Memories Blended with Those You Gave Me (I)

"Sakayanagi IF Ending 1"

Afternoon.

The sky, which had been bright just moments ago, grew dim.

Oreki didn't go to class.

He had already achieved his goal.

He'd lured Kiyoko out to meet him.

Because if she didn't, the results of this weekly test were beyond doubt.

Class D would suffer a crushing defeat.

Not only that, the other classes would see Class D as nothing but dead weight.

Or, to put it more bluntly,

the two words were...

"Still not willing to tell me?"

"Violence isn't really your style."

"...It doesn't matter."

"Before I came here, I did go to the Sakayanagi Family home. Did you know? A sick sparrow locked in a cage is actually free."

"..."

"Free from the family's interests."

"..."

"Free from having to every day—"

"Shut up. Don't change the subject, Ayanokoji. Tell me where she is."

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

"...Go ahead."

"What do you feel for Sakayanagi Arisu? Why are you willing to fight so hard for her?"

"..."

Oreki took a long time to answer.

The answer was simple, but he didn't know if it was the right one.

Or if he was only telling himself what he wanted to hear.

Maybe Sakayanagi Arisu didn't actually like him. Maybe she'd simply met him at the right time.

Maybe she just needed someone by her side...

"I love her."

"Just as I thought... I don't understand that answer."

"..."

"Two coins, Iwafune..."

Oreki ran out of the room.

At last, he had a destination.

He'd been waiting for this moment for a long time.

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

From the faculty building to the plaza.

Then from the plaza to the gate.

Oreki had already run a very long way.

But he didn't feel tired at all.

At last, he passed through the gate and made it outside.

"Captain, why did you stop me?"

"Idiot!"

"Huh?"

"Leave this kid alone."

"Why?"

"No reason. You're a rookie who just got promoted. Don't meddle in everything. Understand?"

"...Yes."

The security captain who'd been playing CSGO earlier gave the rookie a stern scolding.

He glanced at the security feed.

He didn't understand why Oreki was doing this, but he wasn't going to stop him.

Not only because Oreki had something on him.

But also...

In the end, someone would have to take responsibility.

So he turned his gaze toward the rookie.

The solution had presented itself.

No...

The scapegoat had.

Meanwhile,

Oreki rode his bicycle away.

Iwafune was a long way from here.

First, he had to get to the station.

"Swish... swish..."

Without warning, rain began to fall.

Cold.

Oreki's clothes were soaked through.

Rainwater trickled down his hair.

Gradually... it became harder and harder to see the road.

Oreki didn't complain.

Or rather, there was no time to complain.

After who knew how long,

Oreki reached the station, left his bicycle off to the side, and walked down the steps.

So close...

He was so close to Arisu now.

Just a little farther.

That was what he told himself.

Time would take him to her.

"Shinjuku, Shinjuku. This is the last stop."

An announcement rang out.

Oreki went to the ticket machine.

A glance upward showed him a map of the train routes.

He searched for the route from here to Iwafune.

After buying his ticket, he went through the ticket gates and into the restroom.

His clothes were still dripping.

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

But for now, all he could do was dry his hair with the public hair dryer.

There wasn't much time.

Looking at himself in the mirror, he felt his heart racing.

Would they meet again?

And when they did... would things be the same as before?

15:26

The station sign glowed green.

The time displayed on it was glaring.

"I'll be seeing Arisu soon..."

He murmured the words.

Before, it had been such an ordinary thing.

Now it felt impossibly precious.

Oreki took out his phone and messaged Arisu.

It was fine if she pretended not to see it.

As long as he could get his feelings across, that was enough.

Then she'd surely understand, wouldn't she?

--I'm coming to see you soon.

--I feel... so sorry. I really can't accept this ending after all.

--Can you wait for me there?

"Bwoo—"

The sound of a train came from far away.

Then its bright headlights appeared.

The sky gradually darkened.

Would he get to see Arisu today?

Oreki couldn't help wondering.

It would be all right...

As long as nothing went wrong.

The train was crowded.

He stood in a corner, quietly staring at his phone.

There was still no reply...

"The train will soon arrive at Musashi-Urawa Station."

"Because an express train will pass through Musashi-Urawa Station, this train will stop for five minutes."

The train slowed to a stop.

Oreki followed the crowd out of the carriage.

The rain was still falling.

It streamed down from the roof above the platform.

Loneliness.

An emotion called loneliness filled his heart.

Had he really been right to come here, so full of hope?

Maybe...

Arisu didn't want him to come...

Would he only cause trouble for her?

Doubt began to creep into Oreki's heart.

More and more negative feelings came with the loneliness...

Self-doubt was just one of them.

"Passengers heading for Yononishimachi..."

The announcement came again.

This time, Oreki didn't wait for it to finish.

An image surfaced in his mind.

A girl, holding an umbrella.

Waiting alone at the station.

Was it a fantasy?

A scene he wished for.

If only it were real.

Oreki raised his head.

The sky had gone completely dark.

The few rosy clouds were nowhere to be seen.

"Brring—"

His phone suddenly rang.

But he already knew.

It wasn't Arisu calling.

It was probably... those people.

Oreki's fingers slowly loosened.

Finally, the phone fell to the ground and rolled several times.

Until it came to a stop in a storm drain.

No one saw it but him.

A long five minutes passed.

Oreki returned to the carriage with the crowd.

But...

But 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 started moving toward the next station.

--To be continued