Chapter 6 I Did Nothing

I Did Nothing

After speaking, Aoi-senpai looked sad.

“It’s boring, right? I was just burdened with expectations and ended up broken. I’m weak. It hurts to be weak. To begin with, I’ve never had the ability to live up to expectations.”

“… yes.”

I muttered to myself again.

The sound of the waves was unusually loud.

“… I thought I was great, but…”

“I see…

You know, Senpai. I can’t even live up to anyone’s expectations. I was never even asked to live up to expectations. But Aoi-senpai always lives up to expectations. That’s great.”

“But, but! Me!!!”

She turned her head to me in frustration.

She was dignified and kind to everyone and had always been a role model for the students, but now Aoi-senpai’s pride was about to crumble.

I can’t find any good words. But since I couldn’t think of any, I’ll at least use my own.

“Indeed, Aoi-senpai may not have been able to continue to live up to expectations. However, the effort that Aoi-senpai made to continue to live up to expectations is irreplaceable. I don’t think it was talent. Besides, the weak and imperfect Aoi-senpai who is still desperately trying to survive is also Aoi-senpai.”

“Ah, ah, ugh…”

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Yes, that’s right. I, I’m … I’m not a genius. I have no talent. Everything, everything is just my hard work. …”

Sobbing, but sure this time, she let out what was in her heart into the wide ocean.

“It was nice to hear the compliments. And to be able to live up to expectations. But, but I’m… I’m weak. I’m weak and not perfect. I wanted them to know that! I wanted to be me.”

With a face streaked with tears and a runny nose, she continues to reveal her feelings. She kept her feelings in her heart for years and never opened them until now.

“I, Aoi, am not strong. I am not perfect. I am not a genius. I am just an ordinary person, an ordinary girl! That’s all, that’s all I am!”

She wiped her tears with her sleeve and finally laughed, still messy with tears and a runny nose, but with a happy feeling.

After a few minutes had passed, when Aoi-senpai’s feelings had calmed down, she looked at me shyly.

“Hey, hey. Hiiragi-kun.”

“Yes?”

“This is … Can you forget it?”

Aoi-senpai turned her eyes to the sea.

“It’s okay. I wasn’t listening. Aoi-senpai was just venting her feelings to the ocean.”

“Ah, I see. Yes, that’s right.”

She smiled shyly and stood up.

“Thank you. Hiiragi-kun.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Still, thanks. I’m glad you’re here.”

“I see…”

I’m glad you’re here, huh?

I had never heard anyone say those words before, so I thought about it. Is it okay to think that I helped a little?

“Then it’s time to move on to a place where we can stay for the night.”

“I agree.”

I got up after her and followed her so as not to fall behind.

After that, we looked for a place to stay while researching on our smartphones, but there were no rooms available anywhere, and we were at our wits’ end because we needed to make reservations in advance and didn’t have enough money.

After a few minutes of searching, Aoi-senpai stopped as if she had just had an idea, but her face turned a little red. “But…but Hiiragi-kun, he’ll be fine, right?” She mumbled and started walking again.

I followed her and entered a certain hotel.

Aoi-senpai, who was not used to this, checked in at the reception and got a key for the room. On the way to the room, she walked a little faster, perhaps embarrassed by the voices coming from the other rooms, and I followed suit, walking faster until we arrived at the room.

Neither of us had anything to say about the interior of the room, and Aoi-senpai sat on the large bed looking somewhat uncomfortable.

“Senpai … this place…”

“No need to say more.”

“Is Aoi-senpai okay? You’re with me like this.”

“It’s okay, I think it’s okay. Besides, you’re … No, it’s nothing. You must be tired today, let’s go to bed early.”

“Okay.”

She said this and went to the bathroom, and not long after I heard the sound of the shower.

I didn’t have anything to do, so I took my certification materials out of my bag and looked at them. After a few minutes, she came out of the bathroom and I took her place.

I finished a little earlier than Aoi-senpai, and after drying my hair and brushing my teeth, I talked to her.

“Senpai, I’m going to sleep over there, so please use the bed.”

“No, you can sleep in my bed too.”

“Is that okay?”

“It’s fine. You wouldn’t do anything, would you?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s okay.”

After confirming that, Aoi-senpai turned off the light and I got into bed.

I try to sleep, but I can’t because the bed is different from my usual bed.

“Hey, Hiiragi-kun.”

“Yes?”

“Thanks again for today.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Right, right.”

She let out a breath.

I really didn’t do anything. I don’t do anything. Because no matter what I do, it ends up in vain. Aoi-senpai just solved the problem by herself.

That’s all.

“Hey…Hiiragi-kun. I think I’d like to do some sightseeing tomorrow.”

“Sightseeing?”

I had never been sightseeing before. I went on school trips, but before I knew it, I got separated from the group and didn’t do any real sightseeing. Maybe I went on family trips when I was really young and loved by my parents. But now I’m an outcast.

Recently, for some reason, my parents have started to invite me on family trips, but I refuse so as not to ruin the fun and harmony of the family.

“I understand. Let’s go sightseeing.”

“Ah. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Thank you, Hiiragi-kun.”

After a few minutes of saying this, she began to fall asleep.