Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330665542028014/episodes/16818093073609345813
An awkward silence passes over the phone.
The sound of wind. The sound of cars driving, of young people making noise. And the sound of gasping for breath in the background comes through with unusual clarity. A few seconds, a few minutes. The silence is broken, and Kanna begins to speak out her heartbreaking story.
[I know people are saying things about me behind my back. I know I’ve been called reckless and carried away. But I also know that there are many more people who support me.]
The stakes are high. It is sad to say, but this can happen at school, in society, to children or adults, anywhere and in any generation. Envy, jealousy, and sometimes hatred. That is the nature of humans.
[But when I saw the comments on that article,……I’m sure everyone in my class are also angry……]
I don’t know what kind of face I should look like when I go to school. That’s what Kanna said in a voice that seemed to fade away. I have to say something back. Comfort her? Or give encouragement? I feel like everything is wrong and I don’t understand.
[Jinpei kun, do you remember? When we used to play together, you said, [I wish everyone knew what Kanna chan was thinking].]
“…Yeah, I remember that.”
I remember the innocent words I used to say to her back then, when other kids my age used to give her disgusted looks and sometimes throw stones at her.
[It was because of those words that I became the person I am today.]
According to her, this is what inspired Kanna to develop earrings that visually convey how happy and excited she is and to start her own company. She can’t express her thoughts well, but if she’s with me, she can tell me what she’s feeling right now.
[But no……I haven’t changed anything from the past in a fundamental way. No matter how much I can visualize my feelings, I have to put them into words properly…..]
It was only the lack of words that triggered the backlash. It could have been prevented if she had said what needed to be said in between without skipping a few steps in her thoughts.
[I don’t know what to do with myself…..my head is an ongoing mess.]
This is bad. Kanna says with a bit of self-mockery. If things continue like this, the class will disintegrate in the air and fail at the bazaar, as well as all events ahead, she blames herself in a weak voice that seems to disappear.
“…I’ll do something.”
A heartbreaking cry from my childhood friend. Before I knew it, I was biting my lips so hard that the blood started to bleed.
[….Eh?]
“I’ll do something. Leave it to me, Kanna.”
I declared strongly to reassure Kanna, who reacted dumbfounded. There is no time to lament your own helplessness. If you have time to stop because of something like that, take action to make a big deal out of the situation.
“Right now, everyone is just misunderstanding Kanna’s words. I’ll unravel them one by one. And I’ll tell Kanna’s true feelings about the bazaar. So don’t cry anymore.”
[..Jinpei kun. thank you]
I thought I saw Kanna over the phone smiling through a single tear.
“So don’t worry, soaked in a warm bathtub today and got a good night’s rest. Okay?”
[Yes, I understand.”
After saying good night a little early, I hung up the phone and went back to my room, where Asakura and Sasatsuki were waiting for me with smirks and uncanny smiles on their faces.
“……What’s with you guys?”
“Well……I got to see some good stuff. Thank you, Itsuki.”
“The beauty is the friendship between childhood friends. It looks like you could make a whole movie out of it.”
Yeah, yeah, I sit on the bed while sighing as the two nod with a solemn look on their faces. Now that the flames are out of sight, I need to quell the flames and make the bazaar a success. I’m seriously considering whether there is any way to do this.
“Well, let’s stop joking here. I was thinking of something we could do for Kanna. Would you listen to it?”
“But before that, just to be sure, what does Hanazono really mean when she says that the bazaar is for fun? I would like to ask if Itsuki has the same opinion as ours.”
“Is that so? I’m sure Kanna wanted to say this. That’s—”
The two of them heard that and were stunned. They both looked at me in dismay. I understand how they feel.
“Now that Kanna has shared her thoughts, can you tell me what you two think?”
“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. I thought it would be a good idea to write an article for an article. Don’t worry, leave it to me and Mika.”
“We call it Operation Hammurabi’s Code. We’ll use whatever we can, so just get on board and be patient.”
Sasatsuki is confidently puffing her chest out. Sasatsuki, who has been living in the entertainment industry where evil spirits of the mountains and rivers abound since she was a child, must have some kind of a pipeline. Asakura is also a promising track and field athlete and has been interviewed many times, so I think we can trust her to handle the story.
“Then again, the biggest problem is the bazaar…….”
“Collecting unused items would be no different than any other, and it would be almost impossible to prepare materials and make handmade goods now……what do you think, Itsuki?”
Handmade. I remember when Kanna moved out a long time ago, I gave her a handmade strap as a gift. I was so happy that she still keeps it with her–
“Hey, Asakura. The product that Kanna’s company makes is something that can tell the wearer’s emotions by its color, right?”
“That’s right. I think it was earrings…..did you come up with something?”
“Yeah…..this could work !”
I told them about the idea I had just come up with, and Asakura and Sasatsuki both nodded their heads and agreed that it was a good idea.
The plan was set. The odds were in our favor, but from here on out, it was a race against time. I rushed to my hometown to make a phone call.
“Hello, Grandpa? I’m sorry to call you this late. I need to talk to you about something.”
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