Chapter 21
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A little while ago, I finally mustered up the courage to face Mayuko and sent an email saying I wanted to meet and talk.
Her reply came quickly, and we agreed to meet on the upcoming holiday.
So now, here we are, sitting at a terrace table surrounded by sunflowers, reminiscing about old times.
“What!? So, all that stuff Mishima said back then was total nonsense!?”
Across the table, Mayuko’s eyes widened in surprise as she leaned forward over her cake set.
“Yeah. I had no idea things had turned out that way… Sorry I didn’t notice.”
“It’s not something you need to apologize for, Hikaru. I mean, I believed her without question too.”
“But it’s true that I was busy with my part-time job and couldn’t spend much time with you back then…”
“That did make me feel a little lonely… no, actually, quite lonely.”
Mayuko puffed her cheeks exaggeratedly and turned her head away.
Even though we’re both older now, seeing her act like this makes me feel like we’re back in those days.
“Hikaru, were you just daydreaming?”
“N-No! Not at all! I was just thinking about making it up to you somehow, even now.”
“Really? Then maybe you could pay for this.”
“Of course, I’d be happy to.”
“And maybe buy everything in the cake shop window for me too.”
“Hey, don’t push it!”
“Hehe, sorry.”
Even though we’ve grown older, her smile is still as charming as ever.
Truly…
“Is there something on my face?”
“No, it’s just… It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you smile, that’s all.”
“I see… Yeah, my daughter’s already in high school… It’s been over seventeen years since we last saw each other.”
Suddenly, Mayuko’s expression clouded.
“And the last time we talked, it wasn’t a situation to smile about…”
“Yeah…”
“You’re still angry about what happened with the teacher, right?”
“Well… I have to admit, I was worried that seeing you again might bring back my anger.”
“I understand…”
“But actually, when I saw your face, I didn’t feel any anger at all.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Instead, I felt incredibly relieved. I thought I’d never get to see you again.”
“Oh, Hikaru, you’re exaggerating.”
Her face, which still had a youthful look, softened into a gentle smile.
…Yes.
This was all just an exaggerated worry.
“But honestly, things were pretty bad for me right before I got your message asking to meet.”
“Bad?”
“Yeah. You can probably guess, but… The teacher’s parents really hated me. Not just me, but my daughter too. They were constantly scolding us over the smallest things.”
“…”
I need to react with surprise.
This is the first time I’m hearing this story.
“At first, I thought about leaving with my daughter. But I couldn’t do anything on my own, and I’d been disowned by my parents… I didn’t want to put her through hardship.”
“…”
“So I stayed in that house, even though it was tough. Even when she worried about me, I’d tell her, ‘It’s okay, I’m doing this for you.’”
“…”
“But she’s in high school now. Recently, when I said that to her, she replied, ‘You’re just using me as an excuse to avoid trying to escape!’”
“…Sounds like it was hard.”
Sounds like… What am I saying?
I’m hearing this for the first time.
“Yeah, when she said that, it felt like the ground was falling away beneath me. I thought, ‘Oh, I’ve been the one hurting her the most.’ And then I just felt like nothing mattered anymore.”
“…So that’s why you did what you did.”
What did I mean by “that”?
Why is my voice trembling?
Mayuko is right here in front of me, isn’t she?
“Yeah. But I didn’t want to be buried with those people, so I left Tsubaki with a request. To take me to you, Hikaru.”
No.
I sent the email before it came to that.
I said I wanted to meet.
So, nothing like that has happened.
“I was so in love with you that when I thought you’d rejected me, I became reckless. And I thought, maybe, after this, we could at least be together.”
I’m not mad at you.
And what do you mean by “after this”?
“And I thought maybe you could help Tsubaki, too. It was a bit calculating of me.”
If that’s what you wanted, I don’t mind at all.
I’d even prepare for the three of us to live together.
“I really loved you, Hikaru.”
I love you too.
My voice catches in my throat, unable to express it.
The scenery blurs.
Noise echoes from the surroundings.
“It’s okay. I might look a bit different now, but I’ll always be by your side from now on.”
Don’t give me such empty reassurances.
“…Please take care of Tsubaki.”
Hey, please—
“Goodbye, Hikaru.”
“—Don’t… go…?”
Before I knew it, the terrace seat surrounded by sunflowers and Mayuko’s smile had disappeared.
Instead, I saw a blurred fluorescent light and a white ceiling.
And there was a faint smell of chemicals.
Where… am I?
“Ah, you’re finally awake.”
“…!”
At the familiar voice, my body jumped reflexively.
When I turned my head, I saw—
“You!? Why are you here… Ouch!?”
“Hey, you need to stay calm. Even if you’re not in mortal danger, you’re still injured.”
“…Shut up.”
“Honestly, Kawakami. You haven’t changed a bit, even towards your old teacher.”
Standing with a smug smile against the backdrop of a white curtain was none other than Yoshikawa.