I Hope You’re Still Alive When Tomorrow Comes - 30

Chapter 30: Happiness

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

Her body was much thinner and more fragile than I had expected. I felt like choking.

“…Tsuchiya-kun?”

Kiho’s voice came from between my arms. She sounded genuinely confused. Because her face was still pressed tight against my chest, her voice came out slightly muffled and strained.

“U-Umm… What’s-“

“Please.”

That word escaped my mouth before I could think clearly. My voice, still as hoarse and as shameful as before, kept on spilling like a broken dam. 

“Stay here. From now on and forever.”

I held her body tighter. Her body was stiff. She didn’t move a muscle. I then buried my face in her neck. 

I could sense Kiho gasping a little.

“…Stay here, by my side.”

I noticed that my arms were trembling slightly. My fingertips were still cold. I intertwined my fingers in her hair, seeking her warmth. I didn’t want to let go of the warmth I felt there. I felt confused. I was afraid to let her go. 

…Does Kiho also feel the same way? 

She had been chasing after me all these time. 

Don’t!

That was probably the worst day of my entire life. Kiho suddenly appeared before me. She was always so desperate. She always gave her all in everything, so much so that she was confusing to me. She was always looking straight into my eyes without a hint of fear. Just like an idiot, she was always thinking of me and she really said the most crazy things. And… From within her desperation, I found myself clinging to her by the time I realized it. I had a strange conviction that she would never betray me. That she would always be by my side. Maybe… Somewhere deep in my heart, I was actually saved by her. Even now… Especially when Kiho was blown by the wind… I was so scared that she was going to die. I felt like my heart was about to stop beating.

“…Tsuchiya-kun.”

Kiho, still stiff in my arms, called out to my name softly. Her voice was unlike her usual self. She sounded strangely meek. Everything about her that wasn’t like her usual self scared me, so I tightened my grip around her again.

“What?”

“Hamburg.”

“Huh?”

Not quite understanding her mysterious words, I unintentionally let out a confused voice.

“Hamburg…”

Despite the obvious confusion on my face, Kiho continued on. Her voice was solemn, as if she was reminiscing something nostalgic. 

“They were delicious.”

“Hamburg is?”

“Yes. The hamburg that I ate at the family restaurant with you was delicious, Tsuchiya-kun.”

“…Ooh.”

Thinking back… She did eat hamburg at that family restaurant. The sizzling sound of the hamburg on the hot plate sounded delicious. I remember regretting a bit that I didn’t choose that.

“It was the most delicious hamburg I ever had. I was a bit surprised at how delicious it was. I mean, it’s not like that was the first time I had hamburg. However, that hamburg in particular was tastier than any hamburg I ever had.”

I tried to remember how Kiho looked when she ate that hamburg at the family restaurant, but the memory didn’t come to me. Probably because at that time, my mind was preoccupied with Nanami’s trip that Kiho had told me about. I didn’t even remember what I got at that family restaurant. And yet…

“Maybe… It’s because I was with you, Tsuchiya-kun.”

Kiho said as if she was basking in precious memories. 

“You know, I eat cream bread almost everyday. However, the cream bread that I ate with you in the courtyard back then were the most delicious cream bread I ever had. It’s strange, isn’t it? The cream bread should be the same, but they tasted completely different. When I eat with you, everything becomes exceptionally delicious, Tsuchiya-kun.”

With that, Kiho paused for a moment. She took a short breath before she continued on.

“…That’s why…”

Seemingly a bit nervous, Kiho paused again. 

“Will you eat with me again, Tsuchiya-kun?”

However, before I answered her question, I tightened my hold around her. 

“…Sure.”

Kiho, who had been frozen in my arms, suddenly moved. She slowly lifted her hand and wrapped it around my back gingerly. Then, gently, almost exaggeratingly gentle, she hugged me back. 

“Let’s eat together from now on. Every day.”

“Every day.”

“Might as well make our meal taste exceptionally delicious everyday, right?”

“…What’s with that…”

At my response, Kiho let out a small chuckle before she whispered softly.

“This is… Happiness, isn’t it?”

Kiho, who had been hugging me hesitantly, suddenly tightened her held on me. By the time I realized it, the gentle embrace had turned into a strong, almost clinging grip. She pressed her face tightly against my chest and hugged me fiercely, like a child. 

“If it’s like that… Somehow…”

A choked voice, full of emotions, reverberated from within my chest. 

“…I don’t feel like dying.”

I closed my eyes at that. The back of my eyes felt hot and stinging. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to cry or laugh. I simply just returned her embrace as tight without saying a word. I felt like if I applied any more force, her slender body might break, but at the same time… I felt like I wasn’t hugging her tight enough. I was at a loss. I didn’t know what to do.

Confused, I lifted my face and there, I noticed the sunset was glimmering over the sea. The sky was painted with shades of red, far richer than any city twilight I ever saw. 

“Hey.”

Momentarily captivated by the beautiful sunset, I suddenly felt like speaking to the person nestled in my arms. 

“Let’s go to the sea.”

“The sea?”

“Yeah. This time, let’s go until we reach the beach.”

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

T/N: Okay this is so bittersweet (˃̣̣̥ᯅ˂̣̣̥)