Chapter 43 Warm Hands

Warm Hands

“Shuu-senpai, Aoi-senpai. Thank you so much. It looks like things will be sorted out soon.”

I’m currently in the living room of Shinomiya-san’s house.

She said that to me and Aoi-senpai with a smile. By “sorted out” I guess she means her bullying problem.

According to the details of the story, it seems that all of Shinomiya-san’s bullies were expelled from school. I don’t know the details, but it seems that with the help of her parents and Aoi-senpai, they got what they deserved.

It seems that Shinomiya-san’s parents are going to hunt down the main culprit, a student named Amane Kazusa, even more thoroughly, and they have proof of the bully and other evidence. If that happens, I think Amane Kazusa’s history will be damaged and her future life will be bleak. The teachers who turn a blind eye will also all be forced to quit teaching. …

“To be honest, I still don’t know whether my decision was good or bad. But, this whole mess made me realize that I didn’t have the courage to ask my parents for help, nor did I have the courage to stand up to them when I was being bullied. I’m a wuss…”

“I see. But even though that’s your weakness, I think it’s also a strength. I think it’s because Saya is probably kinder than anyone else.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes, of course.”

Aoi-senpai looked into Shinomiya-san’s eyes and said something like that. The atmosphere of the place is more accurately described as shimmering rather than cheerful. …

“Hi, everyone. I brought tea and snacks, please have some…”

““Thank you.””

“Wow, I’m so happy to have a new son and daughter. Please take care of Saya from now on.”

Perhaps sensing the mood, Sachi-san, Shinomiya-san’s mother, said this in a cheerful voice.

“Of course, I want to be friends with Saya, too.”

“If it’s okay with me…”

“Come to think of it, I don’t know anything about Saya’s hobbies and interests, even though I’ve become friends with her.”

Aoi-senpai said as she opened the bag of tea cakes Sachi-san brought and took a bite.

“My hobbies? …Studying? If I had to say it would be reading. And I don’t play games much.”

“I see. I’m the same with you. I’ve been studying so much that I’ve never had any time to myself. What about you, Hiiragi-kun?”

“Me, huh?”

Hobbies.

I thought about it, but I don’t have anything fancy like hobbies.

I tried to imagine my room, but it was almost empty and monotonous.

My mother, Aika-san, once said this, (Hey, don’t you play games or something, Shuu? I’ll buy as many as you want. If there’s anything else you want, just let me know. I can’t buy you everything, but if Shuu wants something, I’ll buy it.) Although I was told this, I couldn’t think of anything special.

So, I didn’t ask for anything. Because I think such things are a waste of time and money…

“I thought there wasn’t any.”

“I see. The students around me seem to be playing the new smartphone games and other things, but I don’t think it suits me. I would like to find a new hobby, but I don’t know where to start.”

“Well, I guess…”

I thought about it, but there was no way I could come up with a decent idea. I have never lived a normal life. I’m not normal after all.

“It’s okay for now. We’re not in a hurry, so let’s take our time and find a hobby that suits us.”

“Hmm, senpais, the only thing I can think of is that my hobby now is talking to you two like this.”

“Pfft, yeah, right. If you count that as a hobby, then I guess I do, too.”

If that’s the case, then I am too?

Me and Aoi-senpai are friends, so are Shinomiya-san and I friends? If so, then my hobby, as they say, must be talking to them.

But I don’t have much to say to them, and my lack of conversation skills causes them a lot of trouble.

If that is the case, is my hobby causing them trouble? To what extent should I bother people? …

After that, it was time to listen to their conversation and drink the tea Sachi-san gave me.

“Well then, we’ll go with this.”

“Ah, I see. I have to go to school soon too, so please wait for me.”

“Okay. I’m looking forward to it. See you later, Saya.”

“Sorry for interrupting …”

After bowing, we left Shinomiya-san’s house.

The next morning, for some reason, going to school with Yoka has become my daily routine, but going home with Aoi-senpai has also somehow become my daily routine as well.

“Hiiragi-kun, I wish we could walk home together like this for longer. Why was I born a year before Hiiragi-kun? That’s the only thing I regret these days.”

“I see.”

“Ahhh… If I had been born a year later, I could have enjoyed high school life with Hiiragi-kun and Saya a little longer. I’m really unlucky.”

She exhaled a little white breath. It was getting colder and colder…

It seemed that Aoi-senpai was going to pass the position of student council president on to the next person.

She told me the other day that even though it was customary for a sophomore to become president, she had no choice but to become president because of her unusual popularity among the students and the encouragement of the students around her…

“I wonder what would have happened if Aoi-senpai had been in the same grade.”

“What would that have been like? I can’t really imagine. But I’m definitely sure that we’ll meet and become like this, albeit in different ways. No, it was destined to happen. I’m sure we’ll meet no matter how many times we repeat it.”

“Is that so?”

Aoi-senpai said that, not in her usual calm manner, but with a bit of excitement.

Will it? I imagine Aoi-senpai and I meeting like this and becoming friends.

At times like this, I’m the one who can’t think of anything, but for some reason, the only thing that comes to my mind is Aoi-senpai smiling at me.

I don’t know why such a scene came to mind, but it was probably because of the strong impression I had at that time. Or maybe, as Aoi-senpai said, it’s destiny to become friends with someone like me.

“Is it okay for me to be your friend? Am I the right person to be your friend? Is it that kind of destiny?”

“Definitely, rather I don’t want it if it’s not you. I’ll be your friend no matter how many times I repeat it. No matter how many times.”

She held my hand, looked into my eyes, and smiled.

Aoi-senpai started to walk with her hand still in mine and I followed her.

I followed her hand until we parted on our way home.

Aoi’s PoV

I’ve been a little too aggressive, I think to myself, and the slightly cool air cools my head.

I stare at my hands, opening and closing them pointlessly, feeling the warmth of Hiiragi-kun’s that was there just a moment ago.

Was that too much? I wondered if I was disturbing Hiiragi-kun. I thought I was being careful, but for a moment, I couldn’t control my feelings.

I would be careful next time, but there is also a part of me that thinks it would be nice if I could connect with him again.

It seems that love makes people very sick.

My head doesn’t work calmly, and sometimes it gets hot like it’s boiling.

“Let’s go home.”

I went home and remembered how warm Hiiragi-kun’s hand felt on mine.