“5 Days with You Who Found the Invisible Me” Episode 5

Day 2

“Hmm, it’s bright.”
Yuto woke up to the morning sun streaming into the room. When he checked the clock, it read 7:30.
“Did I manage to get some sleep?”
Since he had been having trouble sleeping lately, Yuto felt relieved that he had managed to get at least a little rest. Then, he remembered the confession Ayaka had made before he fell asleep, and his body grew warm.
He looked next to him on the bed, but no one was there. He searched the whole room, but Ayaka was nowhere to be found.
“Ninomiya-san, Ninomiya-san. Where are you? If you can hear me, please answer.”
Yuto’s heart was overcome with anxiety and fear.
“Could it be that I’ve become invisible to Ninomiya-san too? And so... and so she might have gone to look for me.”
“Haa, haa, haa, haa.”
His breathing became faster and shallower. Perhaps due to his anxiety, cold sweat broke out, and he began to feel a little cold.
Just then, there was a clicking sound from the entrance. When the door opened, Ayaka was there. And Ayaka noticed Yuto, whose breathing was shallow and who was sweating.
“Are you okay? Did you get sick?”
Ayaka came right up to him.
“Sorry... I was just having some negative delusions by myself. Where were you since this morning, Ninomiya-san?”
“I couldn’t sleep a little, so I went for a walk.”
“Is that so? Were you unable to sleep because I was there?”
“No, that’s not it. I was just a little nervous. You see... Minase-kun, you fell asleep right after that.”
Ayaka said that.
“Though it was nice to see Minase-kun’s cute sleeping face,” Ayaka added in a voice too quiet for Yuto to hear.
“Ah, I see. I did fall asleep right after that, didn’t I? I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, don’t worry about it. I just let my feelings out in words.”
When Ayaka finished saying that, Yuto hugged her without saying a word. And then, Yuto made up his mind.
“I also... I also like you, Ninomiya-san. I’ve never been able to forget you, not even after graduating high school. I’ve always regretted not confessing to you.”
Yuto revealed his inner feelings.
“I’m truly happy. I thought it was just my one-sided love.”
Tears welled up in Ayaka’s eyes from happiness and relief.
“I was planning to confess to you, but you said it first, Ninomiya-san.”
Yuto said that happily, looking embarrassed.
“I said it first.”
Saying that, Ayaka laughed while crying.

“Let’s eat breakfast, you must be hungry.”
“Yeah.”
The two of them ate breakfast while talking about their high school days.

“Since when did you like me, Ninomiya-san?”
Yuto asked frankly about what he had been curious about.
“Hmm, I wonder when. Before I knew it... I might have been following you... Yuto-kun, with my eyes. So, I can’t really say exactly when. Conversely... how about you, Yuto-kun?”
Yuto was bothered by Ayaka suddenly calling him by his first name.
“Before I answer, um... I have one thing I want to ask, is that okay?”
“Sure.”
Ayaka was nervous about what he was going to ask.
“Why, um... did you suddenly start calling me by my first name...”
“I’ve always wanted to call you by your first name, but, you know, I was embarrassed. So, I thought I’d call you Yuto-kun to get used to it. Did you hate being called Yuto-kun?”
Ayaka asked, blushing and looking embarrassed.
“I don’t hate it. I’m happy. But, um... it’s the first time a girl has called me by my first name... so I was just a little bewildered.”
Seeing Ayaka blushing, Yuto also blushed and answered shyly.
“Then call me Ayaka too.”
Ayaka voiced the wish she had always wanted to say.
“Okay... ah, Ayaka...-chan.”
When he called her that, Ayaka’s face turned red, and she hugged the cushion nearby tightly.
“It’s with a ‘-chan’, but I’m so happy!”
She shouted that toward the cushion. And then, as if nothing had happened, she asked Yuto.
“So... since when... have you liked me?”
Ayaka’s face was still a little red.
“I’ve thought Ninomiya-san, ah, Ayaka-chan... was cute since we were in the same class in our first year. And by the time we took a picture together at the sports festival, I had already... fallen for you, Ayaka-chan.”
Then Ayaka laughed.
“What. We were in love with each other from the start. You didn’t show any signs of that at all, Yuto-kun, so I didn’t know.”
“I also thought there was no way you would ever like me, Ayaka-chan.”
When Yuto said that, Ayaka opened her mouth as if she were a little sulky.
“I was showing it quite a bit. Like at the sports festival you mentioned earlier, and I invited you to go around the school festival together, but you turned me down. Also, after the graduation ceremony, we took a picture together in front of my classroom, right? We made a heart together. But you were so aloof, Yuto-kun.”
“That was because, um... my friends were around and I was embarrassed. Also, I can say this now, but I wanted to take a picture with you too, Ayaka-chan, so I was waiting in front of your classroom after the graduation ceremony.”
As Yuto said this, he remembered the memory from back then and felt embarrassed.
“Ahhh, so that’s why you were in front of the classroom, Yuto-kun. I thought you were waiting for your friends. Wow, we were both so dense.”
Ayaka was convinced after hearing Yuto’s story.
“It seems so.”
The morning dining table was filled with the two of them’s laughter and smiles.

“Come to think of it, are you going somewhere today, Ninomiya-san... no, wait. Ayaka-chan, do you have classes or anything?”
Ayaka attends a three-year junior college near this apartment. She is a third-year student now and often has days where she only has classes in the morning.
“Yeah. I only have a class from the second period today. Let’s go on a date after that’s over.”
Yuto was surprised by Ayaka’s sudden proposal.
“A, a date?”
“What? Don’t you want to go on a date, Minase-kun?”
Ayaka pretended to be sulky to gauge Yuto’s reaction.
“Of course I want to. But, you know, I’m invisible to other people... so I thought you might look like a strange person talking to yourself, Ayaka-chan.”
Yuto didn’t want to cause trouble for Ayaka.
“That’s fine. If anything, it feels like a world just for the two of us, so I’m happy. Anyway, I have to get ready.”
Ayaka said that after checking the clock.
“I see. I probably can’t help you get ready, so I’ll go for a walk.”
“Thanks for being considerate. Oh, that’s right, I’ll give you this.”
Saying that, Ayaka handed a smartphone, a spare key, and a thousand-yen bill to Yuto, who was about to leave the room.
“You don’t have anything, right, Yuto-kun? So, if anything happens, call me. Oh, that’s my second smartphone, so don’t worry about it.”
“Got it. Thank you. Well then, I’m off.”
“Take care. I’ll contact you when class is over.”
“Yeah.”
Saying that, Yuto left the apartment.

***

“Phew. I was nervous.”
Yuto had nowhere to go, so he just wandered around aimlessly, reflecting in his mind on the events of yesterday, which had been too sudden. There were so many things that happened, and he thought it was a bit too stimulating for one day, when he realized something. He had come out still wearing Ayaka’s gym clothes.
“Ah, crap. I might be getting weird looks,” he thought for a moment, but then he calmed down, thinking, “That’s right... I’m invisible to everyone except Ninomiya-san, no, Ayaka-chan.” At the same time, he felt self-loathing for calling her by her last name immediately if he wasn’t careful.
“I’m not hungry, and there’s nothing I can do, so I’ll return this thousand-yen bill later.”
Yuto sat on a nearby bench, leisurely watching the surrounding scenery and the people who couldn’t see him.
“Watching it like this, it’s obvious, but society keeps running even without me, and everyone is living desperately every day. Someone like me... it wouldn’t have mattered if I became invisible...”
Such negative emotions welled up, but the image of his parents crying came to mind. And of course, Ayaka’s as well.
“Anyway, I’ll somehow show myself to my parents again... and prove that I’m alive. And then...”
Yuto made up his mind.

***

While he was watching the scenery and wandering around, it was about to be 1:00. Then his smartphone vibrated. When he looked at the phone, it was a call from Ayaka.
“How long has it been? Since I answered a call. Even though I know the person is Ayaka-chan, I’m nervous.”
Yuto took a deep breath and answered the call.
“Hello.”
He said that with a voice mixed with a little nervousness.
“Hello, Yuto-kun. You were slow to answer, so I thought you wouldn’t pick up.”
“I’m sorry... I’m just not good at answering the phone.”
Ayaka remembered what Yuto had told her yesterday.
“Ah, I see. I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t worry about it. So, is class over?”
Then Ayaka changed her tone.
“Yeah. Class is over, but I left an assignment that’s due today at home. Yuto-kun, where are you now?”
Ayaka asked Yuto, a little flustered.
“I’m about 10 minutes away from your apartment, Ayaka-chan. Should I bring it to the university?”
“I’m sorry. Could you do that? I think I left it on the desk.”
Ayaka said apologetically.
“Don’t worry about it at all. I’ve been nothing but a burden to you, Ayaka-chan. Think of it as returning the favor.”
“Got it. You’re really kind, Yuto-kun. Then I’ll wait in front of the university.”
When the call ended, Yuto immediately started running toward the apartment.

Yuto arrived at Room 103, unlocked the door, entered the room, took Ayaka’s assignment from the desk, locked the door again, and headed to the university.

***

When Yuto arrived in front of the university, he saw Ayaka.
“Ayaka-chan, I brought it.”
Yuto called out to Ayaka in a voice a little louder than usual, while out of breath.
“Did you run to bring it to me? Thank you. But you didn’t have to rush so much.”
“Because... I wanted to go on a date... as soon as possible.”
When Yuto said that with a red face, Ayaka also blushed at the unexpected response.
“You wanted to go on a date with me... that soon.”
Ayaka said that in a small voice, looking embarrassed.

Of course, the interaction between the two, and Yuto’s existence, were invisible to those around them. So Ayaka, who looked like she was talking to herself and blushing, looked like a woman who was out of her mind.
However, the two of them were so immersed in their own world that they didn’t care about the eyes of those around them.

“Then I’ll go submit my assignment, so wait a moment.”
Saying that, Ayaka ran into the university campus.

After about 10 minutes, Ayaka came running from the other side.
“Sorry. Thanks for waiting. Then, shall we go?”
Saying that, Ayaka took Yuto’s hand.
“Have you already decided where we’re going?”
He said that while feeling nervous about Ayaka suddenly holding his hand.
“It’s a surprise until we get there.”
Ayaka said that while walking toward the station with Yuto.

***

The two arrived at the station.
“Let’s buy tickets.”
Ayaka was looking forward to her date with Yuto, so she seemed happier than usual. She was smiling.
“I can pass through the ticket gate without a ticket.”
“Ah... I see. Then I’ll go buy them.”
Ayaka thought she might have made Yuto remember an unpleasant memory.
The two passed through the ticket gate and waited for the train on the platform. Then Ayaka opened her mouth.
“I’m sorry. About earlier.”
Yuto didn’t know what she was talking about.
“What? About the assignment?”
“No, earlier... when I was buying the tickets. I thought I might have made you remember an unpleasant memory, Yuto-kun.”
Yuto felt a little self-loathing when he heard that. For making the person he likes worry about him.
“I’m the one who should be saying sorry. Even though you found me, Ayaka-chan... I’ve been making you worry the whole time. I’m really sorry.”
Between the two, there was no atmosphere of going on a first date, but a heavy, gloomy air was flowing. Then, a train passing through the station went by as if to blow away the heavy air.
Yuto had a look of relief on his face.
“I’m looking forward to my first date with Ayaka!”
Yuto shouted loudly toward the sky. Of course, no one around could hear him. He shouted only for Ayaka.
Then the train he was waiting for arrived. Yuto reached out his hand. Ayaka took that hand, and the two of them boarded the train while holding hands.
The two didn’t say a word on the train, but they were both thinking the same thing.
‘I love this person. I love them so much. I’m glad I met them.’

The next person to open their mouth was Ayaka.
“Let’s get off.”
Saying that, the two got off the train and went through the ticket gate.

After walking a little from the station, an amusement park came into view.
“We’re here. I wanted to come to an amusement park with you, Yuto-kun.”
Ayaka said that with a smile.
“I also wanted to come here with you, just the two of us, Ayaka-chan. To this amusement park.”
Yuto said that looking a little embarrassed.
“Why did you call me ‘Ayaka’ without the honorific earlier, but now you added ‘-chan’?”
Saying that, Ayaka laughed mischievously.
“It’s nothing... There’s no... particular meaning. More than that, let’s go quickly.”
Yuto pulled Ayaka’s hand to cover it up and headed toward the amusement park.

The two arrived at the amusement park.
“We have to buy tickets.”
When Yuto said that, Ayaka laughed. And she took something out of her bag.
“Ta-da. Actually... I bought the tickets in advance. Here you go.”
Saying that happily, she handed the tickets to Yuto.
“We might be thinking the same thing.”
“Okay. Tell me.”
Hearing Yuto’s words, Ayaka asked, curious if they were really thinking the same thing.
“That we want to make the tickets a memory of our first date. Am I right?”
Hearing those words, Ayaka was happy, but she didn’t answer clearly.
“You were thinking that, Yuto-kun. Let’s go inside quickly.”
Yuto was left feeling unsatisfied after hearing Ayaka’s answer, but Ayaka’s face clearly showed the answer. That she was thinking the same thing too.

At the amusement park, the two of them enjoyed themselves by riding various attractions, wearing novelty headgear, and eating street food like churros and ice cream. It was an amusement park, or rather, their own space. A space for just the two of them.

And the fun time passed in the blink of an eye. The sun had set, and the amusement park's streetlights were illuminating the people.
"Shall we head home soon?"
Yuto said.
"Wait. There's one last attraction I want to ride..."
Ayaka said, looking a little nervous.
"Sure. What do you want to ride?"
"The Ferris wheel..."
Hearing that, Yuto also started to feel nervous.

As the two were talking about that, a pair of men walking toward them called out to Ayaka.
"Hey miss, you're cute. Are you alone right now? If you'd like, why don't you hang out with us after this?"
Seeing Ayaka being hit on, Yuto couldn't suppress his anger.
"She's my girlfriend. Why are you hitting on someone else's girlfriend? Why are you picking her up? Damn it, why can't you hear me even though I'm shouting this loud?"
Of course, the two men couldn't hear Yuto's voice. Yuto felt frustrated that he couldn't protect her even though he was right there.
"I'm sorry. I'm here with my boyfriend."
Ayaka felt happy seeing Yuto desperately trying to protect her. She thought she was glad that he was her boyfriend.
However, the two men were persistent.
"You're clearly alone. Where is your boyfriend? Let's go have some fun with us."
Hearing that, Ayaka started to get annoyed.
"My boyfriend is right next to me, can't you see him?"
She said, sounding a bit angry. Seeing that, Yuto felt happy. At the same time as falling for Ayaka all over again, he thought he was glad she was his girlfriend.
"Hey, isn't she someone we shouldn't mess with?"
"Yeah, let's go."
Saying that, the two men left the scene.

"Phew. That was nerve-wracking."
Ayaka said, sounding tired.
"You were cool, Ayaka-chan. If they could see me, they wouldn't have dared to hit on you. I'm sorry."
Yuto said with a frustrated look on his face.
"No, I was really happy to see you trying to protect me from those two."
Hearing Ayaka say that, Yuto's frustrated expression turned into a smile.

As they were talking about that, the two arrived in front of the Ferris wheel.
"Let's go."
"Yeah."
The two boarded the Ferris wheel with happy, nervous expressions. At first, they sat facing each other.
"Aren't you going to... sit next to me?"
Prompted by Ayaka, Yuto moved next to her in silence.

Just as the gondola they were riding reached the very top, Ayaka gently kissed Yuto on the cheek. Yuto was surprised and looked at Ayaka, and she pointed to her own cheek. She must have meant for him to kiss her there.
Yuto leaned in toward Ayaka. He was almost mesmerized by her fair, beautiful skin, but he gently kissed it. When Yuto looked at Ayaka's face, the skin that had been as white as snow a moment ago had turned a cherry-blossom pink.
Then, the two faced each other and kept their lips pressed together until the gondola reached the bottom.

***

After getting off the Ferris wheel, the two were too embarrassed to even meet each other's eyes, so they left the amusement park and walked to the station while holding hands.
And until they reached Ayaka's apartment, silence continued between the two. A comfortable silence.

When the two entered the room, Yuto locked the door. Ayaka sat on the bed. Then Yuto sat next to Ayaka. Just like on the Ferris wheel, they gazed at each other. And then, the two confirmed their love for one another.

To be continued