Hyuuga took my hands and squeezed them.
I couldn’t help smiling, seeing her like that. Hyuuga was trying to do everything she could for me, and I was overwhelmed by her kindness. Who would’ve thought my heart would feel so warm in the face of death?
Just being with Hyuuga filled me with hope.
At the same time, it felt so painful; the more we talked, the more I didn’t want to die.
I didn’t let her see that, though, of course, and continued talking as calmly as I could.
“Now that you’ve said this is gonna be the last conversation of my life, I have no idea what to talk about.”
“Then I’ll give you random prompts. How have you been these past five years without seeing me?”
“It’s hard to sum up five years in a few words… But I guess it has been pretty normal. There were some fun times—and some tough times as well.”
“Uh-huh, I see… So did you find yourself a girlfriend?”
“Sadly not.”
“Oh reeeally?”
“Don’t laugh.”
“I’m not laughing. Hee-hee-hee.”
“That’s the biggest smile I’ve seen on your face all day.”
“You’re just imagining it… Don’t keep staring at me.”
Hyuuga covered her mouth with both hands, but I could see the corners of her eyes crinkle with glee.
“Is it really that funny to hear about someone being unhappy?”
“It’s not that. Besides, not having a girlfriend doesn’t necessarily mean you’re unhappy.”
“Maybe you’re right… But when you reach the end of life like this, you start to regret all the things you never did…”
“I see… Then I’ll take care of that for you. From now on, I’ll be your girlfriend.”
“Huh…?!”
“Hey, why are you suddenly speechless?”
“I mean, I just never expected you to suggest that.”
“…Don’t you want me to be your girlfriend…?”
Hyuuga started to tear up, and I rushed to reassure her. “I didn’t say that… Even if I’m on the verge of death, it makes me really happy to have a girlfriend.”
“O-oh…okay. Hee-hee-hee…”
Hyuuga hunched her shoulders and smiled shyly.
I was honestly happy to have a cute girl like her as my girlfriend, even if it was only in my dying moments.
“…Um, so okay, we’re dating. How about holding hands?”
“No, that’s dangerous. I might turn into a zombie and grab you, and you might not be able to get away.”
“Just for a little while, then.” As soon as the words left her lips, she put her left hand on top of my right.
Her eyes instantly widened in surprise.
“Your hands are freezing!”
“Well, I am turning into a zombie. My body temperature must be dropping.”
“O-okay… So you must be really close…”
“It must feel creepy, like you’re touching a corpse, right? You don’t have to force yourself to hold my hand.”
“It’s not creepy at all,” Hyuuga said firmly, wrapping my hand in both of hers. “I’ll do my best to warm you up.”
My hand had already started to lose feeling, but I could still feel her gentle warmth flowing into me.
I’d never held hands with a girl before. So this was what it was like…
For a moment, I forgot all about the reality of my situation and was genuinely smitten.
“…Thanks. I’m really happy right now.”
“Hee-hee-hee. I’m so glad… By the way, is there anything else you want to do with your girlfriend? …I’ll do anything I can to help you.”
“…You will…?”
I could hear a devil whispering in my ear.
There was only one thing I wanted to do right now.
I wanted to squeeze her boobs.
As memories of five years ago came back to me, I remembered the vague crush I’d had on her at the time.
If I could have my wish, I wouldn’t care about dying.
She was bound to despise me if I told her that, though, and the last thing I wanted was to die with Hyuuga hating me.
Then again, I’d regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t. Even if for the rest of my life was only another minute…
I had a serious choice to make: I could either embarrass myself and die with one last incredible memory or tough it out and turn into a zombie with lingering regrets.
That was when I realized that my left hand was also turning gray. I still had feeling in my fingers, but I couldn’t move them smoothly.
Death was fast approaching.
Having gone back and forth in my mind, I turned to the girl beside me. “…Hyuuga. I have a favor to ask, and it’s the last thing I’ll ever ask of you,” I said in a feeble voice. “Will you let me touch your breasts, just a little?”
“—Huuuh?!”
Guess she wasn’t expecting that. The sound Hyuuga let out was close to a scream.
Then she covered her breasts with her hands and said shyly, “Don’t people generally want to kiss in a situation like this…? Geez, Yuuma, your mind is filled with all sorts of naughty thoughts…”
She looked appalled, the disbelief evident in her eyes.
I don’t know what other people usually think of when they’re about to die, but I quickly made up an excuse.
“Uh, it’s not what you think. Kissing was the first thing that came to mind, of course, but I didn’t want to risk infecting you with the zombie virus.”
That was all just a big lie: Squeezing her boobs was absolutely the first thing I’d thought of. In fact, kissing hadn’t even occurred to me.