Episode 46 – Star Fragment
Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093094088809262/episodes/16818622171819897739
The air in the car was heavy and no one opened their mouths.
When I looked at Akino san through the rearview mirror, she was staring out the window, her long hair hiding her face.
Her vacant eyes were still intact.
In the midst of all this, Yua chan muttered something.
“…Why don’t we…go see the stars?”
At those words, my hand loosened its grip on the steering wheel for a moment.
Soichi said from behind me, “Oh?” and Akino san made a small movement of her face.
I looked sideways at Yua chan and was transfixed by her small profile.
It’s dark in the car, and the light from the street lamp is flickering in her eyes.
There was something soft in those eyes, along with the tiredness.
“Star…”
When I had just taken Yua chan in.
She was still emotionally closed and didn’t want me to touch her.
The days of living in an apartment in an old building were suffocating, so one night I took her out on a whim.
We drove to an overlook on top of a mountain and looked at the stars together.
That night was the first time Yua chan said anything back to me.
“….Beautiful.” she murmured softly, and smiled a little.
At that moment, I felt a small opening in her heart.
“…..I see. Then let’s go there.”
I said, and Yua chan nodded and gently shook my hand.
“Yeah….I’ll never forget the star I saw with Yuuto kun. At that time, I felt at ease for the first time… So now I want to see them together.”
Her voice was somewhat reassuring.
Yua chan, now sitting next to me, had grown into someone who was trying to support someone else, despite her wounds.
Soichi leaned over from behind me and said, “Hey, isn’t this a great idea ! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a star. Yuuto, let’s go !” he was so excited like a child.
I couldn’t help but smile at the sound of his voice.
“Got it. Let’s go to that gazebo.”
Aira, who had been silent, leaned forward.
“Oh ! Sounds great ! Let’s go !” and she regained her usual excitement.
So, I headed to that place with a little bit of a skip in my step.
◇
The car drove up the mountain road, and the lights of the town faded away.
When we reached the overlook, I turned off the engine and the five of us got out.
Not a single car was parked, and no one else was around.
The cool night breeze caressed our cheeks and the rustle of the trees reached our ears.
When I looked up at the sky, the clouds had parted and countless stars were spread out.
The lack of city lights made the stardust sparkle, and it was as if the sky was alive.
Yua chan stood next to me and whispered, “It’s so beautiful.”
At the sound of her voice, I squeezed her hand back.
“Yeah…it’s just like that time.”
In my mind, I reflected on all that had happened.
It all began the day I, a debt collector, bought Yua chan for 50,000 yen.
When her heart still closed, the fight with Shindo, the bond with Soichi, the support from the boss, Akino san situation…have yet to be resolved.
My mind wanders back to the most intense months ever.
And the fact that I didn’t have to kill Shindo tonight.
I felt like our discussion in that warehouse was a test of my growth over the past few months.
The moment I refused to kill him, Yua chan’s trembling hand supported me.
And I was just happy that Yua chan said, “Let’s go see the stars.”
Suddenly Soichi shouted, “Wow ! Amazing ! It’s a shooting star !” and pointed his finger up into the sky.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it ! It’s so beautiful ! Wow ! Look at that, Soichi san ! The city looks beautiful too !” And Aira was also running around.
Yua chan and I laughed at the sight of the two of them bouncing around like children.
“Soichi, how old are you !”
“Hey, Yuuto ! Make a wish on a shooting star ! I wish…well, I wish to be rich !”
“I also wanna be rich !” and they looked up at the sky, clasping their hands together.
I felt the weight in the car slowly melt away at the sound of his silly voice.
Akino san was quietly looking up at the sky.
Her long hair swayed in the wind, and her vacant eyes reflected the light of the stars.
She whispered quietly.
“…Beautiful…”
Her voice was weak, but there was a softness to it that reminded me of Yua chan from five years ago.
I saw a little light return to her eyes.
I felt everything that had happened before fade away little by little under the stars.
Yua chan leaned into my arms and said, “Yuuto kun…thank you. I’m glad we could all come here together.” she whispered.
Those words made my heart warm.
What sprouted in that moment was not the awareness of a little girl, but love from a woman.
“Me too….thank you. I’m glad you suggested we go stargazing here…and I’m glad we came here.”
If it hadn’t been for her suggestion, we might never have gotten out from under the heaviness of that warehouse.
I felt that Yua chan’s growth had brought me, Soichi, Aira, and Akino san here.
Then the five of us stood side by side and looked up at the sky.
The stars twinkled, and a single shooting star sliced through the night sky.
Soichi said, “Whoa ! Again ! A shooting star !” Aira followed suit, Yua chan laughed, and Akino san gave a small smile.
I closed my eyes and silently wished.
I hope nights like this continue from now on.
Shindo’s sins will be atoned for in the distant future, and we will find our own light here.
And also…..I want to be by her side forever.
[Illustration]
https://kakuyomu.jp/users/tanakamatao01/news/16818622171820771721
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