Interlude

I'm dreaming. A dream from a time when Mom was still alive.

But I don't recognize this scene. Or rather, maybe this is from the period that's missing from my memory.

In the dream, I'm wearing a randoseru backpack and walking alone. I look to be in the lower grades of elementary school. It feels a bit problematic that I can't remember anything from just a little over ten years ago.

I'm not sure where I'm headed, but after school, I'd either go straight home or go play with friends at the park.

I wish I'd just hurry home and see Mom's face for the first time in a while, but as if to spite me, my rambunctious elementary-school self arrives at a park with a large slide. Even in a dream, I can't help but sigh at myself.

"Your hair color is still weird!"

Just as I was thinking that, I heard the voices of several boys coming from the direction of a large tree. Sensing something unsettling in their words, the dream-me runs toward the sound.

When I got there, I saw a single girl with her hat pulled down low over her eyes, surrounded by three boys.

The moment I saw it, time stopped.

—Wait, does this scene seem familiar?—

The flicker of unease vanished like a bubble, and the scene started moving again.

"Your hair's creepy! Dye it black!"

"My mom said you're a delinquent who dyes her hair!"

"And your eyes are creepy, too! You're a devil! Don't come to school!"

They ganged up on her, showering the weak girl with verbal abuse. What made it worse was that, being elementary schoolers, they showed no restraint or mercy. They probably had no idea how cruel they were being.

"Take off your hat! Stop hiding it!"

"St-Stop...!"

One of the boys reached out and grabbed the brim of the girl's hat. She resisted desperately, trying to keep it on, but tragically, even as a child, a girl's strength was no match for a boy's. The hat was mercilessly ripped away.

"N-Nooooo—!"

The girl covered her head with both hands. The boys just cackled, pointing and laughing at her. Witnessing this bizarre exchange, the dream-me just stood there, frozen.

But it wasn't out of fear of something different from myself. It was the complete opposite.

The thoughts and mouth movements of my dream-self and my present-self synched up.

"It's so... beautiful."

Her hair, like golden sand, glittered and shone in the setting sun. Her large, round eyes were a jewel-like sapphire blue, and her features were as delicate and lovely as a bisque doll. If goddesses or angels existed in this world, I was sure they would look just like this girl.

"Stop it! Don't bully her!"

Shouting, I shoved the boys aside and stood protectively in front of the girl. All four of them were startled by my sudden intrusion.

"Wh-What the heck, who are you!?"

"Are you friends with her!?"

"Are you a friend of the devil!?"

"She's not a devil!"

"You're the ones who are devils!"

I raised my fists, and the boys flinched, backing away.

Thinking about it calmly, I was in a 3-to-1 situation, at a complete disadvantage. The only reason they hesitated was probably that I was a bit bigger than them. Still, I'd never been in a fight before, so inside, I was just praying, 'Please go home, please go home.'

"L-Let's go! If we stay here any longer, we'll get infected with weird germs!"

"It's gross to help a devil!"

"I'm telling my mom on you!"

Leaving behind some rather amusing parting shots, the boys scurried away from us as if fleeing. I might seem composed because it's a dream, but I'm sure my heart was pounding out of my chest back then.

As proof, the moment the bullies were out of sight, my dream-self collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut. Pathetic.

"U-Um... excuse me..."

The bewildered girl's voice brought me back to my senses. The way she just stood there blinking, completely flustered, was adorable, like a little animal.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"

I picked up the hat the boys had thrown, handing it to her as I spoke gently. She gave a small nod and put it back on. It was such a shame to hide something so beautiful.

"Pl-Please don't stare... My hair... it's different from everyone else's..." the girl muttered, looking down, her voice on the verge of tears.

At that age, kids tend to overreact to things that are different. The teachers might tell you that it's individuality and should be respected, but as children, it's not something they can easily understand.

"I like it. Your hair."

"...Huh?"

"It's so sparkly... it's really beautiful."

Suddenly, my dream-self was spewing out these smooth lines. To say something like that without a hint of embarrassment... I have to hand it to my past self. The girl, who clearly hadn't expected a compliment, just stared blankly.

"B-Beautiful...?"

"Yeah! It's beautiful, like a jewel!"

Seeing her react as if she couldn't believe it, I layered on more praise. My vocabulary was sadly limited, but it seemed I got the point across that I wasn't lying. The girl's face turned beet red before she turned and ran away.

"Ah... she's gone."

I wish she'd at least told me her name. But if she plays at this park, she probably lives nearby and goes to the same elementary school. We'll probably meet again soon. Thinking that, my dream-self didn't chase after her.

"...I feel like I had a nostalgic dream."

The warm sunlight pouring through the gap in the curtains slowly roused me from sleep. I felt like I'd dreamed about my elementary school days, but the details were hazy. Still, the vague image of bullies and a blonde-haired girl lingered in my mind.

"Blonde hair... No way."

The same color as the junior from school I'd recently met.

Could such a convenient coincidence really exist? No, of course not. Meeting a girl from your childhood who then becomes your fiancée and commuting wife after you save her from an accident... that's the kind of thing that only happens in rom-com manga.

But a part of me wonders if I'm just thinking that because I don't want to believe it. They say truth is stranger than fiction, and it's not right to make assumptions without confirming things.

"I need to talk to Dad. If he'd just explained everything properly from the start, none of this would have—"

"Nngh... Senpai..."

Just as my consciousness was drifting in a half-asleep haze, I was snapped fully awake by a syrupy voice and a tight embrace. Along with it, all five of my senses were overwhelmed by the presence of Shirasu Yuika, and my body temperature skyrocketed.

"...I forgot."

I wanted to clutch my head and say this was the worst, but another part of me was feeling supremely happy, and my emotions were a complete mess. What's more, even though I hadn't been doing it when I fell asleep, I now had my arm wrapped around Shirasu's waist, holding her close.

"...Haaaah. What am I going to do?"

Her warmth was softer and more comfortable than any body pillow. When was the last time I'd slept in the same futon with someone? I don't think it had happened since Mom collapsed from her illness.

"Mmm... Don't leave me again... Don't leave me alone."

Shirasu murmured, nuzzling her face into my chest. Was she half-asleep and mistaking me for someone else? Whoever she was talking to was one lucky guy. I was genuinely jealous.

"...Guess I'll go back to sleep."

A glance at the clock on the bedside table showed it was just past five. I could stay like this for another hour.

I closed my eyes again, deciding to savor this happiness that I knew would never come again. As a result, we both spectacularly overslept and were almost late for school.