I Risked My Life To Save The Cheeky Girl, And As A Result, I Lost My Right Arm. - Chapter 10: Love of Opposites.

Love of Opposites.

19th, Wednesday, around 8 AM. I was walking to school with Hasegawa.

There were many people passing by in the early morning. Elementary school students running energetically, an old man leisurely walking his dog, a businessman hurriedly talking on the phone, and a high school girl yawning.

Each person had their own day about to begin.

“………………”

A small, white flower I didn’t know the name of was blooming from a crack in the asphalt.

I made sure not to step on it, widening my stride as I walked.

“Senpai, could you stop for a moment?”

At that moment, Hasegawa, walking beside me, spoke up.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

I stopped as she asked, and Hasegawa reached for the strap of my bag hanging from my left shoulder.

“Your backpack’s zipper was a bit open, so I’ll close it for you.”

“Oh, really? Sorry about that, Hasegawa.”

“No, it’s fine.”

She said that, and then she closed the zipper of my bag.

“I’m always causing you trouble, making you do things like this.”

“No, not at all.”

With that, we continued walking side by side again. In the distance, the school building was already visible. We’d probably arrive in less than five minutes.

‘I guess… Senpai will be a third-year soon.’

‘Senpai, which university are you aiming for? Or are you thinking about getting a job instead?’

Suddenly, the question Hasegawa had asked me yesterday crossed my mind.

It was true. I would be a third-year soon. It was time to start thinking about my future.

(…What should I do with my life from here on?)

Ever since the incident on the bus, I felt as if there was a hole in my chest.

The burden of having only one arm felt overwhelming. This world was built on the assumption that everyone has two arms, and with just one, I couldn’t help but think that society would reject me.

Was it okay for someone like me to live, knowing I’d be a burden to others? I couldn’t stop those thoughts from swirling in my mind.

“…Hasegawa.”

“Yes?”

“You can stop helping me anytime.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve already received more than enough sincerity from you. I feel like I’ve made you do troublesome things all the time. I really don’t know how to repay you.”

“W-Well, that’s not true. You haven’t troubled me at all…”

“You really don’t have to keep doing this. It’s fine if you want to go home freely anytime. I’ll talk to my parents about it.”

“……………”

“I don’t want my messed-up life to mess up yours too, Hasegawa.”

“……………”

Hasegawa lowered her gaze and stopped in place. I took a few steps ahead, then stopped and turned back toward her.

“Hasegawa…?”

I was about to ask what was wrong when she looked up at me and said this:

“Please, make it twisted.”

“…Huh?”

“Please, twist my life.”

“W-What? What do you mean…?”

“If Senpai’s life is going to be twisted, then I’ll twist mine to fit that shape.”

“……………”

Hasegawa’s face looked as if she were on the verge of tears.

Her mouth was turned into a frown, and her eyebrows were furrowed. Her wet eyes glimmered, reflecting my figure in the depths of her gaze.

“If you’re going to be unhappy, Senpai, I’ll be unhappy with you. If you want to cry, I’ll cry beside you.”

“…Hasegawa, you…”

“Please, with your hands, twist me up and destroy me. Tear me to pieces.”

“My life… I’ll give it all to you, Senpai.”

“……………”

A single tear slid down from her right eye.

It caught the morning light, shimmering faintly as it traveled down her cheek.

***

The 10-minute break between the third and fourth periods. At that moment, I was walking alone in the school corridor, holding my textbooks under my arm, heading towards the art room.

“……………”

“Please, twist my life.”

“…Hasegawa…”

I muttered that under my breath, clenching my lips tightly.

“Is something wrong, Nakamura-kun?”

A voice called out to me. It was Kurasaki-san.

“Is the textbook too heavy? Should I carry it for you?”

“No, no, it’s fine. I can manage,” I replied, then glanced at her right hand. It was wrapped in pristine white bandages.

It was probably a wound from the tip of an umbrella. She had… stabbed herself with it, deliberately.

“…Kurasaki-san, does it hurt?” I asked.

“Huh? Oh, this? It stings a little, but it’s not as bad as it looks.”

“……………”

“I’m sorry about yesterday, Nakamura-kun. I thought I understood how you felt.”

“N-No, I’m the one who should apologize. I said some terrible things…”

“No, it’s not like that. Because you got angry with me, I finally woke up.”

“……………”

“I’ve decided not to use my right hand for a while.”

“Eh?”

“I want to understand your feelings, even if just a little. I thought maybe if I do this, I can truly empathize with you.”

“……………”

“Not being able to use my right hand is so inconvenient. Not just writing, but even scissors, cutters, all those things are difficult to use. Now I really understand how tough it must be for you.”

“…Why?”

“Huh?”

“Why go that far? For my sake?”

“……………”

“I mean, it’s not that I’m saying I don’t want you to… it’s just, I feel really guilty that you’re doing this for me…”

“…Is it strange to want to understand a friend’s feelings?”

“A friend?”

“Yeah.”

I slowly raised my head and looked at Kurasaki. She met my gaze with a serious expression, then slightly softened her lips into a small smile.

“At least, that’s what I think,” she said.

“…Kurasaki-san…”

“You said something to me yesterday, didn’t you?”

“I shouldn’t be here! I’m just a nuisance to everyone, and it’d be better if I were dead!”

“I’m nothing but a hindrance to everyone! I’m nothing but someone who distorts the lives of those around me!”

“…Yeah, I did say that,” I muttered.

“When I heard that, I was really sad… It was the first time I’d ever seen you yell like that, and I didn’t know what to say.”

“I’m sorry, Kurasaki-san. I was just so flustered at the time…”

“No, don’t apologize. It was my fault back then.”

“But…”

“After hearing those words, I’ve made up my mind.”

“You’ve made up your mind…?”

She nodded slightly.

“I’m going to ‘fix’ your life, Nakamura-kun.”

“Eh…?”

“Even if your life is twisted, I’ll be there to fix it with you. Because, I want good things to happen to the kind Nakamura-kun. I want you to feel happy.”

“Kurasaki-san…”

“You absolutely mustn’t die, okay? Please don’t say things like that anymore.”

“……………”

“I’ll make sure that you’ll never have to say something like that again. I’ll make sure you’ll never have to cry again.”

“I’ll do my best, so that you can be happy, Nakamura-kun.”

“……………”

Receiving her gaze directly made me feel embarrassed. The intensity of her feelings was more than I had imagined, and it made my heart flutter awkwardly.

I somehow managed to stammer out a “Ahh, thank you” as I expressed my gratitude and turned my face toward the window to avoid her gaze.

Outside, I could see a cherry blossom tree, its branches laden with many buds.

“We’ll be third-years soon,” Kurasaki-san said.

“Yeah,” I replied.

“I hope we’re in the same class,” she added.

“…Yeah,” I agreed, still feeling shy but glad for the thought.

With those feelings of embarrassment still lingering, we walked side by side toward the art room.