The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming
“I guess we’ve been here a little too long.”
After watching the planes from the airport observation deck for a while, I realized the area around us had already been swallowed up by complete darkness.
Kanade, who had been delighted by the colorful LED lights on the runway—saying they looked like Christmas lights—also seemed a little tired.
“Should we head home soon?”
“Before that, do you want to grab dinner at the airport?”
Kanade suggested.
“Hmm. But airport restaurants are usually pretty pricey, aren’t they?”
“Really?”
“Yeah. …It’s a bit tough on a high school student’s budget.”
“I see. That’s too bad.”
Kanade looked down, looking a little disappointed.
“……A-kun.”
But she quickly looked up again.
“before we go home, can we stop by one more place?”
I wondered where on earth Kanade wanted to go.
“Sure.”
I had no reason to refuse, so I simply accepted her suggestion.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
We left the observation deck and headed back inside the airport.
Sandwiched between two foreigners carrying large suitcases, we made our way to the international departures level.
The international departures level was very spacious, perhaps because this airport handles so many international flights.
Just walking from one end to the other would leave someone who doesn’t get much exercise a little out of breath.
“……Where do you think we’re going?”
“Hehe. I was thinking of eloping with you, Akkun.”
Kanade was in high spirits, cracking jokes.
Of course, without plane tickets, we couldn’t board a flight or even head to security.
“……This is…”
I was smiling at Kanade’s joke when she stopped walking… so I checked where we had ended up.
“Akkun, do you remember where this is?”
Kanade asked.
……The place we were standing right now was in front of the international departure gate.
What kind of place this was. Of course, I remembered.
……I’d never forgotten.
[……Bye-bye.]
This is the place where I once saw Kanade off as she left for France.
“Do you remember, Akkun? Right before we went through this gate, Mom and Dad said their goodbyes.”
“……I remember.”
“Then, do you also remember what Mom and Dad said to us after that?”
“Of course.”
……Our parents, as they were parting ways, encouraged each other as if to commend one another’s efforts.
And then, seeing us standing there in silence as we faced our own farewell…
[Come on, you two.]
……They told us to say our goodbyes.
“Do you remember the conversation that followed?”
“……Yeah.”
……Even now, if I close my eyes, I can remember it.
“……Akkun…”
Kanade spoke first.
“Have you ever been to France, Akkun?”
And she said the same thing she did that day.
“……No.”
“I see.”
Kanade smiled.
“I have.”
“……I see.”
“Yeah. It was… well, to say I had a lot of fun would be a lie.”
“……Did you visit the tourist spots?”
“Yeah. …I did.”
……Her voice was trembling.
“If I could have, I would have wanted to visit them with you.”
Kanade looked down.
“……That’s the only thing I regret.”
From Kanade’s downcast eyes……a tear fell.
…Seeing her like that, I could think of only one thing to say.
“Then, let’s go together next time.”
I smiled.
“Kanade, do you remember our last conversation that day?”
“……Yeah.”
“‘Do your best.’ You never actually replied to me when I encouraged you like that, did you?”
“…………Yeah.”
“……I thought you must have had a vague idea. That we’d probably never see each other again.”
“……”
“So, I figured you didn’t reply to avoid giving me false hope.”
“……Not replying. I regretted it later.”
Kanade spoke slowly, pouring out her feelings.
“At the moment you said it, you were right. I was afraid that if I said the wrong thing, it would end up betraying you. That’s why I couldn’t say anything. But… the fact that I couldn’t say anything that day led to deep regret later on.”
“……”
“I thought that if I was going to feel that way, I should have just been honest. I should have said, ‘I’m sorry. I don’t think I can do it.’”
“……”
“But because I didn’t say it… it became painful. I started thinking.”
“……About what?”
“About what the right answer should have been that day.”
“……”
“About how you would have responded if it had been you that day.”
“…………”
“I’ve been wondering what I’d say to you if we ever met again.”
The airport entrance.
Cheerful people speaking foreign languages, having just arrived from abroad.
People looking fed up, perhaps heading overseas for work.
A scene similar to the one from before spreads out before my eyes.
But there are also clear differences from before.
A restaurant I’ve never seen before has opened inside the entrance.
A new airline has entered the market that wasn’t there before.
…And we’ve both grown quite a bit taller, too.
“……What were you going to say?”
She’s become so beautiful.
“I’m home.”
Before I knew it, I was mesmerized by Kanade’s smile.
“I’m home, A-kun.”
……Watching Kanade smile with tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.
“Welcome home, Kanade.”
I smiled too.
“……!”
Suddenly, a jolt ran through my chest.
Before I knew it, Kanade, overcome with emotion, had thrown herself into my arms.
“……That hurts.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry……”
Kanade buried her face in my chest.
“……Akkun.”
Then, she whispered to me.
“Akkun… you really are so kind, aren’t you?”
With her face still buried in my chest, Kanade continued.
“Because you’re so kind… I just couldn’t bring myself to let you go.”
Maiasa