January 20, 2022
Words: Smile
POV: Inoe Asuka
Abe Ryousuke was a precious childhood friend, bonded together like siblings and argued together like rivals. He tried his fullest to become my knight and shining armor, he would laugh at my stupid jokes, praise my awful artworks, he would hang out with me after school一 there are so many good things we did in the past. He was the love of my life, and yet everything ended with a single glance.
The sudden appearance of a girl who wore the prettiest smile throughout the elementary building caught the heart of my one and only beloved. Dancing in the classroom, her long blond hair fluttered as she performed an elegant twirl. The whole class, even those who witnessed her through the classroom windows, praised the girl with pure ocean blue eyes with a standing ovation. Compliments echoed one after another as I stared into the eyes of fascination of Abe Ryousuke. Then a painful sting wounded my heart.
I, who had no hint of femininity, felt jealous of her innocence. To be able to enchant so many people, I envy her appearance more… After all, no one would fall in love with a boyish girl like me, especially Ryou. That was the childish reason why I started teasing my beloved, to somehow show him that I cared for his decision… the decision to fall in love with someone like her.
I despised that girl. I cursed her to the heavens, to take her smile away. My wish become true, the girl Iris had lost her smile. I jumped in joy when I first heard the rumors. However, when I found out the reason, I regretted cursing her.
The news of the death of her parents reached our ears, causing distress to the students that befriended her. Her usual glowing aura became a wave of sadness, affecting those around her. Her class became silent, respecting the loss of Iris. I wish I never cursed at her. I never wished for such a thing to happen.
The gaze of Ryou landed at the pitiful girl whenever we walked through the hallway. While I grieved for her loss, I also pouted at his behavior. I was such a child back then, no, even today. I teased him that he should do something about it if he loved her so much. I was such an idiot for believing that this guy would actually ignore a person that needed help. He was a kind guy who would befriend someone like me after all.
One day, behind the school playground during a heavy downpour was Ryou standing opposite to Iris. I, who was about to leave the vicinity, saw them by chance. Hiding underneath the tree and inside the bushes, I eavesdropped on their conversation.
"...I love you," Ryou confessed, flushed with the darkest shade of red.
"So today was the day he confessed," I thought. Tears fell from my eyes as the noise of rain flooded my hearing, unable to hear the two exchange words.
"... do you promise to love me forever?" she weeped, tears trailing down her cheeks. I was not able to catch the words before, but I was sure she accepted his confession.
And the two lived happily ever after… or so I thought.
The next day after the love confession behind the playground, Ryou suddenly moved away. It was a bittersweet feeling. To be away from your unrequited love, the thought of never meeting them again haunted me. And there was another thought of Iris away from her lover. Expecting her to be upset, I visited her classroom… it was tarnished by her rage. She was so furious she threw the chairs to the blackboard, destroying it in the process.
It has been years since he was away. Since then, I have changed. I came to love fashion and become more feminine. I pushed myself to become social and made various friends. Along the way, I learned a unique ability, the ability to wear various expressions from different people. Desperate to become the ideal woman for my beloved, I learned how to create and wear masks to impersonate the original.
However, fret not, for I never changed my boyish attitude. In fact, my lust for entertainment grew my desire to play competitive video games and watch movies catered to males.
I breathe a sigh of relief as I walk towards the train station with an umbrella under the evening spring rain. My eyes widened as my eyes laid upon a familiar face soaked in rainwater. However, while his features appeared to have matured, I was sure that I knew them.
Without hesitation, I held the umbrella for them, startling them. With a quick turn towards me, a grin stretched from ear to ear formed on my face.
"Long time no see," I said, flushed.
(Note: Full dialogue between Iris and Ryou)
(Latest Note: This dialogue is completely rewritten in the novel version)
"I love you," Ryousuke whispered timidly, his heart pounding louder than the rain hitting the roofs.
As his confession reached her ears, the eyes of Iris welled up in tears, touched by his words. Ryou, eyeballing the situation, panicked, mumbling apologetic words. Iris shook her head, clearing up the misunderstanding.
"You see…" she sniffled, a tear trailed down her cheek. "... my parents made a promise. It was a very important promise between us."
"A promise?" he asked.
"A promise to love me forever. Now that they're gone, that promise was broken. Without them, no one would ever love me!" She weeped, yelling at the top of her lungs as the sound of lightning struck the ground. "But, you said you love me. Will you promise?"
"Promise to?"
"...do you promise to love me forever?"