Chapter 23

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Chapter 23: Souta Shibuya Goes to Check on his Friend

Akane: “Souta, want to go home together?”

After school, as I was putting my stuff away, Akane came over to talk to me.

She was looking at me with those bright, full eyes.

She’s cute.

Unlike Yukina who was more the beautiful big-sister-type, Akane is like the small, cute animal-type.

I’m not going to say little-sister-type.

When you have an actual little sister, you don’t have fantasies about little sisters.

ーーSince yesterday, Akane and I started going out.

So it’s natural for us to go home together, and the fact that I wasn’t the one who asked might have looked bad.

I still wanted to go see my sick friend though.

But it shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

Touru and Akane know each other, so going together to see him shouldn’t be a problem.

Souta: “I wanted to go check on how Touru is doing. Is that alright?”

Akane: “Yeah, that’s fine. Let’s go together.”

So we walked side by side as we headed towards Touru’s house.

On the way, I went to a Corner Store to get a few things.

Akane: “What are you buying?”

Souta: “Pocari and Drinkable Jelly.”

Akane: “Wouldn’t you usually bring fruits or something like that?”

Souta: “Nah, this is fine. When I was sick, this is what I wanted the most.”

Akane: “I see…..”

Akane is tilting her head to the side trying to understand.

I pay at the register and leave the store with Akane.

Akane: “Hey, Souta?”

Souta: “What is it?”

As we were on our way to Touru’s house, Akane begins talking to me.

Akane: ‘Will you tell Touru that we’re going out now?”

Souta: “I was planning on doing so…..do you not want me to?”

Akane: “No, I was just asking. I’m not against it at all.”

Souta: “Okay.”

Our conversation ended as soon as it began.

I need to find something to talk about...

Hmmmmm, after thinking about it for a while...

There was one thing that bothered me.

But….is this something I should ask about?

I debated in my mind a little before I spoke up.

Souta: “Hey, Akane.”

Akane: “Wha～t is it?”

Souta: “......well, I wanted to ask you something.”

Akane: “Hm?”

Souta: “Is Yukina…..here right now?”

Akane: “......................................<no, she’s not here>”

Souta: “What?”

I look at Akane’s face in bewilderment.

Akane: “I haven’t seen her at school or this morning. I wonder what happened…..?”

Souta: “I see……”

I couldn’t read Akane’s expression.

Apparently, my dead girlfriend, Yukina Shinonome, is possessing me.

It was the talking Black Cat, Mr. Leo, and Akane who told me about it

Oh, but that handsome Café worker also said that he saw her too.

But...I can’t see her.

That’s why it doesn’t feel quite real to me even now.

It just all feels…...unresolved….

Sometimes, I feel like they’re all just sharing one big inside joke and teasing me.

And I reflected on how my heart has changed in these last few days.

Up until a few weeks ago, I was still dragging myself to the ground about Yukina’s death.

I was able to go to school, but my heart was still sunk deeply.

I was able to get through the day because Yukina would show up in my dreams in the morning.

The sudden change came at that time.

The time when I thought I saw Yukina