“And so, I’m thinking of going to meet my fated person soon. Actually, I already know where they are to some extent.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. He’s in this city. I followed the red thread and have even identified his house.”
That’s just called stalking... ah, no, it’s nothing. Please don’t glare at me like that.
Anyway, she’s acting fast, or rather, I didn’t expect her to go meet him... no, maybe she’s going because of what happened before.
The previous person passed away without them even being able to meet once.
I can go see them eventually.
I should act eventually.
Eventually, eventually, eventually...
That ‘eventually’ never comes.
She probably doesn’t want to regret it ever again.
“Liza-san, what kind of person is your fated person? Ah, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to...”
“No, it’s fine. His age is likely 16. Since I’m 21, it’s a borderline age. As for his features... let’s see... he has black hair and it’s long.”
16 years old, black hair, long hair. Same age as me... in my mind, I imagine someone who’s like an introvert.
The complete opposite image of Liza-san.
“He’s probably not even 170cm tall. Plus, he seems slender and lacking in strength.”
Not even 170cm? And slender... he really is the polar opposite of Liza-san.
“His face is a super beautiful type that I love. I could eat three bowls of rice just looking at his face.”
“Huh? Liza-san, did you like beautiful types?”
“Yeah. I love idols and such. By the way, my current favorite is Makiri from the Miyako Angels.”
That’s an idol I know nothing about.
To think she covers even minor idols, she must really like beautiful faces.
“Actually, I want to go meet him tomorrow... Boy, won’t you come with me?”
“Eh, me?”
“I-It’s just that I’d be lonely alone, or rather, I’d be nervous... i-is that a no...?”
Ugh... when she makes such a dejected face, it’s hard to refuse.
Well, it’s not like I intended to refuse anyway...
“...Sigh. I understand. If after school tomorrow is fine, I’ll accompany you.”
“Really!? Fufu, having an excellent disciple is a blessing!”
“Mgh!?”
Wait, don’t hug me. I’m drowning, I’m dying...!
Plus, this person is taller and stronger than me, so I can’t pull away.
“Mghumghumgh!”
“Oh? Ah, sorry.”
Phew! I-I thought I was going to die...! That’s violent bigness, J...!
“Alright. It wouldn’t be fair if I was the only one receiving. I shall resolve the Boy’s worries too.”
“Eh, no, that’s alright.”
“Now, now, don’t worry about it.”
Liza-san took some mitts from the shelf and put them on her arms.
And she did so with a face like a hyena that had found its prey.
“To wipe away anxiety, you need exercise. Anyway, move, move, and keep moving. That’s the only way.”
“B-By the way, today’s menu is...”
“Sandbag for 30 minutes. Battle ropes for 30 minutes. Mitt hitting for 3 minutes, 10 sets with 1-minute intervals. The remaining time will be free weights.”
I see. I thought I felt restless since this morning... today was the anniversary of my death. I had a premonition of my demise.
Sorry, Riran, Kotono. I might die.
“Now, let us go to the other side of worldly thoughts.”
“Hieee.”
◆
“That’s it for today! Be careful on your way home!”
“Tha... thank... you...”
I survived... I actually survived...! I whip my body, which feels like it’s about to collapse from fatigue, and slowly make my way home.
The desire for sleep, wanting to go to bed right now.
And the appetite, screaming for my stomach to be fed something.
The instinct for preservation of the species (sexual desire) that arises when sensing death.
Right now, I am experiencing all of the three great human desires.
A-Anyway... if I don’t put something in my stomach, I’ll die. I’m going to die...
I push my bicycle out of the alley onto the main street.
And... hm. What is this appetizing smell?
“...Ah, a ramen shop?”
It must have newly opened, as celebratory flowers decorate the storefront.
The scent wafting from there isn’t something light, but the heavy aroma of Iekei-style ramen.
*Gulp*
It was unconscious.
Yes, it was unconscious.
Before I knew it, sitting in front of my eyes was an outrageous amount of ramen—chashu noodles topped with extra chashu and a soft-boiled egg.
When was I hit by King Crimson?
...No, let’s stop thinking. Right now, I just have to devour this ramen!
I scoop the soup with a lotus spoon and sip the rich soup with a layer of oil...
“”Mmmmmm!!””
I-It’s soaking in...! ...Hm? It felt like my voice doubled.
I look toward where the voice came from. Specifically, to my right.
“Oh? Sanada-kun.”
“...Ah, Ryuguin.”
Unbelievable. Our school’s Yamato Nadeshiko. The purest of the pure, Ryuguin Rion, was there.
Her hair was in a ponytail, she was wearing glasses, and she wore a plain gray hoodie.
...Eh, is that really Ryuguin?
As I stood there in shock at a Ryuguin I couldn’t have imagined from her usual self, she made a face that seemed to say, “Ahaha... you found me.”
“...For now, let’s eat. The noodles will get soggy.”
“Yes. You’re right.”
From then on, there was silence.
Without saying a word to each other, we slurped our ramen until we finished it all.