Mixed into the Memories You Gave Me (1)

"Sakayanagi Arisu IF Route Ending 1"

Afternoon.

The sky, previously bright, had dimmed.

Oreki did not go to the classroom.

His goal had already been achieved.

He had lured Kiyoko out to meet him.

Because, if she did not do so, the results of this weekly test would be beyond doubt.

Class D would suffer a crushing defeat.

Not only that, but the other classes would only view Class D as a dead weight.

Or, to put it more bluntly.

It was those two words...

"Still refusing to speak?"

"Resorting to violence isn't like you."

"...That sort of thing doesn't matter at all."

"Before coming here, I did indeed visit the Sakayanagi residence. Do you know? A sick bird trapped in a cage is, in fact, free."

"..."

"Free from being bound by family interests."

"..."

"Free from having to—"

"Shut up. Don't change the subject, Ayanokoji. Tell me the location."

"I can... but answer me one question first."

"...Speak."

"What kind of feelings do you hold for Sakayanagi Arisu? Why is she worth you going to such desperate lengths?"

"..."

Oreki remained silent for a long time.

The answer was simple, but he did not know if it was the correct one.

Or perhaps it was just his own wishful thinking.

It was also possible that Sakayanagi Arisu did not actually like him, and that they had simply met at the right time.

That she just needed someone to keep her company...

"I like her."

"As expected... an answer I don't understand."

"..."

"Two mao, Iwafune..."

Oreki ran out of the room.

Finally, he had a destination.

He had waited a long time for this moment.

If possible, he wanted to catch up before that car drove away.

From the faculty building to the plaza.

Then from the plaza to the main gate.

The distance Oreki had run was already very, very long.

Yet, he did not feel tired in the slightest.

Finally, he passed through the gate and arrived outside.

"Captain, why did you stop me?"

"You idiot!"

"Huh?"

"There's no need to worry about this kid."

"Why?"

"No reason. You're new to this, so don't ask so many questions. Do you understand?"

"...Yes."

The security captain who had been playing CSGO earlier was giving the rookie a harsh lesson.

He glanced at the surveillance monitor.

Although he didn't understand why Oreki would do such a thing, he had no intention of stopping him.

It wasn't just because Oreki held leverage over him.

And yet...

Someone would have to take the fall in the end.

With that, he cast his gaze toward the rookie.

A solution had presented itself.

No...

It would be more accurate to call it a scapegoat.

On the other side.

Oreki, having made his escape, was riding a bicycle.

Iwafune was a long way off.

The first step was to reach the station.

Whoosh... whoosh...

Without warning, rain began to pour from the sky.

Cold.

Oreki's clothes were soaked through.

Rainwater slid down his hair.

Gradually... it became difficult to see the road ahead.

Oreki did not complain.

Or rather, there was no time left to complain.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

Upon arriving at the station, Oreki tossed the bike aside and walked down the stairs, step by step.

So close...

He and Arisu were already so close.

Just a little bit more.

That was what he thought.

Time would carry him to Arisu's side.

"Shinjuku, Shinjuku, this is the final stop."

The announcement echoed through the station.

Oreki approached the ticket machine.

Looking up, he could see the various route maps.

He searched for the path from here to Iwafune.

After inserting coins to buy a ticket, Oreki passed through the ticket gate and headed to the restroom.

His clothes were still dripping.

If he didn't change soon, he might catch a cold.

But for now, he could only use the public hand dryer to dry his hair.

There wasn't much time left.

Looking at himself in the mirror, his heart hammered against his chest.

Would they be able to meet again?

When they met again... would things still be the same as before?

15:26

The station sign flickered with a green light.

The time displayed was blinding.

"I'm going to see Arisu soon..."

He whispered to himself.

In the past, this would have been such an ordinary event.

Now, it felt incredibly precious.

Oreki picked up his phone to send a message to Arisu.

It would be fine if she pretended not to see.

As long as the feelings were conveyed, that would be enough.

In that case, she would surely understand.

--I am coming to see you soon.

--I feel... so sorry. I really cannot accept an ending like this.

--Can you wait for me there?

"Beep--"

The sound of the train drifted from afar.

What followed was the blinding glare of the headlights.

The sky gradually darkened.

Would he be able to see Arisu today?

Oreki couldn't help but think so.

It would surely be fine...

As long as no accidents occurred.

The train was crowded.

He stood in the corner, silently watching his phone.

Still no reply...

"The train is arriving at Musashi-Urawa Station."

"Musashi-Urawa Station. Due to an express train passing through, this train will stop for five minutes."

The train slowed to a halt.

Oreki followed the crowd out of the carriage.

The rain was still falling.

It streamed down from the edge of the platform roof.

Loneliness.

An emotion called loneliness occupied his heart.

Was coming here with such joy truly the right thing to do?

Perhaps...

Arisu did not want him to come...

Would that cause her trouble?

Oreki's heart began to waver.

The negative emotions brought on by loneliness grew ever more numerous...

Self-doubt was merely one of them.

"Passengers heading to Yononishimachi..."

The announcement sounded once again.

This time, Oreki did not listen to the end.

An image surfaced in his mind.

A young girl holding an umbrella.

Waiting alone at the station.

A fantasy?

The image he longed for.

If only it were real.

Oreki looked up.

The sky had turned completely dark.

The few streaks of crimson clouds were no longer visible.

"Beep-beep--"

His phone suddenly rang.

But he knew.

This was not a call from Arisu.

Most likely... it was those people.

Oreki's fingers slowly loosened.

In the end, the phone hit the ground and tumbled away.

It came to a rest wedged inside a storm drain.

No one saw it but him.

Five long minutes passed.

Oreki returned to the train with the crowd.

However...

A line of text was reflected in the puddle beside the phone.

(Message Read)

But it was already too late.

Because the train had already begun to move toward the next station.

--To be continue