The summer feels eternal. It's ironic how you wish for just a single gust of wind in the middle of the summer yet once the winter arrives, you wish for the exact opposite.

Along with that, the cicadas perform a full-on opera with their loud noises. It becomes impossible to ignore them despite how annoying they are.

"Kogami! Get back to training!"

"I don't want to! I already told you, I will not---"

It's not so horrible but once you are stuck with this routine every day of the summer, you will eventually grow a stagnant desire of abandoning everything. It's natural, so to say.

But...

Just what is this place? Why is the sun so bright? I can't see anything in front of me.

Who is speaking to me, right now?

Those last words, they were mine, right? If so, then to who am I speaking right now?

Unfortunately, that moment where I could only see the bright sunlight was transient to the point where I moved on to another scenario.

And in this scenario, I am receiving a massive beating for some reason.

Someone is striking me down with a wooden sword while I'm just cowering on the floor trying to protect myself.

"Kogami! How many times do I have to tell you that's not the correct way!?"

" , stop it already!! I can't do this! It's impossible for me! I'm useless and weak!"

Huh? What?

Why couldn't I say that first word?

The sunlight keeps blocking my vision... I can't feel anything excepting the blazing heat and my ears are experiencing a never-ending resonance of orchestrated cicada noises...

Just what is happening even?

And yet again, the scenery changed, but I soon realized something.

Who was speaking to whom didn't matter. Because it wasn't my option to talk in the first place.

"This wasn't supposed to happen! , hang in there! I'll save you right now! I really will, so stay with me, !"

Different from the other scenarios, the sunlight is nowhere to be seen yet the scene was fully dark. It was impossible to capture what was even happening.

"Kogami..."

"Stay with me! Stay with me! Don't go anywhere, !! This can't be happening! Damn it, this wasn't supposed to be happening!!"

Although this event is beyond my knowledge, my heart feels shattered for some reason.

It was hard to stay inside this moment.

What is this feeling? Why does my heart feel like it just got split in half?

This is too scary. I don't want this.

That's enough, I really don't want to be here any longer.

Someone stop this. It's horrifying. I have no clue why but I'm feeling so sad right now.

".....................ko................"

Why is there blood in my hands?

Is this my fault?

Why can't I tell what's happening!? This is so confusing! Why am I even feeling this way?!

Nothing is making any damn sense!!!

"Akihiko!!"

"Guaaaah!!"

After hearing a fragile yet strong voice pierce my eardrums, I came back to reality right away.

"....Another dre--- GAAAAH!"

What is this pain!? What?

"Stay still! You're not okay! You need to rest, right now! Lay down!"

Huh? Huh?

Who is this person?

Where am I?

What happened!?

Why is my body in so much pain!?

Why are my fists wounded like this?! Why do my lips feel like hell?!

How come my whole body won't stop trembling?!

What the hell is going on!?

As I entered a state of confusion, I could not obey this strange person's orders and uncontrollably looked around for clues.

Right now, I am laying down on a bed and this seems like an infirmary.

Oh god, I am injured!?

What!?

"Akihiko... You were badly injured..."

That voice...

I looked right away to my left side and there she was.

"Young man, stay still! It's not good for your injuries if you keep on violently moving around like that!"

And that voice again, that belongs to the person who is all the way on a sink.

Why is he preparing a serum...? That needle is huge though.

Why is he coming my way?

"S-Sana, what is happening!?"

I ignored the massive pain in my left hand and grabbed Sana's fragile right forearm which was extended right away.

"Calm down! As the doctor said, you are badly injured...."

"Okay, but why though?"

"Don't you remember, Akihiko?"

Remember...?

Why am I here in the first place...?

Let's try recalling past events.

.....................

Sana and I got called to the principal's office, after that she started arguing and after that...

A guard? With a baston? But why?

No, why did I get beat up afterwards....?

Especially by a lot of students...?

Talk about embarrassing...

But I remember something! I told Sana to contact a teacher, so she must have...

"I remember now! I was getting beaten up and then I told you to call a teacher and that must've been what happened! Your actions saved me, Sana!"

"N-NO, I....!"

"You don't have to say it! I'm heavily injured but what matters is that you called out a teacher to my rescue! I am so grateful! Surely, I must've been beaten up quite hard..."

"Akihiko, you are missund-"

"Again, don't mention it. And, it was my fault. I'll not talk to myself again. It was reasonable for you to create an argument over my own idiocy. I'm at fault for not seeing how wrong I was. As a consequence, the guard beat me up. It's pretty embarrassing but I guess I got my ass handed by a lot of students huh...? I have to know my limits. Look, it's my bad here. I'll be a good boy from now on!"

Wow... She really saved my ass back then. In my memory, I am getting beaten up by some other students along with the guard, but the fact that despite all this she immediately called out to one of our teachers as I asked...

What a saviour.

Yet, she's looking down now.

Why?

"Stay still."

In the meantime, the doctor had arrived with a serum needle.

Stay away, please.

"W-What are you going to do?!"

"This is for your own good, young man."

"No, it's not! That's evil! Get that needle away from me right now! I hate needles! They are scary! Eeeeeeek!!"

"Are you going to act that way in front of a girl?"

"My safety is a million times way more important!!"

But my words were useless.

This sly old man just keeps on approaching my left arm without showing any signs of stopping. I really want to move my arm, but I have no strength.

If I was beaten up this badly then I should stay away from them...

Furthermore, it's thanks to her that I'm still alive...

I could have died back there!! But the fact that I didn't indicates that she's completely the sole reason as to why I'm still alive!

"You're exaggerating. Also, be sure to thank the young girl for calling out to a teacher back then. Because from what your teacher told me, you got beaten up pretty badly. Well, it doesn't take a teacher to tell me that... Just by looking at your hands anyone can immediately tell that the case was like that..."

He's right.

And so, I looked at Sana once again.

My gratitude must get to her, even if I'm feeling a plethora of different types of pain right now.

However, to my surprise, Sana's hands were covering her face while she crooked down her posture to her knees.

Why is she acting like this...?

"Hey, Sana... Look at me, I have something important to say."

"No..... Don't say that, please.... This is too much."

How weird... Why isn't she looking at me in the face...?

Wait...

Could it be that she's worried about me?

That's it...

On top of being my saviour, she's worried about my current condition, but she's such a humble person to the point where she refuses to accept any type of gratitude.

So that's why she doesn't want to hear my words because she blames herself over the fact that I got beaten up!

And what's more, Sana probably thinks that if she was more competent that she could have done way more!

That must be it!

But, Sana. It's not your fault...

It's my own for being too weak and being annoying. And so, you must know the truth.

Thus, I reached out my two hands which were with bits of blood over it to her crying face and removed her soft hands from her face.

Someone as kind as you don't deserve to cry, Sana.

"Sana, I need you to look at me."

"No, please don't..."

Despite her hands being off her face, she continued to cry.

Seriously, what a gentle girl you are...

"Stop. Just listen to me. Don't blame yourself. You did the right thing and without you, I was probably going to go through a whole lot more. The fact that you called out one of our teachers to intervene in the scene turned out to be crucial. And besides, it's my fault. If I wasn't annoying in the first place then we wouldn't be called to the principal's office and then this whole argument which led to this unfortunate event wouldn't happen. It's my fault and that's why you can't blame yourself."

Sana has to understand every point of the story here.

I recall what truly happened. After I told her to call out to one of our teachers, I was dragged outside by the guard who unreasonably grabbed my ankle and then threw me into the ground where I got beaten up by multiple students.

Kicks after kicks. Truly a terrifying sight yet in spite of this, despite Sana's initial terror, she was courageous enough to call out to a teacher.

While it would seem normal for someone to do that, it is hard to do that for someone who is annoying to you, which just reflects how kind she is. Despite the fact that this was all my fault, Sana nonetheless strived to do the right thing.

That's amazing!

"You don't have to cry... You can stop, Sana. I'm really grateful, alright? I... don't know how I can repay this to you, but I'll stop causing you troubles. You mentioned how you wanted freedom as soon as possible? I get it. I'm also at fault regarding that. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

While it is regrettable that I can't do anything to virtually repay her right away, except by telling her words of gratitude, there should be some way to further show her how thankful I am.

"Sana........ What... What can I do to show you how grateful I am? Just tell me something and I will do it."

But she won't look at me, even though I am looking at her.

She's really fragile but kind.

Emotional yet caring.

I can't allow this type of events to unfold once again. I'll at least make sure that I keep that in check.

Also, this bastard stabbed me with the needle in the meantime.

"See? It didn't hurt, did it? Your name is Akihiko, right?"

"Yes... But I'm having an important conversation right now, so could you---"

"While it isn't any of my business what happened, wouldn't it be better if you allowed her to speak? She was the one who truly called out your teacher but don't you think it's important to let her explain the version of the story...?"

.......................

He's possibly right. I've been a bit obnoxious with my non-stopping dialogue.

"Alright... Sana, can you tell me what truly happened, then?"

I still didn't allow her to place her hands on her face again, because she doesn't have a reason to cry.

Sana has to realize that she's not at fault here.

"It's not like you think, Akihiko... I didn't do anything..."

"But you called out a teacher, right? If that's the case, then you did do something."

"I did call out Basara-sensei, but... It wasn't immediate. I was too scared to move firstly..."

"Sana, it's alright. I understa--"

"Akihiko, don't interrupt her..."

The sly old man firmly interrupted me straight up.

He's right though.

I'm developing a bad habit, aren't I?

"Sorry, go on, Sana."

"You were getting beaten up by a lot of students, and so, I hid in a certain place out of fear... It took me time to gather courage but when I did try and reach out to Basara-sensei, you were... beating up a student from class A..."

Huh?

"No, no, that's impossible, because I have never fought in my whole life. And besides, I lost consciousness while I was getting kicked all over the place, Sana."

"But it did happen! I saw it with my own two eyes! I don't know what happened in detail but you were standing up, Akihiko!"

"Sana... That's impossible. There is no possible way for a person who loses consciousness to stand up in the first place. Look, I'll even ask the doctor. Doc, is that phenomenon possible?"

Unfortunately, the doctor was preparing yet another serum.

"Under normal circumstances no. It's very unlikely. And I don't believe that someone like you can pull it off. Well, I'm not an expert in that area so my take on that is that it's not possible."

"But I saw it! It really happened, okay!? Minutes earlier you were getting ganged up, but minutes later you were standing up! And according to you, you have never fought your whole life, right!?"

"That's true, Sana. That's why it's impossible. Are you sure you didn't hallucinate the whole event?"

"I didn't hallucinate anything! It honestly happened!! Why can't you just believe me?!"

"There's no reason to be flustered, Sana. You don't have to make up plausible arguments or scenarios just to make me feel better. I'm aware of how weak and pathetic I am..."

It's been on my mind for a while. Since Sana is a very kind person, she might try to make myself feel less bad about the situation, but I can't allow that to happen.

"I'm not making anything up, you jerk! You were also about to be attacked by the block's guard!"

"But, you saved me, didn't you? By calling out Basara-sensei, you---"

"That's not my point, Akihiko! It's all my fault and you are misunderstanding this! Please stop assuming that I rescued you when I didn't!"

"That's not true, Sana. You were the one responsible for my current state. Ahhh! I don't mean that in the sense where I got beaten up because of you, but I'm still alive thanks to you! If you didn't have the courage to act then I would most likely be dead right now!"

"No, no! Listen to me, Akihiko! By the time I decided to reach out to Basara-sensei, you were standing up and fighting that student while the guard was watching. All of the students from class A were gone as well! Can't you see!? It doesn't add up and that's because you did all of that by yourself!"

What...?

She's not making any sense.

Sana is saying that I actually stood up and fought someone...

Even if this is her way of showing gratitude, her lies are getting a little bit too much on my skin...

"Sana, stop it already... We both know that's not possible... I understand what you are trying to achieve here. Just stop, please... I feel bad enough already for my own lamentable sorry state..."

Yet despite my words, Sana got up from her seat and exalted herself in an aggressive way.

"You don't get what I'm trying to achieve here, Akihiko! You just don't get it! You said that you were saved because of me, but that's not true, this is all my fault! If it wasn't for my moody decisions then this wouldn't have happened in the first place! And, and! Why are you refusing to believe me!? Why!? Just why!?"

"Because, Sana, what you just said is completely not true... I've never fought in my whole life, so how could I even stand up in the first place. Plus, I lost consciousness while I was getting kicked yet you are suggesting that I somehow was still fighting. ....What? You're taking this too far for a joke..."

"It's not a joke... You were standing up with your eyes closed! Just ask Basara-sensei about it later!"

"Sana, I'm not going to ask something that's a blatant lie... Are you listening to yourself even? You just said that I fought with my eyes closed... That's not possible."

"I know it's not possible but it happened and that's confusing the hell out of me! Doctor, there must be a logical explanation to this, right?"

Oh right, yet another needle was stabbed in my right arm but I was too distracted to even notice.

"I'm not trying to make you upset, Sana, but Akihiko has a point. Again, I'm no expert regarding this area, but it's just not possible for someone to fight with their eyes closed, especially when someone is supposedly unconscious. Your version of the story doesn't make much sense..."

"What!? Why is it so hard for you two to believe me!? Do you two have something against me, is that it?! Just say it if you do! Because I'm not going to stand here and be a fool while I'm explaining what truly happened out of goodwill! Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is to confess something like this!? You two don't, do you?!"

This time, I could not let Sana have her way with her own words since they were not true anymore.

"What about you? Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is for me to confess all this? What, do you think it's just easy or something? Don't be like this, Sana. I don't believe you because you are not making any sense and you know this, but to think that you would say those words even when they are not true..."

"How can you even propose such a thing?! Does it hurt to believe me or something!?"

Sana was basically almost spitting fire and looked ready to kill me.

"It's about making sense, Sana. I've told you how I have never gotten into a fight yet you suggested that I somehow fought a person. I'll let you onto something as well. I have extreme anxiety and constant fear from my surroundings, but nonetheless. according to you, I fought someone! How ridiculous can you be?!"

"I know it doesn't make sense and I've explained to you why, but you still have to believe me! Do you realize how guilty I feel right now!? You don't! Furthermore, you keep claiming that I saved you but really all I did was to cower myself in a damn toilet! So, stop claiming things that are not true at all, Akihiko!"

"What is wrong with you? Why can't you accept my gratitude? What? Is it seriously that much?"

"Yes, yes it is! Because you have no reason to be grateful... After all, all I did lead you to this state..."

...This has turned itself into the wrong direction.

"Can't you both just admit being at fault without needing to prioritize who has the superior blame?"

The doctor said such a thing.

And both Sana and I fell silent for a while.

But, I can't agree with his words in this scenario.

"I am to blame. I've already explained why. Whether she refuses to believe this or not, is up to her."

"God, you are such a hypocrite! You say those words yet you refuse to believe my words! What do you gain by making claims that are higher than what they suggest!? A sense of morality? Mental satisfaction!? Is that it? Are you prioritizing the way you feel over the truth?!"

She seemed to have misunderstood some things.

"It's not that. It's about credibility. Is it wrong to prioritize credibility?"

"So... you don't care for my own words...?"

"I do. But I also care about the logic in your own words and by far, it's none."

"...Make up your mind. My own words or the logic in them?"

Why is she acting like this?

Am I saying something wrong here?

"Both? If your words made sense, then I would believe them. But they don't, so I refuse to believe them. But, I'm still grateful nonetheles--"

"I don't care about your gratitude! Because your gratitude is not correct and it's fabricated!"

"Say what!?"

"Bah, forget it! I'm done here! I was so stupid to think something would be different from you but you still remain the same annoying prick every damn time! Enjoy failing the exam!"

"Huh?! Failing the exam!? What are you talking about!? Hey, Sana, where are you goin-- Ahhhkk!!"

Not good, this pain is far too painful. Getting up isn't even an option.

"Hmpf."

Did she just seriously do that?!

On top of that, Sana had left the infirmary room straight away out of spite while I stood there in this hospital looking bed contemplating my injuries.

Furthermore, the door got slammed way too hard.

How did it come to this?

"That was something."

"You tell me..."

The doctor whose name I still didn't know made that unnecessary side comment but I just couldn't help but agree with him right away.

Also, something interesting and worrying was the fact that Sana mentioned the exam...

If I recall correctly, it's a physical education one...

So...

"Wait, how the hell am I going to do it if I'm this injured!? No way I can!! AHHHHHH!!!!"

I let out a wild and paranoic scream suddenly.

"Hey, doc, why aren't I feeling that much pain anymore?"

Coincidentally, my body wasn't aching in pain like it was previously...

Therefore, I decided to ask that question to the old man, who still somehow has some white hair left in his head, out of curiosity.

Then again, he won't stop messing with the serums.

And why is this geezer facing me with his back when I'm speaking to him? Oi.

"It's thanks to the pain serums and antibiotics. They have eased the amount of pain you are feeling... Also, you will need to stay in recovery for about 2 weeks or so..."

"2 weeks!? I can't do that! I don't think that I'm allowed to miss out on classes..."

Or maybe I could, but previously, when Basara-sensei was our homeroom teacher, we just couldn't.

Although I have no recollection of what happened in the previous supply exam, most of us, the boys, came out severely injured.

And apparently, that was when I got amnesia too.

"Well, you certainly aren't in a condition to move around. Whether you like it or not, that's how it's gonna go!"

It's not like I disliked the possibility of recovering, but just the thought of receiving any conceivable consequence for it makes me scared.

Why do I have to potentially get punished when I almost got slaughtered for no reason?

"Geezer, what's your name? Sorry, I haven't asked."

"My name? Silvestre. Quite unusual, wouldn't you say?"

"Well... A little bit."

In comparison to my name, I can't deny that it is unusual.

"You and that girl argue quite a lot, don't you?"

"You mean Sana? Unfortunately, we do. You see, I have this bad habit of talking to myself out loud and she gets annoyed by it..."

"Once you start hitting my age, talking to yourself will be your everyday thing!"

"Wait, seriously?"

"Seriously! Only when you are young will the people around you think that it is strange, but as you grow older, the little irrelevant details start to not matter so much anymore."

Silvestre said those words as he handed me out a pill and a glass of water.

I immediately assumed that it was some sort of medicine and went on with it.

"Hey, Silvestre, I'm pretty screwed. I have a really important exam coming up but I won't be able to attend it. Do you have any advice right now? I'm trying not to freak out but I'm barely succeeding."

It's true, I've been feeling this way ever since I realized that I automatically excluded myself from the upcoming exam due to my horrible condition.

Hinagiku, I'm sorry, but you'll fail as well.

"Just recover for now. I can call your teacher if you want to since you aren't in any condition to move."

"Really? You can? Ahhh... But, it's fine, I really don't want you to force yourself..."

"Hahaha, just wait there. Where are you currently having class, Akihiko?"

I wish to stop him from doing what he is about to do since he seems to be forcing himself but I'm really in no position to do so.

"In one of the physical education fields. My teacher is a blonde woman, who is not so old. She's fairly young honestly. If you find someone like her, then talk to her... Her name is Yuka."

"Yuka, is it? I got it. I'll be back soon. In the meantime, take this pill, please."

"Aye."

Why are you feeding me so many pills, Silvestre?

Am I about to die or something?

Please don't scare me like that.

"......What am I going to do now...?"

From this room, there was a window right next to me, without blinds, so I could see a garden from afar.

In it, the stripped brown woods stood amidst the raining snow brilliantly.

Out of curiosity, I checked my wallet that was in my left pocket.

Because I didn't know whether or not those bullies had stolen any of my money or not.

Hey, money is crucial, okay? What is a human being without money today?

A straight vagabond, I'll tell you that.

"It's here... Well, at least that's comforting."

But something else caught my attention. On the backside of the wallet, in one of the mini-sleeves, there was a paper there.

I don't exactly remember ever putting a paper there...

"What does it say...?"

To my insatiable curiosity, as soon as I picked it up and unfolded it, all that was written was:

'Every month, it all ends.'

What?

"This is my letter right...?"

How strange... When did I write this...?

"Weird..."