Chapter 132: If I could overwrite the memories

After talking with Hiiragi-senpai, I returned to the student council room, where the tea party was in full swing. Aya stayed glued to my side the entire time.

“Aya.”
“Yes, Rina.”

We no longer needed words to communicate. Aya didn’t want to lose me, and I wanted to stay by her side. Her hand was firmly clasped in mine.

As we opened the door to the student council room, a familiar cheerful voice greeted us.

“Oh~! Rina-tan, Aya-ring, you’re back!”

Mizuki waved, beaming. Several other student council members were gathered in the room. Shiraizuka-senpai was elegantly pouring tea, and a second-year blond male senpai (was his name Ren?) was keeping the atmosphere lively.

Hiiragi-senpai and Tachibana-senpai, who’d arrived earlier, were talking quietly in a corner. Hiiragi-senpai looked a little nervous as he spoke to Tachibana-senpai.

‘Is he putting my advice into practice?’

Tachibana-senpai, initially surprised, nodded with a soft expression. Then Hiiragi-senpai took her hand and kissed it.

‘They’re so lovey-dovey. So heterosexual.’

…I was glad my advice hadn’t caused any major misunderstandings.

“Rina-tan, what were you talking about with Hiiragi-senpai? The atmosphere suddenly changed.”

“Nothing much, just… a personal matter…?”
“Hmm… with him? A personal matter?”

Mizuki looked at me curiously, then grinned and changed the subject.

“Well, if you say so, Rina-tan. Anyway, they were talking about the ball. Are you all going?”

My gaze shifted to Aya. She nodded with a smile.

“The ball? Of course. You’re coming too, right, Rina?”
“Uh… yeah.”

The upcoming Takamari Academy ball was the main topic of conversation at the tea party. Held between the midterm and final exams, it was considered an even more important event than the cultural festival.

Western-style balls had become popular among Japanese aristocracy and high society since the Meiji era, and Takamari Academy upheld this tradition – at least, that was the setting of the novel. It felt a little strange in reality.

Just then, a familiar face approached us. Amelia Howell, a third-year middle school student with bright blonde hair.

“Oh, Amelia-san?”

I greeted her, and Amelia shyly bowed her head and held out a small gift.

“Kurosawa-senpai! Thank you so much for helping me during the summer retreat. I wanted to show my gratitude…”

“Eh…? Thank you, Amelia-san. You didn’t have to…”

I accepted the gift, a little embarrassed, and Amelia, her face flushed, bowed again and hurried back to her friends. Shiraizuka-senpai, who had been watching, smiled gently.

“Kurosawa-san is popular with the kouhai too, huh?”
“Oh, no! I just… helped her a little during the retreat…”

Shiraizuka-senpai hadn’t been on the bus during the retreat; she’d only met us at the lodge.
My face flushed, and I smiled awkwardly. Mizuki giggled, amused by my reaction.

****

Around 3 PM.

The tea party ended without any major incidents. The student council members chatted about exam scores and the upcoming ball before dispersing.

“Rina-tan~! Aya-ring~! I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone~!”
“Wh-What?!”

Mizuki waved mischievously and ran off. I was about to chase after her when Aya stopped me.

“Haa… Mizuki is…”
“So what? We are on a date, right?”
“…Eh.”
“Like I said before, today is our date.”
“O-Okay…!”

Mizuki’s teasing aside, we were on a date.
Holding Aya’s hand, I let her lead me to a taxi. As we drove, the scenery looked familiar.

‘Wait… is this…?’

The taxi stopped, and I saw a familiar sight: the towering red structure of Tokyo Tower.

I froze and looked at Aya, my voice trembling slightly.

“Aya… why are we here?”

“Yes. It’s the place you’re thinking of, Rina.”

Aya smiled knowingly.

“But… I came here with Arisu…”

I couldn’t finish my sentence. Aya stepped closer and gently took my hand.

“That’s why I brought you here.”

“…Why?”

Aya looked up at the tower, her hand still in mine.

“I wanted to… overwrite your bad memories with Arisu… with memories of us.”

My breath caught in my throat, and my heart started to race. Aya looked at me with a gentle gaze and added softly,

“From today onwards, this is our place, Rina. Okay?”
“…Okay. I love it, Aya.”

The place where I’d rejected Arisu’s confession while looking at the night view… would now be filled with memories of Aya and me.

Since it was still daytime, we decided to take a walk in the small park near Tokyo Tower while waiting for nightfall.

The park was quiet on a weekday afternoon. It felt like we had the entire place to ourselves. The setting sun cast long shadows through the trees, and our footsteps felt light as we walked among the falling leaves.

“Aya, this place is beautiful.”
“Really? I think… it’s even more beautiful because I’m with you, Rina.”

Aya’s casual, yet sweet words made me blush and lower my head. Aya chuckled, then suddenly pulled me closer.

“Rina, are you just pretending to be shy because you actually like it?”
“N-No, I’m not!”
“Hee… Look how red your face is.”

Aya’s teasing… I’d once categorized Aya’s level of affection on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest. I’d placed her at around an 8. She loved to tease me, often staring at me intently.
But our level of affection had long surpassed 10.

Perhaps that was why… despite the bad memories associated with this place, it felt different now. When I was here with Arisu, my heart had felt heavy and constricted. But now, it felt light and free.

As we walked, leaning against each other, the sun began to set. The lights in the buildings surrounding the red Tokyo Tower flickered to life as darkness fell.

“Aya, should we go up now?”
“Yes.”

We entered the elevator, the gentle rumble beneath our feet, and the Tokyo nightscape unfolded before us through the glass windows.

Reaching the observation deck, the city lights sparkled like a sea of stars. The night view of Tokyo was always breathtaking. But perhaps because I’d seen it before, my gaze lingered on Aya, who was standing beside me.

“…You’re so beautiful, Aya.”
“Huh? What’s this all of a sudden, Rina…?”
“Just… thinking about it.”

I took Aya’s hand again. She looked at our intertwined hands, then touched the promise ring on my left ring finger.

“All of a sudden? You always say that.”
“Ah, w-well…”

I stammered, then looked up at Aya.

“If only I could overwrite those memories…”

Aya’s words gave me a surge of courage. I wanted to show her, right here, right now, how much I loved her. I put my arm around her neck and gently pulled her closer.

“Rina…?”

Aya’s voice was filled with surprise, but instead of replying, I softly pressed my lips against hers. Our height difference was perfect. Just enough for me to reach her lips when she tilted her head down and I stood on tiptoe.

A sweet, gentle warmth spread through me.
This time, I was the one initiating the kiss, not Aya.
We parted slightly, our breaths mingling, and Aya looked at me, her eyes wide with surprise, then smiled shyly.

“…Rina, you’re being very bold today.”
“W-Well… I don’t want to always be the one being led…!”

My face burning, I looked away, towards the cityscape.

The early winter air was crisp and cool.