Episode 133: To Meet Sara-san

「And… that’s pretty much it,」I said.

「Yes,」she replied.

Sara-san didn’t say anything else.

Or rather, she probably couldn’t.

Since the middle of my story, she’d been hugging me the whole time.

The only reason I could finish telling it was because I felt her warmth.

And the reason I didn’t get as pessimistic as I thought I would was because Sara-san was crying in my place.

Even while I was talking, she kept me close and stroked my head.

That gave me a sense of security, and I ended up telling her everything, from what happened with Yuzuha to the very end of graduation.

「I don’t understand why you had to go through such a thing, Kazunari-san… I don’t care what happens to that idiot childhood friend who couldn’t see your kindness and even used you.」

Why… huh.

Talking about it while remembering it all again made me see things more objectively than before.

At first, Yuzuha was just swept along.

Because everyone else was criticizing me, she ended up getting sympathy and attention.

I think even Yuzuha didn’t expect that.

But whatever the reason, she became the center of attention, got pitied, and was pampered by everyone. Tasting that was likely the turning point.

After that, the quickest way for her to keep getting what she wanted was to trash me even more. Since it started with me being blamed, she probably thought it’d be easy to keep the sympathy coming by making things look even worse.

What would happen to me after all that? Did she think that as long as she was fine, it didn’t matter what happened to me? It’s too late for that now, anyway.

No matter her true intent, the fact remains that I was used.

She bathed in that sense of superiority, grew more and more arrogant, and that’s how the current Yuzuha came to be.

「Sara-san, this is my past. It includes everything I couldn’t say until now… even the things no one would believe.」

「Thank you for telling me. I’m 100% certain that your story is the truth. If you were worried about that, I’d actually be quite offended, you know?」

It’s true, I didn’t have any doubt that Sara-san would believe me.

「You’re right, sorry. I was certain you’d believe me too, Sara-san.」

「Yes. If anything, I’m just shocked by how low-class your classmates were, even for middle schoolers… Is it even possible for everyone to believe such wild lies so easily?」

True, I didn’t think about it that much back then, but now that she mentions it, I wonder how it’s possible that not even one friend believed me…

(Actually, it’s more natural to think there were other forces moving behind the scenes. If there’s someone who’d benefit from Takanashi-san being isolated and untrusted, only one person comes to mind after hearing this story…)

「Either way, based on what you’ve said, the rumors your childhood friend spread first probably made it much harder to convince your classmates.」

That’s probably it.

That’s likely why they kept demanding proof, too.

「But, that aside, in a way, I’m actually thankful to that childhood friend. If I ever meet her, I’d like to tell her. Thanks to you being so stupid and foolish, I was able to meet someone precious like Kazunari-san.」

…It’s true. If that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have chosen my current school, which means I never would’ve met Sara-san.

That’s right, she’s right!

「You’re right… that’s exactly it! I got through that painful year just so I could meet you, Sara-san. If I think about it that way, it actually had a meaning. If I got to meet you after just one year like that, it’s nothing but good luck for me…」

When I said that much, Sara-san pulled me close again and pressed my face into her chest.

It’s soft… I’m happy, but, I’m really happy, but!

「In that case, I’ll overwrite your painful past and make you so happy you’ll forget all about it…」

She must’ve been really happy, because she wouldn’t let me go.

Relieved that the talk was finally over, I just let her do whatever she wanted.

I wonder how long we stayed like that?

While we were having some idle chat, I finally started feeling sleepy.

It must be really late by now.

Tomorrow… or rather, today? We have school.

I’m sure Sara-san is tired too, but she still wouldn’t leave my side.

But just as both she and I couldn’t hide our sleepiness anymore.

「Kazunari-san, let’s go to sleep soon… we should still have some time to rest even now.」

「Yeah… well then…」

I endured the sleepiness and started to move back to the bed, but Sara-san pulled me close.

「The place where you’re sleeping is right here, you know?」

I could tell Sara-san was feeling sleepy too, but she held me firmly as if she had no intention of letting go. Between the sleepiness and Sara-san’s warmth, I hit my limit.

「Sara-san… good night.」

And so, I gave up on resisting.

「…Good night, Kazunari-san. I will… definitely…」

Chu…

Chirp, chirp…

「Nn… Sara-san…」

「…Yes, did you call for me?」

「Sara-san…」

Squeeze…

「Fufu… Kazunari-san, I’m right here.」

Warm… and it feels so good.

「…So cute. This is troubling, the time is… but let’s stay like this for just a little longer…」

………

「……Nn.」

When I woke up, Sara-san was in front of me, wearing her school uniform and an apron.

「Good morning, Kazunari-san.」

As Sara-san gave her morning greeting, she was smiling so happily that I couldn’t help but ask if something had happened.

「Good morning, Sara-san. Um… did something good happen?」

「Ufufufu… you were acting so sleepy and pampered this morning, Kazunari-san. Seeing you looking so cute made me happy right from the start of the day.」

…Naturally, I have no memory of that.

I just know it felt good… but was that since last night?

As I woke up more, yesterday’s events came back to me.

Yesterday, I told her everything… got sleepy… and slept with Sara-san… we slept together!?

It’s okay, right? I slept soundly until morning…

「Now, Kazunari-san, breakfast is ready, so please get up and wash your face.」

The second semester starts today, huh…

It’ll be fine.

No matter what Yuzuha tries to do, I’ll get through it.

Because Sara-san is watching… because Sara-san is here with me.