Because You Could Never Love Me

A high schooler's childish game.

"Which one do you think is true?"

There are two slips of paper on the table in front of me. They read, "I like you" and "You like me."

"Just so we're clear, 'I' means me, Gojo Satoru." He added that with quite a bit of precision.

"One is true, so what about the other?"

"Who knows? Anyway, one of them has to be true."

For now, I assume one is true and one is false, ruling out the one answer that cannot possibly be true: "I, Gojo Satoru, like you, me."

Then, without hesitation, I point to the other slip.

Half a beat later, I realize that to him, it probably looks like I'm confessing, even though that is completely not the case. ...But I never expected Gojo Satoru to blush when someone confessed to him.

"Why did you pick that one?"

I answer honestly, "Because there's no way you could like me."

"...Why?"

I meet his gaze and say nothing.

Because after resetting the world 77 times, I've discovered that this is one of the most unshakable facts of all.

And, by the way, the other is that I won't live past 18.

>>>

Reading guide:

1. A short story, probably two or three chapters.

2. First person, pairing: Gojo Satoru.

Theme: May you have a bright future.