The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming
After parting ways with Takagaki and the others, I headed straight home.
I hadn’t met my study quota for the day yet.
So I figured I’d hurry home and get started studying.
“Kanade—she left the restaurant before the rest of us. I wonder where she went?”
Sitting in my seat on the train on the way home, I muttered that to myself.
Earlier at the restaurant, Kanade—who had been invited by Takagaki-san to go to the beach—had left ahead of everyone else, saying she had plans for later today.
I wonder what kind of plans Kanade actually had.
…Honestly, thinking about it now, it feels a little off.
To begin with, Kanade had been invited to dinner by Takagaki-san today. Given that, the fact that she went home early because she had her own plans… means Kanade must have accidentally double-booked Takagaki-san’s plans with someone else’s.
Would Kanade really make such a silly mistake?
Maybe she would.
Because, from what I’ve heard… it seems Takagaki-san invited Kanade to dinner at the very last minute today.
If a plan came up at the last minute, it’s not impossible that she could have double-booked.
…But still.
If there really had been a double-booking, I feel like Kanade would have at least told Takagaki, “My schedule overlaps, so I’m going to have to leave a little early.”
But judging by how stunned Takagaki looked, it didn’t seem like she’d been told anything like that…
But if that’s the case, then Kanade, who headed home alone at that moment… it was almost like…
“Escape.”
…It’s not entirely impossible that she ran away to avoid staying there any longer and being persistently invited to go swimming.
…Why on earth does Kanade not want to go swimming that badly?
The first thing that comes to mind is, as I thought earlier, that she’s worried about her relationship with us.
Spending a long time with people you don’t get along with is, in itself, a source of intense stress.
Human beings instinctively want to escape from that kind of intense stress.
Could it be that Kanade… was trying to avoid spending a long time with us—people she doesn’t get along with, or perhaps even dislikes?
“…Hmm.”
But Takagaki denied that, didn’t she?
Of course, I know I can’t just take everything Takagaki-san says at face value, and I have no proof that Kanade doesn’t resent our relationship.
That said… it’s also true that there was something about Takagaki-san’s demeanor back then that seemed almost certain.
“……So, what other possible reasons could there be?”
……I don’t know.
At times like this… it’s faster to just ask her directly.
“Let’s talk about it tomorrow during the study session.”
So, the next day—not exactly to comply with Takagaki-san’s request, but… because I wanted to know why she didn’t want to go to the beach—I decided to talk to Kanade about today’s events.
Soon, the train arrived at the station closest to my house, and I walked home alone in the sweltering heat.
“Phew…”
After getting home, I stepped into the air-conditioned living room and sank deeply into the sofa.
The spot on the sofa where I was sitting was the best position to let the cool air from the AC wash over my whole body.
I could physically feel the sweat pooled on my forehead receding all at once.
“Akkun. Why don’t you take a shower?”
“Yeah. I think I’ll do that.”
Once the sweat had subsided a bit, I got up from the sofa.
“…Kanade, you can go take a shower first if you want.”
“It’s okay. I already took one.”
“Oh, okay. That’s good, then.”
I smiled… and noticed something off.
“Wait, Kanade.”
Only now did it occur to me: Kanade, who had left the restaurant a little early earlier, saying she had plans… was sitting on the sofa wearing my T-shirt and shorts.
……Wait, why on earth is she here?
Didn’t she leave the restaurant a little early because she had plans?
But at that moment, that question didn’t matter at all.
“……Kanade”
“What? A-kun”
“Did you dry your hair properly with the hair dryer?”
More than anything else, I couldn’t help but notice Kanade’s slightly damp hair.
“Yeah. I thought I dried it…”
“It’s still damp.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. Hold on a sec. I’ll dry it for you.”
Before taking a shower myself, I headed to the dressing room to grab the hair dryer so I could dry her hair.
Maiasa