I HAVE NEVER thought of myself as a special person. I guess I'm just an average person that has no special strengths or flaws. I've just lived my life as I liked, somewhat by inertia. I've done some bad things, and I've done some kind things.
I'm not a good person, and I'm not a bad person. If I were to evaluate myself, I'm just another guy. Ever since I was born, I've been walking around as someone who is neither of those things, just someone in the middle.
It was only when I got to high school that I grew fond of Archery. I was just watching it on TV and thought I'd give it a try in my spare time. Besides that, I just went about my life in a normal way, as if I were surrendering to the flow of the river. I don't pay attention to the big things, and I just go about my personal routine.
It may be a boring routine, but I've done it because I thought it would be easier. However... I didn't make any friends in high school because of the negative effects of this way of life. I wasn't lonely, but even still, I ended up making some friends through unexpected chances. Keisei, Kiyotaka, Haruka, and Airi. There were only five of us, including me, but I felt strangely comfortable in that small group. I had a feeling that the rest of my school life would be spent in a relaxed atmosphere with these five people. The environment around me may have changed, but I was still me. That was the only thing I knew would never change. And then... one big change occurred in spite of my expectations.
I fell in love with someone.
I've always thought the opposite sex was cute and pretty, but I've never fallen in love with them.
I wonder when it started.
What was it that had made me look different towards Haruka?
What made me sure was when Haruka announced that she would drop out of the school in a unanimous special exam. There was a part of me that could not accept that we would be separated. Emotions, not logic, were my top priority.
I wanted to protect Haruka, even if it meant abandoning Airi, a member of the group I cared about as much as her.
I don't know if this feeling was justified. I gave priority to what I wanted to protect, not to what was right or wrong.
But I have no regrets.
"Will you go along with my ambition for revenge?"
The murmur brought me back to reality. Her eyes looking at me were the same as always. They were strong, straightforward, and dangerously colored. But they were unclouded, with a determination that showed no sign of hesitation.
I did not answer aloud. No, I couldn't.
The revenge would surely embarrass many of my friends and classmates. She must have seen through my emotions, because she laughed and turned her back to me and walked away. In the past, I would have just sent her off without a second thought.
Seeing her off was the right thing to do.
Yes, how much easier it would be if I could see her off.
I didn't know that falling in love with someone could be so troublesome, difficult, and stressful...
I...
No matter how many people are going to hate me in the future...
I'm not going to let my feelings allow me to let her go alone.
On this day after the sports festival, I had to make an impossible decision.
Cover
*Illustration 1
*Illustration 2
*Illustration 3
*Illustration 4
*Illustration 5
*Illustration 6
*Illustration 7
*Illustration 8
*Illustration 9
*Illustration 10
*Illustration 11
*Illustration 12
*Illustration 13