Go-Toubun no Hanayome √AE

Chapter 23:Summer's Memory ⑤

After what Ichika said, she stopped moving as well. Seeing Yotsuba run off, she could only turn around slowly to meet the statement Ichika had made. Once Yotsuba's footsteps couldn't be heard anymore, Itsuki began to speak.

Itsuki:"...Whatever could you mean? Come on, Ichik-"

Ichika:"Please don't try to deny it."

Itsuki gulped. She wanted to try to calm the situation, but her morbid curiosity was at odds with what Itsuki wanted to relay to Ichika.

Itsuki:"I don't want to jump to conclusions, but...that phone call...You're really thinking of leaving?"

Ichika put down the supplies she was carrying, and began to walk towards the edge. As the wind picked up and carried her hair, she turned around towards Itsuki with a pained smile, that was enough of a confirmation. Itsuki almost dropped her supplies as she ran towards Ichika and grabbed her shoulders.

Itsuki:"You...You can't really want that, right? It's just a joke...right?"

Ichika shook her head slowly.

Ichika:"I'm sorry, but I won't be graduating with you guys."

Itsuki began to get desperate.

Itsuki:"Why...are you telling me this now?"

Ichika:"I hoped to keep it a secret until the time came, but I figured I could at least tell you. After all, you've been keeping Yotsuba's secret pretty well."

Itsuki stepped back. She wanted to keep control of the situation, but her emotions towards seeing one of her sisters beginning to drift away was too much for her

Itsuki:"But you can't! What about being with us, we were going to graduate with smiles on our faces...Why?"

Ichika hesitates.

Ichika:"Desperation, maybe?"

Itsuki:"Do you still blame yourself for what happened at Kyoto!? Do you think Nino would hate you, that Uesugi-kun wouldn't tutor you, that Miku wouldn't forgive you!? Oh, or are you worried about your last test scores? You shouldn't, we all have sour spots here and there!"

Ichika:"That's...not it..."

Ichika began to get annoyed.

Itsuki:"Exactly! You know that's not the case...Come on, let's go back to the other-"

Before Itsuki could finish, Ichika took Itsuki's hands off of her.

Ichika:"I just wanted to clear this up with you first, stop pretending you're our mother!"

Itsuki was shocked at Ichika's loud voice. Soon after, Ichika snapped back into reality, she quickly moved towards the supplies and picked them up. Afraid to see Itsuki's face at that moment, she simply replied in a more somber fashion.

Ichika:"I know that this will make the others sad, and I know...they've forgiven me, no matter how much I don't deserve it...But this...I think...this is my choice. Itsuki...Just don't tell anyone and...sorry."

Itsuki could only watch Ichika's back as it went further and further away. Stunned, Itsuki looked down before looking towards the sky.

Itsuki:"I...I just want us to be together...At least for now. I'm not...I'm not pretending anything! I...What am I doing...?"

Itsuki began to bend down, grabbing her head.

Itsuki:"This is Uesugi-kun's fault! It has to be, he's the reason..."

Itsuki couldn't finish her sentence. She was so distraught, she began to blame Fuutarou, when deep down, she knew she was wrong. Fuutarou may have changed their lives, but he'd been trying to give them a life of regret.