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6, Yumi Kurisu

“It’s my business why I played ‘Breaking the Chains of Sorrow’!”

His blunt, unintentional probing grated on my nerves.

I was furious at his lack of delicacy for trying to step into a memory that was only mine and his.

In my past life, Tsugaru Madoka was frail.

Lacking in physical strength and often falling ill, I still attended school.

An event from the life of Yumi Kurisu, a high school freshman.

I wanted to try sports, but being frail, I was a girl who often read books instead.

One day, a classmate from middle school messaged me on LINE, having forgotten their stationery in the classroom, asking me to bring it to the Budokan.

Since I was about to head home, I grabbed their stationery and dashed out of the classroom.

The Budokan was echoing with the sounds of bamboo swords clashing, ‘pan, pan.’

Turning towards the sound, I saw a boy just as he secured a victory.

I was riveted by the precision of his bamboo sword, targeting the head with lightning speed.

“Yumi, thank you!”

“Yeah, no problem at all.”

While I replied to my friend, my gaze was fixed on the boy from before.

He had removed the mask of his protective gear.

“He’s amazing, isn’t he? That’s Mitsuhide Toyotomi. A freshman, yet strong enough to beat the captain. A boy devoted to kendo. Too strong for his age.”

“Really…”

“Hey hey, Yumi, you seem interested in Toyotomi-kun?”

“Eh? What? What are you talking about?”

“Oh, never mind. I got my answer…”

He wasn’t particularly handsome, nor was he unattractive.

Just an ordinary-looking boy.

Yet, he left an impression on me that I couldn’t forget.

He wasn’t the type to charm girls, but rather boys (not in a homos*xual way).

He had many friends and was well-known; that’s how the boy seemed.

“Yumi, you should’ve just talked to him…”

“No way, I’m happy just watching Toyotomi-kun.”

“You’re one step away from being a stalker… Toyotomi-kun is starved for female attention, he’d jump at the chance.”

“There must be others who like him just like I do!”

“Love is blind, huh?”

My friends from the kendo club were exasperated with me.

And so, for nearly three months, I couldn’t bring myself to speak to him.

Then one day…

“I feel sick…”

“Are you okay, Yumi?”

“My vision is spinning…”

It was a very hot morning.

Forcing myself to come to school, I was suddenly struck by anemia and couldn’t stand.

“No way…”

I leaned on my friend and then lost consciousness.

“Hey, Yumi!? The nurse’s office is just two minutes away!?”

“What’s the matter, Yoshida? Causing a commotion?”

“Ah, Toyotomi-kun”

———-

When I came to, I was in the nurse’s office bed.

I remembered being dragged here by a friend, but everything after losing consciousness was a blank.

“Good, you’re awake, Kurisu-san.”

“Thank you, teacher.”

Being frail, I often rely on the nurse’s office, so the teacher remembers me.

I’m truly indebted to her every single time.

“Um, what happened to me?”

“Yoshida-san and Toyotomi-kun brought you here.”

“Is that so… Who did you say with Yoshida-san?”

“Toyotomi-kun, the kendo ace. He even carried you on his back to rush here, so be sure to thank him.”

…I was so shocked I almost passed out again.

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