Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330662545387095/episodes/16817330664021761435
By the time I got off the train and arrived at Joshi Park, the sun had almost set.
I felt that the temperature had dropped more than I could feel on my skin, and I felt guilty for not making her wait. But while I was impatient to see Ari san as soon as possible, the large baggage on my back was slowing me down.
Eventually, I found her at the appointed bench.
Sitting on the bench, Ari san was waiting for me with her hands warmed by her breath.
“Ari san !”
I called out to her in a selfless frenzy, and ran over to her.
Ari san turned around and stood up.
“Kingo, hello !”
“Hello. Have you been waiting for me?”
“It’s fine. I just arrived.”
We exchanged short greetings and sat down next to each other.
I reached into the pocket of my case and offered Ari san a honey lemon I had purchased along the way.
“You told me you liked it before.”
“I’m so glad you remembered.”
Ari san’s smile was as if she was melting.
My memory of that night when we first met is hazy, but for some reason I remember it.
Without much more conversation, I cut to the chase.
“Ari san, have you decided to apply to Hokusei University?
“Yeah. I wanted to attend the same university as Kingo and the others. If I give up now, I will regret it for the rest of my life. I absolutely hate that.”
Ari san held a plastic bottle of honey lemon tightly to her chest as she spoke.
There must be more than enough energy swirling inside her tiny body to start a revolution.
But I felt a little uneasy, as if that energy was too much for Ari san.
“Hey, Kingo. You brought your guitar, does that mean you’re going to play something?”
In contrast to me, who felt a pang in my chest, Ari san’s expectant look ran between me and the case.
“Y-yes ! I have a song that would be perfect for Ari san, who has made an important decision……would you mind if I play it for you?”
“Of course I want to hear it !”
“Then……”
I took out a guitar from the case that I had been standing on.
The guitar I had played at the same place last week was slightly out of tune. It was frustrating to use the tuner, so I finished tuning it by ear.
When I finished preparing, SAri san walked out onto the boardwalk and faced me. She was dressed the same way she had been when I performed at my retirement concert about ten days before.
“Today, I’m going to sing a song for Ari san, who is going through a difficult time. Please listen to [Sailin Day] by BUMP OF CHICKEN.”
*
The outro fades away quietly.
The sun had already set while the band was playing, and Joshi Park was enveloped in a sad atmosphere.
However, the sadness was blown away by the smiles and applause I received.
The only one who listened to me was Ari san. No one stopped to listen to my storytelling like the other day.
But that was okay.
I wanted to send my feelings of support to you.
My shoulders relaxed. The anxiety and impatience that had been swirling around in my head were blown away, and I could finally see my true feelings.
“That was a beautiful song. Do you like that one too?”
“Yes. I sometimes play it alone. I thought it was the perfect song for Ari san, who had made an important decision.”
The meaning of the title of this song is [Departure]. I hoped it would be an encouragement to Ari san, who had decided to embark on an arduous journey.
“I think so, too. I’m worried that it’s okay to have a wish that I don’t know if it will come true, but I feel like I’ve overcome it. I’ll decide for myself if it’s right or wrong. I’ll be a silly Dreamer and do my best.”
“I don’t think you’re silly, Ari san, though. But you might be more gung-ho if you dare to be a fool……”
When you are worried about something, you stop moving forward. Then it’s not a bad idea to abandon the wise foolishness of worrying.
“Kingo is right. I’m going to work hard for the remaining three months. Well then, I’d better get going to cram school.”
With a fearless face that was devoid of fear and anxiety, Ari san was about to leave the ship with renewed determination.
“Wait !”
But I held her back.
“Actually, I need to talk to you about something.”
“Me?”
She tilted her head and looked at me curiously.
“Well…Ari san is definitely a hard worker, and I’m sure you’ll be able to see it through to the end without giving up in the middle. However, I think that sometimes you’ll get anxious and impatient.”
“Y-yeah. I guess so.”
She was a little confused by my inarticulate line.
I was also feeling frustrated with my tongue, which was not turning well.
“I thought it would be reassuring to have someone walking with you toward your goal at a time like that……”
“Erm, I have a friend who is taking Hokusei, so maybe we could study together?”
The conversation was not engaging.
It’s no wonder. It was impossible for her to understand me.
I had to be straight with her !
“Ari san !”
“Y-yes !?”
I looked straight into Ari san’s eyes as she straightened her back in surprise and offered.
“Please let me be your tutor !”
A cold wind blew across the room. Her long hair was snatched away by the wind, but she was too stunned to care.
“I’ve been thinking about what I can do for you ever since. Cheering you on to do your best or entertaining you by singing might be good. But I felt like that wasn’t enough, so I thought that if I could…..tutor you. In the meantime, I’m a student at Hokusei University who passed the current exam, and I think I could be kind of useful.”
I may be a rock star to her. If I could cheer her on from the stage, it would be most encouraging.
But right now, I’m just a college student who likes to play the guitar off the stage. It would be cool to go pro again for her, but it’s not the time.
Right now, I want to be there to help her.
Ari san stands there with her mouth hanging open.
Hm, that’s not the reaction I was expecting.
I thought I’d be welcomed because she’d be able to make progress in her studies, but was I wrong?
“I-if it’s too much trouble for you, you’re welcome to refuse…….”
“It’s not troubling at all…….”
Ari san shook her head silently. Then, her face suddenly became bright and cheerful and she approached me right in front of me.
“Will Kingo be my tutor !?”
“Y-yes. I may be an idiot, but I’ll do my best to help you pass the exam.”
“I’m very happy ! Wow…..it’s just like in a shoujo manga that my idol is going to be my tutor and help me with my studies !”
Ari san jumps around.
Maybe she was so happy that she froze?
Well, it’s true that it’s not realistic to have an idol directly ask to tutor, just like in a manga.
“So I get to see Kingo every day !?”
“As expected, every day is kinda……. Basically on weekends. We’ll decide on the details from now on.”
“That’s a good idea ! But aren’t you busy too, Kingo? Even in college, you have homework and tests, don’t you?”
“…..I’ll make it somehow !”
Fortunately, I have plenty of time now that I’ve been fired from Lyconess. If I were to complete my own assignments and devote all of my spare time to Ari san, I should be able to serve as her tutor.
“If you insist, I’ll take your word for it ! If Kingo is with me, I’ve already passed the exam !”
Ari san took both my hands in hers and hopped around like a rabbit again.
It’s settled. I’m going to be Ari san’s tutor from today.
“Ehehe, I’m looking forward to working with you, Kingo sensei !”
“M-my pleasure. But [Kingo sensei] tickles me, so please continue as before.”
“Okay!! I’m going to study hard to pass the exam with Kingo starting today ! Oh !”
“Oh !”
The sky at the time of meeting. Our battle cries echo against the first star.
I’m sure she already has a vision in her mind of when she will pass the exam, and that’s why she can’t help but break into a smile.
How happy I would be if I could see this smile again when the cherry blossoms bloom.
My cheeks were also smiling as I dreamed of the moment when I would see her on campus in the spring.
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