A Story About a Girl Who Took Life for Granted and Fell in Love With a Kind and Introverted Boy - Chapter 29.2

Behind her were Fujiyama, who had done the BGM for the play; Nagasaki, the class clown who played Zanelli; and Naito, who played Kaoru, the girl who told the “Scorpion Fire” story.

“…”

In that moment, I realized I felt three different emotions.

First, I was happy that someone was finally visiting Kenji. He had said he didn’t have friends, but here they were, people worried enough to come. It was a relief; not everyone was heartless.

Second, frustration. “Only four people?” Three weeks had passed, yet only four people wanted to visit. Why weren’t there more?

And the third was… the wish that no one would come to see him.

That might sound contradictory, but it’s genuinely how I felt.

“Only me.”

I want to be the only girl who cares about Kenji.

Among the classmates planning to visit him, Yanagihara and Naito, at least two girls, are coming along. It made me a little jealous.

Especially Yanagihara; when Kenji collapsed from heatstroke a while back, she was the health committee girl who was concerned about him. I clearly remember stepping between them, unable to stand seeing her so close to Kenji.

(Thinking how heartless the classmates are who aren’t coming to visit him, while also hoping they’d stay away. Maybe I’m a pretty complicated person…)

Feeling self-disgust, those three conflicting emotions bubbled up within me.

“…Tashiro? Is something wrong?”

Yanagihara, noticing how I looked, asked me with concern.

“…The hospital.”

“Huh?”

“It’s a bit far from school. Will everyone be okay?”

“Yes, of course.”

“…Alright, then let’s go.”

And with that, I led my classmates toward Kenji.

—

From the bus stop in front of the school, a twenty-minute ride brings us to the hospital.

On the way, each of my four classmates reacted differently. Some looked down with serious expressions; others were nervously muttering, “It’s bad if he hasn’t regained consciousness yet.”

I watched the four of them absentmindedly.

“Hey, Tashiro.”

While walking to the hospital after getting off the bus, Nagasaki spoke to me.

“What is it, Nagasaki?”

“So, are you dating Saito?”

“…”

“I mean, there’s been this rumor for a while, you know? That you and Saito are a couple. And you’ve been visiting him every day, right?”

“…”

Without looking at Nagasaki, I kept my gaze straight ahead and answered.

“We’re not dating right now.”

“Right now?”

“But I do like Kenji. That’s certain.”

“…”

My answer left the four of them murmuring amongst themselves.

“Hey, Tashiro,” Naito asked this time.

“So, when you say you’re not dating ‘right now,’ what does that mean? You used to date? Or maybe… you might date in the future?”

“…”

“Oh, sorry. That’s kind of a sensitive…”

“We used to, back then.”

“…”

“But I still like Kenji, even now, which is why I keep visiting him like this.”

“…Wow.”

“Huh?”

“I mean, it’s impressive that you can say you like him so openly. If it were me, I’d be too embarrassed to say anything like that…”

“If I can’t admit to everyone here that I like Kenji, then there’s no way I’d be able to tell him how I feel.”

“…”

“When Kenji wakes up someday, I’ll definitely confess ‘again.’ This time, a real confession.”

“…”

I looked at the four, who had fallen silent at my words, then pointed and said, “Look, there it is,” gesturing toward the hospital.

The five of us, including me, went inside and headed to Room 12, where Kenji was resting.

“Hospitals aren’t very relaxing places, are they?”

Nagasaki mumbled, glancing around the stark white hallway.

“Here it is.”

Standing in front of Room 12, I pointed out the room number to everyone.

“Kenji, good morni…”

As usual, I opened the door to Room 304 and peeked inside.

“…”

At that moment, I saw something unbelievable.

A strange woman was strangling the unconscious Kenji.

Her hair was messy, her clothes wrinkled. She looked around her fifties, old enough to be called an old lady.

This old woman was drenched in tears, glaring at Kenji with a fierce, desperate look beyond words.

“Stop it!”

I shouted immediately. The woman flinched, turning her head toward me.

“What are you doing!? Why are you doing this to Kenji!?”

I rushed toward her, trying desperately to pry her hands from Kenji’s neck.

But the old woman shoved me back, preventing me from pulling her hands away.

“This is the only way! Kenji… Kenji isn’t going to make it! So here and now, I have to end it with my own hands! It’s the only way for him to be happy!”

The old woman’s shout echoed throughout the room.

“I don’t understand! Stop! Get away from Kenji!”

As I struggled with the old woman, the other four joined in to help.

Fujiyama and Nagasaki held the old woman from behind, restraining her.

Meanwhile, Yanagihara and Naito removed her hands from Kenji’s neck, finger by finger, finally prying them off.

“You old hag!”

I slapped her across the face with all my strength. A loud crack echoed in my ears.

“What are you thinking!? Trying to kill Kenji! Who do you think you are? You think you’ll get away with this!?”

As I shouted, I began to cry uncontrollably, my emotions overflowing. I slapped her again.

“I’m calling the police! You deserve the death penalty! Die! Just die, you old witch!”

The old woman glared at me as I gasped for breath.

“…Who are you, anyway?”

“…What?”

“Who are you!? What’s your relationship with Kenji!?”

“…”

Her question left me speechless. Not because I was scared of her, but because I didn’t know how to explain our relationship.

“…Hmph! I don’t have to tell you anything about my relationship with Kenji!”

After thinking it over, I ended up saying nothing.

“And who are you, barging into Kenji’s room!? Who are you!?”

“…I’m…”

“Huh?”

The old woman, trembling all over, answered clearly.

“I’m Kenji’s mother.”