Thursday. Before first period.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevPCicH8ef
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sGkbdQknB
I feel lost55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckzXl1kKRO
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOxAJTL8oS
I felt very lost.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfE522WskW
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7ZA1sRLgv
This morning just didn’t feel right. Every morning this week hadn’t felt right. And I would definitely feel worse as the day went on.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLV2eHVgTsq
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD7xUT7Cwv
I didn’t know how many minutes had passed since I lowered my head onto my desk. Forehead touching wood and I didn’t care if it was uncomfortable. Uncomfortable to me right now was my only real comfort.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFy3J9E7IZ2
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMsE16XRjV
The classroom was filled with its usual pre-class noise. Classmates arriving, chairs scraping the floor, bags being dropped, and conversations mixing together. All contained inside this room.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TKh5MvJni
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXm60FMHcR
I tried to listen.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDpOOTYyc0
None of it was reaching me.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNtM4ZcNol
Not right now.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU39buZTKwa
Probably not even later.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87WeiFcScw
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdaYaY3QsB
While everyone else was enjoying their youth. I was here, too busy having the same argument with myself that I’d been having since before I slept last night.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFMzUl7wum
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XCEI844Wn
What do I do?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91rSvk0uh2
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgt1XH7vYl4
Unwillingly, I turned my head to my right, where Yui sat. I only noticed now, but she had been working through a box of strawberry Pocky. She had that focused contentment of someone who absolutely was just enjoying a snack early this morning.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1YyWdzKVL
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CuwB3LSDu
My head turned away from her.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyIwmNiAHP
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL26Ki4HfJv
I didn’t mind her eating. I wasn’t bothered with that at all. I was more bothered that she seemed unbothered while I was here accepting that uncomfortable is the best comfort I’d had ever since the start of this week. Nope. I am totally fine.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5VXaS1N3S
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaVkImGfPE
“Are you okay?” Yui asked.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6SEGfTyX3
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RZsisSBg3
She noticed. I wished she didn’t.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPxRudIy68
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAwt7Zkktt
“Yeah,” I said. Still not looking at her directly.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpksq5Vc66s
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAuNTEWFoq
She tugged at my sleeve. I lifted my head, straightened up, and turned.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXcSnptVrL
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5Xn7XINjD
“Here.” She held out a stick of Pocky, smiling. The way she always smiled when she was trying to make someone feel better.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzhWUGCxRO
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9zWleUnzW
“You shouldn’t be eating before class.”
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAe3Uh6IIJ8
“I didn’t have breakfast. This is all I have.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3wtXCFmdT
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuUZEe7Pln
She pulled the piece back and ate it herself.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxZhF8m9Q3
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbPkiE3s3c
“Did you wake up late?” I asked.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dPe9kHrWm
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsIZ29pTE5
“Yep. I didn’t eat breakfast because if I did, I would have missed you guys at the train station.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioPcUyHrv7
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU8vZ5aZwk
Alright, it was bothering me after all. So I had to say it.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sfUpZaPZK
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAqZCZEzrL
“You know, eating snacks early in the morning isn’t healthy,” I finally said.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdnxG3qKtD
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8Z4pEqd1z
“Don’t worry,” she replied, still eating, “I have a strong metabolism.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2L7vacxbz
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbou1mYXI7Q
I stared at her.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gjxgcEr68
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAQ81XQB5l
Is that… does she think that’s how metabolism works?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVFUN8A3Yi
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XclplTaB3
My mouth opened. I wanted to say something. Instead, I sighed.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluv8O4ZmHc
I shouldn’t have asked.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvWe4vaXwg
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XyAq0iT7q
I tried to shake the thought away. It didn’t matter after all. Nothing about Yui’s nutritional logic mattered right now.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGS5u6OrAU
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnqXi7q0of
“Hey,” I said carefully.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jxmTyLkDo
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPTq4C9ouK
“Yes?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQY8jOy0DB
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYZ3OuSGUN
“What if someone challenged you to climb a really long ladder, and at the very top there was a huge bowl of curry waiting for you. You could eat all of it.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuOPelwXvt
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sRU4K4XXG
Her eyes lit up immediately.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzjy928Hp7
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKACG2fptd
“I’ll climb it! Definitely!”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMCYPh53wj
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAp8hGKitlA
“But,” I said, “if you slip and fall even one step, you have to eat green peas.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfhbcxAA1v
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalWfE7eOty
The light from her eyes went out.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspRZDlHfUa
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrr4xq5yCB
“Ugh.” The sound came from her very soul. She never liked green peas. She hated it with such passion she would never talk to you again if you forced her to eat just a single pea.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaM8MLTGh8
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCAF3Ymalf
She thought about it for a bit, placed a finger under her chin, crossed her other arm at the elbow to support it, closed her eyes, and tilted her head slightly.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyerSqbxUu3
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Xu0dKsAcX
She’s actually thinking about it?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNV1W4ZIUTz
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxNLULPeTl
“How big is the bowl of curry?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BdAqWQFQa
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUiefpSIOI
“Huge. Like, really huge.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGz8mu7no8
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VVyvrCkU2
“Hmm, well… then I’ll take the risk.” She opened her eyes. Her voice sounded reluctant. But still…55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9xqvgpmut
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQb106NdQS
She’ll take the risk…55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIUDR0758k
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEElbcBKOI
“Why?” I asked.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyT7VPE5QkD
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bIYZRYLTL
“I hate green peas! And I loooove curry,” she answered with no hesitation.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MbRZcyux9
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYFpUaXJun
She stared at me. The look in her eyes told me that this was more than just a serious matter for her.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TEi0HHy8K
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxNNnSzYjP
But to be honest… It is for me too.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7i41yW6ap
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRzEsvrpE7
“But you know, even if the challenge sounds hard, if there is a prize in the end that I really love, then I would do it,” she continued, almost casually, like she didn’t hesitate just a while ago. “I think before you take on a challenge, you look at the prize first. Before you look at the risk, you ask yourself… is it worth it?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kq46fGPpc
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJdQqk1aXs
I blinked.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsvrQkpUiF
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzr4cjr6vv
“The huge curry bowl at the top… super huge curry bowl. I think it is worth the risk!” Yui continued, suddenly sounding excited.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uplxZ8Sp3
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UQEGpxuNz
I looked down at my own hands. I felt a sudden shift inside me. Not entirely a huge one, just a slight tug into a direction that I had not thought about. Something different that I hadn’t considered before.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fUQlr5Y2A
Is it worth it?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRWmyBZRjM
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUx2gRWeGK
I pressed both hands flat against my chest without meaning to.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15oMzbc9Va
Suddenly, Yui popped up in front of me, leaning forward. I felt like she was trying to read whatever was written in my face.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YC7rdGZ8R
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyQsJvV5e9
“So?” she said. “What is it about?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR0A8lGtfS
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2lL9fBgyn
“Uh… no, I mean… well…”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QB3HZikIN
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIKv2OeosL
“Is it about the condition?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2Gs5aYITy
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4eyDr6ym6
I went still.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvr9uDCFxSO
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6l3OzKmfl
“...Yeah.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16f3fZw7hX
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLuWVOgdhE
“Ooh,” she said, leaning a little bit closer. “So what is it?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQJmgX8kvi
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECeOBv5Czz
“I can’t tell you… It’s…” I didn’t know what to say. What could I even say? “It’s something that…”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8YDbqJpnP
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfHELDD8Lx
“Okay,” she said.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMgz9UP6Ce
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiNJ9PpMoO
I paused for a bit.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCs8jRC9AF
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXvALDfGHA
“What?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQawIJzeft
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQJ8ut7NdS
“Well.” She smiled. “I could force you to tell me now. But it’s almost time for class.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFZj3ViW2A
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqBmKZmyuc
I looked at the clock hanging way above the black board. Placed in the center of the wall.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvakbr944y
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSXNkxvPJL
She was right.The teacher would be here any second.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAT4vqNhYaG
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYTAJ4LbYm
I let out a breath.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGFOx9nE7B
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEsmP9GYMy
Out of relief?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XtbUdPnQS
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWumdTg0GG
Yes, mostly. I was aware that this would be brought up again later. But at least I got a lot more time to think about what to say.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtucwzGcn8D
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6eBwQ70uc
Maybe… if I could think about anything.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBRDG3Itai
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7ReMsRNuH
My eyes drifted without permission toward the back of the room.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHL3JotkiBz
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S4moPadwX
He isn’t here…55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz3Ou2Vs1K
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFugm0r67wL
At least that was one less person I had to think about all day. But this afternoon…55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzoIqNC0YF
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iCXO5hgap
I stared at his empty seat for a moment longer than I needed to.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHj29mSDwS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhAAowCuUN
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWT5odGGVX
Lunch. Rooftop.
Ever since we were in first year, the rooftop had become our place during lunch. The four of us appreciated the quiet it brought to us. Nobody else came up here for some reason. And if there were any, they would see us and go back down.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Mid5avDoH
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIouh9XUNhl
We ate lunch here most days. When it wasn’t raining at least. It had just become the thing we did.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU65b6KPGrB
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUOs1DjmsR
This morning the teacher had done the roll call the same way he always did. When he reached Kuroiwa’s name, he just moved on… No explanation, no pauses, he did not even wonder why he didn’t get any response.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmMMJnjW2N
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCY5yWgzze
Usually when a student was absent, they would call the school to tell the teacher. But somehow it seemed like Mr. Tanaka did not even think to share it with the class. He always did. But today he didn’t.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZm3IbdGLM
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkmHTmg2D4
Did he even call? I thought. I felt like Kuroiwa probably did not.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡave6Zrvnvf
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnomZv3kdh
I hadn’t expected this. That I would feel bad about how he was treated.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46bgr8dYHG
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFIDYuhuNR
After all…55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOdPpK5e2V
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHFhbZoKt4
A week ago I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. But now, after seeing what he actually did, his room, his work, and his goals. Those were different pictures of his life painted on a wall separate from what we all saw at school. Everyday he sat on his seat, yet everyday he didn’t exist to anyone.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgj9bP2VJE
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4mtw38vNh
It’s all so strange.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg24rQwhcek
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKrfC96zJE
“You know what!?” Yui announced before we’d even properly settled down, lunch box already in her hand. “Miyamura-senpai from the basketball club and Anegasaki-senpai… they’re dating!”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhRgqIhXHo
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0EW0FSisU
I saw Mika glance at her in disbelief. I could tell that she was asking herself if Yui was actually going to do this now. After a brief look, she went back to getting her lunch out. Her lunch box bag looked almost like a small purse. That’s very Mika.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8IPHM1Cz6
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlaYZlLKXn
“Really?” Hina said. She sounded interested… or probably not.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aw1A15Au5
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlJPPhZHAc
“I saw them this morning holding hands on the way to school. But when other students got close they separated and just walked normally. Like nothing!”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRlugN3rCK
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOI8BPLK9Ty
Mika frowned without looking up. “We all walked to school together from the station this morning.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL3RBWyAIL
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHB7nJ11M2g
Yui slowly turned her head toward Mika. Smiling like she knew Mika was going to say what she had just said.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKnn1HZVQD
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFjKr7YaVW
“I have very good peripheral vision.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Py4nFG9R6
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LlIKfguhW
Mika closed her eyes briefly. Hina was quietly amused.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKqG36BMmk
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxCa4Irhtv
I giggled.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYqjezs4oC
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NJjEDVDXv
“Just by tilting my head slightly…” Yui demonstrated. “…I can see what’s a few meters behind us in the corner of my eye. They were right there the whole time and none of you noticed!”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Pts6Jl5z2
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aQYlYJL9C
“Wow,” Hina said. “It’s like you have a superpower.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvVr0QOzFS
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveaG7Jjza3
“Yes. My very own.” Yui straightened up proudly.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96T3KjWFiF
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSjS5TEp5j
Hina smiled. Mika sighed for a bit then started eating carefully and calmly. I could tell she was still not fully used to how Yui exposed her energy to everyone, even after a year together. Although, I thought, she was getting better at handling her now.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSEmTqxTzM
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZG8bgUpiF
“Also,” Yui continued, sitting down and finally opening her own lunch box, “Sakamoto-kun from our class confessed to Nakano-chan. You know, the girl from the library committee in 2-C.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrloWBNI6P4
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhjj0ewhW7
“The one who’s always peeking into our classroom when she walks past?” Hina asked.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdDC1wdBem
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUn1ElGAF0Y
“Yes! They were behind the school building Tuesday afternoon. And she rejected him. That’s why Sakamoto-kun was absent yesterday and today he looks terrible.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyfm36m7vk
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Vu5DlEfWQ
Mika looked like she was trying to restrain herself, but eventually she asked. “Tuesday afternoon you were with us. You know… during that whole thing. How did you even see that?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICFwldvS5c
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFl3UIF0h2
Yui looked at her with the patience of someone who had already read her like an open book.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcP72ZaSVs
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81hXsuN9QX
“Very good peripheral vision.” She winked.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KBF1HRiZl
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86zVOYMx3j
Mika groaned and I bit the inside of my cheek.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpDsKk6mZ0
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1ndlUoo0n
“One glance out the classroom window and I could see the entire view of the back building. I happened to look at the right moment.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVB35w24139
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6oULOCuG1
Hina gave a small, genuine clap. “Impressive.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2vmQrHr78
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRrJbTwbOD
“Aren’t I?” Yui said, settling back with great dignity.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGky35UbIqp
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXRGPDwuqt
“But then why was Nakano-chan looking into our classroom?” Mika asked, and I could tell from her tone that she had already decided not to care whether she would regret asking this or not.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHiXNLdbuc
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IXKDBbg4U
“I figured that out too.” Yui pointed her chopsticks forward. “She wasn’t looking at Sakamoto-kun. She was looking at his best friend! Katou-kun! Who sits right next to him.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uxFcrfE55
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A6UX9U5gG
“Oh,” Hina said, with the delight of someone who finally got into the most interesting part of a television drama. “A love triangle.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4u0iCgg1j
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNemtM4W41y
“Exactly like in dramas!” I said, because at this point, I was already invested.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmY3qF7NUIU
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNkRjrSfft
I heard Mika sigh beside me.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6TvOlPVC8
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7R1OR1I6ea
While Yui and Hina continued for a few more exchanges, Mika spoke to me.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfAMrO0zio
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcV4NnghPTu
“So.” She set her chopsticks down. “What happened yesterday?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9hGn3xIQ0
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMikDEzdZi
Yui stopped talking mid-sentence.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1LHyMDEdz
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1l5nKSWCO
Hina was already staring at us expecting to hear my answer.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ619IhGFl9Y
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41JkPFKp4o
I… I didn’t feel ready to say anything.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWdE7JVOsw
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKbLaTBQqh
The rooftop went a little quieter.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChQTFrOL6b
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Hw1uc1FoV
I stared at my food for a moment before I found the first few words that appeared in my mind.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LcOV91pEc
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjseCFgMiza
“Nothing really happened,” I said.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XX2D3jNMB
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsl9Z9rTsSy
“What do you mean?” Yui asked.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bPDb9xeHL
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmVGoYvZfd
I turned my chopsticks over in my hand once. Twice.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYnvasJUpx
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywc4IewWdJ
My friends patiently waited, but I knew I couldn’t let them wait any longer.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9JTXJIMt5
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSyPv1MwFZ
“I got there, he let me in, I sat in his living room, he got me a soda, he brought out a table, and then we talked about the condition. He said I didn’t have to give him an answer right then. That if I came back today it would mean I accepted, and if I didn’t that was fine too. And then I went home.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uK6TbOdZb
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hlmbAybuR
“That’s really all?” Hina asked.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxca8WaONl
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbHDWGZEDi
“Yeah.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7gbn8Mcvc
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkbSKlLTuE
I wasn’t lying. Everything I said was true. There were just some things I didn’t add. Because they would land very heavy no matter the words I chose to say. His workspace, his sacrifices, and then the condition itself. And how he would just sit on the sofa and read his book after all that. Like nothing, like everything he had just said didn’t matter at all.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSGuRT8skj
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugpeBS51wS
I took a quick look at Mika and I knew already what she was going to say.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZiM0E2SmH
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSx1MuWtVQ
“What’s the condition?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvHUotVuFk
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UmHh13Fo9
I knew it55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCk857dLAko
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWtWSLre8f
“...I can’t tell you.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWNs1NxLL7
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CAc3QNqQP
“That’s not acceptable.” Her voice lifted slightly. “I knew I should have come with you.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdIBGDMhDi
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TXA0fyrnS
“It’s fine,” I said. “I’m going to be fine. You don’t need to worry.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpxxS2PD0v
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHYVRxUr12
Mika stared at me. Her eyebrows knitting showed that she didn’t like what she heard.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz177xTtt7V
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAh3fiwE9dH
“Why are you saying it like you’ve already decided to go back?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y46XCk3L6
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjt0X9PHHT
I opened my mouth. Closed it.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzgKQ8Co2f
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnh9q1o0cf9
Have I?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5gOFpBGPB
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbipMZGjmd
I thought about it and slowly, I was surrounded by quiet.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rbKvYJoC3
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MSAZLRvUY
“I…” I hesitated.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4FmnPbnyE
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCncVpDX2Oa
“You have decided to go, haven’t you?” The tone of her voice started to sound accusatory. “I can tell.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiiOYeUli8
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCIxiL7is3
I didn’t argue.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdB3l8PrIZW
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1Vz01x8PU
I knew I haven’t decided yet.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflYdLa1NIm
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDLouokjsi
Or… maybe…55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7ldAek9sF
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfzUiNQL3B
I was just convincing myself that I hadn’t decided even though I was already thinking about what would happen this afternoon.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxciBfzIZa
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFkmfwbNRT
“How can you always make reckless decisions like that?” Mika continued.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibRREXkDjE
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zRit0iJ0f
“I haven’t said I am going, right?” I replied.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVO8tTXZRZ
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZokqCSePmi
“But you didn’t say that you wouldn’t go.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYxIM7BNYm
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEJDusc21X
“Mika, don’t make up things I haven’t said.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwn9tXofK4n
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3tmt83z99
“It doesn’t matter, what matters most is that you don’t have to do this. You don’t have to always expose yourself to danger.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9fT8uN4Nn
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkbXB9V4pT
“It’s not dangerous.” I paused. I knew I was lying.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAJgb14Q0F
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzLqvDuAYg
“If it’s not, then tell us what Kuroiwa’s condition is.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQtFxAzUCe
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEhR4walyI
“I… it’s none of your business…”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1WHOvPqPE
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDw7ZjU7Jrs
I looked down.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXN5SDx5Pp
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVem0CNUEN7
I noticed that both Mika and my lunchbox were already lying on the concrete. Grains of rice everywhere. Her favorite dish, my favorite dish, both our chopsticks… they were thrown when we stood up. I didn’t even realize I had stood up. She probably didn’t either.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88kLw4x9QV
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4SuCwyrGU
Mika grabbed my hand.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPaI54blqu
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XI7BpbN4d
“You don’t have to go,” she said and her voice was trying to reach me even though I could hear it perfectly. “We can go back to studying together. All four of us. We’ll find a different approach this time. We’ll do better.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L4QarrXzj
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2XaQZx2Wd
“There’s no time,” I said quietly. “Midterms are next week, only six days left, including today. If one week didn’t produce any result… how would six days be different?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7qoHckY4P
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9e4lF6Zog
Mika let go of my hand.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSgO96nT6L
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudnpzBOU91
“So instead you are choosing to accept a condition you can’t even tell us? You’re choosing to believe what he said?” Mika’s words were just coming, she wasn’t stopping herself anymore. “He is not a miracle worker. It’s not like he can actually turn your scores around in six days either!”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ObM4CKVEH
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KxUdTyiwa
She paused for a second and let out a small gasp. I could see it on her face… regret… and the recognition of what she’d just implied. That even if I tried, the outcome was already written. That I was going to fail regardless.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5OddtXIBi
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9B6Fy1kUQO
She didn’t say she was sorry. She just looked down. I saw her grip both her hands but also bite her lip trying not to say anymore.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzj6BSCOnu
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMFjezgBol
What she said was true. I couldn’t deny it. And that’s exactly why I needed to say what I was about to say.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlZBtoPfcr
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAhi51UttP
“He told me he can.” I kept my voice careful. Even. “He told me my answers weren’t random. That even though they were wrong, they were well thought of. That if we applied the right methods, I would eventually produce the right answers.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFDToRGpvi
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUE3Uu5jGo6
“You can’t trust him,” Mika mumbled.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8qyxpCwBv
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCs8F5LUaC
“I don’t,” I said it plainly. “But he’s the only hope I have left.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0jYccqZ6f
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xPGg75ZZT
My hands tightened slightly on my sides.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMCaejZHdm
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4guLEmIVR
“I don’t want to worry my mother anymore,” I said. “All four of us have been studying together since last year, but I still ended up taking supplementary lessons. It’s even a miracle that I was able to move up with you all. Last year was hard enough and now the material is harder. I laughed it off to you guys whenever I failed a subject. I tried not to show you that I was actually worried. Whenever I was at home, I studied. Whenever I was with you, I studied. But no matter how many times we did this, I could never keep up. I feel like I’ve wasted all your time, and I don’t…” My voice choked for a second, but I pushed through it. “I don’t want to be a burden to all of you anymore...”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bHq3ZT7nC
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEPsLfmJ43
Tears welled from the corner of my eyes. I fought to keep them from dropping but they kept on flowing down my cheeks.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsu3FAUb6FL
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqV0Y0Lbz8
I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to see myself in the expressions my friends were wearing right now.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0MDh9mUSw
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYlLUjA0gR
I felt Mika come closer, and then I felt her arms wrap around me. She buried her face against my shoulder and I felt it slowly getting soaked.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOFtr4w53i
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcDfXrvyO6
“I’m sorry,” she said.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBNsX2MHa1
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡru2fBxZcza
“Don’t be.” I shook my head slightly. “It’s not your fault. You’ve been helping me a lot since we were kids. How could any of this be your fault?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcf0crcmxm4
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhuUvmAMsq
Mika let go of me but not my hands. She gripped them tightly, but carefully.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRmIIP1gBR
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACfKUrdVAK
“Are you going?” she asked. Her voice was still faint with sobs.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1dS0Q8wvd
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo35dsuYJ9U
“...Yeah.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7EsjbICWI
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyKuiDLBTu
Yui made a sound from somewhere and then her arms were around both of us, holding on without saying anything, trying very hard not to sob and not quite managing.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGBfi31OO1
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGNohY1Eu9
After a moment Hina stood up. She came to us and placed her hand on each of our heads in turn. Gently, unhurried. Then she looked at Mika.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb96MttKN3v
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmy1lWbg0QC
“If you’re that worried,” she said, “go with her this afternoon. You don’t have to go inside. Just wait nearby.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5hXdIkBIQ
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWxJSYx9x1
“What if it takes a long time?” I asked.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz1qLOgm8E
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuZxbvDj6E
“Then she goes home.” Hina’s voice was calm. “But we both know she won’t.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0ARvEJYEK
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU8k1ciw32
“I’ll wait,” Mika said immediately. She pulled back enough to look at me properly, eyes still wet but firm and steady. “I’ll come with you and wait outside. Somewhere close.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8BqSvqrIo
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhA11WF1CM
I nodded.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmj7h7asgST
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQQhRrLRrC
Yui, still holding both of us, let out a long shaky breath.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVKi60CsKC
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto31nMrw71
“Please don’t fight again,” she said, almost begging.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ036etaF7J4
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe5DiP5DMY
“Yui.” Hina’s voice was gentle. “That’s just how it is sometimes. We argue because we care. And then we come back to each other. That’s what it means to be friends.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIQrTTTEAJ
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TY3mFboL1
Yui peeked up at her, still sniffling, as she thought about what Hina had just told her.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHhHYROYUM
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQo9rXScKzp
“Okay,” she said quietly.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8YyTt8HlZ
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeE6OJnbGz1
I looked at the three of them. Mika with her wet eyes and her steady conviction. Yui, who had wrapped herself around us both and refused to let go. Hina, who knew exactly what to say whenever things like this happened.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvgfAP3D2w
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VLWP4j0bA
These were my people. All of them. And I wasn’t going to let myself fail in front of them without having tried absolutely everything available to me first.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt09MZ6dJob
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxDrIdCgpt
This afternoon…55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSP76l9cirK
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrzZGeM3PI
I’ll have my resolve.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCi6apsJaRA
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQrIZxEQR0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8h34nQ8AFX
Afternoon.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbToRvjmWrm
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFUhTdOLRo
Mika walked with me to the building and stopped at the park just beside it. She’d insisted she wasn’t going anywhere. I told her she didn’t need to wait if I took too long, but she only gave me the look, her look that said she heard me, but she was the one who would decide whether she stayed or not.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmqCLxakNu
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02Zml1jcTa
I smiled at her. She smiled back. We laughed for a bit, the kind of laugh that showed that we were both okay, that we were both fine and we were going to be best friends for a long time.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeBqLaM9Vt
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSh0B7jABmD
I went inside, found the intercom panel, and typed in Kuroiwa’s room number.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakMYReN6XG
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHcg7CQci5
“Who?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHAeORdEsu
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8mLf4SmM5
Hmm?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9qZqbwDNL
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeuovNzrVP
His voice sounded a bit different today. Was he sick? I mean, it still sounded stern and strict but… somehow a bit mellowed.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZT3MFbvS1
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQub4uKqx8G
I shook my head.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv84eX7M4HL
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTt5l2HLvNg
Mellow didn’t seem like the right word to describe him. It didn’t seem right at all. I didn’t know why I thought of it.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHcIATtC5W
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5dApaGj2E
I told him it was me, then the inner door opened.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcCdAICk2A
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mFeWwK8jw
I took the elevator to the fifth floor, and when I stopped in front of his door I immediately found the doorbell. I had reminded myself of that one ever since I entered the lobby.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAg9SNH3Uz
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RkoUNfPwv
I pressed it and waited.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDy7pIK1YD
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWO3tDSjmV
A few seconds passed and the door opened.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxuhwocEQg
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExUucFvI8M
Then I understood what was bothering me about his voice earlier.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HlBCeMj92
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzgaxftoRo
He looked… exhausted…55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CDYNHetAh
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5hR2DtRYM
His hair was messier than its usual mess. The shadows under his eyes were darker and more pronounced. The way he was standing wasn’t quite as straight as it always was, like he was acutely aware that if he didn’t balance himself, he would fall.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79XeEaQvKS
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLpotXV2Q2
“Wait here,” he said.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOoW32Fr6b
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvI0Nj7uPPz
He left the door open and disappeared into the other room he hadn’t shown me yesterday.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9I2076yhNm
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJ0jpb3Zqx
I didn’t know what to think. Was he not going to invite me in?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLtUovsQu6
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQdiJGLeu4
This is quite awkward.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UzLm1UPap
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlLvg8NKJS
A minute passed. One minute of pure confusion ran through my mind. Maybe it was even five minutes. Who knows, all I know was that I was standing in front of his door, outside his open door to be exact.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgC9HERBG7
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOecIawwlC
Why is everything with him always so specific and so unclear at the same time?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdyAjHAcah
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZ43n7XiIP
I sighed quietly.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XdcowwYQT
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAOaBcQAJv
And then he came back.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqcAOqA2M7
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCSWnKXV3X
With notebooks?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLprvqpPn7m
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LS9OFB7KR
A lot of them… stacked and thick. I could already see myself struggling to hold all of them in my hands. And I could also see him struggling to keep his balance while carrying them as he kept walking towards me.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8gm6yAPOL
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkWfFGBGBC
He managed though.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvWD1Q7Zpv
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTc8ShRovyn
“Hands,” he said.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDAoyQjqMH
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFnktPRTSk
That didn’t sound right to me for some reason.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tCYw4f6F7
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZyihzen9L
But I still reached both my hands out.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtDLD7C0uS
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGgquHwLRN
He placed all those notebooks on top of them and I almost fell. Thankfully I didn’t.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JkPPJiCpV
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0Pqk7Nwqe
“The three notebooks at the bottom are for the finals. You won’t be needing them right now,” he explained.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITjTs1ONXC
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mRQxHUt4h
I tried to count how many notebooks he had placed on my hands.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZZOKIJGT0
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdLUZVaJCb
… nine…55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡls3nxYKh0E
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RMgj7AYcY
Nine notebooks… Nine? Each one as thick as a novel?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15t0l0phKO
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡART1jQpgrL
“The rest are the ones you’ll need for midterms. They will also be used for the finals,” he continued55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkTuWSfcan
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOIH8Up7JP
“That’s… that’s a lot,” I said. I had no idea that we needed this many notebooks for this term. Do we really?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTlZ8jBctb
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxlLLcnRtV
“That’s all,” he said. “You can go home now.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2kgBwPTXT
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7ba5DwATD
I blinked.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBaLO7Y48s
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayS1fu4FdA
That’s it? Just… here are some notebooks, go home?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4j8NsBmlb
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhucyHVrhWY
He moved to close the door.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFkwxRPsc7
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJAsR0QgOZ
“Wait.” The word came out before I’d decided to say it.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNdsBwZxMW
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERBCdFnBoJ
He stopped.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWswCCAVnkE
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlB9TTRVUpP
“Are we not starting today?” I asked.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUKEp8mBDB
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6du6f5qAAs
“No need. There’s enough time.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIVTEzgFs5
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1Du4caEZK
Is there though?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnVkIWpUaX
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcq8VzQSSwZ
My mouth moved before my brain caught up.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQ0oCAjXDv
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFIqfADeBV
“Why were you absent?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJPJxbgpoo
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXVzHqaTxr
“I was writing those.” He nodded at the notebooks in my arms.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVe9XaA5UL
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GfPUdPMSh
He wrote these!? Really?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvt3vmQfYSu
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvP0nQJqElU
I wanted to check, I wanted to look inside one of the notebooks, but my arms were currently occupied and I found myself wishing I could grow at least one more. Just for this moment.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksg2wdHNke
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjpYGBl8H9
“Since… when?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLFQ6B3Yry
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjyPf3QbAy
“Yesterday, after you left. I finished a few minutes before you arrived today.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6Iz8bTiDw
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPt5EGFuzh
I stared at him.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32kTy9BRaC
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeyyclydlW
“Did you sleep?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVB11oYxQa
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tGkbwpsKw
“No.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVVFx8Ytus
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20MavWSZb1
“Why?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrx0czhgUCH
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPEzg0Espu
He looked at me and I guessed he was trying to understand why I asked a question with an obvious answer.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4FauNZeHZ
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gCVkua4XU
“You want to pass,” he said. “I wrote you materials to help you do that.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbikPIKceTo
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrzcqGFzc0
I opened my mouth to say something… maybe a thank you, maybe ask him why again, or ask what was wrong with him… but none of it came out.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTjag04o0C
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TgBUyCDi4
He hadn’t slept just to write all these nine notebooks I was carrying? I didn’t understand. Every time I thought I had some tiny grasp of who he was, he would just shatter it right in front of me.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJlOlAFwai
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SXicei8Y0
I had asked him why?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76RNRZtL4w
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdHElI9JZ7
He had answered because I needed help.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8UPgHbyXa
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUVyvzhxfJ
I had asked him again…55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPwDcAzLKW
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1by0kzT3oI
He had answered because I wanted to pass.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPESElrnwFK
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1yORUmF1A
Was it really that simple to him? That he didn’t have to think too much about it. Just, I could help you so I would help you.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWlFwtyttZ
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtif4ZeBgAq
Why?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuvzBaUAqn
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUj9DMD1ITX
I asked him that question one more time from my thoughts.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvmBDybFSb
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2q6Lez8uN
“Is that all?” he said.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFkVXILGHH
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZQYuvqHlz
“Umm… wait.” I hesitated for a bit. “Don’t you need to hear my decision?”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2llQuYKxj0
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U9JXsUKYg
He stared at me for a moment.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7ojRlxFUy
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzcTyr6HIR
“But you are here now.”55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu22guZBctX
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsm5gIDT67q
This guy…55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnp0BfpoMt
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtkMBw9jis
I just nodded, I didn’t know what to say anymore.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3zncAjAps
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRWVVwA2c2
“If that’s all then… Goodnight…” he said as he slowly closed his door.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZIemO0SIF
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcy5zSi4QM2
It was the middle of the afternoon. The light outside was still golden.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoscakdf1W0
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Unp1CTfOv
I stood there for a few more minutes until my arms started reminding me I was holding nine heavy notebooks.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuACPDKt5i9
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuesFwLjC9S
I placed them on the floor first, knelt down, then carefully placed eight of them in my bag. They were so thick that one of them had to be left out. I stood up and carefully balanced the weight of my bag while I tucked the remaining notebook under my armpit.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOADFbg0ko
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJjRDMcvR0
I faced his door and bowed just a little. The only way I could express gratitude now, because I didn’t earlier while he was here.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOTMB1ebzN
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KtcHCVDAk
I walked towards the elevator and pressed the button for the ground floor and waited for the doors to close. I started thinking about Mika waiting in the park below, about the curry at the top of the ladder, about the image of him sitting alone in that room all night writing materials for someone he’d spoken to exactly twice.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWTOtJuClu
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTN02WJd4t
I don’t trust him, I told Mika. And that was true.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4TTS18PMG
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp6u6yuWQt
But maybe it wasn’t about that at all.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdvLnkYDAF
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vxRyNo0na
Maybe… it was more about whether the prize was worth it or not…55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4rt259lTT
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpbshYpSYW
I felt the heaviness of my bag, then took the notebook under my armpits and gripped it with my hand.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNESM9gakRN
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGxLxGmvDc
Then a thought came right after.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBEFZJ4lF3
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdzIViqNbo
I think it’s worth it.
然後按「加至主畫面」