Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330662140414210/episodes/16817330662624245453
When I got home, I started reading a horror novel.
At first it was difficult to concentrate, but as Rika said, once I got into the zone, it was quick.
I buried myself in the story and felt as if I was one with it.
“I know it’s fun, but it was a pain in the ass to start reading.”
I began to remember my past love of reading.
When was the last time I fell in love with books?
“I think it was…….”
I think it was in elementary school. I saw myself in the brave and daring characters as an outlet for the reality that was not going well.
When I was anguishing over the unchanging days of my life, Rika was always there to help me see things my way.
I trace back my memories. There were some things that I still remember vividly.
＊ ＊ ＊
“I will never forgive anyone who is mean to him.:
In the classroom at lunchtime.
Rika stopped three boys who were being rough with me.
In the elementary school where I was, there were many students with nad temperaments. The school’s [strength is everything] mentality made some of the students realize that their strength lay in their ability to fight.
Some boys who were not so athletic and did not like to fight were targeted. Sometimes they were slapped around, sometimes they were treated ruthlessly. If they didn’t want to get involved, they had to distance themselves.
They saw that I was running away from them. They were encouraged by their leader, and I was beaten, somewhat unilaterally. Three against one.
It was unreasonable, even though it was the result of my own weakness. It was just bullying.
Rika, unable to bear the sight of me being beaten to a pulp, began to step in. These guys, regardless of gender, would swing their fists. You can’t stop them unless you are prepared to be beaten.
“What the hell, Kamisato !? You want a piece?”
“I won’t do it. Masatoshi doesn’t like it. What’s the fun in one-sidedly beating him? It’s really stupid.”
“Ah?”
“Stop it already, Ri ka. It will end soon…….”
Even so, Rika did not back down. She was like a savior to me when I was hurting. At the same time, I was worried that she might get beaten. The air was filled with a sense of instantaneous reaction.
“If I backed down now, I would be admitting that there was something wrong with me. Now I have to keep my head on straight.”
As if biting down on a bitter bug, the rough-tempered trio opened their mouths.
[You’re all talk ! This is a fair fight between us and Nagai !] [That’s right, that’s right ! You girls keep your mouths shut !]
Rika sneered.
“”You don’t think about what comes next, and you’re loyal to your own desires. You are an idiot. If you still want to do it—-I’ll ruin you to the end.”
“Haa, I wonder. We are the strongest. If we have the power, we can do anything ! Like this.”
The leader’s fist was raised as he grabbed me by the chest.
I thought I was going to get hit, so I closed my eyes.
“Hey, you four ! Stop it !”
I heard the voice of my homeroom teacher.
[S-sensei?] [Oh no, oh no, oh no] [Why at a time like this…..]
Of course, the fist was released. I felt my shirt relax and I was at ease.
“Let me hear it from you. I’ll give you a good reason afterwards. Understand?”
Before the trio and I were taken away, I caught sight of Rika. She gave a quiet thumbs-up.
“Thank you, Rika. You’re the one who did it, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. I thought it was wrong.”
“Rika is amazing. I can’t do it.”
“It’s okay. I’m sure they will think of ways to get back at you. But I won’t let them do it. I’ll stop them.”
“Like you did this time?”
“Yeah, yeah, with a different approach.”
“Rika is terrifying. And also dependable.”
Rinka nodded. Just like that, we were questioned by our homeroom teacher.
Naturally, we came to the conclusion that the trio was at fault. We were told to avoid this kind of thing in the future.
We left the room with questions in our heads, still not quite convinced.
[Y-you better remember it ! We will not give up !] [You weakling !]
Those were the words of abandonment from the two cronies.
As time passes, perhaps there will be retaliation–.
But that thought ended up as a delusion.
The boy who was the leader of the group had decided to transfer to another school. Without the central figure, the cronies would lose their power. They are just cronies after all.
After that, there were no more fights.
“I can’t believe he’s transferring.”
“I told you, didn’t I? I said I would stop it.”
“Thank you for that time. I’m glad they were punished properly. Maybe it was just a coincidence.”
“No, it’s inevitable.”
“You’re right.”
On the day it was decided that the leader of the group would be transferring to another school, he was extremely frightened.
In particular, he didn’t even make eye contact with Rika.
“Nagai, I’m sorry about that time.”
After holding a send-off party for transfer students in my class, I was called by that guy.
“No, I’m fine now. You apologized to me then. It’s over now.”
“Hahaha……I guess it’s all over in Nagai’s mind.”
His tone was as if he didn’t understand.
“You mean to say it is not over?”
“Yeah. I heard that you have to continue to bear the cross of sin when you commit it.”
“You are talking nonsense.”
“It’s not my words. I couldn’t bear the weight of the cross that was getting heavier day by day. This transfer was due to my parents being transferred. It was a coincidence. But it seems inevitable.”
The leader of the group, a boy, his hands trembled like an alcoholic’s.
“I’ve been cursed. Strong wishes and prayers can easily turn into curses. Strange as it may sound, this is my advice. So long, Nagai. Lastly, I’m truly sorry.”
With that, he left.
＊ ＊ ＊
My memory is cut off there.
Until the end, I was impressed by the way he looked scared of something. The reason why I always remember him as “that guy” is because I forgot even his name.
–Strong wishes and prayers can easily turn into curses.
These words stuck strongly in my head, and I could not get them out. I wondered why, but could not find an answer.
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