Chapter 28 - Love Talk side:B
(1)
My final exam results were decent.
Airi was at the top, as usual.
Surprisingly, Kanna didn't let her grades slip either.
At this rate, it feels like Kanna might overtake me.
"It's over—! Now all that's left is the school trip!"
"True."
"I agree."
"What's with you two? Aren't you looking forward to it?"
She seemed a bit dissatisfied with the lukewarm reactions from Airi and me.
"That's not true."
"Exactly, it's not like that. Right, Toya-kun?"
"Is that so? It's just... I don't know, it feels like it's lacking a bit of excitement..."
"It's just that Kanna's tension is too high."
"I wonder if that's it..."
Kanna fell into thought.
"But the tests are over, so we have to enjoy ourselves now."
"You're right! Airi! I'm not letting you sleep at night!"
"That would be problematic..."
Airi looked a bit bewildered.
One more week, huh.
Looking at Kanna, I started to feel excited too.
(2)
The day of the school trip.
The four of us killed time at home and headed to school when it was time.
Everyone had already gathered.
"Looks like we're late."
"That's because Kanna was sleeping."
"Well, we're not actually tardy, so isn't it fine?"
"Let's get in line quickly."
As Makoto said that, he joined the line.
A tedious set of warnings was given before departure.
Then we boarded the bus and departed.
The itinerary was five days and four nights.
Apparently, it was like that because we were traveling by ferry.
And so, the gathering was in the evening.
From there, we moved to the ferry terminal.
We boarded the ferry.
We ate, took baths, and relaxed in our rooms.
Four people per room.
By the way, Makoto and I were in the same room from the first day to the last.
Two bunk beds were installed.
I was on the bottom, and Makoto was on the top.
Everyone was making a racket in the hallways and waiting areas.
Since it was the first day, everyone's tension was high.
If they keep that up, they'll get tired halfway through... I thought as I went to bed early.
The clock had passed 21:00.
That said, because my own mood was elevated, I couldn't easily fall asleep.
Eventually, while I was killing time listening to the Walkman I brought, Makoto climbed down.
"It's too early to sleep!"
"I'm the type who gets hyper later."
"I've never seen you get hyper."
"Either way is fine."
Regardless, since I couldn't sleep, I decided to keep Makoto company.
"Lucky you, getting to go to Osaka Castle."
"I was so focused on the free time that I didn't notice. I'm glad it wasn't included in the free time."
Makoto laughed as he said that.
"Oh, right. I'm thinking that Kanna and I should act separately from you two during the free time."
"That's not allowed!"
I answered instantly.
"If we just decide on a time and place to meet up, we won't get caught, right?"
"I mean, I don't even get the point of acting separately."
"To think you don't appreciate this kindness of leaving you two alone."
"You don't need to worry about things you don't need to. We'll end up alone in Kyoto or Nara anyway."
I had already discussed that with Airi.
"Ah, I see. You've thought things through too."
It's basically group activity, but since Mayumi-chan is involved, you never know.
"What are you two talking about!? It's already lights out!"
The teacher in charge shouted as soon as he entered.
"Crap! See you tomorrow then."
"Yeah..."
Lights out at 21:00 is way too early, isn't it?
"Right?"
Makoto spoke to me from above.
"What?"
"Ah, nothing. I'll save the fun for later."
Fun? What is he talking about?
Day Two
The ferry arrived safely in Kobe, and from there we moved to Nara by bus.
The bus guide was saying something, but I hardly listened.
It wasn't that it was boring.
For someone like me who had never left my hometown, the city was attractive in many ways.
High-rise buildings and overpasses.
It was like a maze.
The roads were wide too.
I spent the whole time looking out the window.
In less than two hours, we arrived at Todai-ji.
From there, we did a bit of sightseeing around the tourist spots.
Kanna was making a fuss, taking photos on her phone.
Makoto was playing along with her.
Because Makoto was taking care of Kanna, we were able to have plenty of time for just the two of us.
That said, what we did wasn't different from what Makoto and the others did.
Taking photos, making a fuss about how amazing things were, and having strangers take photos of the two of us.
At Nara Park, I captured a photo of Airi being frolicked with by the deer.
I got scolded terribly for it later, though.
After that, we had lunch and moved to Kyoto.
We saw Kinkaku-ji and took more photos.
I did think, Ah, it's amazing, you know?
However...
I did think that everywhere looked the same.
The day ended after we went to Kiyomizu-dera.
We bought various souvenirs in Kyoto.
There are always people who buy wooden swords and pennants.
Even though they'll never use them...
We arrived at the hotel, took baths, and ate dinner.
I was exhausted... Just as I was thinking I'd sleep for today, Makoto spoke to me.
"Now then, shall I hear it?"
"Hear what?"
He had said something yesterday too.
"Love talk, obviously. It's a staple of school trip nights, isn't it?"
I've never heard of such a thing.
"Let's see, first..."
I'm not listening.
"Kanna-san. What kind of relationship did you have?"
Perhaps the other boys' interest was piqued, as gazes gathered toward me.
"It was nothing, just childhood friends."
"But Kanna-san said that back in fourth grade, she made her feelings known, but you didn't notice at all."
"...I found out about that later."
I let out a sigh...
"Right, was that in first grade...?"
(3)
The rainy season of first grade.
Kanna was in trouble because she didn't have an umbrella.
When I asked, she said she had brought one, but it had disappeared and she was troubled.
There were girls giggling in the shadows.
It was their doing.
When I tried to confront them, Kanna grabbed my arm and shook her head.
We looked for the umbrella together.
But the umbrella wasn't found.
It didn't seem to be in the school building.
Kanna started saying she'd give up and just go home wet.
"Wait a moment."
Saying that, I went outside.
I found an umbrella that had been thrown away in a trash can near the animal sheds.
This must be it.
I picked it up and returned to the entrance.
"Thank you!"
She was very happy.
After that, I helped her with various worries and consultations.
Like throwing away thumbtacks that had been put inside her indoor shoes beforehand.
Or removing a piece of paper that said "I am an idiot" which had been stuck to her back, or brushing off a chalkboard eraser that had been rigged to fall on her from the top of the classroom door.
Eventually, rumors started. That Kanna and I were a couple.
"There's no need to pay them any mind," I told Kanna.
She looked a little lonely, but Kanna smiled and nodded.
Like erasing graffiti on the blackboard.
I knew who the culprits were, but I didn't lay a hand on them.
Because if I did, the one who would receive the retaliation would be Kanna.
That continued for about three years.
Eventually, the two of us would laugh about it.
Saying how pathetic it was!
However, the pranks escalated.
She would have bruises on her body and such.
Because I was worried, we would walk home together.
The misunderstandings grew even more.
Kanna seemed to care, but I didn't.
One day, Kanna asked if I wanted to come over to her house.
I remember going along, thinking, Is that okay?
"What do you think of me?" she asked.
"You're a friend!" I answered.
She looked a bit crestfallen.
I only realized that she was asking if I liked her after Kanna transferred schools.
On Valentine's Day the following year, she brought chocolate.
The next month, I gave a return gift for White Day.
I thought that solved it.
Kanna had noticed that I held feelings for her.
So I intended to convey that it was okay to give a return gift.
Then, in March, her transfer was suddenly decided.
"See ya."
"Yeah, goodbye."
Saying that, she left.
Tears naturally welled up.
Ah, is this what heartbreak is? I wondered...
My story ended there.
The boys in the room were listening intently.
It was a bit embarrassing.
"I see. So, did you tell Kanna-san your feelings?"
Makoto asked.
"No, I didn't."
"What did you think of Kanna-san at the time?"
"I told you already, didn't I? That I might have liked her."
"I see... so it was a mismatch of feelings. What do you think of Kanna-san now?"
"I don't think anything. She's just a friend. I've been saying that from the start, right?"
"But Kanna-san doesn't think so, you know?"
That's true.
But...
There was something that had been on my mind for a while.
"What about you, Makoto?"
"Hm?"
"Why did you confess to Kanna?"
"Ah, that."
Makoto took a breath and began to speak.
"At first, I thought, Scary! Another huge delinquent has arrived. But after a few days, her appearance changed, right? I was surprised. I thought, She's a real beauty. And as I watched her, I fell in love."
"Is that all?"
"It's that thing called love at first sight. Even listening to her talk with you guys, I thought she was a good person."
"I see... hey?"
Whether they were bored or tired, everyone else was asleep.
"What is it?"
Makoto asked back.
"Do you have no intention of dating her again?"
Makoto let out a sigh.
"I told you before, right? I have no intention of dating the current Kanna-san. She's always looking at you, anyway. I don't want to be the other party in a two-timing situation. I mean, stop trying to push your troubles onto me."
Saying that, he flicked my forehead.
"If you're going to go that far, why don't you just date Kanna-san? Why is it Tosaka-san?"
"That's..."
Just as I was about to say it, the teacher opened the door.
Makoto and I hurriedly pretended to be asleep.
Without saying anything, the teacher closed the door.
"That's... what?"
Makoto asked again.
"I don't know how to explain it. I just... don't want to let her go. I want to be with her forever. 'I love her' isn't enough to express it."
I would never in a million years say something like this normally.
"I see. So you're saying it's okay to let Kanna-san go whenever."
He's a mean guy.
"I just can't hold those kinds of emotions for Kanna."
"You're a greedy guy... why is someone like you so popular?"
"Don't ask me."
"Well then, next, why you started dating Airi-san... I'd like to ask, but."
Looking around, everyone except Makoto and me was asleep.
"Another time, then. Goodnight."
Saying that, Makoto also slept.
I guess I'll sleep too.
I closed my eyes.
"Why Airi?"
To that question, I answered, "Because I don't want to let her go."
I wasn't asked "Why?".
There is a reason.
What floated into my mind then was myself in fifth grade.
The figure of Airi, who appeared dazzling.