Chapter 10 – Fragments of the Past

Translator: Hayashi
Editor: Ryuubii
Proofreader: SevenTails

“Ah~ Onii-chan!”

I was on my way to school when all of a sudden a child came running at me.

For a moment, I wondered who it was, but it was Mio-chan, the girl who had gotten lost in the shopping district before.

“Good morning, Onii-chan.”

“Un. Good morning Mio-chan.”

She has a very cute, friendly smile.

She was a child that was still in preschool.

She walked up to my feet, looked up at me with a smile, and held up her hands. (EN: Editor died, first blood)

I knew right away that she was asking me to hold her up, so I did just that.

I sometimes meet Mio-chan on my way to school like this.

It’s become a habit of mine to carry her like this every time.

With that timing, her mother arrived.

“Good morning, Takanashi-san. I’m always sorry for my Mio…”

“It’s not a problem, I’m fine.”

Looking at Mio-chan, she seemed to remind me of that girl from a long time ago.

——————————————

The first time I met this young girl was near the shopping arcade, on my way back from my regular shopping (buying a box of cup noodles at Dozuki).

The young girl restlessly looked around while walking towards me.

Of course I avoided her, but the young girl also avoided me in the same direction, so we ended up bumping into each other.

I stumbled a bit and didn’t fall down, but the young girl started crying loudly.

“Mama! Where are you~~!!”

I had expected it, but I guess she was lost.

Since it was right in front of me, there was no way I could just walk right past her, so I decided to call out to her.

“Hello. Are you looking for your mom?”

I spoke to her as gently as I could, but there was no sign of her cries stopping.

I quickly looked through my shopping bag for something good, and saw a cat mascot that came as an add-on to a plastic tea bottle (TN: Something like C2 Green Tea?) that was attached to the lid.

I attached it to my finger and held it out in front of her, so I could talk through the cat mascot.

In the past, I often used stuffed animals to soothe a person when they cried, so I’m used to this kind of thing.

“Nyan nyan, are you looking for your mom?”

“…Un.”

It looks like it went well, so I continued the conversation, found out where her mother had left her, and decided to take the child with me.

The way she pulled me by the hand as we walked reminded me of that person I once knew.

——————————————

“Hic…hic… Kazu-chan.”

“Ah-, mou~, please don’t cry anymore.”

The person who was holding my hand while crying and walking with me was named 「Sasagawa Yuzuha」.

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She was my childhood friend.

Our houses were next to each other, so we used to play together when we were little.

She was always happy and smiling when she was playing with me, but she was also a crybaby, so it was not uncommon for me to babysit her even though we were of the same age.

Even after entering elementary school, Yuzuha remained reclusive.

She didn’t have any friends of her own gender, and since I was always with her, it was inevitable that I didn’t have many friends either. That’s why my childhood memories were all about her.

Also, I think she’s been bullied without my knowledge.

It wasn’t that I found her annoying or anything, it was just that I was always worried about her not being able to take my eyes off her.

If I don’t stay with her, Yuzuha will be left alone…

Certainly it may be annoying to others, but because I’m worried, I try to be involved with Yuzuha as much as possible.

——————————————

We became junior high school students and Yuzuha had a female friend.

During this year, people often made fun of each other for being close with the opposite gender, and since Yuzuha and I both hated being teased, we tried to keep our distance.

Yuzuha, who had even more friends now, became noticeably more involved with her friends, perhaps as a reaction to the fact that she never had a friend of the same gender before.

…On the other hand, she rarely interacts with me anymore.

I really thought it was fine as long as Yuzuha was having fun, but… I also found myself feeling a little lonely.

——————————————

It was my third year of junior high school.

I also made some friends, but they were in a different class when I was in third grade.

And also, I think I can say that I’m not that close with my current classmates.

And Yuzuha…

She was so preoccupied by her relationship with her friends that she was being influenced by her peers.

Her hairstyle, character, and manner of speaking had changed. Her skirt shortened, and honestly, she had become the type of girl I didn’t like.

I was worried about her change, so I tried talking to her.

“Hah? Who are you to say that to me?”

That question got on her nerves, which resulted in a fight.

Even so, I’m still worried about her and I didn’t want to end our long time friendship.

Until that day came…

——————————————

“Onii-chan~ I’m off.”

Perhaps Mio-chan was satisfied, so she got out of my arms and headed for preschool.

“Take care of yourself!”

I saw her off with a smile.

On the way, Mio-chan turned around, waved widely, and then held hands with her mother.

Well then, I guess I’ll go to school too.

I walked down my usual path to school.

Without realizing that there was someone who had been watching me this whole time…

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