As I grappled with the whirlwind of emotions churning within me, a sense of unease gnawed at the edges of my consciousness.
The dissonance between Aria's words and the fragmented memories swirling in my mind left me feeling adrift, like a sailor lost at sea without a compass to guide me.
But as Aria clung to me, her tears soaking into my hospital gown, I knew that I couldn't betray the trust she had placed in me.
I felt truly guilty in that moment.
I couldn't tell to Aria that i wasn't the man she loved.
My name is not "Ryu" and i was not from her world.
I didn't want to break her innocent and pure heart, so i pretended to have a memory loss.
Despite the confusion and uncertainty clouding my thoughts, the only thing i was sure about was that i couldn't bear to see her in pain.
So I wrapped my arms around her trembling form, offering what little comfort I could muster.
"Aria," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. "I may not remember... but I want to. Please, help me remember."
Her response was a choked sob, mingled with a sense of relief that washed over me like a gentle tide.
With a nod, she pulled away slightly, her eyes searching mine for any sign of recognition.
"We'll figure it out together, Ryu," she said, her voice steadying with resolve.
"No matter what it takes, I'll be by your side."
With those words echoing in my ears, I knew that I wasn't alone in this journey of rediscovery.
"Maybe... Maybe this girl can really help me to discover this world... and..."
Without noticing, i clenched my fists in anger.
"I will have my revenge and kill everyone who betrayed me..."
"H-Hey, Ryu? What is happening? Why are you angry?" She asked me while caressing my hand.
She clearly wanted to calm me down and she had a very soft and pure smile on her face.
I managed to find an excuse while being lost in the gaze of her beautiful red eyes.
"W-Well... The fact that i don't remember anything about you, about us, literally kills me from the inside." I said while looking down.
I'm not a good liar, i've never been.
Aria let out a little and soft chuckle and started to caress my hair.
"It's okay... I'll help you remember everything once you'll get out of here, okay?" She then placed a kiss on my cheek.
I blushed heavily, not expecting something like this.
"W-W-What...?! A k-kiss?!" I thought.
I wasn't psychologically ready for something like this.
Little did I know, this was just the beginning of a journey that would take me to the very depths of my soul, and beyond.
I managed to calm my self down and then i asked Aria something about my past, or , to be specific, about Ryu's past.
"S-So..." Suddenly , a spark came into my head, whispering me the world "Cupcake".
"C-Cupcake..." I said. Once i said this word, Aria stopped me and looked at me in shock, gasping and covering her mouth with her hands.
More little tears dropped from her eyes.
"R-Ryu... you remembered... C-Cupcake... That's how you always used to call me... *sob*".
As Aria's tears fell, my heart clenched with a mixture of guilt and confusion.
The word "cupcake" hung heavy in the air, a thread connecting me to a past that remained shrouded in darkness.
"I... I'm sorry, Aria," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know how I remembered that... It just... came to me."
But as I looked into her tear-filled eyes, a flicker of recognition sparked within me—a glimmer of understanding that defied explanation.
Though the memories remained distant and fragmented, there was a sense of connection between us that transcended the boundaries of time and memory.
With a trembling hand, Aria reached out to touch my cheek, her touch a gentle caress that sent shivers down my spine.
"It's okay, Ryu," she whispered, her voice filled with a mixture of sadness and hope. "You're starting to remember... and that's all that matters."
As she spoke, a flood of emotions washed over me—a tidal wave of fear and longing, uncertainty and longing.
I was truly amazed by this girl named Aria.
All she felt was pure and genuine love for this man named "Ryu".
Her gentle gaze filled by her beautiful red-crimson eyes made everything about her beautiful.
Her eyes were sparkling with love when she looked at me.
But that wasn't the love that i used to feel in my past life with Sakura and Dakura.
Inside Aria's heart, there surely was an entire world.
I could feel a gentle breeze caressing my heart everytime she spoke.
I was sure that i had a connection with this girl, but once again i felt sad knowing that i wasn't the man she loved.
I then decided to ask her about my past.
"S-So... Aria... can you remember me what happened to me?"
Aria cleared her throat, her voice trembling slightly as she began to speak.
I touched a very sensitive topic for her and i felt like it wasn't easy for her to talk about it.
As Aria steadied herself, a determined glint flickered in her eyes, as if she had resolved to share a burden she had long carried alone.
With a deep breath, she began to speak, her voice tinged with a mixture of sorrow and resilience.
"It all started a year ago," she began, her words measured and deliberate.
"You were diagnosed with a rare and aggressive illness—a disease that ravaged your body with merciless efficiency."
As she spoke, memories began to surface, faint echoes of pain and suffering that I struggled to reconcile with the person I saw before me.
I then started seeing some strange, blurred images into my mind.
Blurred images of... someone who was vomiting blood, who was crying...
"These memories aren't mine..." I said to my self.
"How could I have been so close to the brink of death and yet be here now, alive and breathing?"
I even started thinking as "Ryu" and not as "Ryuki, the Radiant hero".
"The doctors gave you little hope of survival," Aria continued, her voice trembling with emotion.
"But you fought with a strength and determination that defied all odds. Day after day, you clung to life with a tenacity that left us all in awe."
Her words painted a portrait of resilience and courage, of a battle fought on the precipice of life and death.
And yet, despite the darkness that threatened to consume me, there was a glimmer of hope—a beacon of light that guided me through the darkest of nights.
"But it wasn't just your will to live that saved you," Aria continued, her voice softening with tenderness. "It was something more... something miraculous."
As she spoke, images flashed before my mind's eye—a blur of faces and voices, of hands clasped in prayer and hearts united in hope.
There were moments of despair and moments of triumph, each one a testament to the indomitable spirit that had carried me through the storm.
"It was as if the universe itself conspired to keep you alive," Aria said, her voice filled with wonder.
"Doctors were baffled by your recovery, calling it nothing short of a miracle."
I listened intently, hanging onto her every word as she wove a tale of survival against all odds.
Each revelation brought me closer to understanding the depth of my own resilience, the strength that had carried me through the darkest of times.
"And now, here you are," Aria said, her voice filled with emotion. "A living testament to the power of hope and the resilience of the human spirit."
As her words washed over me, a sense of gratitude welled up within me—a profound appreciation for the second chance at life that I had been given.
Though the memories of my struggle remained shrouded in darkness, I knew that I owed my existence to the unwavering support of those who had stood by me in my darkest hour.
"What...? Did all of this happened to this poor man?" I thought.
"And now i'm in his place? So he's basically dead...".
"Thank you, Aria," I said softly, my voice choked with emotion. "Thank you for never giving up on me, even when all hope seemed lost."
That's what i managed to say.
I was truly grateful to Aria , still not knowing why.
With those words, a weight lifted from my chest, replaced by a sense of peace and acceptance.
Though the road ahead remained uncertain, I knew that I had a guardian angel by my side, ready to guide me through whatever trials lay ahead.
"During this whole year, I visited you every single day," she said, her words carrying a weight of emotion.
"I sat by your bedside, holding your hand and talking to you, even though you couldn't respond."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she recounted the countless hours spent in the hospital, watching over me as I lay unconscious.
"I wanted you to know that you weren't alone," she continued, her voice choked with emotion.
"That even in your darkest moments, I was there, holding onto the hope that one day you would wake up."
Her words washed over me like a wave, carrying with them a profound sense of gratitude and awe.
To think that someone had remained by the side of this man through the depths of his unconsciousness, offering comfort and solace in his darkest hour—it was a testament to the depth of her love and devotion.
"I couldn't bear the thought of losing you," Aria whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. "So I stayed, day after day, praying for a miracle."
As she spoke, I felt a lump form in my throat, a surge of emotion threatening to overwhelm me.
To think that someone had cared for me so deeply, even when I lay helpless and unresponsive—it was a humbling realization, one that filled me with a profound sense of gratitude and humility.
"Thank you, Aria," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. "Thank you for never giving up on me, even when all hope seemed lost."
Her response was a gentle smile, a silent acknowledgment of the bond that united us in our journey of survival.
In that moment, I knew that I owed my existence to her unwavering faith and unwavering love.
"She's such an angel." I thought.
Aria's story really touched my heart.
My hand moved on his own, caressing her cheek.
Her skin was soft and pure like porcelain.
She leaned into my touch and closed her eyes.
She then rested her head on my chest and whispered something.
"Thank you, God, for listening to my prayes and give my love back to me... Thank you for coming back, Ryu..." She said.
I felt connected deeply to this girl, despite this being the first time that i met her.
After five minutes, she raised her head and looked me into my eyes.
I then asked her "So, Aria, when am i going to get out from here?"
She smiled at me and said "Uh... I don't know. Doctors must visit you and they'll decide."
"Until then , let me stay like this for a bit..." She said before resting her head on my chest again.
"Aria...?" I said.
No response from her, all i heard was a little snore.
She fell asleep.
"She's adorable." I thought while smiling.
After some minutes, i heard the sound of somehting very similiar to an alarm coming from outside.
Then, a person dressed like a doctor came in.
Right before my eyes, a beautiful woman with light purple hair, blue eyses, glasses and a massive chest came in saying with a bright smile:
"Good morning, hero!"
"H-HERO?!?!?!"