The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming
โUncle! Auntie! Hello!โ
In the living room, Kanade greeted my parents with a beaming smile.
My parents, who had apparently been chatting while we were away, smiled at us.
โKanade, hello.โ
โKanade, Iโm sorry about my son.โ
โNo, itโs me whoโs sorry for getting angry over such a childish thing.โ
Kanade bowed her head to my parents. Seeing her like that, my parents looked a little flustered.
โKanade, please lift your head. Itโs my sonโs fault for crushing you in the test.โ
โNo. Iโm actually grateful to A-kun for challenging me to a fair fight.โ
Huh, really?
If thatโs the caseโฆ then why did Kanade just ask me to study with her every day?
โฆโฆ
Well, itโs not like I mind studying with Kanade, so I guess itโs fine.
โSo, Iโm going to keep studying hard so I can beat him on the next test!โ
Her parents smiled at Kanadeโs resolute declaration.
โโฆAnd actually, I made a promise with A-kun just a little while ago.โ
โA promise?โ
โYes. Iโve decided to have study sessions with A-kun for a while starting now.โ
At Kanadeโs wordsโฆ
โOh, thatโs wonderful. Good luck, Kanade.โ
My mom was delighted.
โSoโฆ I was thinking Iโd be dropping by your house every day for a while.โ
โฆOh, so she was planning to let my parents know about this, after all.
My parents are hardly ever home on weekdays because of work, so I guess itโd probably be fine even if she didnโt tell themโฆ
โฆโฆHuh?
Wait a minuteโif my parents are hardly ever home on weekdaysโฆ doesnโt that mean Kanade and I will have time alone together in my room for a whileโฆ?
โฆโฆ
โฆโฆโฆโฆ
โฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆ
Hahaha
โHey, Kanade, what are you suddenly talking about?โ
Unlike my family, who seemed to welcome the idea, Kanadeโs mother cut in, scolding her.
โSaying something like that out of the blueโฆ wouldnโt that be a bother for the Hagiwaras?โ
โHuh?โ
โNo, not reallyโฆโ
โItโs totally fine, right?โ
โSee, sheโs saying itโs a bother.โ
Kanadeโs mother had a frown on her face.
โNo, no. Donโt cause too much trouble for the Hagiwaras.โ
โBooโฆ Come on, Mom.โ
โI said no, and thatโs final.โ
Kanadeโs mother continued, sounding annoyed.
โSo, come over to our house every other day.โ
โฆโฆHuh?
โฆโฆThereโs no sparkle in Kanadeโs motherโs eyes?
โThat way, you can study properly with A-kun every day, and I can help out too.โ
โโฆโฆEeh.โ
โWhatโs wrong? Are you unhappy about it?โ
Kanade just looked down, looking dissatisfied, and didnโt try to say anything.
โI donโt mind at all, thoughโฆ?โ
For the time being, I agreed with Kanadeโs momโs suggestion.
To be honest, I was a little skeptical because having Kanade come over to my house every single day would probably be a burden on her.
To begin with, letting a girl go home alone late at night is dangerous enoughโฆ and if that happened every day, the burden on her would be immeasurable.
โฆCome to think of it, if it gets too late for her to go home, I could just have her stay over at my place.
Hahaha.
If that were the case, going with the original plan might have meant Kanade staying over at our house every day!
โSee, even A-kun is saying the same thing, isnโt he?โ
As usual, there was no sparkle in Kanadeโs motherโs eyes.
โโฆButโฆโ
โKanade, do you really hate studying at this house that much?โ
โโฆHmmโฆโ
โKanadeโฆ?โ
โHonestly, if you ask me whether I like it or notโฆ I donโt.โ
โWhy?โ
At my question, Kanade looked down.
โBecauseโฆโ
Kanade glanced over at her mother, who was flashing a commanding smile.
โโฆUgh. I get it. I get it.โ
It seemed Kanade had reluctantly agreed to her motherโs demand.
โMom, Iโm just saying this up front, but you better not do anything weird to A-kun, okay?โ
โHahaha. What do you think Iโd do to A-kun?โ
โExactly. Not you, Ichinose-san. Hahaha.โ
The mothers from both families were laughing together.
โฆItโs kind of a heartwarming sight.
โWell then, shall we start getting dinner ready?โ
โOh, Iโll help.โ
Kanade agreed with her motherโs suggestion.
โI might as well help too, since weโre at it.โ
My mother huffed and puffed as she got up from the sofa.
โAlright then, you guys wait there for a little while.โ
โOkay.โ
โAkkun. Iโll make you a delicious meal.โ
โThanks.โ
Leaving the meal prep to the ladies, I sat down next to my dad.
โAtsushi. Youโve got it pretty rough, donโt you?โ
โHuh?โ
No sooner had I sat down on the sofa than my dad said that to me.
Not knowing what he meant, I tilted my head.
โAtsu. Iโm sorry. About my family.โ
โAbout what?โ
For some reason, Kanadeโs father offered an apology.
โโฆIf anything tough comes up, you can always talk to us.โ
โThatโs right. Weโre on your side.โ
โWhatโs going on with you two?โ
Faced with their serious expressions, I couldnโt hide my confusion.
โAkkunโฆ Since Kanade transferred to your school, have you been caught up in anything strange?โ
โStrange, like what?โ
โWellโฆ for example, have you ever suddenly felt an overwhelming wave of sleepiness?โ
โโฆAh.โ
Come to think of it, something like that did happen.
But that was probably just because I was studying too hard.
โAnything elseโฆ like Kanade giving you a present?โ
โHuhโฆโ
Why would he ask that?
โโฆOr maybe your phone battery started draining faster?โ
โIt has been draining faster, but I think itโs just the battery wearing out. Haha.โ
When I laughedโฆ
โโฆActually, out of everyone here, youโre the one with the biggest influence, arenโt you, Akkun?โ
Kanadeโs father gave a wry smile, looking exasperated.ใ
Maiasa