Episode 58: In the Album…

This whole experience has been such a good lesson and opportunity for me.

I felt like I might have overdone it because I couldn’t stop myself, but I feel relieved that Takanashi-san seemed happy.

Since there’s a possibility that an opportunity like this will come again someday, I should put this experience to use then.

And I want to make Takanashi-san happy.

The time spent taking care of Takanashi-san was so fulfilling that, before I knew it, it had already come to an end.

Even now, if I close my eyes, Takanashi-san’s room comes to mind, and I find myself thinking that if I look to my side, there might be Takanashi-san with a cute sleeping face.

Even though it was only for a few days, it felt so natural to be with Takanashi-san… but it’s already over, isn’t it?

These past few days must have been even more fun than I thought… surely, that’s why…

Duru-ru-ru~♪

It’s Natsumi again today.

「…Natsumi, good evening.」

「Good evening, it’s time to hear about how things went today~」

「Fufu… what is that about?」

「No, I just thought maybe all sorts of things happened today too.」

「It wasn’t much different from yesterday. If anything was different, it was just that I did the laundry and some cleaning.」

「I see. Did you find anything while you were cleaning?」

「Ah…」

「Hm!? What’s with that reaction! Augh~ you really did find something. Did you properly pretend not to know? You didn’t get mad, did you?」

「Um… I don’t think I have a reason to be mad, but.」

「Oh? That’s unexpected. Sara, are you that tolerant of those things? Or wait, did you just forgive him because it’s Takanashi-kun?」

「……Um, Natsumi… why do you know about Takanashi-san’s graduation album…」

「……Huh? A graduation album?」

「Yes… deep in the closet, there was a graduation album… it was scribbled over, though…」

Truthfully, I know it is not good to look at such things without permission.

However, I found myself thinking that I might understand even a little bit about the middle school years that Takanashi-san suffered through so much… and I opened the album.

I found Takanashi-san’s class immediately.

There were pages where the group photos and headshots were scribbled over.

Takanashi Kazunari… this is definitely the class.

If I look closely, there are two photos that are clearly scribbled over more violently than the others.

Yamasaki Kazuma

Sasagawa Yuzuha

……Takanashi-san said that back then, he punched someone because he couldn’t forgive them… if that is the case, the man is likely that person.

In that case, is the woman Sasagawa Yuzuha… his childhood friend?

「……Sara, honestly, this is Takanashi-kun’s privacy, so it’s not good to interfere or investigate… but you saw that album, didn’t you?」

「…Yes, um, I knew it wasn’t a good thing, but…」

「It’s fine for now. So, it was scribbled over?」

「Yes, especially two people, they were crossed out violently.」

「I see… got it. Let’s just forget about this until Takanashi-kun talks about it himself. But just one thing, I have a bit of an idea, or rather, a lead on my end, so if you remember the names, send them to me on RAIN later.」

「Yes.」

「Alright, let’s change the subject. So, after nursing him non-stop, did you think or feel anything?」

「…Well… a little.」

「Oh, really? Can you tell me?」

「…Yes, taking care of Takanashi-san gave me a very… very strong sense of fulfillment. I think it’s improper of me, but I believe I quite enjoyed it… even though I feel bad for Takanashi-san.」

「Well, that much is to be expected.」

「Is that why, I wonder… um… a little… since I was with Takanashi-san the whole time these past few days, when I think that it ends today…」

「Are you a little lonely?」

「…Eh?」

「Are you feeling lonely because your time with Takanashi-kun is over?」

「…Yes… I believe so.」

「I see. (I guess feeling lonely about not being together is a bit of progress. If there’s a trigger…)」

「I hope Takanashi-kun can come tomorrow.」

「Yes. But I won’t let him push himself. I will check his condition tomorrow morning, and if I judge it to be difficult, I will have him stay home from school.」

「That’s for the best. See you tomorrow then.」

「Yes, see you tomorrow.」

I hope Takanashi-san can come to school tomorrow.

But if he is still going to be absent, then tomorrow too…

There I go, thinking improper thoughts again…