Faster… Quickly to Kazunari-san’s house…
We had just arrived home, and I was about to leave when Mother stopped me.
“I’ll give you a lift.”
“Oh, you two are going out?”
“To Natsume-san’s house.”
“Hahaha(*Laughs*) , this soon? You’re as good friends as ever. Enjoy. I will take a nap since I will go to work soon.”
The conversation progressed without me saying anything. No matter, I got an okay to leave home.
“So where? To Takanashi-kun’s house?”
As expected, Mother knows.
“Yes… I really wanted to meet him today.”
“I understand. After sending you there, I’ll go back. Call me when you are ready to go home.”
I thought she would stop me from going, but that isn’t the case.
However, even if she did stop me, I didn’t have the slightest of not going.
Since Mother probably knows it, she went out of her way to do this.
‘Why are the lights out?’
‘Kazunari-san’s not out at this time of the night, right?’
‘I sent him a message before leaving home to make sure, but he still hasn’t read it.’
I refrained from calling since there was a probability that Kazunari-san was out.
However, it didn’t make sense that he was out at this hour.
Let’s check if he is inside.
*Knock knock*… *Click*…
As I opened the doors, I noticed his shoes.
Was he sleeping?
If so, I’ll leave and return for another day.
——————————————
With the sound of the door opening, I woke up.
Sara-san!?
The surroundings were dark since the lights weren’t on, but it didn’t matter.
There was only one thing on my mind – to get to Sara-san.
Sara-san seemed to notice as I approached her.
“Kazunari-san? It’s you, right?”
Aah… It’s Sara-san’s voice.
Hearing Sara-san’s voice, which I hadn’t heard for quite a while, pricked my heart. My worries about Yuzuha were slowly dissipating.
“Sara-san…”
I tried speaking typically, but what came out was a weak voice.
“Kazunari-san!!!”
Hearing her voice ran a shock throughout my whole body.
Sara-san rammed me with great force.
Following that, she wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly.
I reciprocate Sara-san’s embrace by putting my hands on her back.
“Sara-san… Sara-san…”
Ah! How long have I been waiting for her embrace?
This happiness. This is pure bliss.
“Kazunari-san, I missed you so much!”
“I, too… missed you, Sara-san.”
Am I showing her a happy smile correctly?
Am I behaving typically?
Thoughts about Yuzuha and my longingness for her, I am emotionally unstable right now.
“Fufu… Before anything else, I should do what I promised.”
Upon saying that, Sara-san wrapped her arms around my head and pulled me to her chest.
Aaa… Sara-san’s smell… the smell of my beloved Sara-san…
“Kazunari-san, you did your best while I was away. Good boy, good boy~.”
Gently and slowly, Sara-san caressed my head.
Her kindness tinged my heart… I shouldn’t; I should not cry.
Sara-san tightened her hug by applying a bit of force.
“For these past five days, my mind was full of this and how to give it to you the next time we meet. I feel very relieved that I was able to right now.”
“Me too. I was living with the thought of Sara-san and how I wish you were back quickly and nothing else…”
My pathetic desire came out.
During these five days, I did not think of anything except Sara-san and when she was coming back.
That’s why I am overjoyed at this moment.
And also… my hate for Yuzuha for how she disrupts this feeling of happiness and makes me think of unnecessary things.
“Can I turn on the lights? We cannot see each other faces like this. Don’t worry. We can always do this even when the light is on.”
Thus, Sara-san turned toward the light switch.
Am I smiling properly?
I don’t want to worry Sara-san unnecessarily.
This was all Yuzuha’s fault.
If only she hadn’t shown up at that place… If only we haven’t met.
Even though I forgot all about it… Even though I wanted to forget…
As I was preparing myself, Sara-san turned on the lights.
“Now, it’s all lit up. Fufu. Let me look at Kazunari-san’s face…”
Clouded expression loomed over Sara-san.
“Kazunari-san, is everything okay?”
Sara-san noticed.
I have no words to say.
“Kazunari-san… If you’re feeling uneasy talking about it, don’t worry. I won’t leave you whatever it is. So feel free to say it to me.”
Seeing Sara-san’s worried face and my desire to be spoiled, I told her.
She probably had seen through my mask.
As I was mentally unstable, Sara-san’s kindness and reassurance relieved me.
“Sorry… Today… I met my childhood friend…”
“!?”
A surprised expression covered Sara-san’s face.
She had never expected that topic.
“I met with someone I don’t want to meet… and ended up talking to that person. I think it went properly, but I am still worried.”
I tried finishing the rest of the story but could not because Sara-san embraced me tightly.
“It’s okay… It’s all good now. I am here with you. You must have been uneasy about meeting your childhood friend, right?”
Tightening her embrace, Sara-san slowly issued words of assurance.
“Sorry. I was not there when that happened. I could not imagine how uneasy you were.”
Slowly and gently, Sara-san caressed my head over and over again.
The anxiousness that I felt about Yuzuha all seemed to have disappeared.
Judging that I had calmed down a little, Sara-san drew her mouth closer to my ear.
“Kazunari-san. Are you still afraid to talk about your past? No matter what it is, I will be fine.”
After saying that, she distanced herself and stared at me directly.
She had a determined, unwavering look.
“I don’t know why Kazunari-san is afraid. But if saying it will make you leave the school, I am prepared to go together with you. I am ready to throw my life here and start in another town. Just remember that I am on your side, no matter what.”
*Shudder*
I was shocked.
I know that Sara-san believes me more than anyone else. I know that she will side with me if I have a problem.
However, I did not know she cared that much.
Sara-san can go that far for me… then I have nothing to fear… is what she wanted to tell.
Sara-san’s feelings… Should I be okay to let it all out? Isn’t it pathetic of me?
Since it’s about my past, I should be the one to overcome it.
I am having second thoughts right now.
But I should first tell Sara-san everything.
Then next would be Hayato. I don’t know Yuzuha’s plan, but she’ll probably use Hayato as she did about me.
However, if I could stop her schemes, then it would be enough for me.
The rest will depend on how the other side will play…
If this will be my finish, then so be it.
If they decided to do something, then…
Perhaps because I have mixed feelings right now, I couldn’t help but laugh when I think of such thoughts.