Chapter 64 - Ah, from there
Mori and Hayato were at a family restaurant located in front of the station.
As it was still early after school, there were several student customers like them around.
"Hahahaha! So it's Kirishima's first time visiting a family restaurant after all!"
"...You're such a jerk."
"Haha, sorry, sorry!"
Mori laughed while holding his stomach. In front of him, Hayato had a grumpy expression on his face.
The cause of it was when Hayato was confused with the touch screen and drink bar, he looked awkward and clumsy. With a trembling voice, he asked, "Did I really order this correctly?” and “Can I drink this much?" It seemed like those words made Mori laugh.
Hayato looked uncomfortable as he sipped his iced tea.
Then, after Mori finished laughing, he took the initiative to start the conversation again.
"So?"
"Yeah?"
"What happened earlier this afternoon?"
"Which... one?"
That was a direct question. There was something Hayato couldn't honestly say.
While wrinkling his face and sipping his drink through a straw, he thought.
(But...)
However, not saying anything could lead to Haruki's behavior being misunderstood.
"So, while we were organizing some things in the preparation room, there was a couple who started getting intimate in the library, and well..."
"I understand. It must have been an awkward situation. Even though Nikaido is popular, she's not used to things like that, right?"
"Mmm, even though she's popular, it seems like she puts up walls around hermself. She said no one has ever confessed to her directly, so maybe she doesn't have the courage to face situations like that."
"Oh, I see. So, Kirishima, you know a lot about Nikaido's situation, huh?"
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. Nikaido rarely talks about herself."
"...Haha."
Damn, when he realized it, it was too late.
Mori smiled while observing Hayato's face. He really looked like he was confessing to Mori.
An odd smile slipped from his lips, and he felt a cold sweat running down his back.
Now, how should he handle it? Hayato let out a long sigh while roughly scratching his head.
"Alright, let's put that aside."
"Huh?"
"I've been dating Isami—Emma for less than three months."
"Oh, Is that so?"
The conversation suddenly changed.
Hayato was surprised because he thought Mori would pry about Haruki, so he felt disappointed.
"We've known each other since kindergarten, so I thought I knew everything about her... Turns out, it was all a misunderstanding."
"Hmm."
It was unclear what he meant.
However, Mori's continued story and the serious expression he showed made it hard to ignore.
"Her hobby is collecting dolls at the game center, she likes frilly clothes even though she says they don't suit it, and despite having allergies, she always wants to have a pet cat... and so on. Since we started dating, I've discovered many things I didn't know before."
"Are you bragging?"
"Haha, maybe."
"Nevertheless, I've never seen the two of you being affectionate at school. You've been dating for three months, right?"
Mori rubbed his nose shyly while averting his gaze.
Hayato still wasn't sure what Mori wanted to convey.
"Because we've been friends for a long time and have never intentionally gone out alone together, there's nothing special. But since we started dating, I found new things and was surprised... But I don't feel uncomfortable with all the new discoveries about Emma. It feels refreshing."
"I see."
"Yeah, so, it's like... When we hang out together, we can get to know each other better. It's not just about Nikaido, but what if someday we also go somewhere together? Kirishima, you always go home early."
"Yeah, that's a good idea."
It sounded like an interfering suggestion.
Better than being suspiciously weird, but in reality, Hayato found it difficult to process this situation within himself.
(It seems like we've never gone anywhere after we went together to buy a smartphone.)
Their faces faced each other every day. Yet, they simply lived their daily lives without anything special.
Suddenly, Hayato remembered the past.
The mountains in Tsukinose, the small river on the edge of the fields, the shrine and bamboo forest, and the village workshop. They had played in various places, collecting various toys they found around and accumulating laughter and memories.
Perhaps, Hayato knew Haruki better than anyone else at school.
Her fondness for catching grasshoppers, her love for Ramune, and her interest in making secret bases out of leftover pieces of wood — they were all memories of the past.
But how much did Hayato really know about Haruki now?
She still liked games, only ate convenience store food, and had poor fashion sense — and she was always alone.
Sometimes, her lonely expression he saw at certain times reminded Hayato of Himeko back then... and he really didn't like that.
"Going out, huh..."
Therefore, it sounded like a good idea.
Although the places and things were different, if they could play like they used to, they could definitely add smiles and memories. Perhaps it could bridge the gap between Hayato and Haruki a little.
Imagining that, Hayato's smile naturally expanded — and he furrowed his brow.
"...Kirishima?"
"It's nothing, really..."
Seeing that, Mori raised an eyebrow in confusion.
Indeed, Mori's suggestion was something extraordinary to Hayato, but there was one fatal problem.
"Going out... But where to and doing what?"
"Ah, from there... Kukuku..."
There were no entertainment facilities in Tsukinose. For Hayato, who only spent his holidays playing games or helping out at the neighboring fields, it was a very difficult problem.
Hayato stared at Mori, who was trembling while trying to hold back his laughter and shaking his shoulders.
Translator: Janaka