Chapter 17
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About five minutes after boarding the train, we arrived at our destination station.
In front of us as we exited the station was an endless rural landscape with no shade from the sun. Although I brought a foldable parasol…
“Hey.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Do you have a parasol or a hat?”
“No…”
“Then use this.”
I handed her the parasol, and she looked surprised.
“Thank you… but then you’ll be…”
“It’s okay. If we find a convenience store, I’ll buy something.”
Even though I said that, there were only a few houses around, let alone a convenience store.
…Let’s hope we miraculously find a small shop.
After walking for about ten minutes under the scorching sun, we arrived at the festival site.
Under the clear blue sky, countless sunflowers were in full bloom.
As expected, we didn’t find any place to buy a parasol or hat, so I felt a bit dizzy.
But I could endure a little dizziness.
Because, finally—
“Beautiful…”
“Yeah, it is.”
—We could see this view together.
“Kawakami-san.”
She suddenly tugged at my sleeve.
“What is it?”
“It seems we can go into the field.”
She pointed to a path crowded with people. I’m not fond of crowds, but I didn’t want to spoil her fun.
“Shall we go then?”
“Yes!”
She gave me another carefree smile.
But my vision blurred, and I couldn’t see her clearly.
She was right in front of me, so why…?
“Kawakami-san? Are you okay?”
“Ah, sorry. I’m fine. Let’s hold hands so we don’t get separated.”
“Oh… okay.”
Her cool hand gripped mine.
Despite the solid feel of her hand, my vision remained blurred.
After we finished walking through the field, I should take a rest.
Holding her hand, we walked along the path through the field.
Matching our steps with the slow-moving line of people.
What I saw was a cloudless navy blue sky.
Bright yellow petals.
Pale green leaves and stems.
The backs of the people ahead.
The dark shadows cast by the strong sunlight.
“It’s beautiful.”
Among the murmuring and cicada cries, I heard her faint voice.
“Yeah.”
I squeezed her hand, feeling its coolness.
“I’m glad I could see this scenery.”
Her voice pulled my dazed mind back from the heat and the crowded people.
“Yeah.”
Though her cold hand was here, solid and real.
“I’ve always wanted to see this view.”
The person next to me was the one who had been looking forward to this promise.
And yet—
“Thank you so much for today, Kawakami-san.”
—Her smile, which should be radiant, was smeared like paint mixed randomly.
Even if I can’t see her face, I know she’s here.
Saying she committed suicide was a lie.
The urn was just an elaborate prank.
A very tasteless prank, but it can’t be helped.
She must still regret what happened back then.
That’s why she lied about having a daughter…
But no matter how it happened, she came back to me.
So, let’s forget the past and be together forever…
“Kawakami!? Why are you here!?”
Suddenly, a high-pitched voice echoed in my ears.
I turned around to see Mishima, arm-in-arm with a man.
“…”
With a gasp, the grip on my hand tightened.
Her face, smeared with paint, surely had an anxious expression.
“And why are you with that girl!?”
The high-pitched voice grew louder.
“I can’t believe it! I warned you so many times in my messages, and you’re still letting her cling to you!”
“…”
The grip on my hand grew even stronger, and her face turned downward.
…It seems she’s had to endure a lot of unpleasantness when I wasn’t around.
I should have paid more attention back then.
“You need to stop playing the tragic heroine and consider Kawakami’s feelings!”
“…”
Her shoulders trembled slightly at the grating yelling.
“Don’t worry.”
“Kawakami-san.”
I patted her head, and she looked up.
“It’s just baseless accusations. Let’s ignore her and move on.”
“But… if we do, your relationship with Mishima-san…”
“Haha, don’t worry about that.”
Because…
“As long as I have Mayuko, that’s all I need.”
“…!?”
Her face was still smeared, but why?
Why can I clearly see the frightened expression?
“Uh… Kawa… kami-sa… san? What are you saying…”
I won’t let her feel sad ever again.
I won’t hand her over to anyone who won’t cherish her.
I won’t let her commit suicide again.
So…
“…You don’t have to make that face anymore. It’s okay now, Mayuko.”
As I touched her cold cheek, the scenery around us turned into a mess of random colors.
“Kawakami-san…”
Amidst the chaotic view, only Mayuko’s formal voice reached my ears.