Chapter 2: The Three Girlfriends
The week after I, Yuki Sanada, became aware of myself.
- Amnesia is terrifying.
I feel like my former self had some vague understanding of it.
But now that I am actually experiencing memory loss, it feels quite refreshing.
Without a past, there is no worry.
Even a heart that can be dyed any color is certainly not something that can be easily achieved.
The foundation of the human named Yuki Sanada is relatively positive, as the feeling of freshness outweighs the worry of amnesia.
Unconsciously, I may have just accepted it as inevitable without complaining, but according to the doctor, it's considered a "good sign," so I want to maintain this state of mind.
With the purpose of treatment in mind, I spent most of my free time this week observing people and reading.
While observing people, I carefully watched the patients, nurses, doctors, and many others who passed through the corridors.
From my perspective, with no memory of interpersonal relationships, the hospital corridors were teeming with fascinating information.
And after observing over a hundred people, I came to a conclusion.
Namely, the girls in front of me are remarkable beings, even compared to other living creatures.
"If everything goes well today, it looks like I can be released soon."
"Yes, it looks like I'll be able to go to high school sooner than I thought."
I smiled at my girlfriend who came to visit me, Asuka Minato.
Her light golden hair shone brightly in the sunlight.
Asuka Minato is adorable.
A juxtaposition of innocence and purity in one girl, an appearance that manages to reconcile two contradictory entities. Even from an objective point of view, it's safe to say that she's exceptionally cute. Being alone with her in the hospital room, with an appearance that could easily grace the pages of a fashion magazine, feels somewhat inappropriate. However, Asuka doesn't seem to sense any impure thoughts from me, as she nods and loosens her lips into a smile.
"Apart from not having your memories, you're perfectly healthy. When Yuki returns to school, I'm sure there will be a few people who will be happy about it," she says.
"Just a few? I feel like I should have some popularity," I answer.
"What confidence you have. Well, there's no denying that you're enviable," she remarks.
"Oh yeah! ...But I'm still not sure if I'm liked or not," I express my concern.
Seeing how down I am, Asuka gently pinches my cheek.
"...Isn't it okay as long as I'm here? Are you unhappy?"
She's so incredibly cute.
Her azure eyes are clear and large, and her slightly lowered gaze has a significant effect on me, someone who knows nothing about people her age. Although I have a sensual understanding of what "liking someone" means, I still don't know if this feeling is what "liking" really is. Nevertheless, the realization that Asuka is an important presence has already taken root in me.
"Are you worried about school life?" she asks.
"Well, if I said I wasn't worried, I'd be lying. But I think things will work out somehow," I answer.
"I see. I'll do my best to make it work, too," Asuka lowers the corner of her eyes and gently strokes my cheek.
Amnesia doesn't scare me anymore.
The reason I feel this way is because of Asuka right in front of me. Knowing that I have someone who understands and supports me completely changes my perspective. The nurses who always take good care of me don't come to school with me. These peer relationships are invaluable. But still a feeling of uneasiness remains in my heart.
For me, who retains memories other than interpersonal relationships, it is obvious how different my current situation is. Even with only one friend. And especially with just one family member. During that week, except for Asuka, not a single person came to visit me.
Being alone in a spacious hospital room, I would have quickly succumbed to feelings of loneliness if it weren't for Asuka's presence. To be honest, I was a little surprised because I had expected many people to visit me.
"Thank you," I express my gratitude and Asuka shakes her head.
"No need to thank me. It's only natural," she replies.
I wonder if she understands my true intentions. With a gentle smile on her face, she is about to continue.
Suddenly, the door swings open and a nurse who has always taken care of me stands in the hallway. My eyes are drawn to the adult body wrapped in the nurse's uniform, and as an adolescent, I feel relieved of my own normal adolescent desires.
Asuka raises her posture and addresses the nurse, "What's wrong?"
The nurse's face shows a look as if the question is foolish, and she lets out a sigh.
"What's wrong, you ask? It's not time for a visit yet. In other words, Yuki-kun should be alone right now!"
"Hey, please don't say such strict things. You forgave me yesterday, didn't you?" I protest.
"You came at this time yesterday, too!? ...Well, let's pretend I didn't hear that. Now hurry up and leave. I'll call you back in thirty minutes!" The nurse's eyes widen and she immediately shifts gears to prevent the situation from escalating. Are you sure this is okay, nurse's?
Reluctantly leaving the room, Asuka wonders aloud, "How did she find out?" The nurse's reply, "It's only natural for someone who ignores the receptionist's voice when entering to get caught," says it all.
——Minato Asuka. Over the course of this week, I've come to understand her inner self. She cares about others, although her tone can be harsh at times, her underlying kindness is first class. She has a much more transparent personality than me, who analyzes character traits in my head.
Although her stubbornness is a flaw, it is undoubtedly part of Asuka's charm. Then there's her appearance. Although I have no recollection of what the classroom atmosphere was like in high school, I can easily imagine how she would be treated by those around her.
When Minato Asuka is with me, I have no worries about school life. Having Asuka as my first ally is an incredible stroke of luck for me.
"Hey, Yuki-kun," the nurse turns back to me right after Asuka leaves. Her expression is noticeably stern.
The nurse's demeanor seems even colder than when I was diagnosed with amnesia. If my intuition is correct, this is going to be hard. The warmth that had built up in my chest from my interactions with Asuka quickly dissipates. Within seconds, my palms start to sweat.
"Did you find anything unusual about me?" I ask cautiously. The nurse hesitates for a moment before answering. "Well, it is abnormal in a way. But it has nothing to do with your physical health."
"Oh... Well, that's a relief. I can handle anything as long as it's not related to my body," I reply, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. The fear that something is wrong with my life or my brain is the last thing I want.
But the nurse's expression remains dark and I can't help but feel confused. How likely is it that an abnormal situation will arise that doesn't involve my physical well-being?
"So, your girlfriend is Asuka-san, right?" the nurse asks.
"Huh? Yeah, that's right. It's still hard to believe. But if she's there to support me, I won't have to worry about my school life in the future," I answer with a nervous laugh.
"Well, your girlfriend is here," the nurse says.
"Huh? Asuka?" I ask.
The nurse looks at me, but her look is cold, too cold for a patient. "No. Someone else claims to be your girlfriend."
I retract my previous statement. I'm filled with nothing but anxiety for the high school life that's about to begin.
◇◆
In the large hospital room with the window wide open, located in the corner room on the top floor, the gentle spring breeze felt pleasant.
The breeze at this time of day brings a sense of calm. So far, everything was as usual. Relatively speaking, it felt like any other day.
The crucial difference was the presence brought by the nurse. It wasn't a doctor or another nurse. Standing next to the nurse was a girl around Asuka's age. In other words, a high school student, just like me.
This girl was an extremely impressive presence. Her mere existence seemed to carry gravity, drawing my gaze. She was a little taller than Asuka, I guess? Asuka herself is taller than the average girl, so it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that her figure was beyond her years.
Her ample breasts swelled beneath her camisole, accentuating the contours of her body, and her shorts revealed white, elastic thighs. Her glossy ash-black hair reflected the light, appearing both black and gray depending on how it caught the electric light.
The bangs that fell over her eyes were swept to the right, and the loosely curled ends of her hair added to her mature air. And on her exposed left ear she wore gold earrings. The earrings were large enough to make her earlobes look as if they were drooping, yet they complemented her fashion and indicated her exceptionality.
This girl with such an outstanding appearance was staring at me intently... I couldn't help but wonder what kind of virtue I had accumulated in my past life to have someone like her worrying about me. No, it wasn't that.
...To be worried about by people like her, what kind of misdeeds did I commit before I lost my memory (Amnesia)?
But for now, it's important to relieve her worries. That's the minimum courtesy I owe her for visiting me.
And then she spoke.
"Hehe, gotcha. So you really are in the hospital."
She...laughed.
I was prepared to respond with words of gratitude, thinking she would express her worries, but instead, I almost slipped off the bed in surprise.
But from that point on, I really felt like I was going to fall off the bed.
"I've never been hospitalized before, you know. How was your everyday life? Is it boring? Or surprisingly interesting? By the way, is it true that you have amnesia?"
"H-Hold on a second! Is amnesia really treated so lightly? As for my memories-"
"Heh, 'As for my memories,' even though you have no memories. You're quite entertaining even without your memories."
The ash-black beauty couldn't help but laugh, breaking her composure.
I was stunned, and the nurse watching from behind seemed equally perplexed.
The hospital room seemed to have been taken over by her for a moment, creating a strange illusion.
The Dominatrix, with her behavior seemingly outside the realm of common sense, was unsettling.
According to the nurse, this eccentric beauty was supposed to be my girlfriend, but based on our first meeting, I couldn't help but think of her as a "self-proclaimed girlfriend".
It felt like a classmate or someone from my past was teasing me, a person with amnesia.
Hoping that this speculation was correct, I asked the ash-black beauty:
"As you mentioned, I don't have any memories of acquaintances. So I'd appreciate it if you could tell me your name."
"Huh?"
After a moment of confusion, the beauty pressed her slender, long forefinger to her own chin. Despite her seemingly vacant expression, her series of movements exuded elegance and refinement.
"Hmm. Try to guess," she said.
"No way, it's impossible. How many names do you think there are in this world? Can you at least give me a hint or something?"
"A hint, huh?"
The beauty groaned softly and then clapped her hands together.
I had a bad feeling.
Before I could react, she grabbed my arm.
A cool, chilling sensation passed through her delicate hand.
I tensed at the smooth texture of her skin, something typical of a young woman.
"All right, I'll give you a hint," she said.
"Huh?"
"Naaaahhh?!"
"Oh my, naughty," she said, blushing on purpose.
I forced myself away from her and retreated to the edge of the bed.
Behind her, the nurse's eyes widened in shock.
The contorted expression on her face seemed even more serious than when I was diagnosed with amnesia.
"Are you crazy?!"
"Huh? Crazy? The crazy one is you. You're skipping over my memories, so it must be true."
"This is what amnesia is called! Nurse, help! This person is suspicious!"
"But... I just checked her visitor's card earlier..."
"Given the current situation, isn't that the least of our worries?"
While I was arguing with the confused nurse, the beauty approached and placed her hand on her cheek.
Then, with a violent twist, she redirected my gaze.
Crack!
An unpleasant sound echoed from my neck.
As my gaze shifted from the nurse to the beauty, she lowered the corner of her eye.
"So did you remember?"
"I feel like I almost died."
"Hehe, you're still entertaining."
Her hands remained pressed against my cheeks.
Just within reach, her skin was flawlessly smooth and pure white, as if radiating the glow of the sun. Her eyes were so dazzling that I could almost mistake them for emitting light themselves. Her long lashes curled upward, accentuating the size of her eyes. Although she was right in front of me, I felt like I was watching her through a screen, mesmerized by her exquisite beauty.
As I found myself inadvertently mesmerized, the beauty smiled, lifting the corners of her mouth.
"I'll tell you my name. If you forget it again, I'll give you a good beating."
"You're pretty aggressive with your threats!"
I replied in a muffled voice as my cheeks were still being held. The black-haired beauty blinked her eyes and moved away from me, raising her head with a confident smile.
"I am Arisugawa Saki. I came to see you, even though I'm busy."
Silence fell over us. I thought there was more to her statement, but Arisugawa Saki tilted her head and looked at me curiously. Apparently, there was no continuation after her introduction, and it was my turn to answer.
I struggled to gather my thoughts, wondering if her later remark was a joke or meant to be taken seriously. Considering her previous behavior, I had a feeling it was the latter. With that in mind, I mustered a response.
"...N-Nice to meet you. Arisugawa...san?"
Arisugawa raised a hand and replied, "Yes, nice to meet you too. Since I'm your girlfriend, you don't have to use 'san'."
"Is... is it true that you're really my girlfriend?"
It was mentioned so casually that I almost missed it. Considering how different it was from Asuka's interactions, it was hard to believe that it came from Arisugawa herself.
"Uh-huh. You must be really happy to have such a cute girlfriend, right?"
"To be honest, was it all just a joke?"
"Huh?"
Arisugawa Saki's eyes widened in response to my blunt question. Tears welled up in her large, captivating eyes, and she covered them with her hands.
"How cruel..."
"W-Wait, I'm sorry! It was all a joke, I swear!"
Caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events, I stumbled over my words. I desperately tried to make eye contact with the nurse, but she just looked away.
"You're the worst."
"Is this all my fault?"
I protested, but from the nurse's point of view, I looked like someone who had played two women and even made one of them cry. Given the relationship that was now established, it was inevitable that I wouldn't get any protection. It's very likely that I was a terrible person in my past.
According to the doctor, my memories may or may not come back. But if they do, will those women be toyed with again? I couldn't bear the thought of that. I didn't want those who had once been involved with me to experience such a future, even if the other person was my past self. They were my enemies now, just as I am now.
Telling the truth about my past self who had engaged in a two-timing relationship would be a form of atonement as a human being. I had unintentionally achieved the first priority of alleviating Arisugawa's worries, and now I could say it without any reservations.
"I am sorry. If it's true that you're his girlfriend, then the previous me was a terrible person."
"Huh? Why?"
Arisugawa quickly moved her hand aside, her face filled with surprise. Although she had cried earlier, her eyes showed no signs of it. I couldn't help but wonder if she had really cried. Pushing that doubt to the back of my mind, I spoke up.
"Someone appeared before you who claimed to be my girlfriend. Apparently, she was my childhood friend. If both she and you are telling the truth, then I was involved with both of you. That would mean that I was two-timing you. So..."
"Well, if you kiss me, I'll forgive you."
"Huh?"
"I'll forgive you if you kiss me."
I swallowed the words that were about to escape my throat when I heard her repeated statement. Kiss. Even with my confused mind, I clearly understood the meaning behind that word.
"I-I won't do it! Do you realize that I'm a cheater? No, not just a cheater, I'm an even worse two-timer! A man who had two girlfriends!"
In response to Arisugawa's unexpected words, I hastily shot back. However, she nonchalantly curved her lips into a smile.
"Yes. That's because you have enough charm to attract someone like me. If you're my girlfriend, you should have that kind of determination. You're amazing," Arisugawa said.
"What does that mean?"
"It means that I forgive you. I won't ask you to break up with her, so don't worry."
It seems that the girl in front of me has a surprising set of values that would amaze others. Or maybe, what was that crying act earlier? It's hard to believe that someone like her could shed tears so easily. As if answering my question, Arisugawa smiled, her lips curving upwards.
...Yes, it was definitely fake crying.
But that is separate from the current conversation.
"Hey, is it really okay for you to forgive such a reckless act? I've never heard of two-timing being acceptable. Usually you have one partner in a relationship, right?"
"Ahaha, but you have amnesia, so of course you wouldn't have heard of it."
"Don't you have any sense of decency?"
I couldn't help but retort, ignoring my past actions. Arisugawa shook her shoulders and laughed. Her white skin peeking through her camisole seemed to mock me.
"That's why it's okay. The other person is Asuka, right? My approval makes your cheating valid. Hooray, it's a heavenly paradise to be surrounded by two beautiful girls."
"Wait a minute. Arisugawa and Asuka know each other? Does that mean they went to the same high school?! It's too different from what I remember, and it's scary!"
Even though I have memories other than personal relationships, it is disconcerting to wake up and realize that I no longer understand what common sense was.
"Wait, how do you know that Asuka is..."
"Hehe, I wonder why you know that. Oh, I know! Let's ask Asuka," Arisugawa suggested, taking out her smartphone.
"N-No, stop!"
I hurriedly tried to stop Arisugawa who was about to make the call. Revealing this truth wouldn't make anyone happy. It might be the consequence of my own actions, even though I lost my memories. But Asuka is innocent in all of this.
Normally, anyone wouldn't like having a two-timing girlfriend, and yet Arisugawa casually talks about it as if it's no big deal. She's really unpredictable.
However, leaving the situation as it is would be problematic. There's a risk that Arisugawa might tell Asuka the truth, and if my memories were to return, this relationship might continue in a deceitful manner. I gathered my courage and spoke up.
"Hey, what if we break up?"
"Huh? But I already agreed to it, isn't that okay?"
Asuka gave me the impression of being straightforward, unlike Arisugawa, whose nature is hard to understand. I couldn't imagine her as someone who would continue a relationship while tolerating cheating.
"It's not just that you agreed. Asuka didn't agree to this relationship, did she? If that's the case, we should break up."
As if Arisugawa could read my thoughts, she narrowed her eyes at me.
"Oh, really? Why?"
"If this gets out, we'll get a lot of criticism from others. From people around us, from different people. If it's because of me, someone without memories, both you and Asuka will be inconvenienced."
"It won't be a problem."
"It will be. And besides, I--"
A thud. She pushed me down hard.
I fell back onto the bed with a loud crash.
When I tried to protest her actions, my mouth was covered by her hand. I couldn't move as she put her weight on my chest and face. Arisugawa Saki was only a few centimeters away from me, even closer than before.
And this time, she didn't stop.
Easily.
With an incredibly gentle touch, she covered my lips with hers. It felt like my mind was exploding. A captivating sensation washed over me, making it difficult to process the overwhelming emotions conveyed by that brief kiss. Arisugawa Saki then pulled away, her lips glistening as she spoke in a completely different tone.
"...If anyone speaks ill of you, I'll kill them."
A cold breeze blew through the window between us, even though it was spring.
"...No one has died, it's the same as before."
Her cold gaze pierced my body. The icy gaze emanating from Arisugawa was incredibly intense. I felt as if I had experienced this sensation before, as if the previous version of me was remembering something. Doctors would say that such a phenomenon is impossible...
Unable to find an answer, I closed my mouth, and Arisugawa blinked her eyes and burst out laughing.
"Hehe, it was a joke. Don't take it so seriously."
I blinked in surprise.
"But isn't a joke supposed to stop right before it crosses the line?"
"Is it? Thanks, I learned something."
Arisugawa chuckled softly and put her hand to her lips.
Her lips, the color of cherry blossoms.
Her appearance may be delicate, but I just noticed that her lips have undeniable elasticity.
"Hey, I feel like I know why you only lost your memories of relationships," I said, looking intently at Arisugawa's face.
"Then you know something?" I asked.
"Yes, I know something," Arisugawa replied with a suggestive smile and placed her index finger on her lips.
"If you want me to tell you different things, let's continue this relationship. After all, you might learn something later," she suggested.
"Why are you so determined to continue this?" I asked.
"Because I like you, isn't that obvious?" Arisugawa said with a flat tone.
...With her earlier fake tears and now this, I couldn't help but feel that something was wrong with her. The possibility of my past self being involved in a love triangle and the possibility of Arisugawa telling lies.
However, if Arisugawa really knew something that could be the cause of my amnesia...
"But seriously, my memory still hasn't returned. I thought it might be like the Snow White scenario, where a kiss brings back memories," I remarked.
"That kind of romantic development wasn't meant for this situation, huh?" she laughed.
"Hehe, you're right. Well, let's create a more romantic atmosphere next time," Arisugawa suggested, completely ignoring my reaction as she stretched her body.
A warm spring breeze blew in through the window, and silence finally returned to the hospital room. My confused mind slowly regained its composure and I took a deep breath.
"By the way, I heard you're going to be discharged soon, right? I left some books as a gift, so if you have some free time, feel free to read them," she mentioned.
I looked down and noticed a plastic bag with two books next to the bed.
"Oh, those... I'll read them later," I replied quietly to the first coherent words she had spoken today.
Arisugawa nodded once and turned away. Her graceful movement indicated that she was done here and was about to leave. There are still many questions I have regarding Arisugawa, but it seems I'll have to pursue them another time. I keep my eyes on her back, as if to say goodbye, when Arisugawa suddenly turns around.
"Oh, by the way, if we meet at school, I'll help you out. After all, I'm the queen of the three major factions. So you can count on me," she said.
"What's with the weird title..." I muttered.
"Oh, come on, it sounds cool!" she replied.
Arisugawa Saki, a name that fits her selfish nature, is undoubtedly the embodiment of immense self-confidence. There's no doubt that she will be someone I can rely on in my future life. If Arisugawa Saki were to become an ally in my school life, there would be nothing more reassuring for me at this point. That is, if it weren't for the bizarre situation of her claiming to be my second girlfriend. If it weren't for the fact that the three of us - me, Arisugawa and Asuka - are in the same school. While I was pondering these thoughts, Arisugawa's face peeked through the closing door.
"Oh, right. I'll bring another person. Just wait here," she says.
"Another person?"
Unable to grasp the meaning, I unintentionally echoed her words. However, Arisugawa quickly disappeared from sight and her footsteps faded away.
After a few seconds of stiffness, I jumped out of bed, ran across the room, and opened the door.
The nurse, who had apparently waited nearby until Arisugawa had left, flinched and trembled at my sudden movement.
But that was no longer important. I asked the nurse, "What do you think she meant by 'another person'?"
"I... I think it means exactly what it sounds like," the nurse replied in a colder tone than before.
◇◆
A few minutes after Arisugawa left the room, a small knock sounded through the door.
Tentatively, I looked towards the sound, but the door remained closed. There was silence for a few seconds. Then there was another light knock on the door.
At that moment I realized that if I didn't answer, the door would not open. Knocking before entering is a common courtesy, but Asuka was already in the room without any warning, and Arisugawa had startled the nurse by bursting in unannounced.
I had come to expect that those who claimed to be my girlfriends were all of a similar nature, but this was unexpected, and yet it was the way it was supposed to be.
"Please come in," I replied, and the door opened modestly, revealing a small gap of about twenty centimeters through which I could see the hallway.
The next moment, a girl with auburn hair poked her face through the crack.
The ends of her bobbed hair bounced up, giving a slightly different first impression than the previous girls.
"Senpai," she said as the door opened with a rattling sound and the girl with the chestnut bobbed hair walked smoothly into the room.
"Um... hello," I replied, seemingly nervous.
It created a slight gap in my expectations, as she responded to me normally, unlike before.
According to Azusagawa, this girl also seemed to be aware that I had other girlfriends. I expected to meet someone eccentric, but she was even more charming than the other girls. If the other two could be described as beautiful, this girl was in the purest category of cuteness.
All the girls I've met so far have been beautiful and cute, which makes me wonder if all girls my age can be divided into two categories: cute or beautiful.
The girl walked towards me at a trot, her eyes wandering.
"Um, Senpai," she said.
"Huh?" I replied.
"Ahem. Senpai," she corrected herself.
Even though she was just correcting herself, her wavering eyes seemed to be begging me not to inquire any further.
I pretended not to notice and urged her to continue in silence.
"Ar-are you... okay?" she asked.
"...Do I look okay?" I replied.
"Huh!? Right, sorry! Sorry!" she exclaimed hastily.
"Wait, if I seemed harsh, I apologize! Please wait!"
I hastily stopped her from turning around and walking away. I couldn't let her go without knowing anything.
After all, I hadn't even asked her name.
"I'm Yuki Sanada! Can you tell me your name?"
Her hand that was on the doorknob suddenly stopped.
She turned around, shaking slightly.
"S-senpai... did you forget about me?" she said, her voice trembling.
"I'm sorry,"
I apologized reflexively. When someone is so directly sad, no other words come to mind. There's no denying that erasing memories was a terrible thing to do to her.
However, it was the first time I had apologized so naturally.
"I'm sorry" is not enough! What am I supposed to do when you're gone?" she exclaimed.
"Well, I'm still alive, you know?" I replied. "
"In my heart, Senpai has died!" she said.
"That's a really harsh thing to say! Are you like this by nature?" I replied, feeling the blow of her unexpected attack.
I coughed up blood as I replied. She regained her composure and continued.
"I'm sorry, my true feelings just slipped out..."
"You're not really apologizing, and it hurt even more," I said.
The first impression that she was completely different from Asuka and Arisugawa remained unchanged. But being different doesn't mean that she isn't unique herself.
Since she's willing to accept being involved with multiple people, it's natural for her to be different.
"By the way, were you really that dependent on me?"
It sounded incredibly painful to hear from an outsider, but I had no choice but to put everything into words to clear my doubts.
I frowned at my own words, which were released into the hospital room, and waited for her answer.
"N-no, I wasn't addicted... We just exchanged messages on LINE occasionally," she said.
"How many messages a day?" I asked.
"Two hundred," she replied.
"Two hundred?" I repeated.
Now I understood - this girl is the most eccentric of all. I never expected to meet someone even more eccentric than Arisugawa.
The girl with the wavy chestnut hair shook her head vigorously and continued to speak.
"I-it's okay. It's just my highest record! Besides, I asked you to turn off the notifications before. Then I didn't get any messages from you for a while."
"I guess I'm pretty terrible too..."
I thought to myself. As someone who is involved with three girlfriends, I really have some nerve. The gap between my own sense of normalcy, my actions, and the actions of those around me is too great.
It's at a level where I don't want my memories to come back. Even if my memories came back in my current state of mind, I don't think I could keep up with what's going on around me.
Maybe I didn't answer because I couldn't keep up.
"By the way, can you tell me your name? I still don't know anything about you," I said.
In response to my question, she hesitated for a moment before answering.
"I see... My name is Hina Fukunoe. Please call me Hina," she said.
"Okay, I call you, Hina," I replied.
There was a moment of silence and Hina's face quickly turned red.
"Wh-why are you calling me by my name?" she stammered.
"Because you asked me to!?" I replied.
It's strange, her reaction is too innocent. Even as someone with amnesia, simply being called by her name wouldn't cause such a reaction.
Asuka called me by my first name from the beginning, and Arisugawa even went so far as to kiss me.
"Um... Hina, you're going out with me, right?" I asked.
"Y-yes, that's right!" she replied.
"It's confusing with your reaction!"
It doesn't seem like Arisugawa was just teasing me. Within a short period of time since I acknowledged Arisugawa's existence, I've doubted her twice.
Since I hadn't heard the words "multiple girlfriends" from Asuka, I couldn't fully trust Arisugawa's claims. But judging by Hina's reaction, Arisugawa wasn't lying.
I mentally apologized to Arisugawa and continued talking to Hina.
"You don't need to be nervous. Even without my memories, I'm still me," I assured her.
"I'm sorry. I'm just really shy and I get nervous thinking about our first meeting..." Hina explained.
"Ah, so you're just shy around new people," I said.
Hina's explanation clicked with me somehow.
It made sense of her previous words and actions, and it made her even more adorable in my eyes.
"Well, don't be nervous," I reassured her.
"But... um, if you tell me not to be nervous, then I won't have a chance to relax from being nervous, will I?" she replied.
"I want to build on our time together in the future. I'm sure that feeling was there before," I said.
In one way or another, she had been friendly with me before.
Being treated so formally by someone like that for a long time feels a bit lonely, even without memories.
"S-Senpai..."
"Do you feel less nervous now?"
"Those fancy words don't suit you."
"Go home!"
I point to the exit of the hospital room.
Hina bursts out laughing and bows gracefully.
"Thank you very much. Thanks to you, I'm starting to get used to it. Even though I've lost my memories... talking like this doesn't really feel like we're meeting for the first time."
"I don't want to admit it, but if that's how you feel, then I guess it's okay."
Asuka is the same way, but it was clear that she had cherished the previous me.
For now, I wonder if I have fulfilled my obligation to have her visit me in the hospital.
"Yes. With this, I can continue to be a fan of Senpai."
"Huh?"
Hina opens her mouth with a smile on her face.
"I'm actually your biggest fan in the three-dimensional world. Just being able to be by your side makes me very happy."
"F-Fan?"
"Otaku go about their daily lives enjoying the offerings of their favorite characters. I'm a big fan of the two-dimensional world, but I'm also an Otaku who desperately wants to be supplied by the three-dimensional world. Lately, I've been living a boring life without any supply from you."
As Hina continues passionately, I relax my expression.
"So Hina's an otaku, huh?"
Hina, who had been gesturing and talking, stops.
Then she looks up at me with a slightly scared expression.
"Um... W-Well, do you... dislike otakus?"
"Why should I? I remember that there are a lot of people who love the two-dimensional world. That's no reason to be put off by someone."
As I say this, Hina blinks her eyes.
"I was told the same thing."
"By the previous me?"
The previous me had an outrageous personality and was involved with several people at once. Even though that was the case, I didn't feel bad about finding common ground.
Sixteen years of memories have disappeared from me.
However, when the people around me can remember the past through the present me, I can see that my present words and actions are built on that past.
Even in this seemingly fleeting moment, I'm sure I can find meaning.
"Just seeing your face today has increased the points of my life that are worth living. Senpai, would you like to go for a walk now? Before everyone else comes..."
Buzz. Hina's bag vibrates.
Hina takes out her smartphone, looks at the screen and sighs in disappointment.
"...It looks like the other friends are coming now. I wanted to talk a bit more."
Twisted words flow effortlessly from her adorable mouth.
And frighteningly enough, I find myself beginning to accept this situation as well.
Perhaps I've become accustomed to the unique environment of Amnesia, just as I've quickly become accustomed to the situation of having multiple girlfriends.
"We can talk anytime, right? Both of us."
When I say this to Hina, who seems to be depressed, she raises the corners of her mouth happily.
"I... love you, Senpai..."
Suddenly the door opens.
Unlike Hina's time, it opens wide all at once.
When the door was opened at the moment someone knocked, a head with ash-black hair and a head with light golden hair stood there. Arisugawa was in the lead, while Asuka held onto her shoulder from behind.
"Hey there, long time no see," Arisugawa waved her hand nonchalantly.
With an annoyed tone, Asuka replied, "Didn't we agree not to meet all at once? Seriously, think about Yuuki."
"Then, Asuka-san, shall you wait in the hallway?"
"Don't be ridiculous! You should be the one to wait in the hallway!"
"If I'm not here, Yuuki-kun will feel lonely."
Arisugawa replied nonchalantly. Ignoring Asuka's vehement objections of "That's not true!" and staring directly at her, she shifted her gaze to me.
In a situation like this, it's hard to make sense of things. I wanted to ask her to clarify the situation.
"Yuuki-kun, we are your girlfriends. Instead of being surrounded by flowers, you're covered in them, aren't you?"
Hina shrinks back due to Arisugawa's overbearing attitude, while Asuka stares directly at Arisugawa. Although everyone seems to have their own thoughts about Arisugawa, no one disagrees with her statement itself.
Seeing the three of them together, I couldn't help but accept the reality.
"So everyone really agrees..."
I sighed deeply at the uncertain future.
It's much better than going to school in a state where no one remembers me.
But even I, in my current state, understand the significant risks involved.
"What do you plan to do if this is revealed to everyone around us?"
"Huh? Didn't I tell you that before?"
Arisugawa puts her hand to her lips and tilts her head to the side.
Hina and Asuka don't seem to care and see it as a gesture, but I can feel it.
Arisugawa warned me, in a way only I could understand, not to make unnecessary remarks.
"...In this situation, how long have we been dating?"
"Well, I would say it's been about a year for me."
Arisugawa speaks a little eagerly.
"I've been dating for two years," Asuka answers next. Considering their status as childhood friends, it seems that they have a long-standing relationship. It's not common for high school students in the same class to have one or two years of dating experience.
After hearing Asuka's answer, Arisugawa pouts. "Oh, that's not fair. You've been dating longer."
"Don't say unnecessary things," Asuka kicks back at Arisugawa and then turns to Hina with a soft smile. "And what about you, Hina-chan? Sorry, it must be difficult to talk with this person around."
"Oh no, not at all... Um, I've been dating for about six months," Hina answers with a slight stutter. It's uncertain whether she's activating her shyness or simply feeling nervous in the presence of the two dazzling individuals.
If it's nervousness, Arisugawa, who is probably the main cause, doesn't seem to pay any attention and continues to smile brightly. "Yes, this is our Hina-chan."
"Yes, thank you very much," Hina replies while I cheer her on in my heart. But even if I were in the opposite position, I'm not sure I could argue with Arisugawa. She has a strangely unapproachable aura.
"Anyway, after you're released, we'll support you, so rest assured and come back to school," Asuka brushes her hair and tucks it behind her ear.
Gracefully.
Lively.
Elegantly.
In this overwhelming scene, Arisugawa Saki begins to speak.
"Yuuki-kun, the three of us are your girlfriends."
Even in the face of such an unforgettable scene, there is no sign of my memories returning. Among the clues to finding my memories, this situation is probably the most significant.
"Thank you. I appreciate it."
This statement signifies my acceptance of the current situation. Each of the three friends smiles differently and responds to me.
The door opens with a resounding noise.
A new chapter of my life begins in this strange environment, in this unique situation.
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