To grant a wish, one must undergo a trial. A trial that tests one's courage and determination whether one's wish shall be granted. In other words, to see a rainbow, one must endure through a rainstorm before being able to see one. The same goes with Ame's trials. Though she normally do not test people by creating a world like this, she does play pranks with people before conferring her blessings.
I was created, right on the moment when Rika-chan is sent here. I was clueless as her, not knowing my purpose. Until I met Jun, who told me to meet Ame-sama. In a meeting with the goddess who was behind the creation of this fleeting world, I was in awe, for such an amazing ability she has.
She created me to contain something, but it was incomplete. That is why I'm always looking for the remaining parts of that 'something'. Before parting ways with Ame-sama, I asked for a name.
"Souma... Souma Ryutenji." She said. I loved the name given by her. This is already a blessing for me.
Before that day, I wish I could meet Ame-sama again. The streets were quiet, perhaps they were all affected by Rika-chan's ability. I travelled as far as I could, just as far to be deactivated.
...
Haruko has been working on mysteries all day. I wonder if she found an answer to my question? It was already past eight in the night. Yuuma haven't been reading my messages today, I wonder if he was mad at me... I picked up my phone and texted him.
"Yuuma, I was not thinking straight today, I'm sorry for calling you an idiot." I typed, and sent after hesitating for a few minutes. I put away my phone and lied down on my bed and raised my hand as if I was trying to reach the ceiling which I clearly couldn't. What do I think of my original world? Dull, boring, lonely and no Yuuma. Even if I cleared the trial, it's not like I'll really see him again. Making a dead person back from the dead is against the laws of nature, even a non-believer like me knows that. I don't think I want to leave this world yet. At least, I wanted to be with Yuuma, be it for days, or hours. I just want to be with him.
A night passed, to think that I fell asleep right after lying on a bed is ridiculous. I checked my phone, to see new messages, from Yuuma and Haruko. I tapped on Yuuma's message on instinct.
"Me too. I'm sorry to be too honest with that. But Rinka-chan has her own world to return to, her own family to be with. I really want to help Rinka-chan, please let me help you." He said. There is another one too.
"Rinka-chan, you asleep? Well, good night." He said, I felt bad for falling asleep right after I sent the message. He was so considerate! I guess I'll play along with him, not that he will find the way of clearing my trial anyways. I took the chance to ask him for another date.
"Yuuma, I understand now, let's go to Akari again, we might find clues there." I sent. I then tapped on Haruko's message.
"Rika, are you still awake? Too bad, I solved twenty pages worth of mysteries, yet not much information I found about any limitations on your ability. Perhaps it was not related to your boyfriend at all." She said, same goes, she sent another message.
"Side note, I almost solved everything from the book. I might clear my trial after that. But I'm concerned with your safety. With me leaving, there will be more zombies. I believe the people I'm associated is some teachers and classmates in school. Please let me help you to clear the trials just like how you had helped me back then." This is quite a heartwarming message from her. But I had made up my mind. I'm not leaving this soon.
...
It's morning. I saw Rinka-chan's apology last night, she didn't read my messages, probably already asleep. I checked my phone, there is a new message from her.
"Yuuma, I understand now, let's go to Akari again, we might find clues there." She said. I remembered what Ryutenji-san said to me yesterday.
"In several days, Akari, the central city the two of you went yesterday, will be infested by people who were supposed to disappear but rebelled against the laws of this world." That is what he said. I don't think that this is a good idea. However I cannot afford to miss any clues important for Rinka-chan's sake.
...
Yuuma sent me another message. I quickly tapped on the message without hesitating.
"Good morning, Rinka-chan. About heading to Akari, Ryutenji-san told me that Akari will be swarmed with 'zombies', I think we'll be fine if we didn't stay too long." He said. It's Ryutenji again, telling more information to Yuuma rather than me. I need more information than Yuuma, who is supposed to be with me when I wanted him to! I called over to his phone. I could also hear his phone ringing over the walls, since our bedrooms were technically next to each other.
"Yes Rinka-chan, what is it?" Yuuma answered my call.
"Yuuma, about going to Akari, can we do it now?" I asked.
"Sure, promise me to be careful when we are there." Yuuma said. Before it was supposed the time to hang up the call, I stopped him.
"Yuuma, wait!" I said.
"Yes? Is there anything else?" Yuuma responded.
"How did you feel towards me?" I asked boldly.
"I... Li..." He said, but the call ended. What?! No! This is unacceptable! I knocked the walls, hoping he would respond.
"Rinka-chan, I said, I like you!" Yuuma shouted his way back. I dived into my bed and started kicking around, I'm so happy! He confessed to me!
"Are we gonna go out?" I shouted, while trying to hide my excitement.
"Yes... Yes we are." Yuuma said.
"Louder!" I shouted back.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! We're going out!" He shouted back in response. Ahh... My heart were not prepared for this yet, my head is spinning...
We agreed to meet up in front of our houses after an hour, so did we. I wore a dress and a hat, I'm not used to wear girly clothes yet, it feels embarrassing to be seen like this. Since I only allow Yuuma to look at me, I guess it's fine. I walked out of my house, Yuuma was already waiting there. I felt my face turning bright red, as well as his. He kept looking away, perhaps embarrassed as well.
"L-Let's get going." Yuuma said, ans started to walk forward.
"Eh?! Wait!" I exclaimed, Yuuma turned around.
"Did you forget anything?" Yuuma asked. Tsk... Just as I thought you were considerate, you are a big idiot!
"H-How did I look today...?" I asked, it is just embarrassing to ask Yuuma to compliment me...
"You look cute, as usual." Yuuma said. I'm getting annoyed.
We started to walk towards the station, we talked about usual topics and sometimes talk about the world's mechanics. I nudged his hand with my hand, that is when he finally held my hand. To feel happy because of this, I feel like I'm a child, wanting something simple from others. A child's wish could be easily fulfilled, perhaps is because they did not know much about the world. For me, I simply do not care anymore, all I wanted since I came to this world, is to do what I want like now, being together with my dear Yuuma. A part of me was thinking of leaving this world, because of being afraid of what will happen to me if the world collapses, while the other part of me only want to be with Yuuma, be it real or not. I wanted to believe in this dream.
"Rinka-chan, did the me from your world held your hand like this?" Yuuma asked. That opens up to another painful memory, the only memory that points to that question in fact, was the time where a truck hit him. I held his hand tightly, even tighter than any grip I did in my life. I did not say a word, with Yuuma noticed my change in expressions.
"Rinka-chan, are you fine? You looked pale." He said, with a worried face. I tried my best to smile, but I failed.
"That was a little painful memory I had back then. I don't want to say anything about it." I said coldly. Yuuma nodded and touched my head. My head leans on his chest, his breaths and heartbeat is audible, although embarrassing, it feels comforting.
I remembered the time where Yuuma and I was sitting on a bench when we were still small. I tripped and hurt my knee, so I cried. Yuuma was worried and tried a lot of ways to cheer me up but to no avail. Yuuma then sat next to me, and pulled me to lean on his chest, it was comforting to the fact I even fell asleep on the spot. Since then, perhaps, Yuuma started with his promises and stuff. If only times during middle school had changed, there is no need for me to even enter this world for a stupid trial... I thought so to myself. I'll make sure to enjoy myself till the end.