‘But that means making a wish come true, and then won’t all our memories vanish? If we don’t recognize each other, then being in the same world is meaningless, isn’t it?’

‘Yeah, so that’s why our wish should be, Please put all of us in the same world, and let us keep our memories … Let’s ask about it the next time we see her.’ Fuka seemed determined.

Maybe her cryptic way of telling them I’m not saying you can’t was based on the underlying assumption that they would have lost their memories. Once Kokoro had thought this through, it felt more and more likely.

‘But so long as we don’t find the key, it’s only a possibility.’

Fuka looked at Masamune. He’d been so enthusiastic, explaining his theory, but now that the Wolf Queen had shot down his idea he seemed to have visibly shrunk.

‘Masamune,’ Ureshino said, and Masamune raised his head.

‘What?’

‘I’m glad you’re back.’

Masamune blinked in surprise. Rapid blinks, like the beating of a bumblebee’s wings.

Ureshino smiled. ‘I was so sure you would never come back. And I didn’t want things to end like that, so I’m really happy you’re here.’ He laughed. ‘See, right at the beginning of the second semester when I felt awkward about coming here, you were so glad I had made it. So I thought the next time you came here, I’d feel the same thing. Masamune – I’m glad you made it.’

Masamune’s cheeks and ears reddened, as if he was trying to hold something back.

‘So, what happened? Did things work out?’ Subaru asked. ‘Do you have to transfer schools?’

‘I’m OK for the third semester at least. Because I made it to the opening ceremony.’ Masamune’s voice was monotonic, and he was still looking down. ‘I couldn’t find any of you, and then I bumped into someone I didn’t want to see, but things are OK.’

‘Cool.’

A lengthy silence fell.

Masamune raised his head. But his eyes below his short fringe were still looking down. ‘Lying Masa … is what they called me.’

‘What?’

‘Lying Masa. Masamune the Liar.’

Kokoro couldn’t imagine why he’d suddenly brought this up. But seeing how serious he was, his voice trembling, she couldn’t look away.

‘I told you all that the guy who made this game was a friend of mine. Well, that’s not true. I’m sorry.’

Masamune looked at the video games lying scattered on the floor. Kokoro had no idea which one he was looking at.

Yet somehow she understood why he had felt the need to reveal this to them. It might not mean much to any of them, but it certainly did to him. In Masamune’s world, that lie was a big deal.