I couldn't breathe.
Subaru… dead.
Airi… missing.
It didn't make sense.
None of it made sense.
I staggered out of the classroom, down the stairs, past windows full of blue sky I couldn't even see.
And finally, I collapsed on the cold floor of the empty music room.
My fists clenched.
"…Why?"
I gritted my teeth.
"If I had just stayed by her side…"
"If I hadn't given up so easily…"
"She was always there for me. Always smiling. Always reaching out."
"And now… when she needed someone…"
Tears fell silently onto the floor.
"I wasn't there."
"I couldn't save her."
My voice shook.
"…Why?"
I raised my head slowly.
"If I had a second chance…"
Suddenly—a light appeared.
A soft, warm glow surrounded me like a dream. I looked up—
And saw myself.
Another version of me, standing in the light.
He held out his hand and spoke with a voice that echoed inside my chest:
> "Only you can save her."
---
RIIING!
The alarm clock blared.
I jolted awake, gasping for breath, soaked in sweat.
My heart pounded like I had just run a marathon.
I looked around—
My room. Morning light.
The same walls. The same ceiling fan.
It was just a dream.
But…
My hand was still warm.
Like someone had really grabbed it.
"Yuuta! Wake up already!"
Mom's voice echoed from the hallway.
I groaned, rubbed my eyes, and scratched my head.
"That dream… was way too real."
The glowing version of myself.
The voice.
The warmth in my hand.
The words kept ringing in my ears:
> "Only you can save her."
But it was just a dream… right?
I looked around—my usual messy room, the half-open window, birds chirping outside.
"Jeez. I got scared over nothing," I muttered. "It was probably just because of everything going on with Airi…"
I shook my head and got ready for school.
---
But when I got there…
Something felt off.
Everyone I passed whispered.
Some stared.
Others outright glared.
> "That's him…"
"I heard he's the reason…"
"How could he do that to Airi?"
I froze.
What the hell is going on…?
Did I do something?
Did someone say something weird about me?
I tried to ignore it.
Then—
I heard heavy footsteps behind me.
I turned—
And saw someone I never expected to see again.
Subaru.
Alive. In the flesh.
My eyes widened in disbelief.
He's alive?!
Then that dream really was just a dream…
But—
Why did I feel so uneasy?
Subaru marched toward me, eyes burning with rage.
I took a step back.
"W-What…?"
Without warning, Subaru grabbed me by the collar and slammed me against a wall.
"How could you do this?!" he yelled.
My heart skipped a beat.
"What the hell are you talking about?!"
"You know damn well what I'm talking about!" Subaru shouted.
"Stop pretending! Why…? WHY did you break up with Airi?!"
My mind went blank.
"W-What?! Me?! I didn't even date her!"
Subaru's eyes were full of something between grief and fury.
---
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➡️ Chapter 5 is coming soon. Stay tuned.
Arigato