Haruaki Usui (19), August 14

Until that moment, my heart was full of darkness.

I’d given up on my dream of becoming a professional baseball player when I chose to go to school with Kokone Kirino and Daiya Oomine and make sure they were okay—and things couldn’t have gone much worse. Daiyan went off on some crazy plan and got himself stabbed. Kiri was hurt so badly that she’ll probably never heal. Hosshi can’t even talk with us anymore. I lost everyone who meant something to me.

My normal life was destroyed beyond all recognition.

I spent that time locked inside my own head. I saw the world through a fog, and nothing felt real. I managed to make it to school, but I couldn’t do anything that mattered. I was just moving around on autopilot to stay alive, like some bug. I realized that some days, I went home without speaking a single word.

During that period, Iroha Shindo and Yuri Yanagi graduated, Daiyan and then Kiri dropped out, Hosshi’s parents officially notified the school that he was taking a leave of absence, and Kasumi transferred. I was the only one who made it to third year. My few scattered memories of then are vague.

But Maria Otonashi dispelled the darkness with words alone.

It was about nine months after everyone went away—the July 15 of my last year in high school. Maria Otonashi was elected student council president.

All the students were gathered in the gymnasium for the ceremony as each council member passed the baton to their successor. Unlike our regular assemblies, everyone was focused on the podium. No one was yawning or fidgeting.

The one they were looking at was obviously not our previous student council president, who wasn’t especially remarkable.

It was our next president, Maria Otonashi.

She had occasionally come to my class to check up on me, but I’d always ignored her. I didn’t believe she had done anything really wrong; I just couldn’t bring myself to be on close terms with her again.

Somewhere deep down, I probably felt she was the outsider who’d wrecked everything.

The Maria Otonashi standing at the podium was not quite as mysterious as before, but she was still as charismatic as ever. That charisma won her the election by a landslide, and it was why she had everyone’s full attention even then. I’m sure no one had forgotten that incident after she delivered her speech as the first-year representative, when she parted the students between her and Hosshi like Moses parting the Red Sea.

The situation was similar to back then. We were all wondering: Is she going to pull something again?

Maria Otonashi began her inauguration speech as the new student council president. Her pronunciation was clear, her intonation was crisp, and the content of her speech was what our hearts needed to hear.

Everyone, not only me, could palpably feel the strange atmosphere over our school. That was partially due to having so many incidents back-to-back, like the murders and the dog-people panic, but there was also something else, a sense that something even bigger had taken place very close to us. Something just felt wrong, although we couldn’t remember what it was for whatever reason.

We had been controlled by something and then set free.

There was no evidence for it, so it was hard to put into words. All the same, it hung over us like a curse. It left us feeling trapped, almost choking. It was a crushing kind of malaise. Bringing it up never failed to make things uncomfortable, so after a while, merely mentioning it was taboo.

However, Maria Otonashi didn’t shy away from this taboo in her speech. She put the sensation into precise words, explained it, and then presented a solution for releasing us from it. Her strategy had both conceptual ideas and concrete details.

This was exactly what the school body had been longing to hear.

The students held their breath as they listened to her speech, and the air was tense. They didn’t want to miss a single syllable.

I could see she was an incredible woman.

But for me, there was still one thought in the way—that this still wasn’t enough to bring everyone back. That’s why not even her brilliant speech was enough to stick in my head.

“—I will work my hardest to make life at this school as fulfilling as before. I am honored to be your new student council president.”

That sounded like the end, so everyone started clapping. But Maria Otonashi stuck out her hands to make us stop.

“In closing, I would like to make a personal announcement.”

Her whole manner changed, both her tone and her expression.

“When Kazuki Hoshino turns twenty years old, I will marry him.”

“…What?”

It was such sudden, random claim that I couldn’t help but make a sound. The other students, the teachers, and everyone else there were totally floored.

“We will get married, and we’ll be happier than anyone else.” Despite what she was saying, Maria Otonashi started crying.

The students and pretty much everyone else knew about Hosshi’s condition. We knew they were in a relationship, and that she took care of him every day.

“And it’s not for anyone else—it’s just for me!”

Was she crying because her emotions had gotten the better of her?

No. She wasn’t saying this because she was drunk on herself; I could tell that from her anguished expression.

Which meant…

I knew it intuitively.

This was an apology.

For some reason, Maria Otonashi felt responsible for the cloud hanging over our school.

That was why she was desperately telling us she was sorry, why she was trying so hard to make amends for her sins.

I wasn’t certain why, but I was starting to wonder if maybe Hosshi was the person who was most involved with the source of that malaise. It would be harder to bring back normality for him than anyone else. But if he was going to get married and be happy, he would need to return to normal, of course.

So what Maria Otonashi was really announcing then was that she would fight to take back normality for the one who would be the hardest to save.

If she could accomplish that, then doing it for the rest of us would be easy. She would save all of us.

That was why Maria Otonashi was doing it—because she believed it was the best way to atone.

I’m sure most people didn’t pick up on her true intent. All the same, they could feel it. The emotion in her voice and expression was enough to tell them that this seemingly egotistical announcement was actually meant to encourage them.

Our normal life would return.

When Maria Otonashi bowed her head, clenching her fists at her side instead of wiping away her tears, the applause threatened to break the whole gym apart.

That was the moment.

That clapping cleared the fog over me so quickly it was almost funny. My chest grew hot all at once, and the heat thawed my heart so it could beat again. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. It felt like the first time in a while I had heard that sound.

Oh, that’s right…

Just like Maria Otonashi, I wanted forgiveness, too. I had failed to save my friends, and I could never let myself live it down. That was the number one cause of my funk.

That’s why I had to find my own means of redemption. I would never move forward until I found it in me to forgive myself.

And now that I knew what to do, it was time for me to find a way to do it.

Although Maria Otonashi did dispel the despair from our school, that didn’t mean my friends came back while I was there. I was still alone, but I didn’t lead the dead existence I had before.

Since I couldn’t find the answer of how to redeem myself, I threw myself into everything in life full force. I put everything I had into each day, whether it got me results or not. Miraculously enough, in the final summer tournament of my third year of high school, I was able to lead our small and weak school baseball team to second place in the regionals. I was the MVP.

I graduated and enrolled in the acclaimed Waseda University. It was a school I would never have gotten into with my grades even if the world went crazy for a while, but believe it or not, I passed the selection process for the baseball team and got a recommendation. My guess is that it was thanks to my hard-won second-place victory.

While it’s nice that I got in, I’m clearly one of the weak links on the Waseda baseball team. I don’t have the stamina of the team members hailing from famous schools, and I can’t even keep up in practice. The coaches are even dropping hints suggesting I become a manager instead. If things keep going this way, I’ll probably finish out my four years without ever once taking the field in an official game.

But I’m fine with that. I’ve decided to devote my time at college to baseball, even if it doesn’t amount to anything.

“Usui, you’re throwing with your hand. Use your lower body more!” Coach Miyashiro shouts to me as I practice pitching in the bullpen. He likes to live on the wild side, more like someone you’d find at the horse races than on a baseball field. If I saw him out of uniform, I’d never even guess he was a coach. He’s also the only one here who sees something in me.

“…Coach, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“Why did you put in a good word for me during the selection? There were plenty of people who were cut who can throw better than me.”

“Who told you about that? …Ah, I guess that don’t matter. You’re askin’ why? I ain’t gonna tell ya if you just want me to cheer your sorry ass up.”

“No, all I want is to know what you think my strengths are. I want to try to build on them if I can.”

“Hmm… Well, in that case…” Coach Miyashiro scratches his head. “Well, you could throw a decent pitch even though you were way outta shape, for one. Meant you had promise.”

“Yeah, and that’s why I can’t keep up in practice.”

“You some kinda masochist? But you don’t look depressed, at least… Heh, that’s the other thing. I can see something in your eyes.”

“My eyes? You mean you can see my determination to succeed?”

“No, because I can’t. Even if I could, there’s a million other guys out there who got a can-do attitude on their side. No, all the guys who hit it big are hungry for it, and you ain’t got that, either. You don’t even seem to care about baseball all that much. You look like shit.”

“Geez…”

“But—” He scratches his stubble. “I can tell you know real despair.”

I fall silent.

“That’s why you don’t get the blues about every little thing. You keep your head in the game. Remember tryouts? You didn’t lose your cool even though there was a guy with a better arm right next to you.”

It’s true; I didn’t care about what everyone else could do. Even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t change. In the end, all I can do is give it everything I have.

“I know one guy with eyes like yours. He was a pitcher till he threw out his shoulder at Koshien. After that, he planned to give up on baseball—maybe even woulda given up on living—but I forced him to join the team. That guy practiced until he collapsed every day, and when it was game time, he hit like you wouldn’t believe. He was such a slugger that I asked him how he was able to hit like that. What do you think he said?”

Coach Miyashiro smirks.

“‘Doesn’t matter if I can’t hit. It’s not like I’m gonna die.’”

He sighs.

“What do you think? Doesn’t make much sense to me. But I got a hunch it does make sense to you.”

“…What’s he doing now?”

“Makin’ hundreds of millions a year. I don’t even know how much.”

I get it. Coach Miyashiro is evaluating me based on that person. To put it another way, he doesn’t really think much of my own abilities.

But I’m still not going to lose hope in myself. I kneel down and pick up the ball.

“So what you’re saying is that he just had talent.”

“Right. I thought you might have the gift, too. I got no idea if you’re actually talented or not. Are ya disappointed?”

I put my fingers on the seam of the ball in my mitt.

“…Coach. There’s one guy I don’t think I’ll ever be able to beat in my life.”

“Really? High praise comin’ from you. You don’t even think Yoshino is better than you.”

Yoshino was a pitcher who had a sure shot at the pros straight out of high school and chose to play college ball for Waseda instead.

“This guy go to the pros? What’s his name?”

I told him. “Daiya Oomine.”

“…Never heard of him.”

“I’m not surprised. But I’m always trying to reach him.”

I take a deep breath and wind up for another pitch. I bring my left leg down and drive my cleats into the ground. I imagine the power from that stomp shooting up and through me in a straight line to my fingertips in my right hand. The shock pulses through every muscle in my body; the rest I leave to instinct. My body responds on its own, and my arm swings as hard as it can.

The bullpen rings with a satisfying wham.

“Hey, that was some nice spin on that ball! Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!”

I’ve been living full blast since Maria Otonashi’s announcement. I’m just running blindly forward, unsure of what will change about me by doing so.

Lately, I’ve been noticing the results, and I finally feel as if I understand what I’ve been missing.

Why couldn’t I save anyone?

—It was because I didn’t have the resolve.

I never plunged straight into the heart of things; I always tried to stay on the sidelines. I didn’t involve myself in Daiyan and Kiri’s business any more than I had to, either. I believed I was standing at the right distance to prevent me and anyone else from getting hurt. I was convinced that getting too close might wreck everything.

And honestly? Maybe it would’ve.

But that’s okay. If I did, I would’ve been fine.

I would’ve been fine if I’d stolen Kokone Kirino from Daiya Oomine.

If I wasn’t prepared to do that, then I could never hope to change anything fate throws at me. My biggest crime is taking so long to figure it out.

Daiya Oomine, the one I looked up to—he was always resolved. I can’t say he was right to disregard his own happiness. But he was ready to face the hard stuff, and I could learn a thing or two from his way of life.

I have never been able to surpass Daiya, not since the first time we met.

“Doesn’t matter if I can’t hit. It’s not like I’m gonna die.”

I know exactly what that slugger wanted to say. Putting it all on the line for a dream and then losing isn’t enough to kill us or even makes us lose hope. We know an even greater despair. That’s why we can be brave and take on anything without a hint of fear. Other guys might be too scared to bet a huge pile of coins, but for us, it’s a cinch.

Daiyan—I’ve finally figured out a way to stand shoulder to shoulder with you.

I won’t sacrifice myself like you did, though. I’ll discover my own resolve.

When I find that answer, I will forgive myself for my powerlessness.

There’s a year and some change until Maria Otonashi does what she said she’ll do.

I promise I will find my way before then.

And when I do, my wish will have been granted.

Kokone Kirino (16), September 23

I was in the hospital after I stabbed myself, but Daiya didn’t come to see me until after he had officially dropped out of school. He had taken out his earrings and dyed his hair black. When he saw me on the bed, he smiled softly and stroked my cheek.

It was just like before, when our love was innocent— No, I couldn’t even bring myself to pretend that was true. Neither Daiya nor I was as pure as we were then.

I pressed both of my hands against his as he cradled my cheek. I never want to forget that wonderful feeling.

When I let go of Daiya’s hand, he pulled it away.

And then I realized something. “You’re going to disappear again.”

Daiya’s eyes widened; then he smiled ruefully. “You really can see right through me.”

“Where are you going this time?”

I couldn’t read his smile. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know…”

“I do know what’s important. All I can do is stay by your side. That’s all. Kazu made that painfully clear to me.”

“Then do it…”

Daiya shook his head slightly. “…You of all people should understand. I’ve done too much wrong. I led so many people astray and destroyed their futures. I can’t be with you until I pay for my sins. What I don’t know is how. So I have no choice but to wander until I do.” Daiya lowered his eyes quietly. “I’ll keep thinking about how to take responsibility. Maybe I won’t find the answer in a year, or ten years, or even in a lifetime. And even if I do, the weight of what I’ve done will still be a heavy burden to bear.”

“Daiya…”

“However, I can say one thing.”

Daiya then kissed me.

“I will come back to you.”

Tears were flowing down my cheeks as our lips parted.

“You have to.”

“I know.”

“You have to come back.”

“I know.”

Daiya brushed away my tears with his fingers.

“I’d never get that wrong.”

That’s what he said.

That’s what he promised.

But the next time I see Daiya, he’s in a hospital bed hooked up to all kinds of medical equipment.

He was stabbed in the back by one of his fanatical believers, a middle school girl. She was arrested right away, but he had suffered a life-threatening injury. While they managed to save his life, the massive bleeding had affected his brain and left him unresponsive.

Daiya is in a coma. His windpipe has been cut open to attach an artificial respirator. I can hear the beeping of the electrocardiogram and the pumping of the respirator. Tubes are stuck in his nose.

Seeing him like this makes me start to cry. His chest moves up and down, and his eyes even blink once in a while, but he doesn’t even look human anymore. I can’t think of this as the real Daiya, just some other creature in the shape of him.

He doesn’t regain consciousness even after a month.

Though Daiya’s parents had fought with him and practically disowned him, partly due to what happened with me and Miyuki Karino, they stop by almost every day. Lots of other people visit, too. Haru and Kasumi and our other classmates. Maria Otonashi. Yuri Yanagi and Iroha Shindo. Miyuki Karino herself. Even Riko Asami, who apparently works on a farm in Hokkaido, is kind enough to drop by. Some of Daiya’s former followers have returned to their senses, unlike the middle schooler who stabbed him, and they also come. No matter who visits, though, Daiya’s condition never changes. He never responds, not even a little.

My family and Daiya’s parents tried to stop me, but I quit school so I can spend every day by his side nursing him. I believe the best medicine to bring him back is me, staying nearby so he can hear my voice.

But how much I speak to him doesn’t make any difference. I watch him every day, and not all days are the same. Sometimes he shows signs of life, but only traces, nothing substantial. The crucial things stay the same. He remains something not quite human.

What’s worse, his chances of recovery drop more and more with the passage of time.

My fears that he might never wake up grow day by day. The anxiety is like a ravenous monster eating away at my hope.

I start to feel less and less.

And then, before I know it, my emotions are gone.

By the time another month rolls by in November, I have wasted away so much that even I can see it. Daiya’s doctors are even recommending that I visit a clinic for psychosomatic issues.

I wipe away Daiya’s tears with some gauze. These aren’t tears of emotion, but something more like a biological response. A thought pops into my head as I work.

—What if this is the atonement Daiya was talking about? Is this condition Daiya’s way of punishing himself? Does this clear him of his misdeeds?

That would be too selfish of him.

He cares about me more than that.

I press down on my abdomen. There’s a scar there that will probably be there for the rest of my life. It’s where I stabbed myself in the belief that it would save Daiya.

“I don’t care if I die, so grant Daiya a happy future.”

That was what I wholeheartedly believed back then. I still do. I will always be ready to give my life for Daiya.

Yes, Daiya may have done some awful things, and maybe he needs to pay for them. Does he have to bear the burden all on his own, though? Couldn’t I or the people around him take on a bit of it? Is there no forgiveness for him no matter what he does?

Is that how it is? Is that why this happened to him?

Yeah…that’s right. The world is always cruel to us. I know that very well. You can see it right there on my back.

If that’s how things are—

“I’ve had enough.”

—we’ll be the ones to forsake this world.

I can remove the machines hooked up to Daiya and let his body shut down. I’ll do that. Then I can move on to the next stage. Maybe Daiya’s soul is already waiting for me in heaven.

If so, then I should go through with it right away!

I grab the tubes plugged into Daiya’s nose.

Just pull these out—that’s all it would take to end it. I’m sure no one would blame me. No, even if they did, I’ll be going on after him anyway.

…Daiya, you must have been lonely. I’m sorry. I’ll be there soon.

“Ngh, nh…”

But I can’t find the strength.

I let go of the tubes.

This thing doesn’t look human at all—but it still looks like Daiya. I can’t bring myself to end its life as long as there is even the slightest possibility he might wake up. It’s too much for me even if the chances are slim to none.

Yes, I know. All I’m doing is dragging this out. I know, but I can’t do anything about it.

I’m powerless.

What a dead end.

I break down in tears on top of Daiya. He’s so thin now.

Even two months later when the new year begins, Daiya shows no indications of returning to consciousness. He does breathe on his own at times, but apparently that doesn’t have much to do with his coming out of his coma. The doctor in charge of Daiya had seemed pessimistic about his prospects from the very beginning, and as time has passed, he’s been getting more and more blunt about it. Daiya’s parents believe he will return to normal, but at the same time, I catch glimpses of resignation. They’ve started hinting at me, like, “Maybe it’s time we gave him peace?”

It’s ridiculous. They’re acting as if I’m forcing Daiya’s body to live on for my own selfish reasons when I’m the one who wants him free from this more than anyone.

“I would do anything for you,” I once told him, and that wasn’t a lie.

Yet, I just can’t bring myself to commit a double suicide. I don’t know if it’s right to take Daiya’s life with my own hands. No, I would never be able to go through with it even if I did decide it was right.

I do realize something, though.

I am incapable of ending Daiya’s life.

But I can end mine.

I’m sure he’s waiting for me in heaven. And if by some chance he isn’t in the afterlife, then he’s still alive, and that’s hardly a problem.

I can’t believe such a good idea never occurred to me before now!

I sneak in a knife the next day.

Instead of stabbing myself in the abdomen like before, I’m going to cut the arteries in my neck and then run to Daiya. That’s what I’ve decided.

My head is so full of thoughts of my own death that I forget today is the day Maria Otonashi is coming to visit.

Maria Otonashi is the one who did the right thing, called an ambulance, and barely kept Daiya’s body here with us. She may have forgotten about it herself, but it’s all there clear as day in the records.

I’m grateful to her for what she did. And yet, for some reason, I can’t get along with her the way I could before.

Maria Otonashi plays the music box she brought with her by Daiya’s ear. Apparently, some people have recovered consciousness at the sound of a music box. I know it won’t work, though. If he was going to react to something like that, he would have responded to my voice long before now.

I want Maria Otonashi to leave as soon as possible.

Once she’s gone, then I can die.

“…Kirino.” Maria Otonashi suddenly embraces me.

“Huh?”

I guess I must’ve looked really depressed?

…No, that’s not it. She’s not hugging me. She’s reaching into my pocket.

“Ah…”

She pulls out the knife in its leather cover and heaves a long sigh.

“I thought something must be up. You’ve been fidgety and glancing at your pocket since I arrived, but… What were you planning to—? No, don’t bother. I can guess.”

Instantly, I’m boiling with rage at her all-knowing attitude.

As if you have any idea what I’m going through!

“Give it back!” I scream. “Give it back, give it back, give it back!”

I’m hysterical now, and the nurses are starting to come over to see what I’m screaming about. Not even that causes me to calm down, though, and I lunge at Maria Otonashi.

But it’s no use. She maneuvers behind me, puts me in a hold, and effortlessly renders me immobile.

“Stop, let me go! Let me go! Give me the knife!” The tears spill out as my emotions explode inside me. “I have to! I have to die and go be with Daiya!”

“Damn…why are you both like this?!”

“Like what?!”

“I respect your resolve, and Oomine’s. But your willingness to abandon your own needs and throw your lives away is completely wrong. It’s meaningless. All you’re doing is bringing each other sorrow. Just as you wish more than anyone for Oomine to be happy, he wants happiness for you, too. You’ve already experienced the pain of being in the opposite position; how do you still not get it?!”

While her intensity makes me flinch, I still argue back. “Oh, so sacrificing yourself is a bad thing now? You’re one to talk! You’re giving everything to Kazu right now!”

“Yes, in the past, I was always ignoring my own needs, too. I accept that. But it’s different now. I’m by Kazuki’s side for my own happiness. He needs me, and he can’t be happy if I’m gone. I won’t sacrifice myself anymore. I can’t.”

Maria Otonashi releases me. I still glare at her, though.

“I know because I used to be like you. Why do we do what we do even when it hurts us? Why do we make that mistake?”

She tells me the answer coldly.

“It’s because we’re weak. Because we can’t accept reality.”

“S-so what if I can’t? Th-there’s nothing I can do about it! Daiya’s a vegetable! The one I love is a vegetable! You think anyone can just deal with it?! Daiya is my everything! This world stole it all from me. What do you think I can do?!” I shout. “What am I supposed to do?!”

I don’t think she can answer that question. I don’t think there’s any answer to give.

And yet, Maria Otonashi replies as if it’s nothing.

“Believe that Oomine will recover.”

I bite down on my lip.

She says it so easily!

“I can’t believe that! I know. I know how cruel this world is. Do you know just how much it took from us? How do you expect me to believe in miracles after everything?!”

“I’m not saying believe in the world or any of that. I know as well as you do that the world doesn’t answer prayers.”

“See! Then all your nice little—”

“But I do believe in Kazuki.”

“Wh-what—?”

“I know Kazuki would never leave me alone. That’s why I believe in my heart that he will make it back to a normal life.”

“…H-how…can you have faith in something like that…?”

That’s right. Maria Otonashi is in the same position as me. It’s not unreasonable to think she would feel the same hopelessness I do.

And yet, her eyes haven’t lost hope at all.

Why? What’s the difference between us?

“Don’t you think so, too?”

—Yes, of course that’s how it is.

“Don’t you believe that Oomine would never leave you this way?”

It’s about having faith in the one you love.

“I will come back to you.”

Yes.

Daiya promised me, but I didn’t believe him one bit. And what’s worse, I tried to kill the girl Daiya loves more than anyone.

Could I have betrayed him any more deeply?

“I—I…”

I can’t find it in me to be optimistic about Daiya’s recovery. I don’t have faith that his feelings for me are enough to bring him back.

“…Hey, Daiya, what should I— Huh?”

Daiya is crying. Wordlessly, voicelessly crying his eyes out.

Is this just another biological response? …No, that can’t be it. He’s crying too hard, and the timing is too perfect.

“…Oh.”

Yes, my voice has reached him. And my actions are hurting him.

Daiya knows I want to end my own life, but he can’t do anything about it. All he can do is blame himself for hurting me. He must be so frustrated; he must be in so much pain.

And here I am failing to understand his feelings, on the verge of taking away something so dear to him. I was completely ignorant of how deeply that would have wounded him.

His heart is all that’s keeping him tied to this world; if I were gone, I’m sure those tenuous threads would break. He would likely never awaken.

I finally get it.

“Daiya needs me.”

Just as I need him.

“I’m sorry.”

I’m sorry for not realizing something so simple.

“I’m so sorry…!”

I clutch Daiya’s body and sob loudly.

Meanwhile, Maria Otonashi watches on in silence. She merely winds the music box quietly and plays its gentle melody.

Another six months pass, and we enter July.

I hear Maria Otonashi became the student council president and declared she would marry Kazu.

Other people may not get it, but I do. She’s strong; she can maintain her faith in Kazu. It’ll wear her down, though. Each day he’s unresponsive will eat away at her heart.

That’s why she’s keeping her spirits up with this announcement.

“Daiya.” I stroke his back and say his name. He doesn’t respond, of course.

I won’t consider killing myself again. I believe in Daiya. But there are days when I almost falter. Even the mighty Maria Otonashi isn’t invincible, so it’s no surprise it happens to a weak person like me.

I play the music box Maria Otonashi brought.

Recently, I’m actually the one getting encouraged by the sound.

“Phew…”

I let out a little breath.

Even after the lesson Maria Otonashi taught me, I still can’t bring myself to trust in fate. I will always believe that the world is harsh toward us.

However, bit by bit, I am changing.

Little by little, I’m starting to trust in people.

There is a little over two years until Maria Otonashi makes good on her promise.

By then, I hope I can feel the same warmth in my heart that I used to have.

That is my wish.

“Your wish is the same, isn’t it, Daiya?” I ask him, smiling.

As far as I can tell, my smile is bright and unclouded.

Daiya’s eyes follow my expression.

He is clearly peering into my face.

“Huh…?”