The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming
Kanade’s remark caused the classmates, who had been buzzing with excitement all day over the arrival of the beautiful new transfer student, to fall silent in an instant.
The fact that all eyes were now on me made me feel a little queasy.
To be specific, I felt like I was going to throw up.
Kanade, you didn’t have to say something like that in front of everyone, did you?
I’m a total loner, acknowledged by everyone, you know?
“Hey! Hey! Let’s go home soon! A-kun!”
Completely oblivious to my gloom, Kanade was still in high spirits as usual.
“I-I-Ichinose-san! Just a sec…”
“Huh? What?”
A boy from our class called out to Kanade, who was still in that giddy mood.
“…Um, Hagiwara-kun, was it? Do you two know each other?”
That classmate… or rather, the handsome, outgoing Yoshida-kun—he sure knew my name well.
Even though we’re in the same class, I don’t think I’ve ever actually spoken to him before.
“Yoshihira-kun, yeah. That’s right.”
…If I’d gotten his name wrong, that would’ve been a real problem.
“Oh, really? What’s your relationship?”
“Hmm… If you ask me what our relationship is, it might take quite a while to explain.”
“I’d love to hear it.”
…Really?
It looked like he was just pressing her for an answer, given Kanade’s attitude.
“Really? Well then… Ah, but I’ll try to keep it brief.”
Why does she feel the need to keep it brief?
“I was told I had a terminal illness when I was in elementary school.”
The classroom buzzed with murmurs.
“And, well, A-kun is my childhood friend. He came to visit me almost every week and encouraged me countless times when I was suffering and feeling down.”
……Encouraged, huh.
“So, once I get back to Japan, I want to spend time with A-kun first. I’m sorry.”
After Kanade’s explanation, a few of her classmates seemed to give up.
“I see. In that case, I can definitely understand why you’d want to prioritize spending time with him.”
It seemed like Kippei had smiled and backed down.
“So, how about we all hang out together, including Hagiwara-kun?”
No, it seems Kippei-kun hadn’t backed down after all.
“I see. That’s actually a pretty good idea.”
“Right?”
“Yeah.”
……I’m sorry, but since you’re not backing down…
“But, sorry. I’ll pass today.”
You guys, can’t you respect my wishes just a little?
Even though I’m just Kanade’s stand-in, I don’t recall ever agreeing to hang out with my classmates… or even with Kanade, for that matter. Yet the conversation keeps moving forward on its own, and it’s just getting more and more frustrating.
“Alright, A-kun. Let’s go.”
“Whoa…”
Leaving my stunned classmates behind, Kanade took my hand and started walking.
…It had been a few hours since I’d reunited with Kanade, who’d arrived this morning as a transfer student.
Honestly, until this very moment, it hadn’t really sunk in that I’d actually been reunited with her.
But now, with her pulling my hand… forcing our hands together, I could feel the warmth of her palm.
“…She’s alive.”
I muttered.
“Haha. Did you think I was dead?”
“……”
“…Hehe.”
“…Yeah.”
“Hahaha.”
Kanade, walking ahead of me, was laughing.
“Right?”
Kanade turned to look at me and smiled mischievously.
As always, I was walking along, led by Kanade’s hand.
“…Was it okay?”
As we approached the shoe rack, I decided to ask Kanade.
“What?”
“…Turning down everyone’s invitations.”
“Yeah.”
Her answer was immediate.
“Well, ideally, I’d have liked to get to know my classmates better since we’ll be living together for about a year, but it’s a matter of priorities.”
“Priorities?”
“Exactly. When Yoshihira-kun and others invited me out to play, I wondered what to do, so I thought about it calmly.”
“About what?”
“Whether to get closer to my classmates or hang out with you.”
“……”
“Right now, hanging out with you is more important to me than getting to know my classmates better.”
“……I see.”
I looked down. I felt a little embarrassed.
“……But doesn’t that mean it’s not a valid reason to turn down Yoshihira’s invitation?”
“But Akkun, you didn’t want to hang out with classmates, didn’t you?”
“I never actually said that out loud, though.”
“But you thought it, didn’t you?”
It was true. I hadn’t said it, but I did hate hanging out with my classmates.
I thought spending a few hours with people I didn’t get along with was nothing short of torture.
But how did Kanade figure that out?
“I can tell just by looking at your face.”
……I’m no match for Kanade.
“……I haven’t even said I want to hang out with you yet.”
“Hahaha. That’s out of the question. No compromises.”
“I see.”
“Our relationship has always been like this, hasn’t it? I push my way through, and you reluctantly go along with it. So this time, just go along with my pushiness, even if you don’t want to.”
Come to think of it, I guess our relationship has always been like this.
“……I’m really looking forward to it. It’s been a while since I’ve been to Japan. I want to go to all sorts of places.”
“……”
“Just the two of us, Akkun.”
……Well, since today is also a celebration of her recovery, maybe it’s not so bad to let her lead me around again.
“Akkun! Where should we go now!? The beach. The mountains. Karaoke or a movie might be nice, too!”
“……Yeah, you’re right.”
“Yeah. Yeah! Ah, seriously, there are just too many places I want to go! I wish time would just stop forever!”
“……Yeah, you’re right.”
“Yeah! ……Well then, Akkun, for now…”
“Yeah.”
“Lend me your phone.”
“……Huh?”
“Huh?”
……Did I hear that wrong?
“Akkun, lend me your phone.”
……Kanade’s eyes, which had been full of hope just a moment ago, now seemed to lack any sparkle.
“Huh? Why?”
“Why, you ask…… Ugh. It’s so we can exchange contact info!”
……Oh. Oh, I see.
“Wait, if it’s just to exchange contact info, do I really need to lend you my phone?”
Once I calmed down, I couldn’t accept that at all.
“……Huh? What? Do you have some guilty secret that’s stopping you from lending me your phone?”
“Yeah. I do. It’s a smartphone, you know? It’s full of personal information.”
It’s only natural that everyone has at least one piece of embarrassing information on there.
“……Hmm. I see. Guess that’s a no, then.”
Kanade backed down surprisingly easily.
Given how easily she backed down and the tone of her voice, did she actually press me to lend her my phone expecting to be turned down?
“Alright. So, A-kun…”
“Hm?”
“Let’s hang out at your place today.”
“……Eh?”
“Let’s hang out at your place today.”
“But…”
“Let’s hang out at your place today.”
“……Alright.”
Where did that touching atmosphere from a moment ago go?
“Yay. So it’s settled then.”
Kanade started skipping happily.
Maiasa
Uhmm…she’s “calling dibs” right at chapter two. (●__●)