You and the Heat Haze #02 Chapter 1 First Love (1)
Chapter 1 First Love (1)
"I wonder if it would be easier if I just died..."
The surroundings had grown completely dark, but the young man who muttered this had no energy to move from the spot, simply leaning against the railing of the bridge over the river as if lying face down.
In the corner of his hazy vision, he caught sight of the chapel standing at the foot of the bridge. From what he had heard, it was a real cathedral from England that had been painstakingly relocated here.
The solemn-looking building, which possessed such a presence that it had appeared many times as a setting for television dramas, was a local landmark known to everyone who lived in the city.
And this afternoon, too, the clear sound of bells had sent off a couple at the peak of their happiness, beginning a new life together.
What crossed his mind was the bride and groom, who had walked through the flower shower with beaming smiles.
As someone watching the two as a guest, I must have had a very strained expression on my face from the perspective of others.
The bride was a childhood friend I had been in love with since I was little. However, because of my shy nature, I couldn't even confess my feelings, and while I was dawdling, she was successfully snatched away by another man.
No, perhaps the word "snatched" is inappropriate. Even though I had been by her side for so long, she hadn't even thought of me as a member of the opposite sex.
"Haa," I sighed deeply. Ever since the wedding reception ended, I had been like this in this spot.
Although I thought it was pathetic of myself, the pain of unrequited love was greater than I had imagined, given how single-mindedly I had loved her for so long.
"I might as well jump from here..."
I stared at the chillingly beautiful full moon reflected on the surface of the river. It might be nice to just be drawn into everything as it was.
I was all alone in the world anyway. My parents died early, and my grandparents, who raised me until I finished university, passed away a few years ago. The person I loved had also gone somewhere out of reach.
There was no one left in this world who would cry if I died.
I tried putting my foot on the stone railing. Yeah, I could do it.
"If you jump from here, you'll only break your leg."
"...Huh?"
When I looked up and glanced around at the unexpected response to my self-muttering, there stood a woman with an old-fashioned atmosphere. She was wearing a white short-sleeved blouse on top, but on the bottom... was that a monpe (traditional work trousers)?
Her outfit was quite old-fashioned, but she looked to be about my age.
"At this time of year, the water isn't that cold, so you won't freeze to death, and the water is shallow here, so it's a struggle even to drown."
It was a very valid point when it was pointed out to me.
"Do you want to die?"
She tilted her head and approached me.
"Ah, no, I was just muttering to myself..."
I suddenly felt embarrassed after being asked. Saying I wanted to die because of a broken heart was the height of being mentally unstable, and from a woman's perspective, it must have been nothing but creepy.
"There's nothing good about dying, you know?"
She peered at me. She was old-fashioned, but when I looked closely, she was beautiful.
I felt embarrassed being stared at by her large, bright eyes, so I hurriedly looked away.
"You talk as if you've actually died before."
In the first place, I'm not good at talking to women. So, the dismissive words were meant to hide my shyness.
"That's right. Because I'm a ghost."
I froze for a moment at her declaration, delivered with a serious face.
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