I Hope You’re Still Alive When Tomorrow Comes - 22
"I will unlock new chapter every 3 days~ (ง'̀-'́)ง Please Rate this Novel 5★ in NovelUpdates!"
Click HereChapter 22: A Cunning Person
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
The train station was empty during the day. This sight felt so unfamiliar to me, who had only been to the train station when it was crowded.
The platforms, usually bustling with students, were completely empty except for me. Even the station attendants looked bored. They were leisurely sweeping, cleaning the premises.
I gazed absentmindedly at the scene, waiting for the train to arrive. I didn’t care if it was an up or down train. I intended to board the first train to arrive. I was thinking of going somewhere far away without any particular destination in mind. Unable to even muster the will to check my smartphone, I glanced beyond the tracks. There was still no sign of any train arriving.
“Tsuchiya-kun.”
Suddenly, a voice came from behind me. A voice I had heard countless times lately. I turned out and there was Kiho, carrying a bag on her shoulder.
She seemed to have run to the train station, judging from how flushed her cheeks was. Her usually meticulously styled bangs were slightly disheveled. Not paying any mind to her state, Kiho walked over to me.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
She said. She looked genuinely relieved.
“Why are you here? The school is not over yet, you know?”
I glanced at the clock on the platform. It was only half past two.
“I could say the same to you, Tsuchiya-kun.”
“I’m leaving early. I’m not feeling well.”
“In that case, I will take you home since I’m worried about you, Tsuchiya-kun.”
“Huh?”
Ignoring the frown on my face, Kiho sat down next to me on the bench.
“Tsuchiya-kun, I will stick to your side today. All day. I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”
She declared with an oddly determined voice.
“….Huh?”
“After I take you home, I’ll be watching you from outside your house. I’ll be looking at your room window. Tsuchiya-kun, you need to contact me every ten minutes or so. Just a word is fine. If you don’t, I will break into your house.”
“…No, what did you just say? What are you talking about?”
I stared at Kiho incredulously and our eyes met. She had the most serious expression I had ever seen on her face. I could immediately tell that she wasn’t joking. She truly meant everything she said.
To be fair, she was never joking. She always stayed true to her words.
“Nanami-san seems to be okay. Her breathing calmed down right after that.”
As I stayed silent, Kiho spoke as if she just remembered about that fact.
“She didn’t go to the hospital. It seems she doesn’t need to leave early either. After that, Nanami-san went back to class just like usual.”
“…Hmm.”
I didn’t know what to say. However, I also didn’t want to ignore Kiho. I opted to just give her a lackluster response.
“By the way, why were you in the infirmary at that time?”
“I saw it. When Tsuchiya-kun took Nanami-san to the infirmary. Since the two of you didn’t come back soon, I got worried and went to check. There, I saw Hiwatari-kun was already standing in front of the infirmary door.”
“…In front of the door?”
I asked again. A sense of uneasiness started creeping over me.
“yes. Both Tsuchiya-kun and Nanami-san were speaking quite loudly. I could hear the two of you from outside. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but it just did.”
Indeed, judging from Hiwatari’s timing when entering, it seemed like he already knew what was happening inside.
“….Eavesdropping…”
A part of my mind wanted to spit out the words,”that’s not good”, but I didn’t have any strength left. I was even surprised at how listless I was.
“So… Does that mean you were eavesdropping too?”
“Yes. I was listening in together with Hiwatari-kun for a while. I just couldn’t find the right time to get inside.”
“Since when?”
“Well, we wanted to get in but we couldn’t. So we just stayed near the door after arriving.”
“….So you heard everything from the beginning.”
That meant Hiwatari had been listening in even before Kiho.
I really want to die now.
My head bowed down subconsciously. I was devastated.
“Umm.. Tsuchiya-kun, you probably didn’t know about this, but…”
Kiho spoke up tentatively. Her voice was laced with a hint of concern unlike usual.
“What?”
“Apparently, Hiwatari-kun is one year older than us.”
“…Huh?”
Not quite understanding what she was trying to tell, I raised my head to stare at her.
“He took a year off after graduating middle school. So even though he’s a first year just like us, he’s actually a year older. Did you know about this?”
“…I didn’t know.”
I looked at Kiho.
Something was stirring in my chest. An unpleasant emotion, something chilling and terribly daunting.
“I knew it… That’s why…”
Kiho smiled, looking somewhat happy for some reason before she continued.
“Tsuchiya-kun, there’s no need to feel down even though you lost to Hiwatari-kun. After all, you guys are not playing in the same field in the first place. He has more life experience than you. A year difference can change a lot of things, especially given our age. Furthermore, girls tend to be attracted to older guys, you know? That’s why… Hiwatari-kun already had an advantage from the start. Everything is not fair.”
I remained silent while staring at Kiho’s face. Then, I exhaled slowly.
Suguru-kun understands.
Nanami’s voice echoed in my head.
“…Why?”
“Hm?”
“Why did he take a year off? Before entering high school.”
“Umm… It seems he was sick or something. He had to focus on the surgery and recovery.”
“…Oh.”
I muttered weakly, leaning back against the bench backrest. I felt like all the strength in my body had all disappeared.
The heck?
A dry laugh escaped me. It was such a bitter laugh that I almost felt like crying.
“…..That’s not fair. Really not fair.”
I murmured.
“That’s right!”
Kiho enthusiastically responded.
“It’s safe to say he’s cheating. He’s so cunning! Very cunning!”
“Yeah…”
“Everything wasn’t fair from the beginning. That’s why, it’s only natural for Tsuchiya-kun to lose.”
“…Yeah.”
Indeed. It’s not fair. There’s nothing I can do against that. The kind of understanding that requires someone to be in the same boat… I can’t do that. What was inside Nanami’s head when she was sitting out the physical education class, how Nanami felt watching her classmates playing outside like it was nothing…. I don’t know. I can’t know.
…No, that’s not it.
I never even thought about it. That question never even crossed my mind in the first place. After all, I never thought it was a big deal. Not something to be concerned about.
Feeling at a loss, I raised my head and I saw a blue train coming from the other side of the tracks. The bell rang, followed by an announcement.
“The train for platform three is now arriving.”
I was about to stand up, but then I suddenly glanced at Kiho.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
“I’m going to board that one.”
“Huh? That train is going up.”
“Yeah, I feel like going somewhere.”
“Then, I will come with you.”
Just as I expected, Kiho swiftly stood up from the bench.
“Do you have any particular place you want to go to?”
“…I don’t know. Do you have something in mind?”
I replied, sounding so deflated. I stared absentmindedly at the approaching train.
“Oh, then…”
Kiho suddenly exclaimed, as if she suddenly got a bright idea. She turned her oddly cheerful smile to me.
“Why don’t we go to Yuzushima? Right now.”
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
T/N: Kiho is a beige flag. She will support you even when you’re being toxic. Honestly? Everyone needs a Kiho. Someone who will stand by you no matter what.