The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming
“Phew, it was hot out there.”
“You’re right.”
When we arrived at the coffee shop where we were meeting, we were both drenched in sweat because of the scorching heat today.
The moment we stepped into the coffee shop, which had a slightly retro vibe, a cool breeze—a stark contrast to the heat outside—enveloped us, and we immediately felt relieved.
“Two people?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Wait, Kanade. Takagaki-san is coming later.”
“…Hehe. I forgot.”
Kanade smiled and told the server that one person was running late.
The server then led us to a table instead of the counter and brought us the menus shortly after.
“Akkun. What’ll you have?”
“I’ll have coffee.”
“Got it. Oh, but there are actually lots of different kinds of coffee, you know?”
“Huh, really?”
I peeked at the menu Kanade was holding.
Then… as Kanade was leaning forward, I caught a brief glimpse of her upper body through the neckline of her T-shirt, and I hurriedly sat back down in my seat.
“Huh? Akkun. What’s wrong?”
“Ahaha. Nothing…”
I gave a wry smile, trying to cover it up.
“…Hmm? You seem kind of suspicious.”
“I’m not.”
“…Mmm. Really?”
“Really. Kanade, have I ever lied to you before?”
“…”
“…”
“…………”
“…………”
“No way!”
“I knew it.”
“Yeah. Hehe. Hehehehe.”
We smiled at each other.
“…You two, are you creating your own little world even in a place like this?”
Just then, Takagaki-san, the person we were meeting, appeared before us.
…But for some reason, she looked fed up.
“Ah, Ayaka-chan. Hello.”
“Hello.”
“Hehe. I’ve been waiting for you, Ayaka-chan. Ayaka-chan, who has Akkun worried about her! Ayaka-chan, who’s making Akkun anxious!”
“W-wait a minute…! Hagiwara-kun! This girl is going full throttle right off the bat. What on earth happened?!”
“Huh? Nothing happened.”
“Ugh, seriously. Dealing with you guys is so exhausting…!”
Hmm, Takagaki-san… Why is she so irritated right off the bat?
“Customers, have you decided what you’d like to order?”
“…Ah, sorry. We’ll decide right away.”
Since the server approached us—who hadn’t placed an order yet—we shifted our focus to ordering first.
Five minutes later…
“Here’s your iced coffee.”
“Thank you.”
Drinks were served in front of all of us.
“Well then, Ayaka-chan. Thanks for taking time out of your busy day today.”
“No, don’t worry about it. …Just kidding. Actually, do worry about it. It takes quite a bit of energy to deal with a couple like that, who’s been giving off such a sweet vibe, right after I’ve finished my errands.”
“Hehe. Sorry about that.”
“…Why is she giving me such a smug look?”
Takagaki let out a sigh.
“…But thank you for helping me out with everything. Thanks for the photos, too.”
Takagaki bowed her head.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s something I enjoy doing.”
“Hearing you say that… really helps.”
“So… about that,”
I took a sheet of paper I’d printed at a convenience store out of my bag and handed it to her.
“……What’s this?”
Takagaki-san looked a little confused.
“This is the photo we took the other day.”
“Huh?”
“I printed out just this one—the one where you look your best—and brought it over. I thought your little brother might like it better on paper than as a digital file.”
“……”
“…Hey, Takagaki-san?”
Maybe she didn’t want it after all?
I was panicking a little inside.
“…Thank you.”
After a moment, Takagaki-san wiped something glistening at the corner of her eye with her finger and said that.
“I’m sure he’ll be happy. So, thank you so much…”
“No, no. Don’t worry about it.”
…Honestly, I really wish she wouldn’t make a big deal out of something this small.
“……Hey, Takagaki-san.”
Now that the atmosphere had warmed up a bit, I decided to get straight to the point.
“Is your little brother… maybe in the hospital right now… or something?”
In that instant, I felt the warm atmosphere that had been there just a moment ago turn completely cold.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for bringing this up out of the blue… It’s just that lately, you’ve seemed a little down.”
What on earth am I trying to explain right now?
“…I thought maybe that might be the case. And…”
And…
“…I just hope it’s all just my imagination.”
Takagaki-san’s recent slump.
The speculation Kanade and I came up with…
If it were all just my imagination…
If it really were all just my imagination, Takagaki-san would surely be angry.
I wouldn’t be able to complain if she spilled the full glass of tea in my face, asking if I wanted my little brother to suffer.
…But even if I was wrong, even if she did spill the tea on me, I found myself thinking that would be better.
“…Hehe.”
Takagaki-san smiled.
“Hagiwara-kun, you’ve never even met my brother, so why are you looking so serious?”
“……”
“Even if something happened to my brother… it’s none of your business, right? You don’t need to be so down as if you were the one involved.”
“……I just don’t want that.”
“What?”
“Seeing my friend look so miserable.”
Takagaki’s eyes widened.
“…You really shouldn’t say things like that in front of Ichinose-san.”
“That’s not true. Kanade feels the same way.”
“…Ahaha.”
Kanade scratched her head, looking a little awkward.
“…I see.”
Takagaki-san looked down.
“You’re so kind. …You two.”
Then she gave a wry smile.
“That’s right. My younger brother… just as you two suspected, he’s in the hospital right now.”
As if resigning herself to it, Takagaki-san told us.
“I’m sorry. For everything.”
Then, as if apologizing, she bowed her head.
Maiasa