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She was clearly flustered by the question. That being said, she had once asked herself the same thing, back when the Galarc Kingdom had hosted that banquet—just after she had learned that Rio’s past life was Amakawa Haruto.
She had found her answer already.
“After the banquet hosted by the Galarc Kingdom, you said to Sendo Takahisa that it was both. That you loved both Amakawa Haruto and the Rio of this world.”
It’s both. I think I love both of them. Haruto from before he was reborn and Haruto now. I fell in love with the same person twice.
Miharu herself was the one who had said those words to Takahisa when he had tried to kidnap her from Galarc. With her power to see the future, it was no surprise Lina knew what she said.
“You know that as well?” Miharu asked with a grimace.
“Of course I’d know; you’re my reincarnation,” Lina said plainly. She then added callously, “So why couldn’t you answer me just now?”
“I was just surprised by your sudden question...!”
“So your feelings haven’t changed, then?”
Miharu paused briefly before nodding. “That’s right,” she said.
“Really?” Lina immediately replied, sounding doubtful.
“It’s the truth. I really think that,” Miharu said, placing a hand over her chest. She loved both Rio and Amakawa Haruto. Those feelings of hers hadn’t changed. So why did she feel so shaken by giving her answer?
“It looks like you haven’t made up your mind yet,” Lina pointed out.
“That’s not the case,” Miharu said firmly, shaking her head.
“Then let me change the question. If Amakawa Haruto were to appear in this world, who would you choose between Rio and him?”
“That hypothetical situation makes no sense. Haruto died and became the person you know now.”
“Then let’s change it again. What if you had the chance to return to Earth before Amakawa Haruto died? Would you leave Rio behind and go?”
“Th-That’s...still hypothetical...”
In the end, the question about whether she would pick Haruto or Rio was unchanged. But thanks to Miharu’s serious personality, she gave the question careful thought anyway, albeit reluctantly.
“Technically speaking, it’s not impossible.”
Miharu blinked. “Is it possible to go back to Japan?”
“If we can summon you to this world, it shouldn’t be that odd for us to send you back, no? Well, it’s about as realistic as finding a single gem in a sandy desert.”
“But to go back before Haruto dies...”
“Did you forget? You wandered into this world four years before Amakawa Haruto died. Why wouldn’t you assume you’d return before he dies? If you returned right at this moment, it’d be less than a year since you arrived here.”
“That’s true. But in that case, how could Haruto be reborn in this world before he passes away over there?”
Miharu didn’t look convinced. Four years after Ayase Miharu had been brought to this world, Amakawa Haruto had died on Earth. Yet Rio had held the memories of Amakawa Haruto for nine years before Miharu arrived here.
“We’ll be going off topic if we continue on the subject of timelines. Just answer my question for now. If you could return to Earth before Amakawa Haruto died, would you choose to do so?”
In short, would she stay in this world with Rio, or return to Earth to see Amakawa Haruto again?
Miharu was about to say something, but closed her mouth.
“See? You can’t answer after all. You cannot choose between Amakawa Haruto and Rio.”
“Th-That’s because Rio’s past life is Haruto... I can’t think of them as different people.”
“But you know deep down, don’t you?” Lina asked, voice echoing through the white space.
“Know what?”
“That Rio cannot become Amakawa Haruto. That the two are different people.”
Miharu was unable to argue against Lina’s words. She hung her head heavily.
“You fell in love with both Amakawa Haruto and Rio. There’s no contradiction there. Your feelings are genuine. But you’ve been unable to move on since the banquet. That’s why you cannot choose between the two of them.”
Stab, stab. Lina’s words were like sharp daggers digging into Miharu’s heart.
“That’s why your relationship with him hasn’t progressed,” she concluded.
Miharu’s entire body trembled.
“Do you get it? Saying you love both Rio and Amakawa Haruto is like declaring you’re two-timing him,” Lina said, her words digging into Miharu’s heart.
“N-No! That’s not—!” Miharu tried to deny that in a panic, but Lina cut her off.
“I’m not wrong. After all, you can’t choose between the two of them even now,” she said.
“But Haruto has those memories. It doesn’t change the fact he’s Haru-kun’s reincarnation.” Miharu’s voice trailed off weakly.
“No, Rio was born as Rio. Rio cannot be anyone other than Rio—even if he was influenced by his memories of Amakawa Haruto. He said that himself, remember?”
Miharu was completely speechless.
“You feel for Amakawa Haruto while feeling for Rio. As far as Rio is concerned, that’s quite a nuisance—to be constantly compared to another man, that is.”
“Ah...” A strong look of guilt fell across Miharu’s face.
“If things were reversed...if you had fallen in love with Rio regardless of Amakawa Haruto, you would have been able to choose Rio with confidence. A different future could have happened.”
“A different future?”
“A future where you were attracted to Rio without knowing anything about his past life. It was possible. In that future, Rio was in love with you as well. He even told you his feelings.”
“Huh?” Miharu was stunned, unable to comprehend Lina’s words.
“Rio chose you out of everyone. He confessed at the banquet.”
“No way...” Miharu’s breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t imagine such a future.
“It’s the truth. However, that was the same future where Takahisa forcibly took you to Centostella. But even if you were separated from Rio, you would’ve been happier than you currently are, no? Since you’d be able to hog all of Rio’s feelings for yourself,” Lina said with a mean smile in her voice.
Miharu was unable to say anything else.
“But you can’t even decide this one thing.” A hint of disdain could be heard in Lina’s echoing voice.
“Ah...” Miharu flinched.
“Unfortunately, such a half-hearted woman cannot be relied on. Not that Rio would rely on you to begin with. But are you planning on staying in that indecisive state forever? Will you keep waiting for Rio to make a move?”
“That’s...”
“Well, even if he can’t rely on you, he has plenty of other talented girls to rely on. Like Aishia, Sora, or Celia. As long as you lend me your body when you’re asleep, you can continue being excluded from things. Just don’t expect a future where you get together with Rio,” Lina said coldly. “Are we done now? I have nothing else to say to you, so I’d like to end this conversation.”
“W-Wait a minute!” Miharu yelled in a hurry.
“What?”
“I’m not done. I’m... I’m serious too. I really do love the current Haruto,” Miharu said, firmly stating her position to Lina.
“So what?” Lina’s words to Miharu were still cold and indifferent, but Miharu didn’t cower.
“I’m not being half-hearted. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but I want Rio to rely on me as well. I want to be dependable. And I’m prepared to do whatever it takes. I don’t want to be the only one excluded.”
It was rare to hear such clear self-assertion from her.
“Hmm. All right, then. I’ll give you a chance. You have control over your physical body, and I can only possess you when you’re asleep. We can’t communicate like this when you’re awake, so it would be helpful to me too if you were more dependable.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Nothing, I’ll just be watching. I can’t believe your word alone—prove it to me through your actions. Show me you can be depended on,” Lina said, sounding like she was gloating brightly.
“Fine.” Miharu’s reply was quiet as she masked her strong will.
“Just make sure you don’t go around in circles and cause more trouble for him.”
“I-I know that.”
Lina’s teasing warning made Miharu frown sullenly.