Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093087122434729/episodes/16818792440641471248
“Thanks for today, Hayami kun. I had a great time.”
The square in front of the station, bathed in the setting sun, was filled with a steady stream of people. Their faces seemed content as they walked leisurely toward the station.
The president, me, and that flow—we walked along with them.
“I’m the one who should apologize. For making you listen to all my stuff.”
Honestly, I felt bad about it, even though it was supposed to be a date (according to the president).
“It’s fine. I enjoyed listening to your story too.”
The president smiled with a certain innocence. It was so direct I couldn’t quite look at it, and feeling embarrassed, I instinctively looked away.
Spending time with the president was much more enjoyable than I’d imagined.
Honestly, I’d thought my personality clashed with the president’s elusive nature, so I’d worried things might get awkward.
“What about you?”
“Me? You mean me?”
“Yeah. Did you have fun today?”
“Oh, you mean that.”
Of course… well, I did have fun, but I felt more apologetic than anything else.
But still.
“Yes, I did. It was my first time at an art museum, but I feel like I learned a lot.”
“Oh. …Well, I’m glad.”
Just as I said, the president murmured as if deeply relieved. Even the usually cool-headed president must have been anxious about something.
“Ah, right. I wanted to ask you about that incident with Hanazono-kun. Do you have some kind of purpose?”
The president asked, as if suddenly remembering.
“Purpose…?”
“Yeah. It’s always puzzled me. Why you’d help her… No, why you’ve helped her all this time. It doesn’t seem like you’d gain anything from it yourself.”
“Well… I’ve never really thought about it.”
It was true. Maybe that was how most people would think.
People act based on some degree of self-interest, after all. It’s hard to completely shake off that kind of assumption.
“If I had to say, I guess it’s that guys can push themselves for girls, for friends. That’s what it is. I suppose that’s just the kind of person I am, no matter what.”
Somehow, even when asked again, I couldn’t answer. That’s why I made light of it like that.
But Chairman Sanada saw right through my words.
“—No, that’s just something you came up with now. Something more fundamental… yes, something that seems to say that’s your very reason for being.”
Ah. Right. That look. The look the Chairman sometimes gives. Those eyes that pierce you sharply, staring straight at you with almost foolish sincerity.
“…Chairman, your face is scary.”
“Oops, my apologies. When faced with a tough question, I can’t help it. Well, anyway. It seems I’ve taken quite a liking to you. So, it’d be helpful if we could talk like this again sometime.”
“W-well, I don’t mind talking as much as you need.”
“See? That’s the thing, Hayami-kun. You’ll even spend time with someone like me, who has nothing to gain from it.”
We passed through the ticket gates and stopped inside the station. We parted ways to catch trains heading in opposite directions.
It was just before that moment that I finally found my answer inside myself—
“…Gain, huh. I don’t need any of that. You see, I want to be on the side of people who try hard. And I want to be the kind of person who can be kind to someone like that.”
That’s my dream, after all. The term “Friend A” must carry that kind of meaning.
“But that might just be called hypocrisy, you know? Being kind isn’t always right.”
“You’re right. Being kind to everyone could be seen as hypocritical. But the person receiving it probably doesn’t think that way. I know I didn’t.”
“…I see.”
“Besides, I’m already satisfied. I know there’s someone watching over me.”
I only realized that very recently. But even someone like me wants to put on a good front for that person, if they’re watching.
“I see. You… No, sorry. Never mind. It’s frustrating, huh. Yeah.”
“Frustrating?”
Just as I asked back, the president turned on her heel.
“That’s my problem. Well, the train should be here soon. See you at school.”
“Yes, see you.”
And so, the president and I began walking in separate directions.
＊＊＊
“Frustrating… huh?”
Inside the train, watching the night city flow by, Sanada Tsubaki murmured softly.
Unconsciously, the words that had slipped out in front of her felt strangely off.
That’s precisely why she tried repeating them, as if ruminating, but it just didn’t feel right. It was worlds apart from the emotion that had come out naturally earlier.
“…He’s strange, isn’t he?”
She couldn’t quite put it into words, so that was the only way she could express it. Intriguing.
If he knew she was getting close to him for such a selfish reason, what would he think?
Disappointed? Disdainful? Or…
“I just can’t seem to settle down.”
With a soft sigh that made her throat ripple, Tsubaki Sanada gave a small laugh.
＊＊＊
“So, how was it? The date?”
“…Uh, well…”
We arrived home a little past seven.
After finishing the dinner shopping and slipping through the front door, for some reason, it was Shiramine, wearing an apron, who came out to greet them.
“Hmm, I see. Did you have fun? Hee.”
“N-no, I didn’t say anything, did I?”
Well, it was fun, but…
“Dinner’s ready. Nothing fancy, though!”
W-what is this? The pressure is intense. I feel like a potato in a pressure cooker…
Still, I was hungry.
“I, I’m looking forward to it.”
At least I made it safely to the living room.
I sat down in a chair and waited a moment before Shiramine brought the food to the table.
“Eh, um… You made quite a lot, didn’t you?”
Quail eggs and simmered red snapper. Wakame miso soup. Pickled cucumber, bean sprout namul, and tsukudani seaweed.
“Hehe, I wanted you to eat a lot, Senpai?”
Ah, I definitely think she’s still mad.
“I-I’ll dig in.”
If I leave any… I’ll probably be in big trouble.
After finishing the mountain of food, I arrived at a hypothesis.
“Quail eggs and simmered redfish.”
Wakame seaweed miso soup.
Pickled cucumber.
Bean sprout namul.
Seaweed tsukudani.
Arrange the first letters, and lo and behold—
Doesn’t it spell out “Cheater”? (The letters)
…Yeah, I hope it’s just my imagination.
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