My New Life

Chapter 105: A Peaceful End

After all this time.

I lifted an open hand, grabbing around the tight metal collar I had around my neck.

To think these chains would still persist.

"Of course they would. You know as well as I what it's going to take to get rid of them."

The two of us were sitting down, our backs against each other, just looking out in our respective directions.

Everything on my side was white, constantly shifting around, twisting, swirling.

I'd determined earlier that it's likely meant to relate to uncertainty.

Right now I'm in my mind, I'm in my head. It wouldn't be incorrect to say this was all fake, made up.

However, it wouldn't be wrong to also say that this is real.

My side, it's like this because I'm not sure what the future brings. I don't know what I'll be like once I regain all of my memories. Especially now that I have a goal that I want to accomplish.

Other than marrying Sakayanagi of course.

"Heh."

A smile fell upon my face as the younger me couldn't help a light laugh.

I glanced back in my direction.

The younger me's side had a beautiful view of the ocean.

The sun was setting, creating a beautiful red-orange hue in the air, and there appeared to be a nice breeze as well. I could see my clothing and hair slightly ruffle from the breeze, but I felt nothing.

Though I don't remember it, I could tell that this was a view I found some solace in.

I then looked down.

Then there's also that.

This view, it begins near the edge of a cliff.

I recognized it to be the same cliff I fell down in the past.

"May I say something?"

"Of course."

I looked back at the swirling motions of my side, my fate yet to be determined by them, my possibilities nearly endless.

"I never thought of you and I as the same back when I first met you."

"We aren't."

"You know what I mean."

My younger self didn't respond to that, so I kept going.

"We're both just parts of our future self, I expected that self to be more like me, since this is how I recently was. The more I thought about it the less I believed that. I've been told all sorts of things regarding my past, and based off of my own knowledge I've put together many different theories."

"Regardless of how long ago it was, the person I am will greatly influence who we be in the future."

"Listen-"

"I'm not proud of it. My past... whether it be because of the emotions I helped learn through you, or something I decided on my own, I've come to look back at my past and feel nothing but grief."

Now it was my turn to stay silent.

I can tell that this other me is thinking exactly as I am.

We're both the same after all.

That thing we're thinking of.

We're both scared of what kind of person our future selves will be.

The experience of my past combined with my current skills.