Episode 128: Reunion, Determination

「I have to get to Kazunari-san’s house quickly…」

Hardly after I got home, I tried to leave the house without taking anything, but Okaa-san stopped me.

「I’ll drive you.」

「What’s this? Are you going somewhere?」

「She said she’s going to Natsumi-chan’s house.」

「Hahaha, already? You two are as close as ever. I’m going to take a nap now before I get to work.」

For some reason, the conversation moved forward on its own before I could say a word… well, I was able to leave the house easily, so I’ll consider it a win.

「So, is Takanashi-kun’s house okay?」

Okaa-san obviously noticed, didn’t she?

「…Yes. I want to see him today no matter what.」

「I understand. Once I drop Sara-chan off, I’m going back home, so let me know when you’re done.」

I considered the possibility that I’d be stopped until tomorrow, but apparently it was fine.

Even if she’d said that, though, I didn’t have even a shred of intention to stop.

And so, Okaa-san drove me this far, but…

The lights are off, aren’t they?

I don’t think Kazunari-san would be out at this time…

Just in case, I sent a message on RAIN before leaving the house, but it hasn’t been read.

I refrained from calling in case he was already sleeping, but…

It won’t help to think about it here.

Let’s just go inside and think then.

Knock, knock… click…

When I open the front door… his shoes are here.

That means he really is sleeping.

In that case, it’s a shame, but I’ll come back tomorrow morning…

I woke up at the sound of the front door opening.

Sara-san!?

I noticed the lights weren’t on, but that didn’t matter.

Right now, I just wanted to…

It seems Sara-san noticed me as I approached.

「Kazunari-san? You’re here, aren’t you?」

Ah… it’s Sara-san’s voice.

Hearing her voice for the first time in five days really hits home. It felt like my self, which had been worrying about Yuzuha, was being washed clean.

「…Sara-san.」

I intended to speak normally, but for some reason, the voice that came out was weak.

「Kazunari-san!!」

An impact ran through my body right after.

It was nothing special; Sara-san had just lunged into me with all her might.

And with that momentum, she wrapped her arms around my back and hugged me tight.

I did the same, wrapping my arms behind Sara-san’s shoulders, and we both held each other close.

「Sara-san… Sara-san…」

The Sara-san I’d been longing for all these days is in my arms.

I was happy. I’m truly happy.

「Kazunari-san, I wanted to see you!」

「Me too… Sara-san.」

Am I smiling properly?

Am I acting right?

Added to the loneliness, Yuzuha kept flickering in my head, and I was aware that I was becoming a bit emotionally unstable.

「Fufu… first, let me do what I promised.」

As she said that, she wrapped her arms behind my head and pulled me toward her chest.

Ah… this is Sara-san’s scent… my favorite scent of Sara-san’s…

「Kazunari-san, you worked really hard while I was away. Good boy, good boy.」

Slowly and carefully, she stroked my head while holding me close.

Sara-san’s kindness soaked into me… No, don’t cry, me.

When I relaxed a little, Sara-san’s hug got tighter.

「…During these five days, I thought about doing this for you the next time we met. Maybe that’s why I feel so at ease…」

「I feel like I spent the last five days just thinking about you coming back, too. So much so that I couldn’t focus on anything else…」

A pathetic, honest truth slipped out.

I’d really been thinking about Sara-san coming back for the last five days.

That’s why I’m so happy at this very moment.

And… I hate Yuzuha for intruding on this happy feeling and making me think about useless things.

「Shall we turn on the light? We can’t see each other like this. It’s okay, I’ll give you more good boy pats soon.」

Turn on the light… see her face…

Am I really smiling right?

I don’t want to make Sara-san worry unnecessarily.

This is all Yuzuha’s fault.

If she hadn’t appeared there… if I hadn’t seen her face…

I’d finally managed to forget, I thought I could forget.

While I was thinking that, Sara-san turned on the light.

「There, that’s better. Fufu… now, let me see Kazunari-san’s fa—」

Sara-san’s expression clouded over a little.

「…Kazunari-san, did something happen?」

As I thought, Sara-san noticed.

What should I say…

「Kazunari-san… if you’re feeling anxious about something, please tell me. It’s okay… I won’t leave you no matter what happens.」

Seeing Sara-san so worried about me, I suddenly wanted to depend on her.

…If she’s going to see through me even if I hide things, wouldn’t it be better to tell her at least a little…

Being mentally exhausted, the feeling of relief and kindness from seeing Sara-san made me let my guard down.

「…I’m sorry. Actually, today… I ran into a childhood friend.」

「!?」

Sara-san looked quite shocked.

I guess she wouldn’t expect that kind of talk here.

「I ran into someone I didn’t want to see, and talked to someone I didn’t want to talk to… I think I got through it, but the anxiety is still…」

I couldn’t finish my sentence.

Because Sara-san hugged me tight.

「…It’s okay. It’s okay now… I’m right here. Seeing that childhood friend made you feel anxious, didn’t it?」

While hugging me deeply, Sara-san began to speak slowly.

「I’m sorry that I couldn’t be with you during such an anxious time.」

Sara-san stroked my head carefully over and over.

While I leaned into that, I felt the anxiety swirling around Yuzuha start to vanish.

Perhaps judging that I’d calmed down a little, Sara-san leaned her mouth close to my ear and began to speak.

「Kazunari-san, are you still scared to talk about what happened in your past? I’ll be okay no matter what I hear.」

With that, she let go of my head and stared straight into my eyes.

It was a serious, unwavering gaze.

「I don’t know what you’re afraid of. But if it will save you, I’m willing to give up this school… and our current lives to leave this town with you. Please remember that I am by your side with that much resolve.」

It was a shock.

Of course I believed in Sara-san more than anyone, and I thought she’d stay by my side even if something happened to me.

But I hadn’t thought she was thinking that deeply.

She’s saying she’d go that far for my sake… so I should be at ease… she’s telling me that.

Is it okay for me to just depend on Sara-san’s feelings when she cares about me this much? Don’t I feel pathetic?

It’s my own past, I should overcome at least that much on my own.

I felt my own feelings shift.

First, I’ll tell Sara-san everything.

And then I’ll tell Hayato everything, too. I don’t know what Yuzuha is after, but I can guess she’s planning to use Hayato for something, just like she did with me.

If I can stop it with just that much, it’s a win.

The rest… will depend on how they move.

If this is the end, that’s fine too.

If they’re still going to do something, then…

Maybe thanks to my feelings shifting, I found myself smiling at how those thoughts were popping up one after another.