Time passed.
Inside the villa.
Hikigaya lay on the hospital bed, his mind in a daze, like a wooden stick stirring mercury; even thinking became laborious.
Wanting to open his eyes.
Hikigaya felt his eyelids were exceptionally heavy, and it took a long time before he managed to open them.
Just as he wanted to get up.
He found his hands were like slender branches, as if they could break at any moment from weakness.
Hikigaya lowered his gaze to take a look.
What met his eyes were arms as thin as branches, the skin like withered wood; they were indeed his arms.
A woman was resting by the bed, tightly grasping his palm.
Pink-gold hair was coiled on her head mixed with some white strands; her skin seemed younger compared to people of the same age.
Hikigaya felt she looked familiar, but no matter what, his mind remained chaotic; he couldn't remember who it was.
But the warmth from her hand couldn't help but make him feel a sense of comfort.
Hikigaya couldn't help but hold the other party's hand back.
Speaking of which.
How long had he been asleep? He couldn't seem to remember.
"Hmm?"
Just then, the woman leaning by the bed seemed to notice something, and she quickly opened her eyes; the two couldn't help but meet each other's gaze.
"Hachiman, Hachiman, are you awake?"
"I... Ichinose?"
Although his voice was a bit hoarse, Hikigaya recognized her voice instantly.
Memories flooded into his mind like a tide; it was truly incredible.
"Is it... Ichinose?"
Ichinose was stunned for a moment.
This name hadn't been used for a long time. Although they weren't married, she still changed her surname to Hikigaya instead of Sakayanagi, but—
—those things aren't important now.
Hearing the long-lost name.
Ichinose felt an indescribable joy, her hands wrapping around Hikigaya's palm.
"Yes, it's Ichinose."
Hearing such a tone like coaxing a child, Hikigaya suddenly realized.
He seemed to be sick, a sickness like Alzheimer's.
Was that why Ichinose was coaxing him like that?
But for some reason.
Hikigaya now felt his mind was exceptionally clear, and he couldn't help but find it a bit funny.
"Really, I'm not a child anymore."
"Mhm, hikki isn't a child anymore."
Ichinose wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, firmly holding Hikigaya's palm, still not taking it to heart.
Judging by this.
It seemed this state had been going on for a while; perhaps similar things had happened before.
Understanding that explaining would probably be useless, Hikigaya didn't take it to heart either.
"Speaking of which... where are Hiyori and the others?"
"They are resting downstairs. It's my turn to keep watch tonight; I'll go call them up right now."
"No need, let them rest first."
Seeing Hikigaya propping up his hands wanting to get up, Ichinose quickly supported his shoulder and lowered the lift handle.
"hachiman, do you want to drink water or eat something? Just tell me whatever you need."
"No need, I feel my state is better than ever before; just talk to me."
Hikigaya leaned on the bed, feeling like he had many things to say, but when the words reached his lips, he didn't know what to say.
Hearing his words, Ichinose covered her lips, tears falling like a burst dam; she naturally knew what it meant.
"Really, Ichinose is still as much of a crybaby as before."
Seeing this, Hikigaya wanted to raise his hand to wipe away her tears, but his arm felt exceptionally heavy. Ichinose quickly pressed her face against Hikigaya's hand.
"Yes, I'm still as useless as before..."
"How is that possible? Ichinose is very amazing."
Hikigaya's fingers wiped the tears at the corner of her eyes.
"I remember it was you who confessed to me; you were the first girl to confess to me and even twice in a row. I was really shocked back then, and I didn't know how to respond to your feelings."
"Eh?"
Ichinose was stunned for a moment.
Only then was she sure that Hikigaya indeed remembered, but following that was even greater sadness, and her tears became uncontrollable.
She still forced a smile on her face.
"Yes, I remember you rejected me the first time; I was very sad then.
"By the way, hachiman, did you find the genuine thing you wanted?"
"What is that? Can it be eaten?"
Hikigaya couldn't help but laugh; how could he still care about those things.
Indeed, it was as Ichinose said.
The genuine thing is nurtured in failure; only time can prove the genuine thing.
The fact that Ichinose was still sitting here was the best proof.
If there were any regrets.
"I'm sorry..."
Hikigaya used his strength to place his hand on Ichinose's head.
His tone was gentle.
"I've made you suffer along with me."
"No, that's not it at all. I never felt like I suffered anything."
Hearing this, Ichinose grabbed Hikigaya's palm and shook her head repeatedly, no longer able to suppress her crying.
Because she knew very well.
Hikigaya had been working hard for them all his life, trying to make them live happily.
Ichinose was naturally not a woman who didn't understand the other party's efforts.
However.
Hikigaya also couldn't remain indifferent.
Ichinose had sacrificed far too much for him; in the end, he couldn't even give them the status of a wife, which truly made him feel guilty.
Perhaps if Ichinose could fiercely curse him for a few words, it would actually make him feel much more relaxed.
Unfortunately.
Ichinose was just that kind.
Wanting her to complain was probably impossible to begin with.
All that was left was—
"Thank you, Honami."
Hikigaya's thumb wiped the corner of Ichinose's eyes; the wrinkled skin was still reassuring.
"Thanks to your efforts, everyone has been able to get along peacefully. I'm really sorry for making you endure so much; the rest can only be repaid in the next life."
"No, I have lived very happily."
Ichinose still shook her head constantly, crying like a fountain.
Although Hikigaya was very good to all of them.
In reality, Ichinose knew very well that Hikigaya would often secretly favor her, so she was already very satisfied.
"Fool, you're already at this age; crying like this isn't good for your health. You need to pay more attention to your body from now on."
"I know, hachiman, stop talking and pay attention to your own health."
In the midst of it, Hikigaya suddenly felt something.
"Call them up."
"..."
Hearing his words, Ichinose cried even more sadly, but she still pressed the call bell and picked up her phone to send messages to the private doctor and the children.
One after another, Shiina Hiyori and the others walked into the room, surrounding Hikigaya and talking endlessly.
Until two hours later, the room was already packed with people.
Karuizawa and the others were all there, along with some young people who looked very similar to Ichinose, Karuizawa, and the rest.
Watching this scene, a smile couldn't help but appear at the corner of Hikigaya's mouth.
In this life, he had cried, laughed, been tired, and struggled.
It was enough.
Being able to live a life like this was mainly due to luck; they were truly very kind and good girls...
"I suddenly feel very sleepy, I want to sleep for a while."
"Mhm..."
Ichinose covered her lips, tears faintly overflowing from the corner of her eyes.
"hachiman ..can sleep for a while; we will always be with you. How about I wake you up in the morning?"
"Alright, then I'll leave it to you."
Saying that.
Looking at the worried or tear-holding gazes before him.
Hikigaya closed his eyes, his vision falling into darkness, and his arm slowly slumped down.
...
(The story is complete.)