Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330665542028014/episodes/16817330668776852390
Time flies and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom in April. The entrance ceremony was about to begin.
I was standing in front of the school gate of Amanohashidate Academy, which I will attend for the next three years, and was deeply moved.
“I really have nothing but gratitude for Katsuragi sensei.”
When I heard that the high school I was planning to go to was closed, I was in total darkness, but thanks to my reliable homeroom teacher, I was able to safely enter high school.
“I’m also grateful to my homeroom teacher for helping me with my life here and all the other things. I was a little scared that she might have a secret motive.”
She bought me the furniture and appliances I needed for my new life as a [gift for passing the entrance exam] which was more than enough to prepare for the entrance procedures and moving. In particular, I thought my eyes would pop out of my head when I saw a high-end model washing machine that was too good for a high school boy to live alone.
I tried to refuse the gift, but she said,
[Don’t worry about it. Thanks to Itsuki kun, we have extra income. Please let me do this much.]
She said this with a smile that sparkled in vain, and before I knew it, the bill had been paid. I was curious about the nature of the extra income, but for some reason I was too scared to ask.
“Thanks to her, I don’t have to suffer any inconvenience, but…I have to return the favor someday.”
It may take some time, but I will do it. I promised myself to do so as I stepped through the school gate and into the school.
At that moment, the atmosphere changed. It felt like that. It was a feeling I had never experienced before, like it was hard to breathe or dense. If I had to use a strong analogy, it would be when I was hunting a bear in the mountains with my grandfather. If you make a mistake, you will be hunted.
“Phew….don’t let the atmosphere get to you, I’ll be fine. Maybe, surely……!”
I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart. The entrance ceremony hasn’t even started yet, and at this rate, it would be impossible to get through the next three years. Besides, I can’t let my childhood friend see me in such a pathetic state.
“Kanna…I wonder how she’s doing. I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
I have not seen my childhood friend since the last time I saw her more than ten years ago. A girl I played with every day because we both had no friends and our families were close. As a child, I thought we would be together forever, until the day we die, but I never thought we would be separated.
Even then, she was as pretty as an exquisite doll, and my mother often said, [Kanna chan will definitely become a beauty in the future. Jinpei, you can’t lose her, okay?]
“I remember how hard it was when we had to move. She cried a lot the night before and wouldn’t stop, and she doesn’t let go of me. On the day of the move, the same thing happened—“
[I hate it ! I absolutely hate the idea of being separated from Jinpei kun ! This is such tragic ! I’m staying here too ! I’m going to stay here with Jinpei kun !]
I vividly remember crying and protesting to my parents, and just remembering it naturally brings a smile to my face. It is eerie to think calmly that a child who has not yet entered elementary school is using difficult four-character idioms to make up nonsense.
But that’s beside the point. Naturally, I’m anxious about our reunion. I had promised to meet her someday, but I had never contacted her by phone or letter.
“What if she forgets about me…..I might not be able to recover from the shock.”
It has been long enough for me to consider this possibility. Of course, I’ve also grown up since childhood, so she might not even notice me in the first place. I’m confident that if I call out to her and she looks at me likeshe’s looking at trash, I will have a heartbreak.
“Well, that time will come. We’ll build a relationship again from scratch.”
I told myself as I walked. The destination is the gymnasium where the ceremony will be held. The school building, auditorium, and grounds are spread out over a large area, so I would have gotten lost had I not been looking at the information letter I received in advance.
Even though there is an elementary school to a university, it is too big. This is a school in the city. It’s scary.
I sat down on a bench I saw while talking to myself. Fortunately, there was still time before the entrance ceremony. The entrance area was crowded with new students and their parents. Let’s take a short break. It would be good to go inside after the crowd calmed down.
“I guess Mom and Dad couldn’t come because of work after all…….”
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel lonely, but at the same time, I know it’s no use expecting it now.Elementary school graduation ceremony. Junior high school entrance ceremony and graduation ceremony. I had three-party meetings and class visits, and it was Grandpa who came to all of them.
“I wanted him to come, but it would have been hard for him to come.”
Even now, when hunting season comes, he goes into the mountains and kills deer, wild boars, and sometimes even bears. When I say this, I get scolded and told that he deosn’t like being treated like an old man, but it hurts my heart to be forced to travel long distances just for the entrance ceremony.
“I’m not going to let myself get upset. The big day is still ahead of us, so let’s cheer up.”
As I said this to myself, I looked up at my classmates who were being escorted off by their parents and entering the venue. There was no sense of anxiety or frustration.
“……Everyone is amazing.”
Not good. The weakness that I had put away inside my chest began to creep up again. I passed the exam and am here. In other words, the ring we are standing on is the same. Then there’s nothing to be afraid of. The day before I went to Tokyo, Katsuragi sensei also said to me,
[You may be swept up in the atmosphere, but don’t be scared. Itsuki kun will do well at that school. Always imagine yourself at your strongest.]
She gave me a pat on the back with words of encouragement that I couldn’t quite understand. I’m sure I’ll be fine, since I once won first place in a countryside mock exam.
“All right,……let’s get going. I’ll quickly find Kanna and surprise her.”
I lifted my heavy back with determination and headed for the gymnasium.
But there are times when a man has to do it even if he knows in his head that it is difficult. He decides that now is exactly the time to do it and cracks the whip as hard as he can in his heart.
“Well, we seem to be in the same class, so there’s no need to force myself to look for her.”
After the ceremony, we will move to the classroom for orientation, sso it’s like victory is guaranteed. Let’s take it easy and look for her.
With such a carefree mindset, there was no way I was going to find my childhood friend out of over a hundred new students, and when it was time to begin……
“……Seriously”
I was surprised to hear the voice of surprise escape from my mouth.
It happened after the long and useless speech of the principal, the greeting of the guest of honor, and the congratulations from the current student council president.
“The new student’s speech—Hanazono Kanna san.”
“—Yes.”
A dignified voice echoed through the silent gymnasium.
The eyes of everyone present were focused on a single female student as she stood up and walked toward the podium.
Her well-groomed, wavy, flaxen hair, shiny in the light, resembles the stars that fill the night sky. Her translucent, milky-white skin is that of an angel, unblemished. She has a well-defined bridge of the nose, long eyelashes, and large eyes that contain both cuteness and strength of will. It is no exaggeration to say that God created this beautiful woman by gathering all the beauty in the world.
“Is that really my childhood friend, Hanazono Kanna?”
There was no trace of the weepy girl who once clung to my back and wouldn’t leave me, but she had transformed into a goddess who had jumped out of a famous painting.
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