Chapter 22: Reunion with Shuu, Realizing My Feelings (Eri, Vocational School)
Reunion with Shuu, Realizing My Feelings (Eri, Vocational School)
The day of the coming-of-age ceremony had finally arrived.
I didn’t attend the ceremony, choosing instead to spend the day alone with Kohaku-san.
I was afraid of seeing Shuu, yet I still wanted to see him, and Kohaku-san stayed by my side, gently encouraging me.
“You don’t need to be so nervous. I’m sure Kuroda-kun wants to talk with you too, Eri-chan.”
I knew that what I was doing would end up hurting Touya-kun.
But for my… for our future, I couldn’t just keep standing still forever.
“…Yeah.”
And then…
“…How have you been?”
“…Yeah.”
It had been a long time since I last saw Shuu.
Two years had passed, and we were both twenty now.
Maybe because he was working at his father’s construction company, his body had filled out, his hair was blond, and his skin was tanned. He had changed a little.
But when Shuu sat beside me, it felt as if I had slipped right back into those days.
“What about school?”
“…It’s winter break now, and Kohaku-san insisted I come, so… I came back.”
“I see… So, how’s school?”
“…Yeah… it’s fun.”
School really was fun. After I started going out with Touya-kun, it became even more fun. But I couldn’t tell that to Shuu.
As we chatted about our lives and reminisced about high school, Obatake-kun suddenly stood up.
“Everyone! Actually, we have an announcement to make today! The truth is, we’re… getting married!”
Everyone looked shocked, but since Yae-chan and I had already heard beforehand, I couldn’t help sneaking a glance at Shuu’s profile, curious about how he would react.
“…Riki, Kohaku-san, congratulations! You really surprised me.”
“Thanks, Shuuji!”
Shuu congratulated them as the two smiled happily.
Watching that, I clapped along too, when suddenly Shuu’s gaze fixed on me.
Afterward, Kohaku-san and Obatake-kun drank and chatted cheerfully, but I didn’t feel much like drinking.
I didn’t want to end up making excuses later by saying I had been drinking when I talked seriously with Shuu.
“…Eri, do you want melon soda?”
He had noticed right away that the glass of oolong tea I’d been drinking earlier was empty.
Ah… that’s right…
“Eri, you always want melon soda, right!”
“Hehe, you know me well! You’ll get it for me?”
“Yeah, leave it to me! I’ll even mix in some cola for you!”
“Shuu! Don’t do anything weird, okay!”
We used to go on dates at a family restaurant with a drink bar all the time.
I always ordered melon soda, and we’d sit there for ages, chatting about nothing in particular.
“Yeah, then I’ll have you order it for me.”
“Sure, leave it to me.”
Shuu…
“Look, you haven’t eaten much, have you?”
He casually served me food he thought I’d like.
“Here, tissues.”
The tissue I was just about to reach for, Shuu handed to me first… Ah, how does he always know? That’s just the way Shuu is.
When Obatake-kun drank too much, the marriage announcement gathering came to a close.
As we all said our goodbyes, Kohaku-san and Yae-chan exchanged glances with me.
I was sure they were trying to give us the chance to talk alone.
After parting with everyone, Shuu and I were left on our own. As I wondered how I should begin,
“…Eri, where are you staying tonight?”
“…I’m going back to my parents’ house. It’s been a while since I came back here.”
Unlike back then, we walked with a little distance between us.
Seeing Shuu trying his best to keep the conversation going so it wouldn’t fall silent, I realized it couldn’t go on like this.
“…Shuu, I want to talk a bit more. How about we go to one more place?”
I gathered my courage and said it.
Shuu looked momentarily startled, then nodded.
We went to a relaxed izakaya with private rooms, ordered soft drinks and light snacks, and began to talk.
By that point, maybe my feelings had already been decided.
The scale in my heart that had been swaying all this time tipped heavily the moment I reunited with Shuu.
“…Shuu, have you gotten used to your job?
“Yeah, pretty much. I’ve been helping out since before, after all.”
Maybe it wasn’t something I should ask, but what Kohaku-san had said kept bothering me, and finally I…
“I see… And right now, is there anyone you’re dating, or someone you’re interested in?”
I had asked it.
“No, there’s no one… I’d like to say it’s because I’m too busy with work, but…”
As he said that, Shuu looked a little troubled.
It was as if he had something he wanted to say but couldn’t. Yet I could still understand him. I knew I had to be honest about my own feelings too.
“Eri… I’m sorry for back then. I don’t think I can be forgiven, but I had to apologize. Ever since those days, I’ve always wanted to apologize for what I did.”
“…Shuu.”
I should be apologizing too.
“Haha… I’m a terrible guy, huh? Leaving you there crying at the end… Forget about a guy like me…”
Forget? Something like that…
“I… could never forget, no matter how badly you dumped me! I could never… forget about you, Shuu! Because… you were crying, Shuu! You couldn’t even say ‘goodbye’! …I’m the one who should be sorry… for making you suffer… Uuuh… Shuu…”
The feelings I had sealed away, distracting myself from, came pouring out all at once.
My guilt toward both Shuu and Touya-kun, and my own weakness for always running away, made my tears unstoppable.
“…Sniff… But after seeing you again today, I realized… it has to be you, Shuu! That’s why…”
“Eri… I’m sorry! …I’m really, really sorry.”
When I laid bare the feelings I had always wanted to say, Shuu pulled me into his arms.
His big, rough body, his scent, his warmth… It made me realize, even now, that this was where I truly belonged.
Touya-kun… I’m sorry… I really…
“Uwaaaaah! Shuuuuuu…”
And so, the time that had been frozen between us began to move again.