Chapter 16

──side Natsuki──

I had a dream for the first time in a while.

When Shou-chan’s mom and dad died, he cried endlessly.

I was sad too and cried with him, but I wanted Shou-chan to smile. That’s probably why I said, “I’ll always be by your side.”

After that, I think I always tried to act mature and sisterly so he wouldn’t make fun of me.

In the end, he always teased me saying, “Natsu is such a klutz.”

Scenes from those childhood days flow and fade away.

It’s probably the longing I desire now. A wish to return to that day once more.

Today is a school holiday, and I wanted to watch a bit more, but I remember I have club practice. Although I’m not really in the mood, I think it would be inconvenient to suddenly skip, so I shake my still slightly groggy head to wake myself up.

I wash my face in the bathroom, prepare towels and such to wipe off sweat during practice, and then return to my room to change into my uniform.

After having breakfast and just about to leave the house, my younger sister Hina-chan came downstairs.

「Morning… Hmm? Onee-chan, you have practice today too?」

「Yeah, but just in the morning. Hina-chan, you’re up early today too.」

「I’m still sleepy though… But my friends are coming over today.」

Ahh, that’s right, she had become friends with two new transfer students. I remember her mentioning it.

「Then, maybe you can introduce me to them sometime.」

「Yeah, they’re both nice girls, so I’m sure Onee-chan will get along with them too!」

Still, it’s rare to have transfer students at this time of year. Including Shou-chan and the others, that’s four at once… at once?

「Ahh!!」

「Eh? W-What, Onee-chan? Suddenly shouting.」

Why hadn’t I realized it until now? I had only thought of them as my sister’s friends coming over, but if they’re transfer students, doesn’t that mean…

The image of the two girls who always visit Shou-chan during breaks comes to mind.

「I’ll come home early after practice is over!!」

「Eh? O-Okay.」

Understanding that the two who know the Shou-chan I don’t know are coming, I decided to rush home after today’s practice to talk to them.

「Then, I’m off!!」

「You’re suddenly so energetic… Take care. Do your best.」

Thinking that this might be my chance to join that circle, I headed to school with a slightly lighter step than usual.

──But expectations are often betrayed.

「──That concludes today’s practice. Bow towards the dojo!!」

「Thank you very much!!」

After practice ended, I quickly finished tidying up and changed into my uniform.

Should I buy some snacks or something as a gift on the way home? I think, feeling a bit giddy for the first time in a while.

「Nanami-san. Do you have a moment?」

「Yes?」

I wasn’t expecting to be called by a senpai, so I respond a bit absentmindedly.

「Um, I have something I want to talk about…」

Senpai approaches me with a slight hesitation. It’s rare for a senpai to consult a kouhai. I was curious about what it could be, but since I wanted to go home early today, I gently suggest if tomorrow after school would be okay.

「Just a little bit, could you keep me company for just a little bit?」

But unexpectedly, she persisted. Pressed by senpai’s serious expression, I agree, thinking it’s fine if it’s just a little bit.

At this moment, I would come to regret not being more clear in my refusal. No, perhaps this wasn’t the first time I should have clearly said no…

I wait for senpai to finish getting ready to leave, and while looking at the now empty dojo, I wonder if Shou-chan has quit kendo. I fall into thought.

Originally, I started kendo because he suggested it. It seemed to suit me, and I was achieving results in matches shortly after starting.

Seeing this, Shou-chan said, “Next time, I’ll definitely get better results than Natsu”, but did he know that hearing that made me work even harder?

I was happy that Shou-chan was chasing after me, so I devoted myself to the club activities through middle and high school, but looking at him now, he doesn’t seem interested in joining any club.

If he has lost interest in kendo, then for me too, there’s no longer any meaning in continuing kendo.

The same goes for studying. Whatever the circumstances, if his leg is already healed, while there’s meaning in entering this school where he is, perhaps there’s no longer any need to try so hard.

Thinking this way, I wonder if everything I’ve done so far has been in vain, and I feel a bit sad.

「Sorry to keep you waiting.」

「No, it’s fine.」

Senpai finishes getting ready and comes to me. I found myself thinking pointless things like, what reaction would this senpai have if I suddenly said I was quitting the club?

「The school is going to close the gates soon, so how about we go to a family restaurant for lunch?」

「Um, we’re going to talk, right?」

「Well, well, consider it a treat from me, okay?」

When she puts it that way, I can’t really refuse.

I agree while sighing inwardly.

The place senpai guided me to was in the opposite direction from my house. Hearing this, I worried about getting home late again and considered suggesting another place, but I realized I didn’t know any suitable locations since I rarely made detours, so I had no choice but to follow senpai.

The place senpai took me to was a well-known chain family restaurant a bit away from the school.

「Order anything you like.」

Senpai says, but since there’s nothing in particular I want to eat, I order the daily lunch special and a drink bar.

「Thank you very much. By the way, senpai, about that talk…」

「Well, well, let’s eat first.」

Whether she knows I want to get to the main topic quickly or not, senpai starts eating.

What’s this? Was this person always like this? Feeling a bit puzzled, I also start on the daily lunch special that was brought to me.

After finishing lunch, perhaps finally ready to get to the main topic, senpai begins to speak while sipping her after-meal coffee.

「By the way, Nanami-san. Is it true that you’re dating Amano-kun?」

「Eh…?」

Just when I thought the conversation was starting, it goes to this topic. I sigh.

If that’s what she wanted to talk about, we could have done it right after club activities in the changing room or anywhere else.

「No, I’m not dating him. Regardless of what Amano-kun might think.」

「Ahh, I see. That’s good then.」

「Good? What do you mean?」

I don’t quite grasp what senpai is getting at.

If there’s something good for senpai about me not dating Amano-kun…

「Could it be that, senpai, you…」

「No, no. Even if other girls might, I don’t.」

Senpai laughs and waves her hand. Then what was good about it?

「He does have a good appearance and demeanor, that boy.」

「Well… I guess so.」

Now that Amakake-kun, who transferred with Shou-chan, is getting all the attention, but before that, Amano-kun held that position.

I’ve received some jealous comments from female students in the same grade a few times, but I managed to explain and get them to understand, but even now, there are probably many girls who have feelings for him.

「Ah, I see. You misunderstood because I said it was good that you and Amano-kun aren’t dating. Sorry, sorry.」

「No, I’m sorry for misunderstanding.」

Senpai correctly understands my misunderstanding. Still, I can’t see where this conversation is going.

「You know. You have to be careful with Amano-kun, okay?」

「Eh?」

When I ask what she means, senpai tells me.

「This is about a year ago…」

Apparently, a kouhai who now attends a different high school was dating Amano-kun back then. She was also in the kendo club, so I might have seen her face at past tournaments.

That kouhai was very cheerful and was known for being cute, so she was popular, but after she started dating Amano-kun, her demeanor gradually changed.

「So, I couldn’t just leave my cute kouhai alone, and I went to talk to her directly.」

I was shocked by what I heard next.

Apparently, at the beginning of their relationship, they were a couple everyone envied for being so close, but one day, Amano-kun said he wanted to introduce her to some friends and took her with him.

The friends she was introduced to were not well-mannered by any stretch, and there were men of various ages, clearly not high school students.

「You can probably guess what happened next…」

I could see senpai’s hand holding the coffee cup trembling. She was probably remembering when she first heard the story.

To conclude, that kouhai was assaulted by multiple men. Since then, she developed a distrust of men and only recently returned to school after receiving counseling.

「That’s, that’s a crime!! Then the police should have been…!!」

「Of course, she said she went to them. But they said there was no evidence…」

At that point, senpai falls silent.

「That’s why, Nanami-san. I’m worried about you. What if the same thing happen to you…」

「I see… Thank you.」

Before coming here, I thought she might be someone who doesn’t consider others, but it seems she was warning me out of concern. I thanked senpai, and we talked about club activities and other things for a while.

At some point, I felt a sense of closeness to senpai, and when I told her I might quit the club.

「Then maybe a third-year will become the representative. It would be a shame for me, but if you have other things you want to do, isn’t that good?」

She gave me a response that could be seen as positive. After that, we changed the topic, mixing in stories about past events in the kendo club, and I consulted her about not being able to talk to Shou-chan. In the end, the conclusion was that I should stop worrying too much and just talk to him once.

I hadn’t communicated much with the people in the club before, but I thought I might be able to become friends with this senpai even outside of club activities.

When I casually looked at the clock in the restaurant, it was already close to evening. Although it was much later than planned, the time spent talking with senpai might have had its meaning. When I get home, I’ll properly apologize to Hina-chan. And maybe I’ll try talking to Shou-chan tomorrow. Thinking this, I told senpai it was about time to head home, and we decided to part ways for the day.

I parted ways with senpai in front of the family restaurant and quickly turned on my heels to head home.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t been to this area much before. I wonder if Hina-chan is angry. Thinking such carefree thoughts, I looked at my map app to find the quickest route home and headed towards my house.