Love Live! Romance

Chapter 43: Our past connects us

"I have to apologize to her no matter what"

"It was all my fault for not thinking about her. All I ever think about is myself, but I never considered how hard she's trying to make me remember again. How can I be so dumb to not notice that?"

I kept on running until I arrived to her house. I rang the doorbell and her mother answered and went outside to see me

"Mrs. Nishikino, is Maki here?"

"I'm afraid she haven't arrived yet. I'm getting worried where she might've gone" she replied

"I see. Sorry for bothering you"

She went back inside and I continued to search for her. My brain started to hurt and another piece of my memory came back again

**********

"Ren-kun, lets go to the playground!"

"But that's pretty far from your house. What if we get scolded again?"

"Don't worry. I'll make sure we won't get scolded"

**********

"The playground! She might be there. I have to go quick"

I ran again as fast as I can. Rain started to drop slowly but I still kept on going just to see her.

"I made it. I arrived"

Maki is sitting on the bench near to a tall tree at the side of the playground. She's soaking wet from the rain but she didn't bothered moving at all.

"Maki!"

I called out her name. She got surprised and looked. She stood up and tried to go away but I followed her and held her arm

"Maki. Please listen to me"

"Shut up and let go of me!"

She tried to struggle to let her go but I insisted and held her tight

"Maki. I'm sorry for everything. For ignoring you. For being blind about everything. I'm sor-"

"Sorry doesn't bring back my trust on you that easily. You've kept me waiting for years and here you are, trying to apologize for it when I already gave up on waiting"

"I know its been hard. But I have to tell you that its hard for me too. I failed to fulfill my promise to someone I cared about. Someone who's been so special to me but I ended up losing her."

"What makes you say that I'm that special to you? You did forget me right? I did what I can to make you remember but-"

"You're special to me because I love you!"

I didn't let her finish and just confessed what I feel. Maki couldn't say a single word and started crying

"If you could've just returned sooner, I..."

I embraced her as she continued to cry

"I've been waiting for so long to hear that from you. Ever since we were young, I've always loved you too." Maki kept on crying as I comforted her