Chapter 64 - Shizuku
(1)
Takeshita Takeshi. A first-year at Hofu High School. Violent and barbaric. A bad personality.
He gets angry over trivial things and torments people.
He's a hopeless guy, but...
The day of the entrance ceremony.
I crowded into the classroom to get a glimpse of Tosaka-san and Otonashi-san.
"Um... please let me through!!"
No matter what I said, they wouldn't listen at all.
When I was troubled, a barbaric-looking boy with sagging pants suddenly appeared.
"Get out of the way, you!"
He said, pushing them aside by force.
"Here, come on."
The boy held out his hand to me.
My hand reached out naturally.
Is this love at first sight?
"Thank you. Um, I'm Kudo Shizuku. And you are...?"
"Takeshita Takeshi."
Saying only that, Takeshita-kun took his seat.
(2)
About a week after the entrance ceremony.
After the incident where Katagiri-kun and Takeshita-kun had a clash.
"Your injuries... are you okay?"
Takeshita-kun, who had been punched and kicked repeatedly by Katagiri-kun, had blood seeping from his nose and mouth.
When I tried to wipe it with a handkerchief, he brushed my hand away.
"You're annoying!"
"Stop it... treating everyone as your enemy like that."
"Shut up. Being looked down upon like that is what pisses me off the most."
Just how twisted is he?
"If you're like that, you won't be able to make any friends."
"I can't make 'em anyway, so who cares!"
"That's not true."
"Where the hell is there someone who'd want to be friends with me! Every single one of them just reads the room, it's irritating."
"I'm right here."
"Huh?"
"I'll be your friend."
"Who the hell do you think you are, saying 'I'll be your friend'?"
I grasped Takeshita-kun's hand.
"There, now we're friends. Since we're friends, there's no above or below. An equal relationship."
"Are you out of your mind?"
"You can think of me however you like. But since we're friends now, don't do things that make your friend sad, okay?"
Saying that, I returned to my seat.
After school that day.
"Wait a second!"
"You again? What now!?"
"Not 'you,' I introduced myself as Kudo Shizuku before! Shizuku is fine."
"So, what do you want?"
I showed him my smartphone.
"You have a smartphone, right! Give me your number!"
"Hah?"
"We're friends, so we should at least exchange numbers!"
"Who became friends when!?"
"I did! Just now!"
I grabbed the waist of Takeshita-kun, who was trying to walk away as if to say he couldn't deal with me.
"Let go!"
"I won't let go until you tell me!"
Perhaps mindful of the people watching, Takeshita-kun gave in.
He took his smartphone out of his pocket and began operating it.
"Here."
Takeshita-kun handed over the smartphone.
Looking at the screen, I registered it in my own phone.
Then, I gave Takeshita-kun's phone a missed call.
"Thank you. Make sure to register me."
"...Sigh. Fine."
Takeshita-kun operated the phone reluctantly.
Once he finished, he said "See ya" and walked away.
I followed after him.
"Why are you following me!"
"Because the station is in this direction!"
"...Are you serious?"
Saying that, Takeshita-kun got on his bicycle.
I silently climbed on behind him. My, it even has a step for the passenger, doesn't it?
"What are you doing!"
"You're going to the station anyway, right? Go go!!"
Riding double on a bicycle is very dangerous. Please refrain from doing so.
"Tch... honestly."
Takeshita-kun got off the bicycle and started walking, pushing it.
He's so serious.
Wait, is he walking for my sake?
Riding double would have been fine.
"Hey, what's the point of having a step then?"
"That's none of your business, Shizuku!"
Well, most things in the world are none of my business.
"Were you giving a girlfriend a ride?"
I asked, half-teasing. But it seemed I had hit the mark.
"...We went to different high schools, so we broke up."
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine. I didn't say it because I wanted sympathy."
The flow of conversation at times like this is a scary thing.
I truly realized that.
"Then, how about I volunteer to be your girlfriend?"
"From friend to girlfriend all of a sudden!?"
"You're single, right?"
"You're just going to keep saying it until I say yes, aren't you?"
"It's fine if you don't want to, but..."
"Fine."
Eh?
"What's with that stupid look on your face? You're the one who brought it up."
"...Thank you. I look forward to being with you."
"Yeah..."
"So, since I'm your girlfriend, don't make me sad, okay?"
(3)
After that, the fun days continued.
Takeshita-kun also stopped resorting to violence as much.
Though I can't say he stopped completely.
Going on dates on holidays. Taking detours on the way home.
They were truly fun days.
Until that day came...
That day I messed with Kuroki-kun.
Katagiri-kun defied him again.
And Takeshita-kun crumpled the drawing Katagiri-kun had made and threw it in the trash.
After class ended, he led me outside.
"Why did you do that?"
"Why does it matter! I did it because it was funny! I did it because I was pissed!"
"We promised, didn't we? Stop doing things that make your girlfriend sad!"
"If you're sad, then just break up with me!"
"...What are you talking about?"
"That's why I told you! Anyone who gets close to me is bound to be a piece of trash...!"
Slap!
I had slapped Takeshita-kun.
As it was, I left the scene.
I don't know if he noticed.
The single tear trailing down my cheek.
After that, contact with him ceased.
However, I couldn't bring myself to delete his contact information.
The day of the class match.
Of all things, Takeshita-kun and Katagiri-kun were on the same soccer team.
Apparently, Takeshita-kun played soccer in middle school.
Well, I had heard he was an all-around athlete.
Takeshita-kun was playing with all his might.
In contrast, Katagiri-kun...
He was wandering here, wandering there.
Do you even have any motivation?
I happened to look at Otonashi-san and Tosaka-san.
They were smiling.
On a whim, I asked the two of them.
"What is Katagiri-kun doing?"
The two of them said in unison,
"You'll understand if you watch."
I watched for a while after that, then returned to my own position.
Seeing that, Umeki-kun from the Soccer Club said something to him.
After talking for a bit, Umeki-kun went back.
"It's starting~"
Tosaka-san announced.
(4)
..., the ground isn't well-maintained.
There are dips here and there.
Well, is there a way to use this to my advantage?
When I returned to my position, Umeki-kun approached me.
"Can you do it?"
He said simply.
Eh?
"I was at Soda Elementary, so I saw your play. It seems you didn't play in middle school, but you can't hide your habits."
Umeki-kun said, grinning.
"...Well, somehow."
"Okay."
Saying that, he returned to his position.
That said, the opposing keeper is apparently someone from the Soccer Club.
It'll probably be impossible to decide it in one shot.
I glanced at Takeshita-kun.
I'm not keen on it, but I have no choice but to do it.
The moment Umeki-kun received the pass, I dashed into the space.
Anticipating that, Umeki-kun sent the pass.
This time, it looks like I can kick it with my dominant foot.
I looked at the ground and kicked carefully.
To those watching, it probably looked as if the ball disappeared for an instant.
The ground ball I kicked slipped through the legs of three defenders and headed for the goal.
Naturally, the keeper leaped out to try and suppress the ball.
However, the ball hit a dip in front and bounced to the left.
And there, just right there, was Takeshita-kun.
Takeshita-kun pushed the ball in just like that, resulting in a goal.
Cheers erupted from the spectators.
"Takeshita-kun is amazing!!"
"Great finish, Takeshita!"
Takeshita-kun approached me.
Are we going to fight again?
I don't want to... it's a pain.
"...Nice pass."
"It was a fluke. Nice shot."
The match ended in a victory just like that.
(5)
"Kyaa! As expected of Toya-kun!"
"If only that Toya guy had some motivation, he'd be flawless."
The two of them were making a fuss.
I was stunned.
Did he do that on purpose?
That's beyond the level of a special skill.
But he probably intended to give Takeshita-kun the spotlight; I just hope it didn't rub Takeshita-kun the wrong way.
Look, Takeshita-kun is approaching Katagiri-kun.
Something seems strange.
The two of them high-five.
Did they make up?
If so, then that's fine.
If he's made friends other than me, I have nothing to complain about.
Thank you, Katagiri-kun.
I guess my role ends here.
"Shizuku-chan, what's wrong?"
Tosaka-san called out.
A single tear had been flowing down my cheek.
"I-it's nothing."
I was just soaking in the feeling that my role was over for a moment.
That night, I steeled my resolve and sent a message to Takeshita-kun.
"I'm glad you were able to make up with Katagiri-kun. I'm glad you made a friend. I'm not needed anymore. Sorry for saying so many selfish things."
This is for the best.
A short while later, my smartphone rang.
I answered the call.
"Hello?"
"What are you talking about? I'm not just friends with Shizuku, am I?"
That's right...
"You're my girlfriend, right? Get it together."
Eh?
"I was sorry for getting emotional back then. I apologize."
Takeshita-kun is apologizing?
"Well, see you tomorrow. I'll be waiting at the station. Come early."
Saying that, Takeshita-kun hung up.
See you tomorrow.
There is a tomorrow.
I was happy.
And the next day.
The one who greeted me at the station was Takeshita-kun.
It takes quite a while from here to the school.
Maybe I should prepare a bicycle too.
Side note.
"Did you make up with Katagiri-kun?"
"Who knows, if he does something again I don't know."
"If you don't do anything, Katagiri-kun won't lay a finger on you either."
"True."
Saying that, we walked the long commute route, taking our time.
It wasn't a burden.
Because that just meant there was more time to talk.