Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093094088809262/episodes/16818093094877133469
It is early June, and a breeze, typical of Hokkaido’s early summer, is gently blowing in through the window.
Fresh greenery swayed brightly outside the window, and the sunlight filtering through the trees scattered fine light particles on the floor.
The moment I stepped into Yamasaka kun’s house, I was struck by its spaciousness and neatness.
Simple paintings adorned the walls, polished wooden floors, and sofa cushions lined softly and comfortably.
As expected of a man who makes his money in the loan shark, I murmured to myself inwardly.
After all, he lent me 1.5 million yen so easily.
But what’s more interesting than that….
That girl sitting next to Yamasaka kun.
Who in the world is that girl?
Moreover, she has been staring at me since a while ago.
Her gaze is clearly out of the ordinary.
She’s staring at me…is she?
I felt something cold running down my back and shrugged unintentionally.
◇
“Eh? Did you forget to reserve a restaurant?”
[No, I didn’t ! The reservation wasn’t made due to a mistake on the restaurant’s side ! It’s not my fault ! This is important !] Soichi shouts
“Okay, okay. Then….we’ll have to find another restaurant.”
[No, it’s too much trouble, why don’t we just go to your place?]
“Yua chan is at my house. DId you forget?”
[Ah, I did. You’re right….]
At that moment, the door to the living room opened with a small creak.
When I turned around, Yua chan came out of the door, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
She had been dozing on the sofa earlier, but my voice woke her up.
Feeling sorry, I clasped my hands together and said, “I’m sorry.” and she gave a small shake of her head and started walking toward the bathroom.
[How about Akino san’s house !?]
Soichi’s suggestion was refuted by me.
“Coming to her house this sudden….I don’t think even Akino san would like to have two guys in her house, even though we are classmates.”
Hearing these words, Yua chan stopped dead in her tracks.
In the hallway on the way to the bathroom, her little back seemed to freeze for a moment.
Soichi’s voice continued to echo through the phone.
[Ehh, what are we gonna do then? I said other places, but…there ain’t that many open on a Friday night.]
Then, Yua chan turned on her heel and toddled over to me.
The sound of the hem of the pajamas scuffing the floor echoes in the quiet room.
“…What are you…talking about?”
Her voice was a little gravelly and sounded like a mixture of sleepiness and curiosity.
I answered, a little surprised.
“Eh? Ah…we were talking about having a mini reunion later on…”
”…Is this Akino san a woman?”
“Yes…“
“…I see…”
Yua chan’s expression clouded over for a moment.
Her lips were tightly pressed together and her eyes were trembling as if she wanted to say something.
Maybe she thinks I’m dating her, maybe she could be that kind of person…maybe that kind of insecurity is tightening her little heart.
But even if Soichi’s half-joking remark, [What if Akino san confesses to you?] becomes true, I have no intention of responding to that feeling.
Akino san is just a classmate.
Nothing more, nothing less.
“She’s just a classmate.”
After adding that, Yua chan silently went to the restroom, as if she didn’t hear a word I said.
I think about it as I watch her back.
I thought to myself, instead of sneaking off to have a drink, I might be able to clear up the misunderstanding if I just invite her over to my house.
“Sorry. I think I’d rather have a drink at home.”
[Hey, hey, you sure? What about Yua chan?]
“I think it’s important for her to have opportunities to interact with people other than me. I trust both Souichi and Akino san.”
[Then that’s fine by me。I’ll bring the food, snacks, and sake.]
◇
“…Umm…she’s my relative…Ito Yua chan.”
After the awkward introduction, Yua chan bowed her head silently.
Her long hair swung freely, and a warm early summer breeze blew in through the window.
“Oh, what a cute girl ! She looks just like me !”
Soichi exclaimed exaggeratedly with a beer in his hand, and I retorted in an exasperated manner.
“What’s so similar about you and Yua chan?“
”Eh? …Atmosphere?”
“You’re not similar at all.”
While this exchange was going on, Yua chan’s gaze was sharply directed at Akino san.
Her small hands are clasped tightly in her lap and her eyebrows are slightly wrinkled.
Akino san noticed her gaze and smiled awkwardly at the corners of her mouth.
“….Erm…Yua chan, what’s wrong?”
I asked, but Yua chan did not answer and just kept staring at Akino san.
I knew it was a mistake to bring her home….
“…I-I’m Akino Rinoha…nice to….meet you….”
When Akino san introduced herself with a slightly nervous voice, Yua chan bowed her head in a small way while glaring at her.
[illustration]
https://kakuyomu.jp/users/tanakamatao01/news/16818093094877321722
“…Pleased to meet you…”
Although it should be their first meeting, somehow the air was tense.
Soichi, without reading the atmosphere, gulped down his beer and shouted, “A-anyway, cheers !” He shouted.
“Cheers ! !”
“Cheers…”
“….”
The drinking party started with me, Soichi, Akino san, and the mysterious Yua chan, who was silent.
The topic of conversation naturally turned to the past five years.
After graduating from high school, Soichi worked part-time jobs in Japan to save money and traveled around the world as a backpacker.
After five years, his savings ran out, and now he is back in Japan working part-time.
Next is Akino san. She went to university and found a job, but left because she could not find a good fit at her workplace.
She is now working part-time at a convenience store while thinking about her next step.
She said she used to show up at high school reunions at first, but recently she and her friends have become estranged.
Finally, me.
I worked in the loan shark just out of curiosity.
I thought I could make use of this strong face, and surprisingly it suited me, and I’ve been doing it for five years.
When I told Soichi that I planned to continue, he laughed and said, “You’re as crazy as ever !”
As we talked about the old days and the beer and snacks dwindled, Soichi, as expected, got drunk and sank down on the sofa.
He had always been a weak drinker.
After putting Soichi down on the sofa, only three of us remained in the room: me, Akino san, and Yua chan.
The clock struck eleven, and Yua chan’s eyes were glazed over as if she were about to fall asleep.
“…Yua chan’s, how about you go to bed?”
“No…I’m still okay…“
“…Don’t worry about me.“
“…But…”
I smiled gently, interrupting what she was about to say.
Yua chan nodded a little as if she was convinced and went to her room.
“…She’s a pretty girl.”
Akino san chimed in.
“Well, I guess. I want to protect her properly.”
“…I see. Then I guess I have no choice.”
“No choice?”
“Ah, no, nothing. I had fun today. I laughed a lot for the first time in a while, and it felt like I was back in time.”
“…I see. Let’s do this again sometime.”
“…Yeah. Let’s hang out again.”
“What about you? Akino san, are you staying over too? I have a futon just in case.”
“… No. It’s fine. I’ll call a taxi and go home.”
When the taxi arrived, Akino san disappeared into the night.
◇
When morning came, Soichi hadn’t woken up and was still sleeping soundly on the sofa.
I forced him awake and kicked him out, telling him to get the hell out of my house.
I returned to the quiet house as usual, and as I sat on the sofa feeling the early summer breeze, Yua chan woke up later than usual and sat down beside me.
“Good morning, Yua chan.“
”…Good….morning. I see that they have gone home….”
“Yeah. Sorry, I know that was unpleasant.”
”…No at all. …..What do you think about that woman?
“Akino san is just a friend.
“…I see. ….I’m sorry. There’s one thing I need to apologize for…”
”Hm? Apologize?”
“…The other day…when I was cleaning, I was going through Mister’s room…and I burned the love letter that was in his high school graduation book.”
“…Eh?”
“…The sender of that letter was…Akino san.”
I was surprised by her words.
There was a letter in my yearbook, and Yua chan had done something like that.
But I can’t blame her.
She must have been scared.
She was afraid that her place would be taken away from her.
“….I see. I’m just glad you told me honestly.“
”…Yes.”
Her small voice echoed in the soft light of early summer.
I was just happy that she confided in me honestly.
I hope this peaceful time will last forever. I couldn’t help but wish for that.
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