Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330662545387095/episodes/16817330665421650224
The girl’s sobbing voice echoed and melted away inside the apartment.
It was as if the sparse snowfall in early winter had fallen to the ground and ephemerally melted, ceaselessly overflowing and then vanishing.
Ari san sobbed quietly. Sitting on the rug, she continued to wipe away her endless tears with a handkerchief I had lent her.
I sat beside her without saying a word and tried to calm her down by rubbing her back from time to time.
After touching her back a few times, Ari san leaned closer to me.
Ari san’s body was very light but heavy. I knew that she was carrying an unimaginable burden on her small body.
The evidence of this was evident in her cold tears, which were hot as if they were burning. I was afraid that they would seep through the fabric of my sweatshirt and blister the skin of my arms.
I couldn’t help but hug her head and she sobbed even harder.
＊
“Have you calmed down?”
After about 30 minutes, she finally regained enough composure to speak.
I took advantage of the timing and brewed her a cup of rose hip tea, which I had already served her the other day.
“Thank you. And I’m sorry. I visited you suddenly and cried a lot……”
“There’s nothing to apologize for. I’m glad to see your face. We were all wondering what happened since we haven’t heard from you for a while. We didn’t even know if we should contact you or not……”
“I’m sorry for worrying you…….”
Ari san, who was sipping tea, looked weak after all. Her usual cheerfulness was nowhere to be found, and she shrank down, depressed, like a soaking wet abandoned dog.
It is not hard to imagine why she is so depressed. The only thing that could have caused her to say that she had failed to enter the university was the common entrance exam. I really wanted to know the details.
“Ari san, can you tell me what happened? Did you do poorly on the second day?”
Ari san kept her mouth shut and did not speak. She nodded her head in affirmation.
“That’s why you’ve been depressed, isn’t it?”
I said to her fragile heart. But inwardly, I couldn’t help but wonder why she hadn’t done well on the test.
According to the evaluation of a major prep school, the difficulty level of this year’s common test was easier than last year’s. I also tried to solve the test I had read about in the newspaper, and it certainly wasn’t difficult.
Moreover, the basic biology and basic chemistry sections, which were her weak points, were easier than in previous years, and she was able to get a high score if she had conquered the science section.
Why was Ari san unable to answer the questions satisfactorily?
“Did something happen at the venue or along the way?”
If there was a culprit, it was not the test itself, but the environment surrounding her. I can only assume that something happened to her before the actual test. Something that frustrated her self-confident mind……
My prediction came true. Ari san’s eyes were downcast and she gave another small nod.
“Can you tell me what happened?”
I asked, and Ari san sniffed, and then she suddenly took something out of the inside pocket of her blazer and put it on the table.
It was a cherry-red handkerchief folded in four. Wagging his slender fingers, he unfolded the handkerchief.
What appeared was a hairpin. It was a plain, unadorned, wire-only hairpin.
What does this have to do……
“This is a hairpin that Kingo gave me as a New Year’s present……”
“Eh……”
When I think of presents, it’s probably the hairpin with the cherry blossom design that I gave to pray for passing the exam.
But the hairpin in front of me didn’t have a cherry blossom design on it, so I couldn’t believe it was the same one.
I was dubious, but Ari san began to talk about what happened on Sunday in a straightforward manner.
◆Ari side◇
It was Sunday, the morning of the second day of the common exam.
“All right, I’m going to do my best for the exam again today !”
After finishing breakfast in the dining room, I chugged my favorite drink, yogurt, to cheer myself up.
Yesterday’s exam was quite satisfactory. I was able to answer all the questions in Japanese and social studies. In English, the listening section was a little difficult, but I think I was able to make up for it in writing. I was able to produce the results of my usual study.
On the second day, I took math and science. Science was not my favorite subject, but thanks to Kingo and the others, I was able to conquer it completely, so I was ready to go for it ! I’m going to beat them with the momentum I got yesterday !
“Ari, good luck today. Here is your lunch box.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’m off !”
After receiving my lunch from my mom and getting ready, I ran out the front door. Unfortunately, the sky was drizzling with cold rain, but I felt fine.
Before stepping out from under the eaves, I took out my phone and opened LINE.
“[Good morning ! I’m off to the venue now ! I’ll do my best today !]And send !”
I sent my enthusiasm to Kingo, Ryoko san and Shino san. Yesterday, I sent them a response between exams, so I’ll let them know today, too.
“I’ll have to put an umbrella over my head so I don’t get wet.”
I unfolded my favorite umbrella and I’m off !
I hum a melody to the beat of the small drops of rain beating against the fabric of the umbrella. The song is my favorite one at Lyconess. I don’t feel like cheering for Lyconess anymore, but I still like this one because Kingo wrote the lyrics to it.
“Hm, by the way, I……”
I notice something as I wait for a green light at a small crosswalk. Then I lightly stroke my bangs and realize I’ve forgotten something.
“Oh no, I have to go back and get it !”
I checked with the watch I had borrowed from my mom to make sure I still had enough time to get home, and I walked quickly back the way I had come.
“I’m home ! I forgot something !”
I ran into the front door, took off my shoes and was about to go up the stairs when my dad came out of the bathroom in his pajamas.
“Ari, did you forget something?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve been hectic since yesterday. That’s because you didn’t get everything ready last night.”
“You’re so noisy. I don’t want to be told by someone who sleeps until this late !”
I ran up the stairs to smoke out my dad with my hateful words.
This is not the first time my dad has lectured me or complained. I thought he was a little better these days because of his concern for my busy exams, but he has no sense of delicacy to make his complaints on the very day of an exam of all days. Why did my mom marry such a person?
But I have a good luck charm that blows away such depressing feelings.
“Fufu, here, here. Don’t forget this.”
The hairpin I had carefully placed on my desk. I put it on my bangs, checking its position in the stand mirror.
It is a hairpin with a design of cherry blossoms.
Kingo, who is a favorite of mine, bought it for me to pray for my success in school.
The rock star who gave me energy and courage.
A kind man who not only became my personal friend, but also took on the task of tutoring me.
I’m a little sorry for not giving him more, but now I’m going to indulge him as much as I can. I’d like to repay him more than anything by passing the entrance exam for college, and I’m planning to give something back to him once I’m a college student.
“Ehehe, What should I do for him? I would do anything for Kingo.”
I feel like an idiot for getting carried away in the midst of the exams. The university entrance exam competition has only just begun. I’m not going to let my mind go to the test and think that I’ve already passed it.
…..Even though I know, I can’t help grinning when I imagine that I will be Kingo’s junior〜〜!
“Ari, what are you doing? It’s time for you to leave.”
My worried mom rushes me from behind the door of my room.
Not good ! This was not the time to be doing this.
I got myself ready and decided to hurry on my way to the test center this time. Unfortunately, the rain was getting heavier and the temperature seemed to have dropped. I was wearing thick tights so I was well-prepared for the cold, but I sighed at my inauspicious start.
“I hope the trains aren’t too crowded…… It’s crowded on rainy days…….”
Sure enough, the train that came to the nearest station was full of passengers. High school students wearing school uniforms like me are especially noticeable. They are the rivals of the students who are going to take the exams.
As the train headed up, it carried more and more passengers, and the train was packed so tightly that I thought the interior would be flat. It was just like the Tokyo commuter rush seen on TV. I had planned to review the test during the trip, but this was not going to be enough.
Eventually, the train announcer announced that we would be arriving at a station near Ranryo High School, where the exam was to be held. Finally, I could say goodbye to this crowded train.
The doors of the train opened and the cold air flowed into the tepid interior. I was itching to get out as soon as possible, but I obeyed the wave of people.
Finally, I was able to step outside and catch my breath. Just when I thought I could finally take a breather.
Someone bumps into me with a thud.
Thud–
For a moment, an inorganic sound echoed nearby.
At that moment, everything in my field of vision shifted in slow motion.
In the midst of it all, a single, unseasonal cherry blossom petal was cascading down in front of my eyes.
“Ah–“
I could only follow the cherry blossoms with my eyes.
Something must have caught on one of the hairpins when I bumped into it, and it must have come off. The cherry blossoms of the hairpin decoration danced behind me, rolled across the platform floor, and fell directly into the gap between the train and me.
“No way……”
Stunned, I was pushed relentlessly forward by the disembarking passengers. Eventually I found my freedom at the ticket booth just past the turnstiles.
There, instead of heading to the test center, I became oblivious and confirmed what had happened to me.
I slowly touched the hairpin in my forelock, not wanting to believe it. I felt a cold sensation on my back.
Then, as if to confirm the ghost’s true identity, I slowly took off the pin to see with my own eyes.
The cherry blossom was……missing.
I knew it was broken at that time.
“What should I do……even though it’s a good luck charm Kingo gave me. What should I do….?”
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