The Person Who Gave Me An Extraordinary Life Was You, A Beautiful Executive Secretary

Episode 6: Memories

I regretted it a little.

Not because heavy words came from Shiraishi-san.

But because I let such an important matter slip out here.

For her, it must have been an important memory, filled with sadness.

You could tell by her short words and her expression.

And yet, someone like me casually barged in.

Not knowing what to say in response, I stayed silent, and she quickly returned to her original smile.

“Sorry for bringing up something heavy. Oh, Kousaka-san, your glass is empty, isn’t it? Would you like something to drink?”

She’s probably forcing a smile. I want to listen to her story, but I don’t want to needlessly sadden her.

“I can drink anything. I’ll have what you’re having, Shiraishi-san. If that’s alright with you.”

“Well… How about some hot sake?”

“Oh, sounds good. Are you quite fond of alcohol?”

“Not really… I don’t usually drink much, but today, I will. What will you have?”

Given the choice, I opted for Niigata’s local sake.

After a short wait, two steaming sake bottles and a sake cup were brought over.

Pouring the clear liquid into her sake cup, Shiraishi-san brought it to her lips and took a sip.

She drinks elegantly. I follow suit.

The refreshing taste spreads in my mouth, accompanied by a fragrant sweetness.

As I pour the next round into her cup, I say,

“Shiraishi-san, I won’t force you, but if you’re okay with it, please feel free to tell me anything. Think of me as a hollow tree. I won’t tell anyone, I promise.”

With that, she seemed relieved, her face softening.

“Is it okay?”

“Yes, I welcome it.”

I won’t prod or inquire unnecessarily. I just want to let her do as she pleases.

“It was a traffic accident. He was driving to pick me up. A truck veered into his lane, and he crashed…”

I set down my cup halfway to the counter.

“I see. It must have been sudden.”

“Yes. He didn’t show up, no matter how long I waited. I was worried and kept calling and messaging, but there was no reply. His mother contacted me, and I went to the hospital, but by then, he was already unconscious…”

As she speaks, she’s smiling.

Surely, her heart is filled with revived sorrow.

“So… you couldn’t talk to him?”

“Yes. I called out to him many times, but he never regained consciousness. In the end, he stayed like that.”

“…That must have been tough.”

I’ve never experienced anything like that myself.

But I can imagine, empathize.

Even someone as indifferent as me can understand that much.

Surely, they both had so much they wanted to convey.

“…Yes. He was an actor, just as his career was taking off…”

She murmurs softly, sniffing back tears.

“It was a road I don’t usually take. I had some errands elsewhere and asked him to pick me up there, and that’s where the accident happened.”

“…That’s…”

I stop myself from continuing.

She probably feels responsible.

If she hadn’t made that request, he wouldn’t have been in the accident.

But it’s not her fault, I believe.

Still, I can’t find the right words.

Even so, I want to say something.

“Shiraishi-san, I’m not good at expressing myself, but this is what I think. He must have been disappointed. He passed away just as things were starting to move forward. I think there were things he wanted to tell you at the end, but he couldn’t put them into words. But…”

“……”

“If I were him, I think I’d be happy. Because even long after passing away, there’s someone like you who thinks of him and remembers him like this.”

“Kousaka-san…”

“And it’s not anyone’s fault that he passed away. So if you’re feeling responsible, please don’t blame yourself. I think he feels the same way, even if it’s just my imagination.”

“Do you think so…”

“Yes, even though it might not be convincing coming from me. But if it were me, I think I would feel that way.”

It’s all my imagination.

I’ve never experienced such a fate myself, so what I say may not mean much.

But if it were me, I’d like to think so.

A single tear falls from Shiraishi-san’s eye.

Feeling sorry for making her cry, I force a smile as best as I can.

“I’m sorry. I talked too much. A hollow tree shouldn’t talk this much.”

“No… Thank you very much.”

She wipes away the tear from her cheek with delicate, pale fingers and returns a smile.

“Um, if you don’t mind, would you tell me about yourself, Kousaka-san?”

“Eh, about me?”