ALL NOVEL chapter 54
I don’t care anymore, just say something
“Shuu…”
“What’s wrong?”
Shuu seemed like he was about to ask about my family, hesitated, and stopped speaking.
Seeing me stop talking, Shuu tilted his head, and although Ayana seemed not to understand what I was thinking, she still looked at me with some concern.
“…It’s nothing. Or maybe I forgot what I was going to say… I might be getting old.”
“What are you talking about…”
I gave a wry smile to Shuu’s exasperated look, and managed to divert the topic, looking ahead.
Ayana and I have our mother here… Even if it’s just one parent, having someone from the family watching over you is more comforting than anything else… But no matter where I look, there’s no sign of Shuu’s family… in other words, his remaining father.
(Even though such a thing happened… still)
His parents got divorced, but his father, despite worrying about Shuu and Kotone, can’t really stop his job transfer… And Kotone is scared after what happened, according to what Shuu said.
I can’t help but feel sorry for Shuu’s father, but as for Kotone… I don’t think something like serves you right, and I’m actually relieved it didn’t turn out like the original story.
(Seems like Hatsune-san had no choice though…)
In summary, Shuu’s family situation is a mess.
While it’s much better compared to the future that should have come, it’s still lonely for Shuu to have no family present at the sports festival… considering it from Shuu’s perspective.
“We will now take a 15-minute break until the next event.”
Since it was a good time for a break, I quietly left the spot.
Ayana and Shuu were chatting amicably, so it should be fine to slip away… Well, I didn’t have a specific reason to be alone.
“Oh, Yukishiro-kun?”
“President?”
I could tell by the voice, and when I turned around, it was Iori.
“I don’t have any particular business. I just called out because I saw an acquaintance.”
“Indeed.”
“What about Osamu?”
“If it’s Osamu, he’s probably in the tent. I think he’s with Ayana.”
“Aren’t you with them?”
“Don’t you ever feel like being alone sometimes?”
“I do.”
I chuckled wryly.
After that, as I tried to wrap things up and move away from Iori, for some reason, she started following me.
If I stopped, she stopped; if I moved, she moved… what was she up to?
“President?”
“Sorry. I got a bit curious.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes.”
‘Yes’ is a new one… I was tempted to ask if she was unexpectedly air-headed, but I decided against it.
It was break time, and there wasn’t much to do… so maybe it would be nice to chat with Iori alone for a change.
“Can we talk for a bit?”
“Sure. I’d appreciate that.”
And so, I decided to spend this break time with Iori.
However, with nothing particular to do, it seemed like Iori, in her position as the student council president, felt the need to check if everything was okay around, glancing here and there and nodding in reassurance.
“Iori is truly work-oriented… She seems like the type you’d find in a manga with a beautiful female boss or something.”
She had been working in the same company as Osamu for a while now, and imagining a scenario where they reunite and a new relationship blossoms was quite amusing.
“Lately, Osamu seems a bit down. I’ve heard about some things that happened, but I can’t help but worry a bit.”
“…Well, that’s true.”
It seemed like Iori was quite concerned about Osamu as well. They had been talking and showing consideration for each other since then… but still, it was surprising to see Iori, who had once seemed almost resigned towards Osamu, now like this… it felt like everyone was moving forward.
Just like Ayana and I had, Osamu and Iori were also moving forward… in that sense, could Shinri be the same?
“Please look out for him.”
“I intend to do so even without being told. Graduation is in half a year… but there’s an infinite amount of time beyond that.”
…There shouldn’t be any worries… but maybe it wouldn’t hurt to try some sort of consciousness reform just in case.
In our high school, Iori may come off as cold, but when faced with a slightly pushy opponent, she didn’t seem capable of refusal.
(That’s probably not because Iori finds dealing with others troublesome, but rather a result of respecting the other person’s will, thinking it’s the right thing to do.)
That was indeed a troublesome personality, but with Ayana’s help, we could change it as much as we wanted… right? In that case, I might have to explain things a bit to Ayana, but it should be fine.
“Yukishiro-kun is truly a mysterious boy. Talking like this, it feels like I’m talking to someone older.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I can’t quite put my finger on it… but I feel like I can rely on you.”
It’s nice to hear that from a woman.
As I continued chatting with Iori, killing time, I happened to spot a familiar girl in the corner of my eye.
“…Ah.”
“What’s wrong?”
She seemed a bit fidgety, looking around.
She was a petite girl, but her appearance was very well put together, and it seemed like our current students noticed her and were trying to talk to her.
A little while ago, that child seemed to boldly puff their chest out and utter a curse, but I couldn’t see that attitude. They appeared timid and lacking in confidence.
“What… were you here?”
“That child?”
“It’s Shuu’s sister.”
“Eh!?”
Yes, there stood Shuu’s younger sister, Kotone.
I wondered if she had come, and as I approached to speak to her… at that moment, many words she had said in the past flashed through my mind, but I felt no fear at all.