Insensitive Bocchi-kun ~Reluctantly Heading to School Today~ [Dropped] - Chapter 27: Reunion

Chapter 27: Reunion

“Huh… This place…”

“Hehe, what’s wrong, Kento?”

“Huh…”

Right in front of me is this Chinese restaurant that I’m quite familiar with. The memory of it is so vivid, especially because of its distinctive sign. It’s been quite some time since I last visited, and those visits were always with a particular girl…

“Eh… No way. Could it be… huh? Lin Lin?”

“Hehe, you finally remembered, Kento.”

“A-are you really Lin Lin?”

“Mm-hmm… Lin Lin. My name is Linlin Ran.”

No, this can’t be true. Now that she mentions it, there are definitely similarities, but… she has grown and changed in so many ways that I didn’t recognize her. Could she really be the same Lin Lin…?

But now, I can see it clearly.

The girl standing in front of me is undoubtedly the Lin Lin I used to come to this place with. Lin… Lin Lin.

“Kento, do you remember those times?”

Ah, memories come flooding back.

Those times, I believe, were during my second grade in elementary school.

Back then, despite being young, I would often feel worn out from my boxing practice, and as a result, I would frequently skip it and head off to a specific park instead.

That’s where I first encountered Lin Lin…

During that period, she had recently arrived in Japan and couldn’t speak Japanese at all.

It was the beginning of our story, where I, noticing her playing alone in the park with a lonely expression, approached and struck up a conversation.

It seemed like her parents were preoccupied with work, leaving her to spend much of her time alone in that park.

Naturally, since I was constantly evading practice, I ended up finding more opportunities to interact with her.

I can recall various memories of us playing together, but one that stands out is our frequent visits to this Chinese restaurant, tightly gripping the 500 yen I had taken from my New Year’s gift money.

Y-yes. Without a doubt, this is the place. No mistaking it.

We used to share a single dish because the portions here were so generous.

Her favorite was always the fried rice.

And I recall it being quite affordable, just 500 yen was enough.

“The fried rice we used to enjoy together, Kento, I can still taste it in my memory.”

Her Japanese has really improved.

“You know, if it weren’t for you back then, Kento, I would have been in a really tough spot. My parents were always occupied with work, and since I couldn’t speak Japanese at all, making friends was difficult. But then you came along and spoke to me. I was genuinely happy.”

“Yeah, I remember everything. Every little detail…”

We only had a couple of months together before she had to move due to her parents’ circumstances.

And now she’s back, huh?

Wait… huh…

“Well, if that’s the case, you should have recognized me sooner. I instantly recognized you, Kento. And I’ve always, always… remembered you.”

As I was lost in my thoughts, her words reached my ears from an incredibly close distance.

No way…

That’s right… Somehow, I found myself enveloped in her embrace.

“We’re finally reunited, Kento.”

Lin Lin says it with a radiant smile, standing right in front of me.

“I’m really happy. Truly… I’m so glad you remembered me, Kento. If you hadn’t recalled today, I might have cried.”

“W-well, of course I remember.”

And there she stands before me, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Hehe, this is such a happy moment. Let’s celebrate. Kento, shall we order some fried rice?”

“Ah, yeah. Let’s dig in.”

With those words, she and I, after all these years, finally experience a genuine reunion and make our way towards the Chinese restaurant ahead.

Though I never anticipated being embraced like that…

I remember us being quite physically affectionate in the past, but she has grown even more expressive…

I wonder if Chinese people are naturally more inclined towards physical affection.

______And as I savor the long-unseen fried rice from this restaurant, it triggers a flood of memories with her.