Illustration

Prologue
My regret.

If you want to mention regrets about me, that's it.

When I was in junior high school, she approached me quickly, but

eventually parted ways, she.

She seemed to say in a low voice that she liked me many times.

Since I liked her too, I didn't have much speculation about her intentions to
"like", and I accepted it by accident.

But this is all wrong.

She is a free spirited girl.

An unrestrained girl, living in the moment, living freely.

But I lost so much consciousness to walk hand in hand with a girl like that.

In retrospect, I had let go of her, who roamed freely between heaven and
earth.

Then, she... gave a very lonely look and left me.

If you want to mention the regret I have, it's Mizuno Ai.

And, the one who failed to tolerate and accept it... Asada Yuzuru, alone.

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 Chapter 1

The midsummer heat lasts a long time.

Even if the tattered air conditioner in the activity room worked furiously, it
was very stuffy, with a sticky layer of sweat on the skin.

In such a sultry room, Odajima slumped deeply on the sofa, chatting with
steaming cup noodles.

"There is a thick universe in Cup Noodles,"

Odajima said, sucking and whistling curly noodles.

The words hanging in the air resounded in the activity room.

Since there are only two people here, me and Odajima, so it should be
addressed to me.

I cut the bookmarks on the library book I was reading, and closed the book
forcefully.

“Suddenly, what do you think?”

Seeing my narrowed eyes, Odajima pointed at me with a “slap” with her

chopsticks.

A drop of soup on the tip of the chopsticks dripped onto the activity room
floor, and she had to clean it up later.

"It's not a big deal. Cup Noodles is the universe,"

Odajima insisted, putting her chopsticks into a cylindrical noodle cup and
stirring continuously.

Among the things that expand indefinitely, choose the finite and unique that
is encapsulated in the container.

"I don't really understand what you're talking about."

Despite thinking that "the universe is not necessarily infinite," she

interrupted, but gave up. Because it feels very unattractive.

While I was thinking about these things, Odajima was still using chopsticks
to stir the cup noodles circle after circle, and continued to talk happily.

“Intercepting infinity to create the perfect shape. So, this is the universe.”

“Ah, like this…”

A shirt in disheveled clothes and a sweater in a color that violates school
rules, Odajima is dressed like a sexy little girl. With such philosophical
words in her mouth, I always felt a little detached from the world, so I
hummed softly.

Glancing at Odajima, who had finished talking to her heart's content, and
started talking again, I opened the library and started reading again.

Then, it suddenly occurred to me.

“Then, is this also the universe?”

I lifted the library book in my hand, and Odajima shrugged.

“Asada, if you think so, is that also an option?”

"What? It's too ordinary."

"Unusual. Just that."

Odajima says this nonchalantly, and proceeds to “suck” again. Talking

about noodles.

I can't help but think that she's really good at making savory noodles.

Seeing her start to concentrate on her rambling face, I also went back to
reading.

reading department.

This is a club activity that I participate in.

It literally means doing "reading" club activities, but I was the only member
active in those activities.

The others were all ghost members, and Odajima, who was sitting on the
sofa and wandering around the cup noodles, was one of them.
At first, it was against the school rules to eat something that couldn't be
bought at the school commissioner on campus, but no matter what I said,
she didn't mean to give up, and I had no choice but to agree to her.

Of course, there's no equipment for boiling hot water at the school, so

Odajima also brought an electric kettle to the activity room to use.

Even though I knew this was a disguise for violating the school rules, the
fact that someone other than me would appear made me extremely happy.

I'm just pointing at her casually, so he'll be lonely if she never comes here
again.

"Oh, right."

After all, Odajima had basically finished eating the noodles, and placed the
cup with a lot of soup on the table. Then, she said as if thinking of
something.

“Have you heard of the transfer student?”

To welcome Odajima's opening, I forcefully closed the book. So there is a

sound that is louder than imagined.

Odajima seems surprised by the voice, and frowns.

"Sorry, I bothered you reading?"

"No, it's fine. I must apologize.”

Obviously there was no such idea, but from the results, I blocked it and
pondered over it.

Odajima seemed to understand it as "Don't bother me reading."

I put the library books on the table and looked at Odajima.

"Student transfer. It's from 3rd grade. There seems to be such a rumor this
morning."
"Uh-um. It's rare to transfer at this point. And..."

Odajima said here, “Hee” I raised one corner of her mouth and smiled
shamelessly.

“I heard it's super~beautiful level.”

"Uh..."

Honestly, I'm not interested. But I still responded without looking

indifferent.

"Ah, seems to have no interest in it."

"Ah -, Well she is another class of transfer students the opportunity to attack
so there is no relationship,"

"Even very beautiful?"

"Do you think I'm a bit of a gun mouth Raiders will play well Are you a
girl?"

I asked, Odajima snorted and shrugged. At this moment, not saying

anything was the same as denying it.

The topic Odajima brought up was a bit too irrelevant for me, so I naturally
went back to reading.

Now is the best time. When the topic is finished, I want to keep reading.

But Odajima's words interrupted my thoughts like this.

“It seems to be called… “Mizu… Mizuno Ai”?”

The folding chair made a strange “Bhuk” sound.

Odajima opened her eyes in surprise.

And I stood before I wanted to think of something.

"...What is it?"

"Oh, it's okay..."

I wiped my inexplicable sweat, and slowly sat back down on the plastic
chair.

“…It's the same as my friend's name.”

Hearing my words, Odajima “Eh~!” friendly smile.

"Maybe it's a kid you know?"

Odajima said, her words crossed my mind.

And I, because I heard this unexpected name at such a time, I was in a

mess.

The girl I dated in middle school is also called Mizuno Ai.

He transferred to another school because of her parents' circumstances, and

returned to my high school again. How low is this probability?

I thought conveniently, but happened to have the same name and surname.

To be honest, even though I wanted to ask Odajima now, "What about

Kanji's character? How is her name written?", if I wanted to ask so much,
Odajima, who has a keen sense of smell, would probably guess that it was
me and the relationship.

"Huh..."

As if to expel the heat from my body, I took a deep breath and opened the
library book again.

Then, thinking about calming the chaotic thoughts, drowned in a sea of

words.
……However, what you see is only transmitted to your mind as visual
information, so you can't see it.

Ding Dong, the bell rang announcing the end of school time, and I closed
the book.

Odajima is lying on the sofa playing with her cell phone. She raised
her head as if to meet my gaze that was lifted from the book.

"Are you ready to go home?"

"Okay, let's go home."

After all, this was the last time I went to school. As I signaled, Odajima
snorted and tucked the phone into her sweater pocket.

By the way, using cell phones at school is also against school rules.

Odajima walked briskly outside the activity room.

I locked the window and closed the curtains. Then follow Odajima and
leave the activity room.

Insert the key into the keyhole of the activity room door and lock it.

“Are you in a daze?”

"What?"

"Read"

"Is that so?"

I asked back, Odajima smiled, showed a mischievous smile and nodded.

“After talking about transfer students, you are in a daze?”

"So…"

I mumbled coldly, and took the key out of the door.

After pulling the closed door a few times and confirming that it was locked
properly, I sighed.

In fact, when I hear the transfer student's name, I keep thinking of her with
the same name and surname.

Because she left a scar so deep in my heart……

As I closed the door and was about to return the key, Odajima grabbed my
arm.

“That, that girl named Mizuno Ai… What does that have to do with Asada-
kun?”

Odajima, who always wore an elusive smile and didn't show her sincerity,
was now looking me straight in the eye.

I flinched a little.

Having known Odajima for so long, I know very well that whenever she
puts on an expression like that, no matter what I want to say is pointless.

How should I explain it... I thought about it a bit.

Then, withdraw your honest feelings.

"...Not very clear to me."

Hearing my answer like this, Odajima is a little confused with an

indescribable expression.

“But… indeed someone who made me unforgettable.”

I added this sentence, and Odajima smiled faintly and nodded “here”.
"In that case, it would be nice if the transfer student really was her."

Odajima continued.

"Why?"

When I asked, Odajima said quietly, as if nothing happened.

"Because he's important enough to make you unforgettable, right?"

And I can't answer the words.

Seeing that I didn't say a word, Odajima snorted and jumped in front of me
wearing indoor shoes.

"I'll give you the key?"

"Of course. I will return it to normal.”

"Yes. It's been a lot of work."

Odajima nodded, raised her hand “goodbye” and walked to the stairs.

I looked at her from behind and sighed.

"It's important not to be forgotten", remembering Odajima's words over and

over again, I climbed the stairs to the office.

Is that true?

I should be imprisoned in guilt.

I walked into her by accident, and did not carefully evaluate the meaning of
her kindness to me, and ended up leaving her.

Maybe it hurt her because of this, or maybe it didn't... and I didn't even
know anything about it.

"Goodbye teacher"
Returned the key to the key management box in the office, and wrote my
name on the registration form... After the usual process, I walked to the
stairs.

On a dimly lit staircase, replace indoor shoes with outdoor shoes.

Outside, there was a commotion from the Sports Department students

starting to pack their things.

I like school today.

After completing a small unit called "Today", everyone started their journey
home. In this process, the footsteps also naturally move towards
"tomorrow".

When I can't stay, endure this loneliness and peace of mind, I continue to
carve out my daily life.

What I like is that it doesn't matter if you draw your mouth, but time will
pass quietly if you stay still.

And. If anything dramatic happened, it was basically during this period of

time.

I suddenly turned my gaze to the playground, which I wouldn't notice.

There was a strange situation there.

In the center of the playground, there was a female student lying on a large
print.

Moreover, they also wear uniforms.

The students from the sports department who had finished their club
activities and started packing their things gave her strange looks, but she lay
on the playground nonchalantly. This girl was acquainted in the past.

My heart is like a deer.

As if interested in the past, I slowly approached the playground.

"What are you doing?"

I talked to the “girl” lying on the playground. She looked up at the sky and
answered.

"Look at the blue sky"

"Why, look at the blue sky in such a place?"

"Because I want to see what the sky looks like in the middle of the school
where I will spend every day of today."

"Is it okay to stand and not look?"

"If you lay on the playground, maybe you can get better with this school,
right?"

He had a great body, a good voice, and a good speech... ...all of them
exactly the same as the person in my memory.

Exhale warm.

I was sweating all over, calling out her name.

“School time… Mizuno.”

The girl who was looking straight at the blue sky raised her head and
looked at my face when she heard my voice.

Her bright eyes slowly opened.

"...Yuzuru?"

"...Well. It's been a while, Mizuno"

I replied with a stiff smile, and she whispered with a subtle expression.

"Mizuno..."

Looks like she was suspicious of how I called out for a moment after her
eyes drifted off, she immediately stood up and patted the skirt on her butt.

Then she ran to me and took my hand. It was a pair of hands that burned
with body temperature, and I couldn't have known them better.
"Long time no see! I didn't expect to see you again, Yuzuru!"

"... me, too"

Looking at "Mizuno Ai" with bright eyes, I didn't know what kind of
expression it should be, so I had to faintly smile.

In this way, Mizuno Ai appeared before me again.

His face passed through my heart many times, and this time she stood
before my eyes in a form.

This fact made me dizzy for a while.

I love the "daily life" of living in the twilight.

However, today's twilight brings the extraordinary "unusual" to my side.

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 Chapter 2
"I think, I liked you."

"...Hah?"

Ai's confession to me in middle school was really sudden.

I asked dumbfounded.

"Hey, it's like... between a man and a woman, that... likes it?"

The Ai blushed slightly and nodded. Serving her movement, her refreshing
black hair also swayed.

"Hmm...I want to live with you in the future..."

"This, here it is..."

My heart beats like an alarm bell.

Seeing Ai freely roaming around the world like a butterfly, I'm attracted to
her as much as I'm tired.

She suppressed the sound from her dry throat and answered.

"Are we going to be together?"

Ai smiled like a flower when I said this.

"Yes! I will take care of you from now on, Yuzuru!"

And to this day, I still can't forget it.

"Because of my father's job, I transferred to Kansai in middle school… and

now I'm back here."

"So"

"So, I transferred to the high school closest to my house, no I thought from

Yuzuru you were there too"

"Um...yes"

Ai walked beside me happily and said something.

But I still don't know what expression I should make to listen to her, but I
can only vaguely agree with her.

Although Ai's long-awaited mood has changed slightly, her manner of

speech and expression will continue to change with the dialogue, which is
exactly the same as before.

Suddenly stopped talking, and Ai peeked into my profile.

"What's wrong with you…? Are you saying you don't want to see me?"
I narrowed my eyes at her nervously trembling eyes, and looked away in
panic.

"No, no, I didn't mean that..."

Even though I said that, I also thought in my heart whether I really don't
want to see it.

My entangled past suddenly reappeared before me, leaving me confused,

but also mixed with terror.

For the person who was "dumped" by me, and the one who spoke happily
with a nonchalant expression, I didn't know how to respond.

"Mizuno you..."

I finally spoke with difficulty, but Ai pressed my index finger to my mouth

in displeasure. I am surprised.

The place where the sense of distance is shortened like this doesn't change.

"Stop calling me with foreign terms like that. Call me like before."

"But..."

"Just a moment, no need to care too much."

Mizuno left me speechless. from the speech is such a supplement, but for
me, it is not so concise and easy.

Even though Ai said, "It's not just a period of time," there was a change in
the relationship between Ai and I that wasn't only caused by time, it had to
be like this.

However, it turned out that Ai's face did not show such an expression at all.

Am I the only one who cares?

If we keep arguing, it won't end, and I nod in agreement.

“Understood… Ai”

"Hey, what's wrong?"

Ai had a smile all over her face.

I took a deep breath, and asked about the thing I'd been concerned about for
a long time.

"Aren't you feeling awkward?"

"What?"

Ai was a little confused, looking at me with round eyes like a bird.

"That... that..."

I continued stubbornly.

"I... no.... did you... throw me away...?"

Until now, I raised my voice at the end and conveyed the meaning as gently
as possible. I feel so tired of my cowardice.

After hearing what I said, Ai's eyes opened.

Then, nodded indifferently.

"Wow, not awkward! Because, it's helpless, right?”

Faced with the answer, I was left in awe.

Sure enough, I only care about myself.

The feeling of my heart suddenly falling physically on my body hit me.

Trapped in my heart, big, big, scars from the past.

Maybe somewhere in my heart I hope Ai notices this.

I hate my childishness.

"It's...it's okay"

Even if you think "what good".

I just said and smiled like this. Muttering in my heart, what are you
laughing at.

“Yuzuru, do you care about this that you are so cold to me?”

“Well… indeed, um”

"So. That…sorry”

Ai's sudden apology confused me.

“Why do you have to apologize, Ai?”

“After all… after I broke up with Yuzuru I moved right away.”

"It's because of your parents, right?"

“Um… But, it would be nice if I could say one more sentence.”

At this point, Ai's expression slightly distorted for the first time.

Um. After I broke up with Ai, she suddenly changed schools.

Since the day of farewell, without saying a word, that Ai disappeared before
my eyes.

Even with the other party's contact information... in the process of being
confused about what to say, texting each other was involuntarily cut off.

Even though I heard from the teacher that the transfer was because of my
parents, even so, there is still a knot in my heart.
But because of the loss of Ai, there are many places where I feel
comfortable.

Thinking about it carefully, for myself at that time…No, even for myself
now, it was very surprising.

"Sorry... I blame me for not having the courage..."

"Hah?"

The words Ai mumbled made me stare at her in surprise, and Ai smiled as

if it had completely gone from cloudy to sunny.

"Glad to see you again!"

"Ah, uh…"

“If you can, befriend me in the future!”

Ai said so, with a sweet smile on her face, and ran to the school gate.

Her back also overlaps beautifully with the figure of Ai in my memory,

which makes me feel sad.

Her back was fleeting. And I'm standing there.

"Will I get along with her in the future..."

muttering in a low voice, I also dragged heavy steps and walked slowly
towards the school gate.

“Keep bowing… how do you deal with it?”

I don't want to, I want to reunite with the mirror.

That is, to be friends again? Is it possible to do this kind of thing with my

scarred heart……

Thinking of such a thing, I surprised my mother-in-law again.

Squinting at the almost setting sun, I took a deep breath, as if wanting to
clear all my melancholic thoughts.

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 Chapter 3
"Hey, Yuzuru. It's going to rain soon."

Junior high school... after school one day.

Hearing Ai walking beside me suddenly say this, I worked a few times,

confused.

"Doesn't the weather forecast keep saying it's cloudy today?"

As I said, I naturally reached for my school bag. Thinking of the folding

umbrella placed in it. It was handed to me by my mother saying, "Take it
for now."

“Does the weather forecast say that? I don't see that it's very clear."

The Ai gave me a blank look, then looked up at the sky. Then she sniffed it
twice.
"From now on, it smells like rain."

After speaking, Ai closed her eyes.

Her profile fascinated me.

With her eyes tightly closed, Ai took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly.

Opening her closed eyes, she looked at me. Facing these suddenly bright
eyes, I looked away in panic.

"Hey, Yuzuru, can you smell it too? The smell of rain"

"Ah, what's the smell of rain...?"

"You can tell me by kissing her. Come on, close your eyes and inhale
slowly with your nose."

With Ai's urging, I closed my eyes.

His field of vision dimmed in an instant, and the thick layer of clouds
covering his head just now disappeared.

"That ..."

Like a yoga trainer, Ai urged me to take deep breaths. I followed

her instructions and inhaled slowly through my nose.

This is humid air.

Surprisingly, after closing my eyes, I don't know if my sense of smell has

become more sensitive, and I can smell something I can't smell right now.

Like soil and plants... a slightly angular but very subtle smell.

It's like the smell of rain in the rainy season.

If you don't taste it like this, you won't be able to taste its unique scent.
“…Is this the smell of rain?”

I opened my eyes and asked, and Ai nodded happily, “hum” one after
another.

"It's very interesting. There are structures and rhythms in this big world that
we can't understand... and the end of the world is turned into a smell and
conveyed to us."

"Structure... rhythm..."

Listening to the half-understood words from her mouth, I could only parrot
my tongue.

Ai's eyes lit up, and she looked up at the blue sky.

"The variety of flavors makes me very happy. The taste of the four
seasons... the smell of rain... the taste of Grandpa Sun..."

After speaking, Ai closed her eyes again.

Then, as she "hissed" inhaled through her nose again.

drip.

A drop of rain fell on Ai's face.

"Ah"

Ai opened her eyes in surprise and immediately turned to me.

Click, click. Rain began to fall in the sky.

"Ahaha!"

Ai smiled innocently, and started jumping in the rain.

"Look! It's raining!"

Ai opened her arms and smiled.

In an instant, the rain was getting heavier, and it was already raining all
around.

I hastily opened my school bag. Thinking "What a pleasure to let me carry

an umbrella", she opened the folding umbrella.

"Oh, Ai! It's going to be wet!"

I said to Ai who was still playing with her arms open, but she still smiled
and shook her head.

"I didn't bring an umbrella!"

"I have! Come on, let's use it together."

Seeing me hand over the umbrella, Ai smiled innocently again.

“If two people hold such a small umbrella together, will they get wet in the
end?”

"It's okay, it's better than wet."

“Hey, find a place to hide from the rain. hurry up.!"

Ai was very happy for some reason, and her face was filled with the spring
breeze.

Ignoring my stop, Ai walked in first, and I could only follow from behind.

"Yuzuru! Hurry~!”

With an innocent smile on her face, Ai turned to me and held out her hand.

It was too stupid to hold an umbrella alone, so I nodded, returned the

folding umbrella to my school bag, and chased after her.

Ai, no matter when... she lives in a different world from mine.

Unfettered, free and easy... Because of this, Ai is also said to be "weird" at
school. However, I feel that "unfettered and free" is what makes her
beautiful.

Ai can bluntly accept everything in the world, and give her fresh words for
this great world. Maybe the end of my breaking world will be clear and
bright.

Obviously everyone is standing on the same ground. And what she and I
saw. This is a world of difference.

In my eyes, she shines like that... so bright that it always makes me a little
unable to open my eyes.

The Ai was so beautiful that it seemed unreal, seeing the world with a field
of view countless times thinner than mine.

One day, I also want to be by her side...enjoying firsthand the world she
feels.

Seeing the same thing...showing the same smile.

However, every time I want to get close to Ai's light, she will leave me…
Just to chase after her, I have tried my best.

Then inadvertently,... even the footsteps chasing her... stopped.

"Hey, it's really the same person. This is fated."

Classroom before class.

Odajima said this while playing with her cell phone.

The phrase "destined" that I said as if it didn't matter to me made my face

tense.

"This is not a romantic story."

Hearing my answer mixed with a sigh, Odajima stared at my expression for
a few seconds then smiled.

“Someone reunited with a beautiful girl I met in the past, and they would
put on an expression that looked like the end of the world.”

“My expression is too much. It says that you are not allowed to play with
mobile phones at school."

"Everyone is playing."

"Where is someone like you. It's only natural to play like this."

"After playing, I have no problem,"

Said Odajima impatiently, putting her phone back in her school bag.

Then, raised her eyes and looked at me.

“So, what are you going to do, Asada?”

"What do I do?"

“It's a transfer student with that pretty girl. Reunited?"

"Is that a broken mirror reunion, what's wrong?"

Odajima's words made me very confused.

She smiled and raised the corner of her mouth and pointed at me.

"This is just to test you. As expected, I have a relationship."

"..."

Seeing my closed mouth and clear displeased expression, Odajima blinked

a few times and made an "Ah" sound.

"Do not be angry."

"I am not angry."

"I said that just to make you happy."

Odajima made such an opening statement, leaning away from the table and
whispering.

“Asada, if you really mean it. That… I can help you in various ways.”

“No, that kind of thing…”

I frowned in despair and shook my head.

"Isn't that the same thing?"

“Is that the expression “Isn't that the same thing”?”

Odajima closed her mouth and whispered.

I resisted the urge to smack my tongue impatiently, and retorted.

"You're so annoying..."

I was about to vent my discontent on Odajima, only half-opened like that.

When Odajima saw this, she raised her eyebrows, followed my gaze, and
turned around.

"Ah"

Mizuno Ai herself, who was just the topic of our conversation, was standing
behind Odajima with a smile.

Odajima was taken aback.

"Good morning, Yuzuru. And... um..."

Ai smiled at me, and looked at Odajima who was sitting in the back.
"Odajima Kaoru. Please take care of me."

"Odajima-san! My name is Mizuno Ai! Please take care of me."

Odajima introduced herself nervously, while Ai smiled generously and

responded with a self-introduction. .

Then, her gaze darted back and forth between me and Odajima, tilting
her head suspiciously.

“Do you guys have a good relationship?”

“Well, um… Is that okay? It's from the same club."

I answered and quietly looked at Odajima.

Because I replied "He's on good terms," and I wondered if she would be a

little unhappy, but she didn't care at all, fiddling with the ends of her hair
with her fingers.
Ai leaned forward with bright eyes.

"Yuzuru, you are doing club activities. What kind of club?"

"...Reading Club"

"Ehhhhhhhhhhhh! After all, you liked reading the previous book!"

Odajima heard Ai's words "Before", giving me a glance. When I also

looked up, she immediately looked away.

"...So, what are you doing?"

I said anxiously while looking at Ai who suddenly ran over to start an

endless conversation.

I felt the sight of my classmates around me, and to be honest, it made me

very uncomfortable.

"Why are you here ..."

Ai still looks like nothing happened.

"I saw you in the hallway, so I came to talk to you."

"...because of this?"

“Well, because of this! Then I went back to my class. Goodbye!"

Ai is innocent. Smiling, waving at me and Odajima, ran out of the

classroom.

The students around started whispering softly.

Odajima and I silently looked in the direction Ai went for a few seconds.

She turned to me slowly and said.

"Why did you guys break up? Doesn't she really like Asada?"

“…”

I returned to my seat without saying a word, and began to prepare the

textbooks for the first class.

"Don't ask that,"

Odajima who was sitting at the back patted my shoulder lightly, but I
ignored her.

The prep bell rang just in time.

...Before, it was the same.

Ai is very close to people. Whenever she saw me, she would wave at me
and come to talk to me…like a puppy clinging to its parents.

But at the same time, she was like a cat....

When she is obsessed with something, she will leave me.

Do whatever you want, do whatever you want.

The intersection between her and me is only part of it…every day I am

affected by her mood.

Even though I believed Ai and said she liked me, I started hanging out with
her. But for Ai who is more prioritized and "what do I want to do" than me,
I gradually can't keep up.

Maybe Ai really has good intentions towards me. No, there's no possibility.

However, as far as I'm concerned, there is no strong chance to "experience"

this goodness.

That's her.
“…Asada, are you angry?”

A converging voice suddenly came from behind. I sighed.

To be honest, although she keeps asking me about Ai's problems, it bothers

me, but I know she is not evil.

I turned and shook my head at her.

"Not angry"

"...Is that true?"

"Yes"

"Sorry, I asked too many questions."

Odajima felt embarrassed and slightly bowed her head at me.

"It's okay, I'm not ashamed."

After all, it's still a bit bad for me to ignore it.

Hearing my apology, Odajima sighed calmly and muttered.

“If you want to say it, I will listen to it.”

Odajima's words contained her tenderness. I smiled and nodded.

"Okay thank you."

Almost at the end of our conversation, the class bell rang, and Hiwa
Ogasawara, a Japanese teacher who also served as the principal, walked
into the classroom.

"Class~"

The teacher said in a lifeless voice, and the class president gave the order to
"stand up and salute."
In the lazy atmosphere of the first grade, the teacher did not pay attention to
the students who saluted casually, and placed her textbook on the podium
casually.

"Although I want to say something before starting the class~ But I can't
think of what to say, so it shouldn't be too late to continue the content of the
last class."

Teachers are lazy and slow to start lessons. class made the students booed
unanimously. However, peace does not care.

I stared straight at the peaceful writing on the blackboard with crooked

characters.

Ai appears again in my mind.

"Eh-last class we talked about the end of the meeting between Alice and
Toyotaro, who wept and wept in a Christian church. At this moment—"
(Note: from the first work "Dancing Girl" by Japanese writer Mori Ogai)

After a few years, Ai or not change.

She was innocent, innocent, and elusive.

However, isn't that the same and the same.

“I would care a lot about why Alice is crying. Well, but I don't care. Just
care. It's still more interesting.”

For what you think, do not use words or actions. Therefore, I can only force
her on purpose to "please tell me more clearly."

Isn't this just continuing childish behavior.

What do I think about Ai appearing again. And what I want her to do, what
I want to do....

I haven't even figured out my own business yet, how can I think about the
future.
“Asa… Asada!”

"I'm here!?"

Too focused on thinking, I didn't even notice that I was called peacefully,
and I stood up frantically.

My classmates burst out laughing when they saw me.

"Start reading from the third line on page 156. Don't be in a daze."

"Okay, sorry..."

"A ray of love and compassion overwhelmed my shyness, so I stepped

forward and asked, 'Dare to ask why you are crying? I am a foreigner and I
have no burden. Maybe I can help you'."

After reading it aloud, my heart became incredibly calm. The flow of

her words is completely indifferent and calm, which makes people feel
relaxed and happy.

I changed my mind and thought, in short, I should forget about Ai first, and
I should focus on the life in front of me.

After school, I walked into the reading department's activity room as usual.

Usually, Odajima, who would appear suddenly, or disappear suddenly,

would go to the activity room with me on a rare occasion today.

"I visited the activity room yesterday, but it's quite rare today,"

said Odajima, who immediately fell onto the sofa as soon as she opened the
door to the activity room. She covered her mouth very sadly and said,
"What's the matter?"

"I have nothing to do when I get home. Better spend some time here."
"Even if you say that, if you want to play on mobile, you can't play at home.
Is it the same?"

"You care about me! Don't be a mother-in-law, read your book"

said Odajima casually, and immediately started playing on the phone after
speaking.

Glancing at her, I also took out a library book from my school bag and
opened it.

I love reading since childhood.

Follow the trail of words and open doors to stories and knowledge you
didn't know yet.

Once you start reading, you won't be distracted by anything else, floating
above the beautiful context. It would make me feel so comfortable, and I
couldn't put it down.

Think so.

I didn't like those "uncertain things" before.

There are no lies in the book.

Even if it is a mystery novel that uses tricks to mislead and deceive readers,
there are honest "facts" in this book, which are cleverly hidden and difficult
to detect.

Even if the characters in the story will lie, the story itself will not lie to the
reader.

Sometimes, content recorded in academic books will later be found to be

"wrong".

But in most cases, writers don't write such "mistakes" to deceive readers.
In addition, readers must also work hard to ensure the authenticity of the
information.

In other words, in the deepest part of the "reading journey," I simply put
myself in the flow of words.

For me, who likes this kind of "certain communication", interacting with
people is very difficult.

Human feelings and words are constantly changing, and it is never easy to
properly understand the deepest part of human beings.

Especially... a girl with a free-spirited personality even more so like Ai.

While I like "certain things", I'm also fascinated by girls who seem to
concretize "uncertainty".

Why have you come to this point today?

After I regained consciousness, my gaze paused on the text in the library,

and I saw no content in it.

groan and groan.

Since yesterday, my mind is full of Ai.

When I put the library books on the table.

The activity room door swung open.

"Is this a reading club?"

Odajima and I were dumbfounded. Opening the door, Ai stood there

panting.

“…This is from the reading department.”

Seeing me nod, Ai smiled happily.

"May I come and have a look!"

I couldn't help but look at Odajima sitting on the sofa.

She shrugged and said, "I'll leave it to Minister Asada." It's all pushed to
me....

I sighed and looked back at Ai.

"Even if you say to visit... it's nothing good to see."

However, even if I say that, Ai still shakes her head vigorously in denial.

"Aren't you reading a book?"

“Well, you are reading a book…Could it be that you come to see me and
read a book…”

“I just came to see you and read a book! I just need to sit in the corner, and
you don't have to care about me. Yes, continue reading.”

Ai walked briskly to the activity room and sat in the corner of the three-
seater sofa where Odajima was sitting.

Then, smiling like a child, put her hands on her knees.

“…Okay, you can do it yourself”

"Yes!"

I nodded and reopened the library.

Even though it was reopened, it was no more concentrated than before.

I was wondering in a daze, what am I watching now, I will have to wait and
see it again later.

Odajima was also a little uncomfortable, and turned her attention to the
phone screen again.
There was silence in the activity room.

However, after a while, the honest Ai gradually began to be unable to sit

still.

Then finally couldn't hold back a word for Odajima who was sitting next to
her.

“Odajima-san, do you also use your cell phone to read?”

When asked by Ai, Odajima smiled awkwardly and pointed her phone
screen at Ai.

"In your eyes I like reading?"

"Wow, the game?"

“Ah, the puzzle app”

"You like puzzles?"

“Not really, just passing the time”

Odajima's small answer made Ai freeze for a moment. But she immediately
showed a warm smile and said.

"What can be done elsewhere, should I also do it here?"

"Hah?"

“You really like the activity room!”

Ai said this innocently, and Odajima was vaguely awkward.

“No, it's not…Such a thing.”

“Or…do you like knitting?”

"No, no!"
Odajima suddenly stood up from the sofa, vehemently denied it.

Ai was taken aback, and I narrowed my eyes at Odajima. There is a subtle

atmosphere in the activity room.

"Ah. No, sorry...I didn't mean that..."

Odajima looked at me confused, shook her hand.

Maybe she really cares if it hurts me, but right now, I won't be too affected
by it.

"It's okay, I know what you mean."

I smiled and closed the book and placed it on the table.

I know very well that Odajima is really here to kill time.

Odajima, who has a bad relationship with her parents, is also prickly when
she returns home. However, in the activity room, no one would make
irresponsible comments about Odajima.

Instead, I was the only one who came to the activity room every day.

“Ai, this club's activities are really just shallow. The only one reading is
me.”

Hearing what I said, Ai was still confused as if she didn't know what to do.

I nodded and continued.

“Our school basically has a tendency to “participate in club activities.”

Except for students with special circumstances, there's basically no
Homecoming Club."

The “Karasawadai High School” that I attended, according to the principal.

The aim is to develop the spirit of the school. club activities school.
Basically, if there are no special circumstances, the homecoming
department is not allowed, except for students who oppose this policy,
everyone generally participates in club activities.

"So, everyone has joined the club for now... and the unmotivated students
are gradually becoming ghost members."

"Oh, I see ..."

Ai nodded one by one.

"Then, the club is like a sports club that will hold competitions. Isn't it very
interesting to be a member of the ghost club in these clubs. But this
"reading club", of course, will not host club competitions. The contents of
the event are only ordinary content such as "reading". book"...Well, in other
words, it's easy to produce ghost members here."

Although I feel very empty when I say it, it's true.

What's more, this club consultant is one of them, which makes one wonder
if it will be the least motivated in this school. Principal, "Ogasawara Hiwa".

"How is our consultant Ogasawara Hiwa teacher?"

“Ah, Yuzuru, your headmaster?”

"Yeah, that's a person who doesn't have much motivation. He's actually a
'Life Guidance' teacher."

Even though I think the candidate is very wrong, peace is still the "Life
Guidance" Teacher in this school.

As far as life instructors were concerned, inquiring about the situation of

students who had not participated in club activities was also one of their
responsibilities.

"That man, the reason is nothing special, but the students don't participate in
community activities, say "the ghost club members are also fine,", and push
them to the Reading Club"
"ah ha ha, too relaxed."

"Right, Odajima also entered like this."

Hearing what I said, Odajima snorted slightly embarrassed.

"So basically all the ghost members in this club. Except for Odajima, no
one will come to the activity room, and Odajima just came to pass the time.
But I guess this is also an option."

Look, for good reason, I don't know if Ai accepts it, she glanced at me.

“Yuzuru too, are you here to kill time?”

I hesitated for a moment about how to answer her question. In the end, I
nodded.

"True. But I read books well... But I can do it at home."

"Oh, I see."

My answer finally made Ai nod her head intently.

However, the next sentence took Odajima and I unexpectedly.

“But, it's good”

"Hah?"

Ai ignored me who made a panicked voice, and continued to speak with a

gentle smile.

"Yuzuru, you do good club activities every day, and Odajima-san will come
to the activity room from time to time... Isn't this very lively?"

"Well, what I'm saying is..."

“That “In other words, the time spent here has become a “part of your life”
for both of you, which is great!”
Ai said "Hum hum" and nodded alone.

I was dumbfounded, and Odajima stopped playing the jigsaw puzzle and
looked at Ai.

After the conversation, Ai suddenly stood up from the sofa.

"Sorry! I'm bothering you!"

"Hey, are you going?"

I said such a sentence by accident. Ai showed a playful expression.

"Do you want me to stay here?"

My cheeks get hot.

That's not what I mean.

"...Not really."

Seeing my sullen answer, Ai's smile seemed to be covered in mist for a

moment.

But she immediately laughed again.

"Then I'll be back after going around the school two rounds!"

After Ai finished speaking, she quickly left the activity room.

“Sorry to bother you—!”

The sound of Ai closing the door and her running down the corridor could
also be heard in the activity room.

Until the sound of footsteps disappeared, I stared at the door.

“…You said it was okay if you wanted her to stay here?”

Odajima mutters, and I turn around and glare at her.

"I didn't think of that."

"Is that true?"

"She staying here will only hinder the club's activities."

"Aren't you here to kill time?"

“…”

When she chose a word, I covered my mouth without saying a word.

Seeing my appearance, Odajima snorted triumphantly and looked back at

her phone.

Clicking the screen quickly, Odajima muttered.

"She really looks like a hurricane."

Her words made me catch my breath and nod.

"Hmm..."

Exhale slowly and deeply.

Odajima's sentence may be in the same sentence.

Storm girl.

...To me, a helpless girl.

The Ai I reunited immediately left the same impression as before.

All her feelings are true to each other, and how to accept her feelings, I have
not come to the answer.

And… just like Ai, she was dumbfounded at the same self as before.
I suddenly felt a line of sight on the side of my face, I looked at Odajima,
and she suddenly looked away very nicely.

"What are you doing?"

Odajima pouted slightly and answered.

"It does not matter..."

Even though she definitely looked like she wanted to say something, I didn't
want to ask Odajima's inner thoughts for some reason.

In an unobtrusive feeling, hold a library book in your hand.

Even if you turned the book over and read it, it was still the same as
yesterday, and the contents were completely invisible.

Previous - TOC - Next

 Chapter 4
Sunday. This is a day where you can sleep as long as you want to sleep
without being scolded.

I like sleeping. Even though some people in the class said "Isn't that a waste
of time sleeping?", I don't think so.

I love the fall of my heavy body before falling asleep, and the feeling of
slowly entering a warm, shallow sleep. When you don't let the alarm clock
wake you, but naturally awaken your consciousness, it's hard to tell the
difference between dream and reality, and I love the feeling of blinking
blindly to confirm my own entity.

In short, I love the mornings of rest days when no one gets up.

However, for some reason, my highest happy time was interrupted by my

mother today.

"Yuzuru—— Wake up. Get up quickly."

"Hmm...? Why... Do you have to go out today..."

My body was tossed about by it, and I groaned miserably.

Let me sleep if it's okay.

The eyelids that he closed again thinking about such a thing were forced
open by mother's next sentence.

"Then what, your ex-girlfriend is here"

"...Hah!?"

My body jumped off the bed like a spring.

"Hah!?"

I made the same sound again and looked at my mother.

With an unspeakable expression, the mother pointed her chin at the window.

Before thinking about anything, I opened the curtain of the window beside
the bed.

Looking down from my bedroom window on the second floor, I was

actually standing in front of my house with Ai wearing a personal suit.

I don't know if she noticed that I opened the curtain, she suddenly raised her
head, and ran into my eyes full.

When her eyes met, Ai smiled like a flower and waved at me.
I hastily closed the curtain with a bang. After coming back to my senses, I
touched my head subconsciously, and my hair exploded from the messy
sleep.

"What should I do? Let her in and sit down?”

Mom said so, and I shook my head in exasperation.

"No! I'm going to take a shower and go out!"

When I finished speaking, I quickly got out of bed, and my mother smiled
rather cheerfully.

"Suddenly walking over, what are you thinking!!"

I took a hasty shower and changed into casual clothes... I made minimum
preparations and walked out of the hall.

When I saw Ai standing in front of the hallway, the first sentence I uttered
was a complaint.

But Ai looked at me angrily and just smiled.

"I'm still wondering if the sudden visit will surprise you."

“That would definitely be a surprise!”

Ai added with a smile after hearing what I said.

"And... if you had greeted you earlier, you would have rejected me, right?"

I can't speak at all. Because, of course.

However, recently, I probably showed a strong intention to reject her, that's

why he made her think so.
"...So, what are you doing?"

I said as if to change the subject, and Ai replied casually.

“Today is a day off, I want to go out and play with Yuzuru!”

“Play, what are you going to do…”

"City! Take me around. Has it changed much from two years ago?”

Ai said nonchalantly. In this case.

I sighed and shook my head.

"Where can I change in two years..."

"Be with me! After all, you have nothing to do with it, do you?"

"Well, you really have nothing to do..."

"Then take me out for a tour!"

Ai forcefully closed the coffin.

Seeing that she didn't mean to give up at all, I sighed and died.

"I'll take my wallet and cell phone, wait a minute"

"...Um!!"

Seeing the blue eyes that gained my approval and the excitement in my
heart, my mood became complicated again.

The closest station to my house is about two stations from the school.

If you walk with your feet and legs, you can get to school in about 30
minutes, but even so, I still go to school by tram.
Since my mother is the type of adult who "instead of wasting time on the
way to school, it's better to sleep a few more minutes", so I was allowed to
buy a monthly ticket to go to school by tram. However, many students who
live nearby and in the same school as me, go to school by bicycle.

Also, areas far from the city center are called "quiet streets" if they sound
better, and "remote countries" if they sound bad.

Although there is a shopping street near the station, it is quite simple and
small compared to the city center.

Even if today was a holiday, the shopping street near the station was rarely
crowded. Old-fashioned self-employed electrical supply store and small
bakery, although I don't hate this small town with civilian fireworks, but it's
not like a small town where high school students would hang out on their
days. dead.

But Ai walked this path with sharp eyes.

"Ah! The game center is still there! We played Street Fighter there once.
Since they were all rookies, they played really badly, but I was really happy
at the time."

He looked at the back of Ai who was talking. happily, I walked behind

her at the same pace.

During the days when we dated Ai, we sometimes came here to play.

Sometimes I come to my house to play. That's why my mother knows Ai.

Therefore, it would not be an exaggeration to say that this place was "full of
memories".

But, really, that's all.

There's nothing but memories, and there's definitely no place for two people
to cheer up together. Why Ai and I took a step here.
Ai's back is different from mine who keeps thinking the same thing, full of
enthusiasm.

She looks almost the same as when she was in junior high school.

Always happy and free...but, in her eyes, there's no place for me...

“Hey, Yuzuru?”

Ai suddenly turned to me. I am impressed.

"Why? What's wrong?"

“Why are you walking behind me? If you don't walk with me, you can't talk
well, can you?”

Ai walked back to me quickly, peeking into my expression.

Faced with this close distance, I felt embarrassed for a while. I really can't
handle this kind of physical closeness.

"No, no... what..."

"There is no?"

Seeing me, who stubbornly answered me, Ai brought her face together
again.

I turned my back and said blushing.

"Your figure is still the same as before."

Hearing my answer like this, Ai's expression changed from cloudy to bright.

“Then you can take a good look to see if my profile has changed?”

"..."
Even thinking "I didn't mean that"... I still followed her silently walking
beside her.

Ai also walked beside me at the same speed as me.

"Even though you said that my back hasn't changed,"

Ai said while watching me beside her.

“Yuzuru, you haven't changed either.”

These words make my heart ache.

It really hasn't changed.

There must have been no other meaning to her words, but to my ears, it
sounded like "censorship".

“You think… why?”

Facing my question, Ai was a little confused “um~”, after thinking for a

while, she answered with a smile.

"Because you didn't reject me, right?"

"...Hah?"

Seeing my astonishment, Ai frowned in embarrassment and continued.

"...I actually did something quite outrageous today? I raided my classmate's

house without authorization, and suddenly asked someone to play. Besides,
not just a classmate... but an ex-girlfriend."

"...Well, indeed."

"I think it's pretty disgusting just to remember the place where my ex-
girlfriend lived."
After Ai finished speaking, she smiled, and didn't seem to be spying on my
reaction.

Nonchalantly, only the tone conveyed the facts.

And this was the exact same tone she remembered.

“But, Yuzuru is still out with me, right? Even though he grumbled.”

"That's just because, it's not good to refuse you..."

"No, not because of this."

Suddenly Ai said something reassuring, I was silent.

Contrary to me, she looked me in the eye again and said firmly.

"If people really hate, they won't come."

After that, Ai narrowed her eyes and smiled.

"So, I know Yuzuru, you still don't hate me, and I feel relieved,"

Because of Ai's innocent words. There is a feeling of heat in the depths of

my body.

Then, I couldn't help myself, I said so.

“You too Ai!”

Seeing me suddenly making such a loud voice, Ai looked at me with a bit

of surprise.

"Don't you hate me?"

My words made Ai blink a few times, and she suddenly smiled and nodded
in agreement.

"What? That's it. I was scared when your voice suddenly got so loud."
"In any case... I... I can't follow you... and I can't understand you... So if I
don't even listen properly. You're going to throw me out, right?"

"Yes"

"Aren't you angry?"

"Not angry"

"Why?"

"Because I like you"

"............Hah?"

The words she spoke stopped my mind.

Looking at the dumbfounded me, Ai was confused.

"How?"

“No, you just……”

"Ahh? I like you say oh,"

"Why ......"

"Don't ask why the old one. Love is love! So don't you hate me I feel
comfortable"

Ai looks like I don't care about my reaction at all, just stating my thoughts
clearly and clearly.

But I was completely overwhelmed by it, and my mouth was shut and
speechless.

"But I..."

"Yuzuru"
Turning towards me, who was still stuck in the past, and Ai muttered in a
low voice.

"I like you"

And these words like the last one made me literally freeze on the spot.

Seeing me like this, Ai smiled slightly.

"Don't put on that kind of expression."

After speaking, Ai reached out her hand gently and caressed my cheek. In
the hot summer sun, my skin is sweaty, but my Ai hands are still fresh.

From her hands, only warmth flowed forward.

"Come on, let's smile."

"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts."

Ai suddenly grabbed my cheek and pulled hard. Even though the corners of
her mouth were raised, the thin skin pinched in this way made me sick.

Seeing me hurt, she smiled and let go of her hand.

After ignoring that I was released, touching my cheek, she smiled happily
again and walked away.

"After all, it's a rare rest day, let's have some fun!"

"Uh, uh..."

I'm really stuck in the rhythm of Ai. To follow her who left first, I ran after
her.

Even if it's been two years since the breakup, Ai still says she likes me.

But I don't know the reason.

Even though she didn't know anything, she was still a little "happy." For
myself like this, my mood becomes even more complicated.

Even now, two years later, my heart still wavers.

"Although the shop is no longer what it looked like, it really hasn't changed
much here."

"So I said so..."

After walking around the shopping street, Ai was still happily announcing
this impression.

On this slow-moving shopping street, there will be chain stores with fairly
strict marketing indicators. In just two years, the atmosphere on the streets
has not changed drastically.

As for "no change", I took it for granted, but Ai was happy about it.

We see the same thing, but the way we see things is a world of difference.
This incident once again left me feeling a gap that could not be filled.

What's more, for Ai who was walking on the gloomy shopping street, her
smile was endless. The fact that I feel so charming also irritates me.

Time passed, and the white horse passed. I'm still very interested in Ai.

But I have known for a long time that this relationship will only destroy our
relationship.

In retrospect, Ai and I had reached the end of the shopping street. A steep
slope extends from there.

Ai stood still, looking at me.

"Is the garden still there?"

I know what the garden means.

However, I am confused how to answer it.

The reason is that the garden is where Ai confessed to me… At the same
time, it's also where Ai and I broke up.

"Now, is it still there?"

Ai asked me in a hurry, and I nodded my head.

"...Nonetheless"

"Then I want to see"

Ai said as usual, but I fell silent again.

To be honest, I don't want to go there with Ai.

But without waiting for my answer, she walked up the steep slope.

"Yuzuru!"

“……Um, I see”

I nodded reluctantly.

Ai smiled, and quickly stepped uphill in front of me. I kept my distance and
followed her.

Ai did not say, let me walk by her side.

I have seen her back today.

And what I'm going to now is a place where the "memories" of the two
people are more concentrated than the shopping street I just walked down.

At the same time, it is also the place to completely kill the memory.
Both go to such a place Now, what will I tell her. And what she told me.

With much in mind, we walked quietly up the slope.

The one at the top of the slope was as big as a deserted garden.

Previous - TOC - Next

 Chapter 5
Climbing the long slope from the fork in the shopping street... After
climbing a small hill, there is a park there.

“Wow, of course nothing has changed!”

Arriving at the park, Ai looked around excitedly.

Indeed, as he said, this garden was no different from the past.

Since breaking up with her, I've never been here again, but the scene in my
memory is exactly the same as what I'm seeing now.

“Mr Elephant's slide is still there!”

"Yes"

Ai pointed to a pink elephant-shaped slide.

The paint had peeled off in many places, and the slide covered in brown
rust was a toy that carried memories between me and Ai. And because of
this, the relationship between me and her once again underwent a shocking
change.

Being so depressed deep down, I followed Ai who was innocently walking

towards the slide, stumbling.

Behind the elephant is a gradual depression. Ai walked briskly up the stairs

without handrails, stood on the slide, and laughed.

"I really miss him."

“...Hmmm”

Ai plays innocently in a place full of memories.

At the same time, I was so attached to the "memories" that I couldn't laugh
at all.

"This park obviously has a large entertainment facility, but no one comes to
play all the time. It's definitely so close to the school."

"You call it close... what a location it is. It's a twenty walk from the school.
It's more than a few minutes, and you'll have to climb the slopes that far."

"It's okay to walk for twenty minutes, right? I wonder if kids don't like
playing in the park anymore?"

"Puff, Aren't you still a kid now..."

Seeing Ai suddenly speaking like an old granny, I couldn't help but laugh.

Ai saw my expression in surprise, shouted "Ah" happily, and pointed her

finger at me.

"You finally laughed! You haven't laughed today, Yuzuru"

"...Is that true?"

So, that may be true.

Looking at Ai with a smile from start to finish, my mind is full of things

from the past.

"Yes! But it's good to see Yuzuru smiling at you"

said Ai with emotion, nodded, and slid off the slide.

Seeing her skirt slip to a thigh position, I hastily looked away.

"While in this garden..."

After sliding down the slide, Ai whispered softly.

“I feel so free.”

Her eyes looked into the endless distance.

Maybe she also remembers what happened two years ago.

"...Aren't you always free Ai?"

Hearing my answer, Ai smiled gently.

"Is that true?"

“In my opinion”

"That's right. Hmm…”

Ai nodded one after another with a unique sense of temperature.

"I...live the way I want to"

she said.

I nodded.

"I know"
when I was in junior high school, Ai was already quite flashy… but at a
poor level.

Before I knew her, I already knew her as a person. Because there are rumors
at school.

She is also very beautiful throughout the class. However, her behavior is too
restless, she is a "do whatever she wants" woman who disturbs the harmony
of group projects and leaves people powerless.

Such mixed reputation--perhaps, even more slanderous rumors entered my

ears.

"But, "that way of life." In the eyes of others, it may seem very selfish,"

Ai said with narrowed eyes.

"Everyone in the world is in a big frame, obeys the rules, doesn't invade
other people's domains, and lives in trepidation. Avoid trouble with others,
don't let yourself be hated by others... They all follow such an unspoken
rule" ." Life"

From Ai's innocent mouth with a smile, I spoke impressive words, and I
was silent, only listening to her in surprise.

"However, I am different from them. To protect my philosophy, I can hate

everything in the world. Live as much as I want."

"Isn't this what you are good at?"

Hearing me interrupt, Ai smiled slightly. and nodded.

"I just like what you say about me."

The sudden “like” made me feel itchy again.

But Ai didn't see me like that in her eyes, she continued intermittently, as if
she was composing her words.
"But other people won't be like this. In their eyes, I'm just a "bitch man". No
matter how free I am to live, I can't escape such a sight."

Ai smiled. slightly, her tone was indifferent. However, her words were
much heavier than her expression.

Thinking about it now, Ai at that time was indeed like this. Moreover,
her relationship with the "girl group" is very bad.

And the boys always indulged themselves with "Well, but Mizuno, so cute"
before they got really hurt. Moreover, even if they were really bothered by
Ai, they would only end up with a wry smile, "Well, I can't do anything
about her." And this is all because of Ai's beauty and the "no malice" she
shows.

However, girls are different.

I've seen scenes where they sarcastically say, "You can do whatever you
want by looking good". I have seen it many times.

Even though she always laughs…but in fact she also has her own ideas.

"I guess I can just leave them alone. To go my own way, why would I need
someone else to talk about it, it doesn't matter if anyone understands me...
I've thought so before."

I'm speechless.

I'm still a junior high school student Ai, and although her mental
intelligence is still immature, she's already thought of such a thing. I don't
know anything about that.

And this is only "free" she who is faithful to herself, natural and born this
way. I think so.

Ai suddenly raised her head and looked at me.

Those clear, round eyes met mine.

"But, I met Yuzuru"

suddenly my name popped up, and I couldn't help but get excited.

"Yuzuru, the look in my eyes is different from those people."

Star Ai's eyes turned slightly and said.

"Do you remember, the first day we met?"

"...remember?"

"Eh~ remember? I am unforgettable”

Ai sneered and shrugged her shoulders.

In fact, I remember it very clearly. For me, it is also unforgettable.

One day in the classroom after school, Ai who suddenly appeared, really
caught my attention.

“The first time you saw Yuzuru, you still had a vase of flowers in your
hands.”

"...Yes"

Following Ai's words, my mind drifted back to that day.

On that day, in an empty classroom, I did my duty work.

In the fall, a bit of chill is also added to the classroom. The setting sun
streaming in through the windows brought dryness, giving a comfortable
feeling as if the summer humidity had been completely forgotten.

Clean the writing on the blackboard and spray the cleaner. I don't hate
repeating this monotonous work.
After clearing the board, write a list of students who are on duty for the next
day at the bottom right of the board.

I wrote the names "Ashida" and "Ando", and I snorted. Both are
troublesome people.

Maybe it will be like today, to encourage the other party in charge, let's start
guessing the game... I thought of this.

It's only because I lost the guess that I'm on duty alone like this.

This is a job that would be done immediately if two people did it.
Therefore, it was not an amount that one person would run out of.

Just when you're on duty slowly like this.

In the classroom, I saw a butterfly with flapping wings.

The butterfly flickered and flew towards the wall, hitting the wall
repeatedly.

"..."

In my eyes, this butterfly is "very helpless". It must have entered by

accident through a window that was opened after school, and since I closed
the window, it couldn't get out.

“Come on, open the window for you. There."

I opened the window, grabbed a broom from the cleaning supplies

cupboard, and used the handle to shoo the moth away.

Even though I wanted to take it to the window nicely, the butterfly kept
avoiding the broom I held out, and refused to fly to the window.

Perhaps in the eyes of the butterfly, it might only be attacked by a large

human.

"...Hmm"
I leaned my broom against the wall and looked around the classroom.

Then, I saw a transparent vase placed near the window.

Because the person in charge of the plant didn't replace the water properly,
the flowers inside withered in the blink of an eye. I took the flowers
carefully and held the vase in my hand.

I opened my school bag, took out the math notebook I saw at first glance,
and tore a page.

Looking at the corner of the classroom, the butterfly was still flying towards
the wall.

I approached her slowly and gently covered the butterfly with a vase.

"Sorry..."

The butterfly flew up and down in the vase, and suddenly locked in the
vase. Must be scary.

Thinking these things, I held a piece of paper torn from my notebook in my

left hand and approached the mouth of the bottle.

I suddenly felt a line of sight from the corridor.

Looking hastily towards the corridor, a black-haired girl was standing there,
looking at me in surprise.

She is, Mizuno Ai.

Ai and I looked at each other quietly for a few seconds.

Ai was shone by the ash-colored sunset that leaked through the corridor
window. In my eyes, her silhouette glittered.

"...You, what are you doing?"

Ai said as if she couldn't stand the silence.

When she said that, I came back to my senses. Looking at the vase in hand,
the butterfly was still fluttering frantically.

"Ah, the butterfly got lost in the classroom."

I remembered what I had to do, and I passed the paper through the gap
between the vase and the wall. Then remove the vase from the wall and
move it to the window.

Lean against an open window, turn the vase outward, and remove the paper.
The butterfly flapped its wings and flew out.

This time it never flew back, but roamed freely between heaven and earth.

I saw her dreamily. The butterfly is small and beautiful, its wings are white
and beautiful.

Watching her leave, I slowly closed the window.

“…Did you let it go?”

"Wow!"

After looking back, Ai who was standing in the corridor just now came to
me. I can only shudder.

“Ah, haha, there's no need to react like that.”

“Ah, no… I'm sorry”

I acted suspiciously with uncertain eyes, and nodded.

"That butterfly is so pathetic."

"Sad?"

Ai's actions were naturally confused. I can't help but think that someone
could actually act like a painting by tilting their head and wondering.
“Obviously wants to dance freely outside, but flying to a place like this…
Seems helpless”

"Powerless? Do you think an insect is helpless?"

Ai looked at me a little surprised.

Always felt uncomfortable to be stared at by a pretty girl, so I nodded.

"Yes"

Seeing my agreement, Ai was stunned for a few seconds, and then laughed.

"Strange"

"Is... strange?"

"Strange. First time seeing it. One would say bugs are helpless."

"That's right."

I mumbled to myself, “Then, it really looks like that, what can I do?” But
Ai ignored my appearance and looked out the window.

"The butterfly is invisible."

"Yes. The butterfly has to fly where it wants."

"OK. Very good, Butterfly.”

Ai narrowed her eyes and smiled.

Staring at her profile, I felt my cheeks continue to heat up.

It turns out that there are still profiles of such a beautiful face in the world.

Mizuno Ai, I have heard rumors about this girl many times.

A woman too free to do anything.

It's a shame to be so pretty.

There is no difference between men and women in this kind of speech, even
if it is from another class, I have heard similar rumors from them.

As far as I'm concerned, it's just that I've met Ai a few times in the corridor,
and I've never observed her so closely.

After a few words, I personally realized that she was very beautiful, but at
the same time, she was also a free person.

"Hah?"

I was blown away thinking of such a thing, and kept staring at his profile
inadvertently.

Ai suddenly turned towards me, her eyes crashing into mine.

I hastily looked away and shook my head.

"Sorry, looking straight at you."

"It's okay, what's wrong?"

"No, nothing."

"Look at your profile and see that you're blown away" or something. I don't
know if I was killed.

“What are you doing, Mizuno-san? This time."

Suffering from being off topic, I asked like this, and Ai said “Ah” and
answered nonchalantly.

“I was exploring at school. Because right now, there is no one at all.”

"Hah?"
“Isn't it great for a sparsely populated campus to be quiet and desolate? I
just love that.”

After those words, Ai narrowed her eyes at me with a playful expression.

“Occasionally, I would find the sight so attractive.”

The interesting scene probably refers to the scene where I release the
butterfly.

I blushed and turned away from her again.

“…You really are as free as the rumors say.”

When I said with a wry smile, her body trembled, and at the same time, her
soft hair trembled,

"Ah…"

Although this is my honest feeling. , but the extra sentence I added makes
me very sorry.

"The rumors I spoke of weren't too bad."

Hearing my clearly overdone supplement, that Ai showed a helpless smile

and shook her head.

"It's fine, I'm used to such words."

Even though Ai's expression was calm when she said this, I still felt a touch
of "solitude" in her.

Ai still has a warm smile until now, a little fog on it. I am very restless.

I keep thinking about “what to do and what to do”, my inspiration pops up,
and I draw my heart out for what it is.

"Mizuno-san...you're like a butterfly"

Hearing my words, Ai's eyes opened slightly.

It was like a surprise from the heart.

"...Hah?"

Only that.

I panicked again. I feel like I've said something too reckless.

“…Ah, sorry, I didn't mean you to be like a bug!”

My eyes drifted to and fro, thinking of saying something to save the

situation.

"Like a free-flying butterfly with a beautiful figure, but it's completely out
of reach..."

At this point, Ai was dumbfounded and looked at me in a daze.

I immediately realized that what I said just now looked like a "snapshot"
from start to finish, so I panicked again.

"Ah, sorry! I didn't mean that..."

"Puff! Ahaha!"

Seeing me in a hurry, Ai's expression changed from cloudy to bright, and

she laughed.

And looking at the blue shirt smiling happily, I can only feel embarrassed.

“This is the first time someone has said…I'm like a butterfly.”

After laughing for a while, Ai wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes
with her fingers, and showed me a gentle smile.

"Thank You"
"No, that, I'm sorry..."

"Why do you have to apologize, this is weird"

Ai was still smiling a little, and suddenly, she opened the window that I had
just forcefully closed.

A dry wind blew from outside the window, and Ai's hair was also fluttering
in the wind.

The casual Ai narrowed her eyes in the wind. Sure enough, she was very
beautiful.

"You just said that it would never be reachable, right"

" Hah?"

"Butterfly"

"Ah, um...yes"

The wind was blowing, and Ai was watching me. Her gentle eyes gave me
goosebumps.

"But, didn't you just catch her?"

Ai said, pointing to the vase I was holding with one hand.

"......I ran to put it down to snatch it."

"Ah. This is also an option. Once you caught a butterfly, but luckily you
were caught, it can be released"

Ai said that, she showed a very beautiful smile.

“Must be very happy.”

Ai was exposed to the setting sun outside the window, her hair fluttering in
the wind.

Her figure is so beautiful that I squinted and fell in love at first sight.

“…Well…Good.”

“Well, it must be like this!”

Ai continued with great energy, and suddenly grabbed my hand.

"Now, what's your name?"

"Name?"

"Well, your name"

she asked, looking at me. At that moment, my heart was like a deer crashing
into each other.

"Asada... Yuzuru"

the answer is like this.

"Yuzuru...what a nice name"

muttered Ai and smiled.

"Yuzuru! Be friends with me!”

Be friends with me.

It's been a long time since I've heard such righteous words.

I shivered and nodded slowly.

"...Um. If...I can"

This is a meeting between me and Ai.

At the same time, it is also the beginning of a love relationship.

"It's this Yuzuru you found me,"

said Ai while sitting at the end of the slide.

“I was imprisoned in a classroom and in despair, and let me go back to

nature.”

“This kind of thing… I… don't…”

I'm not letting you go back to nature.

Don't I want to imprison you again?

Before I said this, Ai said clearly.

"So I like you"

very deadly words embarrassed me. There was a tingling pain in his chest.

"Wherever I fly... I will return to Yuzuru. Because..."

Ai looked at me with tears in her eyes.

I screamed "Don't be like this" in my heart.

Stop talking.

“Because… I was caught by Yuzuru.”

After hearing her words, I got goosebumps, and goosebumps all over my
body.
"Not!"

When noticed. I have shouted.

Ai was excited, and her eyes slowly opened.

"I...I'm not the type of person you think"

"Why? Why..."

A simple question mark appeared in Ai's head.

My words confused her.

I held back the tears that were about to come out, and said from the bottom
of my heart.

"I used to love the freedom in you. I love places like you! I'm with you
without thinking about it..."

Broken hearted. The deep throat felt like fire.

Now I want to end my relationship with her completely.

However, it won't work if you don't say so.

I know very well that if this didn't happen, I would definitely make the
same mistake again.

“Now, I even like yours…I'm becoming a bitch.”

After those words, I could tell that Ai's eyes were instantly stained with
sadness.

She's the one who keeps her face always smiling brightly, and the one who's
showing this expression is undoubtedly me.

“Ai, you can't live with someone like me. Because…!"

I said as if to take the pain out of my heart.

“Because I have bound you, who is freer than anyone…!”

Hearing my inner thoughts, Ai fell silent, her mouth closed.

Tears seemed to be about to burst, so I turned my body firmly.

"I'll... go first today."

"Ah, Yuzuru..."

"Sorry, Ai"

I dropped the last words and ran out of the garden.

Confirming that Ai has not caught up, I accelerated even more, as if driven
by passion, I rushed down the slope.

I regret it.

Regarding his relationship with Ai. I have regretted it many times.

The reason is that I give away my favorite Ai which is free...

I want to take her as mine.

This is the second time, turning his back on Ai incorrectly and running
away from her.

Besides, there won't be a next time.

I am no longer in class with the windows open.

Therefore, Ai will never return.

Previous - TOC - Next

 Chapter 6
"Asada. Where are you and Mizuno?”

Every boy in class asks like this, I'm bored.

At the end of a long-term friendship, Ai confessed to me, and I readily

accepted.

I like her who is free, her "freedom" that no one else recognizes is only
affirmed by me in the world. And I understand this as the reason why he
devoted herself to me.

However, after interacting with her, I gradually felt a layer of fog in my

heart.

The reason is that there has been no change in the relationship between Ai
and I since we started dating.

"You must have kissed or something, right?"

The boys in class spread rumors that Ai is a troublesome kid, while
uncontrollably engaging in erotic delusions towards her with a pretty
appearance.

Therefore, they regularly want to pluck the unknown side of Ai from my

mouth and keep asking the same questions.

And every time I encounter such a problem, I can only be vague.

Since nothing happened, there was nothing to talk about.

Before and after the interaction, it was very general, without any changes.

Hang out like friends, hang out like friends.

Even if you have an appointment to go on a date, it is common that you will

be temporarily changed on the day. When it's too much, she arrives on the
date and says, "Sorry! I have other things I want to do!" and let go of my
dove.

At first, I still thought "this is her way of life" and allowed myself to accept
it, and continued to endure it.

Ai is such a person, and I am the one who affirms her as such.

Keep convincing yourself like this, and get rid of the dissatisfaction with
Ai. The kind of discontent that doesn't give me "special treatment".

but.

As far as the soul is immature, patience has reached the limit by accident.

"I'm really looking forward to going to the movies."

On that day, Ai and I had an appointment to go to the cinema together.

In the same park as before, on the elephant slide. We passed the time before
the film opened. When Ai heard me, she smiled slightly embarrassed and
looked at me.

"That...about this."

After hearing her opening remarks, I let out a slight "Ah".

It will be missed again. My heart is very disappointed.

"Today, about 30 minutes after the movie starts, maybe you can see a
meteor shower."

"So"

"If you want, why don't we go and watch it together?"

"What about the movie?"

When I asked, Ai was shocked and gasped.

My voice is deeper than I thought, and I might have scared Ai off.

However, that doesn't matter anymore.

Ai's eyes wandered, choosing words.

"...I can watch movies anytime, right? But meteor showers..."

"I told you!"

I couldn't help but scream. Ai was surprised by me again, she looked at me.

"For you, Ai, the agreement with me... is it disposable?"

I asked in a low voice, Ai said surprised, shaking her head one after another.

"That's not the case! I also really like living with Yuzuru..."

"Then why! Over and over and over again, how cool I promise!"
After all, she couldn't help herself and shouted loudly.

"I always look forward to my marriage with you. The previous day will
think about the next thing and the endless heart, dating the day, it is restless,
but...... you are not like that"

"Yuzuru? No, me too..."

"You!!"

My roar made Ai speechless, her eyes trembled and she stared at me

helplessly.

And I continued to speak as if I wanted to vent the anger that I had

accumulated.

"You want a friend, don't you. A friend who understands you. At that time,
someone like me appeared at the right time, so you just stayed with me
happily, right?"

"That didn't happen!"

"That's not the case! Then you prove it to me! I have been deceived by
you... You yourself are very happy... I have..."

These are my real thoughts.

However, this naked speech blade sharply pierced Ai's heart.

She will cry.

"No... it's not like that, Yuzuru... I..."

"Okay, let's break up. Ai"

This is something I have been thinking about for a long time.

Wouldn't that make each other's life easier after breaking up? She doesn't
have to worry about me anymore, and I can end up easily.
Even though I have thought about breaking up many times, my love for Ai
has always been a problem.

When I clearly proposed breaking up, Ai was stunned and looked at me

with a dull expression.

I said with tears in the corners of my eyes.

"We shouldn't be together. We should always be friends..."

Ai shook her head weakly.

"Yuzuru, wait a minute... I really don't know, I hurt you to that extent... So,
sorry—"

"You don't need to apologize!!"

I cut her off with a roar. She made a high-pitched “hissing” sound and took
a deep breath.

"Okay... Ai"

I said, letting tears roll down my eyes.

"Aren't you a free-flying butterfly?"

These words made Ai's face turn painful.

I also know very well that my words only played with children's emotions,
hurting Ai's heart mercilessly.

However, I can't stop.

Due to the same, I had bruises all over my relationship with her.

"Don't worry about me anymore, you just need to live the way you want.... I
feel sorry for you."

“Yuzuru, no…It really isn't like this”

"Goodbye, Ai"

“Yuzuru!! "

I didn't hear her words. Finally, I left the park like running away.

This relationship is too selfish.

Obviously I was very attracted to her freedom, but once I became the
closest person to her, I was disgusted by her overly free side.

Obviously I am happy that I am the one who understands her the most. But
recovered. I'm tired of understanding it.

In fact, I am only attracted by the light that is not in my body, and I am very
strong.

The interaction with Ai just gave me a sense of helplessness that was hard
to fill, and the curtain ended.

After that, even if I saw Ai in the hallway, I didn't talk to her, and
deliberately avoided her.

And he also moved because of her parents.

It will be fine. Just forget it.

Ai will soon forget me, and live freely in a new place.

In this way, I tried many times to try to forget Ai.

However... Ai appears again.

Freedom is the same as in the past, and also brings a glaring "goodness".

"Asada, this is my seat"

I lay on the sofa in the activity room, my head full of Ai.

Recovering, Odajima stood in front of the sofa, looking at me.

Did you come today too?

"This is not your exclusive sofa."

Hearing what I said, Odajima clicked her tongue impatiently.

"It doesn't sleep Asada if you lie here no I don't have a place to sit it's super
annoying..."

"After all, I am a minister..."

“Ah – really – mother-in-law is annoying! You are in the way! Hurry up!”

A frustrated Odajima forcefully stretched her arms into the gap between me
and the sofa, pushed my back hard, and woke me up.

Odajima bent down, her breasts looming before my eyes.

From their unbuttoned second shirt, their breasts and panties straight into
my view, I moved my head awkwardly and got up from the sofa in the
middle.

“Odajima, you should at least tighten the second button.”

Seeing my erratic eyes, Odajima looked at me strangely, then her gaze fell
to her chest.

Then she panicked and covered her chest.

"...This is really bad."

"The thing is you're dressed like this."

"My underwear today isn't so cute..."

"It's okay with this."

Odajima glanced at me with a protesting look and sat down on me. Beside.

Even though this is a three-seat sofa, the distance between the two people
sitting is closer than expected, and I sit on a safety pin.

As a result, I stood up and moved to the folding chair I always sat on.

Odajima sat back down in the middle of the sofa with a frown, and raised
her leg.

"So?"

"Hah?"

"Why are you sluggish?"

Odajima looked at me worriedly.

I sighed and shook my head.

"Just a little sleepy, so I took a nap."

"No one sleeps with their eyes wide open."

Odajima wiggled her feet anxiously and looked at me.

“Is it because of Mizuno-san?”

“…Why do you think so?”

Although I don't think answering questions with questions is a good thing,

Odajima has trampled on my privacy without hesitation, so I'm not adding
I'm just saying that thinking about it.

As for my question, Odajima looked a little embarrassed, her eyes drifting.

What has happened.

“…I saw you two together yesterday.”

"Hah?"

Those unexpected words made me angry.

Seeing this, Odajima waved her hand in front of her frantically.

"That's right, isn't the station closest to home to Asada?"

“Ah…Yes.”

Yesterday, Ai and I walked together on the shopping street near the “nearby
station”.

Even though I can't remember it clearly, I walked by that place on a rest

day. It is not surprising that someone would see it.

“Yesterday, I happened to see you wandering the shopping street.”

"So,"

I know right. Especially for Odajima, it is difficult for her to stay at home
during her rest days.

Even though Odajima was a bit embarrassed, but because of being seen by
her, I was with Ai. I have nothing to be angry with her.

However, the problem is that Odajima is very interested in this.

It would be very annoying if asked honestly by her.

“But I thought you two were still happily dating?”

I answered Odajima's words with a sullen face.

"That's not the case."

"Then, did something happen after that?"

"Why ask this?"

My tone is much colder than I thought.

Odajima grimaced slightly, silent for a moment. But soon she said angrily
and in a heavy tone.

“Isn't it all because of your expression like that!”

"What makes me look like that?"

“Your expression looks like the end of the world!!”

Oda said angrily while pointing at my face.

Why are you angry?

"Obviously, such a steady expression, no matter how much I'm here, an

expression that never changes!"

“No, Odajima, no matter what you do in the activity room.”

"Nothing, no problem..."

Odajima's mouth was shut and she was speechless.

It's a club activity that doesn't really play a role.

If this place can be someone's shelter, then this is also an option, I think so.

I only read books myself because I love to read books, but if you want to
ask if I have fulfilled my duty as a "reading club" and read books here, then
the answer is definitely no.

Odajima was silent for a moment, her eyes uncertain, but when she finally
spoke, her eyes were still angry.

"Then, then! It's not something "unimportant" that you're provoking right
now."
"..."

I fell silent as I was stabbed in pain by her.

Yesterday, I expressed my thoughts to Ai and clearly "rejected" her. So I

thought, in this way, I could finally be completely freed from her and
her past.

However, one day later, in the end I still thought about it.

"Unlike you, I don't want to be in the same room with someone with a
stinky face like you!"

Odajima said pointing at me, and I got up from the chair without getting
angry.

"Then I'll be leaving today."

"It's not the same thing!"

Seeing the roaring Odajima, I was confused.

I don't understand why he's so angry.

“If you feel uncomfortable, I apologize to you. I've probably always been
like this today… I'll be leaving now.”

Hearing my words, Odajima shook her head vigorously.

"No, I said it's not the same thing anymore."

Odajima looked at me hysterically.

She was clearly angry. However, it doesn't seem mad at me for "holding a
stinky face."

"I mean! If you care for her and write it on your face, then work hard to
solve the problem!”
By the way, I'm finally starting to understand what he's trying to convey.

But at the same time, the feeling of "why should I let Odajima tell me that"
arose in my heart.

I'm sicker than Odajima imagined.

Trapped in an unchangeable past, and finally arriving at a present that can

erase it from memory, but Ai appears again before my eyes.

Although I was confused at first, but now I have definitely cut ties with her.

Even this heartache will surely be healed by time.

However, Odajima personally touched my wound and said, "Hurry up and

find a way to deal with this pain."

I showed a displeased expression and said.

“…This kind of thing, it's not your turn to interrupt Odajima.”

When I held it in, Odajima's pupils opened in surprise.

She made a small "Ah" sound.

Odajima's expression changed from angry to sad.

Maybe I'm hurting her now.

The change in Odajima's expression was dazzling.

When the sadness came from her, it seemed that she suddenly remembered
the general, and the anger returned.

I hurt her , and once again, made her angry.

"Ah...Okay! Then you will stay here forever. The sofa will be returned to
you,"
said Odajima quickly, grabbed her school bag and stood up.

She made a very unpleasant sound of footsteps and walked out of the
activity room.

“Asada, you were just now.”

She was standing outside, leaning against the door and squinting at me. And
facing this glaring gaze, I turned my head.

After the words "super-inferior", Odajima violently slammed the door and
walked down the corridor with loud footsteps.

I sighed.

Even though I was furious at Odajima's words, even so, I was too childish.

It's just lip sync.

Obviously, I usually have a lot of energy to care for other people, but once I
got involved in Ai, I couldn't do it at all.

I can't seem to control my feelings.

"Ha..."

In the activity room where I was alone, I stumbled over to the sofa and lay
down on it.

“Just work hard to solve the problem properly!”

Odajima's words flashed back through my mind.

"Even if you say that..."

I groan like a child when no one is around.

"What do I have to do ..."

solved.

This word sounds quite pleasant.

However, in this case, what exactly is meant by "solution".

In the end, it's still a matter of my mind and Ai.

What I said yesterday should make Ai hate me no matter what. No, I hope
she hates me.

If she still appears before my eyes like before, what kind of attitude should I
use to treat her.

Obviously I was fed up with myself putting her in “jail”, but facing
her rushing into my arms again, I didn't know what to do.

Really, I don't know anything.

"...Come back"

I got up from the couch, locked the activity room door, and walked to the
office.

There were still a few hours before the last school time.

At this time of summer, the sky is still clear.

Changed his shoes on the stairs and stared at the baseball club training hard
on the playground.

The activities of their club, who are passionate about competition and have
a clear goal of winning games, are brilliant in my eyes.

If I can concentrate on doing something, I probably won't hesitate or worry

about such things.

At first, thinking about these meaningless things just by thinking, I shook

my head vigorously and continued.
If you venture into such a place and bump into Ai suddenly, it will be very
troublesome.

The after-school campus is heaven.

“…………Ouch, it happened again”

I sighed and muttered.

I feel so disgusted with myself that I always think of Ai whenever she

comes to mind.

Speeding up a bit, I walked towards the school gate.

As soon as I walked out of the school gate, the phone in my pocket started
vibrating.

It was strange that someone would come to me at this time, and I was
surprised to get the phone out.

On the screen there is a notification from the messaging app. It was sent
from Odajima.

"Even though I just heard, Ando in our class seems very interested in Ai"

After reading the contents of the letter, I exhaled slowly from my nose.

Obviously being angry like that, so why send a message like that here?
Although the reason is not clear, it must be his unique concern.

That said, I do not know how to reply to the contents of the letter.

"Oh"

only that.

The cell phone that was about to be put back in her pocket vibrated
continuously.
"Too bad"

"Stupid bastard"

"I already told you this."

Odajima sent several messages one after another.

I sent a strange cat with a thumbs-up emoticon — although this one is also
from Odajima, I put the phone back in my pocket.

"So I said..."

I frowned and took a deep breath.

"It has nothing to do with me..."

Yes, it has nothing to do with me.

For a moment, the scene of Ai walking side by side with someone appeared
in my mind, but I shook my head and threw it away.

I walked on my way home weakly.

Previous - TOC - Next

 Chapter 7
"Asada, I have something to tell you"

The next day, before class started, Ando Sosuke from the same class
appeared at my desk.

And from the seat behind him came the sound of sucking a small box of
juice.

Ando said that he was the central figure in the class, he was a bright and
cheerful boy.

His club was the Football Club, and his words and actions were full of
passion. Because of that, he was quite popular among the boys and girls in
the class.

And he's like this, except for class matters, basically won't come to talk to
me.
My relationship with my classmates is not bad, and Ando and I sit quite
close, if there is anything, of course he will come to talk to me. But I ran to
my seat and talked to me… this occurrence is really rare.

Besides, I knew what he was going to say.

It must be related to the message Odajima sent me yesterday.

"What is it?"

I closed the library book I was looking at and looked at Ando.

Ando stood in front of me a little nervous.

“Asada, do you know Mizuno? That, the one in Class 3.”

Hearing his question, I thought to myself.

Although it was a bit unexpected that such a conversation would happen the
next day, since Ai would often run to class to chat with me, there would be
all sorts of suspicion and helplessness.

“Well, I knew that from junior high school.”

Seeing me nod, Ando gave a vague “Uh-” response and looked at me

sideways.

"You're not dating, are you?"

He asked straightforwardly, and I nodded with a wry smile.

"Well, nothing to do."

And when I answered like this, my chair was kicked.

The culprit is obviously Odajima sitting in the back, so I ignored her.

Ando was still a little nervous, he bent down and said in a low voice.
"Mizuno isn't super cute? If she doesn't have a boyfriend, then I want to
seriously pursue her"

"So"

“I see Mizuno seems to be talking to you for a few days. So thought

hesitating to confirm.”

“Um, between me and Mizuno, there's nothing…”

I was half way through, and the chair was kicked hard again, and finally I
couldn't hold back the dark face and looked back.

"What are you doing"

glared at Odajima, and she glared at me reluctantly.

"...Cut."

Even though she looked like she wanted to say something, she didn't say
anything, instead delivering a piercing blow.

I sighed and returned to Ando.

“Even though there's nothing between me and her… but, perhaps, it's hard
for you to associate.”

I left a sentence like that.

There may be drama in Ando's words. I haven't thought of it that way.

But when I imagined in my mind the image of Ai and Ando walking side by
side, I felt something inexplicable.

But after all, the fact that I was walking with him should seem strange to
others.

My words made Ando's eyes widen in surprise.

"Why?"

A simple and straightforward question.

I'm obviously a little cocky about this, but he doesn't care about it.

He only showed interest in the content of my words.

“Mizuno…what do you think, she's not interested in this kind of thing…I

think so.”

As I said that, I felt this sentence stuck in my throat.

The question "Is that so?" came to my mind.

Ai I know is free, always moves with heart....

"I like you, Yuzuru"

Her words echo wetly in my ears.

I got goosebumps all.

That's right, she used what she said in her mouth, which moved with
her heart.

Isn't the whole word "the truth"?

if that's the case....

"Well, what's wrong?"

Ando waved his hand in front of me, who was looking down alone, and I
came back to my senses.

"After all, it's hard to fall in love with Mizuno."

I made a judgment as if contemplating what to say.

Ando replied nonchalantly, "That's all," and smiled a little.

"However, it's also really exciting and fun to make a girl who isn't already
in love change her mind."

Hearing his words, I was dumbfounded and opened my mouth blankly.

What he drew into his mouth contained an exaggerated glow that I didn't
have. That strong part overwhelmed me.

"Well, come on."

"Why, thank you!"

Ando smiled sincerely, and left my seat.

Leaning back against the back of the chair, I took a deep breath.

It would be nice if I could have a positive and optimistic spirit.

In this case, even if only slightly, it may be able to move towards a different
future than Ai.

"...You are very stupid."

A small mutter came from behind, and I pretended not to hear it.

Really, I was really embarrassed and thrown home.

Time came right after school.

Even though the class notes were done very diligently, the contents were
completely clueless.

Even if I solve the problems written on the blackboard, I'm still in a daze all
day today.
Ando is someone who will do what he says.

He has to invite Ai on a date right away, and then keeps getting closer to
her.

At that time, what will Ai do.

But this has nothing to do with me.

What I said to myself over and over yesterday now weighs on my heart.

Well, that has nothing to do with me.

I had just dated her before, and her future had nothing to do with me.

I was depressed in the past with her and wanted to run away from her. I
unilaterally gave Ai a word of refusal and cut ties with her.

I definitely thought that it would be easier.

But now, I feel depressed about the broken relationship with her.

Go in circles and return to the starting point.

I said so much and nothing... In the end, I found that I still like Ai.

Is there anything more embarrassing than this?

Throwing the textbooks and library books into my school bag, I stood up.

On such days, I like to put myself in words in a quiet activity space.

While reading is certainly invisible, at least it's much better than doing
nothing and thinking the same thing all the time.

As I was about to leave the classroom, Odajima, who was also filling my
school bag, tugged at my sleeve.

"Wait for me, I want to go too"

My expression couldn't help but freeze.

Because I thought, she must be making another irresponsible statement.

However, when Odajima saw me like this, her expression was slightly hurt
and twisted, and her mouth pursed.

I took a deep breath and shook my head.

"Sorry, I was waiting for you."

As a minister, you can't show that kind of expression to staff who want to
go to the activity room.

Hearing my words, Odajima also shook her head, her eyes wandering on
the floor.

"I'm not going to yell at you like yesterday."

"Well, it's fine. What you said Odajima might be true"

I know.

Compared to me who can't see myself objectively, what Odajima said is

definitely more true.

And I just don't have the balls to admit it.

When Odajima finished packing my things, I stood with her and walked out
of the classroom. Odajima also followed me timidly.

After exiting the corridor, two students walking side by side broke through
my sight.

"Oh..."

And one of them saw me and stood still.

That's Ai.
And, Ando next to her.

"Odajima-san and... Yuzuru..."

Ai raised her hand timidly and smiled stiffly.

"...Mizuno"

I whispered in a low voice, Ai looked scared, and my body was shocked.

She lowered her head with a complicated expression.

As she requested, I could have called her "Ai", but I didn't.

“You, are you going to a club activity?”

Ai suddenly raised her head and said to me and Odajima.

"Yes"

Seeing me nod, Ai smiled stiffly and nodded at me.

"That's it, I..."

"You want to date me, right?"

Ando cut off Ai's words and interrupted.

Date.

This sentence made my heart ache for a moment.

Ai waved her hand frantically.

"No, this isn't a date... It's just for fun, you also said that you would
accompany me wherever you wanted..."

“Of course, Mizuno, you can go wherever you want. Beautiful girl, I must
be very happy everywhere.”
Ando spoke his bold words with all his heart.

Although this was very frivolous, it was very inoffensive. It was absolutely
right to say it from his mouth.

If you are with Ai, you will be happy wherever you are.

I remember that I also had such a period.

If those extra feelings are not nurtured, will Ai and I continue.

"Then let's talk about it first."

Ando raised his hand and winked at me.

Then, as she passed me, she lowered her voice and said, "Next time please
eat something," and walked down the corridor.

Ai looked back at me, then looked away awkwardly.

I stare blankly at his back, and suddenly, someone slaps me in the stomach,
and her knee hits the edge of my ribs, and I scream in pain.

"What are you doing!"

"Aren't you stupid? Do you really think it works like this?”

Odajima looked at me viciously beside me.

You see, isn't this still angry?

I shook my head dissatisfied.

"It's fine, it has nothing to do with me—"

“Your expression is not fine!!”

Odajima's roar shook the air around her.

The classmates who were still talking and laughing in the classroom also
looked at us in surprise.

Odajima, who sensed that something was amiss, cleared her throat
awkwardly.

"Go to activity room"

only that.

I frowned and said, "I don't like being scolded."

“Didn't I already say that I wouldn't yell at you!!”

Odajima roared.

Even though I know that I'm not good enough.

But is Odajima a little too impatient?

"Recently Asada makes me feel really angry when I see her."

When she arrived at the activity room, Odajima looked at me and said.

The activity room, which had been closed for class, was filled with stifling
humidity, but not hot enough to require air conditioning.

Listening to Odajima's words, I opened the activity room window.

A damp summer breeze blew into the activity room, making my breathing a
little easier.

Sitting on the sofa, Odajima glumly tucked her hair that was blowing in the
wind back.

"Asada."
She dropped her gaze to the ground and spoke. Although the sound was not
loud, it was clearly audible in the small and quiet activity room.

“Asada, you are always calm, and you always see things objectively…
different from other people.”

Her words startled me, but I shook my head anyway.

I never thought that Odajima would have such judgment of me.

"There's nothing like that."

“Asada, you don't understand anything at all!”

Odajima's voice sounded harsh as if it overwhelmed my words. Then she

immediately looked surprised, and put her hand to her mouth.

"...Sorry"

This should be an apology for breaking the "I won't scream" agreement.

"It's okay, you're angry after all."

Hearing what I said, Odajima nodded, but immediately shook her head and
denied it.

"...Not too angry, should be easily offended"

"That's because you know... I'm actually not the type of person you
imagined?"

I made a cold sound again. Recently, I couldn't control the feelings I was
releasing at all.

Odajima was silent for a moment, and then immediately shook her head like
a toy.

"...It's just that I don't know. The current Asada must also be Asada. It's
okay, it's okay."
Odajima said so, and fixed her gaze on the floor again.

Her eyes were restless, and she kept moving. It seems to be trying
desperately to make up words and sentences.

“Even though, I just… said “You don't understand anything”… But,

perhaps, I don't understand anything myself.”

She lifted her head and looked at me.

“Asada, you and Mizuno.”

Odajima's eyes were a little too sincere, and I became confused with
nowhere to escape. I wanted to turn away, but there was nothing I could do.

So far, Odajima has never "asked" anything from me.

She was always stupid, and occasionally showed her face, a girl like a stray
cat. This is Odajima.

But recently, Odajima, once it engages me, the sound will become louder.
Her voice and eyes were all saying something harshly.

Then, she said, she wanted to hear me tell her about her indecent past.

"For..."

I made a difficult sound.

However, those words were still filled with wanting to escape this.

“Do you want… to know those things?”

After I said this, Odajima's expression remained serious, she said.

“Because of Asada, you are worried about this.”

“But, that kind of thing…”

As the voice dropped, I saw the temperature rise sharply in Odajima's
expression.

“Don't tell me that kind of thing has nothing to do with me!”

Sentences that clearly express refusal.

And this is exactly what I wanted to say, and sealed by her first move.

For some reason, Odajima really wanted to cry.

Why, you have such an expression.

"But that's also true. Basically, other people's business has nothing to do
with me. But...different..."

Odajima held back her tears and said those words desperately.

“Asada and I are… friends in the same club, right…?”

Her words took me by surprise.

That's right.

When she was more like a "ghost member" than she is now.

Drenched in the rain, she walked into the activity room and said, "Don't ask
anything." However, I still told her the same thing and asked her the truth.

It's same.

This has nothing to do with me.

However, I want to understand.

If I could relieve some of Odajima's sadness, who was so wet and desperate,
maybe that would wash away the desperation that radiated from her.

Because I think despair is too inconsistent with it.

"...Hmm"

I shut up and nodded.

At first, I thought Odajima was curious about me and Ai just out of interest.

However, this doesn't have to be the case.

It seems that by accident, I was a little worried about Odajima. At this

moment, I finally understood her hysterical words.

"I know. I said…but it's not a funny story.”

“I know…but, I still want to hear it.”

"That's how it is. OK…”

I slowly sat down on the folding chair.

After her eyes hovered over the table for a while.

I slowly walk towards Odajima and confess my past with Ai.

"So... I broke up with Ai. Then, after a few weeks, she transferred to
another school because of her parents."

After I said everything from start to finish, the sky was completely dark
outside. Down, the weather is also getting worse.

Outside the window came the sound of raindrops falling to the ground.

Squinting to look out the window, large raindrops visible to the naked eye
fell from the sky.

“Then, before Ai transferred schools, we suddenly met again.”

"Yes"
“She said… she still… likes me”

"Yes. Straight to."

I keep talking. And Odajima answered minimally. words.

Although her expression changed from time to time, she did not interrupt
me.

"I..."

After I finished speaking, I sighed in a hoarse voice.

“I… am not qualified to be with her anymore.”

Hearing this, Odajima fell silent with an indescribable expression.

"For Ai, living freely is her philosophy of life. She speaks very clearly, and
I hear her very clearly. But... I stand in the way of her freedom."

My eyes lowered, slowly opened.

“This… I can't stand it.”

Speaking of this, Odajima is still listening to me with a subtle expression

until now. She raised her eyebrows.

Then she muttered.

“…Isn't this what you really meant?”

"...Hah?"

Hearing the final opinion from Odajima, that's all.

"That's 'I can't stand this', isn't that what Asada said from your heart?"

"This... like this"

"Then what did you just say?"

"Huh? What do you mean..."

See I'm confused, Odajima's words start to bring warmth.

"Meaning! She who loves freedom, her life is freedom, what's the use of
talking so much about these high-sounding words!"

Odajima stood up from the sofa, approached me, and looked into my eyes
intently.

"After all, Asada, you only want to take Mizuno-san as your own, right"

I barely said it.

appropriate.

This arrogant wish is too great for me to refuse.

so…….

"Is there a problem with this?"

Odajima's words interrupted my thoughts.

"...Hah?"

I made a boring sound.

She took a deep breath, and this time, there was an undisguised anger in
her voice.

"So I'm asking you what's wrong with this!"

I couldn't say anything, so I opened my eyes and looked at Odajima.

She continued to speak impatiently.

"Mizuno, she likes Asada, but she also wants to live freely. Isn't that the
right thing. At the same time the two ideas are a little strange."

“But, because I interfered with her life's freedom, she……”

"That - it's not like that!"

Odajima roared and kicked the folding chair I was sitting on. The power
was much greater than I thought, and I fell from the chair to the ground
with a "wow".

Odajima kicked the folding chair with her foot, and grabbed my collar
which fell to the ground. From the middle of her unbuttoned second
buttoned shirt, Odajima's chest came back into my view.

"Okay Mizuno-san! Asada, me too! We all chose to be together!"

Odajima roared.

I completely forgot to breathe, so I couldn't help but stare blankly into

Odajima's eyes.

Choose together.

It also means getting along.

Yes, we choose. But the result of that choice was endless regret.

There were tears in the corners of Odajima's eyes, and she continued to
speak loudly.

“You have your own universe and light! But if you want to merge into one
universe, do you have to fulfill one of the universes? Is not it?"

Odajima's eyes were sincere.

She was angry, but I understand that this is not pure anger, but really wants
to enlighten me. I was like a child being reprimanded by my parents,
listening in silence.
“Mizuno, isn't she so selfish! Playing with Asada, she thinks that as long as
she is happy, you will also be happy Asada!”

"That's because I didn't give up on her..."

"Not! Not like that! You really are an idiot!”

Odajima grabbed my collar and shook it vigorously.

"Asada, you need to be more stubborn too! Why, why...aren't you a little
childish"

Odajima's roar took me by surprise.

Indeed, I didn't complain to Ai until the day my patience reached its limit.

Dissatisfaction with her accumulated over the years, "this is her charm"
convinced myself to accept it, alone to endure it ... Then, finally came the
day of the plague.

“Care more about me! 'Think about me more!' Why didn't you tell her like
that! Coward!"

Odajima shouted, the momentum was already overwhelming.

Her words hurt my heart. The word "coward" gradually swelled up my

suppressed anger.

What she said must be true.

However, she shouldn't know how much it hurts me.

Why did she have to tell me this.

Think so.

"Not!"

After I recovered, I screamed. Odajima's eyes widened in surprise.

"No matter how you like her, I don't want to change her lifestyle and live
with her."

My roar made Odajima frown for a moment, but she immediately gritted
her teeth, shook her head vigorously, and raised her voice.

“It seems so, you decide for yourself!”

“……!”

No!

I want to scream like that.

But can not.

“Perhaps Asada, you are just like this! But Mizuno-san!”

"Hey, hey hey..."

I hope Ai can free her and imprison her in my cage and make her feel
unfree. Not a good thing for her.

But what is Ai thinking.

That said, I don't know what Ai thinks of me.

I only heard simple words like "like" from her mouth.

"'Don't give any hints about my life' or something like, 'You could have
been there, always asserting my freedom.' Did she ever say anything to
you!!"

"Those kinds of things..."

"Everyone, all--- it's just your selfishness! To stare at it for the sake of the
other party, and distance yourself from the other party! Even breaking up
with her...This is for Mizuno-san..."
Odajima roars furiously, her expression turning to pain.

And her eyes were filled with tears.

"How can she... be happy..."

Odajima's strength to grip my collar is slowly starting to weaken. So, she

finally let go of her hand, and my head gently tapped the floor.

Odajima was crying.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she slumped to the ground, whimpering.

Seeing her cry, I started to feel confused. It's the first time I've seen her cry
since that heavy rain.

"Why, why are you crying Odajima..."

"...Stupid, don't look at me"

She turned her back on me and continued to wipe the tears with the hem of
her sweater.

Hearing her jerk, my head hit the floor in a daze.

I've always thought that not stepping into other people's territory was a kind
of "tenderness".

My parents are laissez-faire (left free), as long as I study well, they will not
make irresponsible comments to me. After entering junior high school, I
thanked my parents even more for this approach. Therefore, I hardly feel
any pressure in my life. There is no proper period of rebellion.

I grew up in a very relaxed family environment. Whenever I heard my

friends complain about "my parents were so annoying" at school, I would
feel "that's hard work". I also know How lucky it is to live not to be
disturbed by anyone.
Therefore, perhaps because of this, I once felt that it was very unattractive
to make irresponsible statements about other people's "philosophies of life."

No, I still think so.

In reading, whenever I see someone who can easily accept someone else's
philosophy of life, I feel "very mature" and I want to live this way of life.

However, Odajima's words surprised me.

When Ai and I decided to date, we were no longer "strangers".

It started as friendship, but can't be summed up with the word friends, and
the bond between us is getting deeper. Maybe Ai just wanted to build a
deeper relationship with me, so she confessed to me.

Every day I spend with Ai is very happy.

In "Landscape as usual", I started to feel a sense of surprise and freshness,

and it was like I saw a whole new world.

Maybe the same is true in Ai's eyes.

I got caught up in what the world calls “love”, and I became increasingly
dissatisfied with Ai who remained unchanged after I started dating.

However, at the same time, I also liked Ai's limitless freedom, so I started
dating her.

I cannot make irresponsible comments about her lifestyle. Like some kind
of obsession, I believe so deeply.

But Ai and I are "lovers".

What we need between us may not be patience, but dialogue that flows to
each other's values, and time for dialogue, right?

But I turned my back on her, pretended to give up on her, and actually ran
away.
My awareness of "participating in other people's lives" is also somewhat
lacking.

As if finally remembering how to breathe, I took a deep breath.

Consciousness gradually returns to the activity space.

I slowly stood up, Odajima seemed to notice, and she moved timidly
towards the sofa.

Then, throw a sentence.

"...See you again"

She whispered and said loudly.

"So... have a nice chat with her. If you have this expression every day from
now on... I won't be able to stand it"

"... Hmm"

After hearing Odajima's words, I felt very deep. Nod.

After that, Odajima and I were silent for a long time.

Raindrops came from outside the window.

Come to think of it, there was a unique and nostalgic smell in the activity
room, namely the smell of rain when the ground in the playground was
dampened by the heat.

"...Asada,"

Whispered Odajima.

"...Sorry, I shouted at you and used violence on you."

"...It's okay, I have to apologize to you too."

After shaking my head and denying it, I bowed my head towards her.

Even though it's the first time I've seen such great anger towards Odajima…
but I know it's all for my sake.

“When I get angry, it will be like that.”

Odajima lowered her head in frustration.

Seeing Odajima, who was angry at first, and now suddenly depressed, I
don't know how to comfort her.

After hesitating for a long time, I pointed at her shirt shakily.

"Anyway...you can tighten the second button first."

Hearing what I said, Odajima stared at her chest in surprise.

She sniffed.

“…Today's underwear is really cute, so it's fine.”

Said Odajima.
Previous - TOC - Next
 Chapter 8
End club activities. When I was about to leave school, it was already
pouring rain outside.

Weird summer, humid heavy rain.

"Oh, it's raining."

Odajima took out a small folding umbrella from her school bag and looked
at me.

"Together?"

She asked, and I shook my head. Then she pointed at the door with
her chin.

“Forget it, let's go in a different direction after we leave the station closest
to home. Let me borrow an umbrella together."
On the steps of this school, there are many unowned umbrellas that have
been abandoned for a long time. The reason why it was named "Shared
Umbrella Box" was to borrow an umbrella and reuse it when it suddenly
rained like this.

I took the umbrella out of the box, and Odajima pouted "hum".

“You actually missed the chance to hold an umbrella with a pretty girl like
me, Asada, you really are desperate.”

Odajima showed a mischievous smile, I also smiled lightly and nodded.

"Of course"

Seeing me nod, she frowned, her cheeks turning red.

"... I should have just complained."

"Is that so? Sorry."

You're the one who's clearly kidding. What are you ashamed of?

After the first heated argument, Odajima finally became honest. Take a
closer look, conservatively, she is indeed a beautiful girl.

Due to her somewhat spice-like attire and her expression of rejecting others
thousands of miles away, I remember that there was basically no one around
her, but I had heard some of the boys in the class say "Odajima, that's
great...".

“Odajima, if you join a sports club or something, you will definitely be very
popular.”

After that, Odajima raised her eyebrows and stomped on the ground with
one foot. Tiles make a "Bang!" sound.

"Really! Don't make fun of me! This matter is over!"

"Hah. Ah, this way."

I snorted and opened the umbrella.

At this moment, I remembered that there was something I should have said
to Odajima that I had not said.

"Odajima"

"Hah?"

"...Thank You"

Hearing what I said, Odajima opened her eyes perfectly, then she turned
her face away.

"Thank you for what?"

You know that. But I said nothing else, opened the umbrella.

In the midst of the unrelenting rain, Odajima and I came home together
after a long absence.

After separating from Odajima from the nearest station to my house, I

walked on a familiar journey home.

Not to mention the rain had stopped, but it was increasing. Listening to the
sound of raindrops on a plastic umbrella, I walked in the rain.

Even if I hold the umbrella, my feet are already wet, and the inside of my
shoes are wet, it feels very difficult to walk, but it also reminds me of "it's
summer."

In no time, Ai flashed through my mind.

Hours of work had passed, in front of the post office with the shutters
closed.
Looking at this enormous building, the memory of me running with her is
revived.

It was also a hot day coming into summer.

After we chatted and laughed in the park, on our way home, we suddenly
encountered a heavy rain.

“The weather forecast clearly says that today will always be sunny! It's
raining so hard!”

Even in the pouring rain, Ai still smiled happily. And I also raised the
corner of his mouth. The rain was like a torrential downpour, which made
people laugh.

"Let's go there to hide from the rain!"

Ai pointed at the post office, chuckled and ran. I chased after her again, and
the two of them ran under the post office roof together.

“I have a towel. But maybe a little sweat of mine on it.”

From the bag, I took out the towel my mother gave me to wipe my sweat,
and handed it to Ai.

“Is that okay? Then I use it?”

Ai took the towel from my hand and immediately started wiping her face.

Obviously I said that there was my own sweat on it, but seeing her not mind
at all gave me some relief.

My eyes moved downwards involuntarily. Ai's shirt was soaking wet and
clinging tightly to her. The translucent white underwear and shoulder straps
that stretched to my shoulders made my heart skip a beat, and I looked
away.
"The rain is very pleasant,"

said Ai, raising her voice.

"Pleased?"

"Well, the sudden rain makes me happier,"

She answered with deep emotion.

Staring at the dark clouds that subconsciously let the rain fall to the ground,
he said.

“This is truly God's will.”

Ai's words seemed to melt into the sound of rain. The words are natural and
authentic.

"No matter how hard we try, we can't beat nature. Feeling the rain made me
realize this,"

Ai said while narrowing her eyes.

And I have no emotions about the rain, although I didn't say that I hate it,
but if I get wet by the rain, I will be very depressed, I only have this feeling
in my heart.

However, when I think about these mundane things, Ai is already

considering the bigger picture and enjoying it.

Secretly glanced at the side of Ai's face which was soaking wet but still
smiling. In my opinion, I should say "the will of the king is hard to violate".

"If you just stay in the sun, you won't know these kinds of things. So, it's
really nice when it rains,"

Ai said afterwards. The sudden eye contact made me avert my eyes in

panic.
“How about you Yuzuru? Do you like rainy days?”

When asked by her, I hesitated for a while, but in the end, I still spoke my
true thoughts.

"I didn't even think about this kind of thing."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I have no likes or dislikes. I just thought “Ah, it's raining”.”

"Wow, that's so"

Ai Shaking her shoulders slightly happily, she looked up at the sky again.

"Yuzuru, you can see and accept things instead of sadness and joy"

"Hah?"

"Doesn't everyone have a different reaction when it rains. "I hate getting
soaked in the rain." People would feel "so annoying", and someone like me
who likes rain would feel "okay!". "

Ai said that happily, and she narrowed her eyes at me with gentle eyes.

"But Yuzuru, you only think 'rain', right? Ahaha, like a god,"

She said with a smile.

But I think you are more like a god.

She is ready to accept everything in the world. Compared to mine,

her thinking is broader and far-reaching.

That's why he's interested in all kinds of things every day without getting
bored… so she won't stay in the same place.

My heart is completely captivated by Ai, only bathed in the light that

radiates from her.
And I cannot shine on her like the sun or wet her heart like rain.

Stay with her.

"Yuzuru"

Ai suddenly leaned her shoulder towards me.

It's like the action of a sticky cat rubbing its owner's cheek.

"So glad it's raining today"

Mumble Ai.

I watched her profile silently.

"Because..."

Her round eyes pulled me in deeply, and then she squinted gently.

"After talking to you, I like rain."

I suddenly felt a tension in my heart.

This is love.

I like Ai. I know this, but I also have strong feelings about it.

What should I do to stay with her forever.

Just when thoughts drift.

Ai seems to be praying.

I hope from now on… I can always see this scene together

"Yuzuru."

She muttered.
My heart skipped a beat, and I leaned my shoulder slightly against her.

"I also"

I answered.

The sound of the rain pulled me back to reality.

In retrospect, I was already standing in front of the post office.

"...I miss her,"

I muttered and continued again.

In the end, my position is still the same as before.

Just stand beside her. I didn't know any other way of living anymore, so I
ran away in this unclear state.

How does Ai feel about my leaving?

Will she feel that I betrayed her.

Thinking of such a thing, walking on the shopping street, halfway to "that

park", suddenly a figure appeared in my field of vision.

On such a rainy day, the man was standing in the middle of the street
without holding an umbrella. Seems too unnatural… I couldn't help but
stare at her.

Then, I immediately realized that I knew that person, and my heart

suddenly trembled.

“Mizu, Mizuno…?”

Even though I whispered to the person standing in the middle of the road,
she still stood blankly and didn't notice my presence.
"Mizu..."

Thinking about calling again, I swallowed.

And, this time, he had to use a louder voice to call her name.

"Oh!"

She shook her body and looked at me.

Her eyes were round, and there was an expression on her face as if she was
looking at something unbelievable.

“Yuzuru…? Why?"

If you want to ask why… because this path is the only way for me to go to
school and leave school.

I didn't say any words, and ran towards Ai.

Looking around, she was already drenched. Now is not the time for boring
questions and answers like this.

"What are you doing! Isn't everything really wet!"

I handed her the umbrella. However, Ai shook her head weakly.

"I just want to get in the rain now, it's fine."

"It's not just about the rain, it's going to catch a cold."

“You are soaking wet, Yuzuru.”

"Oh, let it go!"

Looking at Ai stubbornly refusing to hold the umbrella, my heart slammed,

and my body slammed into it. Cover her under an umbrella in the form of a
matching umbrella. (Note: The same umbrella refers to two people holding
an umbrella together)
Ai looked at me affectionately, with a weak smile on her face.

"Huhu... Yuzuru, you're so gentle."

“What are you doing in a place like this. Ando?"

"He's long gone"

“Then why are you here…”

As I was halfway through, Ai's and I's eyes collided. The corners of her wet
eyes were red. The eye bags were weeping and swollen.

"...What is it?"

Ai cries in the rain without holding an umbrella.

I couldn't help but ask, she lowered her eyes and fell to the ground.

"Ando is mad at me"

"A...angry...? Why?"

Hearing my question, Ai lowered her head and whispered.

“Because I… kept… talking about Yuzuru.”

Her words took my breath away.

'Why.'

This sentence stuck in my mouth, but in the end I didn't say it.

Why call me dating a handsome guy. Even though I really wanted to ask
this question, did it make sense to ask it with a weakly bowed head?

"I"
Ai muttered, and her faint voice, along with the heavy rain, fell to the
ground.

"I think I really like this town,"

Ai said while looking at the post office. The raindrops under the roof there
creaked, making a very loud sound, even here.

"So, when I found out that because of my father's job transfer, I was able to
return to this city, I was very happy ... because this is a shining place that
solidifies my memory"

Ai's eyes swayed slightly. Her eyes were full of tears, although they shone
because of the light reflected from the street lamps, they had no past light.

“Today Ando-kun said that he would accompany me wherever I wanted to

go, so I walked with him on this shopping street. Because this is my
favorite place.”

Ai and Ando walk side by side here. Shopping on the street.

Imagine their figure...I felt a strong disobedience.

I can imagine the image, but... the image that comes to mind always feels
very blurry and unacceptable.

A faint smile appeared on Ai's face, and said.

"Ando-kun is very warm and a very kind person. I also very happy to talk to
him. But... there is something very different"

"Different?"

Ai nodded.

“Well… the path I walked was completely different from what I

remembered, and lacked freshness. Instead, it seems to be lost in a strange
city."
Ai's shoulders shook slightly. At the same time, her voice trembled.

"I've always felt that… it doesn't matter if you're alone, you can do
whatever you want without being hindered by others, and all the things you
get are mine, you can turn them into my important treasure, but… ...But...!"

Ai said this, suddenly raised her head.

She looked at me with teary eyes.

“My memories in this city all ended with you…!”

Hearing the words Ai was trying so hard to say, my heart suddenly

trembled.

I am also the same.

After Ai transferred to another school, every time I walked this path, every
part with her would be revived in my mind.

Every time I squint at the slope I'm standing on now, I think of the garden at
the end. Think of the days spent there with Ai.

And it hurts all the time.

"The road that people other than Yuzuru walked no longer 'shines' for me.
When I came back to my senses, I already shared those memories with you.
So... I...! I know... Turns out I don't like this small town, I just like Yuzuru,"

Ai said with rain.

"Yuzuru, you didn't reject me. I'm bored with other people, so I like being
alone, and you recognize me like this. You walk with me and listen to me
talk to you. And only "yes" responds to me, showing me a smile... When I
realized it. .. I'm done, I can't be alone anymore…!”

Ai let go of her tears. She sheds tears, she didn't mean it. Erased it, her eyes
bloodshot, watching me and she continued to speak.
Offended. My vision also started to blur.

“I broke up with Yuzuru… I'm in so much pain…!”

shouted Ai.

Her voice was mixed with the sound of the rain, and only I could hear it.

Ai pulled my sleeves forcefully.

"Now, Yuzuru..."

She looked at me with a sad expression in her teary pupils.

“You… really, do you hate me…?”

I opened my mouth and couldn't say anything.

The excited mood and the words I wanted to say kept replaying in my heart,
but only weak breaths escaped my mouth, which weren't words at all.

"I got Yuzuru all over your body. When I broke up with you, I thought
about it… so, I guess I should tell you this time… It should be like
this…….”

Tears kept flowing in Ai's eyes.

There was always an air of mystery, it was unpredictable what she thought
in her heart, always cheerful, and, in my eyes, always strong and strong.

Ai is crying in front of my eyes now.

"But, in the park, you said that again, 'I hate you.'...... I thought you might
really hate me. I......!"

Ai said with tears of disbelief.

"I'm so sad that my heart breaks...!"

"Ai...no, no..."

“Hey Yuzuru… Yes, I'm sorry… I, I will change… I will make Yuzuru likes
me again!”

Ai gasped and cried, clutching my sleeve with a jerked hand. One is

difficult.

Then, she said to me like a confession.

“Don't tell me you hate me…!”

This sentence is like the act of a child acting like a baby.

Not persuading, but just pleading, clumsy and straightforward words.

But because of this, I know more clearly that this sentence must be
her sincere intention.

Receiving the words she spoke directly, my vision started to shake.

When I came back to my senses, I had grabbed Ai's shoulder and shouted.

"I do not hate you!"

The umbrella fell to the ground.

"I, I don't hate you... I'm sorry... I can't, I hate you..."

I just want to hate it. Yes, I've thought about it many times.

Even after breaking up, I remember Ai's moments many times.

The moment I walked in with her and regretted the breakup, I already knew
this.

I can't hate Ai.

I love Ai with a smile warm and bright like the sun.

I love Ai who can still find pleasure in quiet everyday life.

I love its mysterious and innocent double-sided profile.

I have faith that I know Ai better than anyone.

Yes, I like Ai the most.

But precisely because of this.

"But..."

I finally uttered a sentence that was uncontrollable and swelled to infinity in

my heart.

"I'm so sick..."

I've always wanted to say this. I want someone to listen to this sentence.
But I can't say.

Even when Odajima listened to me, I armed myself with common sense and
blocked my true thoughts. But Odajima saw through my thoughts, but still
gently enlightened me, but even so, I still missed the chance to express my
thoughts directly.

Actually, my actual thoughts are very simple, there is no legitimacy at all,

but because of this, they are deeply embedded in my heart and have been
entangled in my heart.

I am in pain.

“Being with you… really, it makes me… so painful…!”

Such words came out of her mouth.

I like Ai.

I like her who is more free and beautiful than everyone I know she is like a
butterfly.

For her it's like that, every time I want to be a special being, I feel pain.

I wish she could respect me more. Even if it's just a trivial concern, even if
it's not expressed in words, I hope she can care about my feelings.

"I'm sorry, Yuzuru...I'm really sorry..."

My words made Ai's tears burst like a bank, and she kept apologizing like a
child begging for forgiveness from her parents. I shook my head vigorously.
"No, Ai, it's not like that..."

When I heard Ai apologize, I already knew.

The "special" I was looking for was already in another form in her heart.

Ai is much more mature than me, she only values "time with me".

However, I didn't pay any attention to the incident, just a "deal with myself"
in my eyes.

"I... can't talk to you. Say... I'm in pain...! So..."

At that time, I ran away from her without listening to Ai's explanation.

However, not only that, but even his own thoughts were not properly
conveyed, and he abandoned them.

Failing to admit his own feelings in front of Ai, clearly telling her "I'm in
pain", he blames all the sins on her and runs away.

I'm really desperate.

So, it's not good to say it well.

This time, I can no longer run away.

"Ai, you're not wrong."

I said.

Being with Ai makes me miserable. And this pain is hidden in the

"happiness" and "happiness" it brings to me, leaving me unable to move. So
by accident, I ran away from her.

And I was tormented by Ai, who left without being able to convey
important matters.

In short, it's really boring.

This is just a childish love between junior high school students.

But... for us, this is it.

That's right.

"...Not"

Ai asked, looking at me uncertainly.

“Don't you hate me…?”

“Hmm… I don't hate you”

“We… can still be good friends…?”

“…Hmm. Let's start again… back to where we started."

Look. When I nodded in response, Ai's eyes widened in surprise.

"...Really"

Ai's expression no longer knew whether she was crying or laughing.

"Very good..."

She wailed quietly.

“Ai, Ai…!”

Looking at Ai who was squatting on the spot, I finally breathed a sigh of

relief.

As the umbrella fell to the ground, I realized that I was also drenched.

He rushed to the bottom of the road to pick up the fallen umbrella, and then
returned to Ai's side.

So, until Ai cried until she stopped, I kept holding the umbrella for her.
The rain continued to fall, and the water flowing down the incline was as
much as a river.

However, these raindrops seem to erase the relationship that has

accumulated between us, let's start from the beginning.

This is also the first time in my life that I am "happy" with continuous rain.

"Welcome back~. It's outside so it's raining… Wow!? What's wrong with
you two!? Why are you getting so wet!?"

When I got home, my mom ran into the bathroom in a startled panic.

I felt that I couldn't let Ai come home soaking wet, so I took her to my
house.

“Yuzuru, please wait a moment. Come on towels! Wipe clean. Come on,
Ai-chan come here. Just hot water ~ just boiling, come in. "

"No, sorry... ...Suddenly..."

"It's okay, it's okay. Come on, watch out for a cold!"

The mother took Ai to the dressing room with a quick motion.

I wiped my hair with a towel and watched her back.

My mom is refreshing, although it feels a bit mundane overall, I'm grateful

to be able to do something without asking anything at this point.

"Then you wash slowly!"

While pushing Ai into the changing room, the mother came out of the
corridor.

Then she sighed and looked at me.

"Yuzuru..."

“Sorry, I suddenly brought someone home.”

“This is nothing…”

Mother seemed silent for a few seconds, but finally she asked bluntly.

"You two were reunited?"

"...Not"

"Ah, so."

My mother's answer was very simple, and she didn't ask me anything after
that.

“Do you know if you clean your body and return to the room? If it makes a
mess, it will be a problem.”

"Yes"

I nodded and wiped the wet uniform with a towel.

"But"

"Hah?"

The mother turned around suspiciously.

I said blushing a little.

“…We made up.”

After hearing my words, my mother opened her eyes in surprise and looked
at me.

Then.
"...Ah, um"

this time, she nodded with a faint smile.

"It rains all the time..."

Ai said, sitting on the bed, looking out the window.

"Yes"

I also nodded somewhat awkwardly.

We were both soaking wet, after taking turns showering to warm up, we
spent some time in our room until the rain stopped.

"If the night doesn't stop raining, let my mother take you home."

"Eh, not good..."

"It's fine, my mother won't care about these trifles."

“...After all, it is Yuzuru's mother.”

Ai nodded, “Uh-huh” and smiled.

"What do you mean?"

"Literally!"

Ai smiled shyly, and turned her gaze out the window again.

The sound of the hairdryer coming from the first floor.

Maybe my mother was in a hurry to dry Ai's shirt and skirt.

I'll have to thank her later.

Thinking of such a thing, I took advantage of Ai not noticing, and took a
peek at her.

With Ai, she improvised in the pajamas I prepared.

Even though I'm not the stout type of person, my height and shoulder width
are still bigger than Ai's.

So of course, my pajamas were a bit too big for the Ai, and the sleeves and
hem were longer.

However, even though I'm wearing loose clothes, Ai's curves are still
visible through the cloth… I feel my body temperature rising slightly, so I
take my eyes off Ai.

No matter if it was before or now, I am a physically and mentally healthy

boy, and I have all kinds of delusions about Ai's body.

During social interactions, Ai is often unsuspectingly drenched in the rain,

and what she chooses is basically hot pants and a camis. Inevitably, I will
subconsciously make me realize it. Body curve.

Moreover, Ai who was reunited several years later seemed to have

developed very far from the one I knew.

Her appearance is a little more mature, and her chest and waist are clearly
developed...

So, if she's drenched like that, her underwear and panties should be wet
too… Of course, I definitely can't let her change here. Underwear, then she
now...?

Thinking of this kind of thing, I glanced at Ai again, my heart was beating

faster than I thought, I shook my head.

"What is it?"

"It does not matter..."

Just now, I was so serious and confessed to Ai. After becoming a situation
where two people live in the same room like this, I will have evil thoughts,
even myself. startled.

Since I was annoyed with this weird "boy" part, I overlooked the important
stuff.

"..."

After regaining consciousness, Ai looked at me.

She glared at me, which took me by surprise.

Maybe she found my bad sight.

"Hey, Yuzuru..."

She called me. The voice echoed softly in my small room, making me
nervous for some reason.

"Why? What's wrong?"

Hearing my answer, Ai's cheeks were slightly red, and she twisted her body.

Just when I thought about what was going on.

“Yeah, let's… a kiss?”

"Hah!?"

Ai's suggestion was too sudden, and I couldn't help but let out a loud voice.
I hastily covered my mouth.

The sound of the hairdryer on the first floor also stopped. After a few
seconds had passed, it restarted. My voice seemed to be so loud that I could
hear it from below.

Seeing my reaction, Ai frowned and tilted her head doubtfully.

"...Do not want to?"

“No, no… it's not a matter of desire or thought… then what… why, why?”

I panicked half to death. Feels hot on the face.

When I was in high school, if she said something like this, I would
definitely accept it, and then I would tremble with great excitement, but
now my mind is cut off.

I really didn't expect to say such a thing from Ai's mouth like that.

Ai pouted and spoke awkwardly.

"Besides...we've never done this before..."

Hearing her say this, I thought to compose myself and exhaled slowly. I feel
my breath is very hot.

Taking a deep breath of this is truly amazing.

Inhale and exhale slowly. Only such behavior can calm the body and mind.

“Well, it's like this… but… I don't think you'd be interested in this kind of
thing.”

Hearing my honest thoughts, Ai also looked awkward and nodded.

“To be honest, maybe because I didn't understand this at the time.”

I know it is.

"But after I moved, everyone heard that I had a boyfriend, so they all came
to ask me."

"What do you ask?"

"Have you ever kissed? Something, and...just...do..."

"I see, you don't need to say it anymore."

When I was about to say something bad, I stopped her.

Now that I say this from Ai's mouth, it will be difficult for me to maintain
my normal thoughts.

Ai blushed and continued.

“Yuzuru, you…you wanted to do something like this before, right?”

"Uh,"

I blushed and made a dazed sound.

“I heard boys and girls want to do something like this when they are
together.”

Who instilled this kind of thing in Ai? ...But it is.

"So, I think, if you don't do this kind of thing properly, you might end up
getting tied up again..."

Ai's gaze was erratic in the room.

I know what she means anyway.

Ai was clearly trying to force herself. I scream.

"Ai"

and she suddenly stood up straight and looked at me.

"I, I...! Do you want...?"

"Not"

I shook my head without allowing myself to make any strange noises.

Then, tell her word for word.

"We're not dating yet."

Hearing my words, Ai opened her eyes and exhaled "Ha".

"Ah! Yes, too... that's right..."

It seems that she is too relieved because the reconciliation is as good as

before, and Ai seems to have a lot in her heart.

I also feel comfortable.

Since I clearly conveyed what I meant, Ai also seemed calm.

"Then, Yuzuru. Do you want to live with me?"

"Wait, wait, wait a minute!"

You are not calm at all.

I extended my palm to Ai to signal to stop. Can't keep up with thoughts.

It's true that Ai and I still like each other to this day. And we both know this
very well.

but.

I took a slow breath and closed my eyes as if I was trying to sort out my
thoughts.

So, when I opened my eyes again, I had already decided what to say.

"Then what... Ai"

"Hah?"

"I... don't want to hang out with you right now"

Hearing my firm statement, Ai was taken aback.

A look of astonishment appeared on Ai's face, as if a "bang" sound was

heard behind her.

Seeing her eyes starting to get wet, I hastily continued.

"That definitely doesn't mean I hate you!"

“That, then, why…”

I panic.

Ai and I once misunderstood each other's ideas and failed because we didn't
communicate with each other through words.

Ai thought she was really accepted by me. I can affirm she is

unconditionally free, and she likes me like this.

Then, because I liked her that way, I was bound by the obsession that "I
have to believe in a place like her".

The mutual misunderstanding of each other's relationship has come into

contact with each other, and then, is finally full of flaws.

I don't want to repeat this breakup again.

“If we interact now, we will definitely do the same thing again.”

My words made Ai take a deep breath, and her expression became

smoother.

I have to walk well this time. I have such a firm thought in my heart.

However, if you suddenly get to do what you haven't been able to do before,
it probably won't be that hard.

We need time. Moreover, the time to come will be very long.

"As friends... spending the same amount of time more... with each other, to
understand what each other likes and hates"

Ai listens to me earnestly.

"Slowly, wait until the relationship becomes closer... then... us"

I nervously suppressed the already trembling voice. It is said.

"Wait until we...when we all think that the other party is important, then..."

The ears are red and the face is hot.

It's been a long time I don't remember that it turned out to be so distracting
to say important things, and that it took a lot of courage.

"Then, let's relive our old dream."

After that, Ai looked at me with a dull expression.

Then, her expression brightened little by little.

As Ai smiled, she jumped off the bed.

"Yes!"

"Wow!"

Ai hugged me as if poked.

Hugged tightly in her arms, I was terrified.

“You, do you really understand?”

Hearing my question, Ai said in my ear.

“Yuzuru, you want to value your relationship with me…I already know it
deeply.”
Ai's hot breath came from my ear, which made me stiff.

The touch of Ai's breasts rushing towards me is very gentle, and I thought,
"Isn't it true that I don't wear pants ..."

"I like you the most... Yuzuru"

Ai whispers make my heart flutter.

"To me, Yuzuru is indispensable... How will I live without you..."

I couldn't say anything, I could only nod my head with a flushed face.

It was my self-control to be tested so straightforwardly by her.

Take more time and start over the friendship. Even though I just said that,
the part of the "high school kid" in my heart is very swollen. I really want to
put my hand Ai right now and kiss her.

Anyway, let her calm down by slowing down Ai.

While I was thinking about it, Ai's body suddenly left me. Then she looked
at my expression.

“So, I have to make Yuzuru think so too!”

said Ai. Smile like a flower.

"I like you the most, so please like me too?"

"...!"

Ai's unadorned words hit my heart.

Her various free-form acts were familiar to me, and I also felt a little
"mysterious" in them.

After a long absence and meeting again, what I realized was... Maybe she
was just a pure and innocent person.
Unlike me, she can face her feelings honestly, and is able to deal with every
feeling.

By the way... I liked the place so much that I couldn't help myself.

"Yes"

looked into her eyes and nodded slowly.

I'm looking forward to Mizuno Ai.

Free as a butterfly, dazzling as the sun.

And inadvertently, I treated Ai as an object of worship, not as a girl.

Then she was in pain because she couldn't take such a "god" as her own.

I want to see her roam freely between heaven and earth. However, I also
wish she had me in her eyes. In fact, I wish he was the only one in her fiery
gaze.

The fire of desire burns my heart.

This is completely uncoordinated.

So, this time there will be no more mistakes.

Standing next to girl Ai, listening to her words, pouring out my heart...

Seeing the same scenery, carving the same memories.

I want to build a relationship with her that is very valuable just by being
together.

This is my heart.

I mumbled like I swore.

"I will love you this time."

My words made Ai's eyes tremble violently.

Then, tears fell from the corners of her eyes, and streaks of tears ran down
her cheeks.

"Hmm... promise"

She nodded lightly, wiped the tears with her index finger, and smiled.

"Ah"

Outside the window behind Ai. The red light flashed, and I screamed.

She also turned around. Then with a shout of "Ah", she ran towards the
window.

In the thick dark gray clouds close to black, the light of the sunset that was
almost sinking to the west was revealed.

Ai opened the window and said.

"The rain has stopped!"

She smiled innocently and turned to me.

I also walked to her side and looked out the window.

It was really just a small gap between the clouds.

The sky was clearly filled with dark clouds, but there was a gap that only let
the sunset through.

The bright red sunset reflected in the light rain on the street, sparkling.

So pretty.

"...This is the first one,"

murmured Ai beside him.

"Hah?"

“After we got back together, the two people saw the scene together. This is
a first.”

After Ai finished speaking, she smiled beside me.

I couldn't help but laugh, squinting and staring out the shiny window.

After repeating this scene many times, will Ai and I gradually become
closer.

If so, that would be great.

“Yuzuru, don't move.”

"Hah?"

Ai suddenly said this, just as my gaze was about to look at her.

There was a soft and warm touch on my cheek.

Ai's face is just a stone's throw away from me. It is the feeling that the skin
fits perfectly.

She left me slowly.

Looking at her in surprise, she was already blushing.

"This, this... a kiss between friends"

"Friends, between friends..."

"Well. Between friends..."

It's a little too sudden, and too pushy.

Even though I thought so in my heart, I wasn't really interested in this

sentence, so I didn't say it.

"...Ha--"

Ai was panting heavily, and her cheeks that were flushed by the setting sun
were stained with a layer of blush.

“This……it feels like my heart is going to explode.”

“…then it's better if you don't.”

I said so, Ai seemed to be relieved of tension, grinning.

Then she became embarrassed again.

"Then if it wasn't a relative of a friend… my heartbeat might be dying."

I thought about what she meant, a few seconds later.

So I blushed and smiled as if I wanted to cover up.

"Then please don't die. I will be with you… my heart beats faster.”

Hearing my words, Ai's eyes widened in surprise.

She was happy from the bottom of her heart and smiled.

“Hmm…!”

It was getting dim outside the window.

The gap between the clouds has closed again.

It's going to rain again.

However, maybe that's okay.

Because Ai will definitely say, "This is the first rain (after reconciliation)."

My door suddenly opened with a "click".

“You two, hurry up when the rain stops! Just bring a plastic umbrella at
home…Ah, sorry, are you bothering you at a critical time?”

"…It does not matter"

I got out of bed grinning.

"The critical moment is over."

When I said this, my mother laughed "pfft".

"Ah, so that's how it is."

is just a word.

Previous - TOC - Next

 Chapter 9
As soon as I went to school the next day, there was a man in my chair
waiting for me with a straight face.

"...Ando"

"...Morning"

"Okay, good morning"

The person sitting in my chair is Ando Sosuke.

And Odajima doesn't care about Ando who looks annoyed in front of
her while fiddling with her smartphone.

Ando stood up slowly and pointed at my chair with his chin.

That probably means let me sit down.

I took a deep breath and nodded.

I already understand why he came here. Maybe I heard from Ai yesterday

about the date.

As soon as I sat down, Ando said seriously.

"Are you really not dating?"

He didn't ask who he was dating. But everyone knows that well.

I remembered what happened yesterday and shook my head. Ai and I

started over as friends.

"Well, nothing to do"

"Is that true?"

"Really. I didn't have to lie to you, did I?"

Hearing my clear answer, Ando looked me in the eyes with a serious face
for a few seconds.

"So..."

His displeased expression suddenly changed, and then his upper body fell
right onto my desk.

"Wow, what are you doing?"

I held the table swaying and screamed. Ando wasn't just lying on my desk,
he was still rolling there.

“I am so proud after hearing your words~”

Seeing Ando's squeaky voice, my eyes turned in surprise.

There was a "buzz" from the chair behind her. Isn't this laughing?
Ando suddenly raised his head and looked at me with a bitter look.

"Mizuno-san... she likes you too much...!"

"...She seemed to mention me and then made you angry, right?"

“Huh??? Did she tell you? Great. I lost myself.”

Ando blushed, finally supported his upper body off my desk and stood up.

"That's right. Wherever she goes, she keeps her eyes open and says "I'm
playing a game with Yuzuru here"!" Yuzuru also said to me, "A bird
stopped here too"!" you."

Ando pursed his lips in dissatisfaction, narrowed his eyes at me and spoke
quickly.

Then he sighed.

"But ah, I'm so angry because of this... Hard to believe... I'm too narrow-
minded... I want to die..."

"No, I didn't do the right thing with Ai. This is for you Ando. This is rude"

“Ah! Your unhurried feelings also make me very displeased! You are not
equivalent to saying, “My Mizuno is really sorry to you”!”

"I do not mean it... "

"... ...Haha. Sorry, sorry, I didn't want to bother you either."

Ando seemed to vomit everything in his lungs, sighed loudly, and crouched
down beside my desk.

"Then what, why don't you socialize?"

Facing Ando's question, my eyes drifted.

It's hard to explain clearly in a simple way.

"Well... the situation is complicated..."

"What. Could it be that you really are dating Odajima?"

As soon as Ando's voice fell, there was the sound of a chair being violently
pulled.

"Hah!?"

And the one who made such a loud voice was Odajima.

“Get along with you!!”

Her roar echoed through the classroom, and the eyes of her classmates
immediately focused on our side.

"Oh. Oh... don't be so angry..."

Ando looked at Odajima with a wry smile.

Odajima looked glum and sat back in her chair trembling. Then, she
whispered again.

"I really don't date..."

"Understand"

"Well, I don't hate it... It's just an ordinary friendship..."

"That's also, um, that's a friend."

Ando made a suit in response, waiting for Odajima's gaze to return to the
phone.

After she calmed down, Ando looked at me again and said in a low voice.

“Don't you like Mizuno-san?”

When he asked like this, I thought about how to answer him for a while.
However, even if I answer "I don't like it" here, it's contradicting the facts,
so I'm answering honestly.

"Not really, I like it."

"Hah?"

Hearing my answer Ando made a dull sound, but there was an exaggerated
clicking sound from the seat in the back.

I looked back in surprise, Odajima picked up the phone that fell to the
ground in a panic.

"Then why don't you date!"

Seeing Ando's voice getting louder, I didn't want my classmates to stare at

me anymore, so I put my index finger to my mouth and “shut up”.

"So that's how it is, my own situation is very complicated,"

I say in a low voice, and Ando squints at me, making a slightly warm
"hum" sound.

“Then…I will continue to chase Mizuno-san?”

When he asked, I was silent for a while.

It's really hard to say "Yes". Honestly, I wish he could stop.

Although he also confirmed that Ai likes me.

But after a long time, it's not uncommon for Ai to change her heart to fall in
love with Ando in the process of restarting the friendship.

In my eyes, the boy named Ando Sosuke is gentle, warm, and full of charm,
enough to make me think so.

However, since Ai and I are just friends, then I really don't stop other
people from pursuing the right to love.
“…I have no right to stop you.”

Hearing my answer, Ando smiled sincerely and stood up suddenly.

“In that case, I will chase after her to the best of my ability! If I go down
first, don't complain!”

"Yes,"

I nodded, looked Ando in the eye, and said.

“In order to avoid such a thing, I will do my best.”

A popping sound came from the seat in the back.

Turning around, Odajima dropped the phone on the desktop this time.

“What are you doing ah……”

"Ha? None of your business? I just slipped. What's the advice, believe it or
not I beat you,"

"Bad mood?"

"Actually, I'm not bad, dry Huh? Believe it or not, I will beat you."

"Don't hit me."

“The relationship is really good, you guys… Wow!”

Ando who was looking at me and Odajima suddenly let out a loud sound
and looked behind me. I also followed his gaze and turned around, and then
sent out the same "wow" with him.

Ai saw us from the window in the classroom corridor.

"Your reaction is like seeing a monster. It's too much."

Ai smiled slightly, as if she was going to lean against the window, and
raised her hand.

"Good morning, Yuzuru! And Odajima-san and Ando-kun"

Ai greeted us freshly, and looked at Ando with a slightly restrained gaze.

Ando looked around shakily, which was quite rare for him.

“That, Ando-kun…”

“Ah, what, what is it…”

"Yesterday…"

“Oh, wait!!”

Ando suddenly reached out his hand to stop Ai who wanted to say
something.

"Let me do the talking first."

Ando said clearly, straightened his posture, and lowered his head.

"I'm really sorry yesterday."

"Eh..."

Ai looked at Ando who looked down to apologize to her in surprise.

He slowly raised his head, speaking with a complicated expression.

"Yesterday, I left after getting angry. I'm really sorry. It's so awkward..."

Ando said while peeking at me, then looked at Ai again.

"I now know very well how important the memories with Asada are to
Mizuno-san. Even though I was very unwilling to do this yesterday, I am
angry with you..."
He was serious and his voice was shaking.

"I won't neglect Mizuno's valuables. So..."

Ando looked at Ai with a childish shy smile.

“All in all, can you be friends with me?”

Ai looked at him in surprise, blinking non-stop.

Immediately smile.

"Okay thank you! Be friends with me! Ando-kun!"

Ai smiled and extended her right hand to Ando.

The two shook hands somewhat shyly. Then Ai also poses.

"Then this time, it's my turn to apologize."

Ai lowered her head.

Seeing this, Ando shook his head in embarrassment.

"No need, it's fine."

“When I go out with friends, I keep mentioning other people's business.

That's very disrespectful. I apologize"

Ai said while smiling apologetically.

Watching this scene, I slowly exhaled a closed breath that was somehow
strained by the conversation between the two.

I found that Ai can also correct her behavior like this through
communication.

From now on, the relationship between Ando and Ai should not deteriorate.
I feel comfortable.
The two feelings blended gently in my heart.

"Let's go together next time! Go to a place we've never been"

Ai said with a laugh.

Ando's expression suddenly brightened, and he nodded.

"Yes! This is a promise!”

"Yes! See you again!"

Ai smiled sincerely and left the corridor.

Seeing her leave with a blank stare, Ando's face suddenly turned to me.

“…It feels like there is a game.”

"This is also an option. After all, Ando, you are a good person."

Seeing me smile in acknowledgment, he also nodded with a bright smile.

"Everyone says so!"

If he's so positive, he can tell me a little.

It's great to be able to get things done... just when I thought so.

Seeing Ai running back from the corridor again, I raised my head.

Ai is back here again, leaning out the window between the corridor and the
classroom.

“Sorry, I forgot to say something!”

said Ai while looking at Ando. Ando stared blankly at him.

Ai smiled cheerfully and spoke.

“If there is an appointment with Yuzuru first, I will put Yuzuru first!”
"Hah?"

“Because I have a good relationship with Yuzuru. I already kissing!”

"Hah?"

"Goodbye!"

Ai with this, she ran down the corridor again.

Ando and I, as well as Odajima, watched him silently from behind.

“...Asada”

"...What is it?"

Ando's face turned to me stiffly. His expression was terrible.

"Have you guys kissed?"

"...there is not any" "

“What was that!! Have you guys kissed!!?"

"Everyone said yes!! It hurts!!! What are you guys doing? Do it!!"

"Because I'm so angry."

I was pressed by Ando, and Odajima slammed the back of my head. It's a
mess.

The class bell rang, and the principal entered the classroom quietly.

“Stand up” says this with

peaceful and yawning, and all the students stood up.

Ando's eyes darted back and forth between me and the peace.

“You will have to explain it to me later. Of course!"

She dropped these words and returned to her seat.

"Greetings!"

"Good morning teacher."

Following the class president's orders, everyone lazily bowed and sat down.

The teacher starts the class meeting with a lack of energy.

My shoulder was suddenly stabbed.

Looking back, Odajima looked at me sadly.

"What are you doing?"

“…Did you kiss her?”

"I said no."

I was kissed.

But that's... "Kisses between friends". I said that to myself.

It wasn't the same as the two of them had imagined.

"huh"

Odajima still had a frown on her face and nodded.

"Then... Are you reconciled?"

She asked stiffly.

I took a deep breath.

That's right, because of listening to Odajima's words, I got a chance to

rethink the future with Ai.
If you don't talk to her, even if you run into Ai in the rain later, you
probably won't be able to speak honestly and rebuild your current
relationship.

And even today, Odajima still annoys me.

"Hmm... Thank you,"

I said, bowing my head deeply. Odajima snorted.

"Isn't that great?"

After speaking, she peeked at me.

"...But, it looks like you haven't started dating yet?"

"Yes. We want to start with friendship."

"Really never...kissed you?"

"Really never kiss, it bothers you so much"

"Oh"

Odajima answered weakly, fiddled with the ends of her hair with
her fingers, and muttered.

"Perhaps, I won't be a ghost member anymore."

"Uh..."

I suddenly felt like falling from a height.

“Are you going to… quit the reading club?”

When I asked, Odajima's expression was taken aback, then she slapped
her tongue and kicked my chair.

"No! I mean..."
She looked annoyed, her eyes fell on the table, and she uttered a word.

"I mean... I'll be going every day from now on"

Her words surprised me.

The pain in the internal organs disappeared in an instant.

“Here, over here…!”

Odajima just came to the activity room to pass the time.

She looks like a stray cat. There is a sense of emptiness that will suddenly
disappear in the activity room one day.

And she said that she would come to the activity room every day.

For me, this is really good news.

“Eh~ That's great.”

Hearing my honest thoughts, Odajima opened her eyes in surprise and

looked away.

"I just think it's troublesome to think about where to spend time each day."

"I know, but I'm still very happy."

When I said this, Odajima's eyes drifted slightly. embarrassed for some
reason.

"Oh"

only that.

"Asada study?"

The peaceful voice echoed in the classroom.

It is over.

Slowly I turned to see the peace standing on the podium.

"I..."

"Did you hear what I said?"

"I didn't hear it. Sorry."

"Instead of staring at the face of an uncle like me, it's better to flirt with the
cute fashionable girl in class."

The class burst into laughter.

Although it was embarrassing for me to be ridiculed by her in such a place,

since I turned around and chatted with Odajima so presumptuously, there
was no way.

"Forgive me…"

"Then I'll take care of you on today's errands."

"Okay…"

At the same time I nodded, Ando who was on duty today, wore an
exaggerated triumphant posture.

The classroom was filled with cheerful air again.

"Haha...stupid egg"

Odajima's small voice came from behind. I gritted my big teeth bitterly.

"That's because you float too much."

While I didn't look back, Odajima said boldly behind me.

I'm not floating.

Although I want to refute it like this.

But perhaps, everything is really as Odajima said.

I really didn't think that one day I could laugh with Ai.

In addition, Odajima also wants to participate in club activities.

Then... I also learn that Ando's love for Ai is true.

Everything makes me very happy.

In Ai in junior high school, in order to live freely, she almost completely

gave up school life with other people.

She is a funny person but very strange.

Subject to this superficial evaluation, to borrow her words, is "locked in the

classroom."

However, now it is different.

Me and her became friends.

She and Ando will definitely become close friends from now on. And
depending on the situation...could be lovers too.

Although I don't want to see such a thing happen, it will depend on my

efforts.

Later, Odajima felt that she could get along well with Ai.

In this case, I will build a completely different relationship at the "school"

place little by little, and spend each day happily...In this way, I also hope
that he will like me more.

In school life with Ai, I will definitely like her more and more.

Imagine such a future.

"...Ha ha"

A faint laugh escaped her throat.

I do fly.

"Asada-san?"

The teacher narrowed his eyes and looked at me.

I thought the class meeting had already taken place, but he still seemed to
be paying attention to me.

“Is it fun playing with Odajima?”

He smiled peacefully and sarcastically.

Before continuing, I nodded.

"Let me move the notes too."

When those words finished, the class was boiling.

“By the way, can you listen to class well?”

When I heard those peaceful words, I smiled and nodded.

It's a long lost and soothing school morning.

Previous - TOC - Next

 Epilogue
The sound of noodles being sucked echoed in the activity room.

I wiped the sweat off my neck with a towel.

It's officially the beginning of summer, and the air in the activity room is
humid and extremely hot.

Even if the air conditioner is turned on, the air conditioner installed in the
room located in the corner of the school building to this corner is very worn
and does not lower the room temperature at all.

The effect of the operation is "better to open than not to open".

I narrowed my eyes at Odajima who was sitting on the sofa and muttered.

"You can still eat cup noodles even though you're very hot."

My words made Odajima lift her head, and she raised her eyebrows.
"What are you talking about. It's tastier if you eat it when it's so hot, right?"

"Ah, so I see..."

Although I don't really understand what she means, she also has her own
stubbornness. philosophy. It's very unattractive to make irresponsible
statements about someone else's philosophy of life.

But that's what I said, Seeing Odajima eating cup noodles in the scorching
heat, I feel even I'm getting hot.

Looking away from her, I took the library book in my hand.

The paper cover that came with me when I bought the book was crumpled
with sweat on my fingers.

"Asada, so are you. Luckily, you don't get tired of reading every day. It's
obviously very hot,"

Odajima said.

I was a little confused and snorted.

“Does hot weather have anything to do with reading?”

“Ah—maybe it doesn't matter. But, if it's so hot, isn't it impossible to

motivate me?”

After that, she “sucked” and snorted again. And then whispered "Hot..."

I snorted "really" and nodded.

“However, I always felt reading would be very calming.”

With that said, my eyes fell on the library books.

The stories and knowledge accumulated in this small square object have
become a part of my daily life.
My life. daily.

Do these things slowly. This will make people feel very comfortable.

"After class, come to the activity room to read a book, Odajima, you sit on
the sofa..."

I groaned on the surface of the library and continued.

"As usual, this sort of thing puts people at ease."

I said so and looked at Odajima. She looked at me wearily.

When our eyes met, she looked away in panic.

"...so"

she answered bluntly while stirring the cup noodle soup with chopsticks
swirling.

This was a habit she often did when she had nothing to do.

“In the Asada universe… I was there.”

"Hah?"

"No, it's fine."

She glanced at me again. Then, she pointed at me with her index finger.

"Kaoru"

"Hah?"

"When are you going to call me Odajima. Shouldn't I be calling my name

too?"

"Oh, this..."
After saying this, I remember meeting Odajima and I still use her surname
to call her.

Even though she called me by my last name at the beginning, when I

realized it, she had missed my first name and called me.

"Asada". It was so natural that I can't remember when it started.

"Ka..."

I thought of screaming and giving it a try, but suddenly I became

embarrassed for some reason.

"Even if I call your name out of the blue..."

She pouted in discontent when she heard me say this.

"What? I'm not a junior high school student. Why are you embarrassed?"

"It takes courage to call a girl by a boy's name."

"Then you shouted happily with Ai"

“With Ai, it really started from middle school……”

"Ah-ah-!, sick of forgetting it, and I listen to the cries."

forced to be so demanding, I blushed, eyes on the floor Constantly

hovering.

"Ka, Kao..."

Halfway through, I covered my mouth again.

Since you made such an embarrassing request to me, Odajima, should you
give me something too?

I first thought of a reason to be fooled, and pointed at her chest.

"If... Odajima, can you tighten the second button?"

"Hah?"

"You, if you press the second button, I will call you by name."

Hearing what I said, Odajima After a few seconds, she was stunned.

She smiled triumphantly.

"It does not matter?"

“No matter what”

"It does not matter

"Is it okay if you can't see my panties?"

Her words made my face turn red and my voice grow louder.

“I don't want to see it!?”

"Hah? Is that so!”

Odajima sneered unkindly, put her chopsticks in the cup, and put her hands
on the buttons of her shirt.

Then slowly tighten the second button.

I feel that Odajima's mood has changed suddenly. Can one button make
such a big difference?

Seeing my half-open mouth, Odajima looked at me with wet eyes and said.

“Scream, pervert?”

"Who's a pervert?"

“Quick—scre—scream—”
Odajima clapped urgently.

I thought she would definitely refuse to fasten the buttons, expecting her to
give up her heart to say it, but I didn't expect that she was completely out of
my expectations, and quickly tightened the buttons.

The spoken words are like splashes of water.

I opened my mouth which was dry and dry from my tension.

"Ka..."

After realizing that she blushed a lot, she finally said it.

"Kaoru..."

Kaoru opened her eyes wide when I finished speaking, and took a deep
breath.

Then, as she exhaled, her face was so red that I could see clearly.

"...Isn't it possible to scream properly?"

"That, it's because you tightened the second button..."

"No, well, that too..."

"You made me scream, you can't be ashamed!"

"It's so noisy——!"

Kaoru said sharply, raising her hand like an animal threatening its prey. Her
cardigan was also very blank today.

"Huh...Well, forget it"

Kaoru quickly turned off the second button.

I was stunned.
"Uh"

"Why?"

"No, buttons"

"You didn't tell me to keep it on"

“You are so cunning!”

Hearing me turn up the volume, Kaoru chuckled evilly and picked it up

again. .

Then said triumphantly.

“Confirm the rules, but the basics of the game.”

“I'm not like Kaoru. I don't really like playing games…”

Hearing me say this, Kaoru held her chopsticks and opened her eyes wide,
looking at me. I.

I was thinking about "what happened" and looking up, she suddenly
laughed.

"Ahaha!"

"What are you doing ..."

"No--yeah, it's fine, haha..."

Kaoru was excited for some reason, and after stirring the noodle soup with
chopsticks for a while, she picked up the noodles.

"Asada, your place, I think it's also very sneaky."

"So what do you mean!"

“It's okay to say everything. Stupid"

Kaoru smiled happily. Noodle Cup started again.

"What? Really..."

In that conversation, I felt very embarrassed.

Sighing, I narrowed my eyes at Kaoru. As soon as she finished speaking,

she began to concentrate on her stubborn face.

I'm also thinking of going back to reading and picking up the library books

"Ah"

At this time, the bell rang announcing the arrival of the last school time.

"Already here..."

Even though I've been obsessed with reading for a long time today, it feels
like time flies so fast when I talk to Kaoru.

Like the declaration on that day, as long as it was a school day, she would
definitely come to the activity room after school.

Even though she's still sitting on the couch and playing with her cell phone
and reading comics as usual, but even so, she'll appear every day, which
makes me very happy.

“The door will be locked. Hurry up and eat."

"Yeah, I'm done."

Kaoru was tilting the cup and drinking the soup in it.

Although I always thought that "drinking all the noodle soup is not good for
your health", considering that she was hiding in such an activity room to
eat, there was no place for her to throw away the noodle soup.

After drinking all the noodle soup, Kaoru threw the noodle cup into the
plastic bag at the convenience store and tightly shut her mouth.
"Come on-"

Kaoru got up from the sofa and nodded.

I also agreed to lock the windows and leave the activity room.

Use the key to lock the activity room door.

"...I don't want to go home"

Kaoru muttered quietly.

I don't know if this sentence was spoken to me, but I know I am helpless
about this, so I deliberately pretended not to hear it.

"I will return the key, do you want to go home together?"

I asked, Kaoru's eyes flickered for a moment, but she immediately shook
her head.

"...Forget it, I'm going back alone today."

"This way? Although the sun is still bright before sunset, but still pay
attention to safety,"

I said. Kaoru smiled lonely and nodded.

"Yuzuru... see you tomorrow"

I was a little surprised when I heard Kaoru's words.

Usually, she always said nothing, or just said "goodbye" or something, said
casually and came back.

I was a little confused by her emphatic response.

But, think about it, maybe it's just her mind changing a bit, and maybe it's
not good to show too many surprises. I changed my mind on this.
"Okay, see you tomorrow"

After I answered, Kaoru nodded and walked towards the door.

And I walked to the office, to the stairs.

"Asada!"

When she suddenly stopped, I turned my head in surprise.

Kaoru was standing in the middle of the corridor, watching me.

"What is it?"

"Call again!"

Kaoru said.

" Hah?"

"Call my name!"

"Ah, uh…"

Why do you want to do this.

Although I think so.

“Kaoru, see you tomorrow.”

Since I didn't want to be bothered by her, my fights with her were endless,
so I called out her name frankly and waved.

Kaoru's face showed an indescribable expression, only for a moment.

"Well, see you tomorrow"

She also smiled and waved at me.

Then, she finally walked slowly towards the top of the stairs.
"...What's with her?"

Staring at Kaoru's odd looking back for a while, I regained my spirits and
walked towards the office.

As usual, I returned the keys and changed shoes at the entrance of the stairs.

Even though it was almost seven o'clock in the evening, it was still a bright
summer night.

And when I almost got to the station near the house. The sky will suddenly
darken.

Take a deep breath.

The smell of wet earth and grass.

The sound of the sports department starting to retreat came from the
playground.

This is my favorite time period.

Looking towards the school gate, Kaoru was no longer there.

Even though she was petite, her steps were unexpectedly fast. She should
have been out of school a long time ago and started her journey home.

"...Me too, come back"

She whispered, and walked away.

I remember what I said to Kaoru in the activity room.

My daily life.

Come to school for class, and go to the activity room to read after class.
Kaoru sat on the sofa and left the activity room when the school bell rang.
In the voice of the sports department, I felt the end of the day... on his way
home.
Ordinary, monotonous, comfortable, rhythm of life.

Spring winds blow, and summers are wet. Gloomy wind in autumn.
Knowing it's warm and cold in winter.

Despite all this, I always thought it was taken for granted.

But if you don't feel it closely and listen carefully, you won't hear the
rhythm.

If you accidentally fall in love with this subtle rhythm in your daily life, it
must be because...

"Yuzu--ru--!"

My back was slapped with a "bang".

I got excited and turned around.

Ai stood behind me with a smile on her face.

"Ai"

"Are you going home?"

"Of course... this is the last time I leave school."

"Let's go back together!"

Of course, Ai started walking beside me.

The person who was still on my mind just now appeared before my eyes,
and I smiled wryly to myself.

Maybe like this, she can always show up at the right time, that's one of the
reasons why I like her.

Through this young girl Mizuno Ai, I can finally see the light in my life.
However, she accepted the world with sparkling eyes and gave it to me little
by little.

And I responded, opening up my own world little by little.

“Yuzuru, are you having fun with club activities?”

Ai asked, tilting her body as if to peek at my expression.

I nodded with a wry smile.

"But even if I say that, I'm just reading a book."

“But Kaoru will be with you too.”

"She's here to play with her phone and eat instant noodles."

“Ahaha, it really is the same as before.”

As I said. As expected, Ai and Kaoru have a harmonious relationship.

Sometimes she would walk into the activity room on a whim and chat and
laugh non-stop with Kaoru.

Although Kaoru was still a little displeased at first, unexpectedly, this was
also a choice. Recently, the two of them seem to be very close.

Ai tilted her head like a bird, looked at my school bag and said.

"What book did you read today?"

She shifted her gaze to my school bag, probably because she wanted to see
the library books inside.

I took out a library book from my school bag, removed the crumpled book
cover, and showed the cover to Ai.

"A book called "How the Universe Was Born"."

"It's also a very obscure book"

"I'm a little interested."

When I said this, Ai was slightly surprised, and this time she tilted her head
to the other side.

"Why are you interested in the universe?"

Faced with her question, I couldn't help but laugh. She was almost like a
child.

For everything your parents do, you have to ask "Why?" and develop your
own intelligence little by little. She looks like this.

"This is not an interesting topic,"

I answered.

The reason why I was interested in the universe was because of the dialogue
with Kaoru.

She sometimes uses words like "universe" in conversation.

Even though sometimes it feels overwhelming, sometimes it feels so right, I

find it really great.

universe.

It would be outrageous to say so, and even the size could not be properly
understood.

Because of that, the weight of the "universe" in Kaoru's mouth would

change frequently, and each time it would give me a different impression.

So I subconsciously wanted to understand the universe.

When I thought these things in my mind, Ai gasped for breath.

"It's up to me to decide if it's interesting or not!"

Ai said, hands on hips.

“Also, even though it's boring, as long as it's Yuzuru, I want to listen to it.”

Seeing the expression of Ai who said these words, I pondered again in my

heart.

indeed so.

This is also one of the rhythms of life that Ai and I build slowly.

The most boring thing in my eyes, maybe not for her at all.

Besides, even though it's very boring, it would be nice if there were days
when each other laughed and said, "That was so boring."

Put your heart into words and convey it to the other party... In constant
repetition, the "connection" between the two is built.

"Yes, I'm sorry."

I apologized for the first time, and looked away from the school gate.

Keeping Kaoru in mind.

"Kaoru, no she often says 'universe' in conversation"

"Ah! Indeed, I seem to have heard it several times."

"Right. So..."

I slowly told Ai about the beginning of the universe Interesting experience.

Do universes with different rays of light have to be the same ray of light
when the two are combined into one?

Kaoru said that in the activity room that day.

If I wanted to say that there was light emanating from my body, it must
have come from the way I have lived so far and the things I am interested
in.

Apart from that, the same goes for the lights on Ai's body.

Bring these lights.

Little by little, share together.

Little by little, mutual understanding.

In this way, it would be nice if we could have the same universe one day.

Ai is my regret.

However, that frozen "regret" is what Ai is dedicated to melting with

warmth.

Ai's honest call finally gave rise to a call in my heart.

So, this time, this time.

We've put together bit by bit methods of fluent communication that can be
done without shouting. Imagine a relationship laughing at each other for fun
in a familiar and unique rhythm.

The "regret" between me and Ai gradually turned into the "future" in the
twilight.

Listen to the sound of the heels of two shoes on the ground.

Ai's voice responded to my words like a bouncing ball, coinciding with the
sound of footsteps.

Carve constantly this refreshing rhythm in your heart.

This happiness is so tearful, but an ordinary rhythm is engraved in my heart.

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 Special Code Little Universe
Gu~!

I heard a long, high decibel sound, and I couldn't help but take my eyes off
the book.

In the corner of the activity room, on the sofa placed near the window,
Kaoru sat paralyzed on it, touching my eyes as much as possible. She
blushed.

“…Are you hungry?”

I asked, Kaoru glared at me and shook her head.

"I'm fine, just don't know why my stomach is calling about it,"

"Someone's making such a loud noise they're not hungry?"

"Yes! You make it personal, don't read your book too much nonsense!"

Kaoru waved her right hand impatiently, "Go".

Although I think you can honestly admit it if you are hungry, but since she
herself vehemently denies it, then I can't say more.

I sighed, just as I was about to turn my attention back to the library books.

Me~~! !

I'm enthusiastic.

The belly sound was much louder than before.

Of course not me, but Kaoru.

I stared at her shakily, Kaoru blushed, wondering if she was breathing, and
her body was shaking.

I choose my words carefully.

"...Besides, I didn't eat cup noodles today,"

she said.

Kaoru looked at me bitterly for a few seconds, after a while, she lost her
strength and nodded with a sigh.

"...Um. What a bad day today. Not only did I forget to bring cup noodles for
a snack, I didn't have time to buy lunch."

"Ah...Yeah, if you asked peacefully during your lunch break, right?"

Kaoru usually says "No cell phone is allowed at school" school rules always
comforting herself by saying "won't get caught", and doesn't care about
breaking school rules. Then today she was caught by the principal
Ogasawara Hiwa while playing on her cell phone, as punishment, she was
crammed with multiple tasks.
And I was led by Ai during the day, so I didn't know Kaoru couldn't have
lunch.

Combining the text library again, I fumbled for my school bag.

Then I fished the little yellow pocket out of it, looked inside, and it was
literally tucked away in it as I remember.

"Here, here it is"

I took out a onigiri wrapped in plastic wrap from my small pocket and
handed it to Kaoru.

She glanced back and forth between me and the onigiri in surprise.

"...What's this?"

“Onigiri”

"I do not mean it! Yuzuru, isn't this yours?"

"It's mine, but I didn't get to eat it."

My mother always put two onigiri with a side dish. Put the bento box in the
little yellow pocket as a bento for me to take to school.

Normally, I would happily finish all of my food during my lunch break, but
today I just handled two bites casually. After my lunch break, I went crazy
with Ai. So I only ate one onigiri.

And I still wasn't that hungry until I got home, and I didn't have a chance to
eat these onigiri.

In that case, let Kaoru, who was just hungry, eat it, and the value of
this onigiri will be higher.

Of course, even though these onigiri were made by my mother... but instead
of taking them home after eating them, let them be eaten by hungry friends.
If you say this, my mother will feel happier.
“But… it wasn't so good.”

"It does not matter. I'm not hungry now."

Seeing Kaoru who was clearly worried, I walked towards her without any
hesitation and put onigiri in her.

She glanced back and forth at me and the onigiri in my hand again. After a
while, she finally nodded slightly and took the onigiri.

"...Thank You"

"Yes."

Looking at Kaoru who tore and unwrapped the plastic wrap with narrowed
eyes, I sat back down in my folding chair.

Sitting back As I held the book in my hand, Kaoru had opened half of the
plastic wrap and whispered, "Have a good meal."

She chewed the onigiri.

Glancing at her silently, her expression became visibly brighter to the naked
eye.

"...Delicious."

"Delicious."

“Salt kombu and…what is this, peanuts…?”

“Ah, maybe cashews. My mom recently mixed salted seaweed with

cashews. "

On a daily basis, one of two onigiri is stuffed with salted seaweed and
chopped cashews. And I also feel good with this combination, and I like it.

“…Yuzuru, your mother, is very good at cooking.”

"Oh, uh. She seems to like cooking, and she's always coming up with some
new tricks."

“Well… it's delicious.”

Kaoru expressed her feelings briefly. , eat onigiri happily again.

I suddenly remembered the addiction to her mouth.

“…What do these onigiri look like to Kaoru?”

Kaoru was confused when I asked.

"Huh, what do you mean?"

When she asked back, I noticed that the question I asked was a bit
ambiguous.

"Ah, that... you keep saying, "Cup noodles are the universe? So..."."

Kaoru also exclaimed "Ah," when I said this, and tilted her head doubtfully.

"Hmm..."

Kaoru thought for a moment while staring at the cross section of

the onigiri which had clearly been half eaten.

Then, she finally raised her head like an inspiration, and said with a
somewhat serious expression.

"Should be... Small Universe"

I was silent for a moment... and then burst out with a smile.

Kaoru raised the corner of her eye displeasedly when she saw me like this.

“Obviously you asked what you were laughing at!”

“No, haha, sorry…”

I held back the tears that were about to laugh, and shook my head.

Cup noodles are a universe, onigiri are a small universe.

"I think it's funny when I think that this is also the universe."

When she heard me, Kaoru's mouth bent into a “へ”, and she said
awkwardly.

"Because, this is also to choose the unique finite among the infinite"

"It's true. This is also the universe. Small universe"

"You're playing me, right?"

"Not"

I shook my head grinning.

While it's funny that Kaoru can connect to the universe no matter what she
says, I also think that she can capture everything in the world in front of her
with a broad way of thinking, which is great.

"That's it... So I ate the little universe my mother made herself every day..."

"You're playing me!!"

But that's how it was said, "Amazing." It's too much to say. My face was
embarrassed, so I pretended to be joking.

Kaoru continued to eat onigiri while holding her teeth and claw dancing
towards me.

Seeing it like this, I also secretly thought that the activity space where it
was just the two of us playing and playing like this might be a small
universe.

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 Small Window in the Sky
Note: From Yuzuru's point of view, this special short story takes place
before Odajima's special short story.

A small window in the sky

"Yuzuru!"

A classroom during lunch break.

I was enjoying my bento in my seat when Ai suddenly ran out of breath, so

I swallowed the onigiri I hadn't chewed much in my mouth without
noticing.

Clumps of white rice crunched in my throat and my throat hurt.

Then, as soon as I felt the onigiri fall into my stomach, I started coughing

“Cough…cough, Ai…what are you doing…!”

“Ah, sorry, did I scare you?”

“No, you suddenly rushed in from the corridor”

Turning the lid of the water glass, slowly sipping the barley tea in it, and the
messy feeling in the throat finally disappeared.

Ai looked at me coughing and looking a little overwhelmed, and didn't

intend to start talking about why she rushed in.

"So, what's the matter?"

When I asked this, Ai took a deep breath and said loudly.

"Right! I found a great place in school. Let's go together!"

"Now, let's go now?"

I nodded and stuffed the rest of the rice balls into my small pocket. My
mom always puts a bento box with two rice balls and side dishes in a little
yellow pocket for me to take to school.

Luckily, today's lunch break appetite isn't as strong as it used to be. I was
wondering if I could finish two rice balls, so it was okay to interrupt at
lunch.

After making peace with Ai in the pouring rain, Ai often comes to my class
during lunch break. Even though I usually have lunch with Ando and
Kaoru, today Ando is going to a club meeting, and Kaoru is caught
violating school rules and is caught by the life instructor as a volunteer.

Therefore, when I was enjoying lunch alone, Ai rushed in like this, which
should also be a way for her to walk around the school alone.

"Okay, let's go!"

Ai said with a naive smile as she watched me tighten my pocket.

"Yes."
I also followed Ai quickly and walked towards the corridor.

There is a school with Ai, and there is daily life with Ai.

And I'm always happy that Ai has once again taken root in my life.

After changing into their outer shoes at the entrance of the stairs, the two of
them headed into the depths of the school together.

The playground is full of soccer prodigy teenagers who start playing soccer
after lunch.

After we turned to the back of the school building, even the noise of the
students was blocked by the building. There was silence all around.

Behind the school building there is a corridor connecting the gymnasium, as

well as a parking lot for teachers. Apart from that, the room is a small lawn
and the trees are growing just right.

Although this place can be considered a good place for students to come
whenever they want, but at the critical hour of the day, the shadows of the
school building and the school building are very overlapping, and the
sunlight is very poor, so few students spend their time there. here.

Ai walked quickly through the dark trees. After a while, she stood on a
small, beautiful lawn with a winding path and turned towards me.

There was an innocent smile on her face.

“Yuzuru, you lie here and try?”

Ai pointed at the page and said, and I followed her instructions and lay
down on the lawn.

"Ah..."

In the shadow of the trees, the blue "square" sky bloomed. The branches of
the four trees naturally overlapped to form the sides of the square.
It looks like a small window, the "edge" is decorated with emerald green
leaves, and the contrast with the blue sky is reflected in the eyes.

If you want to ask if this is a "great view", it really isn't. There was nothing
pretentious, and the surroundings were still dark. If you break it down, it's
just "trees" and "sky".

But, for some reason, it still got me a little excited.

Ai's face suddenly appeared before me, and she looked at me.

"Extraordinary?"

Ai tilted her head, as if waiting for my impression.

"Well...it's like a window"

"That's right! It's like a little window in the sky! I'm so happy when I find
out now,"

Ai said innocently, and lay down beside me. Her shoulders suddenly drew
closer to mine.

The temperature of Ai's body came from the close touching of the
shoulders, which made my heart beat faster.

"That's why I wanted to show it to Yuzuru immediately."

Ai said in my ear. I peeked at her profile.

In her pupils, the blue of the "small window of the sky" is reflected, which
is very beautiful.

“Hmm… nice to watch with you.”

After finishing speaking, I also looked up at the sky like Ai.

“Thank you for telling me that such a place exists.”

When I finished saying that, I felt it, and the Ai looked at me.

Then, her shoulders began to shake slightly.

"Well, me too, nice to watch with you, Yuzuru."

said Ai. She stared at the sky silently for a while. And me too.

Sure enough, Ai was a very strong person.

In this way, every day, she continues to show me a light that only she
knows. And for me, this is something that can't be done yet.

In addition, she will be the first to share these things with me, which also
makes me very happy.

I sincerely hope that one day I can secretly tell her "there is such a beautiful
thing in the world". I want to live like this.

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