Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093094101424177/episodes/16818622176151707992
The story took a major turn after the rainy season ended.
The sweltering heat continued, and the intense sunlight was unbearable, but July began with no sign of relief.
Was it an exaggeration to say that the story took a major turn?
In the end, everything was a failure.
Orimoto tried to provoke Sera using every method and means at her disposal, but none of them worked.
“Nothing works!”
Orimoto shouted, clutching her head.
“Well, you tried everything.”
“Shouldn’t at least one of them have worked? I think I tried my best!”
Physical attacks. Charging at Sera.
Bombarding her with memories whispered in her ear.
Every tactic—none of them worked, and none of them resonated with Sera’s heart.
Suddenly, Orimoto lets out a voice.
“—Speaking of which, do you have any plans for summer vacation?”
What does “speaking of which” even mean?
“Summer vacation plans? Do you think I have any?”
“I don’t think so. I’m aware that you’re forcing me to hang out with you, but I can’t imagine Kasugai kun doing something like that on his own or being invited by friends.”
“Then why did you ask?!”
“Just confirming, that’s all!”
The way home after school was deserted.
“What if Kasugai kun is super busy during summer vacation? I’d feel bad.”
“You don’t need to say ‘what if.’ It’s unnecessary.”
“Come on, it’s just a figure of speech.”
Orimoto laughed deliberately.
“Then we’ll continue being partners during summer vacation. We’re pros at getting rid of Keiichi’s thief cat!”
“Thief cat. That’s a strong word…”
“There’s no need to be lenient! Inori and Serina senpai are important friends, but they’re also rivals…”
I see, I don’t really get it.
When I look at Orimoto and the others, who are obsessed with love and romance, I can see both the harm and the benefit.
“When will the partnership end?”
“Well, maybe when Keiichi remembers me?”
“What if he doesn’t?”
“Forever?”
Orimoto tilted her head in confusion.
A first-class beauty and a permanent partner. It’s a tempting phrase, but this woman—she has quite a few flaws. First of all, she’s loud and emotionally unstable.
“Sera, please remember her soon.”
“Let’s have a fun summer vacation!”
“….Tell that to him.”
Orimoto looked puzzled.
“Why? Of course I want to make memories with Keiichi, but don’t you want to make memories with your friend?”
“Friends? Me and who?”
“Me and Kasugai kun.”
“I don’t remember becoming friends.”
“Memory? Friendship isn’t like that. Good for you, you’ve escaped being a loner!”
“You’re looking down on me, aren’t you?”
Orimoto smiled slyly.
I couldn’t read her mind.
Extroverts and introverts never interact. Their thought processes are based on different premises.
“I don’t like that. We’re just hanging out with friends. Don’t you want to have some fun?”
“Home is the best. I don’t want to go out.”
“It’s summer vacation!”
The theory that summer vacation is for playing outside is ridiculous. Summer is for playing games indoors.
Air conditioning is the pinnacle of human wisdom.
“First, fireworks, right? Karaoke is good too, and bowling sounds fun too!”
“If you’re going, go by yourself.”
“You’re stubborn…you’re too stubborn, Kasugai kun. To throw away such a long vacation…”
She looks at me with pity.
Hey, why? I haven’t done anything wrong, so why does it seem like I’m at fault?
“…Oh, it’s almost time.”
Orimoto stopped and looked at something.
I looked too, and it was a slightly sooty neighborhood bulletin board. A new, colorful piece of paper was pinned to the sun-bleached board with a thumbtack.
Summer festival. There was one.
I had never even known that there was a neighborhood festival.
It was probably posted every year, but unfortunately, I was good at shutting out information.
“Summer festival? Do you go every year?”
“Yeah, every year without fail. When I was a kid, it was just me and Keiichi, but lately, Inori has been joining us too. But yeah…every year.”
There was a faint hint of sadness in the air.
“I guess it’s not going to happen this year. I’m like this, after all.”
“You can still go. You can just walk around the venue quietly without talking to anyone, but that’s about it.”
“I’m not that crazy!”
Is that so? I think you are, though.
“And I’m not clever like Kasugai kun, emotionally dead, or socially awkward!”
“A barrage of attacks.”
“Anyway, it’s highly likely that I won’t go this year. I wanted to go, though.”
She was full of regret.
“Keiichi was swinging around an apple candy, and it fell off the stick. That brings back memories.”
“Hey, no one’s listening.”
“And after it fell, Keiichi started crying. I’m sorry, but it was so cute…”
Something was starting.
I grimaced at the negative aura emanating from his back. My attempts to stop him were ineffective.
“He also liked yakisoba. I took a photo when he stuffed his cheeks full of it.”
“…It’s time to go home.”
Orimoto was lost in thought, immersed in her own world.
“—At the lottery booth?”
“Listen! Hey! Orimoto! This girl won’t stop! Her monologue is too long!”
I held my head in frustration at the endless daydreaming.
“…It was a loser, and it was cheaply made, but the keychain Keiichi won. It was always my treasure. I never let it out of my sight.”
“What’s that story about?”
Orimoto let her fingertips wander through the air.
“I don’t admit it at all, but after Keiichi rejected me, I was so shocked that I just fell asleep?”
“You don’t admit it. Oh, no, continue.”
A frog stared down by a snake.
I urged him on instantly.
I was used to Orimoto’s emotional rollercoaster. Shattered, resigned, rallied, and then rebounded. His emotions swayed between those extremes.
“When I woke up…the things I was wearing, like my uniform and my smartphone, were still there. Right?”
She borrowed a spare key from her parents’ house.
She borrowed old shoes.
She took a quick shower when her family wasn’t home.
And so, Orimoto was forced to live a civilized yet barbaric life. However, however.
Many things were missing.
Money, bank accounts…and then.
“My keychain is gone. …I wonder if they’ll give me another one as a gift.”
“Stop with the heavy stuff. This is tough. I don’t know what face to make when I’m being forced to listen to this. If I laugh, I’ll be killed.”
“I wanted to wear a yukata this year…”
The weather is sunny. The sunset is dyed crimson.
The sound of crows echoes from somewhere.
“You don’t have to give up. …It’s not like it’s been decided that it will always be like this.”
“Encouragement from a partner?”
“That’s why I accepted you as my partner…well, let’s put that argument aside for now. There’s still time until the festival, so let’s see if there’s anything else we can do.”
The schedule posted on the paper is still a few days away. The future looks bleak, but stagnation is a bad move.
You idiot, Sera. Get moving.
“You’re a great partner, aren’t you? Kasugai kun is reliable, isn’t he? Surprisingly.”
“That’s a bit ambiguous. Just give me a straightforward compliment.”
“You want a compliment? Hmm?”
“—You’re annoying.”
“That might hurt.”
A back-and-forth of lighthearted banter.
“—Hmph!”
Orimoto suddenly slaps his cheek.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“I gave you a wake-up call! It’s okay now, Kasugai kun is cheering me on, so I have to keep going, right?”
She winks.
It looks natural, and for a moment, I’m taken aback. But Orimoto and I are just acquaintances. We’re not friends.
She seems to think we’re friends, though.
“I’ll definitely make you remember this!! You idiot, Keiichi!! ! You really piss me off!!”
Probably.
Probably.
Probably, but.
There was no doubt that this was one of the biggest turning points between me and Orimoto, and it was so intense that it could change the course of events in either direction.
Probably, if Orimoto hadn’t noticed the poster.
Probably, if I hadn’t listened to her monologue.
Probably, if we hadn’t gone to the festival.
Something like that.
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