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 39

(END) Last Promise

“Hey, it turns out your girlfriend only came to visit you on the first day, huh?”

　A beautiful nurse, a self-proclaimed [Idol of all patients], said to me as if making fun of me as I was leaving the hospital.

“I was only hospitalized for three days, so there was no need for her to come and visit me every day… besides, she’s not my girlfriend,”

　 I replied, and she let out a big sigh.

“Maybe this attitude is the reason why she lost interest in you.”

　She looks at me accusingly.

“You’ll never find someone so beautiful, smart and devoted to you again in your life… Gosh, she’s so cute, but you’re blind!”

“Alright, enough of that. Instead of slacking off, go back to work.”

　I say, and she shrugs her shoulders in exasperation before responding.

“Maybe you’ll be inconvenienced for a while, but you can’t get the cast off your left hand yet. Take care of yourself, Akki.”

“Thank you for taking care of me…See you later, Iori.”

　I expressed my gratitude to my former classmate who had taken care of me during my hospital stay and got into the cab I had called.

　When I arrived at my small one-room apartment near my office, I noticed a missed call on my phone.

　I dialed back the number from the call history.

[Hello, it’s Atsuta. Sorry for making you call me back.]

　Atsuta-sensei answers the call.

“No problem, it’s my fault that I didn’t notice the call right away.”

[I heard you were in a car accident. Are you okay?]

“I only have a fracture on my left wrist. The surgery went well, and I was discharged just now.”

[I see. So, can you come back here next week as planned?]

“Yes, I’ll be back on schedule, although it’ll be a little later in the summer vacation.”

[Then, I’ll take you to a bar I recently discovered to celebrate your discharge from the hospital.]

“I’m looking forward to it.”

　At my words, Atsuta-sensei says [You should look forward to it.] and then continued in a calm voice.

[When I heard you were hospitalized due to a traffic accident, I thought you were doing something reckless like you did before the graduation ceremony.]

“I don’t plan on doing anything reckless like that again for the rest of my life.”

　I muttered, and he gently replied, [I see.]

[Let’s save the reminiscing for when we meet next week over a drink.]

　He went on to say,

[I’ll call you again later.]

　With these words, Atsuta-sensei hung up the phone.

　I think back to his words.

　Nearly ten years have passed since the day before the graduation ceremony when I jumped off the high school roof with Natsuki.

　That day, I thought everything was over…but the reality was different.

　After conversing with Natsuki and feeling relieved that she was alive, I fainted.

　The school handled the incident of Natsuki’s jump privately (some might call it a cover-up), so it didn’t become a big issue. Natsuki and I were able to enter the university we had been accepted to without any problems.

　…That’s right. Natsuki was also able to attend university.

　After that day, Natsuki told her father everything.

　He was deeply shocked but didn’t blame Natsuki at all.

　Their relationship was irreparable, and they soon divorced.

　However, he must have had some feelings about the fact that he left everything to his wife and did not even know the schedule of his daughter’s graduation ceremony.

　To repay the debt her mother had accumulated, they sold the apartment in Tokyo.

[The price went up from when we bought it, so we made a profit.]

　Natsuki said that she would never forget her father’s frustrated expression when he said that.

　It seems that she hasn’t met her mother since then.

　However, there seems to be a monthly deposit made to her father’s account to repay the debt that her mother took over, albeit slowly.

　The monthly deposit of 30,000 yen recorded in the passbook proves that her mother is still alive somewhere.

　Natsuki and I, who safely entered university, met frequently in Tokyo even after graduating from high school.

　Natsuki seemed to have made friends in college and sometimes happily introduced them to me.

　Like a lie compared to the hell we had gone through, Natsuki and I enjoyed campus life.

　In the blink of an eye, four years passed, and we were about to graduate from university.

　I got a job at the same company that I worked at my first life.

　The reason for getting a job was simple: the stock I had purchased did not reach the high prices it used to, so I needed to work to make a living.

　Other stocks that rose in price in a short period of time were also different from the ones before.

　The world in which Natsuki is living now, somehow, has become a completely different world from the one I used to live in, though it seems to be similar.

　Natsuki also got a job in Tokyo, of course.

　When dissatisfaction and frustration accumulated from daily work, Natsuki and I often went out together, just like in our university days.

　When we wanted to drink, Iori, who had become good friends with Natsuki, sometimes joined us and had a drink with us.

　I naturally developed special feelings for Natsuki, who was always by my side.

　But I never conveyed my feelings to her.

　As we continued our daily lives, nearly ten years passed.

　――I had become the same age as when I died.

* * *

　A week after being discharged from the hospital.

　I was visiting my hometown for the first time since the New Year.

　I had a cast on my arm, and my parents took care of me.

　I was genuinely grateful, but this made me feel sluggish.

　So, I decided to take a walk to clear my mind.

　The town I walked through after a long time was still the same countryside.

　As I was walking slowly, looking at the peaceful scenery… I happened to meet her.

“Ah, it’s Akira. Are you back? And is your arm okay? “

　The one who smiles at me cheerfully is Komae Koyoi, my childhood friend whom I once loved.

“Yeah, it’s a little late for summer vacation. My arm got injured in a traffic accident, but there’s no problem. How are you right now?”

　I asked, and then I looked at her noticeably larger belly.

“I thought I’d take a walk as a change of pace and also for shopping.”

　Koyoi said so and showed me an eco bag filled with groceries.

“I’ll take it.”

“It’s okay, you’re injured. Don’t strain yourself.”

“Pregnant women should take care of themselves.”

　I said that and snatched the eco bag from her.

“Okay, thank you.”

　Koyoi smiled wryly and said so.

　Then we walked while talking about each other’s recent situation.

　It was a strange feeling for me to be able to talk with Koyoi pleasantly like this.

“There’s one thing I want to ask you. Is it okay?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

　I said without stopping my steps, as if it was a topic that naturally extended from our casual conversation.

“Two years ago, when I met you at Koyoi’s wedding, I was scared and couldn’t ask… Why were you able to forgive me?”

“Ahh… The words Akira said in the park when we were high school students were indeed really harsh.”

　Seeing Koyoi’s troubled expression, I apologized with a wry smile and said, [Yeah, you’re right. I’m sorry.]

“I invited Akira to the wedding because I wanted to show him how happy I had become. But I immediately realized that Akira was genuinely happy for me. I felt foolish for being angry. And… maybe it was a misunderstanding, but when I was laughing with my husband, I saw Akira looking a little sad――I was satisfied with that.”

　With a mean smile on her face, Koyoi continues to ask me.

“I have a question for you too. Do you regret dumping me?”

　Koyoi’s question reminded me of what she had once told me, [If you ever die, make sure you see me happy with your own eyes, sincerely regret it, and then die.]

“Yeah, I regret it with all my heart.”

　Upon hearing my words, Koyoi chuckled and said,

“That’s too bad. Now it’s too late for regrets.”

　She said happily.

　Seeing her beautiful expression, I became convinced that breaking up with her was the right decision.

“Before I knew it, I was home. How about having tea since we’re already here?”

“No, thanks. I’d like to take a walk a little longer.”

　After declining Koyoi’s invitation, I returned her belongings.

“I see. Well, thanks for carrying my stuff, Akira.”

“Yes, I’ll see you later.”

　After saying goodbye to Koyoi, I started walking again.

“Hey, Akira! “

　As I walked away, she called out to me.

“What?”

　I turned around and asked.

“…Akira, you should be happy, too, okay?”

　Those words, in another timeline, in another lifetime.

　Those were the same words that Koyoi had once said to me.

　I nodded with a wry smile, remaining silent.

　Koyoi didn’t know.

　In the repeated timeline, I had made many people unhappy.

　――That’s why…trying to find happiness for myself was unforgivable.

　It’s the reason why I couldn’t convey my feelings to Natsuki, whom I had feelings for all this time.

　Pondering as I walked, I arrived at the observatory where I had bid farewell to Koyoi in the past.

　Back in high school, I could come here easily, but now my breathing was irregular, and my body was sweaty.

　As I approached the bench to sit down, I noticed someone was already there.

“Why… are you here?”

“Is it bad that I’m here? “

　I asked the question to Natsuki, who was supposed to be in Tokyo.

“It’s not about good or bad, but it’s kind of scary… “

　As I said hesitantly, Natsuki cleared her throat and spoke.

“I had something I wanted to talk to you about while you were home, so I came to see you. I thought I would definitely meet you if I waited at your favorite spot.”

　I hold Natsuki dear to me, so I’ll never say it out loud, but what she was doing was essentially stalking me.

　As I silently stare at Natsuki, she blushes and mutters, [W-Why…?]

“No, don’t worry about it. So… what did you want to talk about?”

　After hearing my words, she looks at me resentfully, lets out a big sigh, and slowly speaks.

“My life is ruined because of you.”

　Contrary to those words, her expression was gentle.

“The day before graduation, we jumped off the rooftop together and survived.

There were good things and bad things that happened after that.

When things were good, you were always right next to me, but if you died without me, I’d be in trouble…So when I heard you had an accident and almost died, I was really worried.

That’s why I decided to tell you the next time I see you, even though it’s already a bit late.”

　Natsuki looked at me with a serious expression.　

“It’s been ten years since then, you know? “

　I’m not so insensitive that I don’t understand what Natsuki is trying to say.

　But I have a complicated feeling in my heart.

“I am――not supposed to be happy.”

“I don’t care about that.”

　Natsuki says to me as if I’m being ridiculous.

“If you think I shouldn’t make you happy, that’s fine. But you have a responsibility for keeping me alive. In other words… you have a responsibility to make me happy.”

　In an accusing tone, with an admonishing look――.

“You know, I’ve been living for you since that day ten years ago. To repay me, you have to live for me for the rest of your life.”

　Natsuki Mirai tells me her feelings with determination.

“So say it right now, right here. The words you didn’t say to me ten years ago.”

　――I was scared before.

　The first time and the fourth time.

　I always died at the age of 28 in August.

　So I was afraid that this time too, I would die at the age of 28 in August, just like before.

　If I died after being with Natsuki, leaving her alone in this world would be my regret.

　――I used that as an excuse for not being able to face her properly.

　The phenomenon of time leap that occurs when I die with regrets has no guarantee that it won’t happen again in the future.

　That unexplained nightmare is still threatening me.

　――But I already passed it.

　Last month, in August, at the age of 28, I was in a traffic accident.

　At that time, I knew I was going to die.

　When I realized that――I was filled with regret, so much regret that I felt like laughing.

[I should have confessed my feelings to Natsuki before I died――], I thought.

　Natsuki Mirai.

　Maybe from the moment I was fascinated by everything about her――

　――My ending was already set in stone.

　To never repeat it again.

　And once again, to die with her…

“Alright, from now on, I’ll live for Natsuki…we’ll make a happy family, and when we become wrinkled old folks, we can say to each other [It was a good life.]. Then we can die without regrets at the end of our lives.――Natsuki Mirai, please stay with me forever.”

　After hearing my words, Natsuki blushed and lowered her head, murmuring, [I didn’t ask you to say that much.]

　Then she raised her face and looked at me with a happy expression.

　She approached me and wiped away the tears that had been flowing down my cheek without me noticing.

　She smiles a little, and with a troubled yet happy expression on her face, she turns to me and says,

“I promise――.”

　Those were the same words she had said to me on the day our relationship began.

“――When I die, you’ll die with me.”

　But I knew that those words were filled with a completely different kind of warmth than before.