For some reason, Nyau was staring directly into my eyes.
"Do you really want to know why Nyau was crying?" she asked. There was a portentous weight to her words.
It was the kind of tone that made me feel as if there would be no turning back once the truth was out. Still, if it was for her sake, I was willing to do anything.
"I want to know," I said. "Why were you crying back then?"
Nyau’s lips wavered as if she were hesitating. After a few seconds of deliberation, she settled into an expression of grim resolve and opened her mouth.
"I... l... l..."
But the moment she tried to speak, the words seemed to catch in her throat. She simply repeated the same syllable over and over.
What was she trying to say? A word starting with "L"...
Like "Love"? No, surely that was just me being conceited. In this timeline, my connection with Nyau was thin. There was no reason for her to fall for me.
So, if not love, then what? Nothing else came to mind.
"I love you..."
"...Huh?"
I was in trouble. She had spoken in such a faint whisper that I hadn't caught a single word. I couldn't exactly pretend I’d heard her and give some vague response.
"I'm sorry, could you say that again? I didn't quite hear you."
Since it was clearly something important, I had no choice but to ask for a repeat.
"Ugh..."
Suddenly, her face turned a deep shade of crimson and her eyes grew misty.
"After I finally worked up the courage..."
Nyau hung her head, looking utterly dejected.
"I’m sorry. Please, tell me one more time. I’ll listen properly this time, I promise," I said, trying to follow up and soothe her. She gave a small nod.
"Understood. I want you to listen properly this time."
"Yeah."
She still couldn't quite bring herself to say it, her mouth twitching again. I stared intently at her, determined not to miss it this time.
Her cheeks were flushed. Perhaps it was the nerves, but her breathing had grown heavy and ragged. It was enough to make me start feeling tense as well.
"I love you."
This time, I didn't miss it.
"Um..."
My initial reaction was pure confusion. She had said she loved me. Me.
I had convinced myself that such a thing was impossible. But as the reality of her words slowly sank in, a surge of happiness welled up inside me. I was inexplicably, deeply glad that she felt that way.
"It’s a nuisance, isn't it...?"
"It’s not a nuisance."
I realized what I’d said only after the words had left my lips. I was dating Ageha. That was why Nyau assumed her feelings were a burden.
But Nyau already knew about my relationship with Ageha. So why did she choose to confess now?
"The thing is, since I’m with Ageha..."
"I know that."
"Then, why...?"
"I don't know... I just know that I love you so much it hurts, Kiska-san. That's why I don't mind being second. You can treat me as a convenient woman; I don't care. I just want you to let Nyau stay by your side."
"Nyau..."
There was no way I could remain unmoved by such a desperate plea. A sudden impulse to pull her into my arms washed over me. For a fleeting moment, I thought that maybe, just maybe, being with her like this wouldn't be so bad.
And so, I—
"I’m sorry, Nyau. I can't return your feelings."
My lingering shred of reason forced the words out. I had committed myself to Ageha. I couldn't betray her.
"...Please don't apologize. I knew from the start this was a reckless hope."
"B-but, I was truly happy to hear you say that."
"Words like that aren't a consolation."
"...I’m sorry."
A heavy, suffocating gloom filled the room. It was only natural; I had just rejected the person who had bared their heart to me.
"Even knowing the outcome, it still hurts—being rejected by the person you love. But I don't have the slightest intention of giving up. Even if it takes years, I will make you mine, Kiska-san."
"Why do you love me so much?"
"I can't believe you’d ask such an embarrassing question to the girl you just shot down."
"Sorry, I was just... curious."
When I apologized, she let out a long sigh.
"I don't even know myself. I don't understand it, but I just love you beyond all reason," Nyau said, looking down to hide her embarrassment.
For a moment, I wondered if she might actually remember the time we spent together in the previous timeline, but that didn't seem to be the case.
"Kiska-san, will you grant me just one request?"
"Of course," I answered immediately, hoping it might serve as some small atonement for the pain I’d caused.
"Kiss me."
"...No, I really can't do that."
"I wasn't exactly asking for permission."
"—Eh?"
The moment the word left my mouth, a soft sensation pressed against my lips. It took several seconds for my brain to register that she was kissing me.
"Kiska-san, never forget this day. For this one moment, you belonged to me."
"Yeah... I understand."
As I nodded, she stood up from the sofa and hurried toward the door. I knew I shouldn't go after her.
Ugh, I feel sick. I felt as though I was being crushed under the weight of my own guilt.
"Kiska..."
I was sitting in a daze on the sofa when a voice snapped me back to reality.
"Ageha, huh?"
She must have entered the cottage just as Nyau was leaving.
"Hey, did something happen? I saw Sage Nyau running out of here."
"No, nothing happened."
"I see."
Ageha accepted my answer, though her expression remained somewhat dissatisfied. I certainly couldn't tell her the truth of what had just transpired.
"Well, that’s fine then," Ageha said, taking a seat beside me. She leaned her weight against my shoulder. "Kiska, I love you."
"Yeah, I love you too."
I hadn't done anything wrong. I had made the right choice.
I knew that. And yet, a wave of nausea washed over me, so thick I thought I might be sick.
I would likely be haunted by the memory of this day in my dreams for the rest of my life.
Nyau sprinted away from the cottage, desperate to avoid being seen. She was certain her face was a disaster of tears and grief.
"Ahhh, so this is what a broken heart feels like."
She forced the words out in a bright, hollow tone. She felt that if she didn't act cheerful, she would simply fall apart.
"Well, I knew it would end like this from the very beginning."
She knew Kiska was with Ageha. She knew there was no hope for her. Yet, she hadn't been able to suppress the fire in her heart. She had hoped that speaking the truth might change something—anything.
But the world wasn't so kind. Nothing had changed, and she was the only one left bleeding.
"Ughhhhh..."
The thought was too much, and the tears she had promised herself she wouldn't cry began to overflow. It was a promise she no longer had the strength to keep.