Chapter 23 Can't Cry Now
#Sareta OtokoCan’t Cry Now
End of November.
My afternoon class was canceled that day, so I left school without eating lunch.
I wanted to go home, but since I didn’t have a part-time job that day, I decided to get off at a transfer station and eat something delicious before going home.
As I was walking alone from the gate to the shopping area of the station, someone tapped me lightly on the shoulder from behind.
I turned around in surprise, and it was Eriko-san.
“Chika-chan, long time no see. You look well.”
“Uh, well, that….”
“Oh, sorry, sorry. I got mad at you before, didn’t I? I’m scary, aren’t I?”
“No, it’s not like that….”
“As an apology, let’s go to a cafe, and I’ll treat you to pancakes.”
Eh?
I was surprised to be called out of the blue but also confused by the sudden familiar distance.
But I couldn’t refuse.
Eriko-san must’ve bumped into me by chance, but she must’ve had something to ask me to take the trouble to call me.
It’s about me betraying Taichi, of course.
“Okay. But you don’t have to treat me. I can pay for my own meal.”
“I’m serious, okay? Chika-chan, were you always this stiff?”
“…Stiff”
“Ah, I said too much again. Sorry again! I didn’t mean to make fun of you! I’ll buy you pancakes anyway! Let’s go, let’s go!”
Eriko-san said that and grabbed my arm and started walking as if she were dragging me.
It felt like I was a criminal being led to the execution ground, but even with this exchange, I felt more nostalgic than scared, and I was about to cry.
We entered a cafe on the first floor of the station building.
Apparently, it was famous for its pancakes.
“I always wanted to come here. Chika-chan, what will you have? I think I’ll have the one with fruit and strawberry sauce.”
Thinking about what we were going to talk about, I couldn’t swallow, but as I looked at the pictures on the menu, surrounded by the sweet aroma of the cafe, my desire for sugar overcame me.
“I’ll have the one with marmalade cream and milk tea.”
“Got it. I’ll order.”
“Thank you.”
After the order was placed and the waitress left our table, I started to get nervous.
I had to apologize first.
“Um, about Taichi, I’m so sorry for causing him so much trouble.”
When I bowed my head and said it, Eriko-san stared back at me.
“I regret it and think about it now. I’m still far from perfect, but I try to correct myself every day.”
“I see. I can tell just by looking at you. Your hair, which was so beautiful, is now much shorter, and your clothes have become much more modest.”
“Yes.”
“You look like someone who is about to enter a nunnery.”
“If he would forgive me, I would go without hesitation. But I’m at the university now.”
“That’s true. To be honest, I don’t really care if you regretted what you did to Taichi and changed your ways, or if you just became a bad person. It’s none of my business….”
“Yes….”
“But you’ve been bringing Taichi food every month, right? I just wanted to thank you for that.”
“Yes.”
“I thank you every month. But I’m sorry, I didn’t tell Taichi it was from you. If I told him it was from you, he might get angry and refuse to accept it because that’s how he is. So we talked about it with my family and decided to give it to him without telling him it was from you.”
“I heard a little bit from Auntie. I was prepared for it to be thrown out, but I’m glad you guys didn’t tell Taichi.”
“Oh, we would never throw it out. In our family, if you waste food, you get a beating. We went through a lot during the earthquake, right?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Every time Taichi gets the food, he always sends a note saying, ‘Thanks a lot!’ But since we weren’t the ones who bought it, my mom always replied, ‘Eat it carefully!’ It’s funny, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s very… very happy.”
No good.
I’m about to cry before we even get to the main topic.
I’m so happy to hear something about Taichi’s current situation.
And also that the food I sent him is useful.
I couldn’t cry before we even started talking, so I looked up at the ceiling and bit my lower lip hard to hold back the tears.