Episode 125: I Want to See Sara-san

The last day of summer vacation.

Sara-san is coming back today…

Will she come over today? Or will it be tomorrow?

In yesterday’s call, we talked about how it would depend on when they leave, since she didn’t know their departure time yet.

「I’ll try to rush them as much as I can.」

「Sara-san, I’m happy you feel that way, and I really want to see you soon too, but please don’t push yourself too hard.」

「…That is the one thing I cannot do. To be honest, I am at the limit of my patience. I want to hear your voice and hug you as soon as I possibly can…」

Uuu…

I know it’s not good of me, but when she says things like that, it makes me want to be pampered.

If it was going to be late, she said she’d come over tomorrow morning.

I’d like to see her today if possible, though…

Smack!!

「Game set! Match won by…」

The umpire’s call rings out, announcing Hayato’s victory.

「Kyaaaa!!」

「Hayato-kun!!!」

「Ha-ya-to!! Ha-ya-to!!」

Yeah, it’s a perfect case of deja vu.

I didn’t have anything to do anyway, and staying at home just made me lonely thinking about Sara-san, so I came to cheer for Hayato.

Since the venues for boys and girls are different today, Natsumi-senpai isn’t here.

Well, it’s not my first time coming to see a tennis match, and I’ve gotten somewhat used to it, including the rules.

Maybe because it’s the last chance of summer vacation, the number of girls who seemed to have come to cheer for Hayato had increased even more.

The magazine he did reader model work for was released recently, so that might be the reason.

This match will kill time until the evening, so if I head back, maybe I’ll be able to see Sara-san right away.

I want to see you soon… Sara-san.

「Come visit again!」

「Bye-bye!!」

Seen off by our relatives, we leave Otou-san’s family home behind.

Finally… finally… finally, finally, finally, I can go home.

We’re starting out now, so time-wise, I’ll probably only be able to stay at Kazunari-san’s house for a little while.

Even so, even if it’s only for a short time, I want to see Kazunari-san.

They say that love wells up within you, and I’m sure that’s what this feeling is.

But at the same time, I’m also feeling anxious.

Kazunari-san’s tone over the phone seemed lonely, enough that I could tell even from hearing it for a moment.

He’s been in that house alone, waiting for my return all this time…

So I want to see him quickly and let him act as spoiled as he wants to make up for the time we couldn’t meet. And… I want to act a little spoiled myself, too.

「Nfufu… Sara-chan, is something wrong?」

「No, did something happen?」

Even though Okaa-san was the one who instructed me not to tell Otou-san, why does she go out of her way to point it out?

If it’s okay for me to tell him about Kazunari-san, I’ll report it anytime, you know?

「Sara, you said you were worried about the student council, but are you by any chance going to run for student council president?」

That’s right, I used that as a reason on the spur of the moment.

「Yes, I thought there might be that possibility…」

That’s a lie.

To be honest, I’ve lost interest not only in being student council president but also in being vice president or having any title as a student council officer.

If I can be happy with Kazunari-san, I don’t need anything more than that.

However, if I were to put it strongly, if being in a position could be found to have advantages for Kazunari-san’s future school life… then I might continue. That’s about it.

「Ufufu… back then, I was the student council president and you were the vice president, weren’t you?」

…I knew my parents were alumni, but that’s the first I’ve heard of that.

「Hayato-kun, you were so cool!」

「See you at school tomorrow!」

「Yeah, thanks for coming to cheer me on today!」

「See you later, Takanashi-kun!」

「See you in class tomorrow!」

「Yeah, see you tomorrow.」

The school fan club members seem to have actually remembered me, and the two classmates were here as usual.

「Hayato-kuun!」

「Look over here!」

Everyone’s taking photos with their smartphones.

The people calling out are probably regulars who come all the time.

「Kazunari, sorry to keep you waiting!」

「Yo, good work! You were a big hit again today.」

Flashing a handsome smile that didn’t show any fatigue from the match, Hayato, who is like night and day compared to me, approached.

「Thanks for the support!」

「I was just bored since Sara-san wasn’t around.」

It’s my true feeling, not just a cover-up for embarrassment.

I don’t know how he took it, but Hayato looked happy anyway.

「Whatever the reason, I’m happy you came to cheer for me.」

Whoa, as expected of a refreshing-type handsome guy.

Don’t appeal to me, appeal to Natsumi-senpai.

「So, are you done for today?」

「Yeah, we’ve been dismissed, so let’s head back.」

I’d heard it was dismissal on-site, but is it okay for him to head back with me?

His club mates… well, if he’s fine with it, it’s okay, I guess.

I pack my things and stand up.

As Hayato stands beside me and we try to leave, voices still call out.

「Hayato-kun, see ya!」

「Bye-baai!」

「Yeah, thank you!」

Hayato returns the greetings politely.

This kind of thing is probably the secret to his popularity.

But I’m more focused on Sara-san than that!

Sara-san should be back by tonight… surely.

「You look happy, don’t you, Kazunari?」

「Well, yeah.」

I’m so happy I feel like I’m about to start grinning. Seeing my expression, Hayato smirks.

「Even if it’s been five days, don’t act too spoiled with Satsukawa-senpai, okay?」

That might be impossible…

Hurry up, nighttime…

「Excuse me, Hayato-kun!! Please take a photo with us!」

…Just as I thought someone was talking to Hayato while he was talking to me, they forced their way in between us. Talk about pushy.

「Sorry, I’m talking with my friend right now.」

Hayato, who seemed a bit offended, turned them down.

「Eeeh, then your friend is… wait?」

Even though she’d used a real “good girl” tone at first, the moment she was rejected, her voice became incredibly displeased…

………….

…Why? This voice sounds familiar.

I feel like my heart is thumping violently.

My brain, my ears, are telling me to deny it.

It’s a lie. It can’t be. It’s just my imagination.

It has to be.

With a single-minded desire not to know the answer, I wanted to get away from here as soon as possible.

「Hayato, I’m gonna head out…」

「No waay, what an amazing coincidence that Kazunari is Hayato-kun’s friend.」

I heard a voice containing an immense amount of nastiness.

Why… why are you here?

「Hey, your childhood friend is talking to you, so don’t ignore me. I’m so happy to see you after so long!」

How can you say such a ridiculous thing with that mouth?

I never wanted to see you again.

…Yuzuha.