“Even though I really want you by my side,”
“But I can’t be that selfish.”
“The thought of the moment I leave this world makes me want to cry.”
“The thought of my daughter seeing my ugly, dying form makes it hard to keep Nare.”
“The thought of how Nare would live in a world without me makes me uncontrollably afraid.”
“Trembling all over with fear.”
Just then, in the dark little room, the male protagonist gently pushed Nare away.
And when she tried to pounce on him, he held her shoulders down.
“Don’t you understand? We don’t have a blood relationship. I’m not your biological father, and you’re not my biological daughter.”
“It’s because of you that I can’t fall in love.”
The male protagonist steeled his heart and spoke words against his will.
“Huh?”
Nare froze, looking at him in disbelief.
Two seconds later, large tears streamed down her face.
“I hate you!”
“Miyazaki Natsuki, I hate you! You’re not my daddy anymore!”
Nare cried and ran out.
Looking at her retreating figure and the empty doorway, the male protagonist felt a void in his heart.
…
That evening, he searched the town with Moriyama Aoi and finally found the guy at Aoba Inori’s house.
Aoba Inori saw Nare on the street, but the guy refused to go home, so she brought her back.
He just didn’t expect so much to happen in between.
…
Under the male protagonist’s resolute decision, Miyazaki Narai finally agreed to the Shinbou family’s adoption.
When he sent Nare to the Shinbou family, the guy didn’t even look at the male protagonist.
“We’ll take good care of her. Don’t worry.”
Shinbou’s wife caressed the male protagonist’s hand, comforting him.
Miyazaki Natsuki glanced at the small figure; although he was reluctant, he gritted his teeth and left the Shinbou family’s home.
“It’s hard, but it’s unavoidable, isn’t it?” Moriyama Aoi said.
Everything seemed to return to peace, but there was an indescribable sense of oppression.
After returning home, the entire room was empty.
The familiar Nare was gone, but he still felt that at any second, the guy would jump out of the closet and say, “See, you can’t find me, can you?”
Just like playing hide-and-seek in the past.
Ever since Nare was sent away, Miyazaki Natsuki had been absent-minded all day.
However, for someone who was about to die, there seemed to be nothing left to cherish in this world.
But after sending away his last attachment, his only remaining connection to this world was also about to break.
“LIFE-LINE”
“My lifeline is broken.”
At night, the male protagonist lay in his room like a zombie, past memories playing frame by frame in his mind, like a revolving lantern.
He instinctively reached for the quilt beside him.
Only a chill.
The little one in the quilt was no longer beside him.
“My lifeline has left me.”
It was at this moment that he realized how important Nare was to him.
So important that she was like air; though he didn’t notice her usually, her absence made him breathless.
Just then, a door creaked open.
Miyazaki Natsuki’s heart tightened, and he quickly stood up and rushed out.
“Nare…”
However, when he saw who had entered, he froze.
It wasn’t Nare, it was Moriyama Aoi.
The light in Miyazaki Natsuki’s eyes dimmed.
“Oh, right, I sent Nare away.”
“To be precise, I drove her away.”
“As expected, sending Nare away must have been a huge blow to you. You probably haven’t even eaten properly, have you?”
Moriyama Aoi shook the bag in her hand, which contained a pile of ingredients.
After cooking a good meal, Moriyama Aoi broke open the chopsticks and handed them to Miyazaki Natsuki.
Miyazaki, like a walking corpse, instinctively picked up dishes and swallowed.
Moriyama Aoi looked at him and couldn’t help but sigh.
But the next second, she smiled again, “Natsuki-sensei, although what I’m about to say might be a bit presumptuous.”
“But, Natsuki-sensei.”
“Have you ever thought about what you want to do in the final stage of your life? For example, wishes you couldn’t fulfill normally, things you want to complete before you die?”
“Take this time to sort things out properly, and then leave this world without regrets?”
“Hmm?” Miyazaki Natsuki was slightly stunned but then nodded.
“Moriyama-sensei, you’re right. I should do the things I want to do with the time I have left.”
…
Before Miyazaki Natsuki learned he had cancer, he actually had a wish list.
“1. Have a passionate love affair and get married.”
“2. Eat steak.”
“3. Ride a motorcycle.”
“…”
The last item was:
“Swim with Nare at the beach in summer.”
The next plot is the process of everyone helping the male protagonist fulfill his wishes.
This similar yet contrasting situation couldn’t help but make people feel emotional.
In CL, the male protagonist helped various female protagonists fulfill their wishes.
But in LL, it was the female protagonists who helped Miyazaki Natsuki fulfill his wishes.
Furukawa Hirozawa once again deeply understood what “complementary to CL” meant.
The process of fulfilling the wish list was actually quite joyful, making Furukawa Hirozawa momentarily forget the sad ending.
Until only the last two items remained on the list.
“Fall in love and get married.”
“Swim with Nare at the beach.”
Dusk sunset.
Red sea surface.
Golden beach.
Only Miyazaki Natsuki and Moriyama Aoi were left walking on the beach.
In winter, everyone wore thick coats, and even their breaths were white.
“It seems this is as far as we go.”
Miyazaki Natsuki smiled contentedly, “Thank you all for this time.”
“Mmm-hmm, not at all.”
Moriyama Aoi walked side by side with Miyazaki Natsuki, her eyes intentionally or unintentionally looking at the distant sea.
“Hey, Natsuki-kun.” Moriyama smiled.
She turned to look at Miyazaki Natsuki.
“Huh?” Miyazaki Natsuki was slightly stunned, seemingly unaccustomed to being called by such an intimate name for the first time.
“Natsuki-kun, how about I help you fulfill your wish?” Moriyama Aoi said with a radiant smile, her smile very bright.
Healing hearts.
Miyazaki Natsuki froze. From his perspective, Moriyama Aoi perfectly overlapped with the sunset on the distant sea.
The shimmering sea, along with Moriyama, sparkled.
As if Moriyama was that sun.
In the last dark moments of his life, she illuminated him.
“No, thank you.”
Miyazaki Natsuki shook his head and bowed to Moriyama Aoi, “Thank you, Moriyama-sensei, you are too kind, but I cannot accept this kindness, especially since I cannot accept your good intentions just because my time is short.”
He finished speaking, shrugged, smiled, and then continued to walk forward.
After a while, he realized that Moriyama-sensei hadn’t followed.
He looked back and saw Moriyama-sensei standing still with her head bowed.
Clear, large tears streamed down her face.
“Moriyama…”
The male protagonist swallowed, hesitatingly asking, “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know why, but when I saw Moriyama-sensei crying, my heart suddenly panicked.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Or…”
“At this very moment, I really want to hug Moriyama-sensei, just as she hugged me before.”
“But I know I don’t have that right.”
“I am a person whose LIFE-LINE has broken.”
“Hey, Natsuki-kun.”
Just then, as the male protagonist was about to retreat, Moriyama Aoi suddenly looked up.
She smiled at him through teary eyes.
Her smile was so beautiful, so moving.
The male protagonist stood rooted to the spot, completely dumbfounded.
“What I’m about to say has nothing to do with your wish.”
Moriyama Aoi smiled, wiped the tears from her face, and continued, “This is my own wish.”
After speaking, she paused and took a deep breath.
Then, she happily said to Miyazaki Natsuki:
“Natsuki-kun, I like you.”
“Eh?” Miyazaki Natsuki was completely stunned.
“This sudden confession was like a bullet suddenly hitting my heart, making my whole body tremble.”
“I like you, I like you very, very much, I like you the most. Natsuki-kun.”
Moriyama cried and laughed, then took steps, approaching Miyazaki Natsuki one by one.
By the time Miyazaki came to his senses, Moriyama Aoi was already gently holding his right hand.
“I like you, Natsuki-kun, please let me be your girlfriend.”
“As for whether we’ll get married, we can talk about that later. At least I hope to have a passionate love affair.”
Even in this situation, Moriyama Aoi still confessed to the male protagonist.
The sunlight shone from afar, casting a golden outline on their figures.
The male protagonist trembled as if he had been hit by a bullet.
The next second, tears streamed uncontrollably from his eyes.
“Are you an idiot?” Miyazaki Natsuki couldn’t help but curse.
“Yes.” Moriyama Aoi had no intention of letting go of him. Instead, she looked up to meet Miyazaki Natsuki’s gaze, smiling faintly, “I am an idiot.”
“You know I don’t have much time left, don’t you?”
“Mmm.”
“You know I can’t be with you for long, right?”
“Mmm.”
“Then, why, why…”
The male protagonist covered his forehead, weeping bitterly.
“Hey, let’s create some beautiful memories together.”
Moriyama Aoi said, stepping forward and gently embracing him.
Just as she embraced him on the first day she learned of his struggles alone.
“I have never felt such warmth.”
“An unreachable dream, right before me.”
“Aoi, can I really accept you so openly?”
The male protagonist’s lowered hands slowly lifted, hesitating for a moment before resting on Moriyama Aoi’s back.
“God, if there really is a God, please forgive my selfishness. For just this short journey, I am not alone.”
“That’s all.”
The male protagonist murmured softly.
“Aoi, you will be my lifeline from now on.”
…
Wuwuwu…
So touching.
In front of the TV, Furukawa Hirozawa cried and laughed, feeling like a madman.
This feeling was truly hard to describe.
He didn’t know if it was sadness or joy. If he were Miyazaki Natsuki, meeting a girl like Aoi at the end of his life would probably be a great blessing, wouldn’t it?
But why were tears flowing?
Damn it, damn it!
…
Since he decided to live out his final journey well, the male protagonist, at Moriyama Aoi’s persuasion, decided to bring little Nare back.
The Shinbou couple said nothing after learning of Miyazaki’s intentions, only quietly blessing them.
“Although I really wanted to part with Nare here, I ultimately couldn’t bring myself to make that decision.” Miyazaki Natsuki said with a bitter smile, “Perhaps I am selfish. Please allow Nare to stay with me for a little longer.”
“After I die…”
At this point, the male protagonist’s throat choked up.
But he forced back his tears and said with a smile, “After I die, I’ll entrust Nare to your care again.”
“Mmm~ Not at all, we understand.” Shinbou’s wife said with a chuckle, raising her hand, “Nare is in her room, go get her. She must miss you very much too.”
Miyazaki Natsuki nodded and stood up.
Pushing open the door, Nare was quietly drawing in the room by herself.
The walls were covered with Nare’s new works, bizarre and colorful, yet inexplicably shocking.
Beautiful beyond words.
“Hey, Nare, Daddy’s here to take you home.” Miyazaki Natsuki knelt on the tatami mat, extending his hands.
Just like he usually held her.
Nare was slightly stunned, then pouted, not turning to look at him.
“Didn’t you give me away? I’m not your child anymore.”
Uh…
Miyazaki Natsuki’s heart trembled, as if he had been brutally stabbed.
But he still forced a smile, “Come on, Daddy was wrong, I shouldn’t have left you.”
“Moriyama-sensei made lots of delicious food waiting for us at home. Oh, right, Moriyama-sensei is my girlfriend now.”
“Hmm?”
Miyazaki Narai was slightly stunned, instinctively wanting to respond, but she held back, only replying disdainfully: “No way, the snacks here at Shinbou Auntie’s are delicious, and there’s chocolate too.”
“They also teach me how to draw, so I don’t want to go back with you.”
“Alright.” The male protagonist sighed, quietly stood up.
“Then, I’ll take my leave now. See you tomorrow.”
Miyazaki Natsuki finished speaking and walked towards the door.
At the same time, Miyazaki Narai’s body trembled violently, and she was completely stunned.
“Idiot!”
Behind Natsuki, Miyazaki Narai shouted.
He turned his head and saw his daughter was already in tears.
“Daddy is a big idiot!”
Miyazaki Narai ran and pounced on him.
The male protagonist quickly bent his knees slightly, then waited for Nare to pounce and scooped her into his arms.
“You idiot!”
Nare cried and pounded his chest with her small fists.
“Miyazaki Natsuki! You’re too late!”
“Why did you just come?!”
“You were the one who drove me away first.”
“Don’t abandon me again!”
…
After they returned home, the few of them ate happily, like a family of three.
That night, Miyazaki Narai lay between Natsuki and Aoi.
Halfway through the night, Nare snuggled close to Aoi, resting her head on her shoulder.
Miyazaki Natsuki couldn’t pull her away, and he couldn’t help but apologize to Moriyama Aoi, “I’m sorry, this child is just so willful.”
“Not at all.”
Moriyama Aoi smiled, “Actually, I prefer her this way.”
“Didn’t I say I’d be your girlfriend?”
“If Nare doesn’t accept me, it would actually bother me.”
“Hehehe…”
Miyazaki Natsuki chuckled foolishly.
“But a girlfriend doesn’t necessarily get married, and doesn’t necessarily have to become Nare’s mother.”
Just then, before Miyazaki Natsuki had finished speaking, Nare hugged Moriyama Aoi’s arm, gently rubbing her shoulder, and murmured contentedly—
“Mama, mmm, it’s Mama’s scent.”
“Eh?”
Moriyama Aoi’s face instantly turned red.
…
Now the male protagonist had only one wish left: to swim with Nare at the beach in summer.
After a period of hard practice, Nare finally learned to swim under Aoba Inori’s guidance, so a group of people, encouraged by Nare, came to the beach.
Golden sunlight spilled onto the sea.
The few of them, dressed in swimsuits, shivered with cold.
“How about we go back? We can come back next summer.” Miyazaki Natsuki said, hugging his arms and trembling.
Swimming in winter was truly deadly.
“No, don’t!”
Miyazaki Narai refused, “Next summer, I might not see Daddy anymore!”
So, the group gritted their teeth, held each other’s hands, and rushed into the ocean.
“Ah~ It’s so cold!”
“Oh my, I’m freezing to death.”
“Is this inside a freezer?”
Under the sunlight, Miyazaki Natsuki, his daughter, and Moriyama Aoi, Aoba Inori… the group jumped in the sea, with waves surging behind them.
Everyone’s face was filled with happy smiles.
Click.
As if a shutter clicked, the scene froze, turning into a photograph.
Ah…
So happy.
Seeing this scene, with the image frozen here like a family photo, Furukawa Hirozawa couldn’t help but sigh.
If only time could stop here.