[Query: Should the Extreme Brainpower Training Method be activated?]
"Not yet."
Toru tapped on Kita's status bar.
He found that the illness had not worsened to an incurable extent.
[You paid her medical expenses before Kita's parents arrived.]
[This medical bill was not small. Due to the acute nature of the leukemia, Kita needed to start chemotherapy quickly for induction remission.]
[Alternatively, she could take targeted drugs, but targeted drugs are not cheap; they are, in fact, expensive.]
[Kita's family is quite ordinary, and the treatment for leukemia can easily bankrupt a family that is not wealthy to begin with…]
[One hour later, Kita's parents arrive.]
[You did not bring up the topic of money, but her parents could not ignore it. They had once heard your name from their daughter and knew you were her classmate and her employer. They knew that when she ran away from home, you provided her with temporary lodging, but that was all they knew.]
[To reassure them, you said you were Kita's boyfriend and that they didn't need to worry about the money… that once you got married in the future, you would all be one family, and there was no need to keep such strict accounts.]
[The effect of the drug treatment was far better than you imagined, and it spared her the pain of chemotherapy. The only drawback was the high price, but that was not a problem for you.]
[After her condition improved, Kita resumed her normal studies and life.]
[She accidentally overheard her parents discussing the excuse you had made.]
[Without denying it, she indirectly acknowledged your relationship as a couple.]
[Ever since she was diagnosed with the terminal illness, Kita maintained an outwardly optimistic and cheerful demeanor, but secretly, she was still very afraid… She was far from being as strong as everyone perceived her to be. She would often cry in private. The boundary between life and death is terrifying, and Kita suffered from insomnia almost every night. Whenever she thought of her own death, and how all the beauty in the world would leave her, she was filled with dread.]
[When people gaze at the cosmos, they always realize their own insignificance; when facing death, they similarly perceive the fragility of the flesh.]
"It's okay, don't worry."
In this simulation, I will save your life.
Toru could not stand tragedy; he preferred happy endings.
[Kita did not tell the members of Kessoku Band about her illness. She continued to wear her mask of cheerful optimism and maintained her idolizing fan-girl demeanor towards Yamada Ryo. No one noticed anything unusual about her.]
[You still cannot remember anyone other than Kita; the members of Kessoku Band cannot leave an impression in your mind.]
[Perhaps this strange condition will afflict you for your entire life.]
[As if sensing that her life was running out, Kita became even more diligent with her guitar practice. She tried her best to maintain the highest intensity of practice, a posture that caused the other band members concern.]
[You were also concerned, but aside from watching her efforts, you could offer no further help.]
[Spring passed and summer came.]
[Time flowed on.]
[The Summer Triangle was replaced by the Autumn Quadrangle.]
[On this day, you arranged to have lunch together on the rooftop.]
[The autumn wind is cold…]
[You have triggered a special event. Would you like to enter?]
No…
[The player's memory will not be cleared during the special event, please rest assured.]
"That's decent of you."
Toru clicked the 'Enter' button.
◇
A plane crossed the sky, roaring as its tail left two long contrails, slicing the heavens into two parts.
Toru withdrew his gaze.
He looked down at his lunch box. After more than a year of practice, Kita's skill at making lunch boxes had improved significantly, now comparable to one-third of Gotoh Hitori's ability.
In terms of cooking, Gotoh Hitori was undoubtedly the best, followed by Ijichi Nijika, and the worst was Yamada Ryo…
Ryo-san was completely incapable of handling housework, and most of it was left to Toru after they married.
"Kitahara-kun, what are you looking at?"
"The stars."
"Pfft… There are no stars during the day." Kita giggled a few times, amused by his words.
Looking at the stars in the daytime—that was probably something only Kitahara-kun would do, right?
"There's one right in front of me."
The next second, Kita's smile faded, and she looked at Toru with a suspicious expression.
Something was off.
The usually dense Kitahara-kun was actually saying something romantic. How unusual.
"Have you felt unwell recently?" Toru asked.
"…I'm fine. As long as I keep taking the medicine, it should be okay." Kita paused for a few seconds before giving him a smile.
The fact that she was going to die soon—after realizing this, it was difficult for her not to be afraid.
"I will save you."
Kita only took it as a joke: "Then thank you, my dear Master~"
The term 'Master' was used between them in private to tease each other.
"In this day and age, no one believes you when you tell the truth." Toru picked up a piece of broccoli from the lunch box and chewed it.
After swallowing, he said, "I'm going to the University of Tokyo's Medical School. Give me some time, alright?"
If things went smoothly, he should be able to research a complete cure within three years.
"Leukemia can be cured as long as a suitable hematopoietic stem cell is found," Kita said in a relaxed tone, even smiling at him a few times.
"If the disease is cured, what are you planning to do, Kita-san?"
"Join the rest of the band on the world stage… perhaps?" She didn't sound very sure.
"Not get a boyfriend or something?"
"That's too far away. I don't know."
Kita gazed up at the sky.
"…"
Toru felt slightly relieved.
Not admitting to a romantic relationship had some benefits.
At least, she shouldn't be too sad when he died.
'In future simulations, don't choose anything related to memory.'
He didn't want to experience a second time losing control of the situation and ending up with a life-for-a-life exchange.
"By the way, Kitahara-kun, have you remembered any other friends recently?"
Kita inquired about his condition.
A year had passed, and Toru still could not remember anyone else, nor could he expand his social circle.
Kita didn't really mind, though. Since she liked Toru, this situation satisfied the small, possessive desire in a girl's heart.
"No, I forget them every Monday."
"Hehe~"
Kita chuckled guilelessly a few times.
"What is it? You're happy that I can't make friends?"
"I am happy. I'm happy to have Kitahara-kun all to myself."
This slightly ambiguous remark.
Toru did not take it to heart.
Taking things a step further would only increase sorrow.
Knowing that the ending would be unhappy, yet still entering the depths of the other person's heart—that was too cruel.
It was better to just remain friends.
Until the moment of death.
"The autumn wind is a bit cold."
A gust of wind blew past, and Kita tucked her messy side hair behind her ear.
She thought that April was much better.