The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming
After Professor Shibuya gave me a hard time, Kanade took my hand and led me out of the classroom.
We headed to the library.
“Ayaka-chan. Sorry I’m late!”
Takagaki-san was already there, engrossed in reading by herself.
“Ichinose-san, please be quiet in the library.”
“Huh? But there’s no one else here but us, right?”
Maybe because it was the day before summer break…
No, or maybe just because it was business as usual, but there were no other patrons in the library besides us.
“…It’s a matter of manners.”
“Oh, right. In that case… I’ll be more careful from now on.”
Kanade smiled cheerfully.
“…So, Hagiwara. Did you manage to avoid causing any weird trouble?”
“Weird trouble?”
“With Shibuya sensei. You’re not the type to go out of your way to pick fights with people, yet you suddenly went and confronted her.”
“Right? It was surprising, wasn’t it?”
There was no sparkle in Kanade’s eyes as she agreed.
“The pressure is intense…”
Takagaki’s voice trembled.
“…So, you haven’t caused any weird trouble with the teacher, have you?”
“Yeah. Of course not.”
“…Phew. That’s a relief.”
“Of course I caused some weird trouble!”
Takagaki clutched her head.
For now, I told Takagaki about the commotion that had arisen between me and Professor Shibuya.
“…Well. It doesn’t look like it’ll actually affect me, so it’s fine, but you must have a hard time every time.”
“Yeah. Maybe it’s because I’m not good with words.”
“…No, regarding this particular incident…”
Takagaki-san gave Kanade a meaningful look.
“Hmm? What is it, Ayaka-chan?”
“N-nothing at all…”
Ah, there goes the timid Takagaki again.
Still, I wonder what triggers this timid Takagaki to show up?
“So you’re doing this fully aware of it…? That’s pretty mean…”
Takagaki’s mutter was so quiet I couldn’t hear it.
“Come to think of it, why did you two call me out here again?”
Just as Professor Shibuya finished speaking, it came back to me.
“……Hehe. Akkun, have you already forgotten about this morning?”
“This morning?”
“Akkun, didn’t Ayaka-chan ask you about your plans for the day after tomorrow this morning, and then suggest going on a date?”
“I did ask about her plans for the day after tomorrow, but I didn’t say we should go on a date.”
Ah, come to think of it, that did happen.
“I wonder what she wanted. I wonder what she wanted. I’m curious.”
Kanade gave Takagaki-san a faint smile.
“…What happened to your promise not to pressure me?”
“I’m not putting any pressure on you. Come on, Ayaka-chan, that’s mean.”
“…Well, whatever.”
Takagaki-san let out a sigh, looking exasperated.
“……Hagiwara-kun. I heard you know a lot about airplanes. Is that true?”
I widened my eyes at Takagaki-san’s question.
Where on earth did she hear that?
It’s true that I… became interested in airplanes because of an incident involving a certain person, and started hanging out at the airport. Then, before I knew it, I’d grown to love going to the airport, and my knowledge of airplanes deepened as a result.
But I hadn’t told a single person at this school about that.
…Oh.
“…It was during one of my rare conversations with Ichinose-san that she told me.”
“…Ahaha.”
“Actually, whenever I talk to her, it’s always all about you. And if I don’t listen properly, she immediately starts pressuring me. So, I guess I was avoiding you a little bit, you know?”
“W-wait a minute, Ayaka! It’s fine to tell others that I was avoiding you, but you can’t say what came before that!”
“So that part’s okay, huh…”
Kanade was flustered, which was rare.
I’ve never seen her this flustered before… except when she’s interacting with her mother.
…These two seem to get along pretty well.
“Well, never mind. Anyway, you know a lot about airplanes, right?”
“Yeah. …So?”
“…Actually…”
Takagaki-san took her smartphone out of her pocket.
On the screen was… a cute little kid.
“My little brother.”
“Wow, Ayaka-chan. You have a little brother! He’s cute!”
……Just as Kanade said, even though it was just a photo, Takagaki-san’s younger brother looked like he had handsome features.
Takagaki-san has good looks herself, so maybe it’s in the genes.
“He’s not cute at all in real life. He’s sassy, always getting into mischief, and no matter how much I tell him, he never puts his toys away properly.”
“……Is that so?”
“But, well… sometimes? There might be moments when I think he’s cute.”
“Tsundere.”
“She’s a tsundere, isn’t she?”
“Sh-shut up!”
Takagaki-san blushed.
“…So. My little brother was watching the news the other day.”
“He’s watching the news even though he’s so little? I’m looking forward to seeing what he’ll be like in the future.”
“Well, just then… there was a report on a certain airline’s aircraft livery… and it happened to be a livery based on his favorite anime.”
“…I see.”
I was starting to get the picture.
“So… Hagiwara! Please!”
“Sure. No problem.”
“I want to take a picture of that plane, so could you show me around the airport…! Wait, is that okay?”
“Sure.”
Takagaki’s eyes widened at his immediate decision.
“…Wow, you make up your mind fast.”
“Hehe. When someone shows interest in the things I love, I just naturally want to support them, don’t I?”
“…!”
Kanade seemed to have had a sudden realization.
“Okay, okay! A-kun! I just fell in love with airplanes too!”
“Really? That makes me happy.”
“She doesn’t even seem to doubt it…”
Takagaki let out an exasperated sigh.
“Well then, see you the day after tomorrow. Looking forward to it, Hagiwara-kun. And, Ichinose-san.”
“…Huh?”
My eyes widened.
“Why is Kanade coming too?”
“Huh? It’s obvious, isn’t it?”
Takagaki-san crossed her arms.
“…Because I value my life.”
“Huh?”
I didn’t quite get it, but for now, the three of us were going to the airport the day after tomorrow.
Maiasa