Shiho’s Diary

Minoru and I have started living together.

I know moving in without warning gave him a scare, but I’m grateful he accepted it.

It was wrong of me to show up unannounced, but if I hadn’t done it this way, he would’ve turned me down—I’m sure of it. So yes, I was a bit forceful, but I still think it was the right call.

Ken even told me, “He’ll refuse if you ask. Just move in.”

But… it’s only been ten days since Ken passed, so of course Minoru can’t just bounce back. Still, seeing someone usually so reliable living in such a shambles really shocked me.

However grown-up he seems, he’s still just a kid who’s only just started his second year of high school.

If I’d left him in that state any longer… the thought alone gives me chills.

Losing your only family is a burden no one should have to carry alone. No relatives to share the pain, no siblings to steady you… I know that hardship better than anyone.

From now on, I have to stand beside Minoru as his family.

As his guardian, I’ll watch over him and walk with him.

And yet… how should I put this?

Maybe the one who’ll end up being supported by living together is me.

When Minoru pushed back—for my sake—against the idea of moving in, I was honestly happy.

Just as there are few who understand Minoru’s grief, there are almost none who understand mine. The only person who can share the same angle on this pain—who can divide it with me—is Minoru. And for him, it’s me.

So the fact that he set his own feelings aside and worried about me first… that made me happy.

In moments like that… he’s exactly like Ken.

It’s going to be hard.

Problems will keep showing up in front of us.

But no matter what happens, I’ll keep supporting him.

Because this is the last wish Ken entrusted to me.

I don’t have time to be sad anymore, or to cry.

So I made myself a promise: I won’t cry again.