I Risked My Life To Save The Cheeky Girl, And As A Result, I Lost My Right Arm. - Chapter 12.2: To Try To Live, No Matter How Clumsy It May Be. (Part 2)

To Try To Live, No Matter How Clumsy It May Be. (Part 2)

April 7th, Monday. The spring break had ended, and the new semester began.

Looking outside the window, cherry blossoms were swirling in the air. Petals floated here and there in the blue sky, carrying a bittersweet feeling that was hard to put into words.

“Finally, you guys are third-year students,” the teacher, standing in front of the desk, said, gazing at all of us students.

“This year is the year of exams. Once again, think about your life… how do you want to live it? This year will be a significant turning point in your life.”

The words the teacher sent to us, the new third-year students, were more serious than usual.

Class 3-2. This was the class I would be in for the year. I sat in the front row of the window-side column in this classroom.

“Alright, let’s start with self-introductions. Talk about what you want to do this year and your future plans as well. First, let’s begin with Asai.”

“Yes.”

The teacher called each of us in order from the hallway-side seats, and one by one, we stood in front of the teacher’s desk and introduced ourselves.

“I’m Asai Takanori. I’m in the track and field club. Since this is my final year, I’ll do my best to make it to the national tournament. As for my future plans, I haven’t decided much yet, but I want to go to a university with a strong track and field program.”

“Hello, I’m Shimizu Haruka. Uh, I like K-POP and dancing. I’d like to perform a dance at the cultural festival this year. Also, instead of going to college, I plan to get a job. Please take care of me this year.”

“Yo! I’m Maruoka Kimihira! This year, I’m going to focus on studying and go to the University of Tokyo to make a legendary achievement, so watch out for me!”

Each person gave their unique introduction.

Looking at them, I realized how many different types of people there are. Everyone has their own interests and things they want to do. Watching them made me feel a bit envious.

“Hello, I’m Kurasaki Momoka.”

Kurazaki-san was in the same class as last year. She stood up straight with a smile on her lips, just like she always did.

“This year, I want to focus on studying for next year’s entrance exams. And…”

Kurazaki-san briefly glanced in my direction, then spoke clearly.

“As for my future plans… I want to aim for nursing school. I want to work in a social welfare-related job.”

“………………”

“I look forward to working with you this year.”

Kurazaki-san said, bowing slightly.

After her, the next to introduce themselves was Makihira-san, the president of the art club.

(Ah, that person… she’s in the same class this year too.)

I thought to myself as I watched her walk toward the teacher’s desk.

“………………”

Makihira-san seemed to notice my gaze and turned her face toward me.

Then, she smiled brightly and waved at me.

“Well then…”

Makihira-san stood in front of the teacher’s desk, glanced around the classroom, and then gave a rather simple self-introduction.

“My name is Makihira Ringo . What I want to do this year is draw pictures. And what I want to do in the future is also draw pictures. That’s all. Thank you.”

She finished saying that in one breath and started to return to her seat.

The teacher, feeling that it was too short, called her back with a “Wait a minute.”

“Please be a bit more specific. Talk about your future plans as well.”

“My future plans? I don’t have any.”

“What?”

“What I want to do is draw pictures. Nothing more, nothing less. I plan to enter an art university, but even that doesn’t really matter to me. As long as I can draw, it doesn’t matter where I go. So, I didn’t think it was necessary to talk about something as vague as future plans.”

“Well, I see… understood.”

The teacher chuckled awkwardly and accepted Makihira-san’s words.

Makihira-san is quite a unique person. I thought the same when I met her before, but being the artistic type, she seems to have very strong convictions.

“………………”

After a few more introductions, it was finally my turn.

“Next is Nakamura.”

“Yes.”

Called by the teacher, I stood up from my seat, walked up to the front of the classroom, and stood before my classmates.

“Is that… the one from the rumors?”

“Yeah, the one who lost his arm in the accident.”

“Whoa… this is the first time I’ve seen him.”

“Me too. Just looking at him makes me feel so sorry…”

People who had never been in the same class as me whispered quietly among themselves, talking about me like this.

“Hey, everyone, can we be quiet? Nakamura-kun can’t speak if you keep talking.”

Kurasaki-san admonished my classmates, and they stopped talking, leaving the classroom in a sudden, complete silence.

“…I’m Nakamura Reijiro.”

As I looked at my classmates’ faces, I began my self-introduction, speaking slowly and quietly.

“It’s a little embarrassing, but… I still don’t know what I want to do, like everyone else.”

“………………”

“I never really had any strong ambitions to begin with, and well… my arm ended up like this, so… I don’t know… it’s just…”

“………………”

“…I didn’t have the courage to keep living.”

“………………”

My classmates had various reactions.

Some furrowed their brows in sadness, others were surprised to hear that I felt that way, and some turned away with bitter expressions.

Kurasaki-san listened seriously, nodding while she heard me out.

Makihira-san, on the other hand, placed her hand on her mouth and leaned forward, listening intently.

“I didn’t have the courage, or the confidence, to live with this handicap. All I felt was uncertainty about the future, it seemed hopeless, and I thought there was nothing I could do.”

—There is no despair in life.

“………………”

There is no despair in any life.

“………………”

Transparent tears were falling from my eyes. They weren’t cold, nor were they hot. They were warm tears.

…I had turned down Kurasaki-san’s invitation to karaoke back then.

But this time, maybe I’ll go.

I still haven’t given an answer to Makihira-san’s invitation to the art club.

But maybe I’ll stop by the art club at least once.

And… I thought about giving up on romance, but maybe I’ll try that too.

Even Nakamura Hisako got married and had children. Maybe I can… seek that kind of happiness too.

Maybe I don’t have to give up.

“Senpai, me too, I too will, will try my best…”

“Together, together…”

At that moment, for some reason, Hasegawa’s face appeared in my mind.

“I’m not yet ready enough to talk about my future. But…”

“Today, just for today, I want to live and do my best.”

“I haven’t decided on anything yet, what I want to do this year, or what my future path will be. But still, I want to live today, somehow. And if I can build on that ‘I want to live today’… maybe, just maybe, a time will come when I can be happy.”

I let out a deep breath, wiped my tears with my left hand, and then bowed to everyone. “I’m sorry for the long and heavy talk. I look forward to working with you all this year,” I said.

Clap clap clap clap clap clap!

At that moment, a strange sound echoed through the classroom.

When I looked up, I saw my classmates all clapping for me.

“………………”

As a gesture of gratitude, I bowed again to everyone.

This was the first day of my third year.

The first day when, despite my awkwardness, I decided to live.