Chapter 58 Encounter with Airi

Encounter with Airi

My encounter with Mitsukasa Airi was really a trivial incident.

In high school, I wasn’t as polished as I am now, and I was more of a nondescript, simple guy.

I had no friends and spent my days in a gloomy existence, just passing the time with no purpose.

I had given up on the idea that my future life would be any different until one day….

“Eh? What’s wrong?”

On my way to high school, I saw someone panicking right in front of me.

She was a girl with long black hair in pigtails.

For some reason, I couldn’t help but think that she looked like me.

Since we were wearing the same school uniform, I couldn’t just leave her alone, so I called her out.

“Eh…? Oh, um….”

But maybe she was shy, or maybe she was surprised to be spoken to by a stranger; she stammered nervously.

Well, if a gloomy guy like me suddenly spoke to her, that would be a normal reaction.

“Oh, um… I’m a first-year student at Kashiwa High School, and you’re in the same school, right?”

“Oh, yes. That’s right. I’m a first-year student too.”

So she went to the same high school. And she was also a first-year student.

Thanks to that, her suspicious expression seemed to soften a little.

“I see. I noticed that you looked like you were in trouble, so I called out to you.”

“Yes, yes… I am in trouble.”

When I told her bluntly why I had called her, she nodded vigorously in response.

I was glad because if I had been wrong, I would have died of embarrassment.

“If you don’t mind, can you tell me what’s going on? Maybe I can help.”

“But… suddenly talking to a stranger… And besides, it would be a nuisance.”

It was a natural reaction, but I expected it.

“Let me introduce myself. I’m Makoto Uchida. And you?”

“Eh? Uh, um… My name is Mitsukasa Airi.”

“Okay, I see. Mitsukasa-san, we’re not strangers anymore, are we?”

“Eh?”

“We just became acquaintances. So I think it's okay to talk. Oh, and it’s okay if you don’t want to talk.”

I know from novels and psychological tests that it’s hard to say no to something like that.

It might be a bit cowardly, but I couldn’t just leave someone in trouble.

When I said this, Mitsukasa-san looked at me blankly for a moment before letting out a small chuckle.

“Fu, fufu… What is that? And besides, it’s a bit forceful, isn’t it?”

“Eh? Don’t girls like it when guys are forceful?”

“That’s different… I mean, hahaha!”

I told her honestly, but for some reason, she laughed.

It was very unintentional, but it seemed like her guard was down quite a bit.

…Anyway, her laughter is cute.

I can’t see her face because her bangs are so long, but I’m sure she’s cute too.

Then why is she dressed like that?

“Okay, I’ll tell you. I think I lost my favorite keychain.”

“I see, so you were looking for something you had lost. No wonder you were acting so suspicious.”

“Eh?! Was I really that suspicious?!”

“Well, for a moment I thought it might be better not to talk to you.”

“That’s mean! … Pfft, hahaha!”

“Hahaha!”

I wonder why, but I feel very calm when I talk to her.

It feels like it’s been a long time since I laughed so heartedly.

“Okay! I’ll help you find it too!”

“Eh…? B-but that’s not necessary! I mean….”

“We’re friends now, right? So don’t be shy.”

“Fri… ends…”

“Yes, friends! Let me help you find it. By the way, what kind of keychain is that?”

“A cat keychain.”

“Okay, I got it. Let’s look for it together.”

“Tha…nk you….”

She thanked me in a choked voice, which made me a little embarrassed, but we started looking together.

It must be very important to her.

After about ten minutes of searching, we still couldn’t find it.

“No good; I can’t find it anywhere. Maybe it’s been turned in to the police station….”

“Yeah, maybe….”

I’ll never forget the look of despair on her face at that moment.

So I decided to get involved again.

“Oh, sorry! I think I left something at home, so go ahead!”

“Eh? Wait a minute!”

I shook off her protests and ran down the school path.

Of course, I wasn’t going home. I was going to the police station to see if anyone had turned in a lost keychain.

I ran to the police station and asked the officer if anyone had turned in a lost key chain.

And it was found without a problem.

It was a slightly old keychain of a cat character.

But the fact that it was spotless showed that she had taken very good care of it.

I thanked the officer and immediately went to the high school to find her and give it to her.

“Thank you… Thank you so much.”

I’ll never forget her smile at that moment.

Why did I forget her until now?

If I hadn’t found that key chain, I probably wouldn’t have become such a good friend to her.