...
I wake up in an unfamiliar room, perhaps a basement. I try to assess my situation, and it seems I've been kidnapped. Right now, I'm tied to a chair, strongly restrained. In the room, there's a television, a bed, and a toilet.
My mind is a bit blurry, but I'm conscious, so I'm somewhat okay for now. The question is, what will happen next?
Without any time to collect myself, the door opens. I've never felt so much fear in my life, but I'll try my best to stay calm.
"Hello Tomoki, you don´t need to be nervous ok?"
"Ayame !? Well, I´m glad that you fine, but did I do something bad?"
"... You are really kind."
"Ayame?"
"I know this room isn't right for you, but... I promise I'll make it better. You don't need to worry anymore; I'll make up for everything. You said you liked the sandwich I made, right? I'll make it every day from now on... and..."
"Ayame..."
"Oh, I´ll bring the video game that you like, you can play every day now! So..."
"Ayame, are you ok?"
"That´s ... sob ... why ... stay with me"
"Of course! I´ll help you if you need."
And them she sit on my lap and start hugging me.
"Fufu~ ... Can I ask something selfish?"
"uhmm .... Sure, why not?" - For a moment, I wanted to retort, but this is not the time.
"Stay with me forever, just see me, only me. Don´t be ... kind to other women."
"..."
"If you do that, I´ll do anything for you. Everything I have will be yours. Because I ..."
"Sorry, I can´t accept. I know that you can do everything but ..."
"WHY!"
"?!"
"ah ... no, I ... sorry. It´s seems I´m tired now. I´ll come back again. Please, don´t hate me. "
"Ayame..."
Then she leave the room with a sad expression.
Did she actually like me? I mean, in a romantic way? If so, I think it´s my fault that she´s in this state. After all, I'm different, I should have known what she was really feeling.
I started remembering the first time I came to this place ... no ... to this world.
♦♦♦
It´s all started with a confession.
"I love you! Please, go out with me!"
"Sorry Tomoki, you´re kind and a good friend. However I don´t see you that way. I don´t wanna persuit a relationship now."
"..."
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah! Well, sorry to make awkward. I just need some time to sort my feelings now. But thanks for listening to me."
"It´s ok, I know it´s rude to say this but ... you´ll find someone who deserve your love, trust me."
"Thanks, see ya tomorrow."
"see ya."
With a broken heart, I started heading home. But on the way, my best friend stopped me.
"Hey Tomoki, what´s up?"
"Hey..."
"You know what. Let´s grab some food. A new humburger is selling now, you saw that right? Let´s go!"
"I don´t know man, I´m not in the mood to go out."
"Yeah, It´s sucks. But what you need now is some fun. At least, you can be sad with a full belly."
"~sigh ... You got some point. Fine I´m in."
"That´s my pal."
We got the new hamburger, and yeah, it was delicious. Afterward, we talked a lot about video games, anime, and planned how we'd make our high school debut. I´m glad to have a friend like him.
Now, at home, I could finally take a break. It doens´t mean it was bothersome to hang out with my friend, on the contrary, I needed that. However, I hadn´t forget about her, that´s all.
Since I like anime, I'm familiar with all those romantic comedies where the protagonist has all the girls in love with him but is completely oblivious, especially when it's the childhood friend heroine.
"Seriously, when it´s come to relationship between childhood friend, it's always the guy who has the crush."
Blurting out my frustration, I started getting ready for bed. Tomorrow would be the graduation ceremony from junior school. Hoping that everything would be okay, I fell asleep.
And this was my last time in this world.
♦♦♦
"Tomoki, breakfast is ready! Get up and be ready for the cerimony!"
"Sure mom!"
Surprisingly, I slept well. However, I started thinking about how to face everyone, especially her. Lost in my thoughts, I headed to the dining room for breakfast. That's when I heard something beyond my imagination coming from the television.
[Breaking news. A 30-year-old woman was arrested for spying on men's bathroom with drone.]
[A scholarship offer for male students to attend the largest co-educational high school in Japan, with Edomae Ltd. as the primary financier.]
[Encouraging polygamy in all nations could pave the way for a new era of relationships.]
[The male birth rate continues to decline, is it the end of humanity? Let´s hear from experts.]
"Tomoki, hurry up! Otherwise you´ll be late ... Tomoki?"
"What the ...!"