-san I love so dearly......

'Um—Kasu......-san...... No, I just wanted to try calling it.'

Something good happened today.

He called me by my given name again.

Such a small thing, and yet it made me this happy......

Perhaps I had been thinking too darkly these past two or three days.

My thanks to Shiraishi-san for making me notice that.

Parfaits remain banned, but this much might be worth lifting the ban for.

I would love to make one myself and serve it—but having Natsukawa-san make it would delight her more, I think.

I must order a jumbo parfait......

It's all right. Haruki-san will surely be better soon.

"I'm afraid the chances of his memory returning are low."

Not zero, says the doctor.

But all but indistinguishable from zero......

"I'm sorry. I thought you might not believe it coming from me......"

They had apparently spoken to Ma'am first; I was called in afterward and told all this.

Just as Dr. Amamiya said—the memories themselves have vanished from his brain.

Even with hypnotherapy appealing to his unconscious, the memories of these six months simply are not there......

"He's an exam student as well—he would be better off spending that time studying for the exams than continuing a low-odds treatment. It's only six months. There should still be plenty of room to make it up."

Only six months......

And yet to me, those months were worth more than the rest of my life put together......

No—I'm fine.

My feelings—these feelings of mine—have not disappeared.

The one suffering isn't me. It's Haruki-san.

I must be the one to support him.

(......But what about Haruki-san himself?)

Haruki-san always told me he loved me.

But now he no longer remembers saying it.

And he never will......

The world goes dark before my eyes.

Ma'am held me up and said something to me......

Somehow I managed a smile in front of Haruki-san—and the next thing I knew, I was home.

'Rrring. Rrrring.'

The phone rings.

"Haruki-san!"

"Oi! Where are you? I'm heading home, you know! Don't tell me this is another surprise? It IS a surprise, isn't it?"

It was Mia-san......

She sounds angry.

That's right—I'd asked her to wait inside the dungeon without leaving.

"I'm so sorry. I forgot my promise and went home...... Today, Mia-san, you should just...... go home too...... I'm sorry...... Truly...... sorry...... Uu."

At this hour, I'm usually on the phone with Haruki-san.

I'm usually the one calling, but whenever I hesitated over whether to call, the phone would ring from his side.

But for the past two or three days, even that is gone.

Unless I call, the phone will never ring from his side again......

And yet...... I hoped.

This hour may have been the happiest of my day.

Time spent not in the dungeon's strange environment, but as an ordinary couple.

Even while telling him to study, I couldn't bring myself to hang up, and more than once I kept him on the line until he fell asleep.

Remembering all of that......

"Kasumi-san? ......Are you crying?"

"Uu. I'm thorry...... Today I'm just......"

I hang up.

So much has happened these past six months.

I challenged that reckless boy to a match to stop him—and was beaten almost at once......

Then we formed a party......

He told me he loved me in that park...... I was so happy......

But the moment I looked away, he went off to Floor 30.

(What IS this person? Unbelievable!)

I remember being furious.

I smacked Haruki-san again and again in front of Ma'am......

Before I knew it, I had become Triple-Rank myself.

Floor 30, which terrified me so, was over before I noticed.

And then our first kiss......

(Since then, I've never had that nightmare again. The dream I have instead, though......)

I remember the Umemoto incident, too.

My prince, who comes running whenever I'm in danger......

(Has he even forgotten that wink?)

Then Natsukawa-san and Aikawa-san joined us, and things got lively......

I reconciled with my father, too.

I secretly brought Haruki-san home to my parents' house.

The surprise was a huge success.

(And on the way back, the two of us went to Tokyo Tower......)

The memories come flooding out......

The tears won't stop.

'Ding-dooong.'

How long had I been like that?

Or had I cried myself to sleep......?

The doorbell snapped me back to my senses.

Who could it be at this hour?

I peek at the intercom......

'Kasumi-san? Oh good, you're home. Open uuup—'

It's Mia-san.

Why?

In any case, I let her in.

"What brings you here at this hour?"

"What do you think! I brought booze! Let's drink!"

I can't follow any of this.

"That liquor—where did it come from? You were able to buy it?"

There's liquor in a plastic bag, as if she'd just bought it.

I find myself wondering whether any shop would sell alcohol to Mia-san.

"Pops bought it for me! Got snacks too! Expensive canned stuff! Glass, glass—give me a glass!"

Apparently not just Mia-san—Mr. Akashiya, too, had been waiting with her instead of going home.

I must apologize to him later......

"Mia-san, I apologize for making you wait, but I am in no mood for drinking tonight. I'm sorry, but......"

"Even when you were crying all alone? Natsuki told me about Haruki. Times like this, you need someone to talk to, right? I'll listen. Spill it all!"

She isn't angry about the waiting—she came because she was worried about me.

I don't think alcohol is necessary, but it's true I wanted someone to listen.

And yet I didn't even know who I could talk to......

Perhaps I'll let her keep me company, just a little?

"......Thank you."

My small friend strides right into the room and has already opened the liquor.

I thank her once more, quietly, so she can't hear.

︙

︙

"So Haruki's memories are......?"

Mia-san sets her empty glass down on the table—ton—and asks back.

"Yes, that's what the doctor says......"

I had told her that much—the Haruki-san who loved me no longer exists.

"I see. Then it's simple! Just make Haruki fall for you again!"

Easier said than done......

"It was a miracle...... That Haruki-san ever fell for someone like me......"

I truly believe it was a miracle.

Someone as wonderful as him...... and me......

"If it was a miracle, no problem, right? Happened once, it'll happen again. So—wanna bet? Which comes first: Haruki falls for you all over again, or he gets his memories back and remembers he loves you? Pick one!"

I just told her neither will happen, and still this person......

She is completely drunk.

I should send her home soon......

"There's no bet to be had. You've drunk too much. I'll call you a car, so get ready to go home."

"Then I bet on remembering! Right—let's call Haruki. I'll knock him silly and he'll remember, chuu! And the prize is Haruki! I'm off to Floor 43 to forge an orichalcum sworrd! Call him nooow!"

The alcohol has suddenly hit her, and I can no longer tell what she's saying.

"Wh—why are you taking off your clothes!?"

"Like this, you can't send me home, right? I'm not leaving until you work your miracle, Kasumi-saaan!"

Where on earth did she learn THAT trick......

It's practically winter—she'll catch a cold like that.

"Fine, fine, I understand! I'll do my best, so put your clothes back on."

And please go home.

"Noooo. I'm living heeere. Not wearing clothes until Haruki says he loves you! If you really love him, don't give uuup!"

"Please keep your voice down. I won't give up. Now—quiet! Clothes ON!"

What a handful.

But......

Saying it out loud made me want to try.

The miracle may never come.

Even so, I'll at least put in the effort......

My feelings haven't changed.

I love Haruki-san.

Even if he's lost his memory, I love that person.

So once more—no, as many times as it takes—until the miracle happens......