Chapter 99 - Love Letter
(1)
"Good morning, Toya-kun... huh?"
There is a single letter on the desk.
I pick it up.
The recipient is written as Iida Asami.
Ah, the person who was the ski instructor.
It hasn't been sealed yet.
...
I'll just look!
He did say he wouldn't keep secrets from me.
Let's see...
Inside were two photos and one sheet of stationery.
The photos were of tonkotsu ramen and miso ramen.
I tried reading the message written on the stationery.
Dear Asami, how are you? I am doing well.
I went back to my hometown and spent the New Year eating ozoni.
The ramen in Hokkaido was delicious, but as expected, I love my hometown's tonkotsu ramen the most.
Among them, these two types of ramen are my favorites; one is the local miso ramen.
It's touted as Sapporo ramen, but it doesn't have corn. However, it's rich and delicious.
Come to think of it, I went to Tokyo after that, but I forgot to eat ramen.
But I ate monja, so I'm satisfied. I'm glad I got to eat monja and get along with my girlfriend.
Next time I go to Hokkaido, I want to visit some famous ramen shops.
Well then, take care. Thank you very much (T/N: possible typo in source — original reads "arigatou gozaimaita"). I look forward to the day we can meet again. Sincerely.
What is this?
Isn't it written only about food?
Even so, why a letter like this at this timing?
At that moment, Toya-kun hugged me from behind.
"What are you looking at, Airi? That's a breach of manners!"
"Good morning, Toya-kun."
"It's not 'good morning,' what are you doing?"
"What about you, Toya-kun? Sneaking around with a letter like this..."
"Is it a lovers' quarrel first thing in the morning?"
Kanna entered the room.
"Kanna, look at this letter. What do you think?"
"A letter? No way, is it a love letter!?"
Ugh... I don't think it's that kind of thing.
When I handed the letter to Kanna, Kanna read it aloud.
"What's this? ...What is this, isn't it written only about food? He even wrote about Airi. Who is he planning to give this to?"
"It seems he's planning to give it to the ski instructor."
"Now that you mention it, the boys have been sneaking around doing something lately. What were they doing?"
Kanna pressed Toya-kun.
"I'll tell you because keeping secrets from Airi becomes a pain later, but keep it a secret from everyone else."
Saying so, Toya-kun began to speak.
"It seems Sashihara-san cleverly asked for Iida-san's address, and hearing that, Watanabe-kun started saying, 'Isshy, you should send a letter or something,' and then for some reason, it became a conversation about all the boys writing letters. I just got dragged into it. It's absolutely not a matter of me feeling this way or that about Iida-san. You can tell if you look at the contents of the letter, right?"
Certainly, with this content, it's not a love letter.
But...
"It'll be terrible if Emi finds out, you know?"
"That's why I said it's a secret."
"That's not the issue, is it? The issue is sneaking around doing this kind of thing behind Emi's back, right?"
Kanna pointed out sharply.
"Well, that's true. But since we went through the trouble of getting the address... I think Ishihara-kun kept the content within appropriate bounds."
I hope so.
"Toya, it's about time to get ready."
Maya-san is calling.
"So that's how it is, keep it hush-hush!"
Saying that, Toya-kun took his things and left the room.
"Good grief, those boys..."
Whether she was exasperated or not, Kanna muttered with a sigh.
It didn't take long to regret that I should have stopped it then.
(2)
"What's this?"
One of the male students picked up a sheet of stationery and a photo.
"This is Eguchi-san and Isshy!"
"!? Give it back!!"
Kiritani-kun tried to approach that boy, but he was caught by other boys.
"Let's see... 'Is the person important to you right by your side? I am right by your side. I fell in love with a love that I want to reach only that person. I will surely say it. The same words, with unchanging feelings. Even so, it's not enough and turns into tears, becomes joy, I can't put it into words and just embrace...' Gyahaha! What is this, a love letter!?"
Ishihara-kun's letter was exposed to the whole class.
He probably wrote this letter in the middle of the night.
Even so, I have to settle the situation.
Why do I always stick my nose into such troublesome matters?
I drifted toward that male student.
The male student noticed me.
"Katagiri, did you write one too! Let me read it!"
The moment I raised my fist, someone grabbed my arm.
It was Watanabe-kun.
Watanabe-kun shook his head and said gently to the male student.
"That belongs to a friend. Could you give it back?"
He was speaking gently, but it looked like he was intimidating him, as if saying, "You know what happens if you don't give it back, right?"
Overwhelmed by Watanabe-kun's pressure, the male student obediently returned the photo and stationery to Watanabe-kun.
"My bad."
Saying so, he took me back to my seat.
Eguchi-san was watching that exchange from a distance, alone.
After school
"Isshy, my bad! Sorry!"
Kiritani-kun, who had been holding the stationery for everyone, apologized.
"It's okay... probably."
Ishihara-kun was disheartened.
Was he worried that the fact that Ishihara-kun and Eguchi-san were dating had become known to the whole class? Or...
"With that content, it'll be fine. I think Ishihara-kun's feelings will probably reach Eguchi-san too."
To put it bluntly, it was a confession that Ishihara-kun had also found someone he likes.
"But if the reason why we started dating is found out..."
"I don't think you need to worry about that."
The one who said that was Sashihara-san, who had been listening to the conversation before I noticed.
"What do you mean?"
I asked Sashihara-san.
"Because I already know, the reason Ishihara-kun confessed to Eguchi-san."
Huh?
"What do you mean?"
Ishihara-kun asked Sashihara-san.
"Well, Isshy was being passive despite saying he wanted to date her, so when he asked why, I spilled it."
Are you serious...
"Then doesn't it look like I'm dating Eguchi-san on a whim!?"
I guess so.
However, Sashihara-san continued.
"But you didn't lie. Regardless of the trigger, Emi fell in love with Isshy, so it's all good in the end."
Is that how it works?
Then, perhaps having heard the conversation, Eguchi-san approached.
"Isshy, do you have a moment?"
Eguchi-san called out to Ishihara-kun.
Ishihara-kun was led out of the classroom by Eguchi-san.
Somehow, I'm worried.
(3)
Rooftop.
I was called out by Emi.
It's probably about the letter.
Is she angry?
Based on the way Sashihara-san put it, the fact that I switched to Eguchi-san because I was rejected by Iida-san has been leaked.
Normally, one would be angry.
I had anticipated the worst-case scenario.
I can't stop shaking.
Even though I had managed to say it well.
If it was going to be like this, should I have said it from the start?
No, would it have changed anything?
How many girls would feel good being told, "I asked you to date me on a whim"?
However, such a rare girl was right in front of me.
"You think I'm angry, don't you?"
Emi's single sentence.
I nodded silently.
"Don't worry, I heard most of it from Ai-chan. It feels like it's too late now... yes, too late."
I was just dating on a whim too.
Is that what she wants to say?
"I didn't lie. Do you remember the words I said on the plane back then?"
The reason Emi fell in love with me.
That reason where I couldn't tell if I was being belittled or praised.
"I remember."
"I feel the same way even now. Everything started from the moment we met. The feeling of wanting to be together hasn't changed. And you?"
"It hasn't changed."
"Right, then there's no problem."
Emi said so and smiled brightly.
"Are you really not angry? About the reason I chose Emi."
"Actually, it didn't have to be Isshy for me either. It just so happened that Ai-chan paired me with Isshy."
Eh?
"...If I say that, will you get angry? Will you break up with me?"
"That's..."
"Right? The trigger doesn't matter. The rest is a problem between the two of us, isn't it?"
"You're right."
"I'll let you hear one more thing. The content of that letter. I didn't feel bad about it. 'Just embrace'—though I've only been embraced once."
Saying so, Emi clung to me.
The gazes of the surrounding students are painful.
"Now, just embrace me. Or was it just words?"
Timidly, I wrapped my arms around her back.
"I'll say it from my side too. I'll stay by your side. I intend to stay even if you say you hate it."
"I won't say I hate it."
"I believe so."
There are still problems and it's a headache, but I'll solve them little by little. Let's make our wishes come true.
(4)
The smartphone ringtone sounds.
This is the 10th time.
I open the call history and block the number.
"Kanna? You don't have to answer?"
"It's fine, I basically know who the opponent is."
"I see... then it's fine."
Airi didn't press further, but...
"If you know who it is, wouldn't it be okay to answer?"
Toya, at his own pace.
Poke
"It's not good to delve too deeply into other people's privacy."
He's being scolded by Airi.
"But calling so many times might mean it's an important matter."
Toya seems to be slow on the uptake.
It's really a world of difference from when he's playing soccer.
"Toya, what would you do if your soccer club team called you over and over?"
"Hmm... I guess I'd block them."
"It's the same thing."
"Does that mean, Kanna, are you perhaps being scouted for modeling or something?"
I wondered if this guy was seriously an idiot.
Poke
It seems I wasn't the only one who thought so.
"Toya-kun. Don't make me say the same thing over and over!"
Toya became crestfallen after being scolded by Airi.
When the study session ended and it was time to go home, I asked Airi.
"Airi, can I borrow Toya for a little bit?"
Eh? Airi made a suspicious face.
"What do you mean, borrow?"
"I thought I'd have him walk me home for a bit."
Toya is a man.
He also has a tendency to be somewhat used to fighting.
In the event of an emergency, he can be relied upon.
"Because he's used to fighting... is something going on?"
Airi asked anxiously.
"I think it'll be fine, but just in case."
"Then, I can come along too, right?"
"...Airi, I..."
"It's not that I doubt Kanna. I'm just worried about Kanna..."
"I get it. But Airi, you be careful too."
"As I thought, there's something we have to be careful about."
Damn.
It just slipped out.
Sensing something, Toya said to Airi.
"Airi, I'll go alone."
"Eh, but..."
"I can't protect two people if something happens."
"Ugh..."
He really is worried.
"You're not doubting Kanna, right? I'll call you when I get home."
Saying so, he gave Airi a gentle kiss.
Toya has grown, now that he can do things like this casually in public.
"Okay, I'll be waiting for your call."
Saying that, Airi went home.
"Well, tell me the circumstances while we walk back."
Toya said.
"Yeah, in exchange, there's a condition."
"A condition?"
"The only person you tell the story I'm about to tell is Airi. I don't want Airi to misunderstand. Absolutely do not tell Makoto!"
"...Is it that dangerous?"
"You might regret it once you hear it."
"I understand. But if that's the case, shouldn't you tell Makoto rather than me?"
"Makoto is desperate with soccer right now. His advancement to higher education is on the line. I don't want to involve him in troublesome matters."
"Is it okay to involve me then?"
"If you hate it, I'll go home alone."
"How could I let you go home alone after hearing a story like that?"
I thought you'd say that.
That's why you're reliable.
Sorry for relying on you, Airi.
But right now, Toya is the only one I can rely on.
"Then, I'll tell you..."
I began to speak while pedaling my bicycle.
(5)
...Nothing happened that day.
But it was decided that I would walk Kanna home every day.
When I returned to my room, I called Airi.
And explained the circumstances...
"...Shouldn't you tell the police or something about that?"
"They said the police won't take it seriously until something actually happens."
"Is Toya-kun okay? You won't get injured, right?"
"I think I'll probably be okay."
"Is it really not okay to tell Makoto-kun too?"
"No, I can't involve him in troublesome matters right now."
"Ugh... isn't that selfish? You can't involve your own boyfriend. But it's okay to involve someone else's boyfriend."
"Even so, I can't just leave her alone, right?"
"That's true, but... Toya-kun, please be careful too."
"I know."
"Well then, see you tomorrow morning."
"Yeah, see you tomorrow."
After finishing the call with Airi, I lay down on the bed.
I told Kanna that, like Airi said, it might be better to tell the police.
But she stubbornly refused, saying, "If we make it a police matter now, it'll be bad in various ways, right? It'll become a problem."
I operated my smartphone and searched.
Stalker · Parent
It said that timing is important for reporting to the police.
If the address hasn't been leaked and it's only phone calls, perhaps it's better not to say anything.
It seems better to avoid contacting Makoto as well.
Was the judgment at this time correct or not?
It will take a little more time before the answer comes out.