Chapter 101-2
"Ryo-chan, thank you so much for everything. I had so much fun meeting you again. And I was so happy. It was like I was back then..."
"Lisa-chan... I feel the same way. I felt as if I went back to my elementary school days and was on a nostalgic journey through time with Lisa-chan. And Lisa-chan, you welcomed me with such warmth and pure kindness... thank you so much."
...And once again, a moment of silence passes.
"Hey, Ryo-chan. Can I just ask you one thing...? It's a very important question. And it's a very painful question for me. But I really want to know. Can you tell me...?"
Ryosaku realized that the time had finally come...
"...It's okay, Lisa-chan. That's...maybe..."
"Ryo-chan... You got to meet Mieko-chan. It's been a while, the two of you again..."
"......."
"I'm glad for you, Ryo-chan. I knew it. After all, you can still smell Mieko-chan's scent."
"Lisa-chan..."
"It was a very nostalgic smell... I remembered the day I met Mieko-chan for the first time in the schoolyard of my elementary school. Mieko-chan had a very bright smile and talked to me in a friendly manner. And when I was in kindergarten, I was dark and lonely and had no friends, so she became my first friend. You see, Ryo-chan. I may have loved Mieko-chan just as much as Ryo-chan does now. Perhaps even more than Ryo-chan..."
"......."
"But even Mieko chose Ryo-chan over me. For Mieko-chan... Ryo-chan was her destiny."
"Lisa-chan..."
"I was so frustrated. Ryo-chan had taken Mieko-chan away from me, and I was jealous of Mieko-chan playing happily with Ryo-chan and walking home holding hands...But there was nothing I could do. Before I knew it, I had fallen in love with Ryo-chan. Watching the two of you playing together, Ryo-chan's feelings for Mieko reached my heart...Ah...I can still remember it. The first time our eyes met, the gentle gaze you gave me as you looked at me. At that moment, I fell in love. It was the first time in my life that I had fallen in love...So...it was so painful. Because...Ryo-chan was looking at Mieko-chan, not at me..."
"......."
"You see...I thought that after Mieko-chan was gone, I would finally have Ryo-chan all to myself. But even though Ryo-chan loved me, Mieko-chan was always in your heart. And... I felt so lonely. There were times when I felt like crying, even when playing with Ryo-chan. It was so sad and painful..."
"...Lisa-chan."
"But Ryo-chan, I was still happy. When I was with you, I felt so safe and at ease."
"......."
"Ryo-chan, thank you so much. Even during this internship, you continued to treat me with care and kindness just like you did before...thank you."
"Lisa-chan..."
"Hey, Ryo-chan. Will you grant me one last wish...?"
"...What is it, Lisa-chan? Tell me anything."
"Kiss me again. Give me a really deep kiss. Okay?"
"Oh, Lisa-chan. You're going to be naughty until the very end. All right, come on, Lisa-chan."
Lisa put her bicycle down... and they shared the longest, most passionate kiss they'd ever had.
This was their last embrace...and their last kiss.
The two embrace each other again, as if to forever mourn the sad parting.
...It was so strong and powerful.
And before they knew it, hot tears were in their eyes...
"See you, Ryo-chan! I'm off now, bye-bye! Take care... and Mieko-chan... take good care of Mieko-chan!"
Lisa wiped away her tears, told Ryosaku cheerfully, and got on her bicycle.
"Oh, bye-bye! Lisa-chan...stay healthy! And...be happy!!"
Feeling Ryosaku's final words against her back, Lisa rides her bicycle to school without looking back.
Occasionally, she wipes away the tears that well up with one hand...
Lisa's figure gradually gets smaller...finally turns into a tiny dot...and then she disappears from view.
(Goodbye Lisa-chan. Thank you so much. I'll never forget you...forever and ever....)
