I’m updating multiple times today. This is the first one.
“Kousuke, do you remember? The reason why we started talking?” On the way back from the beach.
Masuko says while riding on Mashiro’s back.
I search through my memories and answer.
”…It was right after we entered second year, right? We were supposed to have an exchange meeting.” “That’s right.”
“Well, we didn’t actually end up participating.”
The place was a karaoke place, and Senyuu didn’t participate in the first place.
My childhood friend doesn’t really like singing.
I didn’t like singing either, but I thought it would be rude to turn down the invitation, so I thought about participating at first.
“Yeah. It’s good that she found her key.”
On the way to the karaoke shop that was the venue for the exchange meeting, we found a young boy with a tear-streaked face crouched beside a shrub.
Feeling sorry for him, we approached him and found out that he had dropped his house key on the way home.
Their parents were at work, so they had been looking for the key to get inside the house, but they couldn’t find it and were at a loss.
At that point, I decided to help them look for the key.
Then, Shouko helped me.
“It took us until evening, though.”
I think this is a common occurrence when you lose something, but if you only look on the ground where you think you dropped it, you won’t find it. It’s often the case that the key is hanging on a fence or something high up.
I think a passerby who found the key and felt bad about leaving it there put it there out of kindness, but the owner rarely notices it there.
“I’ve thought about you, Sou, ever since then… You’re a good guy.”
“And I thought Shouko was a nice girl.”
Shouko giggled a little and continued.
“Did you hear what the other kids in the class were saying?”
“Huh? No, I don’t remember.”
“Some of them said things like ‘Poor thing’ or ‘I dropped mine when I was a kid,’ but most of them didn’t even look. Even the ones who reacted changed the subject to something like ‘How much longer until the karaoke?’ or ‘What are we going to sing?’ right after.”
「In this day and age, that might be the normal reaction. People who try to help others out of good intentions can sometimes be treated as suspicious characters.」
To begin with, generations that were raised to ignore strangers who approached them might find it difficult to speak up when they see a child in trouble.
From their perspective, they are the ones who are the “strangers” based on past teachings.
「That’s not it, Souzou. Everyone was just thinking, ‘It’s too troublesome.’ The exchange event was more important because it could determine their future class standing or group affiliation.」 「……」
「But you, Souzou, didn’t hesitate to help. You encouraged the child, saying, ‘You’ll definitely find it,’ and started looking on your knees despite the risk of getting your uniform dirty.」
「……I’m not trying to be a hero, but I can’t just stand by when I see someone struggling right in front of me. Besides, Shouko helped too, didn’t she?」
That’s right, this was also the beginning of how she and I started talking.
“Don’t you remember? I was a bit late. When I said something like I was blaming other class members just now, I wasn’t really any different. I was just hesitating for a moment.” “Hesitating?”
“Yeah. I must have been trying to read the room unconsciously. I didn’t want to break the mood of everyone having fun together. If it was an atmosphere where helping a kid would lighten the mood, there wouldn’t be any need to worry about breaking it.”
“Hmm… Isn’t everyone different? Some people throw themselves into their youth. I don’t expect that from anyone, so I’m just doing what I want…”
I said this not because I was defending a classmate, but because I was uncomfortable being praised for doing what was obvious.
“I think it’s better to be able to be kind to others naturally during your youth.”
That being said, I couldn’t deny it any longer.
”…So, you’ve been talking to me since then?”
Shouko isn’t an “Otaku-friendly Girl” or a “Girl who’s nice to everyone.”
She’s just a girl who liked me after that incident.
“Yeah. I didn’t think you’d be this perverted.” “Uh”
After laughing at my choked-up voice, Shouko continued in a gentle tone.
“But you turned out to be exactly as nice as I thought you were.” “Shouko…”
“Oh, and you have a handkerchief, right?”
“A handkerchief… You mean the one you used to find me?”
It’s assumed that the initial equipment at the time of the transfer was the clothes worn the previous day when returning home.
In addition to the women’s underwear and my innerwear, the handkerchief Shouko borrowed from me that day was also included as evidence.
And by combining “my handkerchief” with “Fenrir’s sense of smell,” Shouko was able to find me on the first day.
「That’s right. I didn’t forget to wash it… I did it on purpose.」 「Huh? What do you mean?」
「I, I was happy that Sohatsu lent it to me… and I thought that if I forgot to bring it back for a day or two, it might give me something to talk about.」
She probably intended to have conversations like, “Sorry, I forgot to bring back the handkerchief I borrowed,” “Oh, that one. It’s fine, anytime is good.”
「Even you, Shouko, thought of something like that.」
「I, I know how hard it is to find an excuse to talk to someone you like…!？」
Shouko said it in a pouting voice, so I hurriedly apologized.
「Yeah, you’re right. I understand.」 「Really?」
It’s nerve-wracking to talk to someone you’re not close to, and it’s hard to overcome the differences in groups and ranks within the class.
Thinking about it, Shouko ignored all those things and came to talk to me.
Thinking about her courage, I felt something well up in my chest.
「I really will. If I get back to Earth, I’ll make an effort to talk to you too.」 「…You promise?」
Her voice was filled with hope. 「Of course. I promise.」
I tried to mimic something that Shouko says sometimes.
“Pfft. Hahaha. That’s good, let’s make it a trend…”
I’m not sure, but since Shouko’s laughing, it’s okay.
Mashiro slowed down, and soon enough, our house came into view.
“Thanks, Mashiro. By the way, when we get home, we’ll build a Fenrir hut.” Mashiro chirped happily.
And then we leaped over the stone wall, arriving at our base.
I waited for him to sit down before getting off with Shouko.
Well, I wonder if the other three have returned.
-------A Request to Readers------- If you found this work even a little
“Fun!” “I want more!” “Write more!!!” please
• Add this to your bookmarks
• Change the ☆☆☆☆☆ button to ★★★★★ under the “Support the author with points” section at the bottom of the page
This will be motivation for future updates!!!!!!! Please!!!!!!!