"Mister Hikaru."

Suse approached.

Her hand rested on Kagura Hikaru's shoulder.

The pressure was light.

"Don't mind me, go after her."

"...What?"

Kagura Hikaru turned back in astonishment.

What he saw was Suse's serene smile.

Within it lay bitterness and helplessness.

But there was more blessing than anything else.

She spoke:

[Like, like, like... it's a pity... like, like, like]

"Who the person you really like is, you must have realized it by now."

[Like, like... I will willingly withdraw... like, like]

"Stop depending on me."

[Like... as long as you're happy... like]

"I did save you, indeed, but repaying kindness in this way—even I would be angered."

What's she saying?

Kagura Hikaru felt a sting in his eardrum.

Instinctively covered one side of his ear.

The noise he felt at the train station that day re-emerged.

He belatedly realized, Suse's heart voice was gradually normalizing!

If it were before, of course, he'd welcome it.

But not now, absolutely not now!

It was precisely because of Suse's heavy love that he suppressed that boundless noise.

Losing Suse, the 'shield'.

He would truly die!

Kagura Hikaru tried his best to stay calm.

Raised his head, turned around.

With level 5 maximum acting skills, he feigned an innocent and puzzled look.

"What are you saying, Suse?

Are you trying to say I have romantic feelings for Ai Cheng?

Even as a joke, you can't say such things."

His heart was pricked again.

An invisible hand squeezed his heart.

It was a pain different from the fear of death.

A strange bitterness flowed through.

In that moment, Kagura Hikaru suddenly realized.

What Suse said was indeed correct.

He indeed...

"Is that so?"

Suse's gentle gaze lingered on his face.

Kagura Hikaru miscalculated one thing.

His acting indeed reached the pinnacle of human limits.

Even subtle micro-expressions undetectable by normal people were fully mastered.

At this moment, he was exactly like a young boyfriend whose loyalty was suspected.

Not even an Oscar winner could achieve such precision.

Let alone Suse, who had no forensic training.

Even if the real Sherlock Holmes stood in front of him.

He wouldn't be able to find a single flaw.

However, Kagura Hikaru forgot one thing.

Something very crucial.

Suse's suspicion of him did not start now.

Back on the day of the earthquake, she confirmed the truth.

Moreover, Suse knew Kagura Hikaru's level of acting thoroughly.

She understood completely.

How easily her boyfriend could deceive someone.

Thus, she didn't waste time verifying.

She firmly trusted her answer internally.

Suse's genius vision told her her judgment wouldn't be wrong.

Kagura Hikaru's performance even deceived Ayakoji Chiyoko and Kiryu Hina beside them.

Causing them to waver.

Yet in front of the one he truly needed to deceive, Suse, it all became futile.

"No need to be afraid, nor feel guilty.

Liking someone is an uncontrollable thing, it's not your fault."

Suse's attitude could be regarded as gentle.

There was no anger or hatred for perceived betrayal.

As if casting off all humanity.

Only to remain the holy remnants of an angel, a saint.

From her face shone brilliance.

Like diamonds reflecting in sunlight.

Flawless and perfect.

Kagura Hikaru and Kiryu Hina stared at her face, both at a loss.

That was the expression Suse wore during junior high school.

Perfect.

And the rational emotion beneath perfection.

But they would never imagine.

At that moment, what resonated in Suse's mind was the private life with Kagura Hikaru at home.

In those days, they hadn't used protection a single time.

Yet she hadn't become pregnant until now.

Suse was an atheist.

But she preferred to believe it was some sort of revelation from heaven.

Twice, she deeply hurt Kagura Hikaru.

Leaving lasting scars upon him.

Even causing her best friend and herself to turn against each other.

Having failed once, she came back to use the same technique to ruin Kagura Hikaru's life.

Sinners have no right to happiness.

A voice whispered quietly by her ear.

Hence, she never aimed to possess someone solely.

On the contrary, her heart was full of 'desire to share'.

But the premise of everything.

Was based on 'Kagura Hikaru having no one he loves'.

In the past, she stood on the same stance and chose to apprehend.

But this time, she decided to let go.

Kagura Hikaru qualified to pursue his own happiness.

She simply needed to be the person silently observing and blessing from behind.

"Go and talk to Ai Cheng Hua Lian.

Perhaps you haven't noticed, but in my eyes, you two make quite the pair."

Suse's lips broke into a hint of a smile: "Mister Hikaru and Karen, isn't that pretty good?"

"You don't love me anymore?"

Kagura Hikaru realized she was serious.

He panicked a bit, speaking without thinking.

Suse shook her head.

"I still love you, always have."

"Then I want you to continue loving me!"

"The key lies with you, Mister Hikaru.

You want to be with me, yet your heart holds no place for me.

I am a person of dignity too, I'm sorry."

Suse intentionally said something harsh.

Trying to provoke Kagura Hikaru to pursue Ai Cheng Hua Lian.

She seemed to misunderstand, assuming Kagura Hikaru was trying to keep her out of dependence.

But she was mistaken.

Once more.

The noise grew louder in his ears.

Kagura Hikaru held onto Suse tightly.

Kissed her nose, cheeks, earlobes.

"Why are you saying this? I clearly love you, I love you!"

Sensing his body tremble, Suse shed tears of sorrow.

The guilt within nearly drowned her.

"Mister Hikaru... Please stop, I don't want to see you like this."

[Like... we need time to calm down...]

[Li...]

[...We...]

[...I...]

Suse's heart voice grew weaker.

The light in Kagura Hikaru's eyes dimmed bit by bit.

[What are they doing?]

[Is there a couple breaking up on the street?]

[She's really beautiful]

[In front of a hotel, it'll affect their business, right?]

[Shock therapy, being so tough, won't Kagura get hurt...]

[Breaking up is good, as a romantic partner, Ai Cheng Hua Lian is much better than this woman]

[.........]

[......]

[...]

A torrent of noise rushed into his mind.

The despair consumed by heart voices in the past descended upon him again.

Kagura Hikaru staggered down to sit on the ground.

His face twisted, pressing his scalp forcefully.

As if wanting to squeeze those voices out of his head.

Suse and the others' anxious faces and voices were all ignored by him.

Only perpetual darkness remained.

Irritable heart voices, fear of death, guilt towards Suse and Ai Cheng, self-loathing...

Complex emotions swirled within.

Finally solidifying into a clear thought—

He was going to die.

Having lost Suse now, no one could save him.

...Really?

As if to negate this desperate situation.

A hint of red appeared in Kagura Hikaru's vision.

Scrawny figure.

Red dress.

Familiar face.

Komori Ai...?

Kagura Hikaru stared blankly at her as she gracefully leaped through the crowd.

Skipping towards him.

An illusion?

Or reality?

Whatever it was, seeing her one last time wasn't bad.

The last thought flashed through his mind.

Kagura Hikaru lost consciousness.

When he regained consciousness.

It was already morning.