The morning of fourteenth day, Ash has become thirteen years old.

He is growing up and getting taller because of his increasing androgen secretion

Eiji felt upset when he looked at Ash's body length.

（Oh…I am afraid he will be taller than me soon… I won't be able to look down on him anymore….）

Ash understands Eiji's feeling, then he sneers and says, "I hope the day I become taller than you will be coming soon! "

＊＊＊

In the afternoon, Ash asked Eiji suddenly when he was cleaning up their room

"Are there any guns in this room?"

"I'm not sure if there are any…why do you ask about it? " Eiji replied.

"Well, I`m just curious. I just wanted to confirm my shooting skill….

Hey Eiji, Am I supposed to regain my memory and body? "

"Maybe,.. after three or four days. Just be patient Ash"

"If I become eighteen years old…what will be my future?" Ash asked uneasily.

"How come you just asked now? ? Now you are recovering your memory."

"I wonder what will my future be…" Ash mumbled. He seems so nervous.

His friends Skip, Shorter and his brother Griffin died, Especially his best friend, Shorter injected a terrible drug called BANANAFISH and became very violent and also he tried to kill Eiji because of it. Ash shot to stop Shorter`s suffering and protected Eiji.

Eiji worried how to reply.

"you'll meet many people and cooperate with them…I am one of them."

Eiji has mixed feelings and replied ambiguously and after that there was silence.

(He might have noticed that he lost his precious brother and friends... )Eiji thought to himself.

Ash was staring him but looked away and stared at the window.

"I thought my future would be terrible, though… Even if there are some problems ahead, I know you'll stay with me . Not too bad, I guess."

Ash said and gave a slight smile on his face.

The morning of fifteenth day, Ash has become fourteen years old.

He's been in a good mood since this morning. He woke up smoothly, ate his breakfast fully, and then washed the dishes after meal. Eiji was surprised because it's his first time to see Ash who is in a pretty good mood.

(I wonder why he is so active…What happened to him?)

Eiji thought to himself and stared Ash strangely.

Ash came close to Eiji and asked him suddenly.

"Hey….Do you have a girlfriend, Eiji?"

" No…I certainly told you before…. Oh, okay. You don't remember. ." Eiji replied.

Actually Eiji and Ash talked about girlfriends on the night of Halloween. But they didn't meet when Ash was fourteen years old, so he couldn't recall.

"Too bad. I was sure you seem to be popular among girls. I need to introduce some girls to you, right? Hahaha!" Ash laughed.

"Oh, my…"

"Hey, Eiji. Were you able to kiss to other girls before? Where did you go on a date recently?"

"Well…. I don't know why you ask me that. Should I reply?"

Eiji said with a blushing face and Ash giggled.

"Sorry… You don't want to reply that….haha, so sorry!"

While Ash was teasing Eiji, He was laughing joyfully.

However, Ash became to be so down in the afternoon. He looked really nervous and got into his shell, has a long face, and finally he went to the bed room with raising his hand to his head.

Eiji noticed the surprising change of Ash.

( What happened to Ash? He looks in pain. Is he feeling sick? ) Eiji thought to himself.

He followed Ash without speaking, and then he knocked at the bedroom door.

"Ash, Can I enter the room?" Eiji asked Ash, but there was silent.

He opened the door quietly. Ash lied on his bed and covered his face and was crying and mumbling.

"Sorry…Thanks to me she died…"

He blamed himself. When Eiji heard what Ash said, he felt a tight feeling in his chest.

When Ash was fourteen years old, He felt in love with a girl. It was his first love. He must have recalled his memory that she was killed because she was mistaken to be his girlfriend.

Eiji felt terrible when he saw Ash. And he came close to his bed. He surely wants to help Ash who has many bad experiences.

"Ash-"

Eiji called his name but he didn't know what he should say to him. So he sat down on Ash's bed.

Ash didn't face Eiji, he kept lying on his bed and crying.

"…Eiji, you shouldn't stay with me….It's dangerous for you. I'm sure you have some problems, too. You should leave me alone…."

"I am okay and I am not afraid of it. If whatever happened, I'm sure I would be with you….Come on Ash…"

Eiji spread his arms to hold on Ash's shoulder. Ash looked up to him but his eyes were red. Then he put his face on Eiji's knee while he was crying until no tears are left.

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