Five years have passed, Yukino-chan and the others have graduated, with an exception of Komachi-chan.
It's been five years since Hikigaya-kun died, died protecting me. I am usually unconcerned when it comes to these, but with him, I sobbed hard enough to dismantle my whole facade.
"I was so desperate to save you that I didn't want you to die…"
The emotional damage is crucial. Both Yukino-chan and Shizuka-chan could not hide their surprise at my appearance, even my mother was shaken.
Just before he died, I realized that I loved him. Even though he was aware of my nature, it felt comfortable spending time with him who treated me naturally and viewed me as a standfoot individual.
A month after that, I tried improving my relationship with my sister, Yukino-chan. I tried not to agitate and not to be too nice and such, though all the worries were a mere myth; She didn't try to avoid me and was able to make her own decisions.
Mother's as well; In the past, she used me a lot for house substitutions and parties, but no longer forced me and instead told me to do whatever I wanted in my career.
Apparently, Hikigaya-kun's death had a great impact on my relatives, too.
Few springs passed, and on that day, I collapsed at work. Concerned, Yukino-chan had me checked out of the hospital, where I was found to have an incurable disease and was told I had little time to live. They tried reasoning but with today's medicine, it was impossible.
It was unfortunate that I couldn't live longer with the life that Hikigaya-kun had saved for me.
No matter how difficult it is to show the initial symptoms, and even though the disease had already developed before he helped me, it was by no means in vain.
The intimacy with my sister, the freedom of life, and the feeling of truly loving someone-
-In just less than a decade, I've achieved three things that I never did in my earlier years of existence.
I had no such no regrets.
"...I love you."
The next morning, Yukinoshita Haruno, passed away with a smile on her face.
Upon learning of this, her close ones were deeply saddened by her death and parted goodbyes.
"From now on, I will always be by your side."
"Of course~"
But they didn't know that those two were now together, happily and forever.