Ch.347IF Side Story: Seems I’ve Arrived a Bit Early (44)

It’s quite strange.

Even as a child, hot weather was hot, and humidity was humidity, but somehow when playing outside, I would forget about such things.

Going out in the middle of a midsummer night would have been rare unless it was for something truly important.

Well, going out to a festival with a friend is important in its own way. Even more so if your mother joins you. Come to think of it, I might have done the same if I had friends to drink with.

I went outside in light clothing, not wearing a yukata. Kagami didn’t follow me immediately.

When I first attended a festival, Kagami was still young. Moreover, given the circumstances, Kagami probably hadn’t been to festivals with family before, so she must have wanted to enjoy it together by my side.

But several years have passed since then.

Kagami is still at an age that could be considered young. It’s true she could have a daughter by now, but by 21st century standards, it might be considered a bit early, and it would be difficult to have a daughter as grown as me at her age.

But while living with her daughter, Kagami gradually became more mature.

She knew that even when enjoying festivals together, it was better to give her daughter some time alone rather than sticking by her side constantly, and she understood that not interfering too much with me was good.

So, it was the same this time.

Although we came to the festival together, Kagami let Mako and me move around separately. Instead, she stayed with the man playing the role of my father.

After being with Kagami for so long, I knew that being apart briefly wasn’t a big issue. We weren’t even far from home anyway. We were just at a local festival, so there was no reason to get lost.

“Mako.”

“Wow!”

When I was in Tokyo, I was usually the one being taken care of.

Even if I didn’t show it, people around me tried hard to look after me. I suppose I appeared somewhat pitiful to others.

…I didn’t actually feel my situation was that pitiful, but I didn’t want to push away Harumi or Yuu, and I didn’t particularly want to fight, so I just let it be.

But quite ironically, Kagami and I only became normal after coming all the way here.

In fact, it might be somewhat burdensome for Kagami. The man playing the role of her husband didn’t touch Kagami unnecessarily, and when not in public, he treated us both as strangers, but continuing such a fake performance must certainly be burdensome.

Somehow, after coming here, I think I understand why Kagami couldn’t leave Tokyo. From Mr. Yamashita’s perspective, hiding someone in such a distant place would be tiresome in many ways. And Kagami wouldn’t have thought of coming to a place like this separately without any means of protection.

Kagami was even younger then than she is now. It wouldn’t have been easy for her to go to someone much older and say, “I want to live somewhere far away, please support me.”

…

Though that’s what ended up happening anyway.

“I’ll enjoy this!”

Mako exclaimed happily as she received the candy apple I offered her.

Mako was dressed in a yukata. The somewhat dark blue outfit suited her very well. With a candy apple in her hand, it really brought out the festival atmosphere.

I feel this every time I go, but this festival atmosphere is truly enjoyable. Even without buying or eating anything, just watching people chatting as they pass by or purchasing food at stalls makes time fly by.

Especially when I see my friends having fun.

Well, come to think of it, that makes sense. My friends are all elementary school students after all. It’s only natural that seeing them having fun is pleasant.

“Takoyaki!”

Even Mako, who usually doesn’t talk much, seemed caught up in the atmosphere, her face slightly flushed.

“Shall we eat together?”

“I’ll buy this time!”

Perhaps touched that I bought her a candy apple, Mako was already running to the stall before I could answer.

I decided to just graciously accept. Mako must have received spending money for the festival too.

I’ve slowly learned over the past few years that being too one-sided in giving can be burdensome for the other person.

We walked while putting hot takoyaki into our mouths one by one.

Then—

“…Goldfish scooping.”

I found myself muttering that without realizing.

“Oh, do you want to try?”

Mako quickly caught my words and asked.

“Shall we?”

“Yes, let’s do it!”

When I asked, Mako nodded happily.

Actually, there was only one reason I muttered that when I saw the goldfish scooping. It’s because I used to keep a goldfish.

It didn’t die early like the goldfish I kept as a child. Kagami did her best to keep Baduk alive. She changed the water regularly, and when Baduk grew, she replaced the tank with a suitable one. She even bought and installed a filter… As a result, the space Baduk occupied in our home became larger than expected.

It wasn’t like a cat or dog. It didn’t understand when I spoke to it, and usually just swam leisurely in the tank, opening and closing its mouth.

But when I approached to feed it, somehow it knew and quickly swam toward me, moving back and forth.

It grew much larger than I had imagined, and honestly, it was quite fun to raise.

Though now I can no longer see it.

Mako was the first to pick up the scoop.

“…Ah!”

But Mako couldn’t easily catch a goldfish. The paper scoop tore helplessly in the water each time she swung it.

She seemed a bit upset that she couldn’t catch even one despite there being so many goldfish in the tank, and her lips protruded in a rare pout.

I smiled slightly at that sight, then took the scoop myself.

I only tried once.

And I was able to catch one goldfish. One that looked very similar to Baduk, the one I used to keep.

This was a technique I learned from Harumi.

Harumi quite liked goldfish scooping. Was it because she was originally an energetic child?

Like me, she didn’t keep pets separately at home, but she didn’t throw away the goldfish she caught. So there was quite a large goldfish tank at Harumi’s house. Three goldfish swam leisurely inside it.

Harumi, Yuu, and I would sometimes sit blankly in front of it like entranced cats, watching the goldfish swim.

“Here.”

“Huh?”

When I handed over the goldfish, Mako was a bit surprised. She accepted it, but her expression showed she wasn’t sure if it was really okay.

Well, if she’s going to keep it, it might be better to raise it where we’re staying now rather than the apartment where Kagami and I used to live. It’s much more spacious now.

But somehow… I didn’t want to do that.

Because I’d probably just leave it behind the next time we run away.

If that’s the case, I’d rather have someone else keep it. A child who lives in a much more normal place than me. A child who can take it along normally even if they move far away, and raise it well.

This is… a bit selfish, but don’t they say goldfish can live up to 30 years if well cared for?

Even if not that long—

When that goldfish is swimming leisurely in its tank, I hope she thinks of me when she looks at it.

That a friend like me was briefly with her during that childhood. Even if my face becomes hazy and my name is forgotten, I just hope she remembers that someone like me was around.

I wonder about Harumi and Yuu.

The time I spent with them was also my “childhood.”

Even friends made in the upper grades of elementary school are barely remembered when you become an adult. Unless you keep in touch all that time.

…They’ll probably forget. That will happen even by high school.

But Mako, I hope she remembers.

“…Take good care of it.”

When I said that with such selfish thoughts, Mako blinked once and then nodded vigorously.

“Yes! I’ll raise it diligently! So it can live a long time!”

“…Yeah.”

I felt a little reassured by Mako’s answer.

And again, a corner of my heart ached a little.

Asking someone I’ve only known for a few months to remember me.

Do I think this life won’t last long?

“…”

Well, I’m not really sure.

Mako and I walked again. Walking slowly, we went back to where our parents were.

Mako’s father, the man playing the role of my father, and Kagami were talking to each other. The adults’ conversation was somewhat awkward yet polite.

“Mako.”

“Kotone!”

As we each headed toward our fathers and mothers, they called out like that.

“Mom.”

I said, grabbing Kagami’s sleeve.

“Let’s go watch the fireworks.”

“Let’s do that!”

Kagami answered with a bright smile, as if she was very happy that I suggested it.