The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming
“Hehe. Hehehehe.”
Kanade burst into a cheerful laugh.
It seemed that showing her I was serious had paid off.
“Well then, what should I have you do? What should I have you do?”
Sitting on the train seat, Kanade was flapping her feet back and forth.
With each movement, the skirt of her dress fluttered in the breeze.
I felt a little uncomfortable looking at her.
“……Ka, Kanade. I’ll do anything, but let’s save that for later.”
“Ehh? I want you to do anything for me right now, right here, Akkun.”
“……We’re almost at the station closest to where I’m meeting Takagaki-san.”
“……”
“……”
“…………”
“…………”
“…Ayaka-chan. You’re going to get in my way again, aren’t you?”
Kanade’s eyes lost their sparkle as she muttered something in a voice too soft for me to hear.
“Hehe. Well, let’s go then, Akkun.”
“Yeah.”
“Ayaka-chan is waiting, after all. Since Ayaka-chan is waiting, there’s nothing we can do about it, right? …Hehe.”
Kanade gave a faint smile, stood up from her seat, and got off the train as it arrived at the station shortly thereafter.
The area around the station, located near a quiet residential neighborhood, was lined with apartment buildings and convenience stores, but there were no major commercial facilities, giving it an atmosphere that didn’t exactly scream “a station with plenty to see.”
“Ayaka-chan apparently loves trying out different foods.”
“Oh, really?”
“And I hear there are a lot of stylish, independently owned restaurants around here.”
I see. That would be the perfect spot for someone whose hobby is trying out different foods.
Still, Takagaki-san has quite a few hobbies—cosplay, trying out different foods, and so on. And since she’s also working hard at her studies, she probably doesn’t even have time to sleep.
“Akkun. You’re thinking about Ayaka-chan right now, aren’t you?”
“Huh? Yeah.”
“Hehe. I see. So you’re thinking about Ayaka-chan instead of me.”
“…Huh? Yeah.”
I nodded.
“I’m always thinking about Kanade, too.”
I scratched my head with a wry smile.
…Kanade.
“……Hehe.”
She gave a faint smile.
“Hehehehe. Akkun, you really do like me way too much.”
She seemed to have cheered up somehow.
With cicadas chirping in the distance, we walked along the street in the residential neighborhood. There weren’t many buildings around here, and with nothing to block the sunlight, there wasn’t a single patch of shade.
Because of that, sweat was pouring off us like a waterfall, and it was miserable.
“Kanade, isn’t your jacket too hot?”
“Huh?”
“I’m already struggling in just a T-shirt…”
“…Hehehe.”
Kanade smiled.
“I’m fine. It’s just the right temperature.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“…For someone who says that, your forehead is covered in sweat.”
“Hyan!”
I pulled a handkerchief out of my pocket and wiped the sweat from Kanade’s forehead.
As I did, a strange sound escaped Kanade’s lips.
…I’ll have to stop wiping her forehead out of the blue from now on.
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“……”
“……Kanade?”
“Hehe. Since Akkun’s wiping my sweat for me, it’s no problem, right?”
Is that so?
…
…………
Well, I guess so.
“Oh, this looks like the place.”
Kanade checked the map app on her phone and stopped in front of a small shop right in front of us.
From the way she spoke, it seemed this was the meeting place with Ms. Takagaki.
“Then let’s just go inside.”
“Yeah. I hope the AC is working.”
……I guess it really is hot after all.
“Welcome!”
As we opened the door, a cool breeze from the AC and the clerk’s voice greeted us.
“Two people, right?”
“Oh, we’re meeting someone here.”
So said that and looked around the shop, eyes darting here and there.
“Oh, Ayaka-chan!”
Then, spotting Takagaki-san inside, she waved happily and started walking toward her.
I followed Kanade.
“Hello.”
“Hello. You’re late.”
“Hehe. Sorry about that.”
“……Well, whatever.”
……Ugh.
……I was totally sure today’s meal was just going to be the three of us—Kanade, me, and Takagaki-san—but it seems I was wrong.
“……Hello, Kadokura-san.”
“Yeah. Hello, Kanade-chan.”
Kadokura-san had a gentle smile on her face.
Maiasa