Love Is The Most Twisted Curse | Suguru Geto

Chapter 18: In Every Form of Reality & Fiction

"No no. Not like that. You have to kick it like this."

Young Sayuri was teaching Suguru how to properly kick. Sayuri always felt familiarity with the dark-haired boy. She just didn't expect that she would know Suguru from her childhood.

Could she be the childhood best friend he couldn't remember?

"I can't do it like you, Azai-chan." Young Suguru looked at her with admiration.

"Ew. Don't call me that." She said, disgusted.

"I'm sorry." He apologized in a low voice.

"Hey. Don't be sorry. Why are you like that, Suguru? Call me by my first name. We've known each other for months now." The little girl told him, resting her hand on his shoulder.

It was true. Sayuri saw them bond for what felt like several months. Her younger self walked to the park often to see Suguru and train with him. She looked forward to meeting him.

In contrast, Suguru is the opposite of how Sayuri now knows him. He was a shy kid who didn't talk that much and apologized a lot.

"Is everything okay at home?" Sayuri asked him

"They are still fighting everyday, but at least it is not because of me."

It took a lot of effort to get him to talk about these things. His parents fight every day over his strange abilities. They blamed each other for that. But now it has become a habit for them. They were always fighting about everything.

Suguru felt abandoned in his own home. He could see cursed spirits from a very young age, he told her. They attracted him. He could summon them or control them with his free will. It still needs a lot of work.

Sayuri felt so amazed by his powers. She told him about her powers, how she could move different things with her mind. The first time Suguru opened up about his parents, he cried a lot. Sayuri held him in her arms for hours.

"Why don't you fight the bullies, if you have such amazing power?" Sayuri asked him one day.

"Because they feel like the closest thing to what a friend might be."

And in that moment, Sayuri realized how lonely it had been for him. How could loneliness turn bullies into friends?

"From this day on, I'm your friend. And friends never hurt each other, Suguru. I don't have many friends either. In fact, people at school never want to share a seat with me. But look at me."

She smiles happily as she says, "I'm the happiest."

Suguru couldn't believe how strong she was to have a mindset like that. He admired her for that. He was looking at her, butterflies in his stomach.

He reached out his hand unconsciously to touch Sayuri's face. The young girl is surprised by the action.

"Thank you for being my friend, Sayuri."

Sayuri watched them with tears in her eyes. The exact same thing would happen to her in the aquarium in just a few years. Her father was right, it hurt so badly.

It is the monsoon season. Sayuri and Suguru were playing in the park when it started raining.

Suguru finally found the courage to tell her how he felt. He knew it was stupid, he knew she deserved much better, and they were still children. But he needed to get this off his chest.

Since it was raining so heavily, they sought shelter under a tree. Suguru held her hand,

"Sayuri, I have to say something to you."

"Hmm?" Sayuri asked and looked at him with those big innocent eyes.

"Before you, I'd known loneliness for a very long time. My parents could never love me. I had no friends. No one until you came. I didn't wear a heartfelt smile until you came into my life. I know you're so cool. Way cooler than me. But I have to say it, Sayuri. You're my first friend. My best friend. I'm yours, Sayuri. All of me. Please don't leave me." He finally confessed with tears in his eyes.

Young Sayuri was stunned by this confession. But to his surprise, she cupped his cheeks with her small hands and wiped the tears. And quickly gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek with a blush, "You know I can't tolerate your tears, Suguru."

"Sayuri."

Sayuri got her hands off from Suguru. It was her father. He was bruised in so many ways. Probably, he was in a fight.

"Paa, what happened?" Sayuri ran towards her father.

"Nothing. Is this your friend?" He asked her. Sayuri nodded.

Her father came near Suguru. Suguru is scared, she could tell.

"I'm sorry for this." He said before putting his hand on his head. He was shaking like he had been electrocuted.

Young Sayuri was screaming his name over and over again. His frail body was laying under the rain. He was senseless.

"What did you do to him? Suguru!"

Sayuri was still screaming when her father dragged her out of the park.

"Suguru. Wake up. Please. You have to wake up. You have to find me. Please find me, Suguru," Young Sayuri screamed at the top of her lungs.

Adult Sayuri couldn't do a thing. She watched as her father dragged her out of the park and after several minutes, Suguru woke up. He was crying.

"Was it all a dream? Are you really dead? Why couldn't I remember your name?" Suguru asked helplessly clenching his hair.

Memory manipulation, Sayuri thought. Her father altered his memory to make him think that she was dead. That is why Suguru thought his friend was dead, that is why he couldn't remember her name or her face. Anything.

Sayuri followed the path her father dragged her on. She came to their home. Her mother was crying, she could tell. She knew the sound very well.

"You really have to do this?" Her mother asked after several minutes. She could hear the door banging from inside. Her father apparently locked her inside.

"I wish I had a different choice. But I have to. To protect her from them."

Her father told her before kissing her forehead and placing his hand on her head. So this is why her mother didn't say anything. It was not her fault at all.

Finally her father opened the door to her room.

"What did you do to Suguru?" Sayuri yelled.

He bent his head to meet her eyes.

"Always remember Sayuri, the things you love will always find a way back to you."

With that he placed a hand on her head.

The adult Sayuri could feel the electric shock. She's reverting back to the present time, she thought. Her memory ends here. The only thing she wishes for is that she could remember this time.

"Sayuri!" A deep voice called her name again and again.

Sayuri finally opens her eyes to see she's in the arms of Suguru. She lifts her gaze to see those sharp eyes watching her with worry.

"You found me, Suguru."

She's looking at him with teary eyes. For now, she must hold back all her emotions. He doesn't know yet. After whatever the hell is going on, she must tell him.

She made her decision after seeing her memories. Maybe the man is her real father, but the fact that he abandoned her and her mother will not change.

She'll go with her gut feeling. She won't go anywhere with him. She'll stay at Jujutsu High with Suguru, with all of her friends. Because they are her family now.

She's still looking at Suguru. He's watching her with a confused look.

She realizes one thing about him, no matter how many times his memories will be altered, Suguru Getou will always fall in love with Sayuri Azai, in every form of reality and fiction.

It is their destiny. No matter how many people try to separate them, Suguru will always find his Sayuri.