So, was I really the boy from Yuria’s memories who gave her Lucky & H?
Does that mean I’m the one responsible for turning her into an otaku?
But could that really be possible?
Yuria had mentioned that she’d only met the boy once and that they had only played together that one time. If I had happened to stop by a park while I was out hitting up candy stores, played with her, and then handed her the manga I had on me when I left... well, the pieces of the puzzle actually fit together.
If Yuria’s theory was right, this was exactly like one of those "fated reunions" you see in romance manga. The only problem was that I, the guy in question, had absolutely no memory of it.
Besides my lack of memory, if it wasn't actually me to begin with, then the whole thing fell apart.
"Hey Ryouta, what’s the deal? You really don’t remember?"
"I—I mean, even if you ask me out of the blue like that..."
To be honest, my memories of elementary school were so hazy that I barely even remembered my encounter with Rui back then.
The situation with Rui was one thing, but I thought both she and Yuria were incredible for remembering a single day’s events for all these years. The same went for Airi and her wafer card. Did they all really feel that strongly that it was "destiny"?
"Sigh... how can you not remember? Seriously."
"I'm sorry, Yuria. But back when I was a kid, I was busy crushing on the big-breasted sister living next door or having my tastes warped by the lewd Pink from those Sentai shows... I just didn't have any interest in girls my own age."
"Huh?! Oh, for crying out loud! I went to the trouble of inviting you over and showing you that book, so the least you could do is remember!"
Yuria grabbed my head firmly with both hands and started shaking it with all her might, like some old-timer trying to fix a busted appliance.
"Seriously... and here I thought making you remember was the whole point of today."
"Wait! I thought the maid cosplay was the main event!"
"Oh, well, that..."
"I’m supposed to get unlimited photos of your thick-thighed maid cosplay, aren’t I?!"
"The pressure is insane... I get it, I get it. I’ll put it on."
Frowning with disappointment, Yuria gave me the same look she usually reserved for creepy otakus.
"Geez... do you really want to see me in costume that badly? You're way too obsessed with me, Ryouta."
"Well, yeah, because I'm a huge fan of your thi—"
Ding-dong!
Right then, the doorbell suddenly rang.
"Hmm? I wonder who that is. I'll go check."
...Wait, her parents are traveling abroad, right?
I looked around Yuria's room, a bad feeling washing over me.