Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093087122434729/episodes/16818792437648274771
A letter? A postcard? Either one was fine, but when I received it in my shoe locker this morning, I headed to the art room after school.
“…Is anyone here?”
I thought I might be a little early, so I looked around the room.
There were wooden chairs without backs, and four faucets lined up by the window. And there was a faint smell of paint.
At that moment.
With the sound of paper rustling, my vision was enveloped in complete darkness.
“Yoisho”
A delicate, fragile voice like a bird’s chirp echoed. But in contrast, my body was enveloped in a sense of floating.
“Guh!”
It seemed I had been picked up. And now, I was being carried somewhere.
Ugh, ugh. This was definitely unexpected. I hadn’t imagined an event like a confession… well, maybe a little!
But I certainly didn’t think I’d be kidnapped.
And then, after a while.
“…Where am I?”
First, I need to assess the situation.
From the sensation, I can tell that I’m sitting in a chair and tied down. Next is the location.
I’m blindfolded… or rather, I have a paper bag over my head, so I calculate how many turns we made and how many stairs we climbed.
Since I was being carried by someone, the inertia is still easy to understand.
“Three flights of stairs with a turn… The sunlight was hitting my back for a long time, so it must be the old school building.”
The third floor of the old school building. If that’s the case.
Just as I finished predicting the general location, the door creaked open.
“I don’t know who you are, but please release me. We can talk after that.”
I called out to the person who had entered. Surprisingly, the paper bag on my head was removed without any trouble.
“…Um, middle school student?”
In front of me was a girl.
She had chestnut-colored hair tied up in a half-up style and a childish face with wide eyes. She was about 140 centimeters tall.
She was certainly cute, but she seemed more likely to grow up to be a stunning beauty.
“You are Hayami Ren.”
The girl said, staring straight at me. She had a very mysterious aura about her.
“Um, well… Don’t get mad, but could you untie the rope first?”
“Sure.”
She was surprisingly obedient… or was she?
The rope was quickly removed, and I regained my freedom of movement.
“Um, did you send this postcard?”
I took it out of my chest pocket and showed it to the girl, who nodded.
“I wrote it.”
“Huh, I see. I figured as much.”
I said that, but it didn’t feel like me. Of course, I could tell it was a person, and I could tell it was a drawing with incredible skill and passion. But…
“I’m not good at drawing people.”
“I see.”
The feeling of unease. I figured out what it was.
Indeed, that person was me. I could tell from the color of the bib, the number, and the way he kicked the ball.
But I couldn’t tell without making an educated guess.
“This is definitely a person. A typical man. But it’s not me.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
In other words, this girl…
“Can’t draw people?”
“Yeah. So, help me out.”
The girl looked away from me and pulled out a sketchbook from somewhere. It was a childish one with some stickers on the cover.
“You want to draw me?”
“Yes. You.”
“Why?”
When I asked, the girl tilted her head. As if to say she didn’t understand what I was saying.
“…Well, never mind the reason. Sorry, but I can’t do it. I’m not that free.”
I felt a little sorry, but I didn’t think it had to be me.
“Well, that’s that then.”
I stood up and headed for the door.
But then.
“Wait.”
She grabbed my wrist. And what’s more.
“What the hell! This power!?”
Her thin fingers held my hand like handcuffs.
This was not the kind of strength I expected from this girl.
“This is my last chance.”
“What do you mean?”
She seemed desperate. Her expression didn’t change, but I could tell from the look in her eyes.
“I’ll do anything. Of course, I’ll repay you…”
She said it while fidgeting.
“Well, I’m sorry, but I can’t bring myself to touch a middle school student…”
She looked like a first-year middle school student. Her uniform was the same as ours, but she must have borrowed it from her older sister or someone else.
“No, I’m a student here. People often mistake me for someone else.”
“Huh?”
Really? It was hard to believe at first.
“Here, my student ID.”
“Oh, okay.”
I opened the student ID she handed me.
Her name was Hanashiro Yuna. She was a third-year student…
“Third year!?”
“Yes, I’m your senior.”
“Wait, are you kidding…?”
“It’s not a lie, it’s true. I’m your senior.”
I felt a sense of dread. She looked so young.
“So, won’t you help me?”
She looked at me with pleading eyes.
I felt an urge to protect her.
I couldn’t refuse.
“…I don’t think drawing me would be interesting…”
“It’s not about whether it’s interesting or not.”
“Then why?”
I asked. I didn’t understand why she chose me instead of Aota at that moment.
“It’s simple.”
“Huh.”
The girl took my hand.
And then.
“At that place, on that day—you were the one who shone the brightest.”
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