Chapter 39 The Unity of the Fighters in the Same Hole

The Unity of the Fighters in the Same Hole

“…This is my past. This was such a boring story, but thank you for listening. I feel a little better now…”

This place was Shinomiya-san’s house.

After we were taken to her room, we listened to her story.

As usual, I had no idea how to react…

“Thank you for talking to me, Shinomiya-san.”

“No, I heard about Kudo-senpai’s past too. It’s mutual.”

There was a moment of silence, and then Shinomiya-san began to speak again.

“In the end, no matter how much I studied, the person I am would never change at all, and it was a futile effort. I was too afraid to talk to someone, and I couldn’t even confide in my parents, who were kind to me…”

… Yes, she’s a bit like me.

There was a time when I wanted people to look at me instead of my sister, even just a little. But no matter how hard I worked on my studies, they never acknowledged me. There was a time when my heart was exhausted…

“I don’t think it’s futile.”

“Is it? I hope so.”

“In the end, I too was never recognized for my efforts, and there were people around me who excelled more than I did. Besides, Shinomiya-san can change even now. She is a person who has worked so hard…”

I don’t even know why I said that.

Was it because I didn’t want her to become like me?

“Thank you very much. Hiiragi-senpai. I feel a little better now that you said that.”

“I see.”

“But I still…”

Shinomiya-san wanted to say something but held her tongue.

Her expression was distorted with pain as if she was still unable to take that first step.

“Shinomiya-san…”

At that moment, Aoi-senpai opened her mouth.

“I am, you know. I don’t have the experience of being bullied like Hiiragi-kun and Shinomiya-san, and I can’t say that I understand all of Shinomiya-san’s pain…”

“…yes.”

“But, if everyone was a person who was strong and could take the first step to fight back, then the bullying would be gone. There are 50,000 people who cannot take that first step, and that is why the bullying never goes away. In the end, it’s all just the yapping of people on the outside saying, ‘You should do this’ or ‘You should do that’ and they can only say that because they’ve never been bullied like you…”

“… Yeah, I know.”

“But I was involved with Shinomiya-san, even if it was just for a few days, and I would like to remain friends with her from now on. It may be one-sided, but I consider Shinomiya-san a friend. When I see my friend suffering like this, I can’t leave her alone. I may be interfering, it’s just my ego, but…”

“… Yes?”

Aoi-senpai looks directly into Shinomiya-san’s eyes.

Shinomiya-san was startled by her eyes and tried to avert her gaze, but she looked back into Aoi-senpai’s eyes after closing them tightly.

Aoi-senpai inhaled and exhaled quickly and then slowly let the words sink into her heart in a soft tone of voice,

“Until now, I may have been alone. But now I’m here…we’re here.”

“But I still…”

“It’s okay. Shinomiya-san has already taken that first step. She talks to us like this.”

“Huh!! But, uh, that’s…”

“Sure, it could’ve been just an exchange of secrets with us. But the difference is that we are together now. We cannot share our courage, but we can fight together…”

Aoi-senpai smiled gently.

I have seen that look before. I have seen that look when she was on her knees patting me on the head.

“…Why, I wonder? Why was I able to tell Senpai? And why did I…”

“This is… just speculation, but I guess we are somewhat similar…”

“Similar?”

“Yes, even though our circumstances are a bit different.”

“Yes…senpai might be right.”

Shinomiya-san nodded her head in agreement.

“Hey, Shinomiya-san…”

Saying that Aoi-senpai took Shinomiya-san’s hand.

“Why don’t you stretch your legs a little more? It’ll only take a little further. We’ll cooperate with you…”

“Is that okay? Even though it might cause trouble for Senpai. It’s just my problem.”

“It’s okay, that’s fine. I want to be friends with you from now on. I’m sure there will be times when I’ll cause you trouble, too.”

“Thank you, thank you.”

Tears fell from Shinomiya-san’s eyes.

“Huh? Wha, why? I feel relieved. I thought it had dried up. Haha…”

For the first time, I saw Shinomiya-san smiling like that.

Seeing that, Aoi-senpai also smiled and wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

Then she turned her eyes to me and looked a little embarrassed.

“…Hiiragi-kun, I’m sorry I started talking without your permission…”

“There’s nothing I can help you with, but it’s okay? …”

“It’s okay. I can take a step forward just by having you here. I’m grateful to have you here.”

Aoi-senpai held my hand with her free hand.