Epilogue (2nd Act)
“Wait! Wait for me Reika! Why are you walking so fast!”
Hearing that from Ichinose-san, Eihashi-san stopped her feet.
“……I was…….?”
“You totally were! It was like your mind was somewhere else.”
Hearing that, she thinks that might have been the case. Her mind was elsewhere and she doesn’t even know where she is walking to.
“I told you I have something to ask you but you suddenly said that you want to go home. Let’s talk in the park over there.”
“…….Okay.”
The two sit on a swing in the park and the first person to open their mouth was Ichinose-san.
“……So, Kousei-sama is Hiura-kun huh?”
“…..yes. That’s right…….Asakura Asuka just called him with his name……”
“……I see. So what Reika said before was true after all……..when did you realize?”
“That is……I actually knew that it was him for some time but when I heard her calling his name, I was convinced again.”
He got into trouble again because of her. That thought is weighing down on Eihashi-san.
“What will Akira-chan do?”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“Um, since you already know that Hiura-kun is Kamishiro Kousei…….”
“Even if you asked me that, I don’t think I will do anything you know?”
Ichinose-san said that as if it was only natural and Eihashi-san was slightly surprised by that.
“…..but…..why?”
“I mean, Hiura-kun is Hiura-kun and Kousei-sama is Kousei-sama right? Even if Hiura-kun is Kousei-sama, I’m still his fan! Still, it was really shocking to find out that they are the same person though!”
“B, But! Hiura-kun and Kamishiro Kousei is the same person you know! Can you really treat them separately like that!?”
Feeling that she is unable to do the same, Eihashi-san yelled at Ichinose-san.
“Why? I mean, being a fan also includes considering the person’s feeling too right…..rather, Reika, aren’t you acting a little strange about this?”
“…..what do you mean?”
“I mean…..you are crying you know?”
“…..eh?”
Eihashi-san finally realized that she was crying and brought her hand to her eye. Still, she doesn’t know why she is crying.
“Reika, What’s wrong? It wasn’t because you were scared by those guys…….right? Why are you crying?”
“….I don’t…..really know.”
“Then tell me the things that are in your mind right now. Be honest with me, okay.”
The moment she heard that the scene that came to her mind was when Kamishiro Kousei arrived to save them. He got hurt and…….
“It’s when Asakura Asuka runs up to Kamishiro Kousei……”
“Then how are you feeling about that?”
“I’m frustrated. I can’t think clearly……and my chest hurts……it’s very hard to breathe……I don’t know what this feeling is. It’s the first time I ever feel like this……..”
Just by that, Ichinose-san was convinced.
“Reika, you see, that’s love.”
“……love…..?…….me……..?”
“Yeah. I don’t know if your feeling is for Hiura-kun or Kousei-sama though. No, maybe your feelings were triggered by Kousei-sama and you ended up liking Hiura-kun. But Kousei-sama and Asakura Asuka were at the pool together. They went to the aquarium together too. Maybe they are dating, you can’t stop thinking about that right.”
Hearing that, she thinks about it for a moment. For Eihashi-san, he is a person who saved her and created an opportunity for her to interact with others naturally. Perhaps, Ichinose-san was exactly right.
“I…….like Hiura-kun……”
“Am I wrong? At the very least, I think that you have a feeling for Hiura-kun you know?”
When she said it herself, her mind cleared up and she was struck with a sudden realization that she is in love.
Earlier, She couldn’t understand herself at all but now that she became conscious of her own feelings, her feelings overflowed and she became embarrassed by it.
“I, like Seiya-kun…..but I don’t think that he will answer my feeling. After all–.”
“—–I think it’s still too early to give up you know?”
“FUUU, I’m finally here…..”
In front of the apartment, a girl stood there with her backpack. She takes out her key and casually opens the door.
“ONII-CHAN! YOUR BELOVED LITTLE SISTER IS HERE!”