just looking at the essence

"... huh"

　That day, Shizuna was depressed from the morning.

　Needless to say, the reason was the phone call with Ryuichi yesterday. She exchanged contact information with Ryuichi and made her first call. I felt like I was overwhelmed.

　However, the voice of the woman who hung up the phone...that voice still remained in Shizuna, making her feel uneasy.

"... huh"

　As if he had been sighing several times since earlier, he had been wondering what kind of night Ryuichi and that woman had spent. Why did he care so much?

"…At that time, my chest hurt a little, too."

　It's not that I didn't think anything of him when he affirmed the rumors, but at the time I didn't actually see it, so I had a feeling that it was true. However, as you can see from Shizuna's reaction, he is quite worried about this time.

"...You said Chisa, right? I wonder if that person is still seeing you."

　Of course, even if I think about it alone, I can't come up with an answer, but I guess it was bad for me to be dazed like that. She didn't notice the presence of one approaching from behind.

"Shizuna!"

"Kyaa!?"

　Just when I thought I heard a familiar voice behind me, I was hugged. It was lighthearted to say that she was hugged, but she was sudden enough to surprise Shizuna.

"Sohei-kun?"

"Ah. Good morning, Shizuna."

"...good morning"

　Sohei was the one who stuck to his back.

　Looking back, Shizuna remembers that in the past, they were attracted to each other like this. After she became a high school student, Shizuna didn't get that much done, but when she saw her like this, Shizuna thought that Sohei hasn't changed from the past.

"Are you in a bad mood? Could it be... you didn't like it?"

"... I don't hate it. I just thought it was bad."

　So one thing, Shizuna lied.

　I didn't hate it, I certainly said so, but in reality it was a little disgusting. Leaving aside the question of someone who was thinking, she wondered what it would be like to suddenly hug a girl.

"... No, I didn't like it. Sohei-kun, we're already high school students, aren't we? There's a difference between men and women, so we don't do things like this very often."

"...Do you get it"

　No, Shizuna decided to speak clearly.

　It wasn't a strong tone, but it seems that Sohei was quite shocked when Shizuna, a childhood friend, said he didn't like it.

"Shizuna is..."

"what?"

"... No, nothing. At school again."

　Saying that, Sohei ran away.

　Shizuna wondered if I said a little too much, but when I thought about it, I remembered that I used to hug myself. She is a childhood friend who has been with her for a long time, and her importance has not changed, and she hopes that it will always be that way.

"I wonder if we used to say we would marry each other in the past?

　When I thought about who I was, he was the one that popped into my head. Yes, that big body protected Shizuna.

"Rindo? What are you doing here?"

"... Huh!?"

　The owner of the voice that stopped Shizuna who seemed to be drowning in delusions was, in a sense, the owner of the voice that Shizuna wanted to hear, and if she met him now, she would be in trouble.

"Shidou-kun?"

"huh"

　Shizuna didn't find Ryuichi's appearance completely different from usual, unlike me who was confused by what happened last night. Why did she feel this way?

"... what are you?"

"I'm sorry.

　I stopped beating him immediately, but my heart still wasn't convinced.

　Seeing Shizuna puffing out her cheeks, Ryuuichi let out a sigh and continued walking. Naturally, Shizuna kept pace with her to line up next to him.

"Hey, do you want to go with me?"

"Yeah, but wouldn't it be better if we broke up in the middle? Shishidou-kun."

"Well"

　There shouldn't be anything like going to school together. However, it is also true that when it comes to the impressionable period of high school, there are people who make various assumptions about a man and a woman walking together.

"...Hey Shidou-kun."

"what?"

　When I looked at Ryuichi who was walking next to me, he didn't look at Shizuna and looked straight ahead. Unlike Shizuna, who wears her school uniform seriously, she always looks slovenly with all her buttons open.

(... After all, muscles are amazing ♪)

　I shook my head when I thought about that.

　Shizuna boldly asked about yesterday.

"Yesterday…the phone got cut off on the way."

"Ah. Chisa...a college girl came to my house. I'm on my way home from a drinking party, so I'm going to make her smell like alcohol."

"that's it"

　Shizuna wondered whether that person was her.

"Is it her?"

"No. We've only been in a relationship since we met before."

"...yes"

　Shizuna was relieved to hear that it wasn't her. However, she still doesn't realize the identity of her peace of mind. However, Ryuichi continued with his words, prefaced by the fact that it was free.

"It's not her, but... well, I'm in a relationship to do something like that."

"..."

　You're not so childish that you don't know what the word means to do that. Shizuna imagined it and her chest tingled rather than her embarrassment. Ryuichi glanced up at him, and as expected, Ryuichi hadn't changed as much as he always had.

"that's..."

　The words that followed were words that Shizuna would never say if she was calm. However, there were no words after that. It was because Ryuichi's arm had grown.

"gentian"

"picture--"

　He grabbed my arm and was held by Ryuichi with a strong momentum.

　My face touches my chest, and I can feel the hard pectoral muscles directly. Her cheeks suddenly began to heat up, and the heat tricked her into not noticing the pain in her lower abdomen.

"Shidou-kun...?"

"Don't walk while thinking. We almost hit each other, didn't we?"

"picture?"

　When Ryuichi turned his eyes, there was an old man walking with a cane. He certainly could have bumped into him if he hadn't done so, and it would have been a disaster if he fell over. The reason Ryuichi hugged Shizuna was simply to avoid bumping into the old man.

"…Thank you, Shido-kun."

"I don't need a thank you. Nothing happened."

　I was stroked on the head with a pom pom.

　It seemed like I was being treated like a child, but for some reason I couldn't tell him to stop. On the contrary, I feel like I want you to do more. Moreover, Shizuna was happy when she was hugged just now. Shizuna certainly felt the warmth and excitement she had never felt in Sohei's time with Ryuichi.

"Ora, let's go quickly."

"Yeah. I know."

　Shizuna lined up with Ryuichi, who started walking again.

　If you go a little further, you will leave Ryuichi and head to school. If possible, it would be nice if this time could be extended more... Shizuna wished.

　Originally, Shizuna was supposed to be married to Sohei.

　That may be the way this world was supposed to be, but one change has caused the path to shift so far.

　But it was never changed by malice.

　The future that Ryuichi, who has regained his memories, has pulled in has nothing more to do with Shizuna. I was never manipulated, let alone manipulated my feelings. Shizuna was purely looking at Ryuichi.

　He just keeps staring at the essence of him who has regained his memories.