Chapter 23 - A Birthday for Just the Two of Us
August 26th
Waking up at 7:00 AM.
Without even time to change, I get to work preparing breakfast.
Since Mother's part-time job starts at 9:00, I have to wake her up and get her ready by 8:00.
Usually, we have school, so we don't have many chances to see each other, so at least during summer vacation... right?
Even without me waking her, Mother wakes up, having caught the delicious scent of ham and eggs.
"Good morning."
"Morning! It'll be ready soon, so go wash your face."
"You should just relax and rest when it's a holiday, I feel bad."
"It's fine, this is the only time I can actually do this."
Saying that, I shoo Mother off to the washroom.
"Lately, was it Tada-kun? Are things going well with your boyfriend?"
"Yeah... they're going well."
That said, lately I've been feeling a certain sense of incongruity.
Did something happen with Makoto?
There's no point in prying. Things will work out how they work out.
"I thought you'd get along with Katagiri-kun when you came back here, but I guess you never know."
"Toya has a girlfriend, Airi, after all."
I was surprised when I heard.
When I heard that Toya—who had snapped or smashed every single flag I'd set, despite how much I'd tried to create the right atmosphere—had gotten a girlfriend.
When I heard the story from Airi, it was so simple that I felt defeated.
A straight approach was the best way after all...
They seem to be doing well now.
Though it makes me irritated when I see them occasionally.
Someone once said that being halfway kind is sometimes cruel.
That's exactly it.
"Still, I'm glad you came back here. Kanna, you've become more cheerful too."
"The past is the past, and the present is the present, right?"
"But I was worried. You originally had a quiet personality, didn't you? Just when I thought you'd gotten used to things over there, you're back here again."
"It's not like I actually got used to life over there."
Rather, the sense of alienation was intense.
I was completely excluded.
I didn't even have the courage to start a conversation.
When I return here, I'll change.
Thinking that I had to change, I started with my appearance.
Though that only led to further misunderstandings.
The one who helped me then was Toya.
He's as kind as ever.
And then Airi became my friend.
I'm happy she became my friend, but it's a complicated feeling.
I'm okay now, because I have Makoto.
While talking like this, the clock hits 7:30.
"Mother, you've gotta start getting ready soon."
"Ah, that's right."
Mother goes into her room and begins to change.
She works part-time during the day and at a snack bar at night.
I can't put any more burden on a mother like that.
Thinking that, I chose to get a job, but these days you can't find work if you're only a middle school graduate.
My parents told me I should at least finish high school, and that led to a fight, but Toya said, "I want to spend my high school life with you too."
However, I can't hold Airi back.
At the very least, I have to go to a normal high school.
For that purpose, I started studying.
My grades improved.
It might be my highest score ever.
Airi was as happy as if it were her own success.
I'm no match for her.
I had given up like that.
That said, the three of us are studying together.
It's a complicated state of mind.
Since I'm in a complicated state of mind, I wonder if I still haven't fully moved on?
Looking at the clock, it pointed to just before 8:00.
After seeing Mother off, I have to go to Toya's house too.
I hurriedly began preparing.
I arrived at Toya's house.
"Yo!"
"Morning!"
"Good morning."
Airi had arrived first.
The usual study session.
Something is strange...
They're usually quiet while studying, but today there's almost no conversation at all.
Did something happen between Airi and Toya?
I took a chance and asked.
"Nothing's wrong, why?"
"Yeah, it's just like always."
That's a lie...
Am I the only one who feels the air is heavy?
At this rate, wouldn't it be more relaxing to study alone?
"Ah—!! Let's talk about something!!"
Normally Airi would say something like "Let's study quietly," but today she doesn't.
I suddenly noticed.
That Toya is mindful of the time.
"There really is something, isn't there? Toya, you're worrying too much about the time."
"T-that's not true."
He's clearly agitated.
"What is it! Tell me!"
I press Toya.
"Kanna, we're in the middle of studying."
Airi follows up.
What on earth is going on?
The afternoon was similar.
Did the two of them have a fight?
"Should I just go home?"
"S-stay a little longer. You can just read manga or something."
"That's right, you'll still be bored if you go home, right? It's more fun if the three of us are together."
The two of them hurriedly stop me from leaving.
Is it bad if I go home?
Is something happening when the time comes?
They're hiding something.
I'm so curious I can't concentrate on studying.
Around the time it passed 17:00, Toya put down his mechanical pencil.
"Shall we wrap it up for today?"
"Eh? It's only 17:00. Isn't that early?"
"But they should be coming soon."
Who?
Ding-dong.
The doorbell rings.
"Looks like they're here."
"Yeah."
"Who is!?"
I was irritated.
"Oh, welcome, Makoto-kun."
"Are Toya and the others in their room?"
"They are, I'll call them now."
The aunt comes upstairs.
"Toya, Makoto-kun is here."
"Yeah, I'm coming."
Toya goes downstairs.
It's taking a long time; it seems they're talking about something.
Just as I stand up to go see what's happening—
"Now, just wait a little longer."
Airi says, smiling.
After a while, Toya returned.
"Kanna, Makoto came to pick you up."
I already know that.
My irritation reached its peak.
"Well then, looks like I'm in the way, so I'm going home!"
Leaving them with those words, I left the room.
"Hey, Kanna."
Makoto was waiting at the entrance.
Apparently, he's on his way back from club activities.
He was wearing the Soccer Club jersey.
Well, that's usual.
Huh?
Isn't he early today?
I only noticed now.
Makoto also seems strangely fidgety.
He doesn't speak at all on the way home.
I could tell his hands were sweating.
Is he nervous?
Is everyone hiding something?
What is it! Seriously!
I'm starting to get genuinely irritated.
And then I arrived home.
"See ya."
Today was a day where I was exceptionally irritated.
Even though it's my birthday...
Hm?
Birthday?
"Kanna-san!"
"Yes?"
Makoto took out a small wrapped bag.
"Happy Birthday. This is just a little something."
Huh? Did I tell Makoto my birthday?
"Thanks, can I open it?"
When I asked, Makoto nodded.
I carefully peel off the wrapping.
Inside was a keychain.
A keychain that said Kanna and Makoto.
"Why this?"
"Toya told me. That you'd be happy with something like this."
So this is what Toya was hiding?
...As if I'd let myself cry.
Ping-ling, ping-ling.
Two messages arrive.
I looked at my smartphone.
"Kanna, happy birthday."
"Kanna, congrats."
They thought this was a surprise, huh.
"Toya was the one who suggested it. That since it's your birthday today, we should do something for you. He said your mother would be late, so we should stay with you at night too."
Toya...
If that's the case, just say so.
"Are you crying?"
Makoto asks worriedly.
"It's nothing."
Tears were blurring my vision.
"Come inside, I'll prepare some dinner."
"Ah, I bought this."
Saying that, Makoto holds out a bag.
Inside were fried chicken and juice.
"Thanks."
I receive them.
"But this isn't enough, right? I'll make you something."
"Then, I'll help. It is Kanna-san's birthday."
"I'm just happy you're staying with me."
Birthday nights I had always spent alone.
I was crying.
Makoto flustered.
"Now, get inside."
Saying that, I push Makoto's back.
Ah, I have to send a reply to Toya and the others.
"Thanks."
I send it to the two of them.
A message arrived from Toya.
"Spend some quiet time together, you two."
Toya probably wrote that intending to bless us.
"Thanks, we'll spend some quiet time."
I reply like that.
However, I felt somewhat lonely.
I'm happy Makoto is blessing me.
But having Toya say it feels somehow different.
Around 9:00, Makoto went home.
"Well, see you."
Saying that, Makoto left.
After seeing him off, I send a message to Toya.
"Thanks for today, and sorry for being irritated on my own."
After a while, a message came back.
"Don't worry about it. My attitude was bad too. See you tomorrow."
See you tomorrow... huh.
I feel relieved by those words.
I don't know the reason.
After that, I take a bath and watch TV.
Click.
Who came?
I should have locked the door.
I'm defenseless right now. This is bad.
That worry was unfounded.
"I'm home, Kanna. In the bath?"
It shouldn't be 22:00 yet.
I hurriedly leave the bath.
It was Mother.
"Welcome back."
In Mother's hand was a white box.
"Today's your birthday, right? I left work early and bought a cake."
"Thanks, dinner is ready. Let's eat after."
And so I spent the night with Mother.
How many years has it been since I was celebrated like this?
Because the old man and Mother were fighting, and it was no time for my birthday.
Before sleeping, I attach the keychain I got from Makoto.
At the time, I wasn't conscious of it, but I didn't notice that Makoto's keychain had fallen off.
And it was never to be attached again.