This is the story of when I found Touka's phone.
I discovered her phone in the school library while I was with Uguisu-senpai. I couldn't stop thinking about what the password might be. Then, I remembered her birthday.
"Nya Nya Nya…" I said aloud, realizing the password was something as simple as that. I couldn't help but smile as I entered it and unlocked the phone. I quickly navigated through its files and found only one video left. I tapped it to watch.
The video began with a shaky start, and I saw Touka on the screen. It seemed like she was trying to say something important.
"Hello, hi… um… It's kinda difficult to talk by yourself, huh…" she started, her voice hesitant.
"Eh… yeah, that's right… If you're watching this video, it means that I'm no longer by Himeya's side…"
I watched in silence, my heart pounding.
"Did you look for me, by any chance? Or… did you forget about me? Yeah, well, it doesn't matter either way… But I'd be happy if you didn't forget about me…"
There was a pause, and I could hear her taking a deep breath.
"Ah… by any chance, are you mad at me? Well, there are deep reasons why I disappeared…"
"That's because I didn't want to involve Himeya…"
Touka…
"I just wanted to settle some matters. I couldn't let you get involved in such a personal situation. But, no matter how much I explain it to you, since it's Himeya, you'll definitely try to get involved, right?"
"It's because Himeya-kun loves Touka-chan, right?" she said, mimicking my mother's voice. I smiled despite the tears forming in my eyes.
"Yeah, I'm a guilty woman for letting a man get to that point," she said with a soft laugh. "Well, I'm off to the moon now. I probably won't come back, but I'm having fun here…"
"If it's from the moon, I might be able to see Himeya. Surprisingly, I don't think that's a bad idea. Fufufu, you're jealous, aren't you?"
She paused, her face a mixture of sadness and resolve.
"I'm sorry…"
She looked directly into the camera with a sorrowful expression.
"I think you've noticed by now… I, I pretended not to hear when Himeya confessed to me… It really… really makes my heart happy, but I knew that it was better not to answer… Because if I answered… you wouldn't be able to stay away from me, right?"
"That's why I lied… I'm sorry for making you say that…"
"...I think it's already too late for me to say this, but can I tell you how I feel?"
"Himeya," she said, her face flushed red with emotion, as if she had been holding this back for too long. "…I also love you…"
"Touka…"
"I was really happy when you said that you wanted to be with me forever… I also want to be with Himeya forever… Hahaha, for example, if I become Himeya's girlfriend and make you lunch when we go out… Well, I can only make sandwiches though… Ah, I know… I think I'll put lots of hot pepper on it and turn it into a Russian roulette sandwich!" she said with a playful laugh. "I'm not confident with the taste, so I'll entertain you that way. Fufufu, I wonder if Himeya will cry… or get angry…"
Tears streamed down her face as she tried to hold back sobs.
"Hahaha… hic…"
"Sorry…"
"It's no use… I tried not to cry, but… hic… If I keep this up any longer, I'm really going to cry… so… I'm going to end this now…"
No…
No…
No…
"Himeya… Thank you for being with me so much… Thank you for loving someone like me… Thank you for… hic… I'm sorry…"
"Goodbye…"
Touka…
"I love you…"
My chest ached. The video revealed the Touka I had known, the only Touka who had been with me before. My heart felt like it was going to burst with a mix of love and sadness.
"Touka…"
This was probably recorded after she mentioned she was moving. The dark background was hard to see, and I suspected she had deliberately filmed it in a dark place to leave no clues behind.
Touka must have intended to end her life… and it's because of me…
This was likely a suicide note…
A single tear fell onto the cracked screen of the phone.
"Touka…"
The tears were mine.
I was crying, tears streaming down my face.
A few days later, I sat in silence, the café unusually quiet.
"…It's kind of quiet today…"
"…The café?"
"No… it was Himeya," Senpai replied.
"Is that so…?"
"Are you bored with me?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Huh?"
"Ah… I'm sorry, I said something strange, didn't I?"
"No, I'm just a little dazed, Senpai."
"You're busy with the dramatization, aren't you?" she continued.
…
"Himeya?"
"Ah, yeah… I've been busy with that…" I admitted.
"I think we should end the night," Senpai said gently.
"But, we just—"
"Go home and rest, Himeya," she insisted.
"Senpai…"
"What is it?" Senpai asked, about to leave her seat but pausing.
"It's been a while since I heard the voice of a classmate from our school days. It was a very nostalgic voice. It reminded me of many things, like climbing up the Sea Candle Lighthouse, riding a motorcycle together, and walking on the beach without worrying about getting wet…"
"Do you mean…"
"Yes… the person I loved… no, the person I still love even now."
Senpai's expression grew sad, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions.
"Is that so…" she said softly.
"That's right…"
…
"Senpai?"
"Thank you for expressing it so clearly," she said with a gentle smile.
"Huh…"
"I love that about you, Himeya…"
"That's why… if you ever need someone to talk to, I'll be here for you," she added, her smile warm and reassuring.
"…Yes… thank you, Senpai," I replied, returning her smile.
"Before we go home, can we visit the Bell of the Dragon's Love?" Senpai asked.
"Yeah, sure…"
We left the café and made our way to the Bell of the Dragon's Love. Upon arrival, Senpai spoke softly.
"Thank you for spending your time with me, even though it's so late."
"Well, I'm the one who should be grateful… Senpai invited me out like this," I said.
Senpai walked to the bell and turned to look at me.
"Himeya…"
"What is it?"
"When we were in high school, I always admired you…"
"Huh…"
"As a club partner, as a junior, and as a man…"
"…"
"That hasn't changed. You're still important to me, now and always."
"…Senpai…"
"I feel like I've been chasing the same dream forever, just like you are now."
…
"I haven't changed at all."
"I… there's nothing wrong with that, Senpai."
"Himeya, you believe in the same things, right?" she asked.
"…Yeah."
"Fufufu…" Uguisu-senpai smiled, a mix of happiness and sadness evident in her expression.
"…You're with me now…"
"Huh…?"
"I declined the arranged marriages…"
"Is that so…"
"I don't think it's like me to just go along with the flow, to just casually date people… I don't think that's me," she said.
"I live for what I believe, just like you," she added.
"…That's something I think suits you well, Senpai," I said with a smile.
After saying that, Senpai looked at the bell and placed her hand on the rope.
"Will you do it with me?"
I walked over to her and grabbed the rope.
"Together," I said, smiling.
"Yeah…"
…
…
It's been three months since I confessed to Touka in the past.
I've been thinking about it a lot…
Things have changed since then.
"Are you okay, Shin?" my co-worker asked.
"Ah… yes," I replied.
As I was preparing for the dramatization meeting, Ms. Uchida from the magazine department approached me.
"You have a visitor," she said.
"Is it a customer?" I asked, surprised. I wasn't expecting anyone today. If someone were to visit the office, it would likely be Mr. Kouki, Ms. Atsuko, Ms. Natsuki, or perhaps Yuka…
"A woman named Michigami," she said.
"Michigami…" I repeated, the name sounding familiar. Michigami Yuka, a friend from high school. She had been helping me with Touka's case after Touka disappeared. After we graduated, Yuka entered the police academy, aiming to become an investigator—at least, that's what she had told me.
"Sorry for disturbing you at work," Yuka said as she entered.
"Ah, no. Actually, I've been waiting for some news," I said.
"…Yeah, I know," Yuka replied. "Masuoka has been dead for five years now."
"…Is that true?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"Yes, I'm sure he's dead. I've been following his case. They found him dead at the old transmission tower building."
"…And what was the cause?"
"…He was shot in the head."
"No… way…"
"That's the truth, Himeya," Yuka said, her tone serious. "Masuoka was killed, and the person who killed him is probably…"
"I see…" I said, trying to process the information. It confirmed my fear—by not helping Touka, she might have been framed as a murderer. But if that's the case, then Touka might still be alive somewhere…
"I also discovered something else," Yuka said, breaking the silence.
"…What is it?" I asked.
"Masuoka was a relative of Touka," she revealed.
"Is that so…" I murmured, trying to make sense of it. Why…?
I took out my phone and started typing frantically.
[HEY, WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW?!]
…
[HEY! ARE YOU OKAY?!]
[ANSWER ME PLEASE]
…
[What is it]
…
[WHERE IS TOUKA?]
…
[I don't know]
[I don't know? What do you mean by that?!]
…
[Masuoka ran away from me]
…
They're with Masuoka?!
"What happened, Himeya?" Yuka asked, noticing the sweat on my forehead.
"Sorry, can I use the restroom?" I asked, feeling a sense of urgency.
"Ah, yeah… sure," she said, looking concerned.
I hurried to the restroom and locked the door behind me. I pulled out my phone again.
[Touka may have been taken away by him]
[I was knocked out cold]
…
[Are you safe now?!]
…
[For the time being]
[I'm going to search for Touka now]
…
[One thing I know for sure is that Touka will go after Masuoka]
[You must save her!]
[Please protect her]
[I beg you]
[Save her]
…
-- Past--
Back then, it had been three months since Touka and I began searching for Masuoka, but we ended up having a serious argument. The tension between us grew as the days passed, and our search seemed increasingly futile. I couldn't shake the thought of what my future self had urged me to do. The words echoed in my mind, "Save her." This cryptic message weighed heavily on my conscience, making me question every decision we made and every lead we followed.