I Hope You’re Still Alive When Tomorrow Comes - 15

Chapter 15: Things She Doesn’t Need

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Sunday afternoon. 

That way, all of my family were all outside doing their own things. I was the only one left at home. I searched through the kitchen but I couldn’t find anything suitable for lunch. So I gingerly put on a hoodie over my loungewear and headed to the nearby convenience store. 

“Oh? If it isn’t Tsuchiya-kun. What a coincidence!”

There, on my way to the convenience store, I met Kiho. 

“….This is definitely not a mere ‘coincidence’, right?”

This encounter was definitely not a ‘coincidence’. Not when it was Kiho we were talking about. I was amazed she could use the word ‘coincidence’ so shamelessly like that.

I frowned and turned my back to talk with Kiho properly and there, I saw she was wearing a white knit sweater with gray shorts. Her hair was curled for the first time in a while. Her hair looked really fluffy now. Her makeup seemed more detailed than the one I saw at school. She looked more dolled up today.

“This is really just a coincidence. I’m here to buy lunch. Are you out for the same reason too, Tsuchiya-kun?”

“…Sort of.”

“Wow, what a coincidence! Since we’re both here, let’s go have lunch together!”

“I don’t want to.”

I cut her abruptly without any hesitation and returned my attention back to the shelves. 

“I’m in my convenience store clothes.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I’m dressed in clothes for going to the convenience store.”

I wasn’t definitely dressed for eating out. I was still in my loungewear. 

“It’s okay. You don’t look weird or anything, Tsuchiya-kun. I don’t mind it at all.”

“No, I do mind it.”

“Then let’s pick a place where your outfit won’t stand out. Maybe a beef bowl place or a ramen place.”

“….Huh? Are you okay with that kind of place?”

Whenever girls mentioned the word ‘lunch’, I assumed they meant we had to go to a trendy café or something.

“Of course. I’m fine with anywhere as long as I’m with you, Tsuchiya-kun. That’s why, let’s eat something that you want. That sounds fine by you, right?”

By the time I realized it, Kiho had successfully persuaded me. Eventually, I found myself leaving the convenience store with her. 

“Do you often go to that convenience store?”

After a brief discussion, we decided to go to a nearby family restaurant. I was walking side by side with Kiho when I started the conversation. Her gaze felt closer than usual, probably because she was wearing high-heeled short boots. 

“Yes, sometimes.”

“Is your house also around here, Kiho?”

“… What was she doing in this area though?”

I remembered the words those two girls said at that same convenience store a few days ago. One of the girls looked surprised to find Kiho here. 

“Yes. It’s around here.”

“….Then, which middle school did you go to?”

I asked again and Kiho stared at my face silently for a while. 

“I forgot.”

“Huh?”

“It’s been so long. I forgot which middle school I went to.”

Kiho said indifferently before she turned her attention back to the road again. Taken aback at her answer, I stared at Kiho. 

I almost blurted out, “That can’t be true,” but for some reason, the words got stuck in my throat. Kaho was strangely quiet as we walked.

“….You forgot?”

“Yes.”

Kiho nodded, continuing to stare ahead with an expressionless face. 

“Because…”

She continued on. Her eyes slightly narrowed into a smile. The smile didn’t look stiff or forced. In fact, the smile looked somewhat serene, like Kiho was feeling at peace with herself. 

“Because it was the period before I met you, Tsuchiya-kun.”

“…What?”

“That’s why I already forgot about it. Anything that happened before I met you doesn’t matter anymore. None of it.”

Her voice was confident, showing no sign of faltering. It was as if she was trying to convince both me and herself. Her response rendered me speechless. 

Our conversation stopped there. We walked side by side until we finally arrived at the family restaurant. I ordered soft boiled egg over baked rice while Kiho opted for a demi-glace hamburger. 

But then, I suddenly remembered something. 

“By the way, how’s it going with Hiwatari?”

I asked on a whim and Kiho, who had been staring at the picture of limited edition sweets on the table, raised her gaze to meet mine. She smiled confidently, looking somewhat proud. 

“It’s going very smoothly. Recently, I’ve ascended to the esteemed position of a friend.”

“Friend?”

“Yes. Lately, Hiwatari-kun has started talking about Nanami-san with me.”

Apparently, Hiwatari wasn’t even the least wary of Kiho. Normally, people would get suspicious if someone suddenly started getting close to them. Maybe Hiwatari was actually pretty dense?

“What kind of stuff?”

“Like how Nanami-san has been trying her best in school. She never skips student council activities and always participates in physical education classes whenever she can.”

“Physical education too?”

She’s still participating in PE class? Even though I already told her to just sit and watch….. 

Nanami should’ve taken it easy with the student council too. It must be exhausting to do student council activities every morning, after school and sometimes on weekends. 

“And Hiwatari is praising her for that?”

“Yes. He said she’s doing great. He seemed happy to see that.”

I sighed deeply, as if I was trying to puke out all the frustration that had welled up inside me. 

Just as I had feared, Nanami was getting carried away because Hiwatari kept praising her. 

Nanami shouldn’t push herself too hard. She should just do what she could without overexerting herself. It should be alright if she just did things within her capabilities. After all, it was impossible for Nanami to be able to function on the same par as everyone else. 

“Oh, he even tells me about his date plans.”

Kiho added, as if she had just remembered that part. The waitress came with our order. I looked at Kiho’s order. Hearing the sound of meat sizzling on the hot place, I couldn’t help but regret my choice a little. 

“Date plans?”

“Yes. He tells stuff like where he’s planning to take Nanami-san. He will basically tell me everything if I ask.”

“….Hiwatari really trusts you, huh?”

I wondered whether it was because Kiho was great at getting Hiwatari’s trust or Hiwatari was the one lacking in caution. 

Probably the latter.

“Yes. After all, I am Hiwatari-kun’s friend.”

“So? Where are they going on their next date?”

I casually asked while taking a spoonful of my food.

“It seems they’re going on a trip in the next upcoming long weekend.”

“…A trip?”

I almost dropped my spoon when I heard Kiho’s answer.

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