Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093094471724561/episodes/16818792437989039710
Alright, so it looks like things are going according to the original story for now.
I’ll just leave the rest to the protagonist, Saotome. There’s nothing more I can do.
…Nothing, right?
…There shouldn’t be.
[I’m counting on you for Kei-chan.]
No, no, no, no—I told you there’s nothing left for me to do. I think I made a pretty good call myself, not rushing off to the station like that.
[That kid can be a bit too serious, you know.]
So what if she’s too serious? It doesn’t matter now. Going there wouldn’t change anything—all she has to do is go to the station and take the train to the hospital, right? There’s nothing left for me to do.
[Then, Moriguchi Hiroto. I’m counting on you for my granddaughter]
Daaah!
No, no, no, no, no, why am I already running?!
“Where are you going!?”
I startled Niiro. Of course she would. I’m not going to fix anything by going there. I should just wait. Yet, somehow, I’m running.
Honestly, I’m surprised myself. My body just started moving on its own, before my brain could process it.
“Sorry. I’m worried, so I’m going too.”
“Why? There’s nothing you can do there!”
Exactly. There’s nothing I can do.
“I was asked to!”
“Asked…?”
I didn’t say anything else and just followed the two of them.
“Oh, my buddy!”
“What are you doing?”
They were supposed to be heading to the station together, but for some reason, Saotome had come back this way.
“It’s faster to pedal alone than with two people, right?”
“…Yeah. I guess so.”
“Plus, if the cops spot us, they’ll stop us, and that’ll just slow us down even more.”
“……”
Totally makes sense.
If he has a proper reason, I can’t argue back.
Because all I’ve got is “That’s not how it is in the original story!”
“So, what about you, best friend?”
Right, I can’t keep doing this.
“See ya. I’m off too.”
“Huh? You’re going too? …Running!?”
“Yeah! If I really push it, I should make it in time.”
“Then we don’t have time to stand around talking here. Go for it, buddy!”
“Alright! Partner!”
After parting ways with Saotome, I started running again.
“Pant… pant… pant… pant…”
Even a 15-year-old body gets worn out running long distances.
If this were before my rebirth, I’d have given up ages ago. Youth really is amazing. I’m just exhausted, not injured.
Hang in there, me! Almost there!
Maybe I won’t make it to the hospital in time for Fumi-senpai. I have no idea what’ll happen.
If that’s the case, I’ll just have to tell her on the train.
Fumi-senpai would definitely hesitate over something like manners.
[She can be a bit too serious sometimes, you know.]
I get it. That’s why you entrusted this to me, right?
I’ll make sure to balance things out properly.
The station arrived. But the train had arrived too.
I hurried through the ticket gate and ran toward the train.
I caught a glimpse—Fumi-senpai was boarding car 5. Car 5 is closest to the ticket gate at the hospital’s nearest station, so that’s the best spot.
I was heading for the very last car.
‘Doors closing. Please be careful.’
Whoa! I made it!
Rushing onto the train is bad, right? But please let it slide. I’ll apologize later, no matter what.
…Barely made it!
I never thought I’d actually make it. If I hadn’t made it, I could’ve accepted that, but since I’ve come this far, I have to go.
“Pant… pant… pant… pant…”
…But… this might be bad.
It’s already summer, and someone who’s out of shape suddenly runs like this… this is what happens.
…Oh no, my vision’s blurring.
It’s getting hard to even stand.
No, don’t give up yet. If I give up now, Fumi-senpai won’t be able to tell her grandmother how she feels.
You were entrusted with this, right? Just a little more effort…
“Are you… okay?”
Since I was sitting at the very back, the conductor must have seen me struggling.
“I’m fi…”
The conductor who spoke to me looked familiar.
“Mika-chan’s dad?”
“…Ah, that time!”
So Mika-chan’s dad was the conductor. Miracles really do happen.
“Thanks for that time.”
“Not at all.”
“More importantly, are you okay? You look pretty rough.”
“I’m fine. But could you do me a favor?”
“What kind of favor?”
“Well…”
Yeah, yeah, I guess I got the message across.
It didn’t matter if it was on the train or over the phone—our hearts were truly connected.
Anyone would cry seeing something like that, right? I was bawling my eyes out. My tears and snot still won’t stop, and I was sweating too, so I’m completely dehydrated.
This is the kind of thing where you really need to rehydrate or it’ll be bad.
But seeing that doesn’t make me feel bad. If anything, it gave me energy and I feel more lively than usual.
What should I do now?
…Should I go home?
…my school bag.
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