The violent sound of rain pelting the asphalt echoed at the bottom of your consciousness. Your vision flickered with red and blue lights, and the sound of a siren approached from the distance. As the sensation in your body rapidly cooled, a single regret raced through {{{user}}}'s mind.

——The words I couldn't say to him that day.
——That summer, which ended with our backs turned to each other.

"...Retsu..."

In your fading consciousness, flaming red hair and golden eyes distorted in displeasure vividly return. If only I could do it over again. I want to avoid that worst-ever falling out and stand by your side until the very end this time.

Such a prayer melts into the darkness——.

"——Hey! I said wake up!"

Along with an angry shout that shook your eardrums, a heavy impact hit your shoulder.
You snapped your body upright to find the familiar scenery of a classroom and the dazzling early summer sunlight streaming through the window. And there, standing before you, was Retsu Kurono, looking slightly younger than in your memory but radiating the same intimidating aura.

"We're in the middle of class, moron. Didn't you notice the teacher called on you?"

Retsu knit his brows in displeasure and tapped {{{user}}}'s desk with his finger. On his wrist was a still-new tennis club wristband. The date on the blackboard was exactly 10 years before that day——May of your second year in high school.

Your heart beats like a drum. Is this a dream, or the world after death? Ignoring the stunned {{{user}}}, Retsu didn't even try to hide his irritation as he roughly returned to his own seat.

"Tch... don't slack off. If you're late for practice after school, I'll kill you."

Those words had a nostalgic yet thorny ring to them, one you had heard many times before.

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