The Girl Everyone Admires Loves Me… and I Don’t Remember Why. - Chapter 13: The First Me, and the Second Her, Part - 2.

The First Me, and the Second Her, Part – 2.

Takanashi Mitsuki’s POV.

I had a dream.

A dream of that day… that incident… which now feels somehow nostalgic.

When I look back, I believe that was the exact moment I first truly became aware of Miyase-kun.

It happened on a certain day.

I was shopping alone to buy a present.

On the way, two men who looked like university students called out to me.

Their purpose was obvious—they were trying to hit on me.

It wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, so I calmly declined their invitation.

But they wouldn’t take no for an answer and kept pressing more and more insistently.

I decided ignoring them completely and walking away was the best option.

However…

“Hey, hold it. Don’t get all cocky with us, huh?”

“……”

The irritation and anger thick in their voices, the hostility in their faces—I froze. Terror made my legs give out beneath me.

“I-I’m sorry…”

Seeing how completely I’d shrunk back, they seemed to realize this method worked like a charm. After that, they closed in on me even tighter.

Fear sealed my throat. I couldn’t call for help.

The people around us pretended not to see anything.

I wanted to run away right then and there—but there was no way I could escape.

……Help me.

That was when I desperately wished for it.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“……Eh? M-Miyase-kun?”

Suddenly, Miyase-kun stepped right between me and the men.

He stood protectively in front of me.

“What the hell, coming out of nowhere? Who are you?”

“I’m her boyfriend.”

He later explained: since they were obviously just trying to pick me up, he figured if they thought I already had a boyfriend, they’d back off quickly.

I also think he chose that approach because there were onlookers—he wanted to settle it peacefully without causing a scene.

“……Tch. So she’s got a boyfriend, huh.”

“Yes. And sorry, but we’re actually about to go on a date.”

“……Haa. Whatever. Let’s go.”

Just as Miyase-kun had planned, the two of them gave up easily and left.

“Takanashi, let’s get out of here.”

With Miyase-kun gently taking my hand, we walked away from that place.

“Takanashi, are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah… thanks to you, Miyase-kun.”

“I’m really glad.”

“…”

In that instant, my heart gave a violent thump.

“Um… thank you. Really.”

“Don’t mention it. Ah—sorry, I’m still holding your hand.”

“N-No, it’s fine. I don’t mind.”

And truthfully… I didn’t mind at all.

If it had been any other boy, I’m sure I would have felt very differently.

From that moment on, I began to realize that Miyase-kun was someone special to me—different from everyone else.

And that was when I first truly started becoming conscious of him.

***

……Somehow, it feels nostalgic.

Not just that incident—everything I experienced before returning to the past feels strangely dear now.

Lost in those thoughts, I stretched widely and climbed out of bed.

Today was supposed to be a relaxing holiday… but.

“Mitsuki. Could you run a quick errand for me?”

“Sure, no problem.”

……Hmm. This seems like something that would be easier at the shopping mall.

It’s not too far from home anyway.

Misaki looked like she wanted to come at first, but her favorite show was about to start and that apparently won out, so she stayed home.

“I’ll be back soon then.”

After quickly getting ready, I left the house and headed to the shopping mall.

Once there, I immediately started buying the requested items.

“Let’s see… that should be…”

Things went smoothly. A little while later—

“Okay, that’s everything.”

With all the errands done, I was just about to head home when—

“Hey hey, you free right now?”

Suddenly, two men who looked like college students spoke to me.

“If you’re not busy, wanna hang out with us?”

“I’ll pass, thank you.”

“C’mon, don’t be so cold. We’ll treat you, it’ll be fun.”

“……”

They clearly weren’t planning to give up easily.

……Then.

“Um, I actually came here with my family today.”

I thought that would make them back off, but—

“Nah, that lie isn’t gonna work. We saw you walk in here all alone just now.”

“…”

Apparently they had noticed me the moment I entered the mall.

My heart started pounding furiously at that realization. The tension coiled even tighter.

“Um, I’m really uncomfortable with this. And I’m actually…”

I have a boyfriend… I was about to lie, planning to use the exact same tactic Miyase-kun used in the dream I just had, when—

“We’re being nice and inviting you, and you’re gonna lie to us? …You think you’re too good for us or what?”

Their tone changed in an instant.

Not just their voices—their expressions, their attitudes, the whole atmosphere.

It was exactly the same as the men in my dream.

“I-I’m really…”

“Hey. If you lie to us one more time…”

The sentence was left hanging there.

And that unfinished threat only made the fear surge even faster.

“…”

It was the same as back then.

My legs froze in terror. My voice wouldn’t come out. I couldn’t call for help.

Just because I’d experienced something similar once didn’t mean I’d gotten used to it, or that I’d built any resistance.

Scary things are still scary.

“If you want us to forgive you for lying, then just agree to hang out with us.”

“……”

“That’s fine, right?”

A low, menacing growl.

Just like before, I felt utterly pathetic—completely powerless.

And once again, just like that time, I found myself desperately wishing.

……Help me.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

A voice suddenly cut through everything.

It was the voice I wanted to hear more than anyone else’s.

“…Miyase-kun”

Miyase-kun stepped in front of me, shielding me from the men.

The sight of his back was exactly the same as the one from my dream.

“Hey, what the hell? Coming out of nowhere—who are you?”

“I’m her boyfriend.”

I knew it was just a convenient lie to get us out of this situation safely.

Even so—

Right now, those words hit me far too deeply, far too critically.