Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093089220129356/episodes/16818093089966546769
(*Saijouin Hiya viewpoint)
I always thought I was a great person.
Unlike everyone else, I came from a wealthy family, I always got excellent grades and my father was a respectable man who was respected by everyone.
My mother died when she gave birth to me, and I have always watched my father’s back, who raised me ever since I can remember.
That’s why I want to be like him.
I said that to my father only once.
From then on, my father, who had been kind and pampered me, disappeared and turned into a strict father, giving me things like lessons, nutritional management and hard targets.
…… Well, I’m still not complaining because I was the one who initiated it.
But back then, I think I was in a dire need to ‘live up to expectations’ until I was in …… third grade or so.
“Hey, hey …… hi-chan, are you okay?”
“I’ve been telling you for a while, but you don’t have to eat if you can’t. ……?”
─ ─ ─ The sister school exchange meeting is held only once in the third grade.
I was to eat school lunch with people from other schools I met for the first time. …… Then, unluckily, cheese, which I don’t like, was served.
“I-I can …… eat it……!”
If I grow up, I might have the opportunity to eat dinner with other people, for example at a dinner party.
Then I should be able to eat everything but my allergies.
With this in mind, all this time I have been trying to eat foods that I don’t like, even if they …… made me cry.
However, was that appearance strange?
Students from other schools would stare at me somewhat weirdly.
The boys who saw my appearance and spoke to me were also explicitly trying to keep their distance.
Indeed, children are children. If I had said ‘I don’t want to eat it because I don’t like it’ in an age-appropriate manner, they might not have thought anything of it.
But I am different from everyone else
I thought I would become a person like my father, so I kept eating, even if it gave me the creeps.
But then…
“Hey, hey, why are you eating so hard?”
One boy took the trouble to sit down next to me and asked me.
“Hey, Ikkkun ……, you shouldn’t do that.”
His classmates tell him in a roundabout way to stay away. But he, who is called ‘Ikkun’, uttered this with a puzzled look on his face.
“Eh, why? You’re just trying your best to eat, aren’t you? That’s great.”
“?!”
…… probably no one present would have noticed.
I was crying, so they thought that I must have been crying because of the food I didn’t like.
However, they did not know that there were ‘tears of joy’ mixed in with those tears.
After all, how happy was this one word?
While none of my classmates recognised me, only this person immediately recognised me…
“So! Why do you eat so hard? Cheese, you don’t like it!?”
“I want to …… be a respectable adult.”
“Oh!”
“That’s why I want to lose my weakness ……!”
But I was strangely stubborn at the time.
I was happy for him, but I gave him a bit of a cold shoulder just because he was different from everyone else.
But he just had a twinkle in his eyes
“Wow. ……! That’s kind of cool!”
He didn’t say I didn’t have to eat.
On the contrary, he stayed by my side wiping my tears until I finished.
♦️♦️♦️
─ ─ ─ At sister school exchange events, the classes you interact with change so that you get to know as many people as possible.
So that was the last time I was able to talk to a boy called Ikkun.
And finally, when the exchange meeting was over and we were all about to leave the school…
“Oh, there she is! Hey, Hi-chan!”
Just before we were about to leave the school gate, he suddenly stopped me
When I turned around, I saw him rushing towards me,
“Hi-chan?”
“Oh, was that bad? Everyone said so, so I called for you. ……”
“No, that’s fine. ……”
I suddenly thought that, come to think of it, I hadn’t said my name.
However, right after I tried to say my name. I notice that the child’s fingers are strangely covered in plasters.
“…… what’s wrong with your hand?”
“Hmm, this? Hi-chan, don’t worry about it! More importantly, do you have time from now on!”
“Well, I do have some time, ……”
I have no plans, just that I was going to go home and study.
However, other boys asked me to play, but I refused them all.
But for some reason, I couldn’t refuse this one’s invitation…
“
“Well then, come with me for a minute!
“Eh, hey ……!”
“Oh, by the way, don’t tell anyone about this, okay? I’m using it without permission.”
I was taken by the boy’s hand and without being told anything, I started running towards the school again.
I entered the school building and was led by the boy who was in a good mood to the home economics room.
There was no one there, instead there were unwashed dishes and utensils, and round, pastry-like globes of food neatly laid out on the table.
“Come on, sit down! I’m proud of my …… sticky taro cheese balls!”
The word ‘cheese’ makes my back arch involuntarily.
Even though I do my best to finish the meal, I don’t like to eat things I don’t like.
That’s why the question ‘Why?’ I asked.
“Um, is this ……?”
“‘Hi chan, you said you don’t like cheese, so I did my best to make it for you.”
He smiled at me,
“I know you’re trying your best to be a cool adult, so I thought maybe I could help. Look, it’s delicious!’ ‘, it’ll make you feel a little less bad about it, right?”
You want to help? a complete stranger?
…… I don’t really understand. But one thing I do know…
“…… no way, scar on your hand.”
“A-Ahaha…I’m ashamed to say that, despite my enthusiasm, it was my first time cooking, and I made a lot of mistakes.”
“Then you don’t have to go to the trouble of cooking …….”
“No, I don’t think like that though? Because I might not see you again, and I wanted to make sure I got on time today.”
Ah, I see. …… this person is an idiot.
A short-thinking idiot, the opposite of clever.
But someone who has the warmth of being much ‘kinder’ than a clever person.
Someone who recognises and supports me, when no one else has.
(……I know you’re an idiot, though.)
─ ─ – my eyes are suddenly very hot.
But I can’t cry.
Finally, I said to him.
“Why did you go to such lengths for me ……?”
And then…
“Because I want to support people like that! And it’s also interesting that this is all part of the story, isn’t it?”
He said this without making any attempt to make up for it.
“〜〜〜〜〜.”
It was impossible not to think about it.
My heart was exhausted because I had been pushing myself so hard, and then he gave me warmth, and I was happy about that.
Tears began to spill from my eyes, which should have been holding back.
“Itadakimasu”
The first bite of the food he cooked for me.
It’s bitter ……, but the sweetness of the taro and the right amount of salt make me feel less averse to cheese.
It’s…
“It’s delicious…..!”
“I see, that’s good.”
Gently, he smiles at me as I eat.
Seeing that expression, my heart was naturally …… racing, even while I was shedding tears.
────It didn’t take long for me to realize that the feelings I had for him were “love.”
However, even though I had been directed at by other people, I had never felt it myself.
But there is no such thing as discomfort.
I met him for the first time and we didn’t even have a big conversation.
I just felt the warmth and kindness he showed me, and I fell in love for the first time in my life…
(Well, we never met again after that.)
At that time, I was so confused by my first feelings that I ended up not even asking his name and we just disband
Sister school social events are also limited to third year students.
I occasionally gathered up my courage and went to see him, but I was unlucky and never met him …….
However…
“Hmm? What’s wrong, Saijoin? All you do is looking at my face. ……”
He finished cooking and tilted his head cutely.
“Fufu, looks delicious”
“Hey, wait, that’s not appropriate for a statement you make in someone’s face”
…… How many times have I wanted to meet him?
I’ve met and had conversations with a number of men, but I just couldn’t help but see him in my head.
No matter how hard I try to go in a different direction from now on, I am sure he will support me.
When I think like that, I have become less self-conscious and less uptight.
It is thanks to him that I have become the person I am today.
Even though I can only vaguely remember his face now, my heart still rumbles when I think of him. …… I can say with certainty that I still have feelings for him.
─ ─ If we can meet again.
[Isn’t it interesting that this is all a ‘’fate‘ of some kind?]
First time is a ‘fate’.
If that’s the case…
“The second time is fate, right?”
“…… Yes?”
So, what shall I do now?
I smiled to hide my racing heartbeat as I thought about this.
–
–
If you enjoy our content, feel free to donate, Thank you in advance !