Chapter 14: 14

Chapter 14: More Than Family

After the chaotic Thursday, the day on which the performance of students and workers around the world would most likely improve, namely Friday, had begun.

Kazemiya’s mother was cold toward her daughter. Tsujikawa was acting a little strange.

I felt that Thursday’s events deserved to be called chaotic.

No, if I were to say that, this weekday itself was chaotic.

The alliance with Kazemiya Kohaku started on Monday.

Today, was only the fifth day. Although it had been only five days, I thought it was a big change for me.

“…..”

What filled my head was the expression on Kazemiya’s face yesterday. That was all I could think about.

“Oi, Kouta, Koutaa?”

“….Ah, Natsuki. What’s wrong?”

“What do you mean ‘what’s wrong’? I’ve been repeatedly greeting you ‘Good morning’ from a while ago, but you haven’t responded to me at all.”

“Sorry. I was just thinking about something.”

“You’ve been doing that a lot lately.”

“……I guess so. I have more things to think about.”

Especially in the last five days.

“Hmm…”

“Don’t stare at people’s faces.”

“Hey, Kouta. You’ve changed a little lately.”

“Really? I don’t think I’ve changed—”

I couldn’t deny it.

This was because I was aware that the person of Narumi Kouta had changed more or less during these chaotic five days.

“…Maybe you’re right.”

“Riight?”

I wondered what made Natsuki so happy, as she giggled.

“Why do you look so happy?”

“Hm? I wonder? I don’t know.”

“Even though it’s yourself.”

“Do you know Kouta? Everything about me, everything.”

Natsuki’s words, knowingly or unknowingly, pierced deep into the human being named Narumi Kouta.

It was as if I was being hit in some painful place as if something that Natsuki could see was being pointed out to me without mercy.

“Ah, it’s Kazemiya.”

Kazemiya came to school in the morning. Her eyes seemed to be looking ahead, but she was not looking anywhere. They were somewhat hollow and hazy.

“Kazemiya-san, you’ve changed a bit lately, haven’t you?”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. That’s right. …But today, you’re back to your usual self.”

“My usual self…”

“I mean, not so long ago…or rather, up until the last week or so, you had that look in your eye every day.”

That empty-eyed-looking Kazemiya was the usual Kazemiya.

…But, the Kazemiya Kohaku I knew was different. She didn’t have that kind of eyes. The Kazemiya I remember had many more expressions. Her eyes, as beautiful as jewels, shone so beautifully that if you were not careful, you would be blinded by them.

What kind of looks did Kazemiya use to have? I can no longer remember what she looked like.

That was how much my……impression of Kazemiya Kohaku had changed in the past five days.

(—Impression?)

Impression.

Did I just describe it that way?

(No.)

…It wasn’t an ‘impression’ or something vague like that.

Doubts about one’s mind. A feeling of discomfort. Trace it, think about it, and give shape to it.

(…Presence?)

Yes. That’s right. Not “impression” but “presence”. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to describe it that way.

The person named Kazemiya Kohaku had become a big “presence” in my mind.

“You’re thinking again.”

“Uwa!?”

When I finally come to my senses, I saw Natsuki’s face right in front of me.

“You didn’t even know that the bell rang.”

“I didn’t notice…….”

“The next class is Hosomine-sensei’s, you know. I think she’s going to warn us if we don’t have our books and notebooks on our desks.”

“Right. You saved me.”

“You’re welcome. Just don’t let the teacher catch you in class, okay? Since I can’t cover you.”

“I appreciate your willingness to cover for me.”

“Of course.”

Natsuki laughed and,

“I haven’t seen Kouta think so seriously in a long time.”

“I’ve never had to think so seriously about something before.”

“Is that so? But you know, I’m sure whatever Kouta is thinking about right now is a good thing.”

Feeling grateful for my childhood friend’s concern, I grabbed my textbooks off my desk.

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***

“Alright, then, let’s do the class gathering.”

After school.

The participants of the class gathering, who had quickly finished getting ready to go home, stood up in high spirits at the word of Sawada. With such excitement at my side, I also start to get ready to go home.

“Kazemiya-san.”

As I was packing my textbooks, Sawada approached Kazemiya, who was also getting ready to leave with a slow and sluggish hand.

“What.”

“About the class gathering. Would you like to go now?”

“I should have already answered that.”

“I thought you might have changed your mind.”

“I haven’t changed my mind, and I have to stay home today.”

“I see. So today you’re spending time with your family.”

“It’s none of your business.”

After quickly packing her textbooks, Kazemiya left the classroom at a brisk pace.

“….Let’s go home.”

“Okaay. Kyaa, after school on Fridays, is so exciting, riight?”

“Aah…I guess.”

Had it been last week, I would have instantly nodded and affirmed Natsuki’s words.

Nope. Even now, I was happy when it comes to Friday. Even if I didn’t have anything special to do or plans, I still get excited and restless. But why? My heart isn’t that excited right now.

“Byee, Kouta.”

“Yeah, see you on Monday.”

“I’ll miss youu. A greeting that feels like we’re not going to see each other on this holiday. Sometimes I wish you’d ask me out on short notice.”

“Unfortunately, I have a part-time job on my day off.”

I parted ways with Natsuki on the way and went straight home. I decided to stay home as much as possible on Fridays, so as not to ruin my mother’s newfound happiness.

“I’m home.”

“Welcome home.”

When I got home, my mother greeted me and Akihiro-san was not there. It was only natural. Working hours for working people and class hours for students were different.

“Fuu…”

I throw out my luggage, put my uniform on a hanger, and roll onto my bed.

It had been a little over a month since I moved into this house following my mom’s remarriage. I still couldn’t get used to the view of the ceiling from this bed. Was it because I keep running away from this house?

“Friday is a day to put family first……”

I speak the rule I set for myself.

Even after Mom remarried and I began my days of running away from this house, from my family, I made sure not to break this rule.

Friday was the only day I wasn’t supposed to run away.

“…..”

I got out of bed, took my uniform off the hangar, and screwed my phone into my pocket.

I went from the second floor to the first floor. I didn’t go straight to the front door, but instead, I went to see my mother in the living room.

“Ara, what’s wrong?”

“I’m going out.”

“Ehh? But you said you were staying home today…….”

“Sorry.”

Friday should be the day you put my family first.

Friday was the only day that I should not run away.

That was my rule. It was a rule to avoid destroying the family.

But today, for this one time, I decided to break that rule.

“…..”

Sending a message to Kazemiya via the Messages application.

Keep the text simple. Straight to the point.

[I’m coming.]

That was all. That should be all I need to let her know.

—I haven’t changed my mind, and I have to stay home today.

—I see. So today you’re spending time with your family.

“……that can’t be right.”

I put a cross in red on the words of Sawada that came back to my mind.

Sawada didn’t know who Kazemiya Kohaku was.

Kazemiya staying at home? Of course, that was a lie to refuse the class gathering.

The reason why she didn’t reject him coldly and cut him off like before was to prevent bad rumors from spreading.

“…..”

I headed, of course, to the usual store. The usual family restaurant. The usual seats.

“…You really came.”

Sitting at the seat was Kazemiya Kohaku.

“I thought today was the day you had to stay home……”

“I was planning to.”

Across the table, I sat in the chair that had become my ‘usual seat’ over the past five days.

“Today, I decided to listen to Kazemiya complain.”

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