“Since meeting Kanade-chan, I’ve realized something. I’ve been living in such a narrow world.”
Just before the morning short homeroom began, Kadokura-san was making statements praising Kanade within her circle.
At the very least, yesterday morning, Kadokura-san had shown a clear sense of rivalry toward Kanade.
If that weren't the case, there would have been no need for her to go out of her way to involve me and make remarks intended to disparage her in a place where our classmates were present.
……And yet, this total change in just a single day.
Kanade, what on earth did you really feed into Kadokura-san……?
“Hey, Kanade.”
During lunch break, I felt curious and spoke to Kanade.
It was the first time since entering high school that I had spontaneously spoken to someone in this classroom.
“What is it? Ak-kun.”
“……Well.”
“This is the first time Ak-kun has called out to me in the classroom.”
I stared blankly.
That was certainly true, but…… why would she interrupt the flow of the conversation just to say that?
“Ehehe. Today is the anniversary of the first time Ak-kun spoke to me.”
……What is this person talking about?
“Kanade-chan! Let’s go eat lunch!”
“Ah, okay.”
While I was still bewildered, Kanade was called away by Kadokura-san and the others.
“……Ak-kun.”
As she was leaving, Kanade whispered into my ear.
“We’ll talk more later…… just the two of us, okay?”
Kanade’s whisper sounded a bit provocative.
For now, I ate my lunch.
However, perhaps because Kanade had whispered something strange into my ear, I couldn't think straight.
……In times like these, the best thing to do is study to clear away any idle thoughts.
With that thought, I made my way to the library.
“Good work.”
I sat down next to Takagaki-san as usual.
“Mhm.”
Takagaki-san gave a half-hearted reply, perhaps because she was concentrating on her studies.
“……”
“……”
For a while, we focused on our studies, keeping the noisy school building out of our consciousness.
“……Nnn—.”
About ten minutes before lunch break ended, Takagaki-san stretched her back.
……Should I bring this up, or shouldn't I?
Takagaki-san doesn't seem to realize it herself, but she possesses something quite lethal.
To put it bluntly, I didn't know where to look.
“……Hagiwara-kun.”
I kept moving my mechanical pencil.
“……Are you dating Ichinose-san?”
……I put too much strength into the hand holding the pencil, and the lead snapped.
“Didn’t Kadokura-san ask Kanade that same question yesterday?”
In other words, Takagaki-san should already know the answer without even asking.
“Don’t answer a question with a question.”
“……We’re not dating.”
I clicked the top of the mechanical pencil twice.
“We don’t look like we’re dating, do we?”
“……Actually, you really do.”
……I snapped the lead again.
“……Sigh.”
“Wow, what an easy-to-understand sigh. How annoying.”
“……What part of us made you think we were dating?”
“The sense of distance.”
“That’s only natural since we’re childhood friends.”
“Even for childhood friends, I think your sense of distance is too close.”
“Haha. Takagaki-san says some funny things.”
“……Despite being fundamentally clever, this man is airheaded in some places, isn't he?”
Takagaki-san held her head as if exasperated.
“……Well, I understand that you two aren't dating. If that's what the person himself says, then that's how it is.”
“That’s right.”
“But what about Ichinose-san? What does that girl think of you?”
“What do you mean by 'what'……”
……It was only two days ago that I reunited with Kanade.
Since our reunion, I’ve spent a moderate amount of time with her…… but what does she think of me?
“……She said she was grateful.”
A few years ago, Kanade suffered from a disease and hovered between life and death.
The illness couldn't be cured domestically, so she went abroad to receive treatment.
……It goes without saying that she lived in a world on the edge of life and death.
And that fact was something I, who had sent her words of encouragement, felt myself.
I used to hate and loathe my former, powerless self.
But Kanade said she was encouraged by my existence.
That’s why, when she managed to hold onto life and we reunited, she gave me words of gratitude.
“……That’s good. To be thanked.”
“……It’s not good.”
Because, as I say over and over again…… in the end, all I could do was offer encouragement.
During Kanade's crisis…… I couldn't accomplish anything.
“Leaving aside the stoic you, when looking at Ichinose-san objectively, it seems like she’s quite biased toward you.”
As if to say that the main point started here, Takagaki-san continued.
“……The way Kadokura-san had a change of heart from yesterday to today is exactly that. What was that? It’s seriously scary.”
“Well, certainly.”
I was also a little taken aback by the transformation in Kadokura-san.
“……If it were any other girl, maybe, but for someone as strong-willed as Kadokura-san to become like that. Ichinose-san is a terrifying girl.”
“Haha. Well, she does have some unfathomable parts.”
“Ugh, why are you laughing?”
Takagaki-san was recoiling.
“……Well, you do seem like you have some kind of self-destructive desire anyway.”
“That’s not true.”
“Then why don’t you try to enjoy your school life a bit more?”
……Kanade said something similar to me.
Do I really look like I'm having such a painful time at school?
“……I’ll think about it.”
I don't realize it myself.
But if my only two friends in this school say so, maybe I should reconsider.
……However, even if I say I'll reconsider, how do I go about making school life fun?
I’ve never thought about enjoying school life before…… so I don't know.
“Hey, Takagaki-san. How am I supposed to enjoy school life?”
“I don’t know. I’m busy with my studies.”
“How irresponsible.”
“……Tch. It must be nice to be the top student in the grade. You have the leeway to think about enjoying school life.”
“You’re the one who told me to enjoy it, didn't you……?”
“Ah—! Ah—! I don't know, I don't know. Why don’t you ask your cute, cute childhood friend Ichinose-san to teach you?”
“Did you call me?”
“Pygyah?!”
Takagaki-san jumped as Kanade suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
“Ehehe. Did you call for me?”
“Auuu……”
……For some reason, Takagaki-san was on the verge of tears.