Ch.386IF Side Story: Seems I’ve Arrived a Bit Early (83)

In my previous life, I didn’t realize it about myself, but I think I like bustling, lively places more than I thought.

Oh, that doesn’t mean I’m the type to actively seek out places like clubs.

Places like these festival grounds, or main streets filled with people. I enjoyed places where just walking nearby let me hear the excited murmurs of people, children’s laughter, and shopkeepers calling out to customers.

Until recently, I thought my previous self didn’t particularly like such places.

…Perhaps that was because I had become an adult. Working in an already noisy environment, I might have just wanted to rest somewhere quiet after work.

Or maybe I was… in an extremely depressed state. Well, that would make sense too.

Now, my daily life is peaceful anyway. I don’t need to smell anything burning, nor do I have to carry injured people. I go to school and return home much earlier than adults finish work.

On days when I don’t hang out with friends, I can literally enjoy leisurely time all afternoon.

I liked having Kagami at home. Even inside the house, Kagami was always preparing something for me, but when there was nothing to do, he would sit on the living room sofa and watch TV leisurely. Then I would put my head in Kagami’s arms, rest my head on his thigh, and watch TV together.

Fortunately, just as I found tremendous comfort in Kagami’s existence, Kagami seemed to find comfort in my existence too. Kagami would gently stroke my shoulders or head, and his face would melt into a smile as if petting a cat.

Spending time in silence without doing anything wasn’t bad either—but still, shouldn’t there be a few pleasant variations in daily life?

I don’t blindly prefer one over the other, but coming out to see festivals with friends since childhood has always been enjoyable.

The three of us walked side by side. While carefully carrying goldfish in our hands and wandering around—

“…Ah!?”

Shii made that sound, looking somewhat flustered as she spotted something.

See, what did I tell you.

Originally, such fateful encounters can’t simply be separated by splitting people apart.

“Shii!”

It was Souta.

Before Shii could turn around with us, Souta recognized her almost simultaneously from far away and waved in our direction.

“Kotone!”

Hearing Souta call my name, Yuka blinked.

I wondered how to explain as her gaze turned to me. Well… although we’re close, there are certain boundaries between us.

For example, Shii often held my hand or wrist, but Souta never did. I was also careful not to touch Souta.

…

Wait, isn’t that normal?

“He’s a close neighbor.”

“Is that so?”

Yuka smiled strangely. Why? No, maybe I don’t need to ask why.

I’m not sure if I’m in puberty or not, but Yuka is definitely in that phase at this age. It’s an age where she’s interested in boys even if she pretends not to be.

And being interested in boys means being interested in romance. That includes other people’s romances, not just her own.

“Yuka.”

I said, holding back a sigh.

“My dad doesn’t approve of Souta at all, so nothing like that will happen.”

“Hmm, really?”

“…”

Ah, she doesn’t believe me at all.

Actually, Shii isn’t someone my dad is particularly wary of. And lately, Souta has been treating me like a little sister.

…

Though I don’t understand why he treats me like a little sister. Souta is a good kid, and I consider him a close friend, but honestly, that aspect irritates me a bit.

“Somehow I thought we’d run into each other.”

When I said that to Souta, who had approached us, he grinned.

Seeing Souta’s gaze turn toward Yuka, I opened my mouth.

“This is Yuka.”

“I’m Yuka Yuuki.”

When I introduced her without her surname, Yuka immediately corrected me. Her voice was certainly much softer than when she first dealt with me. The atmosphere probably played a part, and getting to know Shii was likely another reason, but I thought this was closer to Yuka’s true self.

“Ms. Yuuki?”

“You can just call me Yuuki.”

When Souta called her Yuuki, Yuka seemed to relax a bit.

Since Shii told him to call her Shii, and I told him to just call me Kotone, Yuka probably thought Souta would do the same.

“Oh, I don’t think I’ve seen you at our school.”

“Of course not. I go to a different school.”

“Ah, I see.”

Hmm. Yuka without the tsundere act.

It’s a bit refreshing. Well, the tsundere Yuka I knew was only from the novel anyway.

“…”

I glanced at Shii. She was looking anxiously back and forth between her brother, me, and Yuka. Is she that worried?

But it would be awkward to suddenly intervene. If Yuka and Shii were complete strangers, it might be fine, but Yuka is my friend too. Shii wasn’t the type to ruin her friend’s feelings because of her personal emotions.

Or does it mean I’m that important to Shii? Shii’s world is still small. In that relationship map, the significance of each person must be immeasurably large.

Well, that’s fine.

There’s still plenty of time until we become high school students anyway.

I decided to give Shii a small helping hand.

“Those people coming behind you.”

I asked, pointing slightly behind Souta.

“Are they your friends?”

“Ah, yes.”

Souta nodded.

As Shii said, Souta seemed to have been hanging out with his friends. Yes, coming to places like this in a noisy group can be fun too.

But honestly, I didn’t particularly want to get involved with those friends.

Those guys approaching hesitantly from a distance are definitely “adolescent boys.”

Having gone through that period myself, I know that even if adults try hard to prevent it, middle and high school students who want to date will date. Everyone knows that.

So there might be plenty who “attempt” romance.

In fact, those two boys seemed to have some strange expectation on their faces.

…Well, they’re probably just ordinary, decent kids, but I didn’t come out to play with people I’ve never met before.

“I wonder if any of those kids talk about me regularly?”

“Huh?”

Souta looked blank for a moment at my question.

But Souta isn’t completely clueless about these things. He soon caught my meaning. Yes, I’m quite famous in our grade, mainly for my appearance.

Souta smiled wryly and scratched his head.

“I guess on a day like today, people should hang out with those they came with, right?”

“That would be best.”

When I nodded gently, Souta burst into laughter and waved his hand.

“Then, see you next time!”

I waved back at Souta, and Yuka also waved lightly.

“Phew.”

Shii sighed noticeably in relief and looked up at me with sparkling eyes.

No, I don’t think I did anything that impressive.

Well, it didn’t feel bad though.

I felt someone poking my arm from the side, and when I turned my head, Yuka had a slightly dumbfounded expression.

“You have amazing confidence…”

“Well, you know.”

You can feel people’s gazes, right?

“Though your personality seems to be on a different dimension.”

Seeing that I didn’t deny it, Yuka laughed incredulously.

“I take after my mom.”

I happily accepted that comment.

Yuka laughed even more incredulously.

*

The highlight of a festival is always the spectacular fireworks.

“Are you sure it’s okay not to watch with your brother?”

“It’s fine. This isn’t the only summer festival, you know.”

You’ve already made plans to go around with your brother. That’s admirable.

…

Truly admirable. She could have just collapsed, but she found the strength to seek happiness by going places. It was so admirable that my nose actually tingled a bit.

Yuka waited for the fireworks without saying much.

We didn’t have to wait long.

As people’s voices quieted down a bit, and someone in front made an announcement with a microphone—

Boom.

With a small sound, a single firework rose high into the sky.

Then, bang. It burst into a wide circle, brightly decorating the sky.

The three of us sat in a row, blankly looking up at the fireworks. The plastic bag containing the goldfish in our hands also sparkled with the light.

“…Struggling.”

“Hm?”

While I was absentmindedly distracted by the fireworks, Yuka, sitting next to me, spoke softly.

“I like that word, ‘struggling.'”

“Huh?”

But even when I asked, Yuka didn’t continue.

In the end, with some lingering questions, our summer festival came to a close.