The problem of loving you will extend into the distant future

　　"…"

　　The boy looked at the girl blankly.

　　Every word she said still lingered in his mind, her childish words were clearly not very profound, and did not even qualify to be written into a book.

　　But for some reason, those voices caused him to stop breathing in shock, leaving only a warm feeling in his heart.

　　"...I see."

　　The boy let out a confused voice. He didn't understand where the warmth in his heart came from. He couldn't understand it no matter how much he thought about it.

　　The girl didn't notice his expression, but after hearing what he said, she nodded in satisfaction and smiled.

　　"Okay, then next time I come, you should be the one to solve my problems… I guess I still have a lot of problems to think about in the future."

　　"Until then, I will be responsible for you in the future."

　　The girl's mother's call came from downstairs.

　　The girl looked at the boy with a confused expression on her face.

　　"After reading your book for so long, I still don't know your name. I only know that you are my cousin."

　　"... Asada Shinichi," The boy answered softly.

　　"My name is Asada Shinichi, I am 10 years old..."

　　"Well, I will remember that." The girl's inexplicable joy.

　　She opened the door, waved slightly at him, and smiled.

　　"Then, I'll go home."

　　"…"

　　"Goodbye, Shinichi Onii-chan."

　　There was a commotion below, and after a while, the stairs above slowly approached.

　　"Shinichi, don't you have a good relationship with Rui? She's going home, why don't you come down and see her off..."

Kazumi walked into the room, looking at the sleeping boy lying on the table.

　　"Sleeping at this hour? Did you stay up late and read... No, weren't they still chatting now? How sleepy are you…"

　　She took a thin blanket, covered the boy gently, and left the room quietly.

　　The door closed again.

　　In that room filled with warm sunlight, time seemed to slow down.

　　The pages of the book lay on a thin blanket.

　　The boy woke up, rubbed his eyes, and looked around in confusion.

　　"Why did I fall asleep?"

　　He stood up subconsciously, looked around, and stopped at the messy bed.

　　For some reason, two words came out of his mouth.

　　It's a name.

　　"Tachibana Rui..."

　　He left the room and walked downstairs.

　　"Are you awake, kid? Really, it's hard to say goodbye to a rare friend. Rui doesn't look very happy..."

　　The boy repeated blankly: "Rui..."

　　There was a stinging pain in his head again, but this time he ignored it and walked to the entrance.

　　What greeted him outside the door was only the darkening evening sky.

　　Dusk has passed and a new day is approaching.

　　△

　　[So after that, I slowly forgot all about you coming to our house]

　　[My parents had reminded me of your existence before, but it didn't take long for me to feel that I didn't need to care about it, and of course I never doubted it]

　　[I'm sorry, I not only forgot my first friend, but also the agreement we made...]

　　On the last page of the book, Shinichi wrote this.

Rui read word by word, and continued to hold the pages of the book steady with her fingers.

　　[After you said you wanted to be my fake girlfriend, I suddenly remembered that not only now, but also in the past I was helped by you. When I was confused, you pushed me hard from behind]

　　[Really, thank you very much]

　　[I am also sorry that the initial problem persisted in another form and was not resolved smoothly]

　　[But it's strange that the memory disappeared even though it hasn't been solved yet, I will continue to investigate it, so please don't worry]

　　"You are really the protagonist of the novel, why are you guys doing an amnesia plot…" Rui complained. Although Hina next to her was a little curious, she glared at her and didn't dare to peek.

　　[I've said too much, and I can't fit it into the empty space on the last page, so this message almost ends here]

　　[Rui, you said it was on the Ferris wheel, right? If we don't regret what we have given each other, then your worries will be in vain]

　　[In my opinion, it's worth it]

　　[Every move you make means a lot to me]

　　[You were the one who saved me from the abyss of loneliness and fear when I was little, and made me start to believe in the possibilities of the future]

　　[It is you now who pushed me out of confusion and doubt and gave me the courage to change]

　　[I owe you a lot, and I haven't solved your problem until now. As compensation, I will give you this book, and I will take you to play when I have time]

　　[Wait, no, you solved the problem]

　　[You were the one who told me that I was Asada Shinichi, not someone else]

　　[Tachibana Rui, thank you very much]

　　[Even though I can't love you as a lover, as a brother, I will stay with you for the rest of your life]

　　[This is a new agreement, I wrote it in my notebook and I will never forget it!]

　　[From now on, keep smiling, and like me, please live happily in this beautiful world and enjoy a rare life (God, this sentence is a bit embarrassing)]

　　[Finally, have a nice trip, Rui-chan]

　　After reading the last sentence, Rui pursed her lips.

　　Then, a smile appeared.

　　"I just wanted to say that you have clearly solved the problem for me..."

　　This fool.

　　She took out the four-leaf clover bookmark that Shinichi had given her at the temple fair, placed it on the last sentence, and then closed the book.

　　Placing her palm on the cover, Rui let out a soft sigh.

　　"Rui?" Hina's worried voice came from the side.

　　"What is wrong?"

　　Rui turned her head in confusion.

　　Hina pointed to her cheek and said: "Why are you crying suddenly?"

　　"Is this? It doesn't matter. I don't cry because I'm sad."

　　Rui wiped the water droplets flowing down her cheeks, and said with a relaxed expression.

　　"I suddenly realized that I seemed to have liked that guy since I was 9 years old."

　　Hina nodded in understanding: "Oh~ So?"

　　Problems start in the past, extend into the future, and remain unresolved today.

　　So are these feelings the same?

　　"So, I..."

　　Rui smiled, with cunning in her eyes.

　　"I have decided to study hard from now on and transfer to Shuchi'in Academy next year!"

　　"If I fail the transfer exam, I will enter the same university as him. "

　　Hina's eyes widened, and her voice rose: "Eh?! Are you serious? I thought you gave up..."

　　Rui shook her head.

　　"He said it himself, he owes me a lot until the problem is completely resolved."

　　"If I don't get it all back, won't all my efforts this summer be in vain? That won't work."

　　She smiled happily.

　　"Don't underestimate a girl's obsession... Will you stay with me until the end? This is what you said."

　　"Just what I want."

　　"The future has unlimited possibilities, and we still have six years to spend together."

　　"If first love fails, then look for a second love and a third love – no one says it can't be the same person."

　　"If you don't like me now, focus on you in the future."

　　"If you don't like the future, then the future will remain until I give up or you give up."

　　"What worries me is that I like you more and more?"