Chapter 60 – The End and The Beginning

It was a holiday.

I had planned to go out to Tokyo with Yumika, but that plan changed.

Why? Because we managed to get same-day tickets to a live concert of Mithril, a band both Yumika and I are fans of.

In our room, we listened to music together to get hyped, then headed for the super arena near the station.

“Is this your first time seeing Mithril live?” 

“I went once with my dad when I was in junior high, at the Nagoya Dome.” 

“Nagoya, huh? That means Aichi Prefecture. You went all the way to another prefecture? That must’ve been pretty far from your hometown.”

“…People from Gifu, you know, always go to the Nagoya Dome for big-name concerts. Are you looking down on the countryside?”

She snapped at me.

It must be tough for people in rural areas to go to live shows.

“Still though…”

I looked at Yumika, who was holding my hand, and felt a flutter in my chest.

“I’m excited.”

“So am I.”

We both said it at the same time, smiling.

Until now, I had always gone to concerts alone. I had no friends, and no one in my family was really interested in live music.

But now, I get to go with someone I love—someone who loves the same artist as I do.

I used to enjoy it by myself, but today felt truly special.

Wearing matching concert T-shirts, listening to the same songs, sharing the same emotions…

Having someone to share joy and excitement with really is the best.

I’m so glad Yumika is here with me.

“I don’t like it when people scream out the band members’ names during concerts,” Yumika said.

“Don’t worry, I feel the same way.”

“During live shows, I tend to get distracted by the people around me.”

“Just focus on me,”

“Okay. I’ll only watch the stage and Sakiya.”

We entered the venue, found our assigned seats, and waited for the band to appear.

Everyone around us was filled with excitement, waiting eagerly for Mithril to take the stage.

The atmosphere was surreal, like a dream—something you can’t experience in everyday life.

“Sakiya, I’m really happy right now.”

“Me too. Thank you for being by my side.”

As Yumika hugged me, the lights dimmed, and the music started to play.

Responding to the roar of the crowd, Mithril came out and began singing.

From the very beginning, it was a rush of hit songs. Yumika and I were overwhelmed with emotion.

We swayed together, raised our hands together—we were completely in sync.

Even though there were nearly forty thousand fans in the arena, it felt like it was just the two of us and Mithril in our own special world.

“Everyone, close your eyes,” the vocalist said during the MC segment.

Yumika and I followed the instruction.

“And now, think of someone important to you.”

Of course, the face that appeared behind my eyelids was Yumika’s.

“Now listen to the next song.”

With this stylish cue, Mithril began their next number.

Their theatrics were cool—and both Yumika and I loved that about them.

When it comes to music, everyone has their own taste.

Even if you like the same band, your preferences might differ—maybe you like singing the songs yourself, or you only like their ballads. It’s rare to find someone whose tastes match yours exactly.

Even if you recommend a band to someone, it’s hard for them to love it unless it truly resonates with them.

Loving the same things might seem easy, but it’s actually quite rare.

But Yumika and I aren’t just any two people.

We’re like mirror images of each other.

Our tastes and sensibilities are the same…

It’s only natural that it’s fun to be with someone like that, and that it feels good to be understood.

No wonder I fell for her—I thought again with conviction.

Yumika is my twin soul—and my ideal girl.

The concert neared its end. After a demand for an encore, Mithril returned to the stage.

As soon as I heard the intro to the next song, my heart soared—it was my absolute favorite.

“Sakiya! Sakiya!”

Apparently, Yumika loved it too. She called my name excitedly as she jumped up and down.

Seeing her react like that—like she was mirroring my own emotions—made me happier than I could put into words.

I really do love Yumika.

And I want to spend the rest of my life with her.

No matter how difficult the path ahead might be, I felt like I could overcome anything as long as she was with me.

▲

Even after the concert ended, Yumika and I didn’t leave the venue right 

away.

Since we could walk home, there was no need to rush to catch a train.

The exits were crowded, so we waited for the crowd to thin out.

We stayed behind to savor the afterglow.

Quietly holding hands, we gazed out at the now-empty arena seats and the stage that no longer had anyone on it.

After most of the people were gone, we finally stood up.

There was no need to talk about how we felt—we already knew.

Yumika looked at me with passionate eyes.

I looked back at her the same way.

It was as if I had earplugs in—I could hear nothing.

All I could feel was Yumika’s hand in mine.

My heart was floating, and my feet weren’t touching the ground. It felt like I was flying.

I don’t even remember the route we took, but before I knew it, we were outside the venue.

The streets were still filled with people excitedly talking about the concert.

Yumika and I slipped away, walking down a quieter path beside the venue.

The night view near the station was beautiful—lights from high-rise buildings sparkled everywhere.

No more voices, just the constant sound of trains and cars passing by.

In a secluded, unlit area, we stopped.

And looked into each other’s eyes.

Yumika’s gaze seemed to be seeking something, and I felt like I needed something too.

People often say music saved them.

That a certain song helped them achieve their dreams, or that a lyric gave them the strength to overcome despair.

Music makes people happy.

It guides them down the right path.

But… is that really always the case?

What about the stories where music pushed someone to act and they failed terribly? Where a lyric inspired a choice that turned out to be a huge mistake? Maybe there are countless such stories that simply never get told.

Which one am I?

Right now, I was about to act—driven by the emotion stirred by music.

I was filled with courage and determination—something that wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t gone to that concert.

“…Yumika.”

When I called her name, she responded.

“Sakiya…”

The choice I was about to make—maybe it was a mistake.

If people on social media saw this, they’d probably tear it apart.

But this was the path I believed in.

Even if others rejected or ridiculed me, it was enough if the person right in front of me accepted it.

“Yumika, I love you.”

And I kissed her.

I claimed the person I love as my own.

Her soft lips filled me for a brief moment—but then an overwhelming sense of loss struck me.

All that talk about the thrill of forbidden love? Total lie.

The reality is, you’re just consumed by uncertainty and fear afterward.

Yumika must be feeling the same way…

Now that we’d crossed a line, there was no going back. We did something we shouldn’t have.

I pulled away and opened my eyes.

But Yumika looked back at me with a blissful expression and said, “Sakiya… more.”

Wait—what? This is not what I’m feeling! She’s way too into this!

“…We kissed,” she said softly.

“Yeah. How was it?”

“It was the best moment of my life.”

She hugged me tightly, pressing her face against my chest.

I couldn’t understand how she felt.

I thought we were the same—but now, she was showing a side of herself I didn’t know.

“We crossed the line.”

“Uh, well… yeah, but—”

“You better take responsibility.”

She wouldn’t let go of me, even as I tried to pull away.

“I’m never letting you go now.”

She looked at me with eyes full of resolve.

This is bad. I really did it now.

But it was too late to regret.

We had already moved on to the next base.

Yumika’s embrace was strong.

Even if I tried to run away—no matter how far, even to another town or country—she’d find me.

“I’m going to live with you, Sakiya.”

It felt like I’d fallen into a trap.

But Yumika was there in that pit with me.

Others might look at us and think we’re a couple of fools who made a huge mistake.

But we were happy like this. That pit was filled with happiness.

“Sakiya… I love you.”

Yumika kissed me again.

And I didn’t resist—I just accepted it.

This time, it felt euphoric.

Like I was being released from every hardship I’d ever endured.

Like I wanted to go even further.

I’d never felt anything like it.

And of course—I wasn’t the one initiating the kiss this time.

The person I loved most was kissing me.

It felt like she was easing the burden of my sins.

Now that we’d strayed from the path… how will we live from here?

I have no idea.