Madam, believe me, how can I be a minotaur?

Even if she was drunk, she couldn't possibly forget this day.

So, after Asano Makoto asked this question, she paused for a moment before nodding and saying, "Yes, tomorrow will mark exactly one year."

A year had passed, and time had already smoothed over the wounds in her heart.

Although she still felt sad when she mentioned it, she could now talk about it without much emotional fluctuation.

Receiving Eriko Miyajima's affirmative answer, Asano Makoto continued to ask, "So, Eriko, what are your plans for the future?"

Hearing this, Eriko Miyajima was stunned on the spot.

She thought for a long time, but couldn't come up with a satisfactory answer.

Future plans... who could possibly know such a thing?

In the past year, under Asano Makoto's protection, she had lived a fairly comfortable life, and had even saved up over three million yen.

However, Eriko Miyajima knew very well that such a happy life wouldn't last forever, because Asano Makoto couldn't protect her forever.

Indeed, Asano Makoto was a very kind person, and he could protect her, his friend, at any cost.

But he would eventually have his own life, he would fall in love, get married, and have children.

At that time, what would her existence be?

A very good friend?

No, she could only be considered a parasite sucking blood from him, right?

And also a parasite that would disturb his future happiness.

Or to put it bluntly—a third party.

So, even if she was unwilling, she would eventually have to leave his side.

Because as friends, they should always think of each other.

Asano-kun had done just that, protecting her when she had just lost her boyfriend and felt lost about the future.

In that case, when that day really came, she couldn't selfishly only think of herself and stay, disturbing his life.

However, despite having many thoughts in her heart, Eriko Miyajima remained unchanged on the surface.

She smiled and shook her head, truthfully answering Asano Makoto's question: "I haven't thought about it yet... What about you? Asano-kun, what are your plans?"

"Me? I haven't really thought about it either."

Speaking of which, Asano Makoto suddenly showed a rare shy smile on his face.

He scratched his head a little embarrassedly and said, "But, I think I might have fallen for a girl recently, so I wanted to ask for your opinion as a fellow woman, Eriko..."

Hearing this, Eriko Miyajima's face instantly turned pale, and even the hand holding the wine glass trembled subconsciously.

Chapter 102: Confession (4/6)

After hearing what Asano Makoto said, Eriko Miyajima felt as if her heart had stopped for a moment.

She suddenly realized a reality.

That is, she might not be able to continue staying by Asano Makoto's side in the future.

Thinking of this, Eriko Miyajima's face became even paler.

But now she was in front of Asano Makoto, and at a time like this when he was sharing his joy, she knew she absolutely couldn't show such an expression.

Because as a friend, she should be happy for her friend who had someone he liked.

So in the end, she still forced a somewhat strained smile on her face and said, "Really? Asano-kun has a girl he likes? That's great, you should bravely pursue the girl you like!"

When she said this, Eriko Miyajima was smiling, but she felt as if her heart was bleeding.

Not because she was going to be kicked out and unable to continue living such a comfortable life.

But because she was going to leave Asano-kun's side, just that simple reason.

At this time, Asano Makoto asked nervously, "Do you think she'll agree if I confess directly?"

He must really like that girl...

Seeing Asano Makoto looking so nervous just mentioning that person, Eriko Miyajima subconsciously thought.

Although she felt very uncomfortable now, so uncomfortable that she wanted to cry, after a moment of silence, Eriko Miyajima still nodded and comforted him with a smile, "Of course she will, Asano-kun is so outstanding, you'll definitely succeed."

"I've always been curious, Asano-kun is so outstanding, but he doesn't have a girlfriend, it turns out he just hadn't met someone he liked!"

"Speaking of which, since Asano-kun, your standards are so high, then the girl you like must be a very outstanding person, right?"

In the past, in front of Asano Makoto, although Eriko Miyajima would occasionally talk about her own affairs, she mostly played the role of a listener, and rarely said so much at once.

This was perhaps the first time.

On the other side, after hearing Eriko Miyajima's praise, Asano Makoto finally smiled and nodded: "Yes, she is really very gentle and beautiful."

"I see..."

Eriko Miyajima's smile wasn't very good, and she didn't know what to say to respond to Asano Makoto's words.

But just then, Asano Makoto suddenly asked out of the blue, "Eriko, do you know what self-analysis research is?"

Hearing this irrelevant question, Eriko Miyajima was immediately confused.

After thinking for a while, she knew that Asano Makoto must have ended the previous topic and changed to a new one.

Although she was still immersed in extremely disappointed emotions, Eriko Miyajima, who always cared more about others' feelings than her own, still seriously considered Asano Makoto's new question.

Then she shook her head, truthfully answering, "I don't know, what is that?"

Hearing her question, Asano Makoto didn't explain much, but continued to say to himself: "I joined a self-analysis research club when I was in high school. To put it simply, the goal of this club was actually to help members further understand themselves, and then constantly improve themselves through regular or irregular self-analysis."

"And at the very beginning of the self-analysis, the president asked us to describe the image of an ideal friend and lover. Although this subjective ideal perception will constantly change over time, it is not a very intuitive data for self-analysis, it can also be used as a very interesting side argument to observe one's own growth."

"At that time, I just made up the ideal type of lover, because at that time I didn't know what the person I liked would look like, and I had long forgotten what the ideal type I initially made up looked like."

Speaking of which, Asano Makoto paused slightly, took a deep breath, and then continued to say, "But now, three years after leaving that club, the appearance of my ideal type of lover has become clearer and clearer."

"She is considerate, kind, gentle, virtuous, innocent and pure. She always listens to me very seriously, patiently listens to my complaints. She always helps me willingly and is very careful to take care of me when I am not feeling well. I really can't imagine what my life would be like without her."

"It must be a very boring and sad life, maybe I will be so sad that I want to commit suicide."

Hearing this, looking at the bitter smile on Asano Makoto's face, even if she was confused at first, Eriko Miyajima realized something.

But before she could speak, Asano Makoto said with an extremely serious tone: "Eriko, this is how you are in my eyes. It's not that I like this kind of girl, it's just that I have been modifying the answer according to your appearance this year."

"Eriko, I like you, please go out with me."

The conjecture that had only vaguely appeared in Eriko Miyajima's heart was confirmed.

Asano-kun, the person he likes, is Eriko?

Eriko is... me?

The sudden confession caused Eriko Miyajima's brain to crash for a moment, and she was directly stunned in place.

However, as if not wanting to give her the slightest chance to react, Asano Makoto stood up directly from his seat, and then slowly walked towards her.

Seeing his movements, Eriko Miyajima also subconsciously stood up and took a few steps back.

But, where can she retreat to?

The main seat where Eriko Miyajima was sitting was directly facing the apartment door, and behind her was the kitchen counter, so after standing up, she was blocked after taking a few steps.

Soon, Asano Makoto came to her.

"...Eriko."

Seeing that Asano Makoto had only called out her name in a low voice after walking to her side, but didn't do much else, Eriko Miyajima subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

"Asano-kun, you're drunk—!"

But the next second, before she could finish speaking, she felt herself being tightly embraced by an arm.

Immediately afterwards, there was a low murmur in her ear.

"Eriko, I like you."

Feeling the hot breath on her earlobe and Asano Makoto's extremely sincere words.

Eriko Miyajima's body tensed up instantly, and the toes wrapped in white cotton socks also buckled subconsciously.

"Ugh! Asano, Asano-kun, don't do this..."

Although the words she spoke were words of rejection, there wasn't much meaning of rejection in her tone.

The reason why her body was behaving like that just now was simply because she was a little scared by Asano Makoto's actions that were completely different from the past.

But even if she wouldn't reject, she absolutely couldn't agree.

Because...

Because?

Why, can't she agree?

Yuta, he... has been dead for a year...

In that case, even if she agreed to Asano-kun's confession, it wouldn't matter, right?

After all, Yuta is no longer here, so this wouldn't be letting him down.

The person Asano-kun likes is me, and I, don't I also feel...

At this moment, Eriko Miyajima, who remembered that she was already alone, finally realized her feelings for Asano Makoto.

And just at this moment, that low voice sounded in her ear again.

"Eriko, you like me too, right?"

Although she had already realized this, Eriko Miyajima was still stunned for a moment when Asano Makoto directly said what she was thinking in her heart.