The secret Chako told me.
It was something I didn’t expect.
This world is a game, and I’m the protagonist of that game.
Because it’s something Chako told me.
Of course I believe it.
However, at the end of the day, I, who never played that game, is probably not properly cognizant of it.
However, there’s something even I understand.
The『scary』 feeling Chako has always felt.
In the 5th round.
I thought that by making some kind of choice, I’ll destroy Chako’s future.
That because I choose someone… Chako will disappear.
In that way, the me who became scared of choosing something, shut in at home without going to school.
Assuming there’s meaning in everything around me…
Doubting everyone involved…
I was scared of getting involved with Chako too.
That’s why, I treated her coldly, never trying to meet her.
I hugged my knees tightly, sitting in a room with only me.
Scared of going out, I looked out the window many times and sighed alone.
Even the news streaming from the television somehow felt like it was a separate world…
Surely, Chako had continuously been shouldering that feeling.
Because, Chako knew her position.
She should have been scared all along, from the 1st round.
Fearing that her choice would change the future, trying frantically to pick the right option…
But Chako didn’t run away.
She could have lived more freely even if she had to pretend to abide by Tomotaka-senpai’s orders.
Going, “Game? What’s that?”
Going, “Protagonist? What’s that?”
It would have been fine to shut herself indoors like I did in the 5th round.
It would have been fine to not call out to me and become friends with someone else.
It would have been fine to ignore Kousuke-kun and sensei, and get close to completely different people.
But, Chako always laughed by my side.
No matter who I chose, she never abandoned that role.
『Why, is Yui-chan here for me』.
Chako always asked but.
I want to ask too.
Why is Chako here for me?
Chako and I became much, much closer friends after the cultural festival.
The Chako sticking closely by my side is like a chick. It’s cute.
I’m truly happy that we can stay together even after the cultural festival…
At the beginning of October, we celebrated Kousuke-kun’s birthday at Tomoyuki-san’s house.
Then, we had the end of term test and the 2nd school term ended.
It’s December 24 today. Christmas Eve.
“Look look, Yui-chan.”
Chako beckons in front of a big Christmas tree that seems like it can reach the ceiling.
I rest my hands that have been helping Tomoyuki-san line the cooking on the dining table, and walk to Chako’s side.
Today, we’re having a Christmas party at Tomoyuki-san’s house.
We decorated the room, and there’s a Christmas tree next to the sofa.
Finally, extravagant cooking is on the dining table.
“This, a Yui-chan doll.”
When I go to Chako’s side, She laughs “Hihihi” and shows me the doll she’s holding in her right hand.
It’s a palm-sized felt doll, with yellow hair and green eyes.
“Chako, what’s the matter?”
Surprised, I look at Chako seriously.
Chako laughs proudly “Fufun” at such a me, and moves her left hand.
“This, a Kousuke-chan doll.”
The left hand Chako moved is holding a doll with orange hair and amber eyes.
… It wasn’t there, just now!
“Chako, what, was that?”
When I mutter in a daze, Chako seems to be greatly pleased with my expression, her smile deepening even more with a “Hihihi”.
And, she hangs them on the Christmas tree.
“You see, this is made from transforming my miasma.”
“Miasma?”
“Yes. Like a raccoon dog turning leaves into money?”
“… Amazing.”
In succession, Chako materializes “Tomotaka-sama dollー”, “Sensei dollー” in that hand.
It’s truly like magic.
“Ah, could it be, when you disappear during gym, your clothes are changed the next time I see you…”
“Un. Those were made with miasma too. I mean, I thought everyone would be shocked if I finished changing in an instant in front of them.”
”I don’t have to hide it from Yui-chan anymore, huh.” She says, laughing playfully.
“If it’s items on the body, apparently Kousuke-chan and the rest make them using spiritual energy, you know? Well, I seem to be a special case for that too, I can make pretty much anything. You know, like the swimsuit at the pool, or casual clothes.”
“I see…”
“I don’t have to spend money to buy clothes, or do laundry, it’s no sweat!”
Furthermore, Chako makes “Yuusei-chan dollー”, “Director dollー” dolls that imitate them respectively and hang all of them on the Christmas tree.
Then, saying “Ta-da” at the end, a dog-like felt doll appears in that hand.
“This, is me.”
“Chako?”
“Yes yes. This, you see, is my appearance when I was born in this world. Like a dog but Gramps said it’s a wolf, so I think it’s a wolf.”
“I see… it’s cute.”
Light brown erect ears and golden eyes.
It’s the appearance of Chako, which I always see at the end.
Somehow my chest squeezes in pain…
To shake that off, I pat the head of the felt doll Chako’s holding.
When I do, Chako makes the felt doll jump, pyon pyon.
“I’m happy to be patted by Yui-chan, woof.”
“… Woof, wouldn’t that be a dog?”
“Ah. Scratch that.”
The line Chako said while moving the felt doll made me chuckle.
Chako responds with an embarrassed laughter and hangs that doll on the Christmas tree too.
Just seeing the Christmas tree decorated with the dolls of everyone makes my chest warm.
In this manner, the preparations are complete and the party starts after everyone is gathered.
Chako talks to everyone happily, and eats loads of food.
The Christmas party with everyone is truly fun…
I’ve been gaming with Chako but, suddenly I see Tomotaka-senpai leave for the wooden deck from the patio door[1].
I give Kousuke-kun my controller, and stand from the sofa.
Chako seems dissatisfied that I’m leaving, but I tell her “I’ve something to talk about with Tomotaka-senpai”, and she nods unwillingly.
Chasing after Tomotaka-senpai, I leave the patio door for the wooden deck.
Sure enough, it’s cold outside.
My body hasn’t chilled as I was in a room with heating, but it will probably be tough to stay here for a long time.
“Senpai…”
I call out to the Tomotaka-senpai who went out to the wooden deck.
Tomotaka-senpai’s looking at the sky, as though in search of something.
“There won’t be snow today, I see.”
“Snow?”
“Aa.”
Strung along with Tomotaka-senpai, I look up at the sky.
There, I see glittering stars…
Surely, there won’t be snow if the sky is this clear.
The temperature is also not as low as I thought.
“It does not seem like it will snow today.”
“Yes… Didn’t it snow last year?”
Tomotaka-senpai looks up at the sky, narrowing his eyes in nostalgia.
Surely, there’s something about last year’s Christmas Eve to reminisce.
“… Senpai. I, have something to talk to you about.”
It may be better not to talk about such a thing during Christmas Eve.
But, I think it’s the now that everyone is spending happily which will reach senpai better…
“… Chako.”
Everyone is talking happily inside the house.
However, it’s silent here and as expected, cold.
“I found a way to save Chako.”
It must be the coldness.
My voice is trembling.
“A way to lift the familiar contract… between senpai and Chako, has been discovered.”
The me whose voice is trembling is pathetic.
However, I must not avert my eyes, so I stare firmly at the Tomotaka-senpai standing next to me.
“I see…”
Hearing my words, Tomotaka-senpai heaves a small sigh while still looking at the sky.
“… Even if you find a way to lift the familiar contract, I can’t promise I’ll do as you say. I said that, didn’t I?[2]”
“Yes…”
That’s right.
I’m trying to get Tomotaka-senpai to let go of Chako.
However, it’s not like Tomotaka-senpai agreed to do that.
“… I was the one who found Chako. I brought her here.”
“Yes.”
Tomotaka-senpai mumbles while staring at the sky.
Unable to look away from such a Tomotaka-senpai, I simply nod.
“If you say you want to save Chako…”
Tomotaka-senpai looks at me.
Biting his lips strongly, wrinkling his brows…
Raising flames in those deep blue eyes, as though in pain.
“Why, did you let me realise these feelings?”
The secret Chako told me.
It was something I didn’t expect.
This world is a game, and I’m the protagonist of that game.
Because it’s something Chako told me.
Of course I believe it.
However, at the end of the day, I, who never played that game, is probably not properly cognizant of it.
However, there’s something even I understand.
The『scary』 feeling Chako has always felt.
In the 5th round.
I thought that by making some kind of choice, I’ll destroy Chako’s future.
That because I choose someone… Chako will disappear.
In that way, the me who became scared of choosing something, shut in at home without going to school.
Assuming there’s meaning in everything around me…
Doubting everyone involved…
I was scared of getting involved with Chako too.
That’s why, I treated her coldly, never trying to meet her.
I hugged my knees tightly, sitting in a room with only me.
Scared of going out, I looked out the window many times and sighed alone.
Even the news streaming from the television somehow felt like it was a separate world…
Surely, Chako had continuously been shouldering that feeling.
Because, Chako knew her position.
She should have been scared all along, from the 1st round.
Fearing that her choice would change the future, trying frantically to pick the right option…
But Chako didn’t run away.
She could have lived more freely even if she had to pretend to abide by Tomotaka-senpai’s orders.
Going, “Game? What’s that?”
Going, “Protagonist? What’s that?”
It would have been fine to shut herself indoors like I did in the 5th round.
It would have been fine to not call out to me and become friends with someone else.
It would have been fine to ignore Kousuke-kun and sensei, and get close to completely different people.
But, Chako always laughed by my side.
No matter who I chose, she never abandoned that role.
『Why, is Yui-chan here for me』.
Chako always asked but.
I want to ask too.
Why is Chako here for me?
Chako and I became much, much closer friends after the cultural festival.
The Chako sticking closely by my side is like a chick. It’s cute.
I’m truly happy that we can stay together even after the cultural festival…
At the beginning of October, we celebrated Kousuke-kun’s birthday at Tomoyuki-san’s house.
Then, we had the end of term test and the 2nd school term ended.
It’s December 24 today. Christmas Eve.
“Look look, Yui-chan.”
Chako beckons in front of a big Christmas tree that seems like it can reach the ceiling.
I rest my hands that have been helping Tomoyuki-san line the cooking on the dining table, and walk to Chako’s side.
Today, we’re having a Christmas party at Tomoyuki-san’s house.
We decorated the room, and there’s a Christmas tree next to the sofa.
Finally, extravagant cooking is on the dining table.
“This, a Yui-chan doll.”
When I go to Chako’s side, She laughs “Hihihi” and shows me the doll she’s holding in her right hand.
It’s a palm-sized felt doll, with yellow hair and green eyes.
“Chako, what’s the matter?”
Surprised, I look at Chako seriously.
Chako laughs proudly “Fufun” at such a me, and moves her left hand.
“This, a Kousuke-chan doll.”
The left hand Chako moved is holding a doll with orange hair and amber eyes.
… It wasn’t there, just now!
“Chako, what, was that?”
When I mutter in a daze, Chako seems to be greatly pleased with my expression, her smile deepening even more with a “Hihihi”.
And, she hangs them on the Christmas tree.
“You see, this is made from transforming my miasma.”
“Miasma?”
“Yes. Like a raccoon dog turning leaves into money?”
“… Amazing.”
In succession, Chako materializes “Tomotaka-sama dollー”, “Sensei dollー” in that hand.
It’s truly like magic.
“Ah, could it be, when you disappear during gym, your clothes are changed the next time I see you…”
“Un. Those were made with miasma too. I mean, I thought everyone would be shocked if I finished changing in an instant in front of them.”
”I don’t have to hide it from Yui-chan anymore, huh.” She says, laughing playfully.
“If it’s items on the body, apparently Kousuke-chan and the rest make them using spiritual energy, you know? Well, I seem to be a special case for that too, I can make pretty much anything. You know, like the swimsuit at the pool, or casual clothes.”
“I see…”
“I don’t have to spend money to buy clothes, or do laundry, it’s no sweat!”
Furthermore, Chako makes “Yuusei-chan dollー”, “Director dollー” dolls that imitate them respectively and hang all of them on the Christmas tree.
Then, saying “Ta-da” at the end, a dog-like felt doll appears in that hand.
“This, is me.”
“Chako?”
“Yes yes. This, you see, is my appearance when I was born in this world. Like a dog but Gramps said it’s a wolf, so I think it’s a wolf.”
“I see… it’s cute.”
Light brown erect ears and golden eyes.
It’s the appearance of Chako, which I always see at the end.
Somehow my chest squeezes in pain…
To shake that off, I pat the head of the felt doll Chako’s holding.
When I do, Chako makes the felt doll jump, pyon pyon.
“I’m happy to be patted by Yui-chan, woof.”
“… Woof, wouldn’t that be a dog?”
“Ah. Scratch that.”
The line Chako said while moving the felt doll made me chuckle.
Chako responds with an embarrassed laughter and hangs that doll on the Christmas tree too.
Just seeing the Christmas tree decorated with the dolls of everyone makes my chest warm.
In this manner, the preparations are complete and the party starts after everyone is gathered.
Chako talks to everyone happily, and eats loads of food.
The Christmas party with everyone is truly fun…
I’ve been gaming with Chako but, suddenly I see Tomotaka-senpai leave for the wooden deck from the patio door[1].
I give Kousuke-kun my controller, and stand from the sofa.
Chako seems dissatisfied that I’m leaving, but I tell her “I’ve something to talk about with Tomotaka-senpai”, and she nods unwillingly.
Chasing after Tomotaka-senpai, I leave the patio door for the wooden deck.
Sure enough, it’s cold outside.
My body hasn’t chilled as I was in a room with heating, but it will probably be tough to stay here for a long time.
“Senpai…”
I call out to the Tomotaka-senpai who went out to the wooden deck.
Tomotaka-senpai’s looking at the sky, as though in search of something.
“There won’t be snow today, I see.”
“Snow?”
“Aa.”
Strung along with Tomotaka-senpai, I look up at the sky.
There, I see glittering stars…
Surely, there won’t be snow if the sky is this clear.
The temperature is also not as low as I thought.
“It does not seem like it will snow today.”
“Yes… Didn’t it snow last year?”
Tomotaka-senpai looks up at the sky, narrowing his eyes in nostalgia.
Surely, there’s something about last year’s Christmas Eve to reminisce.
“… Senpai. I, have something to talk to you about.”
It may be better not to talk about such a thing during Christmas Eve.
But, I think it’s the now that everyone is spending happily which will reach senpai better…
“… Chako.”
Everyone is talking happily inside the house.
However, it’s silent here and as expected, cold.
“I found a way to save Chako.”
It must be the coldness.
My voice is trembling.
“A way to lift the familiar contract… between senpai and Chako, has been discovered.”
The me whose voice is trembling is pathetic.
However, I must not avert my eyes, so I stare firmly at the Tomotaka-senpai standing next to me.
“I see…”
Hearing my words, Tomotaka-senpai heaves a small sigh while still looking at the sky.
“… Even if you find a way to lift the familiar contract, I can’t promise I’ll do as you say. I said that, didn’t I?[2]”
“Yes…”
That’s right.
I’m trying to get Tomotaka-senpai to let go of Chako.
However, it’s not like Tomotaka-senpai agreed to do that.
“… I was the one who found Chako. I brought her here.”
“Yes.”
Tomotaka-senpai mumbles while staring at the sky.
Unable to look away from such a Tomotaka-senpai, I simply nod.
“If you say you want to save Chako…”
Tomotaka-senpai looks at me.
Biting his lips strongly, wrinkling his brows…
Raising flames in those deep blue eyes, as though in pain.
“Why, did you let me realise these feelings?”
