The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming
It took a few dozen minutes by train from the station nearest our school.
We arrived at the station closest to our homes and walked the rest of the way.
“I’ve totally memorized the streets around here now.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. Well, I used to come around here a lot back in the day, too.”
“That’s right.”
“There used to be a convenience store around here back then… but it’s gone now, so it’s a little less convenient, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
After walking for about ten minutes while chatting, we arrived at my house.
“Excuse me for coming in.”
Kanade said politely.
“Today… no, Mom and Dad are working late again today, so don’t worry.”
“Hehe. That doesn’t really put my mind at ease.”
Kanade really is such a kind girl.
“I’ll go make some tea, so could you wait in the room for a bit?”
“Sure. Thanks.”
At Kanade’s suggestion, I headed to my room.
…Huh? How did it end up being Kanade who’s making the tea?
This is my house, right?
Anyway, once I got to my room, I decided to put the teddy bear back where it belonged.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“…Oh.”
But, as if on cue, Kanade walked into the room.
“So you did move it after all.”
Kanade looked a little annoyed as she set a glass of barley tea on the table.
“But it was covered in dust.”
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
“…But you’re the one who said it, right?”
“Huh?”
“You told me to think of this teddy bear as you.”
…Basically, I couldn’t let a stand-in for you get covered in dust.
I was too embarrassed to say any more, but that was the reason I’d moved the teddy bear.
“…Muu.”
Kanade puffed out her cheeks.
Apparently, she wasn’t convinced by my explanation.
“Well, then… I guess it’s okay to leave it there.”
But in the end, she let me not put the teddy bear on the top shelf of the bookshelf.
What a forgiving girl Kanade is.
…Forgiving, huh?
“Ei!”
Kanade suddenly dove face-first onto the bed I use when I sleep.
“You idiot, A-kun.”
Kanade lay face-down, flapping her legs.
…Um, well.
Every time Kanade flapped her legs, her skirt fluttered… It was quite a sight for sore eyes—or rather, I didn’t know where to look.
When I glanced over, her healthy thighs were exposed.
Still, what exactly makes me an idiot?
For once, I couldn’t agree with a single word she said.
Kanade still didn’t seem to be in a better mood; she hugged my pillow and buried her face in it.
She rolled over on the bed, curled up on her side, and fell silent.
……Seriously, I didn’t know where to look.
“Kanade, what exactly did you come here to do?”
I asked.
Or rather, it was a gentle rebuke.
She had come here today to study.
At this rate, forget studying—she’d probably end up sleeping there until dinnertime.
“…Akkun.”
“What?”
“…Just suppose…”
Kanade’s voice was muffled as she spoke, her face buried in the pillow.
“What if… I told you I came here today to do something other than study, what would you do?”
Hearing Kanade’s muffled words, I thought.
…If she had come here today to do something other than study.
What on earth had Kanade actually come here to do?
Given Kanade’s current state, the first thing that comes to mind is… that she came to sleep?
But if that were the case, she could just sleep at her own house instead of mine.
Then… judging by her provocative words and actions…
…If that were the case.
If Kanade had come here today with that intention…
“Akkun…? What are you going to do…?”
I…
“I’m going to get angry.”
…Furrowing my brow, I said.
A brief silence.
“…Huh!?”
Kanade pulled her face away from the pillow, looking flustered.
“So… you came here today not to study, but to distract me, right?”
Given Kanade’s current state, I couldn’t think of any other explanation.
“No, even if you didn’t come here to distract me… you came to study, right? To get good grades on the test. To deepen your understanding. For your own future…”
“…Aaah.”
“Then let’s do this properly.”
“…Yes.”
Kanade, looking more fragile than usual, got out of bed and headed for the table.
I felt a little sorry, wondering if I’d gone a bit too far… but whether I thought about it calmly or not, I felt like Kanade was about 60% to blame for this whole thing… Well, I’ll make sure to apologize properly later.
“A-kun…”
A few dozen minutes after we started studying, Kanade, on the verge of tears, called out to me.
“What?”
“I don’t get this problem…”
“Oh, that one…”
From then on, we concentrated on our studies until my parents came home.
Maiasa