I Hope You’re Still Alive When Tomorrow Comes - 16

Chapter 16: Friend

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“Ah. When I say trip, I mean just a day long trip. Not an overnight trip.”

Kiho added hastily. Probably because I looked upset. 

“Well, of course it’s not.”

I replied. Staying overnight was simply out of the question for high schoolers. It didn’t sound funny even for a joke. No, even a day trip wasn’t reasonable. A trip implied they wanted to go somewhere far. That meant they would be going out from morning till evening, making the most of the day. 

Maybe… They weren’t joking. Maybe it was really a trip.

“Where are they planning to go?”

“It seems they’re going to Yuzushima. Going for lunch at a seaside café, climbing a beautiful hill, visiting some shops and then watch the sunset before returning home.”

“….Yuzushima.”

Wow, that’s really far. It takes at least two hours to get there. And climbing hills? Visiting some shops? There’s no way Nanami can go through such strenuous activities. What is Hiwatari going to do if Nanami collapses on the road? 

“And Nanami… She’s willing to go along?”

“Huh? Of course. They actually planned the trip together.”

“Ah, geez…”

I scratched my head, feeling frustrated. 

Why can’t she understand? Her body is weak. She has lived in that body for fifteen years so why can’t she understand that? By now, she should know doing anything strenuous will just make her feel ill again. 

Feeling frustrated, I crushed the soft boiled egg with my spoon.

“Do you hate it that much? That they’re going on a trip?”

Kiho asked while peering into my face. My reaction must had prompted the question out of her. 

“It’s just a day trip, you know? They’re not going to spend the night together.”

Kiho added.

“I don’t like it but it’s not about whether it’s a day trip or overnight trip. It’s all the same for me.”

“Hmm… Then, shall I try to persuade Hiwatari-kun to cancel the trip?”

“No. It’s fine. I will do it.”

There was a short pause. Kiho looked a bit perplexed. 

“By that… Who are you going to talk to?”

“Of course to Nanami.”

“You’re going to tell her not to go?”

“That’s right.”

Kiho looked a bit troubled at my answer. She hesitated for a moment before she raised her face to stare at me. 

“But…”

“What is it?”

“Nanami-san is really looking forward to it.”

“So what?”

By the time I realized it, the soft boiled eggs had crumbled without a trace, getting mixed by the white sauce on my baked rice. 

Well, I know she must be looking forward to it. It’s a date with her beloved boyfriend after all. She’s probably so excited that she can’t even think about the limits of her body. But still. Nanami? Going on a trip to Yuzushima? Impossible. Absolutely impossible. She even had to take the day off from every event that involved going out since we were in primary school. She will definitely end up falling ill halfway through the date. She won’t be able to enjoy it properly. 

So how come Nanami can’t understand that? Or maybe she already knows that, but she just chooses to ignore it, just like usual?

Kiho seemed like she wanted to say something, but in the end she only shrugged her shoulders, seemingly coming to terms on her own. 

“Oh well. Tsuchiya-kun, feel free to do as you wish.”

“I’ll do that even without you telling me to.”

“Of course.”

When we both finished eating, Kiho nonchalantly grabbed the bill from the table. 

“I’ll pay for it.”

She said, leaving me stunned there. 

“Huh? What?”

She didn’t have any obligation to treat me. We were both still in high school and our ages were the same. 

“No, I will pay for my own share.”

“No, I will pay. After all, you accompanied me for lunch today even though I know it must be hard for you to spend time with me.”

“No, it’s not difficult or anything like that.”

“Tsuchiya-kun, when I invited you out, you said you didn’t want to come. However, I insisted and you ended up relenting.”

Kiho’s voice sounded somewhat awkward when she said all that, causing me to frown. 

Ignoring my outstretched hand for the bill, Kiho swiftly picked her bag up from the chair. 

“Consider this as my way of thanking you for accompanying someone like me. Come on, just let me treat you.”

“No, it’s fine. I will pay for my share, okay?”

I grabbed Kiho’s hand as she tried to head toward the cash register. 

Someone like me. 

The self-deprecating words Kiho uttered felt like bile. It made me feel like a small bone got caught in my throat.

“Come on. Let’s split the bill. It feels weird. There’s no reason to shoulder the bill when you’re out having a meal together with a friend, you know?”

“Huh?”

At that moment, a startled voice escaped Kiho’s mouth. For some reason, her eyes were widening as she stared at me. 

“Friends? We’re friends?”

“Yeah?”

“Are we… Really friends?”

“Huh? Of course?”

“Really?”

Seemingly finding my question hard to believe, Kiho asked again. Her expression looked doubtful, causing me to feel confused as well.

“Huh? Ye-Yeah?”

Kiho finally nodded. She looked flustered, unlike her usual self. 

“I see. We’re friends.”

“Yeah. That’s why let’s just split the bill like normal friends.”

“Yes.”

I outstretched my hand and this time, Kiho handed the bill to me, albeit gingerly. 

“….Thank you.”

As if she had a hard time letting those words out, Kiho murmured softly while looking down on the floor.

As for me, I still didn’t know what she was thanking me for. 

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T/N: Kiho probably like: you do you babe. Nanami is going to hate you but go off ¯_(ツ)_/¯