Ch.395IF Side Story: Seems I’ve Arrived a Bit Early (92)

Traveling is always enjoyable, but this school trip was especially fun.

Perhaps it’s because I’ve finally developed some composure.

I wasn’t quite at Yuka’s level yet, but I was learning how to deal with yokai in my own way, and I was actually becoming helpful in battles.

I could never show my fighting to Kagami, but I felt confident that I could handle situations if something happened.

It’s not like I’d be fighting alone anyway.

Even now, I only noticed that Kagami had followed me here, but there might be government people around. Maybe even some people sent by Mr. Yamashita.

At least they haven’t openly approached me yet, so I can say I’m safe for now.

Perhaps because of that sense of security, I was able to enjoy my time.

…..

If that’s the case, maybe it’s okay for me to go see my friends now.

Mr. Yamashita and Mr. Fukuda might not approve. Having me around could drag those kids into trouble. In fact, Mako’s father still hasn’t told me where Mako is.

Since we’re all living in Tokyo anyway, I could just make time to visit that neighborhood…

“…”

“Kotone?”

At the ryokan where our school was staying.

I couldn’t share a room with Yuka. We weren’t from the same school to begin with. Besides, Yuka’s school and our school accommodations were quite far apart, so it would be awkward to go meet her at this hour.

That doesn’t mean I don’t have any friends at school. I got along well with the other kids. Naturally, that included the girls in the room now. We were all chatting late into the night without falling asleep.

In the midst of that, I suddenly went quiet, which is probably why one of the girls tilted her head and called out to me.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong? Did you forget something?”

“Oh, no, it’s not that. Just something that popped into my head.”

“What popped into your head?”

“…I suddenly want something sweet.”

I made up an excuse, but apparently the girls didn’t find it strange for me to suddenly say something like that.

“It’s a bit late to go outside now. We have to be mindful of the teachers too.”

“There’s a vending machine though. Should we go? We could get hot chocolate or something.”

Someone suggested the idea, and the girls all got up noisily. I naturally got up with them. Since they were getting up because of what I said, it would look odd if I just stayed behind.

But even so, the thought that had suddenly popped into my head wouldn’t go away.

Hanakawa High School, which served as the background in the original story. Of course I looked it up. It was also the school I was aiming to attend.

Even if it hadn’t been me, Souta and Shii would have naturally gone to that school. They were just finishing their first year of middle school, so I don’t know why they seriously considered that school. Maybe, as Shii wished, they wanted to continue their senior-junior relationship a bit longer.

Or maybe they simply chose the best school to enter. Especially since her father was someone who valued appearances so much.

Well, fine. That was content that flowed exactly the same as the original work anyway.

But that school is in the neighborhood where I lived as a child.

Could Harumi or Yuu end up attending that school? If I enter that school, would I run into them?

It’s not like I’ve never thought about it. It’s possible. Both Harumi and Yuu seemed playful but studied quite hard.

However, what I thought as an elementary school student and what I think now are a bit different.

Two years is a much shorter time than I thought. The last year will feel even shorter if I focus on entrance exams.

Thinking about it that way, I’m not sure what to say if I actually meet them.

Would they recognize me? What if they don’t?

I consider them the most important friends in my life, but what if they don’t remember me?

“…”

Trying not to reveal such thoughts, I drank sweet beverages with the other girls.

*

“Why are you worrying about entrance exams already?”

The next day.

After parting with my friends like the day before and meeting up with Yuka again, I brought up the high school topic, and that was her response.

I had actually mentioned it once before. In the novel, the next school Yuka would attend was Hanakawa High School, but my existence could twist that.

But Yuka generally didn’t take such talk very seriously. She was still a first-year after all.

If a student who just entered high school worried about university, most people would scoff. Parents might find it admirable though.

“No, just…”

Even I know it’s excessive worry.

But it felt a bit too much to unload my concerns about Harumi and Yuu onto Yuka.

“Hmm, well.”

Seeing me shrink a little, Yuka fell into thought for a moment before speaking.

“If I could go, I guess going to the same high school as you wouldn’t be so bad.”

As she spoke, she seemed to think she was saying something embarrassing, so she rolled her eyes around and muttered.

“Then I’d be grateful.”

I don’t know if I’ll really meet Harumi and Yuu.

But if I end up attending a school much farther than where I currently go, I probably won’t know many people there.

It would be comforting to have a friend, even one who lives a bit far, attending the same school.

If I think it won’t deviate from the original story.

At my response, Yuka rolled her eyes again.

“Well, I’m just thinking about it, just thinking.”

Despite her words, I somehow felt that Yuka would end up going to that school.

*

The second day and the third day were also enjoyable. At the end, it was even a bit funny that Yuka and I were on the same train back. Kagami had already returned home on the second day, but she didn’t seem particularly disappointed, perhaps because she had deep conversations with me.

The atmosphere was completely different from elementary school trips, but I was satisfied. I even felt a bit sad thinking that next year’s second-year trip wouldn’t be like this.

Well, once we become high school students, we’ll all be together anyway.

I’m not worried about being in different classes. If we’re separated like that, we can just join the same club and hang out.

If it’s a place where we can gather, have a room provided, and just relax without doing much… maybe the book club or literary club? There should be at least one of those.

I thought about such things the entire way back.

“Kotone!”

When I returned home, Kagami was waiting in front of the entrance.

Even though we had just seen each other yesterday, with a face like someone who had been waiting for years—

“Welcome home!”

She said, spreading her arms wide.

Hmm.

If I hear such words, there’s only one appropriate response.

“I’m home!”

Saying that, I rushed into Kagami’s embrace.

Feeling Kagami’s warmth as she hugged me tightly—

Yes, I understand why Kagami acted like she hadn’t seen me in a long time.

Because even I felt that way.

*

And so, we return to our daily lives.

November, it’s now a time that can be called winter. Our school festival is at the end of November, so the students’ mood is gradually relaxing.

After the festival, what awaits is December.

Even if you don’t have a lover, it’s a time everyone looks forward to. You can meet friends and have fun. That’s the atmosphere.

Certainly, now that I’m younger, I seem to feel that way more. When I was an adult, the end and beginning of the year was just a miserably cold season where I only grew older.

“Our school’s festival is in November too.”

On the weekend.

Yuka, who was preparing for work when we met, casually mentioned.

“It’ll probably be a week before yours.”

“I see.”

“You’ll come, right?”

“Of course.”

“Even if I tell you not to?”

I paused putting on my raincoat and looked at Yuka.

“Why? Is there a reason you’d tell me not to come?”

“No, well, not really.”

“Are you doing a maid café or something?”

“…”

At my question, Yuka frowned at me.

How did you know?

She seemed to be asking with her eyes.

Well, it’s a cliché.

Actually, aren’t school festivals always like that? When I was in high school… it wasn’t as glamorous and fun as in manga, but we still set up such shops and sold various things.

Some kids even played music like a club and danced.

“I’ll definitely come.”

When I grinned and said that, Yuka sighed deeply.

“Well, let’s finish today’s work first and then talk.”

Yuka said that and turned around.

The place we were working today was a very old-looking two-story apartment.

…Would it be too much to be reminded of the apartment where Kagami and I used to live?

Standing side by side with Yuka and looking up, I felt a gloomy, indescribable atmosphere.