Life cannot blossom brilliantly amidst lies.

Why was that?

When he heard these words, the boy did not, in truth, feel any sense of disbelief. If anything, there was a strange relief in his heart—an “Ah, as expected, I couldn’t keep it hidden” kind of release.

It wasn’t that he doubted the power of that system; the system was capable of many things that defied common sense, so erasing a part of someone’s memory was likely a trivial task.

At the very moment he uninstalled the system, Tsukiya Jinguuji had already considered this possibility.

Yet, just because the person involved no longer remembered him didn’t mean the things he’d done simply vanished.

No matter how many things he wished to forget, there would always be someone to remember them for him.

To remember Tsukiya Jinguuji.

To remember that he was a scoundrel who had stolen happiness from countless people.

…

…

Autumn wind drifted through the window into the student council room, billowing the white curtains on either side. Before him, the girl smiled gently.

Time seemed to turn viscous, a thick liquid that wrapped around the boy, robbing it of its usual qualities.

How long had passed?

A second? Two?

A minute? Or two?

“The tea will get cold, you know.”

The viscous liquid of time that had enveloped him vanished in an instant. The delicate teacup trembled in his hand, the transparent brown tea inside rippling. Only then did he realize it was his own hand that was shaking. Trying to appear composed, he set the cup back on the table.

“Oh… oh, amnesia, huh? That really is quite a surprise.”

“Isn’t it just? And what’s strange is, I haven’t forgotten a single thing from my textbooks, nor the family and friends around me.

“My favorite teacher from kindergarten, the award I won in the elementary school piano competition, how I wept uncontrollably over a romance film in junior high.

“I haven’t forgotten any of it. Every fragment is firmly etched in my heart, making up who I am—Hinano Hoshinomori.”

She spoke calmly, sharing these thoughts with Tsukiya Jinguuji, someone she’d only recently come to know.

“It seems President Hoshinomori has a remarkable memory,” Tsukiya could only reply.

“That’s right, I do have an excellent memory.”

Her certainty was met with the boy’s silence.

“And yet, all the people around me keep saying things that leave me utterly baffled. All sorts of things I can’t recall at all, each one recounted as if it were the most serious matter.”

“……”

“You might understand how I feel… Hmm, well. It’s like, on a blazing hot day, sweating in the heat, you press down the marble on a bottle of soda, wait a few seconds, hoping for a cool, refreshing gulp—only to find the bottle is empty. That’s about what it feels like.”

Hinano Hoshinomori lowered her head slightly, unconsciously smoothing the skirt draped over her lap, the sound of fabric brushing filling the silent council room.

“Jinguuji, I feel as if I’m missing a crucial piece of my puzzle.”

A puzzle, was it.

Tsukiya Jinguuji smiled ruefully in his heart.

He was certain Hinano Hoshinomori must have heard many rumors about herself and him. If it were nothing but baseless gossip, perhaps it wouldn’t matter, but they had, in fact, eaten together in the school cafeteria several times.

Of course, that alone could hardly prove they were dating, but everyone knew about it—everyone except Hinano Hoshinomori herself, the person most involved. No matter how you tried to explain it, it didn’t make sense.

Tsukiya Jinguuji knew the reason, but he couldn’t be honest; he couldn’t reveal the truth.

“I’m the kind of person who can’t rest until I’ve solved the mysteries in my heart,” she said.

Tsukiya was silent for a long moment, then suggested, “Perhaps you could ask the mystery club for help.”

Hinano Hoshinomori ignored his obvious attempt to play dumb, asking directly, “Do you have any leads, Jinguuji?”

“I’m just a high school student; it’s hard for me to get in touch with doctors who deal with these things.”

“I’m not looking for a doctor.”

“Then what?”

“If I had to say, I’m looking for a witness… or perhaps, the culprit.”

“…I’m no detective.”

“That’s a shame.”

“It truly is.”

The silence made Tsukiya Jinguuji restless. With no other recourse, he picked up the documents on the table, leafing through the pages listing all the school clubs.

“Hey, Jinguuji, you know in TV dramas and manga, there’s always this theory.

“If someone is too special to you, and you’ve gone through too much pain, when the blow is too great, you’ll forget that person completely.”

Tsukiya Jinguuji continued flipping through the papers. “Hmm… I’m not sure. Isn’t that just your own fantasy, President?”

“Oh? Are you saying that I’m so fond of that rumored classmate that I’d start imagining things?”

“No one said anything about being ‘fond’.”

“I generally don’t dislike others. I always try to keep a humble, introspective heart. It’s hard to picture myself disliking someone so much I’d want to erase them from memory.

“But then again, if it were someone like Nagasawa, maybe I truly would dislike them.”

“I actually quite like him.”

Hinano Hoshinomori gave a slight smile. “You and I really don’t see eye to eye, do we, Jinguuji?”

“I, for one, would like to get along with a beautiful girl like you, President.”

She picked up the teapot and refilled Tsukiya Jinguuji’s cup.

“Thank you.”

“Jinguuji, have you heard this saying?”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Life cannot blossom gloriously from lies.”

“Heinrich Heine?”

Tsukiya Jinguuji looked at the girl before him, doing his best to keep his voice steady. “Are you trying to say I’m lying, President?”

“I just want to know if you might have any clues. Maybe you think it’s nothing, but I am, after all, a single girl. If I miss out on meeting someone wonderful because of these rumors, wouldn’t that be a pity?”

“True enough, but I really have no idea. I’m afraid I can’t help you, President. I’m sorry.”

Hinano Hoshinomori was silent for a moment, gazing into his eyes for a long while.

“I see. Then there’s nothing to be done.”

“…Yeah.”

Tsukiya Jinguuji drew a quiet breath. It seemed as though the faint scent of the girl lingered in the air, leaving him restless and uneasy.

“As for the clubs, I’ve gone through the information. As I thought, there isn’t one I’d like to join. I hope you understand.”

Hinano Hoshinomori said nothing.

Tsukiya Jinguuji placed the documents back on the table and stood, preparing to leave.

“And… thank you for the tea. It was delicious.”

“You’re welcome.”

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”

Hinano Hoshinomori simply watched him in silence, her eyes flickering with thoughts the boy dared not contemplate.

A gray, heavy feeling crept through Tsukiya Jinguuji’s heart, as if it shrouded his very organs, making it hard to breathe.

It was obvious—she was lost and confused by all of this. She desperately hoped to find the truth from him, yearning for the answer only he could give.

But Tsukiya Jinguuji could not speak.

He had kissed this girl more than once, but not once had he told her the truth.

“I like you”—was a lie.

“I’ll never leave you”—was a lie.

“I don’t know”—was a lie as well.

Life cannot blossom gloriously from lies.

The boy had never seen what it looked like when flowers bloom.