“There we go…”
Setting up the teddy bear in the position Kanade wanted was quite a chore. She kept giving instructions like, “Tilt it a little more this way,” or “Bring it a bit more forward.”
A certain famous novel crossed my mind. It was a story about people entering a restaurant to eat, only to be given a long list of orders by the staff.
“Good job.”
“Ah, yeah.”
I was thanked by Kanade, who had already sat down on the bed to rest ahead of me. I felt a little happy.
“Even so, you really keep your room tidy, don’t you?”
“Don’t stare too much.”
Ignoring my words, Kanade stood up from the bed she had just sat on and began to wander around the room.
“…Do you have any dirty books?”
“I don’t.”
Even if I did, I’m not foolish enough to talk about them with a girl. What did she think would happen if I talked about such things with the opposite sex?
Nowadays, people are very strict about sexual harassment. I’m sure I’d never be able to walk under the sun with my head held high again.
“You don’t have any? I see…”
…She doesn't really believe me, does she?
“What kind of dirty books do you like, Ak-kun?”
I knew it.
“Childhood friend stuff? Or maybe the class madonna? Or maybe the sickly heroine type?”
“Aren’t those some awfully niche genres?”
“Is that so? I don’t think that’s the case at all.”
Kanade didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping her search and started investigating my study desk.
…Just like when I was reluctant to hand over my smartphone, I really didn’t want my room being searched through inside and out. However, I felt that if I took a stubborn attitude and told her to stop, the situation would only get worse. So, I reluctantly watched the scene unfold, praying that Kanade wouldn’t find anything strange.
“This is…”
Contrary to my wish, Kanade found several books from the study desk.
“…Ak-kun, have you already started studying for university entrance exams?”
What Kanade found were several reference books. Considering I was only a first-year high school student, they were in a field that was still too early to touch.
“They say early investment is important for everything.”
“Ugh.”
Kanade looked fed up. She has never liked studying since a long time ago. Come to think of it, I remember that whenever we tried to study together, we would just end up chatting, and the studying wouldn't progress much.
“…Come to think of it, Ak-kun, you are attending a fairly prestigious prep school now.”
“I guess.”
Yes. I currently attend one of the leading prep schools in Tokyo. …Thinking about it now, even though Kanade hated studying that much, she managed to transfer into the school I attend.
“…Seriously, even if it was to enter the same school, I was put through a lot of trouble.”
“Kanade, did you say something?”
“Nothing at all.”
Was it just my imagination that the tone of Kanade’s voice dropped just a little bit?
“Isn't there any book more interesting than these reference books I don't want to see for a while?”
“There isn't, I’m telling you.”
…Good grief. To begin with, she should know that nowadays, dirty books are mostly viewed digitally rather than on paper. …No, actually, she’s better off never knowing that for the rest of her life.
“How about over here?”
Kanade, who had been enthusiastically rummaging through my study desk, gave up and headed toward the bookshelf. Then, she began to look at the spines of the books with a frown between her eyebrows.
“…Oh?”
In the middle of that, Kanade found another few books.
“…Hmm?”
Just as I was thinking it was about time she got bored of searching the room…
“…Gack.”
Seeing the books Kanade had found, I instinctively stood up.
“This.”
The books Kanade found were…
“…Ak-kun?”
Of course, they weren't dirty books.
“This is…”
Then what on earth were they?
“Why did you buy French language reference books?”
The reference books she found were language books for France, where she had once visited for treatment.
“…I just like language study.”
“I don't see anything other than French though?”
“…They just happened to be cheap.”
“There isn't just one, there’s about five of them?”
I shifted my gaze awkwardly.
“Ak-kun?”
“…I was thinking about studying abroad once I graduated from high school.”
However, I ran out of excuses and gave up.
“…To France?”
“To France.”
“Why?”
“…Well.”
Because in France…
“F-France has a lot of tourist attractions.”
I feigned ignorance.
“The Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe… it's packed with famous sightseeing spots.”
After saying it, I realized. Come to think of it, those lines… were words I had heard from the girl in front of me.
“…I was going to look for you.”
I continued while hanging my head.
“After such a tragic parting, in the end, I couldn't do anything… Even if I went to see you, it might have been useless. You might have already built a foundation for your life over there. I thought that, but I also thought it would be great if we could meet once more.”
…Even if I say so myself, it’s a pretty pathetic way of thinking. I’m sure Kanade must be put off by it.
“…I didn't tell you my address over there, did I, Ak-kun?”
“I intended to find it.”
Considering Kanade's illness, I had figured it would be possible to search via the doctors who were treating her.
“…In the first place, there was no guarantee I was even alive, right? I didn't contact you even once while I was over there.”
“…That’s true.”
Of course, that possibility had crossed my mind even without her saying it.
“…But, I thought that no matter what kind of conclusion was waiting for me, I should see it with my own eyes.”
That was my way of making amends for not being able to do anything for her back then.
“…So, honestly, I didn't think you would appear again on your own.”
I tried to laugh it off jokingly.
“…You’re right.”
Kanade smiled as if caught by my laughter.
“Since we’ve been reunited, we can be together for the rest of our lives until we die, right?”
…Is that so?