225 Mika Uehara Wavers (2/2)

Doing something for the person you liked… any action at all, even death, was unrelated to that person?

Was this reality? If so, this type of reality, this type of world... was too cruel.

Mika Uehara found it difficult to accept.

”Yes, it’s quite cruel.” Kaede nodded, agreeing with Mika’s assessment. ”That’s why acting for someone else’s sake is incredibly risky. Acting for your friends could result in betrayal, but acting for the sake of strangers is an even greater risk. Some people don’t know about or don’t truly understand this risk and the pressure involved and simply act out of passion. However, a few understand all this perfectly; they are familiar with the cruelty of reality and still choose to make this step.”

”The first type of person is courageous, but the second type of person is a hero.” Kaede began smiling again. ”I feel that he… Haruta-kun is a hero.”

Haruta-kun.

‘Not Harano-kun!?’

Mika's eyes widened in surprise.

”Yes, by the way, I know Harano-kun’s real name. I know more about him than you realize.” The blonde teacher… no, the lady from the mafia family recalled the first time she met him.

She had fallen in love with Seiji at first sight, and Seiji even received her father’s and her two brothers’ approval, so Seiji was truly strong!

”Currently, I’m still quite far from being able to reach him. But I’ll still keep striving to close the distance between us. Another way of putting it is that I’m going to take action for the sake of my own feelings. No matter what the result is, I won’t regret it. Because… he’s my hero.”

‘He’s someone worthy of my love.’

Kaede’s eyes were filled with staunch resolution.

This was her answer.

Mika was shocked by this, despite the fact that she already knew this blonde beauty that came out of nowhere was an amazing person.

At this time, she finally recognized the full extent of Kaede’s resolution…

She inwardly compared her feelings to Kaede's unwavering resolution.

She was still hesitating because of ”choosing.” Frustratingly, for the past few days, she had been stuck in her own train of thought. She'd not revealed her situation to him and had made him worry about her…

‘Just what exactly are my feelings? What am I thinking about?’

Mika felt confused about everything. And then, suddenly, she discovered her true feelings.

She was afraid!

The hidden truth behind her complex feelings was weakness and fear.

On one hand, she was afraid of staying ”ordinary:” she feared to remain only as his friend and become increasingly distant from him.

On the other hand, she was afraid of changing: she feared to become ”special.” She was afraid of the uncertain future.

She was afraid of both ”choices.” This was due to her own weakness. There was no other reason: it was undeniable that she was weak.

Yes, that was how it was.

‘I… am just such an ordinary girl after all.’

Mika Uehara understood herself now.

In front of Kaede Juumonji, who was also in love with Seiji, but was resolutely moving forward, she felt that she couldn’t compare.