PURE LOVE

It had been a year since Andy's last visit to Japan, a year since he had said goodbye to Akari, and he had finally finished his duty in the States. He returned, his heart full of anticipation—hoping to see her again, hoping she might remember him. Maybe, just maybe, he could rekindle something from before.

He walked through the familiar park, drawn to the sakura tree, the one where they had spent so many moments together. As he approached, his eyes locked onto her—Akari, sitting on the bench, gazing up at the sky, just like she always did.

His breath hitched. She looked so… her. The same serene, almost otherworldly expression on her face. His heart raced as he sped up, desperate to see her, to hold her in his arms again.

"Akari!" he called out, his voice filled with excitement.

She turned, but instead of the familiar warmth in her eyes, there was just… blankness. She looked at him, startled, as if she had never seen him before.

Before she could even react, Andy rushed forward, arms wide open, practically tackling her into a hug. He kissed her cheek, then her forehead, and even the top of her head—overjoyed at the sight of her again.

This was his Akari. He could feel it.

But then—

"AHHHHHHHH!" Akari screamed, her voice sharp, full of panic. Her hands shot out to push him away.

"Akari?! What—?" Andy stammered, his face a mixture of confusion and concern.

Without warning, Akari reached behind her, grabbing a nearby gardening shovel with lightning speed. With a terrifying shriek, she swung it at him with all her might. "Stay away, stranger!!"

"WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!" Andy dodged just in time, narrowly avoiding the swing. He stumbled back, eyes wide, unable to process what was happening. "Akari?! What's going on?!"

She didn't answer. Instead, she sprinted off toward her home, leaving Andy standing there in shock. He blinked a few times, unsure of whether he had just been assaulted by his own… Akari.

Still in a daze, Andy hurried after her, trying to call her name, but she was already halfway down the street. "Akari! Wait! What's going on?!"

Akari didn't look back. She was determined to lose him.

She rushed inside her house, not even glancing in Andy's direction. As she slammed the door behind her, she quickly ducked behind her younger brother, Hioshi, who had been standing nearby.

"Get behind me!" Hioshi said, a protective stance immediately taking over as he stood between her and the clueless, wide-eyed stranger. "She doesn't know you! Stop following her, weird guy!"

Andy stood there, now more confused than ever, scratching his head. "But… but it's me! Andy! Your—"

"I said stop following her!" Hioshi shouted, his voice suddenly turning into a dramatic pitch as he crossed his arms. "Do you have no shame, following my sister around?!"

Andy's brain was in full meltdown mode. "But—what? I'm Andy! The guy who—who used to—" He threw up his hands in frustration. "Come on! I'm not a stranger! We used to—"

Hioshi wasn't listening. He leaned in toward Andy and whispered dramatically, "She doesn't know you. She doesn't remember. So just back off, alright?"

Andy blinked, utterly speechless. "What… what do you mean she doesn't—"

"She's clearly just an innocent girl, and you're scaring her!" Hioshi gave him a look that could pierce steel. "I'll make sure to call the police if I need to!"

As Andy stood there, frozen, Akari peeked around Hioshi's shoulder, watching the whole scene with mild indifference. She then slowly mouthed the words to herself, "Weird guy… doesn't even know my name…"

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Hioshi led Akari back inside, pushing the door closed with a polite but firm "Goodbye, creepy stalker." And just like that, the door was shut in Andy's face.

Standing outside in complete bewilderment, Andy was left to ponder his life choices.

"Well… that's… um… not how I imagined this reunion would go," he muttered to himself, scratching his head again. "I guess… I guess I'll just… wait for her to remember me… right?"

He turned around to leave, but before he could take a step, he noticed a random cat sitting on the fence nearby, staring at him as if it had witnessed the entire chaotic scene unfold.

Andy stared back at the cat for a long, awkward moment. Then, he sighed dramatically. "Yeah, I feel like that cat right now…"

And with that, he trudged off into the distance, muttering under his breath, "One day, she'll remember… right?"

That night, Nana sat at the dining table, helping Hioshi and Tanka with their homework. The warm glow of the single overhead bulb illuminated the room, and the sound of pencils scratching paper filled the quiet. Tanka grumbled about a math problem while Hioshi leaned back in his chair, frowning over an essay.

"You're still not done, Hioshi?" Nana teased, ruffling his hair as she glanced over his messy draft. "You've been writing the same sentence for ten minutes."

"Hey, it's not easy!" Hioshi retorted, brushing her hand away playfully.

Nana chuckled softly, but her laughter faded as her mind wandered back to Andy. She stared at the textbook in front of her, her fingers idly tracing the edges of the pages. Finally, she broke the silence. "Hioshi… do you think I've met that man before?"

Hioshi looked up from his essay, his expression guarded. "The stalker guy?"

"He's not a stalker," Nana said, frowning. "I don't know why, but… something about him feels familiar. Like I know him from somewhere. I just can't remember."

Hioshi set down his pencil and sighed. "Nana, I really don't think he's someone you need to worry about. If he was important, wouldn't you remember him?"

She looked down, conflicted. "What if I've forgotten something important? What if—?"

"Stop." Hioshi's voice was firm, but not unkind. He leaned closer, his gaze steady. "Nana, you've been through a lot. It's okay to focus on yourself first. You're always taking care of me and Tanka. Maybe it's time to take care of you."

Tanka, who had been silently listening, chimed in, "Yeah, Nana! You're like a superhero for us, but even superheroes need a break."

Nana smiled faintly, their words easing some of the tension in her heart. She reached out and ruffled Tanka's hair. "You two really think I'm a superhero, huh?"

"Of course," Hioshi said with a small grin. "But even superheroes don't need strange guys popping up out of nowhere, messing with their heads."

Nana nodded slowly, though her thoughts remained tangled. As she helped Tanka finish his homework, she glanced out the window, wondering if Andy was still waiting by the sakura tree.

Akari adjusted the strap of her tote bag as she made her way to the local market. The streets were lively with chatter, and the scent of freshly baked bread wafted from a nearby bakery. As she turned a corner, she bumped into someone, nearly dropping her list.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, stepping back.

The man she had run into was around her age, with a gentle smile and an air of kindness. "No need to apologize," he said, picking up the list she had dropped. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, thank you," she replied, giving a small bow.

He handed her the list back, his eyes scanning it briefly. "You're shopping for groceries? The market's this way. I'm heading there too—mind if I walk with you?"

Akari hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "Sure."

As they strolled through the bustling market, the man introduced himself as Haruto. He had a charming, lighthearted way of talking that made Akari feel at ease. They chatted casually about everything—from the best stalls in the market to their favorite foods.

When they reached the vegetable stand, Haruto noticed her struggling to choose between two types of mushrooms. "These are better for soup," he said, pointing to one. "But if you're making stir-fry, go for these."

"Really? I didn't know that," Akari said, smiling as she picked the ones he suggested.

He grabbed a bag of onions and handed it to her. "Here, you'll need these too. Trust me, I'm an expert."

They laughed together, the ease between them growing with each passing moment. Haruto seemed genuinely interested in her, stealing glances when he thought she wasn't looking. Akari couldn't help but feel a warm flutter in her chest.

As they finished their shopping, Haruto insisted on carrying the heavier bags for her. "It's only fair after all the cooking tips I gave you," he joked.

"You're surprisingly helpful," Akari said, a teasing tone in her voice.

"Well, I try to impress," he replied with a wink.

The next day, Andy found himself walking toward the market, hoping for another glimpse of Akari. He wasn't sure why he kept torturing himself like this—watching her live a life that no longer included him—but he couldn't stop. He told himself it was enough just to see her happy.

But as he approached the street near the market, he froze. Akari was there, laughing with another man.

Andy's heart sank as he watched them interact. The man—Haruto—leaned closer, saying something that made her smile, the kind of smile that used to be reserved for Andy alone. She looked… happy. And that hurt more than he thought it would.

Haruto handed Akari a small bag of fruit, brushing his hand against hers. Andy clenched his fists, his instincts screaming at him to intervene, but he stopped himself. He couldn't just walk up to her and say, "Hey, remember me? The guy you used to love before they erased your memories?"

Instead, he stayed back, watching as they disappeared around the corner together.

Later that evening, Andy sat under the sakura tree, staring blankly at the petals fluttering to the ground. His thoughts swirled between anger and despair.

Just then, Haruto appeared, carrying a bag of groceries. He noticed Andy sitting there and gave a polite nod, but something about the way Haruto looked at him felt… off.

"Hey," Haruto said, approaching cautiously. "You've been hanging around here a lot. Are you waiting for someone?"

Andy straightened up, his jaw tightening. "Maybe."

Haruto studied him for a moment, then smiled, though there was a hint of tension behind it. "You know, Akari mentioned this place earlier. She said it was her favorite spot. You two know each other?"

Andy hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Yeah. We… knew each other a long time ago."

Haruto raised an eyebrow. "Huh. She didn't mention you."

That hit like a punch to the gut. Andy forced a neutral expression, even though his chest ached. "She wouldn't. It's complicated."

Haruto seemed to pick up on the tension. "Well, complicated or not, she seems to be doing fine now. She's… special, isn't she?"

Andy's eyes narrowed. "She is."

Haruto nodded, his tone friendly but firm. "Then I hope you won't make things harder for her. She's been through enough."

Andy's fists clenched, but he forced himself to stay calm. "I'm not here to hurt her."

"Good," Haruto said, giving him a pointed look before walking away.

Andy sat there for a long time after Haruto left, the weight of the conversation settling heavily on him. He couldn't deny that Haruto cared for Akari, and maybe, just maybe, Haruto was what she needed now.

But the thought of walking away forever felt unbearable.

The tension in the air was thick as the days passed, with the love triangle slowly unraveling, pulling at the strings of Akari's heart. On one hand, there was Andy, the man who insisted on a past she couldn't remember, who stirred memories she couldn't place but felt deep within her. On the other, there was Haruto, the steady presence, the one who'd been there when she didn't have anyone else—someone who understood her present, not the ghost of a past she couldn't touch.

It was late afternoon when Akari found herself walking home from work, lost in thought. Her mind often wandered these days, especially when she passed by the park where she and Andy had crossed paths for the first time since her memory loss.

And there he was again. Standing under the same tree, waiting as though time had stood still for him.

Akari's heart skipped a beat, and before she knew it, she was walking toward him, drawn like a magnet. The memories—fragments, flashes—flooded her mind again, and for a moment, it felt like everything had aligned. He saw her coming, and his eyes lit up with the same intensity as before, the same desperate hope that she'd remember him.

"Akari," Andy said softly, his voice cracking with emotion. "I've been waiting for you."

She stopped a few feet away, looking at him, the question in her eyes. "Why? Why keep waiting for someone who doesn't even remember you?"

Andy took a step forward, his gaze pleading. "Because I know you, Akari. I know who you are. And I know the person you're becoming now isn't the real you. I can't let go of that."

Her chest tightened. "But what if the person I am now is who I'm meant to be?" She shook her head, the weight of the confusion heavy on her shoulders. "I don't know who I was before. And I can't keep clinging to something that's not here anymore."

Andy's eyes darkened, frustration lacing his words. "But I am here, Akari. I'm the one who remembers you. And I'll do whatever it takes to make you remember me."

Before she could respond, a voice interrupted them from behind.

"Akari."

She turned, and there stood Haruto, his presence calm but resolute. His gaze flicked to Andy, then back to Akari. "We need to go. You don't need to be caught up in this. Not right now."

Akari felt the shift in the atmosphere. The tension between Andy and Haruto was palpable, and she could see the underlying rivalry.

Andy stepped toward Haruto, his tone sharp. "Stay out of this, Haruto. This is between Akari and me."

Haruto didn't back down. "It's not just about you, Andy. It's about her. She doesn't owe you anything. And you don't get to dictate her life."

Akari looked between the two men, feeling more lost than ever. They were both fighting for her attention, for her heart, but she wasn't sure who she was supposed to be fighting for.

"I just… I don't know what to do," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.

Haruto reached out, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Then let's take this one step at a time. You don't have to figure it out all at once."

Andy clenched his fists, his voice barely contained. "You don't understand, Haruto. I will make her remember."

Akari closed her eyes for a moment, feeling overwhelmed. She didn't want to be the center of this conflict. She didn't want to be the one caught between two people who cared about her, in different ways.

When she opened her eyes again, she met Haruto's gaze, her voice soft but firm. "I need to think. I need time to figure out who I am without all of this pressure."

Haruto nodded, offering her the space she needed. "We'll give you the time. You're not alone in this."

But as she walked away with Haruto, she could feel Andy's eyes burning into her back.

The night was still, the only sound filling the room being the soft rustle of pages turning as Haruto sat on the floor in front of the window, immersed in his book. He had been working tirelessly the entire day, and as the night wore on, the weight of the day's exhaustion was settling in.

Akari walked into the room, the scent of dinner wafting from the tray she carried. It had become a routine, her quietly tending to him as he stayed up late working. She placed the drink and the food carefully on the small table beside him, her expression neutral, devoid of any sign of her internal turmoil.

Without so much as a glance, she turned to leave, her movements graceful, controlled. But then, just as her hand touched the doorframe, Haruto moved quickly. His hand shot out, gripping her wrist with surprising force, pulling her toward him.

Akari's breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding faster as she stumbled slightly, her face flushed with the sudden proximity. "Haruto…" she whispered, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.

He didn't let go, his gaze intense, locking onto her like she was the only thing that mattered in the world. "I love you, Akari," he murmured, his voice soft but heavy with emotion. There was a certain rawness to it, like a confession he had been holding in for far too long.

Akari froze, unable to process his words. The air between them felt thick, charged with something she couldn't quite understand. She had always seen Haruto as steady, reliable, but in that moment, he was something else entirely. He wasn't just her friend, her companion through these strange days of uncertainty. He was someone who wanted more.

Before she could react, Haruto pulled her in closer, his arms enveloping her. Her heart raced, her mind scrambling for a response, but all she could do was inhale his scent, feeling the warmth of his body against hers.

"Haruto, I—"

But before she could finish, he tilted her chin up gently, leaning in. His lips brushed against hers softly at first, hesitant, as if waiting for her to pull away. But she didn't. The kiss deepened, lingering with an intensity that felt like a bitter kind of sweetness, almost like an act of revenge—a silent declaration of victory over Andy.

It was as if everything Andy had once meant to her was slipping through her fingers, replaced by the force of Haruto's passion, his need for her.

Akari's heart pounded violently in her chest, her breath faltering. She had never felt so torn, so unsure. Haruto's kiss was everything she didn't know she needed but didn't know how to handle. A part of her was numb, but another part—an unfamiliar, thrilling part—was alive with something she couldn't quite name.

Haruto finally pulled away, his forehead resting against hers, breathing heavily. "I'll never let you go, Akari," he whispered, the weight of his words hanging in the air between them.

Akari stood there, caught in a whirlwind of emotions she didn't know how to process. She could still feel the warmth of his lips on hers, the intensity of his embrace. She wanted to say something, to make sense of the feelings twisting inside her, but all she could do was stand there, trapped in the moment.

For a fleeting second, she felt like she was drowning—drowning in the complexity of her feelings, the depth of her connection to both men, each pulling her in different directions. But Haruto had made his move. He had staked his claim, and she knew that, for better or worse, nothing would be the same.