I (30), Who Works for a Black Company and Died While Regretting My Gloomy Life, Started Over From High School!
Chapter 133: Fade to Black

“I’m, I’m sorry Shinichirou-kun… I intended to wrap it up earlier, but it’s gotten so late…”

“No, no, it’s fine. I already told my parents I’d be late.”

Haruka, looking apologetic, said, and I replied with a smile.

The night had already fallen, and darkness enveloped everything. In this dark backdrop, Haruka and I stood in conversation on the path leading to the Shijouin residence.

We were going to be driven back home, and the Shijouin family’s car was waiting just outside the estate… but their chauffeur, Natsuzaki-san, had said, ‘Hehe, I figured you two might want some time to talk privately, and to soak in the night air a bit. Just give me a shout when you’re ready,’ with a considerate smile.

Every staff member in this household seemed to dote on Haruka, and I couldn’t help but feel grateful that they were supportive of an ordinary guy like me getting close. When I mentioned this to Natsuzaki-san, he responded, ‘Haha, I’d recommend rechecking the dictionary for the meaning of “ordinary”,’ but…

“Gosh, Mother and Father are just too excited! No matter how many times I explain that we started using names because we’ve become close, they just won’t accept it!”

“Haha… well, we managed to get them to understand to some extent.”

After our use of names was discovered, we were bombarded with questions about how that happened, and it was really quite the ordeal. Well, in the end, like Haruka said, it happened naturally as we grew closer. There wasn’t any specific trigger, apart from maybe that trip we all took to the beach… That was the patient explanation we had to give.

“I’m so sorry… It got this late even though you came all this way.”

“Huh? No, no, I had a really great time. I was a bit nervous initially about meeting your parents, but that’s fading away. And seriously, I’m really grateful for the amazing food and cake.”

Just being invited to Haruka’s birthday celebration filled me with a sense of elation. There was a bit of a commotion with her parents towards the end, but to be honest, I enjoyed myself.

“Oh really… But I suppose Mother and Father start taking liberties because they know you truly feel that way, Shinichirou-kun.”

In the garden of the Shijouin residence, the noble young lady smiled wryly. Her nonchalant expression seemed especially charming tonight.

(…She’s so beautiful…)

Haruka, wearing a high-necked sleeveless dress, blended seamlessly with the garden adorned with myriad flowers. She truly looked like a princess.

Without her realizing it, her posture and aura exuded the essence of nobility. Even in the darkness of the night, her beauty was impossible to conceal.

“…This birthday was completely different from last year.”

“Huh…”

“Every year, we hold a birthday celebration like that. It’s undeniably a joyous occasion, splendid by general standards, and my parents genuinely celebrate… It’s undoubtedly a happy event, but—”

Springka’s gaze turned towards me, and our eyes met.

“Since you’ve been around, today was entirely different from before. It’s kind of… everything seemed to sparkle.”

“…”

Her shy words seeped into my brain, bringing a sweet, tingling sensation.

“Lately, I’ve come to realize something. Shinichirou-kun, you’ve been continuously changing my world since spring, and you’ve rescued me countless times. I can’t thank you enough for that… but it’s not just that.”

Haruka’s cheeks were still slightly flushed, perhaps from the excitement of the celebration.

“I’m really, really thankful not just for what you’ve done, Shinichirou-kun, but for your very existence. Since you’ve been here, every day has become more and more brilliant.”

Her words, spoken with a pure heart, echoed in the garden.

“…So, I’ll say those words of gratitude once again.”

The innocent girl spoke, weaving her words with nothing but pure, warm feelings.

“…Thank you so much, Shinichirou-kun. To think that such an amazing person would be friends with me, it feels like an unbelievable stroke of luck that I think about every day.”

And then, under the brilliant moonlight above, Haruka wore a soft smile.

Charming, warm, and it seemed to melt away all the worries in my heart…

(Oh…)

I’ve fallen for her so many times, and I’ve fallen in love so many times.

Yet, even now, this girl’s charm always brings a fresh spring breeze to my heart.

I find her cute. I find her beautiful. I love everything about this girl so much that tears threaten to spill.

(Oh, this… I can’t hold it back anymore. My ‘love’ is overflowing and won’t stop…)

Before the radiant smile of Haruka, I finally realized that my love had reached its limit.

I love her. I love her. I love her—from the depths of my heart, I love Haruka.

To turn this girl’s gaze towards me, I’ve been tirelessly running down the path of effort ever since I returned through time.

To ensure this one confession, I ran at full speed so that it wouldn’t fail, and to become a man worthy of Haruka—I’ve come this far.

So, is it okay to say it now?

To achieve my greatest youth revenge, is this the moment I’ve truly wished for?

(…Ah, yes. I’ll convey it.)

My feelings. The emotions I’ve carried with me until my death in my past life.

The feelings that have swelled up steadily since I started my youth’s do-over in this life, I’ll now confess them to this girl.

“Hey, Haruka. There’s something I want to ask you.”

“Huh…?”

In the garden cloaked in faint darkness, a cool breeze hinting at autumn blew. In this setting, Haruka widened her eyes as she looked at my serious expression.

Once I utter these words, things won’t be the same between me and Haruka anymore.

“W-What’s wrong, Shinichirou-kun? I-it’s… a little embarrassing when you look so serious like that…”

Looking at me with a fixed gaze, Haruka’s cheeks turned pink in a somewhat troubled expression. Yet, she still waited for my next words, focused on me.

Given the unimaginable miracle of time travel that was granted to me, I open my mouth to make my words meaningful.

Everything I’ve been running towards in this present life has led up to this moment.

“I… about you, Haruka—”

The moment I mustered up the courage—

—Click.

(Huh…?)

At the very instant I tried to convey the words of a lifetime, I heard that sound.

It was a sound like the gears of an old clock aligning. However, strangely, it didn’t seem to come from any specific direction around me. It felt as though it resonated directly in my mind.

What was that just now…? Where did it come from?

As I puzzled over this—

“Huh…?”

In response to Haruka’s frail voice, the girl in front of me tilted her body significantly.

And—right before my eyes, frozen in shock due to this sudden situation, Haruka lost all her strength and crumbled.

“N…! Haruka!?”

I hastily reached out, catching Haruka’s falling body just in the nick of time. The girl I held was unexpectedly light, and it was clear that she had no strength in her limbs.

“Pull yourself together, Haruka! What on earth…!?”

While calling out, I peered into Haruka’s face. I was horrified.

Just a few seconds ago, Haruka’s complexion, which had been normal, was now as pale as ice, and she was drenched in sweat, shivering in this cooler evening.

“Ah… ah…? N-No… Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah…!”

The normally cheerful smile on the girl’s face was now colored only by intense confusion and anguish. It was clearly not a normal state.

She let out cries of pain, as if her brain was being racked by excruciating agony, clutching her head with both hands. Tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes.

There was no doubt that the pain she was experiencing was something unbearable.

(Wh-What is this…! What on earth is happening!?)

Seeing the girl I cared for suffering so intensely, I was in a state of turmoil.

It was all so abrupt, so utterly incomprehensible.

Just a little while ago, Haruka and I were laughing and smiling together. Why has it come to this…!?

“Ah… Shin…ichiro, kun…”

“Don’t force yourself to speak! I’ll call the people in the house and an ambulance right away!”

With Haruka, who was now gasping for breath, I communicated my intentions with a feeling that wanted to cry. Really, what has happened…!

“…Help… me…”

With that clinging plea as her final words, Haruka closed her consciousness as if fleeing from the pain.

All strength drained from her body, she didn’t move a muscle.

“What… is this…”

The weather had turned, dark clouds blanketing the sky.

Raindrops began to spatter, drenching the girl’s body. I was still staring blankly, unable to fully comprehend what had just occurred.

“What the hell is going on with this!?”

While I screamed, holding the unconscious Haruka, I could see Natsuzaki-san rushing over sensing the abnormality.

I don’t know.

I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know…

I—do not know this kind of future.

(TLN) … Wut?

Bonus chapters thanks to Lantern8! Thanks to their support I will be just releasing everything I have and try to drop an extra from the chapter that got released today by the author.