The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming
As Kanade and I headed to my room, she opened my closet right away.
“Hmm. I wonder what I should have you wear today.”
Kanade said as she rummaged through the closet.
I wonder.
The way she said, “I wonder what I should have you wear today…” might give the wrong impression—as if Kanade always decides what I wear.
“The restaurant Ayaka-chan picked for lunch is a chic, independent Italian place… Maybe a more sophisticated look would be good. But wait, we’re still high school students, so maybe casual clothes after all…?”
…She was actually giving it more thought than I expected.
“……Hmm.”
=…Watching Kanade agonize over it, I suddenly realized something.
“Kanade, you really know the ins and outs of my closet, don’t you?”
Ever since a little while ago, Kanade hasn’t shown the slightest hesitation or uncertainty while rummaging through my closet.
It’s almost as if she knows exactly where everything is.
“Hehe. Hehehehe.”
“Ahaha. Ahahahaha.”
Well, maybe it’s a bit premature to assume she knows the contents of my dresser inside and out just because she shows no hesitation or uncertainty…
“Ah, A-kun. How about this one?”
It seemed Kanade had ultimately decided to go with a formal look, as she was holding a lightweight jacket.
“Yeah. That’s nice.”
“……”
“……”
“…………”
“…………”
“……Hmm…”
Even though she’d been the one to suggest it, Kanade started tilting her head with a puzzled look on her face.
“Is there something you don’t like about it?”
I asked.
“……Akkun, do you wear this often?”
“Huh?”
This time, I was the one tilting my head.
“……I guess I wear it pretty often,”
she said, sounding a bit hesitant……
“Come to think of it, it’s been way too hot lately, so I haven’t really been wearing it much.”
“That’s true. You’re right.”
……Huh?
“Then…… I guess I’ll skip wearing this jacket after all. You probably won’t be able to wear it until summer’s over. Right?”
“……Yeah.”
When I looked closely, the sparkle had faded from Kanade’s eyes.
“So, hey. Can I borrow this jacket today?”
“Yeah. Sure.”
It’s supposed to be a scorcher all day today, but maybe she’d been sitting in the AC too long and was feeling a little chilly?
…
……
Poor thing.
“Hehe. A-kun’s jacket is so baggy!”
Kanade immediately slipped on my jacket, and with a sparkle in her eyes, she smiled happily.
Seeing her look so happy like this makes me feel happy too.
“……Sniff, sniff.”
Kanade suddenly started sniffing my jacket.
“Hehe. It smells like you, Akkun.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. It smells like you, Akkun.”
“Oh, really?”
“Hehe. It smells like you, Akkun… Hehe.”
Kanade wore a blissful expression.
“It’s like I’m wrapped up in you, Akkun.”
“Ahaha. Kanade, you’re exaggerating.”
I laughed, but Kanade was too absorbed in my jacket to reply.
“Should we head out soon, Akkun?”
After sniffing my jacket for a while, Kanade said.
Deep down, I was surprised.
After all, the reason we’d come to my room was so she could help me decide what to wear today.
In the end, I’d just ended up lending her something to wear over her dress.
…Sigh.
I’m just glad she didn’t have to be cold.
“Akkun. Hurry up, hurry up!”
“Oh, okay.”
…Well, it’s hot outside anyway, so I’ll just go with a white oversized T-shirt and wide-leg pants.
“Kanade, I’m going to change for a bit. Could you wait in the hallway?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Huh?”
I looked over at Kanade, who was still sniffing my jacket as I pulled clothes out of the dresser.
“…I have to take my clothes off to change, so could you wait in the hallway?”
“Huh? Why?”
“…Well, it’s embarrassing, isn’t it?”
“Huh? Why?”
Kanade smiled.
“We used to take baths together when we were little, didn’t we?”
“……”
“……”
“…………”
“…………”
“……You’re right.”
“Hehe. See?”
“Ahaha. You’re right.”
Ahaha. What on earth was I being shy about?
“Well then, I’m going to show you a slightly unsightly sight for a moment, but I’m sorry.”
“Hehe. Hehehehe. Heh……”
The moment I took off my pajama T-shirt and was bare-chested, Kanade’s faint smile faded.
“Ah, A-kun. Sorry. I think I’ll go wait in the hallway for a bit…”
“Huh? What’s suddenly gotten into you?”
“…Y-your body’s more masculine than I expected—it’s a bit overwhelming.”
“Hm? …I don’t really get it, but it’s hot out in the hallway, so just stay here.”
“Huh!?”
“I’ll be done changing in a second.”
After putting on a white T-shirt, I reached for my pants.
“Whoa. Whoaaaaa!?”
Kanade rushed out of the room in a panic.
“Akkun, you pervert!”
As she left the room, Kanade threw that mysterious parting shot at me.
Maiasa