A Story About a Girl Who Took Life for Granted and Fell in Love With a Kind and Introverted Boy - Chapter 17.1

“…Huh, was it around here?”

I stopped on a certain school route, wiping the sweat from my forehead with my hand.

I was waiting for Kenji.

Last time, I ran into him around here, so this was probably on his way home.

(If I wait here, he should come eventually…)

After waiting for 20 minutes with such hope, I finally spotted Kenji walking with his head down, just like last time.

“Kenji!”

When I called out to him, he looked my way.

“Hey, Miyuki.”

His expression changed from a dark frown to a gentle smile directed at me, which made me happy and caused my cheeks to soften as well.

“What a coincidence, Kenji. We meet here again today.”

“Yeah, it really is.”

“Is your house around here?”

“Yeah, I think it’s about a 15-minute walk from here.”

I naturally walked beside Kenji.

“Um, Miyuki.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for the other day…Because of you, I feel a bit better.”

“Oh, it was nothing. If there’s anything I can do for you, just let me know.”

“Yeah, thank you.”

Saying that, he smiled gently.

…For a while, I had a light conversation with Kenji.

“By the way, it seems DARK BLUE has finally been completed. I haven’t read it yet, but how about you, Miyuki?”

“Yeah, I haven’t been able to read it at all because of my exams…”

“Oh, right, Miyuki, you’re in your third year of middle school. It must be tough until the exams are over.”

“Yeah, I have so many manga and anime I want to watch, and I feel like I might accidentally dive into them…”

“Ha ha, I understand that feeling well.”

Kenji’s voice is neither too high nor too low; it’s very pleasant to hear.

His beautiful way of speaking makes me want to listen to him forever.

“You’re quite fascinating, Kenji.”

“Huh?”

“Your way of speaking is really beautiful. It feels so elegant and cool. You don’t seem like a high school student at all.”

“N-no, not at all…I’m flattered.”

“How come you can speak so elegantly? Was your family strict?”

“No, I just really like novels, so I admire the way they talk in them.”

“Like a novel…”

“I’ve loved a story called Night on the Galactic Railroad since I was little and have read it many times. I have read it so much that the book became worn out. I memorized the lines and recited them.”

“Wow! I know the summary of Night on the Galactic Railroad, but I haven’t actually read it.”

“If you have the chance, definitely give it a read. I think you’d really enjoy it, Miyuki.”

Kenji looked at me with a childlike gaze.

Night on the Galactic Railroad, huh…I might try to challenge myself to read it during a study break.

“…Well then. I’m going to turn right here, but which way are you going, Miyuki?”

As we reached a T-junction, Kenji asked me this. Since my direction was to the left, which was the opposite of Kenji’s, I told him so.

“I’ll go left.”

“I see. Then this is where we say goodbye.”

“…Yeah.”

Though I felt a pang of regret, there was nothing more I could do, and I was hit by a tight feeling in my chest.

(What should I do? It’s a rare chance, so I should ask to meet again…right here, somehow…)

I couldn’t casually hang out before my exams. But it also scared me to leave Kenji, who had just become single after parting ways with his sister. I didn’t know when another girl might target Kenji.

“…Um, Kenji.”

I moistened my dry lips with my tongue before speaking to Kenji.

“If you don’t mind, could you help me study…?”

“Study?”

“I heard from my sister that you’re really good at studying. If you taught me, I think I could improve my grades.”

“Well, I do work hard on my studies, but…”

“How about it? Would you meet this Saturday at the prefectural library? I’d like you to help me study there.”

“…”

After a brief moment of tense silence, Kenji’s eyes lowered slightly with a look of sadness.

Could it be…that he didn’t want to? Maybe we hadn’t gotten close enough yet.

(What should I do…This is my first real experience with romance, and I don’t really understand how this works…)

As a feeling of anxiety gripped my heart tightly, Kenji looked at me and replied, “Sure.”

“This Saturday, right? I’m free. If it’s okay with you, I’ll help you study.”

“R-really? Thank you!!”

The joy from his acceptance was overwhelming, especially because of all my anxiety. I felt like jumping up right then and there from excitement.

“I’m so glad…! Kenji, you looked a bit gloomy, and I was worried about what I’d do if you didn’t want to.”

Once I relaxed, the feelings I had been holding inside slipped out of my mouth. Upon hearing this, Kenji hurriedly denied, “No, no! It’s not that I dislike it!”

“It’s just…um, well…”

“What’s wrong, Kenji?”

“…I was reminded that I used to study at the prefectural library with Kana.”

“!”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I got lost in my feelings. Please don’t mind me.”

Despite saying that, Kenji’s brows twisted sadly.

“…”

“Sorry, Miyuki. I have to go now.”

“Uh, ah…”

“Let’s meet again on Saturday.”

With that, he turned away and quietly walked down his path home.

I could only watch silently as his figure grew distant.