50 Birthday and Confession (2/2)

”I won't. I swear. I won't even tell Kyouko”

”Fine…” he sighed. ”Let me think for a moment on where to start…” he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Kazuya truly didn't expect that he would have to explain himself so he tried gathering his thoughts.

He knew that he wouldn't be able to tell her everything because she would end up not believing a single word. So he decided to just simply answer her question.

”Please stop me if you think this is too unbelievable. I don't want to embarrass myself” as intelligent as Mei was, he definitely knew that even he himself wouldn't believe it if he was told everything.

”Stop worrying and just tell me”

”Does big sis still remember the dreams I told you about?”

”How could I forget?”

”It wasn't just one dream... I even felt like I've experienced them first hand. It was about the future and it was before I woke up in the hospital.

I don't remember all of the details but like when I first woke up at the hospital, unlike what happened here, it was further into the future” he told her the story about what happened when he first woke up in his previous life.

”Waking up alone… injured… having amnesia and not even remembering Kyouko?” she developed a frown. She instantly understood why Kazuya had been fearful about Kyouko leaving on a business trip.

”My supposed trustworthy brother who was considered an adult and indicated as my legal guardian via legal documents took everything I should have inherited but refused to actually take responsibility of me aside from footing the hospital expenses. That only lasted until I completed my therapy and got discharged” he continued.

”That sounds about right. I wouldn't expect any less from that perverted bastard” Mei commented.

”It was you who took me in big sis. But unlike the person you are now, you were very much quiet and kept to yourself. I assumed that it was because of my mom's untimely departure that you ended up that way” he looked at her reaction.

She couldn't deny it. Losing Kyouko and having the Kuroganes bastard of an heir take over the Kouzuki corporation would indeed make her leave the company. Mei listened to Kazuya's story and the amount of detail shocked her. It was as if he really was there instead of it being just a nightmare.

”What about your grandfather? He should have been there right?”

”I'm sorry. I don't have memories of grandfather then or now. I only remember that you mentioned that he disappeared after a trip with his friends to go exploring somewhere”

”That's…” she was speechless because even if he didn't have memories of his grandfather, she could see those circumstances actually happening because she knew just what kind of person Kouzuki Kou was.

”Even though we weren't related by blood nor legally, you took me in without a word. Even though that version of big sis was cold, you were very caring. You helped me get used to life and even got me admitted to Sacred Forest Academy's middle school” he continued to tell her what happened.

”Even though I was stupid, I still understood what big sis had to go through. I have a better grasp of it now since I know how much you've helped mom. You were my world and I didn't want to disappoint you so I chose to dedicate my future in repaying you by making you happy” he confessed. This caused Mei's face to blush like a ripe tomato.

She had gotten her answer. This explained and answered so many questions in her mind. If he really did have such a realistic dream then how could he not change?

”I thought my future was set and I devoted myself into making it a reality. I didn't know what happened but before I graduated from middle school, you told me that you decided to abandon me” Kazuya didn't know that he had already satisfied Mei so he continued with the story.

”Was this the reason you asked me the question about me abandoning you back at my apartment?”

”Yes. I couldn't figure out why such a thing happened. I assumed you were tired of taking care of me and chose to go with Lee instead. You deserved better than taking care of me so even though my world fell apart, I accepted it and lived on my own”

”Stupid Mei! What an idiot!” she cursed herself. Even though both of them already knew why she did what she did, she still couldn't help but curse herself for not even giving him a proper explanation.

”Don't curse yourself big sis. We both know that you did that because of me in the end. That version of you wasn't the type to explain anything to me in the first place and… did she even owe me to be given one” he bitterly smiled. Even though it was already cleared up, remembering it still left him with a bitter taste.

”I can't help it! My future self was too insensitive! She let you suffer too much!”

”Wait a minute…” it felt stupid for actually realizing it too late. ”You believe me?”

”How couldn't I? the amount of detail leaves me with little to refute. My only problem is with that darned future self of mine!”

”Future self?” he tried to confirm why she referred to her own self as such.

”It probably wasn't a dream but a premonition. I think that if you didn't lose your memories and had this premonition, you would have still avoided me and when the accident happened, it would have turned out like it did” her quick wit actually left Kazuya speechless this time. She had accepted it all too quickly and seemed to have believed everything he said.

”I see…” he replied halfheartedly. He was still processing how she could have just accepted such an absurd thing like that.

”Thank you Kazu”

”What for?” he tilted his head in confusion.

”For telling me the truth” she gave him a genuine smile. His heart skipped a beat because this was the most honest and most beautiful smile she had given him. He felt that his earlier worries were for nothing.

”Has my answer satisfied you big sis?” he tried to change the topic while calming himself down.

”Not only have you convinced me, you gave me a reason to work harder”

”Work harder? Why?”

”Your plans involve strengthening the Kouzuki corporation's standing against attacks not only from it's biggest rival but also from bigger ones like the one that weird little girl will inherit one day”

”Stockton International?” he really didn't think that far but after considering it, this was indeed true. He was proud of his big sis for seeing things farther and knew that he was giving the company to the right person.

”It was only an example. Besides… if what I'm thinking is correct. Then you probably already prevented the accident that will happen in the future”

”Huh? I already did?”

”Think about it… from your memories, who benefited the most after Kyouko… passed away”

”Are you saying…” he swallowed hard as his eyes narrowed.

”It was probably orchestrated by people from the Kurogane Conglomerate”

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