...I felt like I heard someone calling my name, but Atsushi is a common name, so it was probably someone calling for someone else.
If I turned around here and it was someone calling for someone other than me... far from just being awkward, there was even a possibility I’d end up embarrassed.
In the first place, I have few friends... and I don’t have the kind of social life where people would spot me while I'm out and call out to me.
In other words, even if it were an acquaintance, looking back here would have zero benefits and many possibilities for downsides.
After letting my thoughts wander, I decided to ignore the voice coming from behind me.
That judgment could be called a truly rational decision in terms of my survival strategy.
“Wait, Atsushi-kun?”
The reason my rational judgment turned to nothing was... because the owner of the voice behind me really was calling for me.
And, the person who spoke that voice... was an acquaintance of mine, and they had gone out of their way to run in front of me as if rejoicing at our reunion.
“Geez, I was calling you, so at least give me a response, okay?”
Saying that, the girl frowning at me... was someone I recognized.
A style that wouldn't lose even when compared to Kanade.
A permed hairstyle.
A well-featured face that looked good with a smile.
And a gentle, easygoing tone of voice.
“Kawashima-san...? Isn’t it Kawashima-san?”
“Long time no see, Atsushi-kun. It’s been since middle school graduation, hasn’t it?”
Her name was Kawashima Kaho.
She was one of the few people... I could call a friend.
“Wow, it’s been a while.”
“Yeah. Since our middle school graduation ceremony, right?”
“...Ak-kun.”
Toward the two of us who were rejoicing at our reunion...
“And this person is...?”
Kanade’s cold voice echoed.
“...Ah. Do you really not remember?”
Of course, without paying much attention to that change in Kanade, I gave her a wry smile.
“Remember...?”
“Her name is Kawashima-san. Kawashima Kaho-san.”
“...Kawashima. Kaho... san?”
“Wait... could it be?”
It was Kawashima-san who noticed first.
“Could it be... Ichinose-san?”
“Eh?”
“We were in the same class in elementary school... but you got sick halfway through... Ichinose-san?”
Kanade, who had been wide-eyed, finally seemed to remember Kawashima-san.
“...Could it be, Kaho-chan?”
With eyes moistening, she asked in a trembling voice.
“Yes. It’s Kaho-chan.”
Kawashima-san and I went to the same elementary and middle schools.
Being from the same elementary school... meant that Kanade, who once worked hard at her studies in the same school building, also had an association with Kawashima-san.
And the two of them used to be quite close friends.
“Long time no see, Ichinose-san. ...You’ve gotten healthy.”
“Yeah. ...Yeah. Long time no see. I’m completely healthy now.”
The school Kanade and I attend is one of the leading preparatory schools in Tokyo.
As a result, I was forced onto a different path from everyone else from my elementary and middle school days, except for Kanade.
So... this is likely the first time Kanade has reunited with an elementary school friend other than me.
A reunion after more than ten years.
Despite being a moving reunion, the atmosphere between the two was somewhat distant.
Probably... it had been such a long time that they didn't know what kind of things they should talk about.
“...Hey, Kaho-chan.”
Kanade continued, as if to rejoice at the reunion with her old friend.
“Were Ak-kun and Kaho-chan... close during middle school?”
...Hm?
“Hey, I wonder how it was?”
...A moving reunion.
Congratulating each other on their current situations... and the next question is that?
“...Ah. I see.”
Kawashima-san’s eyes went wide at first... but as if she had realized something, she gave a bold smile.
“By any chance, are you two in a relationship?”
“I-In a relationship...!?”
Kanade’s face turned bright red.
“T-That’s not it!? We aren't in that kind of relationship!? Not yet!”
“Is that so. My mistake then. ...Not yet, huh.”
The sight of Kanade desperately denying it must have been quite comical.
Even I almost laughed.
To think that Kanade would get so flustered over being misunderstood as being in a relationship with me (lol).
“Ichinose-san, please rest assured. Atsushi-kun and I don’t have that kind of relationship. If anything, we’re just business partners.”
“...That has a meaningful ring to it.”
“In middle school, we were the Student Council President and Vice President. ...Also, in elementary school, we were the President and Vice President of the Student Council too.”
“Eh!?”
Kanade looked back and forth between my face and Kawashima-san’s face.
“Ak-kun was the Student Council Vice President!?”
...Well, since I usually only show her my gloomy side, it’s no wonder Kanade is surprised.
“No, Ichinose-san. That’s wrong.”
“...?”
“Atsushi-kun was the President for both the elementary and middle school student councils.”
“Whaaaat!?”
“He was quite excellent, you see. ...Really, he was a thorn in my side.”
Kawashima-san’s eyes, filled with resentment, were painful. She had always been like this. Every chance she got, she would use Kyoto-like cynical phrasing to voice complaints that sounded like jealousy at me.
“...That’s a story from the past. I didn't want to fail my entrance exams, so I was just desperate to rack up internal assessment points. Most students find the student council a pain and don't want to do it. On top of that, being the President just comes with responsibility and reduces your free time, so they hate it even more. That’s why it was convenient to take advantage of.”
“Oh my, I wanted to do it, you know. To be the President.”
...Could you please not say unnecessary things?
“In fact, I ran for President... but I was completely defeated by Atsushi-kun both times.”
“Eh, Ak-kun, you could win an election?”
From Kanade’s way of putting it, I could tell she was thinking, ‘There's no way you could win an election where human popularity is important.’
“...Atsushi-kun boasted unparalleled strength in elections, you know?”
“Ugh... that’s kind of unexpected.”
“It was only after the election was over that I found out he was doing things behind the scenes, like researching school social circles, understanding the size of each group's voting block, and calculating the predicted number of votes for his opponents to determine which voting blocks were essential to win.”
“If it’s to win, I’ll do at least that much.”
Kanade didn't say anything, but her eyes were asking, ‘Why don’t you apply that to your actual life...?’
“Ahaha. His practical skills were also pointlessly high... Even his campaign promises, he fulfilled them properly.”
“...Since I became President by gaining their trust, it’s only natural to keep my promises.”
If you win the election, you don't have to keep your promises.
It’s just that the existence of people who think that way is what’s strange.
“Enough about me already.”
“Eeeh?”
Kanade pouted her lips in dissatisfaction.
“I want you to tell me more about how you were while I wasn't here...”
...Wait.
If I look closely, is there no light in Kanade’s eyes...?
“Ufufu.”
Kanade gave a thin smile.
“...By the way, to run into Ichinose-san in a place like this.”
Kawashima-san changed the subject. In fact, from Kawashima-san’s perspective, reuniting with Kanade must have been quite a miraculous coincidence.
That reunion between these two was...
“Well... we're only about thirty minutes away by train.”
...Huh?
I fully expected Kanade to describe the reunion with Kawashima-san as ‘destiny.’
“I see. ...What brings you to the Electric Town?”
“To buy a present for a friend.”
“Heh, that’s nice. When did you come back to Japan?”
“This week. ...What about you, Kawashima-san?”
Come to think of it...
“I have a regular restaurant I go to in the Electric Town. I came here for lunch.”
The person Kanade emphasizes ‘destiny’ with... is only me, isn't it?
“Eh, really?”
Is it just because it's only been a week since I reunited with Kanade and I haven't seen other examples...?
“Yes. ...If you’d like, why don’t the two of you join me?”
But... if she only says it to me, I feel like I can understand why she, who dislikes spiritual ideas, would emphasize ‘destiny.’
“Eh, is it okay?”
...Then, why does Kanade only emphasize ‘destiny’ when it comes to me?
“Ak-kun!”
Kanade’s dazzling eyes gazed at me.
“We're going, right? To the restaurant Kawashima-san recommended!”
“...Yeah. Let's do that.”
...For now, I decided to stop thinking about this.
“I’m looking forward to it!”
...Because.
“It’s very delicious, so please look forward to it.”
“Ufufu. Yes!”
If I think about it any more... I feel like I’ll fall into the depths and won't be able to escape.