The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming
On the train heading to the airport, when Kanade, sitting next to me, started fiddling with her phone, I decided to let my mind wander.
I wonder what Takagaki-san’s younger brother is like?
That was the gist of my thoughts.
The other day, Takagaki-san showed me a photo of her brother… He had a handsome face, but he looked young—maybe just starting elementary school. That’s the age range he seemed to be in.
If that’s the case… the age gap between him and Takagaki-san is at least five years, at a conservative estimate. At a generous estimate, maybe ten years?
…They’re quite a pair of siblings with a big age gap.
Well, maybe she just showed me a photo taken a few years ago, or even if not, the age gap might be smaller than I thought… but I found myself getting a little curious.
Since becoming friends with Takagaki, this was probably the first time I’d felt this much interest in anything related to her.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
I muttered.
I couldn’t wait for the moment when I’d finally get to meet Takagaki’s younger brother.
“What are you looking forward to?”
It seemed my mutterings had reached Kanade, who was sitting next to me.
Kanade asked in a tone lower than usual.
“…Ah, meeting Takagaki’s younger brother.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…Hehe. Yeah, you’re right. It’ll be fun.”
“Haha. You’re right.”
We laughed together.
“It’s surprising that Takagaki-san has such a little brother, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is. I wonder if he’s in elementary school? He looked even younger than that.”
“Oh, did you think so too, Kanade? Yeah, he looked about that age.”
……I smiled.
“I can’t wait to meet him.”
“Huh?”
Kanade tilted her head.
“Is Ayaka’s little brother coming today?”
“Huh?”
This time, I tilted my head.
“He’s not coming?”
“Eh, I don’t know.”
“…Now that you mention it, she never actually said she was bringing her little brother.”
Seeing Kanade’s reaction, it dawned on me.
“…But I think he’ll come, don’t you?”
“Do you think so?”
“Yeah. I think so.”
A few minutes later, the train we were riding arrived at the airport.
The airport station where we got off was the terminal station leading to the international flights.
When I stood up from my seat to get off the train, there were already many passengers gathered in front of the doors.
Most of them were carrying suitcases by their sides.
…It was a familiar sight I saw every time I came to the airport station.
Soon the train doors opened, and we got off along with the people who were about to set off on their journeys.
We walked through the airport underground passage, took the escalator, and headed for the departure level.
“The meeting place was the departure gate, right?”
It was Kanade who suggested it.
“As usual, we’re being made to walk quite a distance.”
“Yeah. But the airport is clean and spacious, so it’s worth the walk.”
“Hehe. A-kun, you’re being unusually positive today.”
The way she put it made it sound like I’m always negative…
…Is that actually true?
“Anyway, Kanade, why did you specifically choose the area in front of the departure gates as our meeting spot?”
I decided to ask Kanade the question that had been on my mind ever since we decided on this meeting spot.
“Huh? Well, I just thought it might be easy to find.”
It was a simpler reason than I’d expected.
…Well, having explored the airport for years, I know there are a few other places that would be just as suitable for a meeting spot.
But for someone who doesn’t come to the airport very often… I guess, in a way, this really is an easy place to meet…?
“Come to think of it, I got a message on the train a little while ago.”
Kanade brought it up out of the blue.
“Ayaka-chan said she’ll be a little late.”
“Huh, really?”
…I hadn’t received any such message at all.
Even though I’ve known her way longer than Kanade has… That’s a little sad.
“Yeah. She said her previous appointment is running a bit late.”
“Previous appointment?”
I wonder what kind of appointment that is.
“…So, anyway…”
Kanade smiled.
“Akkun. Looks like we’ve got some free time on our hands for a while.”
“Huh?”
“…Hehe. Akkun. Do you remember what kind of place this is?”
This is the departure gate.
In other words… the place where Kanade and I parted ways once.
[I’m back, Akkun.]
And it’s also the place where we truly reunited.
“That thing we did the other day. It was so moving.”
“…Ahaha.”
I gave a wry smile.
Back then, I let my emotions get the best of me and told her all sorts of things… but looking back now, it’s a little embarrassing.
“It was so moving. So moving.”
…Kanade, what on earth is she planning to do?
“So, A-kun. About that thing from the other day… do you want to do it again?”
“Eh…”
“……”
“……”
“…I see. So your feelings for me have cooled off, huh?”
“Whoa—! No, no, that’s not it!”
Seeing Kanade hang her head, I panicked.
“O-okay. Let’s do it.”
“Really!? I’m so happy. I’m so happy.”
…Well, seeing Kanade this happy, a little embarrassment is nothing, right?
“…Alright then, Akkun. Stay still, okay?”
“Huh?”
“Stay completely still, okay?”
“Huh…?”
Kanade suddenly moved closer to me.
Her lustrous black hair swayed gently, and her scent drifted right up to me, making me feel a little strange.
Isn’t this just a repeat of what we did last time?
But with my face burning, I couldn’t bring myself to say that out loud.
“……!”
Without thinking, I closed my eyes.
“……There.”
But… things didn’t go quite as I’d expected.
When I slowly opened my eyes, Kanade was attaching something black to my neck.
“Kanade, what’s this?”
“Hmm?”
Once she’d finished attaching the black thing, Kanade stepped away from me.
“A pin mic.”
“…I see.”
I see.
So this is a pin mic.
…It’s the first time I’ve seen one in person.
Wait, did I use one back in middle school for student council work? I can’t quite remember.
“Okay. Alright, Akkun. Let’s get started right away.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah.”
Kanade smiled.
“I’m home, Akkun.”
…After feeling briefly elated by Kanade’s beaming smile, I snapped back to reality and continued.
“Welcome home, Kanade.”
…Kanade.
“……”
“…?”
“…Hmm.”
She looked puzzled and tilted her head.
“Akkun. Can you do it with a little more of a sigh?”
“More of a sigh?”
I took a deep breath in and out.
“That’s it. Let’s try it one more time like that.”
“Got it.”
I nodded…
“Welcome home, Kanade.”
I said it again.
“……”
Kanade…
“…………”
She was making that puzzled face again.
“…………”
This time, she even crossed her arms.
“……”
“……”
“…………”
“…………”
“……Hehehe.”
Ah, she’s got a slouchy look on her face now.
“Okay?”
“Okay. Just like you, A-kun. It’s perfect. Perfect casting. Perfect location. Perfect acting.”
She’s really lavishing praise on me.
“Ah, what should I do? If A-kun’s voice hadn’t changed, I would’ve wanted you to tell me to try my best one more time.”
That’s right… that was the line I said to her on the day I saw Kanade off.
“…Nah, maybe there are some things you can only see after your voice breaks?”
…
…
Kanade seems to be having a lot of fun, doesn’t she?
“What are you guys doing?”
Takagaki-san, who had shown up late, suddenly appeared right in front of us, looking utterly horrified.
Why on earth?
“Oh, Ayaka-chan. You could’ve taken it a little slower—”
“Right. …I’m actually regretting that right now.”
That’s a pretty harsh thing to say.
“…Sigh. Well, let’s get going then.”
“Yeah. You’re right.”
“Wait, you two!”
……Huh?
Takagaki-san didn’t bring her little brother after all?.
Maiasa