Because I Love You (Sakayanagi IF Route)

Oreki didn't want to lie to himself.

So what if he got expelled?

So what if it was all wishful thinking?

He hadn't come here to get into college anyway. He'd simply wanted to live his life to the end according to the story.

But now...

He'd changed his mind.

What story...

What world...

What god of love...

None of it mattered, and none of it could affect Houtarou Oreki.

"I... don't want to regret this."

With that, Oreki dropped his shoulder bag.

He raced down the stairs.

He could still catch up.

Sakayanagi Arisu couldn't have gone far.

At last,

Oreki reached the school gates.

The person he wanted to see was right there, but...

"Arisu!"

"!?"

At the sound of Oreki's voice, Sakayanagi turned around.

Their eyes met.

"W-why are you here?"

"...Sorry I'm late."

"Late for what...? Houtarou, didn't I tell you to..."

"I know! I know... But I just can't do it."

Oreki clenched his right hand.

The usual him would never say something so embarrassing.

But now...

He couldn't worry about that.

Memories of the past few days kept flashing before his eyes.

After coming this far,

could he really deny what he felt?

Could he ignore these precious memories?

"I love you!"

"I've loved you ever since back then!"

"So! So... Let me stay by your side for the time we have left."

The beret in Sakayanagi Arisu's hand fell to the ground.

The wind lifted the loose strands of hair by her temples.

"Y-you...?"

"No, um... That's not it. Well, it is, but..."

"Anyway..."

Sakayanagi Arisu stumbled over her words.

She took a deep breath, managing to calm herself a little.

"What are you saying all of a sudden...? Idiot."

"Yeah, I'm an idiot."

"That's not what I meant... How should I put it...? Um."

Sakayanagi Arisu's fingers unconsciously gripped her white dress.

At last, she stepped up beside Oreki and leaned close to his ear.

"...I love you."

After saying it, Sakayanagi pulled her beret low, trying to hide her already-flushed cheeks.

"I thought I'd never hear you say that again."

"..."

"Houtarou?"

"..."

Sakayanagi Arisu waved her right hand in front of Oreki.

Strange?

What was wrong?

Hadn't he been fine just a moment ago?

That was what she thought.

But...

Only someone experiencing their first love could understand.

Understand how beautiful that moment had been.

So beautiful that it could never happen in real life.

"...Sorry."

Coming back to himself, Oreki looked at Sakayanagi.

Just as he was about to say a few words,

"Miss."

The neatly dressed old butler got out of a black sedan.

He bowed to Sakayanagi first, then continued:

"Unfortunately, it's almost time."

"Yes, I know. Give me one more minute..."

"Understood."

The old butler tactfully walked away.

And so, only Sakayanagi and Oreki remained.

"Houtarou..."

"I'm here."

"I'm happy."

"Yeah..."

"I used to think I wouldn't mind dying. But now..."

"No, you won't die. You won't!"

Before Oreki could finish, Sakayanagi pressed a fingertip to his lips.

"But to hear you say that at the very end..."

"I'm really, really..."

"Happy."

Tears slid from the corners of her eyes.

Strange?

Oreki had thought he'd never cry in his life.

He tried to hold back his emotions.

"Idiot, you can't cry now... That's not fair..."

Sakayanagi took a handkerchief from her pocket.

But before she could wipe Oreki's tears...

She couldn't hold back her own.

She had spent so long holding everything in, and now she lost control.

Why had she only met Oreki now?

Why was her heart so weak?

Why...

Did she have less than a month left...

"I'm sorry!"

Sakayanagi Arisu ran away in tears.

Oreki hadn't even managed to grab her hand.

There was still so much he wanted to say.

But...

The car had already driven away.

Everything that had just happened was now a memory.

Before long...

He'd forget, wouldn't he?

--No! It couldn't end like this.

--An ending like this...

--Was completely unacceptable.

But what could he do now?

Without Sakayanagi...

Oreki didn't know what to do.

No, he didn't have the strength to do anything at all.

He should go back.

In the end, he still couldn't change anything.

He wanted to know what Sakayanagi meant when she said "I'm sorry."

What was it that made Sakayanagi Arisu feel guilty?

He didn't know...

He didn't know...

He didn't know, didn't know, didn't know...

Oreki clenched his right hand into a fist and punched the wall.

Though he was the one who felt the pain.

It was almost time for afternoon classes.

He had no choice but to return to the classroom.

The moment he entered, Hashimoto Masayoshi stood up and went to him.

"Houtarou, where'd you go at lunch? I couldn't find you anywhere."

"...Move."

"Huh?"

"I said move."

After Oreki glared at him coldly, Hashimoto Masayoshi finally stepped aside.

He didn't understand what was going on.

He knew Oreki hadn't seemed quite himself today...

But this was way too strange.

After sitting down, Oreki propped his forehead up with his left hand,

--Why didn't you take me with you, Arisu...

--To be continued