"By the way, the other day, I met Saki-san at the smoking area and we talked. We were looking at job-hunting students and wondering if we could imagine ourselves in suits."

"Hmm. And then?"

"Saki-san said she couldn't do it."

"How's Yuito-kun?"

"I couldn't imagine it either. Or rather, I didn't want to imagine it. I don't want to think about the future that much. How about you, Rui-san?"

"Hmm... What do you think? Can you imagine me in a suit?"

I imagine it.

Rui-san is dressed in a suit and wearing heels.

"I think it suits you."

Rui-san has a great figure, so she looks good in anything she wears. She might even easily get a job offer from a major company.

But I didn't want to see it or have her wear it.

"That sounds a bit ambiguous, but being told that it suits me doesn't feel bad at all."

"When you were asked by Sakurada before, you said it was undecided. Are you going to participate in the internship after all?"

"No, I haven't really thought about it."

Rui-san said.

"My suit is still in the unpacked boxes. It's just a hassle to take it out."

What kind of reason is that? She's way too much of a social misfit.

I can't help but want to laugh.

But when I heard Rui-san answer like that, I felt relieved. I'm glad Rui-san hasn't been swallowed up by society.

I want her to stay the same. I truly feel that way.

"It's almost been half a year since we met, hasn't it, Yuito-kun?"

Rui-san suddenly brought it up.

Rui-san and I met around this spring. I still remember it clearly. Ever since the first day she came to the store, I have been watching her every time.

"Back then, I never imagined we would become this close."

I didn't think so either.

The person I admired moved into the apartment next door, we started talking, and now we even go for late-night walks together.

"Um, can I ask you something?"

"Anything you like."

"When Rui-san came to the store, you always said words of thanks, didn't you? Like 'you're grateful' or 'thank you, rabbit'."

"Yeah."

"What was the intention behind that?"

Every time Rui-san came to the store, she would change her words of thanks each time. Perhaps because I was drunk and my self-consciousness was loosened, I was able to ask straightforwardly.

"When I am asked directly about the intention behind my playful spirit, it somehow makes me feel embarrassed."

Rui-san covers her mouth with her sleeve and gives a wry smile.

"But, yeah. I think maybe I wanted to get your attention."

Eh, I was letting out a voice.

"I wanted to get closer to Yuito-kun. That's why I acted that way, hoping to get your attention."

"...Did you want to get along with me?"

I couldn't understand.

It's not that I'm good at studying or that I'm good at sports. It's not that I'm good-looking or that I have anything that people would like about me.

Rather, I was disliked.

Rui-san wanted to get along with someone like me.

My question of why was resolved in the next moment.

"When I first walked into that store and saw Yuito-kun at the register, I thought to myself, 'This person must really hate the whole world.'"

The moment those words were said, it felt like I had been hit on the head with a hammer.

Rui-san was right.

At first, I tried to fit in with the group. I needed to do that to survive. But in reality, I hated everything.

To flaunt his own superiority, that Wing bag belittles me in front of others.

The manager who spoke as if I were at fault, even though I wasn't.

Even the part-timers who subtly avoid me, believing the distorted rumors.

The guy at the center of the class who thinks he can get away with anything. The other kids in the class laugh along with his unfunny remarks.

I really hated everything and everyone. And above all, I hated myself for not being able to come to terms with the world.

But.

"...How did you know? That I can't stand the whole world."

No one had ever seen through that.

On the surface, I was just putting on a facade.

Because no one ever tried to take an interest in me.

"Hmm. Well, it's hard to say exactly. If I had to put it into words..."

"If you're going to put it into words?"

"Could it be because I'm similar to Yuito-kun?"

Rui-san said that and smiled at me.

The moment I saw that gentle expression, I suddenly felt like crying.

I always thought I was all alone.

In this world, I am the only alien. I cannot understand anyone.

But, there was. Another person. Someone who shared the same frequency. She was definitely here. The moment I realized that, my chest tightened to the point where I could hardly breathe.

And then, with a drunken mind, I thought again.

I like this person.

I like spending time with Rui-san.

If there are ten people, I dislike nine of them.

However, Rui-san is different.

She was the only important person to me.

―But, someday.

I remember what Saki-san said.

Even if things are good now, there may come a day when Rui-san will also be overwhelmed by the world.

There may come a time when she becomes consumed, and loses her luster.

If she doesn't go out into society like this.

If she graduates from university without getting a job. If she lives freely while working part-time. She might be poor and hungry, but she might be able to avoid being swallowed up by the world.

Even so, someday, the limit will come. The day will come when we lose our shine and wake up from the dream. The day will come when we can no longer be who we are now.

Surely, without something, one cannot continue to dream. That something might be youth or talent.

I'm scared of that time coming. Of the magic breaking. Of losing the one person who I could finally say was important to me in this world.

When that happens, I won't know how to live.

If I were to lose the light that is Rui-san, I would have no choice but to stand still in the darkness. I would lose sight of what to rely on from now on.

So, I want this moment to last forever. I don't want the parade to end. I want to keep walking through the midnight with Rui-san just like this.

"Actually, there's something I want to talk to Yuito-kun about."

Rui-san suddenly murmured that.

"Something you want to talk about?"

I felt something unsettling in that tone of voice.

"Do you remember the short story I had you read before?"

"Of course, I remember."

About fifty short stories were harshly criticized by the seminar students. Although the seminar students were said to have harshly criticized them, I thought those works were interesting.

"That short story, I submitted it to a public competition for new writers, and it won an award."

I was at a loss for words.

Rui-san won an award.

In the short story that everyone criticized, she was recognized. She achieved results.

The award that Rui-san mentioned was a famous newcomer award that I also knew about. It has produced many talented writers in the past.

"Since it's still before the announcement, apparently I'm not supposed to tell anyone yet. But I wanted to let Yuito-kun know first."

Rui-san said that,

"If Yuito-kun hadn't praised me, if you hadn't said it was interesting, I don't think I would have thought to submit it for an award. So, I wanted to say thank you."

"...It's not like I've done anything worthy of thanks."

It was my true feelings.

Rather, it was I who wanted to thank you.

Rui-san was right. That work was interesting. What I believed and what Rui-san believed was not wrong at all.

Because she proved that.

"But, congratulations."

"Hehe. Thank you so much."

Rui-san smiles a bit shyly.

"That said, since it's a short story, I still don't know if it will become a book. It would be very difficult to make a living solely from novels."

"I'll be fine."

I said.

"If it's Rui-san, it'll definitely be fine."

Because Rui-san has talent.

Talent that won't be swallowed up by the world. Charm that won't be overshadowed.

"When Yuito-kun says that, it really starts to feel that way."

When Rui-san received my hundred percent approval, she smiled.

After seeing that, I feel genuine happiness.

"I want to make a bomb."

"A bomb, you say?"

"I believe that truly amazing works have the power to change people's hearts. They have the ability to alter a person's thoughts and values. So, I want to spread my thoughts, my poison, throughout the world through my novels. And I want to leave countless indelible scars on the hearts of those who read my works. I want to create as many people as possible who resonate with my ideas. By doing so, the world might change just a little bit. It might become a more enjoyable world for us."

I thought it was terrorism. Rui-san is trying to carry out a terrorist attack. Through the novel, she is trying to spread bombs throughout the world.

"That's."

I said.

"That's really good."

Just imagining it made my heart tremble.

"That's why I want Yuito-kun to be an accomplice too."

"Me too...?"

"Yes."

Rui-san said that, and then extended her hand with a smile.

"Would you like to drop a bomb on this world with me?"

That was an invitation.

Through some form of expression, she aims to change this world.

But if I don't have talent, it won't come true.

If I have talent, I can keep dreaming. I won't be swallowed up by the world. I can continue to be by Rui-san's side.

"...Can I really do it?"

"You can do it."

To my hesitant question, Rui-san answered immediately. Then, she said with a smile.

"Because Yuito-kun is an interesting person. I guarantee that."

Why? I thought.

Why does this person always give me the words I want the most?

Rui-san is the light for me. She is the first person I've ever met in this dull world whom I truly cherish from the bottom of my heart.

Such a person needed me.

She asked me to be her accomplice.

She acknowledged me as an interesting person.

I thought there was no reason to live. No reason to want to live long. I thought it wouldn't matter when everything came to an end.

But now, I've found a reason not to want to die. It just happened.

"Could you let me know your response?"

"...If it's okay with you, please."

I want to see the bombs Rui-san makes.

The moment that poison is spread throughout the world.

And I want Rui-san to see the bomb she's making.

The moment that poison is spread throughout the world.

The moment that might change something.

So.

Until that day comes, I thought I would live just a little longer...

Chapter 31: Parade ②