Chapter 79
"...Ryosaku-kun, I'm sorry. I did something stupid."
Rika looked down and said, still holding her breath.
"No, it's fine... Rika-chan, if you don't mind, listen to my story."
"What's your story...?"
"...Rika-chan, you probably don't know much about it, but there were a lot of things going on between those girls and me. Can I talk to you...?"
"Yeah. I...I want to know everything about Ryosaku-kun. Please...please tell me."
Ryosaku talked in detail about everything that had happened since he and Mieko first met until today, including his relationship with Lisa.
"...Ryosaku-kun, I'm sorry. I didn't know that something like that happened to you, so I blamed Ryosaku-kun that time after school..."
"It's okay. Rika-chan was really worried about me. I was... happy. Lisa-chan continued to support me. But... However, she was younger than me. To be honest, I wanted a friend of the same age as Rika-chan.
You are an ally that I can rely on and that I can open up to. Lisa-chan was honest and kind, but I guess she'll always be like a younger sister to me. She'll probably feel bad if she hears this..."
"No, that's not true. Risa-chan should know about Ryosaku-kun's true kindness. That's why she was attracted to Ryosaku-kun...? Maybe Mieko-chan is now... Maybe she doesn't think very well of Ryosaku-kun, but...I'm sure she'll understand your true feelings when the time comes.It's difficult for her family. I think...”
"...After all, it's Rika-chan. You understood me properly. Me... I don't think I'll be able to forget those two girls. But Rika-chan... Thank you so much for worrying about me and listening to me until the end, even though it would have been too troublesome for anyone else to hear. I wish I had told Rika-chan sooner.
...Before Lisa-chan and I became friends. "
"Ryosaku-kun..."
"Rika-chan...this may be a bold request, but...if you don't mind, could you please listen to me again...?"
"Yeah! Of course. Even if Ryosaku-kun is thinking about Mieko-chan or Lisa-chan, that's fine. I... I love Ryosaku-kun, who is so pure, warm, and kind, more than anyone else... I love you. I don't want you to go out with me...I don't say such selfish things. Just being like this with Ryosaku-kun makes me feel so relieved. Just being by your side makes me feel so happy. "
"Rika-chan..."
When Ryosaku heard that much, he remembered that Lisa had confessed something similar to him one day.
"...Ryosaku-kun, thank you so much for today. It was a lot of fun. Will you talk to me again...?"
"Yeah. Let's have a nice talk again. Well then, Rika-chan, I'll give you a ride on my bicycle. I'll take you home."
Rika got on the back of Ryosaku's bicycle again...and she hugged him tighter than before she came here, her arms wrapped around Ryosaku's waist. And she... she put her side of her face tightly against his back.
(...Ah, it smells so good. Ryosaku-kun, you smell so good. I... I want to stay like this forever. With Ryosaku-kun, forever and ever. Ah... Ryosaku-kun...)
