Miyu-san [Seasonal Cup Relay Novel] B Continuation → Development (PJ)

Development Story [B]/PJ Approx. 3000 characters


Do you remember that [August 1st]?
No, it was ten years ago already; it would be strange if you did remember.
Back then, you surely didn't notice. That I had been in love with you the whole time.
That summer day, after summer school. I followed you, my heart pounding in my chest.
At the beach where we went alone, you asked me if I didn't want to see your swimsuit.
"Of course," I started to say, then hurriedly denied it. I thought the timing was so off that it might have sounded unnatural.
My head was so full of such trivial things that when we arrived at the beach, I didn't know what to talk about, and I desperately searched for conversation topics. I spotted a beach house; they had shaved ice. You were supposed to like strawberry with condensed milk. Actually, I had enough money to buy two, but I wanted to eat together, so I bought only one and returned to you.
When we ate the shaved ice, your face was right next to mine. Your hair, swaying in the sea breeze, smelled very nice.
The sea was sparkling under the sunlight. Far beyond the people enjoying swimming, many yachts were floating, and looking at that scenery, the tension in my head, which had been full of thoughts of you, seemed to soften.
"I wonder what will happen to us from now on."
Looking at the distant horizon, you said you were anxious about the future. Of course, I was full of anxiety too. Even so, because I was in front of you, I tried to act tough.
"Isn't everyone afraid? I don't want to be separated from everyone either, but I'll be able to stay connected to those I have a bond with."That line I said to look cool. How did it sound to your ears, and how did I look in your eyes?

Do you remember?
That day, before heading home, the stone we hid together in the gap of the tetrapod.
That we wrote our names on the beautiful flat stone you found with a magic marker.
Ten years have passed since then.
Is that stone still there?
Have those letters faded away?
And, will I be able to meet you again?

Even now, at 25, I still have many things I'm afraid of.
I had anxieties about human relationships at work, and there were items requiring re-examination in last month's health checkup. My father's hair is balding beautifully just like my grandfather's, and an old friend I met for the first time in a while recommended multi-level marketing to me. Banks are said to be jobs that will disappear in the future, and even though they say they are still healthy, as the eldest son, I probably have to think about my parents' future as well.
And today, which I have kept thinking about like a curse.
Going to that beach today.
Ten years since then. Can I meet you, with whom I haven't had any contact?
Thinking normally, there's no way I can meet you after not being in touch for so long. That's obvious and something I understand perfectly. But even so, there was a part of me that was expecting it.
"No, you were a person who kept promises. It will surely be okay."
Yes, I told myself.
Carrying such thoughts, before the summer sun rose, I drove my car from 3:00 AM, heading toward that nostalgic town, that nostalgic beach.
Four hours with a break in between. I arrived at the beach exactly 10 years later.
Past 7:00 AM. Today's weather forecast is clear. The expected maximum temperature is 35 degrees. A hot midsummer day was about to begin.
Back then, I hadn't decided on a time for a reunion. Resenting my 10-year-younger self, I parked the car where I could see the place where we ate shaved ice and waited with the air conditioning blasting.
Like a detective waiting for a criminal, I waited patiently for you so as not to miss your appearance.

The clock passes 12:00. While eating the sandwich and rice ball I brought, I touched my smartphone.
The number with your name in my contact list didn't connect no matter how many times I called. The first time I called your number after graduating from junior high was when my admission to university was decided.
I had decided on the university in Tokyo I was aiming for, and I thought I could talk to you with confidence now. But that call didn't connect. The mechanical announcement told me in a tone that was both gentle and cold, "The number you have reached is not in service." I thought you could have told me if your phone number changed, but the fact that you didn't contact me seemed to mean that you were rejecting me. And I didn't have the courage to just confirm your whereabouts.
I arrived in Tokyo in despair. I fell in love and had a girlfriend at university. But you were always stuck in my throat like a small bone. I wonder if they noticed that about me; none of my romances lasted long.
Holding you inside me like that, 10 years passed.
Anyway, I'll wait. And if you don't come, I'll cleanly give up on this love.
With that determination, I was waiting for you at this place today.

While watching a drama on Netflix, before I knew it, it was dusk, and the clock was past 19:00.
In the end, you didn't come. I admitted that. I had no choice but to admit it.
I had just been fighting a one-sided battle for 10 years.
I finally realized that this love had ended a long time ago.
I took a black canned coffee out of the cooler box and drank it all at once. After rolling my head and massaging my shoulders, I got out of the car and stretched.
The wind from the sea blows through pleasantly.
I felt strangely refreshed.
It's like the small bone that had been stuck for so long finally came out.
Let's drink beer today. Let's go to that shop for the first time in a while.
I got into the car and closed the door to leave this beach of memories.
At that moment, I thought of one thing.
"Let's throw that stone into the sea. And let's end this love completely."
That seemed like a very good idea.
I climbed the embankment and looked for the tetrapod where I had placed the stone.
The tetrapod was found immediately.
When I traced my memory and reached for the hiding place, there was something that touched my fingertips.
I gripped it firmly so as not to drop it and pulled it out. It was much lighter than I remembered.
On the stone I took out, our two names remained, blending in as if they had been written in ancient characters in the distant past.
At that moment. The feelings from that time, the sunset of that day, the words I spoke with you. They surged like waves and swept me away.
I felt something lukewarm running down my cheeks. A salty taste seeped into my mouth.
I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. When I repeated that three times, my feelings calmed down a little.
"Let's throw it as far as I can from the top of the embankment," I decided, and tried looking at the stone once more.
There was a little reluctance. A secret promise kept in our secret base.
I stroked the stone and looked at it slowly once more.
Next to your beautiful handwriting, my clumsy letters were lined up.
And when I casually flipped the stone over, I was glued to it.
I suppose this is what it means for your mind to go blank.
On the back of the stone of our memories, there were the words, "Shin-chan, I'm sorry." It was definitely your handwriting.
My head was in chaos, and I couldn't move my body.
When I realized it, the sunset had fallen before I knew it, and it had become dark all around.
Around me, standing there in a daze, only the sound of the waves hitting the embankment echoed.

PJ Impressions
I'm sorry, it became 3000 characters, much longer than planned.
I was torn between ending it at the end of summer to match ZONE's [Secret Base], or matching it to the 4th day of summer school in the development story, but I set [That Day of Memories] to as early as possible in August for now.
"Believing we can meet again in August 10 years later"
Well, will this story be able to reach a happy ending safely?
I apologize for leaving it hanging, but Miyu-san, and everyone. Please take care of it.
Oh, also. Since there are many things I notice after posting, I will fix them little by little.
Please let me know if you notice any discomfort.