I Risked My Life To Save The Cheeky Girl, And As A Result, I Lost My Right Arm. - Chapter 14.1: Spring Breeze (Part 1)

Spring Breeze (Part 1)

On Wednesday, the 19th, just past 8 a.m., I had fully recovered from my cold and was walking to school with Hasegawa.

When I glanced around, I noticed all sorts of people. Elementary school kids running energetically, an old man leisurely walking his dog, a busy salaryman on the phone, and a high school girl yawning.

Each person was about to begin their own day.

From a crack in the asphalt, a small white flower I didn’t know the name of had bloomed.

I made sure not to step on it, widening my stride with my right foot. But as I did, I twisted my ankle and fell to the ground.

“Ow… Ugh… it hurts…”

The pain in my right shoulder from hitting the ground made me grimace. I tried to get up, but with my weight shifted to the right, I couldn’t manage to stand properly. If I had my right arm, I could’ve used my hand to push myself up, but I didn’t have that arm anymore.

“Are you okay, Senpai?”

Hasegawa crouched beside me, looking at me with concern.

“S-sorry, Hasegawa… Can you help me up?”

“Ofcourse.”

She supported my left shoulder and slowly helped me to my feet. A sharp pain lingered in my right side.

After she helped me stand, Hasegawa brushed off the dirt from my uniform.

“I’m sorry to always trouble you like this…”

“It’s fine, really. But are you hurt? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.”

“Good, then I’m relieved.”

We started walking side by side again.

In the distance, I could already see the school building. We’d be there in less than five minutes.

(School, huh…)

I was nearing the end of my second year. Next month, I’d finally become a third-year student. It was time to seriously think about my future.

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

Living with the sudden handicap of having one arm… I could easily imagine the challenges ahead.

Living alone would be incredibly difficult. I’ve always been clumsy, and I’ve had a lot of support from those around me. But now, I’m only causing more trouble.

I glanced sideways at Hasegawa, walking beside me.

Whether it was the cold from yesterday or the fall just now, I always seem to cause her trouble. As an older person, it’s embarrassing and pathetic.

“Hey, Hasegawa…”

I turned my gaze forward again before speaking to her. I could hear her respond with a quiet “Yes.”

“…You can stop at any time.”

“Huh?”

“My care, I mean. You can stop at any time.”

“……………”

“I know it must be tiring, being with me every day. You’ve done enough for me already…”

I stopped speaking there, as I saw Hasegawa bow her head and stop walking.

I took a few steps forward and stopped, then turned back to look at her.

“Hasegawa…?”

Just as I was about to ask, “What’s wrong?”, she looked up and said:

“Am, am I a bother?”

“Huh?”

“Am I not being of any help to you, Senpai…?”

Her face was on the verge of tears.

Her mouth was turned downward, her brows furrowed. Her eyes were wet, shimmering with unshed tears, and my reflection was visible in them.

“N-No, Hasegawa! I don’t think you’re a bother at all!”

“R-Really? Senpai, are you just being considerate…?”

“No, no, that’s not it! It’s just… I’ve been causing you so much trouble… I’m sorry, I didn’t express myself well…”

She was silent.

“I’ve already received more than enough care from you. Even yesterday, you stayed with me the whole day, didn’t you? You even took the day off from school just for me. I really… I can’t thank you enough.”

“That’s…”

“For me, I’ve already received enough of your kindness. So, you don’t have to force yourself to stay by my side anymore. I’ll talk to my parents about it too. I’ll tell them to forgive you.”

“Senpai…”

“So please, be free. Don’t feel obligated to stay with me.”

She was silent.

“I don’t want your life to become twisted just by being with me, caught up in my distorted life…”

She fell silent once more.

Hasegawa lowered her eyes and hung her head.

The spring breeze blew gently between us, making a faint sound as it passed. Hasegawa’s hair swayed softly in the breeze.

“…Ory.”

“Huh?”

She murmured something in a barely audible voice.

I asked, “What was that?” and waited for her to speak again. Slowly, Hasegawa raised her eyes toward me.

Then, in a voice so small it seemed as though it could be swept away by the wind, she spoke.

“Destroy me.”

“…Huh?”

“Destroy my life. Make it strange, with your hands, Senpai.”

“W-What? What are you saying…?”

“If your life is going to be distorted, I want to distort mine to match it.”

“…”

“If you’re going to be unhappy, I’ll be unhappy with you. If you want to die, I’ll die with you, at that moment.”

“…Hasegawa, you…”

“Please, with your hands, distort me. Tear me apart.”

“My life… it’s all yours, Senpai.”

“…”

A single tear slowly ran down her right cheek. It turned into a small bead and, carried by the wind, floated away.

The quiet morning sunlight dimly illuminated the tear as it shone.