Supporting Childhood Friends - C8

Chapter 8

 

The setting sun began to descend, the crimson sky changing color to a deep purple.

As I sat on an old wooden bench on the schoolyard looking at it, the words Takagaki said echoed in my head for some reason.

 

――― You're overlooking something important.

 

Coupled with Takagaki's expression at the end, the more I thought about it, the more my thoughts get stuck on a dead end.

Something, some thing, somebody^[1]...I tried changing the pronunciation, but I still couldn't understand.

If it was something that Takagaki noticed just after a few days, I wonder if the others around me did as well. Maybe my two best friends, too...?

 

"Hello, hello?"

"Wooaaahh?!"

"Oh, you finally noticed me~?"

 

I was suddenly tapped on the shoulder, and a stupid reaction came out as I heard a voice call out to me from behind. When I turned my head furiously, I felt something struck my cheek. And then, there was pain.

 

"Ow, that hurtttt! Why'd you hold your finger out?!"

"Wait no, I'm in a lot of pain, too!!"

 

Ayane was holding her left index finger with her right hand, which must have been the one that collided with my cheek, with teary eyes. She probably wanted to play a trick, but it seemed that I counterattacked unexpectedly. Sorry, somehow.

 

"And so, what's up?"

"Fufu! Hmm? Weren't you waiting for me?"

"Ah, it's that time already?"

 

Apparently, a considerable amount of time had passed since I started thinking, and I noticed that there were students all around me leaving school.

It seemed that I was quite accustomed to going home together that I waited for them here unconsciously.

 

"Tasuku is going to take a bit longer, huh."

"Oh? You haven't read the message? He told everyone to go ahead first."

 

Ayane swung her phone in front of me. I guess she was trying to show that text, but if she shook it like that, I wouldn't be able to see.

I had no choice but to pull out my phone and turn it on. And there, was a message from Tasuku visible on the lock screen.

 

"Seriously. Overtime?"

"No, it's not some kind of work. Or rather, don't care about that! I'm hungry, so let's get going soon!"

"Oh, got it."

 

Seeing Ayane heading out the school gates after walking past this bench, I sent a gaze towards the tennis court on the field. The lights installed on the columns were illuminated, and several students were still around, and looking closely, I could see Tasuku's back as he moved his racket.

While I was wondering if they had a tournament, I met Tasuku's eyes when he looked back after finished hitting back the ball.

I was dazed, but he waved his hand and let out a smile. I was happy with that, and I waved back while turning on my heels.

In addition to that, I didn't want to hear the screams from the girls on the tennis team as they saw Tasuku's smile.

 

☆☆☆☆☆☆

 

"The girls are screaming? They sounded happy, but did something happen?"

"Who knows. Maybe fangirling screams. I wouldn't know about that."

"Hm~m?"

 

As we walked along the sidewalk dimly lit by the fading sunset, I casually brushed off the event that Ayane must have heard back at the school gate.

Come to think of it, I remembered that it had been a long time since only the two of us went home like this.

 

"Reminds me, when was the last time only two of us returned like this?"

"During the exam season in middle school? You know, when Tasu-kun and I were taking turns at the start."

"Ah. Then it's the three of us again after the study sessions. It's kind of funny."

"Nfufu. We're extremely close! It's like we’re family!!"

"Sure, sure."

 

Show some reaction! Ayane said as she fisted my shoulder with her left hand when I ignored her. Was her index finger okay now?

 

"...Ah."

"Hmm?"

 

When I worried about her finger, I suddenly remembered what I was so occupied with earlier. I wonder if that was something that Ayane, who was tilting her head as she stared at me, could understand.

 

"Oh, um, hmm~."

"Hmm?"

 

――― You are overlooking something important.

 

I tried ask her about it, but the words wouldn't come out of my mouth.

I wonder why. Takagaki's serious expression she showed at the time flashed inside my head.

 

"No, it's nothing after all."

 

I wonder if this was something I had to think about myself. Even if I did ponder it about thoroughly and still couldn't find anything, was someone going to lead me to an answer?

 

"Are you worrying about something?"

"..."

"I know. Because I've been watching Hiro-kun for a long time."

 

Ayane stopped her childlike gestures from a while ago, and she approached my face as she stared into my eyes. I pulled back involuntarily, but Ayane wrapped my face with both of her hands.

 

――― What's this?

 

It was so sudden, and I couldn't help but freeze.

Seeing me like that, Ayane smiled.

 

"I'll do my best."

"What..."

"About a lot of things. I won't tell Hiro-kun."

 

As she said that, she moved away with a smirk on her face as if her prank was successful.

Oh, so it was that, just a redo of her failed prank from earlier.

At the same time, I was relieved. I thought that this kind of prank, no matter how many hearts I had, it wouldn't be enough be enough to take it.

 

"Come on, do that kind of thing to someone more suitable. I won't mention names, though."

"Ow."

 

As payback, I handed a chop to Ayane's head.

With a frown on her face, started walking quickly, and then turned around.

 

"Let's enjoy it! Our high school life!"

"Aye. With Tasuku as well."

 

As Ayane expressed that she was looking forward to the future, I was charmed by smile I had never seen from her before, just like a kid who was seeing what they wanted.

As I saw that, I fantasized again.

 

Ah, the one suited for that smile is that guy after all...

 

That gentle but cool smile illuminated under the lights that Tasuku had fascinated me earlier.

Now that the sun had set, it was getting dark enough that stars were becoming visible from that deep purple.

Even then, that sparkling, sunflower-like smile suited them very well.

 

It wasn't until I got home that I realized I had forgotten what I was so worried about.

⸻⸻⸻ (ﾉ*ФωФ)ﾉ ⸻⸻⸻

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