#268

A father who dotes on his daughter, a mother who dotes on her son. Most of the time when our whole family is together, the house is quite lively.

However, on the night we returned from our school trip, the house was eerily quiet. It felt as though it was just me and my sister, like an ordinary day with no one else.

But even when it’s just my sister and me, the atmosphere is different, not as somber. It’s a rather difficult psychological situation, not knowing what the family is thinking. Our home, which should be a place of mental solace, had transformed into a place of discomfort.

I could feel it, and I’m sure my sister, Kaede, felt more pain than I did. The mental fatigue must have been great.

Lying on the floor in the moonlit room, my mind continued to race without stopping.

Not in terms of physical ability, academic prowess, or external looks, but in terms of the endless stream of seemingly worthless thoughts, I excelled.

I continuously explored how my family’s reactions would change with a single word or action, always with the worst-case scenario in mind.

If Kaede accepted the offer to study abroad or declined it, how would I react? Would I follow father’s words and stay alone in Japan, or would I choose to move abroad with her?

My habitual way of thinking was fundamentally different from this contemplative approach. I acutely felt my lack of life experience due to this unfamiliar territory.

If I can make an excuse, it’s that moving abroad isn’t within the realm of what an ordinary high school student considers. A regular high school graduate either goes on to university or a vocational school or enters the workforce right after high school.

Each step of the process, along with having a broader perspective, leads individuals to transition to a new stage when moving abroad. The life plan that was once vague is beginning to crumble at the foundation.

Kaede is in a similar situation, and her problems are even more pressing than mine. What’s more, I couldn’t help but think of the underhandedness in setting such a tight deadline.

In ordinary circumstances, Kaede would carefully consider a variety of information before making a decision. However, her perspective has narrowed, and her mind is consumed. She might negate her own judgment and make decisions based on the family’s flow, a tactic that’s typical of adults in society, where they often negotiate for their own benefits.

To call this underhanded might be slightly childish of us, but it’s time we grew up. We can’t remain children forever.

Accepting the reality thrust upon us might be an essential part of life. If I’m to discard my selfishness, I’d prefer to lead a peaceful life in this house. Even if our family can’t always be together, that’s fine.

Our familiar house and town may be somewhat rural, as they’re far from the city, but they’re comfortable for me. Nevertheless, the situation will be greatly influenced by Kaede’s choice. No matter how many hours I spend thinking about how to react and act when I hear my sister’s words, I can’t come up with an answer.

As the moonlight transitions into the warmth of the morning sun, it illuminates the room from the window. It’s still early, and my parents and sister are not awake yet. I open the front door. The sunlight envelops my entire body, and I take in the fresh air, breathing deeply. This helps me switch from the negative emotions and thoughts that have been accumulating inside me to a slightly fresher, more positive perspective.

Early in the morning, while observing the newspaper guy on his scooter rushing through the residential area, I retrieve the morning newspaper from the mailbox. I then glance up toward the room of my childhood friend.

Is she still sleep?

As I contemplate this, the curtain concealing her room flutters.

Suddenly, a beautiful girl with black hair pops her head out and looks around. Perhaps she woke up due to the noise of the motorcycle.

From the second floor, her gaze moves to me standing by the mailbox.

Her hazy half-opened eyes focus on my form for a moment.

Then, her wide-open eyes reflect a look of astonishment. Minato-kun, the king of sleep, who has habits that are far from early to bed and early to rise, standing in front of the entrance shortly after dawn.

If I were in her position, I’d even lose my legs to fear that a ghost has appeared.

I assume her drowsiness was instantly swept away as she quickly raises her hand to fix her disheveled hair and realizes that her actions are in full view. She hides in her room.

…It’s not like there’s anything unusual about getting seen right after waking up.

I give a wry smile and prepare to go back inside. However, I can hear bustling footsteps coming from the house across the street.

“…”

Although I didn’t expect it, I gaze at the entrance of the house across the street. In a light blue pajama, Shizuku comes out, rushes up to me with a smile, and greets me.

“Good morning, Minato-kun.”

“Good morning… You’re up quite early.”

It’s still 5 AM. Today is the makeup holiday for the school trip, so most other students are either sound asleep or perhaps staying up all night playing games.

If Shizuku had plans today and I unintentionally woke her up, I feel a bit bad. I inquire about her plans, and she responds with a hint of surprise in her voice.

“Minato-kun, you woke up early… are you unwell?”

“Why do you suspect I’m sick just because I woke up early? I was just lost in thought, and it became morning before I knew it.”

While I use a comb to ensure my hair isn’t a mess, I briefly consider whether I should be honest and tell her that our parents have returned home. However, considering her personality, I might not get another opportunity to greet them. Given the family situation, I don’t want Shizuku to meet our parents. Not Yuuto, not even Kirasaka.

“Could it be… did Kirasaka-san do something strange again!?”

“…”

That’s quite an interesting thought for someone who just woke up, don’t you think? I wonder how happy and carefree life would be if everyday issues were all we had to worry about.

I dismiss her concerns with a shake of my head. Seeing my reaction, Shizuku seems to breathe a small sigh of relief.

Shizuku and Kaede are like close sisters. If she finds out about Kaede’s plans to study abroad, she will be heartbroken. She’ll likely suppress her own feelings and support her.

While I’m still lost in thought, Shizuku gets a mischievous look on her face as if she’s come up with an idea. She reaches forward and holds both of my cheeks, gently pinching and kneading them. Her small white hands feel slightly cool.

“I’m going to tell you about Minato-kun’s bad habit of neglecting himself when he comes up with unique ideas. You always put yourself last in your own thoughts.”

The black-haired girl right in front of my eyes, lets out a laugh as if she’s seen right through me. She accurately describes the sequence of my thoughts, leaving me feeling slightly embarrassed.

My attempt to evade her gaze is futile, as her small hands stop kneading my cheeks and her big eyes lock onto mine. I try to move my face away, but her arms holding my cheeks are strong, and I can’t escape.

“Please be kind to yourself once in a while…”

Her words carry a gentle plea, laden with her own feelings that have surfaced since the incident on our school trip.

Unable to find the right words to respond, I simply nod in agreement. In response, she releases my cheeks and takes a few steps back, wearing a bright smile.

“I’ll head back home now. If you ever find yourself troubled, please don’t hesitate to talk to me.”

“Got it… I’ll rely on you when the time comes.”

After hearing my reply, she nodded, seeming content, and turned on her heels. Standing at the door of her home, just a few meters away from where we stood, she glanced back one more time, waving lightly before disappearing into her house.

As I watched her vanish from sight, I turned my gaze back towards my own home. Today, I had to face my father and have that conversation.

The sense of support I felt from Shizuku was real, not just a figment of my imagination. This early morning encounter reaffirmed that my childhood friend is indeed a dependable person.

Archived Comments

Mirilu (on 2023-10-15 00:04:18):

Let’s go! Childhood Friend buff!