We walked down the street together, side by side, though only one of us existed to everyone else. People greeted me as usual—nods, waves, casual "hey"—and completely ignored Setsuko like she was air. She noticed. Of course she did. Her steps slowed just slightly every time someone walked straight past her, like each moment chipped away at something inside her.
Then we saw him.
Inaba Shichiro.
He came in with that same lighthearted grin, hands relaxed behind his head, walking like the world had never given him a reason to worry. "Heeeyyy, bud! How are ya?"
"Living barely," I said.
"That's grim," he laughed. "You mind coming over?"
"What for?"
He shrugged, still smiling. "Just hanging out. Been a while."
Setsuko sat down on the sidewalk nearby, hugging her knees, pretending not to listen. But her expression… it wasn't pretend. It hurt.
I looked at her for a second. My face didn't change.
Then I looked back at him. "I can't. I'm busy. Helping a friend with something. Might take a few days."
"Ohhh, really? That's a shame," he said. "I was gonna set you up on a double date. But you had to flop it up."
"…A double date," I repeated.
My eyes drifted to Setsuko. A slow, dangerous idea started forming.
"Hey," I said, turning back to him with a faint smirk. "What if we extend it till next Thursday? It's Saturday now. Me and my so-called girlfriend might be free by then."
He froze. Then frowned. "Hey, hey, I do too have a girlfriend! She's really—really—really—"
"Whatever, man."
He grinned, sharp this time. "Oh yeah? And this girl… who is she? If I've met her before, I'd remember."
"You might have," I said.
My eyes flicked to Setsuko again. Something clicked in my mind. The interview. The contradiction. The lie.
If my hypothesis is correct…
She didn't want to disappear.
She just said she did.
And the world listened.
I looked back at him. "The girl I love? I'm bringing Sakata Setsuko. The girl of my dreams. Cute, hot, sweet… everything."
Setsuko kicked my foot hard.
"—ow," I muttered.
"You alright?" Shichiro asked.
"Yeah."
He frowned slightly. "…Sakata Setsuko… I've heard that name before."
Setsuko stood up slowly. Hope crept into her eyes.
"Sakata Setsuko… Sakata Setsuko…" he repeated.
We both leaned in, just a little.
Then he snapped his fingers. "Yeah, I remember the name. But I can't remember her face. Sorry. Feels like… she just doesn't exist."
Silence.
Setsuko's expression didn't break. It just… emptied.
"Oh," she said quietly. "It seems so."
She turned and walked away.
I ran after her.
Behind me, Shichiro scratched his head. "What's his deal…" Then he walked off, whistling, like nothing happened.
I caught up and grabbed her arm. "Stop. I figured it out."
She turned slowly. Tears were already falling. "Oh? Is that right, Yutaka?"
Then her legs gave out. She collapsed, crying.
I crouched and pulled her into a hug. Tight. Real.
She didn't resist.
"I didn't even have the strength to stop you," she muttered into my chest. "Just do whatever you want, you pervert…"
"Call me whatever you want," I said quietly. "As long as I can stay like this."
She pushed me away suddenly, face red. "You're REALLY weird, Yutaka!"
"Yeah," I said. "I know."
"…Then what is it?" she asked, wiping her eyes.
I stood up and looked down at her. "The truth."
She blinked.
"The truth is your cure. Someone has to acknowledge your existence. Fully. Honestly. Without doubt."
"…But you already do."
"Yeah. But I'm not enough."
"…Then how?"
I smiled slightly. "We go to school on Monday."
"…You're planning something."
"Obviously."
She sighed. "…You rascal."
The weekend passed quietly, like the calm before something irreversible. By Monday, I was already thinking too much—which, for me, meant something big was about to happen.
Because this wasn't just about solving a paradox anymore.
This was about her.
I stood up from my desk mid-class and walked out. No explanation. No hesitation. Just movement.
By the time I reached the school field, my chest was already tight. My heart was beating faster than usual.
Annoying.
I hate effort.
But this… wasn't optional.
I stepped into the open.
Students lingered around. Some practicing. Some talking. Teachers watching from windows.
Perfect.
I took a breath.
Then I shouted.
"SAKATA SETSUKO!"
Heads turned.
"I LOVE YOU!"
Silence fell.
Then whispers.
I ignored all of it.
"I'VE ALWAYS LOVED YOU!"
Again.
And again.
And again.
Fifteen times.
My voice echoed across the field, over the buildings, past the fences where outsiders peeked in curiosity.
"Cringe."
"Weird."
"Lover boy."
"Is he serious?"
I kept going.
Because none of that mattered.
Because this wasn't for them.
It was for her.
By the tenth shout, my throat burned.
By the fifteenth, my chest felt like it was going to explode.
Then—
She appeared.
Right in front of me.
Clear.
Visible.
Real.
Setsuko.
Her face was completely red, eyes wide, shaking. "…Y-Yutaka… what are you doing?!"
Around us, the students gasped.
"Wait—was she always there?"
"Is that Sakata Setsuko?"
"No way—"
The world snapped into place.
Recognition.
Existence.
Reality correcting itself.
Tears filled her eyes.
For five months, she had been nothing.
Now—
She was seen.
She ran forward and slapped me.
Then hugged me.
Tightly.
Crying into my chest.
The entire school erupted, but I didn't look at them.
"Hey," I said softly. "Ignore them. Look at me."
She did.
"You're a liar."
She froze.
"You said you wanted to disappear. Did you really?"
Her lips trembled.
"I need the truth."
Silence.
Then realization hit her.
"…The truth… that was the cure…"
"Answer me."
"…No," she whispered. "I didn't want to disappear."
"Then why say it?"
She clenched her fists. "…Because I wanted to be seen. Not as the famous me. Not as the perfect image. Just… me. I wanted that version to exist, even if it meant the other had to go away."
I nodded slowly. "Then you said it wrong."
"…What?"
"You told the world to erase you. Not to give you space. Not to let you breathe. You gave it the wrong command."
Her eyes widened.
"The world listens," I continued. "And sometimes… it acts too fast."
"…So it erased everything."
"Except what I could see."
She stared at me.
Then smiled.
A real one.
"You're really smart, aren't you?"
"Don't get used to it."
"…Hey, Yutaka."
"Yeah?"
"I think… I'm still figuring this out. But… I don't hate being here with you."
"I love you," I said plainly.
She blinked. "…You don't hesitate, do you?"
"I'm a fan of your movies. I just didn't want to act like one."
She laughed softly. "…You're such a weird person. A blunt, annoying, shameless idiot."
"I know."
"…I think I might… start liking you."
"I'll make sure you do."
She smiled again. "I'll take you up on that."
I looked at her.
"…Can I see your—"
"Take a hike."
"…Close enough."
And for the first time—
She didn't disappear.