Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330662545387095/episodes/16817330663951783189
The tea party was over and the weekday welcomed us.
After that, the days passed by without anything unusual happening.
The second semester of the college course was halfway through, and some lectures became a little busier with midterm assignments, but it was not enough to shake me to my core.
I don’t miss music when it’s gone.
I don’t feel sad when my girlfriend is gone.
Because I have someone else I care about.
I can’t stop thinking about Ari san, who is struggling to pass the university entrance exam.
I’m so distracted by this situation.
The lectures were from right to left, and even when I was talking with my friends, it disrupted the atmosphere.
No matter what I did, I just kept spinning my wheels.
Then, on Thursday, I received a message from Ari san on LINE.
Due to my schedule, I had returned home before the evening and was unusually preparing to cook for myself at home. I interrupted that and jumped on my phone.
[(Ari) Hello. Can I call you now?]
It was such a simple message.
It was only two words, but it was enough to make me feel excited.
I wrote back and sent the message, fighting the bitterness that was tightening in my chest.
[(Kingo) Yes, it’s okay.]
Immediately after I send it, my phone begins to vibrate. The display showed Ari san’s name. I took a deep breath and tapped the call button.
“Hello, Ari san?”
[Kingo, hello. Sorry for calling so suddenly.]
“No, not at all. I was hoping to talk to you too.”
[Oh, I see…….. Ehehe, I’m kind of happy.]
I can see her shy face even on the phone. I couldn’t help but relax my cheeks.
“What’s going on today?”
I had a pretty good idea what she was going to say. I could tell from her cheerful voice that it was not bad news.
[Um, after that, I thought again about the school I wanted to go to.]
I knew that was it.
I held back my desire to rush to a conclusion, and prompted her to continue.
[My deviation scores have been slipping recently, and I’ve been worrying my parents. I wanted to reassure them, so I changed the school I was applying to. But actually, that’s just an excuse.]
[Running away?]
[Yeag. I wanted to escape from the pressure from others and the frustration of not improving my deviation score. I didn’t like studying to begin with. I was just going to take the easy way out. But after Kingo and Shino san told me yesterday, I reconsidered. I wonder is it okay to make a decision about a life form so easily? I thought so.]
“Ari san, then…..”
In the end, I couldn’t take it any longer and asked her for her conclusion. Ari san didn’t show any particular discomfort, but rather answered in a calm, clear voice.
[I’m applying to Hokusei University.]
Her tone was her usual clear and cheerful. However, in the center of her voice, there was a hard core.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I had hoped that she would make this decision. I did not want her to lead a life of regret.
At the same time, I was a little worried.
“What about you parents?”
Yes, it would be her and her family who would bear the cost of her decision. I was worried that she might be in trouble with her family because of it.
[It was all right. There is still time to take the exam, so I’ll just hang in there.]
“I see. Your family is supporting you.”
My fears were unfounded. I was relieved and patted my chest.
[It’s thanks to Kingo. Because Kingo pushed me, I was able to overcome my weakness and do my best.]
“I didn’t do anything. I’m sure you are a strong person to begin with. You are just unable to move forward because the wind is always against you, but if the wind blows with you, I’m sure you’ll be able to go anywhere.”
[Fufu, thank you. If Kingo can say that, then I’m sure of it.]
“Really?”
[Yeah ! Because Kingo is a rock star ! You’re a much more amazing person than I am, so if that’s what Kingo says, it’s definitely true.]
There was no trace of murkiness in her words. I knew that in her mind, I was still Kingo, the guitarist of Lyconess, and she still respected me with all her heart.
That feeling tickles me and is a burden. But….I’m happy.
[Kingo, I’ll do my best. I’m going to study a lot now, win the exam war, and work hard so that I can walk on campus with Kingo. So……]
Ari san’s voice breaks for a moment. She included hesitation in her words, but after a momentary pause that seemed to cut it off, she continued.
[So, Kingo, do your best ! Do your best and show me how good you look on stage again !]
This time it was my turn to be pushed.
I had been put down from the ship that would take me to the professional stage, and she was trying to give me a tailwind.
Even now, Ari san is praying for me to make my dream come true. That makes me very happy.
But to be honest, I don’t care about my dream right now.
Right now, Ari san, I want to do something for you.
At that moment, I heard a car driving on the other end of the phone. Is she out right now?
“Ari san, where are you now?”
[Right now? Right now, near Joshi Park. I’m on my way to cram school. I’m going there early today to study on my own.]
Joshi Park…….
When I heard that, I felt like an electric current ran through my body.
“Ari san, could you please give me a little time now?”
[Eh, right now?]
She was probably surprised to be asked such a request out of the blue.
I myself was puzzled by my own impulsive words. But I couldn’t stop myself.
Because……
“I want to meet you right now.”
I have an uncontrollable feeling in my heart.
[Kingo……. Yeah, I want to see Kingo too.]
“Then wait for me at the park. The bench where we first met is the landmark.”
I promise to be there as soon as possible and end the call.
I took a deep breath to suppress the pounding in my chest.
I felt a little calmer. But I realized that I had no idea what we would talk about when we met.
At that moment, I suddenly noticed a guitar case in the corner of the room.
I hadn’t touched it since that night. I had no reason to touch it, nor did I want to play it.
But for some reason, I felt like I needed a partner at this moment.
I didn’t have a definite idea of what I wanted to say.
But I had a song I wanted to play.
I left my apartment with my hard case on my back, and walked quickly along the Akanesasu road to Joshi Park, which I had promised to go to.
–
–
If you enjoy our content, feel free to donate, Thank you in advance !