Source
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n5612jg/93/
I remember what my dad said to me when Misaki san case was settled.
“Kenshiro, who is the person you most want to see right now?”
“What’s with you all of a sudden?”
“Just think of someone.”
I did as I was told and tried to picture the person I wanted to meet.
To be honest, I can’t even imagine it myself.
Is it a friend, family member, or….
The person I pictured was someone I hadn’t thought of, but someone I could understand.
“Did it come to mind?”
“…..Well.”
“This is just my opinion, but I think that the person who is the first person you should see when you accomplish something or settle a decision is the person who is most important to you.”
Oddly enough, I could agree with my dad’s opinion.
“That makes you think of a lot of people, then, doesn’t it?”
“Good point.”
“……What a jerk.”
At this point, I realized how I felt.
So my response to the girl in front of me was obvious.
“I can’t…..reciprocate your feelings.”
I don’t say far-fetched, kind words.
It hurts Miyu more.
“I’m–”
“Don’t say any more.”
Miyu interrupts me mid-sentence.
Her expression is not sad, but rather refreshingly sunny.
“I expected it. But I wanted to bet on a ray of hope. I’m glad you said it so clearly.”
I couldn’t find the words to say to her.
I fell silent.
“Come on, let’s go to school. She’s probably coming too.”
It was obvious who she was referring to.
“…Yeah, you’re right.”
In the end, I started walking without being able to say anything.
“Ah ! That’s right.”
After a while, Miyu stops and says
“I left something at home, sorry ! You can go ahead.”
I knew it was a lie.
But I couldn’t stay with the girl I had just rejected.
“I understand.”
I started walking alone.
I wonder if I should say something.
“Miyu.”
“Hmm?
“……You can count on me if you need anything.”
The answer I came up with was the usual.
“……Yeah. Thank you.”
I couldn’t say anything more and headed off to school.
(Is this the right thing to do……)
I slapped myself on the cheek for thinking that.
I shouldn’t try to scoop up everything like this.
I know that if I go down that road, I will lose everything.
“……Okay !”
To distract myself, I ran to school.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
“Rely on him, huh?”
I muttered to myself as I watched Ken’s back as he ran.
He has always been there for me.
I think it was thanks to him that I was able to keep my sanity in the presence of my mother.
I felt safe just by being near him.
“….I won’t rely on him anymore.”
This is my own resolution.
If I rely on him any more, I will not be able to move forward.
When I hit a wall, I must be able to overcome it without Ken.
(No, that’s not quite right.)
It’s not that I won’t rely on him.
I won’t depend on Ken.
Ken has someone he has to take care of.
I don’t want him to spend his feelings on me.
“……Goodbye. Ken.”
I’m leaving Koushin before the second grade.
I will not tell Ken that.
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I back away a little when I hear Reina yell.
“A-are you that surprised?”
“B-because ! I thought—”
“You thought?”
Reina was about to say something, but then she looked surprised and her face turned red.
“I-it’s nothing……but, are you really okay with me?”
“What?”
“It’s Hananoi san ! Are you sure?”
I understand what Reina is trying to say.
But
“I told you before. She’s my sister. Besides, if I were here, I’d be in the way, wouldn’t I?”
I didn’t dare to say what he was talking about.
If the thing is settled, there’s no strain between them.
So.
“We’re just friends from now on.”
“A friend? Not sister?”
“……Either. More importantly, let’s get ready. The guys in class are gonna get mad.”
“Ah ! W-wait !”
The two of us walk side by side.
I suddenly hold Reina’s hand.
“W-what’s going on !?”
Reina is flustered, her face reddening.
But I won’t let go.
“…..No, it’s nothing.”
Looking at her like that, I laughed and disguised my embarrassment.
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