I Hope You’re Still Alive When Tomorrow Comes - 17

Chapter 17: A Lie

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

“Oh? Kan-chan.”

I was on my way home after parting with Kiho when someone called out to me. The voices sounded similar to Nanami and this person also called me “Kan-chan”, the same as Nanami. Hearing my name getting called by this person always caused me to feel confused for a moment.

“Auntie.”

I turned around and there I saw Nanami’s mother going toward me on her bicycle. In the front basket of the bicycle, there was a bag from the neighborhood supermarket. It seemed she had just finished shopping. 

“Are you about to go out somewhere to play?”

“No, I’m on my way home actually.”

“I see. Today too, Nanami has been out at school since this morning, you know?”

“Today too?”

Auntie nodded her head as she hopped down from her bicycle to walk alongside me.

“It was surprising. I didn’t know the student council could get this busy. So, Kan-chan, how’s she doing?”

“How’s what?”

“You know, is she doing okay? With her studies and everything?”

“…. I don’t know. We haven’t talked much recently.”

My reply came out colder than I intended. However, Auntie didn’t seem to mind. She still looked as cheerful as ever. 

“That’s right. Kan-chan must be busy too, huh? I can’t always have you fussing over Nanami. I’m sorry, Kan-chan. I always end up relying on you.”

Hearing the gentle words directed at me, a sudden pang gripped my chest tightly. 

Always. 

Indeed. Auntie had been asking me to help her watch over Nanami, so much so that I even had lost count how many times Auntie had relied on me. 

“Kan-chan, please take care of Nanami.”

Auntie said that to me when I entered high school. She was holding onto my hand, seemingly happy that I was there to help her. 

“I’m glad Kan-chan also goes to the same high school as Nanami. With Kan-chan there, I can feel at ease.”

So she said to me. 

“No, it’s nothing… Besides, Nanami is busier than me, with the student council and all.”

I said while shaking my head vaguely. 

“Oh, I see. Well, she looks quite busy lately. She’s been going to school, even on weekends.”

“….Every weekend?”

I was puzzled. I didn’t know the student council could get that busy. Auntie then continued on. 

“Yeah, it seems there’s a student council activity on the next long weekend too. She said she’s going to be away for the whole day, from morning until evening.”

Auntie said nonchalantly, prompting me to look at her face. 

“…Long weekend?”

“Yeah. You know, the three day weekend next week?”

“The three day weekend… When exactly is it?”

“Huh? Um… I think she said on Sunday?”

“Did she tell you what kind of thing she will do on Sunday?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t know the details but… Oh, wait. Kan-chan, do you know anything about it?”

Seeing the confusion etched on Auntie’s face, I looked down on the ground. 

“…I have no idea.”

That Nanami…

I lightly bit my lips before I gingerly opened my mouth again. 

“Auntie… Do you know that Nanami has a boyfriend now?”

“Huh? Boyfriend?!”

True to my expectation, Auntie didn’t know about it. She sounded genuinely surprised. 

“Huh? She has a boyfriend? Since when?!”

“It’s been quite a while. I guess… Around the beginning of this month?”

“Oh my, what a surprise. I had no idea. That girl…  She never tells me anything.”

Auntie muttered while touching her own cheek. She looked agitated. 

“…..So Nanami… She didn’t tell Auntie?”

“Yeah. This is news to me. I thought she wouldn’t hide things like this from me.”

I also thought she had told Auntie. I didn’t expect Nanami would do something this underhanded. Maybe she was afraid Auntie would stop her from going had she told the truth? If that was the case then Nanami also knew going that far away would be dangerous for her. Did she want to go that badly? With Hiwatari? She was willing to take the risk even though she might get bedridden for days? Even at the risk of causing Auntie and me worrying to no end?

“…..About the long weekend….”

“Yeah?”

Suddenly, something surged in the depths of my chest. Something deeply chilling, a stagnant emotion so to say. 

Feeling like I wanted to abandon everything, I stared straight at Auntie’s face. 

“Nanami is lying.”

“Huh?”

“There’s no student council activity on that day. I heard she’s going on a day trip to Yuzushima with her boyfriend on that day.”

“….Is that so?”

Auntie’s face stiffened. I almost never saw her looking like this. After all, Auntie was always so cheerful and bright.

“Does that mean… She’s also on a date with her boyfriend today? She said she has a student council activity to do today. Maybe Nanami was lying about today too?”

“Huh? Is that so? I don’t know about today.”

“I’m not sure either but… She usually is not this busy on weekends before.”

“….Now that you say it… Maybe Auntie is right…”

Still looking stiff, Auntie rested her chin on her hand, seemingly lost in thought. 

Just by seeing her reaction, I already knew. Nanami wouldn’t be able to go on that trip now. But at the same time, this was all Nanami’s fault. She knew her body would crumble if she did anything strenuous. Not only she couldn’t even take care of her own health, but she also lied to Auntie. She tried to hide things from Auntie. Nanami did all of that despite everything. 

Despite everything…. Nanami is…

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

T/N: Dem MC is a snitch Σ(°ロ°)