I Went Back to Being a High School Student Again, but I Was Rejected by My Childhood Friend, Whom I Thought Was In Love With Me, So I tried to Suicide With the Most Beautiful Girl In the School. - Chapter 24

The Third Time’s the Charm – Before

　When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital bed.

　Shortly after that, a doctor came to me immediately and asked me a few questions. I answered them and received an explanation of the injuries beneath the bandages that covered my entire body, as well as the fact that I had lost vision in my left eye.

　Once I was told my situation, I had a rough idea of what Natsuki’s father had done to me.

　It seemed that a resident of that apartment complex had heard Natsuki’s father’s screams and called the police and an ambulance.

　It would have been too late if they had not called the police, he said.

　I thought to myself, [They had done something unnecessary.]

　I should be dead.

　Because I’m a worthless person who has no meaning in life.

　…I have truly done something terrible to Natsuki’s father.

　He lost his daughter and was arrested for attempted murder.

　I made the world even worse than it was in my first life.

“It’s my fault… “

　I murmured.

　In my one-room solitary hospital room, there was no one to respond.

“It’s not Akira’s fault.”

　一一Or so it should have been.

　Before I knew it, Koyoi was here in the hospital room, holding a fruit basket as a hospital gift.

“…Have you lost weight? Are you eating well? “

“…go home.”

　I was in no mood to talk to anyone right now.

　I glared at Koyoi and said that.

“You can at least eat an apple, right? “

“Just leave me alone.”

　Without paying attention to my words, she sat down on a chair and deftly used a fruit knife to peel an apple.

“You have to eat properly.”

　Koyoi smiled and offered me an apple on a plate.

　I gently brushed it away.

“Go home.”

　The reason for the last push that made Natsuki kill herself was not bullying.

　Still, I’m sure Natsuki was tormented and lonely because of the bullying.

　And Koyoi, like many others, was the one who pushed Natsuki to the edge.

　That’s why I couldn’t help but hate Koyoi.

　However, even after hearing my malicious words, Koyoi remained unfazed.

　She smiled and then opened her mouth.

“Promise.”

“Shut up.”

“Listen to me.”

　Ignoring my words, Koyoi continued talking.

” You promised, [When you grow up, I’ll make you my bride.], back when we were in kindergarten. But to be honest, I didn’t really like Akira back then.”

　I didn’t understand what she meant.

“We grew up together, our parents were close, and we had fun playing together. That’s all we were, we were just friends.”

　…what was she trying to say?

“Then, why did I make a promise to Akira? …it’s because Akira loved me. I liked being loved by someone. That’s why I wanted Akira, who loves me the most, to stay with me. I was a terrible child back then.”

　I didn’t think it was terrible.

　I found it rather endearing that a small child had such clear likes and dislikes.

“But Akira has worked so hard since we made that promise. You even declared [I will become a man worthy of being Koyoi’s husband.], worked very hard, both in sports and in his studies, and be a nice boy.”

　Koyoi was right, I remembered.

“In elementary school, you were not good at your studies and sports, but after entering junior high school, your hard work paid off and you became more capable than others in both sports and your studies. When you started to grow taller, many girls started to confess their feelings for you… and I was proud to be Akira’s childhood friend.”

　I worked hard to match Koyoi, who was cute and well-liked by everyone.

“When we were in the third grade of junior high school, thank you for tutoring me so diligently so that we could go to high school together. Thanks to that, I passed the high school together with you.”

　Without realizing it, I became capable of studying and doing sports.

　Just being next to Koyoi was enough for me back then.

“In high school, you were the volleyball team’s captain, and you made it into the top four in the last prefectural tournament. It’s amazing, you know? Akira became popular at school without me realizing it, and I felt a bit lonely.”

　Will I be suitable as Koyoi’s partner, being the person worthy of her as she’s become more beautiful?

　I repeatedly asked myself… and I just couldn’t be sure.

　The me that people around me saw before was just a facade, dressed up with hard work and persistence.

　That’s why I couldn’t confess my feelings to her in my first life.

“So, when you suddenly confessed to me during class… I thought I was being ridiculed.

I said I was too happy and embarrassed to say yes, but I was also really shocked, you know?

[Why here? Why now? Are you just joking?], I thought.

So I wanted you to know that I was hurt, that’s why I said something that would hurt Akira.”

　Although Koyoi often makes jokes, I do think those words at that time were a bit aggressive.

“After that, I think Akira became a little strange. You get wet on the rooftop, get along with Towa-chan, and get surprisingly good grades…I’m sorry, this is not what I’m trying to say.”

　Koyoi stared at me with a serious expression after saying that.

“Listen, Akira.”

“Right now, I don’t want Akira to be with me because he loves me. It’s not that I fell in love with Akira because he is popular for his athletic and academic abilities. I fell in love with Akira because you always work hard alone, no matter how difficult it gets… That’s why, please stay with me from now on.”

　She must have known that I had reached a point of self-destruction.

　Tears welled up in Koyoi’s eyes.

“I know you’re going through a hard time and you want to disappear. But you don’t have to carry it all by yourself anymore. Don’t struggle alone. I’ll be by your side to support you. So, let’s work hard together.”

　Koyoi hugged me tightly.

　Feeling her warmth, I was wrapped in a deep sense of tenderness.

“Let’s live together, the two of us.”

　I put all my strength into my hand that wrapped around Koyoi’s back.

　Unintentionally, tears streamed down my face.

　I could tell that Koyoi cared about me deeply.

　Me, who doubted her and avoided her.

　I knew I had no right to take advantage of her kindness.

　But from the depths of my heart, I confessed my overflowing feelings.

“I couldn’t… do anything.”

　I couldn’t hold back my sobs.

“I wanted to help her.”

“I didn’t want her to die.”

“I wanted her to stay alive.”

　The words out of my mouth were shaky and hoarse.

“I’m sorry…Natsuki “

　Even so, my feelings overflowed from my mouth like this.

　My head is a jumbled mess, unable to make sense of anything.

　My emotions and thoughts couldn’t keep up.

　I just felt I had to apologize to Natsuki Mirai.

“Akira…”

　Koyoi calls out to me.

　She smiled gently, then embraced me even tighter and said,

“Don’t talk about other women in front of me.”

　Hearing those words, I looked at Koyoi’s face.

　The smile on her face wasn’t a genuine smile.

　It was a chilling smile, devoid of warmth…a faint smile that didn’t convey any sense of warmth.

　She stared at me with vacant eyes.