Chapter 11: Memories

──It should be about time to start looking, right?

I lift my face and stand up.

The piercing blue sky stung my eyes a little.

The rules are simple.

Find both of them within an hour, somewhere in the fifth district of our town.

However, there was one big challenge.

That was deciding whether to look for Runa or Yui first.

To be honest, it had long since been resolved. My heart was already decided.

──I want to find Runa first.

While waiting for the two of them to hide, I remembered.

Long ago, when the three of us played hide-and-seek. When I was "it", I could never find Runa.

So today, I want to find her for sure.

I thought she'd escaped with that victory forever, but this is an unexpected chance.

「I'll definitely find you.」

I struck my chest firmly with that resolve.

First, I set my sights on the schoolyard of the elementary school we used to attend.

After school, I should be able to enter freely.

The moment I stepped foot in the schoolyard, I was struck by a terribly gentle pain that squeezed my chest.

「Uwaa, so nostalgic.」

It's been three or four years.

When I arrived, I thought.

I might have time-slipped.

Rusted horizontal bars. A faded jungle gym. A slide smaller than I thought.

The scent of flowers carried on the wind tickled my nostrils.

──Sweet osmanthus.

That smell open the door to forgotten memories.

Come to think of it, when I was in first grade, I jokingly said to Yui "Let's get married someday" and gave her sweet osmanthus flowers.

...But that has nothing to do with me now. I'm sick of love.

Telling myself that, I looked around again. To search for Runa.

Now I'm going to find Runa. This time I'll win.

Then, a shed in the corner of the schoolyard catches my eye. The gym storage shed.

That's right.

Runa always used to hide on top of that roof. Back then, I didn't know how to climb up there, so I lost every time and thought it was unfair.

But now, the current me can do it.

I'm taller than back then, and I gained muscle over summer break too.

I use a nearby storage box as a stepping stone and stretch my leg.

Just barely, my fingertips graze the edge of the roof.

The rough texture scratched my skin.

Next, I jumped with momentum and gripped firmly.

Then I push my body up with arm strength.

My arms scream in protest.

But I don't let go.

...Just a little more.

Squeezing out my last bit of strength, I throw myself onto the roof.

「Fuu... I did it. I climbed it for the first time.」

I pumped my fist mentally.

It's okay.

I changed properly.

My chest grew warm deep inside.

「I knew you'd come here.」

What I saw was...