Chapter 6 - Ambush
(1)
"Hello, Toya?"
It was Kanna.
"What's up?"
"Nah, I was just bored. ...Were you perhaps sleeping?"
"No, I was just about to go to sleep."
"Ah, I see. Sorry..."
Kanna's voice sounded apologetic.
"No, don't worry about it. Well, it's not like I can sleep anyway."
I wasn't lying.
"I see, that's true."
Kanna's voice brightened.
"What time do you usually go to sleep, Kanna?"
"Hmm, depends on my mood for the day. When I'm feeling hyped, I stay up until morning."
Only when the next day is a holiday, she added.
"That's pretty late, will you be okay tomorrow?"
"Yeah, my Mother wakes me up when she leaves, so it's fine."
Come to think of it, does Kanna's Mother work from early morning until late at night?
"Besides, I can just sleep at school."
Kanna laughed as she said that.
Don't sleep.
"Are you okay, Toya? I feel like you weren't very strong in the mornings."
"Airi wakes me up."
"Ah, I see... She's a good girlfriend."
"I guess."
"Treasure her! She's almost too good for you."
"I know without you telling me."
"Well, as long as you do..."
Kanna's tone dropped again.
Maybe I should change the subject?
Now that I think about it, there was something I was curious about.
"Why did your personality change to how it is now? You weren't like that before, right?"
That's right.
She was quieter, and rather, she was being bullied; when I couldn't stand to watch and protected her, we were teased with "you two are a couple."
"It was a consciousness reform."
"Consciousness reform?"
"I thought about it when I transferred schools. I figured if I was going somewhere where nobody knew me, I might as well just let loose."
"That's all?"
"Huh? Other than that, maybe paying attention to the fashion over there so I wouldn't get bullied again? Though here, it actually made me stand out. I got targeted by some weirdos because of it."
Kanna laughed as she spoke.
It didn't seem like she had gone delinquent because of her parents fighting or anything like that.
Kanna isn't the kind of girl who can tell a lie.
Or so I thought.
"But if three years pass, even your personality changes."
"I see..."
I found myself at a loss for words.
"Ah, my Mother's home. See ya."
"Ah, yeah."
"Want me to give you a wake-up call?"
"What! ...Give me a break."
"Just kidding... Well, goodnight. Ah..."
It seemed like she had something she wanted to say.
"What?"
"Toya, you were cool today! Bye!"
The call ended.
The clock had passed midnight.
Perhaps because of the sleepiness, my head wasn't working very well.
I fell asleep shortly after.
(2)
"Good morning, Toya-kun."
It was Airi's voice.
Maybe because I was up late yesterday, I'm still sleepy.
"Just 30 more minutes..."
Saying that, I dove back into the futon.
"Ugh... so that's how it is. Then... I've always wanted to try this. Take this!"
Saying so, Airi grabbed the edge of the futon and pulled with all her might.
Not only was the futon snatched away, but the momentum sent me tumbling off the bed.
"Ow!"
"Now, hurry up and change and come downstairs."
After saying that, Airi turned on her heel and left the room.
What is with her, seriously.
The clock was 7:30.
Her precision is the same as always.
For now, I change and go downstairs.
"Oh, you came down early today too."
Father says that as soon as he sees me, but I'm still dazed and didn't hear him clearly.
I sit in my usual seat.
"Why don't you wash your face first?"
Airi looks at me as if peering into my face.
Did she change her shampoo? The scent is different from usual.
And...
Her lips, seen from this close, are strangely glossy.
Remembering the events of last night, I wake up in an instant.
"I-I'm fine."
"Really? You look sleepy. Were you staying up late?"
"Well, yeah..."
"What were you doing?"
"Nothing."
"Ah, you're hiding something!"
"It's not like that!"
"You're energetic for so early in the morning."
"It's a good thing that they get along so well."
Both Father and Mother are saying whatever they want.
"By the way, it's the same pattern as yesterday."
Startled, I look at the clock.
Crap!
I shoveed down my food and started getting ready.
By the time I finished preparing, it was just before 8 o'clock.
It really is no different from usual.
What changed was...
Ding-dong.
She's here.
"Oh? I wonder who it is."
Mother, who doesn't know about yesterday's exchange, goes to greet the guest.
"Oh? Kanna-chan. What's with those clothes?"
"Good morning. Well, a lot happened... Are Toya and the others here?"
"They're still here. Toya, hurry up."
It seems Kanna has come.
"Well, I'm off."
I say that to Father, who was left alone in the dining room, and hurry toward the entrance.
"Yo! Glad I made it in time."
"Kyaa, good morning, Kanna!"
"Morning, Airi."
The two of them say this and hug.
I always wonder, why do girls want to hug so readily?
As I watch while putting on my shoes, Kanna seems to notice my gaze.
"What? Do you want a hug too, Toya?"
"Kanna, that's not allowed!"
Airi nails it down with a smile.
That smile is actually scarier.
"Just kidding, Airi. If Toya were to hug, he'd prefer Airi, right?"
"Well, I mean..."
I hedge my words.
"What's with you, man up."
Kanna smacks me on the back.
"Toya-kun looks sleepy, like he stayed up late last night."
When Airi says that, Kanna makes a face as if saying "Ah!" and immediately returns to a straight face.
"I-I see, staying up late, huh."
While saying that, she leisurely takes out her phone and types something.
"Kanna, using your phone while walking isn't good."
"Just for a second."
Then my phone rang.
I take a quick look.
Sorry about last night.
It was a message from Kanna.
I reply immediately.
Don't worry about it
"Ah, Toya-kun, that's dangerous too!"
Airi, who knows nothing.
I felt somewhat bad.
"I'm already done."
"Then it's fine."
After that, Kanna and Airi chattered away as if nothing had happened.
I listened to them.
It seemed they were mainly talking about life in Tokyo.
Eventually, we arrive at school.
The area around the school gate is noisy.
I immediately understood the cause.
Yaguchi-senpai and Wada-senpai are standing at the school gate.
Upon confirming Yaguchi-senpai's presence, Kanna's expression clouds over.
"It'll be fine."
(Probably.)
However, my expectations were betrayed.
The two of them saw us and walked over with heavy strides.
"Hey, are you Otonashi's guy?"
Wada-senpai asked in a menacing voice.
Wada-senpai is the boss-like existence of this Junior High School.
I've been targeted by someone terrible.
"It's not like that."
The one who said that was Kanna.
"I see... Well, whatever. You two, come over here for a bit."
Saying so, he grabs my shoulder.
"Toya-kun. Kanna."
Airi calls out worriedly.
"Who is that?"
"Toya's girlfriend."
"Oh, is that so!"
Wada-senpai's voice brightened slightly.
And so, we were called to the back of the club building.