Chapter 4 Memories in a Box

Memories in a Box

“See you tonight, Kaito.”

I hugged Kaito who brought me home again today.

“Oh, that’s it, I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to call you tonight. I’m so sorry!”

Kaito bows his head slightly.

“No, that’s okay. I’ll call you next time, okay?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Kaito smiles.

Yes, Kaito is even cooler when he smiles.

“See you tomorrow, Mia.”

I waved to Kaito and entered the house as soon as he was out of sight.

“Yes, see you.”

Today is Friday. And tomorrow I have a date with Kaito.

And that too, openly.

I went on a date with him when I was dating Akito, but I went in disguise.

That was fun, though.

“Ah.”

Now that I think about it, where is my bag?

If I remember correctly, it’s in Akito’s room.

I think it was left there when I visited his room. …

Just to be sure, I checked my room again.

Yes, I’m sure it’s in his room.

“Akito’s room, huh?”

I don’t know what to do. Honestly, it’s awkward.

I mean, we broke up, right?

I mean, it’s hard to say, “I left my bag in your room on our last date, so let me come in.”

“Haa.”

But I can’t say that, can I?

I can’t help it. This is the last time.

ding-dong—

Akito’s house is only a few minutes walk away.

So I got there quickly.

A few seconds after pressing the intercom button. The front door opened.

“Oh my! Is that you, Mia-chan?”

It was Akito’s mother who came out.

“Hello, Haruna-san.”

I greeted her, though a little awkwardly.

Haruna-san, or rather Akito, and my family all know that we are together.

Akito hasn’t told them yet, has he?

If he had told her, she wouldn’t have greeted me with such a smile.

“Hello. I’m sorry Mia-chan, Akito isn’t here right now.”

Haruna-san lowers her eyebrows a bit.

“Ah, do you want to wait inside?”

“No, no, I just came to Akito- Aki-kun’s room today to pick up something I left behind.”

I called Akito “Aki-kun” again because that’s what I called him when we were dating.

If I suddenly started calling Akito “Akito,” it would look suspicious, wouldn’t it?

“Oh, I see. Well, just come in, you can just take it yourself, right?”

“Yeah, but I feel bad for Aki-kun.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. You’re dating, right?”

thump—

Seeing Haruna-san smile made my heart ache.

“…y, yes.”

I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’ll let you know when I’ve made up my mind!

I entered Akito’s room with a guilty conscience.

It hasn’t been a week since I came here, so it hasn’t changed.

Akito’s room is a normal room with a single bed, a desk, and a bookshelf.

Where is it? If Akito finds it, he will bring it to me right away, maybe under the bed?

I looked under the bed and found my black bag.

“Yay!”

I picked up the bag.

“Eh?”

There was a small box in the back of the bag.

What was it?

Unable to contain my curiosity, I took out the box and opened it.

“…Eh, what is this?”

A small voice came out of my mouth.

There was a large amount of paper and photos.

It was all movie tickets and Purikura photos, memories of when I went on a date with him. (tl: Purikura, shortened from the word purinto kurabu—literally “print club”—refers to Japanese photo booths that are incredibly popular among the country’s youth.

“…W-why?”

All of this. Everything we’ve ever been.

I don’t even know if I have one.

“… Why? I thought you didn’t like me.”

“I didn’t want to tarnish it.”

“You obviously don’t fit together, do you?”

(Zeus: I don’t know why these two sentences appear here, but these two sentences are from a conversation between Akito and Haruto. Did Mia overhear it by chance?)

“…”

I put the box back and ran out of the house.

Before I left the house, Akito’s mother said something to me, but I couldn’t stop myself.

I can’t put it into words. My heart hurt so much that I couldn’t help it.