The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming
Ever since the day I was reunited with Kanade, there’s something I’ve found myself thinking about from time to time.
If you ask me what it is… it’s a hypothetical scenario: what would have happened if Kanade and I had never met again.
From the day we parted ways, I never thought I’d see her again.
And yet, now that we’ve actually been reunited, I still find myself thinking about it—I can’t help but think what a foolish man I am.
And above all, now that she’s recovered and we’ve been reunited safely, I can’t help but feel that speculating like this is even more pointless… but once I start thinking about that scenario, I get sucked right in.
If I hadn’t been able to reunite with Kanade.
That would mean… that I ultimately accomplished nothing, and that I lived a life that was, as far as I can imagine, utterly intolerable.
…If I had lived such a life.
If possible, I don’t even want to imagine such a miserable existence.
Still, why am I thinking such grim thoughts today?
And… considering that I’m in this surreal space, this must be a dream. To put it bluntly, it’s a nightmare.
…Why am I being forced to have this nightmare?
It’s obvious.
[…I hope you get well soon.]
It’s all because of those words Takagaki-san muttered at the airport yesterday afternoon.
…Wanting to be freed from this nightmare as soon as possible, I woke up.
“Gyaah!”
Having luckily woken up from the nightmare, I… let out a scream.
Because I was still in the nightmare…
Well, not exactly.
“Ah, A-kun. You’re up early today, aren’t you?”
It was because Kanade’s face appeared in my field of vision as I woke up.
“…Ka, Kanade. Why…?”
“Hehe.”
If I had to describe my current field of vision, it was twenty percent ceiling, eighty percent Kanade.
“…Akkun. You’re up early today.”
…Why is she in my room first thing in the morning?
I meant to ask her that, but Kanade didn’t seem to have any intention of answering my question.
“…What time is it?”
Well, I’m not exactly an idiot.
Probably, this whole situation is just Kanade playing a prank or something.
So, trying not to let her see my heart pounding, I put on a calm front and answered.
“Six in the morning.”
“That’s usually when I’m still asleep.”
“Hehe. That’s true.”
“…Kanade, could you move your face out of the way? I can’t move…”
“Eh?”
Even though we’re close enough that our lips could touch at any moment, Kanade is acting provocatively for some reason.
…Damn it. I can’t let her get a taste for this kind of prank, so I absolutely have to make sure I don’t show any surprise.
“……”
“……”
Well, it’s not like I mind waking up in the morning to find Kanade’s face right in front of me…
“…………”
“…………”
…But honestly, it’s bad for my heart.
“…Mmuuu.”
Kanade puffed out her cheeks and finally moved her face away.
“Hehe. How was it, Akkun? Did I surprise you?”
Apparently, what just happened was some kind of prank after all.
“I was surprised. Really. I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest. But please, don’t do that again.”
“Hehe. I see.”
Kanade smiled.
“……It didn’t look like it at all, though.”
Was she… smiling?
“Akkun. Are you used to girls playing pranks on you?”
There was no sparkle in Kanade’s eyes.
“Ahaha. No way.”
I gave a wry smile.
“…I don’t have any female friends close enough to pull a prank like that on me.”
…Kanade.
“Hehe. Hehehehe.”
She was smiling faintly.
“Right. That’s right. Hehe. ……So, that means I’m special to you, Akkun.”
“Eh, well, yeah?”
“……!”
Kanade’s cheeks flushed.
“O-oh, come on. If that’s the case, you should’ve said so sooner! Come on. You’re so mean, Akkun!”
No, the fact that you’re special to me… I told you that clearly when my family visited your house, right?
“Hehe. Hehehehe.”
“……”
“Akkun. Well then, since I’m your special someone, I’ll go prepare a special breakfast for you.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“No, it’s nothing. After all, I am your special someone, aren’t I? Hehehehe.”
Kanade left the room.
……Come to think of it, Kanade’s been showing up at my place every morning lately, hasn’t she?
Maiasa