CHAPTER 25: THE FEELINGS SHE’S TOO AFRAID TO ADMIT (2)

«Ayane, I trust you more than anyone in the world. That’s why... I want to talk to you about Eliss. There’s something I want you to know about her,» Aoshi says, his seriousness catching Ayane off guard.

«O-Of course, tell me. You know anything you tell me stays between us,» she replies, almost stammering, suddenly unnerved.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

At Aoshi’s few simple words, her heart starts pounding like a jackhammer and she can’t even explain why. Her legs begin to shake and her breath comes short and heavy, as if her lungs are being squeezed.

W-Why am I so worked up?I don’t even have the faintest idea what he’s about to tell me — he’ll probably ask for a woman’s opinion on what to give Eliss for their one-month anniversary, or maybe some love advice? Yeah, like I’d know anything about relationships — I’ve had only two boyfriends and the last one was two years ago, and they even dumped me because I wasn’t "feminine" enough. So if he wants romantic advice from me, he’s way off base... but what if it’s not that? What if he’s about to tell me things aren’t going well between them? H-How would I react? As her friend, I have to do everything I can to help them — but as a girl who’s been in love with him for two years, what should I do? Aaaah... what a mess! Well, no point worrying before he speaks — it’s probably something trivial...

«Eliss and I aren’t dating,» Aoshi begins, his voice shockingly serious, his gaze fixed on Ayane.

W-WHAT?!?!Aoshi and Eliss... not dating? I need to calm down yes — Yes, I absolutely have to calm down. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. M-maybe I misunderstood... maybe he’s about to say they’re even married? I’d be furious if they’d already tied the knot without inviting me! I swear I’d unload all the punches I’m saving for Takuma on him!

«I don’t get it... what do you mean you’re not dating?» Ayane asks, trying to keep a composed tone that unravels a second later — her small body can’t contain the billions of emotions stamping around inside her.

«It’s not like there are many ways to interpret the sentence "Eliss and I aren’t dating",» Aoshi mutters, slightly embarrassed. «Simply put, Eliss isn’t my girlfriend. That’s all.»

«B-But that makes no sense! I literally saw you two kissing just this morning! Actually, these past few days it feels like your doctor prescribed you ten hours a day of "Eliss-lip therapy", since you never stop!» Ayane snaps back, trembling like a washing machine on spin cycle.

«Yeah, well... it’s a long story, and for now I can’t go into too much detail. But just know that in a little over two months, Eliss will go back home and disappear from my life forever. I wanted to tell you in advance so that when it happens, you won’t worry or get angry with her, thinking she dumped me out of nowhere. Anyway, I’d like you to keep this to yourself — especially from Takamura. If he found out Eliss isn’t really my girlfriend, he’d stick to her like glue, and I’d rather avoid making her feel even more uncomfortable than she already has this past month.»

Now it’s Ayane who stares straight into his eyes.

«Aoshi... don’t tell me you got yourself mixed up in some shady business with the yakuza and you’re hiding the daughter of some powerful mob boss who’s laying low in Ueda?»

A faint smile curls on Aoshi’s lips — because, for as dramatic and dangerous as that theory sounds, it’s still far less terrifying than the truth... and honestly, a lot more realistic.

«Eliss, the daughter of a yakuza boss? Where did you even come up with that? Anyway, no, don’t worry — no shady yakuza deals involved,» Aoshi reassures her.

«Mmmh... and yet my feminine intuition told me Eliss was head over heels for you... she’s really nailing the part of a devoted girlfriend, no doubt about it. Don’t tell me she’s actually a rising movie star secretly living at your place while working undercover on her first film?!»

«You really have quite the imagination, you know... No, she’s not a movie star either. And don’t bother trying to guess — it’s impossible to figure it out, even if you came up with the craziest thing you could imagine. I told you, once this whole thing is over, I’ll tell you everything — I promise. But until then, keep your lips sealed and just keep treating Eliss the same way you always have, all right?»

«Yes! My lips are sealed — you can count on me!» Ayane replies — she’s over the moon with happiness, and she’s not even trying to hide it.

I don’t know what’s really going on with this whole weird situation, but what matters is that Aoshi and Eliss aren’t actually a couple! That means all hope isn’t lost!When he said earlier that the idea of me and him being together was "absurd", maybe he only said it to keep up his act as Eliss’s fake boyfriend — and then realized that, if he didn’t tell me the truth, I’d never confess my feelings for him! So he decided to reveal everything! In a way, it’s like he was saying, "Don’t worry, my beloved Ayane — as soon as Eliss goes back home and I’m free from this farce, I’ll finally be all yours". Yes! That has to be it!

But this time, I won’t waste a single day hesitating because of my insecurities! I hesitated too much before, and because of that, I almost lost him forever. I can’t risk someone else swooping in during these two months and stealing him away from me! I’ll move first — when we’re alone, I’ll make him understand that the secret love he’s been hiding for me is mutual!

Wait a sec... we’re alone right now! N-No, I’m still too shaken by the news about this fake relationship to think straight — I’d just end up embarrassing myself! Better to wait until tomorrow! Yes, that’s it — I’ll use tonight to come up with the perfect plan to confess my feelings without risking our friendship in case this is all just one big misunderstanding!

Not a single word passes between them anymore — both are lost in thought, their minds wandering in completely different directions, yet tied together by the same shocking revelation that will no doubt keep Ayane awake all night.

A heavy silence lingers between them, following them all the way to the moment they finally have to part ways.

«Well then, see you tomorrow, Aoshi. Good night!» Ayane says with a huge smile.

«Y-Yeah, see you tomorrow, Ayane. Good night to you too,» Aoshi replies, a little bewildered, as he continues on his way toward his apartment — through a small, abandoned industrial complex, now slated for demolition.

Ever since I told her that the thing between me and Eliss is just an act, Ayane hasn’t stopped smiling — not for a single second. It’s like I just gave her the best news in the world, even though she looked completely down just a minute before. I can’t help but wonder why...

That thought has been stuck in my head ever since we split up.

Knowing her, it wouldn’t surprise me if she had still been a little suspicious about Eliss’s intentions — and maybe hearing that our relationship is fake finally put her mind at ease. Yeah, that must be it. Unless... no, that’s ridiculous. There’s no way her sudden burst of happiness was because she found out I’m actually single. That wouldn’t make any sense. There’s only one reason a girl would be happy about something like that, and that reason is—

Aoshi freezes. It’s like a light suddenly turns on inside his head — struck by a sudden, disorienting realization. He stands there, staring blankly at the orange-stained sunset sky, completely still for what feels like forever.

Then he shakes his head over and over, trying to erase that absurd idea from his mind.

Don’t be stupid, Aoshi. Ayane’s a smart, pretty girl — she definitely has higher standards than me. Sure, she’s always been kind and supportive, always there for me whenever I needed her. Once, she even showed up at my place in the middle of the night with snacks and soda after I told her about that fight I had with my parents — you know, the one about the erotic RPG I bought as a birthday present for Takuma.She stayed up all night playing video games with me, even though she doesn’t even like them, just to cheer me up. But that’s just how Ayane is — kindness and empathy made human. She would’ve done the same for anyone else in my position... I think. Yeah, no point overthinking it — her concern for me is just proof she’s an incredibly good friend, one of those rare lifelong kinds of friendships. And I don’t plan on doing anything that could ever mess that up.