Chapter 33: Invitation
#22MotoKanoInvitation
On a night path, where more people than usual walked, I was walking with Tachibana-san.
At first, I felt guilty about having dinner together, but lately, it has become so natural, like a form of mind control gradually erasing my guilt.
“What’s for dinner tonight?”
“Stew.”
Wearing a down jacket and wrapping a thick scarf around her neck, the breath Tachibana-san exhaled was pure white.
Dinner at Tachibana-san’s house was usually Japanese cuisine, but perhaps because it was Christmas, tonight’s meal was Western-style.
“I see. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Mm.”
“Sorry for making you come out to pick me up in this cold.”
“It’s fine.”
“Are your parents home today?”
Even though I had dinner at her house almost every week, I had never met her parents. Every day, they would come home late from work.
To be honest, the thought of meeting them as their daughter’s male friend made my stomach churn, but considering how much I had been taken care of, not expressing my gratitude in person felt rude. That’s why, lately, I’ve been asking this question every time.
“No, they’re still at work.”
“I see.”
Even on Christmas, they were truly busy people.
As I thought about it, I remembered that I, too, once spent my Christmases buried in work, and I let out a dry chuckle.
When I worked at a small factory, a typical small business, it was practically a black company. I spent my days constantly busy.
But I didn’t exactly hate those times. The feeling of progressing through my work was motivating, and even if I went home early, I had nothing to do. A bit of busyness suited me just fine.
“Do you really want to meet my parents that much?”
“Yeah. I’d at least like to thank them. You’ve been taking care of me in so many ways.”
“I see.”
Tachibana-san pulled up her thick scarf, hiding her cheeks.
“Are you cold?”
“Not really.”
She turned away. If she didn’t want to talk about it, I didn’t need to push further.
We walked in silence, leaving the cluster of buildings behind as the scenery transitioned into a residential area. Her house was close now.
“Do you really think I take care of you that much?”
“Huh?”
She asked with an absurd delay, catching me off guard.
When I hurriedly turned to look at her, I saw her staring at me intensely—only for her to quickly avert her gaze the moment our eyes met. Girls her age had such complicated emotions that were hard to understand.
“Yeah, I do think so.”
There was no doubt that I felt indebted to her.
“Thank you.”
As she spoke those words of gratitude,
“Then, I have a request.”
Tachibana-san said something rare.
A request.
When was the last time she relied on me like this?
Probably when she wanted to help Yuka-chan overcome her picky eating habits. Since then, she had been the one helping me with my problems. Even the part-time job was part of that.
Well, it didn’t really matter when the last time was.
“What is it?”
After all the help she had given me, there was no way I could refuse her request.
Though she had said she had a request, she didn’t answer right away.
She pulled her scarf up so high it nearly covered her eyes, her gaze darting around nervously.
“Is it about Yuka-chan again?”
At my question, Tachibana-san shook her head.
“Then, is it about school?”
Studying… No, she was better at that than me. Maybe something about friendships?
Tachibana-san shook her head again.
Then what exactly was bothering her?
Out of guesses, I fell silent.
“For the first three days of the New Year, my parents will finally be off work.”
Once Christmas was over, New Year’s break would come right away.
I see. I, too, would be off work during that time.
“I see. Then maybe I’ll stop by to say a quick New Year’s greeting.”
“No.”
“Huh?”
“You don’t have to come.”
I hadn’t expected such a direct rejection. I looked at her in confusion.
“Let’s go to the Hatsumode together.”
“The Hatsumode?”
“Yeah. That day, my parents will take care of Yuka.”
With a look of determination, Tachibana-san locked eyes with me.
“So… just the two of us, let’s go to the Hatsumode together.”
When I heard her request, I instinctively assumed it was another problem she needed help with.
But then I realized—requests weren’t always about solving problems. It was such a simple thing, yet I had completely overlooked it until now.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
There was no reason to refuse.
In fact, it had been a long time since I had gone to the Hatsumode with someone… and I found myself looking forward to it.
“Mm.”
With her face hidden behind her scarf, Tachibana-san quickened her pace.
It was as if something good had happened—she swung her arms more energetically than usual as she walked.
Finding her adorable, I smiled as I quickened my own pace to keep up with her.