Chapter 24 Consolation

Consolation

The next day, despite the storm of emotions churning inside me, I headed to school as usual. It was only after becoming a working adult that I learned how to carry on with my routine, even when my heart felt heavy. Back then, nearly every day was filled with unpleasant experiences. I didn’t want to go to work the next day. Would things be easier if I just disappeared? Thoughts like that were a daily occurrence.

But even during those times, as long as I kept going to work, the things I hated would somehow get resolved one way or another. And more often than not, I’d find myself thinking that maybe my life wasn’t as bad as I had imagined. In the end, I just went along with it and kept living.

Drawing from that past experience, I managed to get through today and arrive at school without incident.

As usual, the morning homeroom session ended, morning classes wrapped up, and lunchtime arrived.

“Hey.”

Just as I was about to head to the cafeteria, I heard a voice call out to me—it was Tachibana-san.

“What’s up?”

“Let’s go to the cafeteria.”

As always, simply and naturally, Tachibana-san extended the invitation.

“Got it.”

Smiling as I agreed, I suddenly recalled that the last time I had lunch with her was on the day she had that encounter with a groper.

When we arrived at the cafeteria, Tachibana-san, who had brought her own lunch, went ahead to secure us a seat while I ordered udon. After picking up my tray, I scanned the room briefly before spotting her.

“Sorry. Did you wait long?”

“Not really.”

As I sat down beside her, Tachibana-san unwrapped her furoshiki and opened her bento.

Following her lead, I picked up my chopsticks and started slurping my udon.

“That’s unusual. You overslept?”

“Yeah, sorry. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

This morning, I had skipped meeting up with Tachibana-san before school. The reason? I overslept.

Since I was the one who had suggested we go to school together, I felt genuinely sorry and apologized.

“It’s fine. I was just relieved it wasn’t because you were feeling unwell.”

“Thanks.”

I was honestly grateful for her concern, so I made sure to express it.

After that, we quietly focused on our meals. The cafeteria was as noisy as ever, filled with the energy of lively students, but strangely enough, the space beside Tachibana-san felt calm and comfortable.

“Thanks for the meal.”

We both put our hands together in gratitude.

“So, what’s the reason you invited me to lunch today?”

Feeling it was about time to get to the point, I asked her directly.

“…This morning, I tried giving Yuka something she hates again. Shiitake mushrooms.”

“Yeah.”

Now that she mentioned it, I finally remembered how, last night, we had been racking our brains over how to help Yuka-chan overcome her picky eating habits. After that, I had asked Kaori for advice, but the conversation had taken an unexpected turn, making me forget all about it.

“I really wanted her to eat it somehow. I kept thinking about what you said last night.”

“…Yeah.”

Remembering how I had essentially given her an impossible task, I found myself at a loss for words.

“Somehow, this morning, she managed to eat the shiitake.”

“…Huh?”

“Yeah?”

“Ah, sorry. I just assumed she wouldn’t be able to, and that you were coming to ask for advice on what to do next.”

Tachibana-san had looked so serious that I had automatically jumped to that conclusion. Then again, she often had a stern expression on her face.

Maybe realizing my thoughts were a little rude, she lightly smacked me on the cheek.

“Sorry.”

I apologized honestly.

“Hmm.”

“But still, what did you say? How did you convince her?”

When I asked that straightforward question, Tachibana-san blushed and lowered her gaze. It seemed like she found it difficult to tell me.

After a brief pause, she finally spoke.

“…I told her that if she ate the shiitake, you would come over again.”

“…Me?”

How did that lead to Yuka-chan actually eating the mushroom?

I tilted my head in confusion.

“Yuka seems to have really taken a liking to you.”

“That’s…”

Was that something I should be happy about?

Honestly, I felt conflicted.

“…Sorry for deciding that on my own. But, for the sake of helping her overcome her dislikes, would you mind coming over more often?”

Looking embarrassed, Tachibana-san rushed through her words.

…To be honest, it wasn’t a bad proposition. She was helping me with my studies, and spending time playing games with Yuka-chan wasn’t unpleasant either.

In fact, considering that my own home had become a little difficult to be in, the idea sounded quite appealing.

That’s what I thought.

And yet, the reason I couldn’t immediately say yes… was because I still hadn’t sorted out the ugly feelings lingering deep inside me.

“…Was it a bother?”

Her faint, almost vanishing voice shook my heart.

“Not at all, far from it.”

Maybe because of that, my voice came out rougher than intended.

After taking a moment to calm myself, I continued.

“…I was just worried that I’d end up imposing on you. That’s all I kept thinking about.”

That was why I couldn’t immediately give an answer.

The thought that someone like me—who still hadn’t come to terms with my own past—would only bring trouble to them, wouldn’t leave my mind.

I slowly looked at Tachibana-san.

I wondered if her feelings had changed. Carefully, I looked at her face to confirm.

Tachibana-san’s eyes were wide with surprise.

She looked at me as if asking, “What on earth are you talking about?”—her gaze was enough to make me feel embarrassed.

“…For a while, I seriously thought about quitting high school.”

“Huh?”

That was an incredibly unexpected statement.

“Every day felt dull. I was an outcast in class, targeted by other girls. There wasn’t a single good thing about it.”

Tachibana-san continued, her voice uncharacteristically passionate.

“But lately, I’ve started thinking… maybe I can stick with it a little longer.”

“…Why?”

“Because of you.”

I couldn’t say anything in response.

“…When I was forced into that extracurricular activity I didn’t want to do, when I had to give a presentation at the ward office, I was so anxious the night before. But then you told me, ‘I’ll be there.’ Honestly, I thought you were trying too hard to sound cool. But strangely, hearing that made me feel at ease. And when the presentation went well, and I realized we had achieved something together, I actually felt… like it wasn’t so bad.”

Back then, I had only said those words to her with a calculated motive. It was nothing to be proud of.

And yet…

“Ever since I met you, things have been getting better. And it’s all thanks to you.”

Yet, Tachibana-san was saying this without realizing the truth.

“So, don’t put yourself down too much.”

No… maybe she did realize it. And still, she chose to tell me those words.

“Let me keep relying on you, okay?”

“…Mm.”

“…And also—”

Suddenly, she flashed a bright smile.

“If something ever happens, make sure to tell me. I’ll help you.”

I had thought I understood her, judging by how she treated Yuka-chan and her general demeanor.

But now, I truly realized—Tachibana-san was someone who naturally looked out for others.

I let out a small, wry smile.

And as I did, it felt like something heavy inside me had finally lifted.

After everything that had happened since last night, the tangled knots in my mind seemed to unravel.

“Tachibana-san, can I come over to study at your place again today?”

“Of course. I already told Yuka you’d be coming. If anything, I’d be in trouble if you didn’t.”

Again, I smiled wryly.

…Thanks to Tachibana-san, I felt like my unsettled heart had finally calmed down.

A lot had happened last night. I had come to hate myself even more, and I had almost been consumed by ugly emotions.

But after going through all of that… and now, thanks to her, I knew exactly what I needed to focus on first.

The first step I had to take.

That was studying.

But not for the usual reason of improving my academic performance.

This time, it was to convince Kaori to let me start a part-time job. To achieve that, I planned to get outstanding grades in the upcoming finals—so good that Kaori would have no choice but to approve.

…There was something Kaori said last night that had been bothering me.

It was her response to my final question—about my current situation.

“Well… who knows?”

That was how she had answered.

She hadn’t said, “I don’t know.” She had deliberately avoided giving a direct response.

And that made me certain.

Kaori knew exactly what had happened to me.

Think about it—

If she truly had no information about a man she separated from amicably nearly twenty years ago, there would have been no reason to dodge the question. She could have simply said, “I don’t know,” and ended the conversation.

If I had pressed her, asking her to look into it, the easiest way for her to shut it down would have been to claim she had no clue.

But she didn’t do that.

Which meant… Kaori knew my current circumstances.

And they were probably not good.

If she still had knowledge of a man she had peacefully parted ways with two decades ago, the only reason for that would be if something unfortunate had happened.

…Even so, I needed to know.

Because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to move forward.

Otherwise, I would just end up trapped by the same ugly emotions that consumed me last night.

That’s why—I needed to find out the truth about what had happened to me.

“I’ll drill everything into you, so be prepared.”

“No thanks.”

I just hoped she wouldn’t turn into a merciless drill sergeant.