A/N: Just for the record, I wrote this in... January or February (2020) I believe.

Cure Narrative 50: Unrequited

Season: Hugtto Precure

Character: Homare

Summary: Some things are better off remembered.

(Homare's POV)

Oh, how very lame of me.

Half-heartedly showing a grin and saying "Thanks, I feel fine now" with tears overflowing, I had hoped for things to just end on that note.

But my despicable self refused to relent.

Even when I knew that his princess was someone else, my fractious heart refused to let him go.

Love is irrational. It isn't something that can be stopped just because you willed it to.

My eyes were glued on him. And they burnt with the constant sensation of tears accumulating. It hurt. But I couldn't turn away, even when I knew I didn't stand a chance.

People would tell you to forget him, to get over him, to move on. But would I really be satisfied? It had been so long since I started feeling this way, why should I just let it go?

Because he doesn't like you back.

Why couldn't I try to put up a fight?

Because you have no chance of winning.

Why must I stay at this distance, glancing at him so sneakily?

Because he never had eyes for you.

Was this what they call unrequited love? Falling so deep into the waters you couldn't reach the shore of rationality even if reality had already yanked you onto the surface?

Lame.

Lame!

LAME!

"Oy, Homare, somethin' wrong? Why are you spacing out so much lately?"

And it REALLY didn't help when you were so irredeemably dense!

Why did you not understand!?

Why couldn't you just leave me alone!?

I didn't want your pity! I didn't want your care! I didn't want your apologetic awkwardness!

Why couldn't you just go back to the future, back to the one who hogged your heart for herself already!?

He went.

The four of us — heroes who saved the world's future — now crying like children, chasing after a train that we would never catch up to, nor would we wish to do so.

Ruru. Hugtan. Everyone.

Harry.

I cursed myself for every moment that I ever wished for Harry to be happy with whoever was waiting for him in the future, and then I cursed myself again for that.

While Hana was screaming out Hugtan's name until she couldn't speak anymore, and while Emiru was bawling out Ruru's, I turned away.

Because what right did I have to speak of his?

That right was not mine to have. That right already belonged to someone else. I was supposed to have understood and accepted this truth. I was supposed to now wipe away my tears and bid him the best of luck in the future as well, as a friend.

...

Screw it all.

I took a deep breath and raised my head, glaring at the slowing fading train tracks...

To you, maybe I was just another puzzle piece in your life, a small, insignificant fragment in the whole picture. So go on, forget about me, you had someone precious to fill your mind with.

But I hoped you did not think I would just let you go in peace after you, my first crush, broke my heart so casually and brusquely.

I would never forget you, whether you liked it or not.

In front of you, I had always been so lame anyways.

...and I screamed at the top of my voice.

"YOU BLASTED MOUSE!"

End of Chapter 50