“This is a location that lingers strongly in my memories.”
Nano had led them to the amusement park where she and Rentaro had had their first date. This time, the entire group toured the park, retracing the couple’s footsteps.
“This is a recreational implement, not an equestrian training device,” Nano said.
“Uh-huh,” said Rentaro. “I see…”
“Yeah, that’s what everything in an amusement park is going to be,” Karane said.
“They’ve got eateries here too,” Kurumi remarked. “Just thinking about it is making my tummy rumble…”
They passed their time chatting on the merry-go-round.
“Everyone in the haunted house is a human. However, the unspoken rule is to treat them all as supernatural entities,” Nano said.
“Uh-huh,” said Rentaro. “I see…”
“If you get scared, you’re all welcome to hug Mommy!” said Hahari.
“I am not afraid because they are, in fact, humans,” Nano said.
‹What if humans are the real monsters?!›
“Would you like to listen to a tale from my childhood?” Mei asked.
“Why are you bringing that up out of the blue?!” Karane demanded.
The group was so focused on chatting that the haunted house’s monsters barely registered to them.
“I still have not grasped the meaning behind riding in oversized teacups,” Nano said.
“Uh-huh,” said Rentaro. “I see…”
“Yippee!” Kusuri squealed. “It’s so much fun going ’round and ’round, aye!”
“There is an influential theory that they exist as brainwashing devices or to strengthen the semicircular canals of the inner ear,” Nano went on.
“I’m pretty sure you got the actual answer a few lines ago!” Karane yelled.
It’d never been clearer that the bubbly Kusuri and straight-faced Nano were polar opposites.
“There is a rule that you must hopelessly get lost here,” Nano said.
“Uh-huh,” said Rentaro. “I se—wait, is that really how you’re supposed to approach this?!”
“Well, people do get lost in mazes,” said Hakari. “She’s not wrong, per se…”
Even in the big maze, everyone chatted happily.
Nano had another matter-of-fact explanation up her sleeve for the next attraction. “This implement exists to remind you of life’s proximity to death,” she said, looking up at the Ferris wheel.
Once again, Rentaro couldn’t help but react on pure instinct. “That doesn’t sound right either!” he shouted. A moment later, however, understanding appeared to dawn on him. “Are you…maybe…afraid of heights?”
Nano blinked in surprise. “Have your memories returned?”
“What? No, I just figured from your expression…”
“I see,” said Nano, after a pause. Although her expression did not change, her cheeks did blush faintly. She looked happy, somehow. “Now, let us board.”
“What? You’re getting on?!” Rentaro chased after her in a panic. “But if you don’t enjoy heights, then—”
“It would be inefficient to forego an action that could possibly restore your memories.”
“You don’t have to push yourself for m—”
“Besides.” Nano gripped Rentaro’s hand tightly as she walked. “I am fine if I do this.”
Rentaro and his girlfriends, who watched from the rear, clutched their chests upon seeing the cool, collected Nano do something so cute and girly. “Ngh!” they groaned in a vain attempt to still their beating hearts.
Thus, their time at the amusement park came to an end. Everyone posed for a photo together in front of the monument at the central plaza.
“Oh, that instant camera is the same as mine,” Rentaro said afterward, pointing at the one in Nano’s hand. She had been using it to take pictures of herself and the group all day.
“I bought a camera identical to yours after our date at the amusement park,” she explained.
“Oh, you did, h—urk?!” Halfway through his utterance, Rentaro scowled and clutched his head. “Did I…take the pictures last time?”
Nano started in surprise. “You did. These are the photos from then,” she said as she pulled out a wad of photos from her bag. The edges were ever so slightly burned.
“Heh heh. Looks like we had fun back then too.” Rentaro smiled cheerfully at the photos.
“I did enjoy it. Despite expectations.” Nano repeated the same words she uttered that day. “But I thought it was a meaningless day.”
“But that’s—”
“Wrong, I know,” Nano finished. “Aijo Rentaro, you were the one who taught me that.” She turned to face Rentaro, unblinking. “You taught me the fun of amusement parks. That happiness in itself has meaning.” Then she looked back at the other girlfriends. “That there is meaning in spending time with the people you care about.”
The girls’ eyes lit up.
“The previous me would have said that it was more efficient to live as an amnesiac than spend time trying to restore memories that might not return.” Nano’s gaze turned to Rentaro. “But now, I want those memories to come back, regardless of efficiency.” She blinked a single time. “They are important to me.”
Rentaro blinked back. His fist clenched as he listened to those earnest, unadorned words. He placed his fist to his chest and replied with an equally earnest vow. “Of course! I’ll get those memories back, just you see!”
✦ ✦ ✦
Their next stop was the school library, where Shizuka took the reins. In this quiet space, Shizuka lowered the volume of her text-to-voice generator. The robotic voice resounded softly.
‹This is the fabled land.› ‹’Tis I, the governor of this land.›
“Oh…you’re a librarian?”
‹And that was the truth.›
The verbal exchange was very similar to their first meeting.
‹By decree, I was told to…› ‹…introduce my recommendations.›
“Were you now? Sorry, I don’t remember.” Rentaro apologized, looking uncomfortable.
Shizuka shook her head in response. ‹I can teach it to you again, however many times necessary.› She gave him a small smile. ‹Once upon a time, I…›
As the smartphone spoke for her, Shizuka pulled a single book out of her bag. The title inscribed on the cover was Circlet Love Story. Shizuka flipped through the pages and pointed at the words: Conversed in this manner. Then she fiddled with her smartphone again.
‹At present.› ‹These are my means.›
“I see…” Rentaro gazed at the smartphone with great interest, nodding thoughtfully. “That makes sense. This way, you’re able to meet people’s eyes when you communicate.”
When he smiled at her, Shizuka’s eyes widened ever so slightly in surprise.
‹You once spoke of something similar to me.› ‹You gave me strength.›
“Huh? I did that? Urk!” Rentaro scrunched his eyes shut and rubbed his temples before slowly opening his eyes. “Now that you mention it, I did just get this mental image of me silently plugging the book’s text into an app…”
When Rentaro turned his eyes to her, Shizuka nodded vigorously. Her finger hovered in the air uncertainly for a moment, then she tapped on the smartphone screen.
‹I was once a lonesome individual.› Shizuka lowered her eyes, slightly melancholic. ‹I accepted my fate.› ‹It was that or resignation.› ‹For I did not want to become a burden to others.›
The Rentaro family grimaced, attempting to stifle their pain, as they listened attentively to Shizuka’s story.
‹I changed when I met you.› For a moment, Shizuka lowered her eyes, then she brought them up to meet Rentaro’s directly. ‹You gave me so many things.› ‹Not simply this power.›
Shizuka’s serious expression changed, ever so gradually.
‹The warmth in my heart.› ‹And…›
She gazed at him lovingly before turning to the others.
‹The happiness.› ‹Of having so many wonderful friends.› ‹At my side!›
“Ngh!”
Her angelic smile was enough to knock out the entire group.
“Shizuka-chan’s cuteness ought to be listed as a natural monument!” Hahari squealed.
“As you command, my lady,” said Mei. “I will process a request.”
“There is a ninety-nine percent chance it will get approval,” Nano said.
“When even Nano-senpai is this down bad, you know things have gotten out of control,” Kurumi said.
“It happens more often than you’d think, aye,” said Kusuri.
While this conversation was going on, Shizuka turned back to Rentaro. ‹I owe it all to you.›
Rentaro waved this off. “No way.” He paused in thought briefly. “I couldn’t possibly have done that. You achieved it through your own efforts. I don’t have the right to take any credit, the way I am now.”
There was something hollow about his tone. Rentaro’s guilt was plainly evident in the way he grimaced and scratched his cheek.
Shizuka took a few seconds to respond.
‹Until that moment, I…› Her hesitation resurfaced momentarily. Nevertheless, she pushed on. ‹I thought that I had best not convey it to others.› ‹How I feel.›
Shizuka’s eyebrows creased, perhaps because she was imagining a less happy version of herself in another universe.
‹I was overflowing with so much emotion that I was beside myself.›
Once more, her sorrow gave way to a smile.
‹I wanted to tell you.› ‹That I love you.›
Rentaro watched her as she busied herself with her smartphone, his heart pounding.
‹After many twists and turns…› ‹I was asked…› ‹“Has your brain fallen out?”›
“How could I have responded so cruelly to such a brave confession?!” Rentaro attempted to punch himself, not for the first time that day.
“Calm down!” Karane stopped him. “I was the one who said that!”
Hakari smiled awkwardly. “It was our first time seeing you add another girl to the throng…”
‹See for yourself.› Shizuka’s lips curled up into an unusual, cheeky smile. ‹How the tale ended.›
Rentaro’s eyes widened as he grasped the nature of Shizuka’s request. “Yeah! I’m going to remember every conversation we ever had between us!”
His declaration rang out loud and clear.