Translator: Lilo
Editor: Ryuubii

Chapter 3: Searching For Such Future

Act 1

Sunday.

The time was a little before ten o’clock.

“Sorry, did I make you wait? Let’s go.”

While I was sitting down on the sofa watching TV and idly waiting, Hasumi-senpai came downstairs.

She was wearing denim shorts, a thick belt, and a top with a wide collar that exposed her collar bone.

“Eh, is something wrong…?”

As I was checking her attire, Hasumi-senpai anxiously questioned me.

“No, nothing. It suits you very well.”

“I-Is that so? I hope so.”

Her mouth twitched as her cheeks reddened. Then she turned her body towards Hasumi-san’s study as if to avoid making eye contact with me.

“Alright, Dad, we’ll get going. Just eat whatever at lunch.”

“Alright. Take care, both of you.”

From inside the study, I could hear Uncle’s muffled voice. He has been holed up in his study since breakfast because he apparently has something to research. His voice sounds strangely serious for a man who’s sending his daughter off to play, and judging from the fact that he’s not showing his face, he must be concentrating.

“Is it really alright? Not preparing something?”

I asked as I headed for the entrance with Hasumi-senpai. I didn’t think we would really leave him alone and have him eat whatever at lunch.

“It’s alright. I think he’s probably just doing a lot of research because he’s not sure of what to do with his patients. After lunch, he’ll probably go out for some junk food at the station, or have some instant noodles at home.”

Hasumi-senpai replied as she took out a pair of high-cut sneakers from the shoe box at the entrance. It looks surprisingly sturdy.

“He actually likes that sort of thing. I’m sure he’ll be humming as he eats his food. Maybe because he doesn’t get a chance to do that very often.”

It’s true that Hasumi-senpai makes proper breakfast and dinner, and he also takes a lunch box for work. He’s on duty rather frequently, but then again, he may be eating properly at the hospital cafeteria.

We left the house.

First, we walked to the Myodani Station and went through the ticket gate using our IC cards. We went down to the platform and boarded the train that arrived a short while later. The train was moderately crowded for a train going to Sannomiya on a Sunday before noon, so it looks like we won’t be able to sit. We stood side by side holding the strap.

We usually go to school at different times, so it’s refreshing to ride the same train like this.

“Gufu.”

I instantly choked up when I remembered something I shouldn’t have.

Come to think of it, there was a time when we rode the train together.

“What’s wrong?”

Noticing my unusual behavior, Hasumi-senpai asked.

“…I just remembered that time when I rode the train with you, Hasumi-senpai.”

“Bufu”

This time Hasumi-senpai choked up.

“Why would you bother mentioning that?! Can’t you just shut up about it?!”

“I’m sorry…”

It may be because we’re inside a train. She showed a technique of yelling in a whisper, and I apologized. A middle-aged man sitting in the seat in front of us looked up at us curiously.

“By the way, why Sannomiya?”

To change the subject, I asked a question at the right time.

Certainly, Sannomiya wouldn’t go wrong, but it’s not that we don’t have any other options, for example, Harborland.

“No reason really. I figured we should go to Sannomiya for now.”

Hasumi-senpai’s answer was really concise. It was so simple and curt that when thinking about it, it seemed like there must be an underlying reason for it. Well, I don’t think she would answer me even if I asked her again.

Eighteen minutes from Myodani to Sannomiya. After talking about whatever came to mind or caught my eye at random, we soon arrived at our designated station.

We got off the train and exited the station through the east ticket gate.

The first thing I did was to take a look around.

And then I soon found her. At the stairs and escalator leading to the private railway, a girl in skinny jeans and a shoulder-length blouse. ―It’s Takinami Ruika.

“…I knew it.”

What’s more, she’s wearing sunglasses, maybe a disguise? Was it because of the daily exchanges that I managed to recognize her despite that, or was it because of her overwhelming aura as a celebrity? Or would anyone who knew her, even by a little, recognize her?

Takinami-senpai glanced in our direction while pretending to operate her smartphone.

I thought the exchange at the back of the library had calmed her down a bit, but it seems like she couldn’t sit still at home. I let out a small sigh.

Next to me, Hasumi-senpai was hysterically laughing and saying, “Ahahaha, she’s here!” What a mean personality, but I can’t let her be like this any longer.

“I’ll go get her. Had enough?”

“I guess so. At that time, I also thought that I was doing something gloomy and boring. I can’t let Takinami-san do the same.”

Hasumi-senpai gave a self-deprecating laugh.

Hasumi-senpai had followed us before after being agitated by Takinami-senpai. This time it was payback, but it would be short-lived. Hasumi-senpai herself knows that this is a stupid thing to do.

I thanked Hasumi-senpai and went towards Takinami-senpai.

When Takinami-senpai noticed me approaching her, she began to visibly flinch, but she eventually just surrendered.

“Takinami-senpai, what are you doing here?”

I questioned her.

Then she shifted her sunglasses down and began to observe me from top to bottom.

“D-Did you know…?”

“……”

She said something similar to Hasumi-senpai the other day.

Hasumi-senpai and Takinami-senpai, are they both not aware that they’re attracting attention just by standing? Besides, she was blatantly gathering information, so of course I would be on alert.

I let out a deep sigh.

§§§

First, we need to fill our stomachs.

With another person coming along, we went to the restaurant area in the basement of the Center Plaza building.

It was just before twelve o’clock. All the restaurants seemed to be getting crowded, and we entered a restaurant specializing in curry, which still had some seats left. Hasumi-senpai and I sat facing each other, and Takinami-senpai sat down next to me.

“So, Takinami-san, what brings you here?”

When we finished ordering, Hasumi-senpai asked Takinami-senpai. What an ill-natured question. Well, I did it too.

“No-Nothing really. It’s just a coincidence.”

Takinami-senpai’s excuse is truly painful to hear.

“On the other hand, you two are having a date as planned?”

“I wouldn’t call it a date.”

Hasumi-senpai glares at Takinami-senpai with half-lidded eyes.

“It’s just siblings going out shopping.”

“To a stranger, it doesn’t look that way.”

“Well, I guess it would probably only look like a poor junior getting dragged by his overbearing senior and getting forced to go shopping with her.”

“You’re still saying that?!”

Now her fierce glare is targeting me.

I shrugged my shoulders and she snorted dismissively.

“I don’t care what others think.”

Then she said something like that as she drank her drink.

“Oh my, how confident. It’s the opposite of me.”

“By the way, Takinami-san, your true face is quite intense. I thought you were more ladylike.”

Since I entered the school, I rarely saw them interacting with each other. Both are celebrities in Akanedai High School, but I guess they’re not at odds with each other, nor did they interact with each other in a particular way. I heard that they’ve never been in the same class before. At most, they exchanged contact info for greetings, that’s why Hasumi-senpai did not know Takinami-senpai’s true face.

“I suppose. I’m the opposite of you, Hasumi-san. I know what people expect from me, so I respond accordingly. Takinami Ruika is a beautiful, smart, and refined lady. That’s what they expect out of me, so here I am.”

“So she calls herself beautiful.”

Hasumi-senpai laughs.

In fact, hearing it sounds really tough. How many athletes or teams have actually set records, won medals, set new records, or become candidates for medals at the world championships when told that they are expected to? People around always have high expectations without knowing it.

Appearance is something you are born with. But academics and the way we present ourselves require effort. She has met the expectations of those around her without complaint.

This is how the current Takinami Ruika was formed. I wonder how many people know her true face.

“I don’t hate it. Having two-faced or being confident.”

“Is that so? I’m glad.”

Takinami-senpai smiles.

“But, I’m not giving you Shizuru, understand?”

“It’s not about giving or not!”

Hasumi-senpai raised her voice in irritation.

Takinami-senpai showed her true colors to Hasumi-senpai, and she accepted it positively. However, it looks like they won’t stop fighting.

“Excuse me.”

Then, an appropriate number of eating utensils was brought by a deep tray.

“We will have your order ready for you shortly.”

With that, the waitress lightly bows and steps back.

Soon after, our order was delivered, just as said it would be.