The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming
Even to myself, it feels like it’s been a while since I spoke with such passion.
Come to think of it, had Takagaki and I really been such close friends… before I took that decisive action?
We met after starting high school.
I happened to run into her—who was in the same class as me—in the library… and we hit it off right away. Now we push each other to do better as study partners.
…It’s definitely not the kind of relationship where I’d meddle in family matters.
If that’s the case, then why am I… taking Takagaki’s side this much?
[Akkun, have you ever been to France?]
The reason is… because our paths crossed.
……My guiding principle has always been.
“……Muu.”
After I’d poured out my feelings, Kanade clearly sulked.
Her cheeks flushed, and she glared at me.
“Kanade, why are you glaring at me?”
“Akkun is……”
“I am……?”
Kanade didn’t say a word for a while.
“…Seriously, Akkun, you really do love taking on the thankless roles, don’t you?”
When Kanade finally spoke… she turned her face away, looking angry.
“It’s not like I like taking on thankless roles.”
“You do. You love it. …Seriously, Akkun, you’re making your own life miserable.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is.”
Kanade looked down.
“That’s why, A-kun… I’m so obsessed with you.”
I couldn’t hear Kanade’s voice.
“Well, if that’s what you want to do, A-kun, then go ahead.”
Kanade said.
“Yeah. I will.”
“…Muu. I’m not going to help you, though.”
“Yeah. I know.”
I gave a wry smile.
“This is… a matter between me and Takagaki-san.”
“……”
“……”
“…………”
“…………”
“I’m coming too, after all.”
“Huh? Why?”
“I said I’m coming, so I’m coming!”
Kanade raised her voice.
It was rare to see Kanade this angry.
“Ugh. A-kun, you really are…”
I felt like I’d seen Kanade say something like this on another occasion recently.
Back then, she’d said it happily… but now she’s angry.
“Well then, I’m going to try contacting Takagaki-san.”
“Huh? I’ll do it.”
“No way.”
“Huh?”
“…Ah, but you absolutely cannot be the one to call her.”
Why?
Kanade stood up from the sofa and left the living room.
She could have just contacted her right here.
Soon, Kanade’s cheerful voice could be heard from the hallway.
It seems… she’s already on the phone with Takagaki-san.
“Phew.”
Kanade returned to the living room.
“How did it go?”
“Yeah. …I didn’t ask about her brother’s situation for now; I just asked if we could hang out today.”
“And?”
“…She said she has plans today, but it’d be okay for a little while this afternoon.”
“…I see.”
Plans.
…Come to think of it, the day we went to the airport to take pictures of the wrapped airplane, Takagaki-san was late for our meeting. The reason was that she had something to do.
“…The circumstantial evidence is really piling up, isn’t it?”
A moment ago, I had convinced myself that the idea that something had happened to Takagaki-san’s younger brother was just our speculation… but every time something happens, it reinforces the conclusion that our speculation isn’t wrong.
“……Haa.”
Kanade let out a sigh.
“Whoa!”
She sat down next to me.
“Ka, Kanade……?”
She took my hand.
“……You’re, too close.”
She rested her head on my shoulder.
“…Akkun, you see…”
Kanade’s voice… unlike my racing heart, was calm.
“What do you think makes someone who’s feeling down want to try their best when someone pays attention to them…?”
…Is this another one of Kanade’s rules of thumb?
“…Hey, what do you think?”
…
“Sending words of encouragement, maybe?”
“……”
“Comforting them, maybe?”
“…………”
“…Empathizing with their pain, maybe?”
“Something much simpler.”
Simple…?
“It’s enough if you’re just there.”
……
“More than encouragement, more than comfort, more than empathy… Having someone important by my side. Not wanting to be separated from that person. …Just thinking that gives me the strength to keep going.”
…Is that… all there is to it?
“…Back then, you did that for me, didn’t you?”
…Back then, I used to visit Kanade every week.
“That’s why… I’m alive right now.”
I was always by her side.
“Akkun. Akkun…”
Was that her reason for living?
It’s hard to believe, to be honest.
“Akkun… you’ll stay by my side from now on, won’t you?”
But… hearing Kanade’s faint, fading voice, I didn’t know how to respond.
Maiasa