I Hope You’re Still Alive When Tomorrow Comes - 27

Chapter 27: Your Fault

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She was serious. She always was. 

“…No, I… I don’t get it.”

Unable to comprehend the situation unfolding before me, I choked my words out.

Kiho was standing on the other side of the safety railing. There was nothing behind her but vast emptiness. The ground she was standing on was just enough for one person to stand on. There was only a few inches gap between Kiho and the rocky cliffs. The waves kept crashing against the rocky cliff, hiding the sea that was several tens of meters deep. 

“What are you trying to do? You… Seriously?”

Although I was confused beyond belief, but I was quick to react. I hurriedly stood up, but in my haste, my right foot kicked a small pebble beneath me. The pebble rolled away, disappearing from sight in a matter of seconds, straight over the railing and down the rocky cliff. 

Seeing that, my blood ran cold. 

“KIHO!!”

I quickly reached out and grabbed her hand.

“This is just in case Tsuchiya-kun tries to jump from here.”

Kiho spoke with an oddly calm voice. She was still looking straight at my face.

“Huh?”

“If you were really going to jump, I might not be able to stop you if I stayed behind the railing. Considering the physical difference between men and women, I wouldn’t be able to stand a chance if Tsuchiya-kun seriously wanted to jump. And so, I thought I should stand here so I could do it.”

“Do it?”

“Yes.”

Kiho nodded firmly before continuing.

“When Tsuchiya-kun jumps, I will jump too. While we are falling, I will cling to Tsuchiya-kun and maneuver our bodies in a way to ensure I will be underneath Tsuchiya-kun. In that way, my body will cushion the fall, effectively saving Tsuchiya-kun.”

“….Huh?”

“Therefore, Tsuchiya-kun, it’s pointless even if you jump. You won’t be able to die anyway. I will definitely save you. To your dismay.”

“…No, what are you talking about?!”

I retorted sharply. My throat felt dry like sand. Kiho narrowed her eyes, looking somewhat smug, causing me to feel exasperated. It was the same expression she wore when she told me about her so-called plan to steal Hiwatari from Nanami. Of course, just like usual, there was no hint of hesitation or doubt in her face. 

Kiho was serious. She always was. 

Feeling sick at this unchanging fact, I lowered my gaze and then, I tightened my grip on Kiho’s arm.

“Do you really think your plan is going to work? I doubt it. We’d end up falling together and dying anyway.”

“Well, if that happens it happens then. If Tsuchiya-kun dies, I don’t have any reason o live anymore either. If we can die together then so be it. And if Tsuchiya-kun is going to die first, I will die soon after anyway.”

“…Just what are you talking about…”

“I’m happy enough if I can still prevent Tsuchiya-kun from dying. Considering all the things I’ve done for Tsuchiya-kun’s sake, even if things don’t go according to my plan, I don’t mind. I’ve had my revenge.”

“Revenge…”

I repeated in a hoarse voice. 

Kiho had said that word countless times. Stalking me, snatching Hiwatari from Nanami, everything was her revenge. Jumping off from here to die in order to save me… Was this also part of her revenge? I couldn’t understand. Nothing made any sense. Everything… Everything that she did was always… Always…

“…Why?”

If… IF Nanami were about to die before me, I wouldn’t go after her. Nanami had been my everything, but still…

“Why would you go to such lengths for me, Kiho?”

And yet, Kiho said she would die. If I died, she would immediately follow after me. 

I was utterly baffled from the bottom of my heart. I couldn’t understand it. After all…

“I haven’t done anything that deserve this kind of devotion from you.”

I hadn’t done anything for Kiho. Not even once. I had never been kind to her. I never tried to make her happy. For me, Kiho was just a mysterious stalker. She was someone who was annoying and scary at the same time. In fact, when she told me that she’d steal Hiwatari from Nanami, I thought if she could actually do it, I might be able to use that to my advantage. I never tried to understand Kiho. Not properly, never. 

And yet…

“You did. On the morning of April 14th, you spoke to me.”

She responded without any hesitation. The same answer I had heard before. And yet, no matter how many times I asked, no matter how many times I heard the same answer, I still couldn’t understand anything.

“And so what about it?!”

Frustrated, I raised my voice. 

“Why would you go this far just because of that?! I only said a few words to you! I only asked if you were okay!”

Sure, maybe she felt happy that I talked to her on that specific day, but that wasn’t enough reason to get this involved with me. Definitely not. 

Transferring to the same high school just to see me, riding the same train every day so she could stare at me, getting close to a guy she didn’t even like to make my own love blossom, trying to steal that same guy from his girlfriend…

And now, she even said she’d die to prevent me from dying.

Nothing made sense. 

“It’s not ‘only’. It’s not. Because…”

Kiho smiled awkwardly, probably because my voice sounded extremely desperate. Still, her calm smile looked as jarring as ever.

“On that day, because Tsuchiya-kun spoke to me, I’m still alive today.”

“….Huh?”

“On that day, I…”

Kiho trailed her words before she suddenly lowered her gaze. There was a moment of hesitation between us. Just a moment, but it was there. Kiho then raised her gaze again and looked at me straight into my eyes. 

“I wanted to die. On the morning of April 14th.”

So she said.

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