A short time after Ayaka left the infirmary, I couldn’t move.
My hands were shaking as I held a glass of water, and my forehead was still sweating.
As soon as I saw her face, the events of the past came back to me as if they had happened only yesterday.
I was taller than I was then, and I should have been bigger than that woman, but I shriveled up.
After all, I was saved by my sister.
“….Pathetic.”
I muttered to myself, not letting anyone hear me.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead, drank some water, and then heard a knock at the door.
When I answered, the door opened and Hananoi entered with a dark expression on her face.
“….Ayaka told me you were in the infirmary.”
“I see. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“….Is it because you met that person?”
It was in question form, but I guess she asked with certainty.
I nodded, since it was not something I could hide.
“…..Sorry. She asked me to do something for her…..”
Hananoi’s apology must have been for lying to me.
I had asked Hananoi when the meeting was to take place so that it wouldn’t be like today.
I had made my schedule accordingly, but it was a lie.
But I can’t blame her for that.
She may be a monster to me, but to Hananoi, she is her mother.
It would have been more difficult for her to refuse a request from her mother, who cared for her so much.
“It’s not something for you to apologize for. I was the one who asked you to do it.”
“But–“
“Besides, I thought it was about time.”
“About time?”
I close my eyes and remember what I said to Fuyusaki.
Change your perspective and face it.
It is not only for Fuyusaki.
The same applies to Hananoi and Ayaka.
And in order to face Hananoi properly, I have to go through that woman.
“.I’ve had enough of being pushed around.”
“Oh? Am I interrupting?”
Just as I was making such a statement of determination, Hitomi san appears.
“Hitomi san. How about Ayaka’s interview?”
“As soon as it was over, she started running. I don’t know where she went.”
At those words, my nervousness suddenly increased.
Following what happened earlier, Ayaka chased someone.
She was almost certainly headed for that woman’s place.
“Hananoi, did you finish your interview?”
“J-just a few minutes ago…”
“Eh !? Kenshiro kun !?”
I ran out of the infirmary and ran frantically.
I ran out the front door without even changing my shoes and immediately found Ayaka’s back.
In front of her was Hananoi Misaki, who was close to Ayaka.
“Ayaka !”
I found myself shouting.
The trembling in my body had subsided.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
When I saw her in front of my eyes, the trembling that had subsided started again.
But now that I’ve come this far, there’s no turning back.
I begin to speak with all my might.
“…It’s been a while, Misaki san. I’m sorry for not being able to properly greet you earlier.”
Hanano Misaki replies with a smile.
“It’s totally fine. So? Is there something you want from me, Kenshirou kun?”
What should I say?
Don’t get involved? Apologize?
I don’t want any of those things.
“I’m not gonna be tied down by you anymore.”
The words came out naturally.
I no longer have anything to do with Hananoi Misaki.
These words were meant to convey that meaning.
Hananoi Misaki is not stupid enough to not understand that.
Once I said the words, I felt lighter.
I must have looked several times more confident than before.
On the contrary, Hananoi Misaki’s face was distorted in a way I have never seen before at my statement.
“…..You have that look in your eyes too, don’t you?”
The coldest, darkest voice I have ever heard.
“Eyes full of confidence. Kenya san and my sister had those kind of eyes. I hate those eyes.”
I silently wait for the rest of the message in her heavy, dusky voice.
“Such people have the eyes of people who have had high expectations and have achieved results. People like me who couldn’t live up to expectations and fell down don’t have the same eyes.”
“…So what? I’m not interested in your tales of misfortune.”
I’m still shaking slightly, but I’m surprised at how strongly I’m able to respond.
“….Enough of this. I’ve lost interest in you. I’ll be back next time. But remember this. There is something in this world that can only be satisfied by one thing. No matter how bad it is.”
With these words, Hananoi Misaki leaves.
As she left, I glanced at Hananoi.
She may have been trying to tell me something. But I couldn’t tell.
“Haa~~~”
When Hananoi Misaki’s back was out of sight, I sat down on the ground and let out a deep breath.
“It was really scary ! Did you see that look? It was so scary.”
I felt really scared, but somewhat lighthearted.
Maybe the fact that she told me she wasn’t interested made me feel a little better.
“You did a good job of confronting her without running away.”
Hananoi, who had been silent the whole time, told me.
“I was scared, but Ayaka was there, so there was no reason for me not to.”
“But she doesn’t know anything, does she?”
“I know, but I just–“
I look a little far away and say, remembering the past.
“I don’t want my sister to save my life twice. You were crying so hard that time.”
Hananoi became a little embarrassed and fell silent.
She’s awfully quiet today.
“……You’ve changed, Ken. On the contrary, I haven’t changed at all.”
“What do you mean–“
I was about to ask, when Hananoi walked back toward the school building.
“What’s with her?”
I don’t know, but for the time being, I have overcome one major trauma.
To be exact, I haven’t completely overcome it yet, but I think it’s enough.
Now I can finally face it.
Yes, I can finally face the feelings I have been pretending not to know.
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