Chapter 63
I had a dream. A memory from the past.
That day, when I came home, there was a girl I didn’t know inside the house.
It was early evening.
The house was dim, with no lights turned on.
“Who are you?”
“Sorry for intruding.”
When I called out in surprise, the girl responded in a flat, emotionless voice—so unlike the way she is now.
And just like her voice, her face had no expression. I remember that clearly.
Back then, seeing her like that gave me a terrible feeling.
It was like my instincts were screaming: You can’t be here. You have to run.
So I turned to leave right away—
“You can’t.”
—but she grabbed my right hand, stopping me.
She had been standing a fair distance away only a moment ago.
Yet somehow, she’d crossed the space between us in an instant.
And even though her arm was so much slimmer than mine, I couldn’t move it at all. It felt like I was caught in a vise.
“I won’t let you go.”
I didn’t understand what was happening. I was scared—terrified.
“What… what is this?”
“Hm?”
“What’s your goal?!”
So I asked. She’d grabbed me so suddenly—was it a robbery? If she wanted money, I’d give it to her. Just take it and leave.
That’s what I was thinking.
“My goal… hmm.”
The girl lowered her gaze and began speaking in a slow, deliberate tone.
“I don’t have anywhere to go. So I want a place to live. And money.”
“If… if that’s all, then—”
I was about to say I could help her, but the words never came out.
Because it was then that I saw her face clearly for the first time.
Until that moment, the room had been too dark to make it out.
I found myself completely captivated by her beauty.
That emotionless face… she looked like a doll. Like a work of art.
“That’s why… I’m going to brainwash you.”
“Wha—bra-brainwash?!”
A red light flickered at the edge of my vision. When I looked, I saw her hand glowing.
She reached out toward me, and my vision filled with red.
“What setting would be good…? Lovers is too much, and family’s a bit intense. …Let’s go with best friends.”
I tried to escape her approaching hand, but my right arm was still frozen in place.
There was nothing I could do. I could only watch.
Her hand touched my forehead, and my consciousness began to fade.
Her expression didn’t change—not even once.
…That was the memory of the first day I lost.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Yuu’s face.
Her beautiful features were right in front of me, and my heart skipped a beat.
“Shin?”
Still a little dazed, I took in my surroundings.
I felt something warm and soft beneath my head.
…A lap pillow, maybe?
Seeing Yuu’s face turned sideways confirmed it. No doubt about it.
“Shin, you’re awake?”
“…Yeah, I’m up.”
…So, brainwashing, huh.
I hadn’t really understood what was going on earlier, but now that the fog was gone, it made perfect sense.
I really had been brainwashed.
Everything felt completely different.
“...Shin, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
I replied to Yuu’s worried expression and sat up.
The haze in my mind had lifted.
“...Yuu?”
She took my arm in her hand.
Looking down, I saw Yuu staring up at me from below.
For just a moment, the image from my dream overlapped with the real Yuu.
…She’s changed.
The Yuu in front of me now wore a worried expression, then a happy one, then back to anxious again—her face constantly shifting.
She looked nothing like the blank-faced girl in my dream.
I definitely prefer her this way.
Sure, that doll-like Yuu was beautiful in her own way, but this expressive, emotional Yuu—I like her much better.
“...”
Our eyes met as she peered up at me.
Then she gave me the most genuinely joyful smile.
It made something stir inside me.
I wanted to keep looking at her face forever.
“Hey, Shin, um… about me…”
“I don’t hate you. Not even a little.”
I answered before she could finish. I had a good idea what she was trying to say.
Yuu’s eyes widened in surprise.
Then, in the next instant, she smiled—a radiant smile that bloomed like a flower.
“—”
God… she’s really cute.
Watching her smile, I couldn’t help but think that.
Ever since the brainwashing wore off, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Yuu.
“Hehehe… hehehehehe…”
She grabbed my arm with both hands and pulled it close to her chest.
Then she rubbed her cheek against my shoulder.
Her scent drifted from the hair swaying near my face.
…Yeah. There’s no way I can hold back.
I’d thought about waiting a bit… but I can’t do it.
Ever since I woke up, this emotion’s been swirling inside me.
It must have been something the brainwashing had been holding back.
“...”
And then… there’s that.
I remembered what Yuu said just before I lost consciousness.
When she told me she loved me.
Back then, I didn’t fully grasp it—but now that the fog’s gone, I understand.
There’s no way I can stay calm remembering something like that.
“Yuu. There’s something I want to say to you.”
“What is it?”
I was nervous—really nervous.
I already knew how she felt, and even so… it still wasn’t easy to say.
“...”
I took a deep breath to steady myself.
Then I turned to face her.
“Yuu, I…”
“Yeah?”
She looked at me with a bright, cheerful smile.
I want to stay by her side forever.
“…I like you, Yuu. I want you to be my girlfriend.”
And so, I told her.
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