ch81-ch100 · 082-ch82

Chapter 82: The Rom-Com Chapter

She hates me now...

"Yes, yes. We're moving to the hospital. If you want to continue this, you can do it there. Watanabe-san, go get changed too. We'll head over first."

Kasumi-san, arms hanging limp at her sides, isn't looking at me anymore.

"...Ma'am. I'm terribly sorry. Please excuse me."

"Ah, wait. Shiraishi-san, stop her."

My mother tries to stop her too, but in vain—Kasumi-san walks out of the restaurant without looking back...

I don't know what to do, so I can't move.

"It's fine, it's fine. Waiter! Two jumbo parfaits, please. Harue-san, Harue-san. Tell me—what did you think of Watanabe-san? Does she pass?"

"Eh? Aren't we going to the hospital?"

"There, there. Sit, sit. Honestly, what am I going to do with you. Now go on, little boy—go after her. I'll only wait while we're eating our parfaits. There are things a boy can't say in front of his mama, no? Once she's in the changing room, it'll be too late?"

Too late?

So there's still time?

Then I run.

That's it. Run.

"Shiraishi-san? Are those two going to be okay?"

"Let them be. If some alone time can't fix it, it was never going to be fixed. Besides, in moments like these, the person leaving is waiting for you to come after them. Aaah, youth."

I leave the restaurant and look around for which way Kasumi-san went.

Ah, there she is.

She's looking this way, and our eyes meet.

But she immediately turns away and hurries off.

"Wait. Kasumi-san!"

I can catch up.

Run.

I catch up and take her hand.

"Kasumi-san."

"Haruki-san... why did you come?"

Thank goodness.

She doesn't shake me off.

I can't regulate my strength properly right now, so gently cupping her hand with both of mine is all I can manage.

"Because you said you hated me."

"That's right. I hate you."

Ah... there it is again...

No. I'm not losing.

"I see. Well, I love you."

I say it looking right at her.

She's still crying, of course.

Why, though?

Because I went to Floor 30?

I worked so hard to make her happy...

"That's a lie. If you loved me, why would you do dangerous things? Do you have any idea how much I worried? Are my feelings just nothing to you?"

Ah. I get it now.

Even if I don't think I'm pushing it, that's not how it looks to everyone else...

She's angry because she thinks I might die.

She's crying for my sake...

I made her worry way too much.

I have to apologize.

"I'm sorry. I never meant to push myself. I thought I'd be fine no matter what happened... But in reality, you were right. The Floor 30 boss was incredibly strong, I ran out of MP, and then I couldn't come back. I made you worry. I'm sorry."

Still holding her hand, I bow my head and apologize.

"Why? Why did you go to Floor 30? That's what I don't understand. Tell me the reason."

Kasumi-san squeezes my hand back.

But she's still crying. No—she's crying harder than before.

"I'll be honest. I wanted to make you happy, Kasumi-san. No—I wanted you to think I was cool. I thought if I got to Floor 30, I could help Mia-san and everyone. And I thought maybe then you'd smile for me, maybe then you'd say you loved me... I'm sorry."

Might as well be honest about everything.

"That can't be... So you pushed yourself because of the unnecessary things I said?"

"It's not that. I never meant to push myself. If it looked like too much, I was going to come straight home. But I made it down to Floor 29 without any trouble, and... that's where it went wrong. So it's not your fault. It was all my poor planning and recklessness. I'm sorry."

"To begin with, I will not be happy if you go to Floor 30. All it does is make me worry and hurt. Why can't you understand that?"

"I didn't understand. But I think I understand a little now. I won't die. I'll come back, absolutely. So saying 'don't worry' won't work, right? Then come with me. Stay by my side. Stop me if it looks like too much."

"...You're right. I'm supposed to be the one protecting you. We promised, didn't we. But you really do understand so little."

"Then say you love me. If you don't say it, I won't know."

"I couldn't... That's unfair. You're always unfair. I hate that Haruki-san."

There she goes saying she hates me again...

But there are no more tears.

"I see. Well, I love Kasumi-san with everything I have."

Um, she's really close...

She pulls my hand, and we get even closer.

"I hate you. I haaate you."

She's close... this is...

"Keep it down, ssu! Love confessions in front of the nap room—go do that somewhere else, ssu!"

Bang—the nearest door swings open.

It's the newbie receptionist.

Wh—whoa, hey, I was at a good part here...

"Ah, it's the missing high schooler, ssu. And Watanabe-san's here too, ssu. Yep, this is the 'done it now' pattern, ssu. Take your time, ssu."

Bang again—this time the door shuts.

"Um? Kasumi-san?"

Kasumi-san is bright red.

"I-I'm going to go get changed!"

And with a whoosh, she's gone...