The Person Who Gave Me An Extraordinary Life Was You, A Beautiful Executive Secretary - Chapter 2

Episode 2: God, How Far?

“Um, I’m sorry about earlier. I got a little emotional.”

Bending deeply at the waist, she looked up at me with upturned eyes.

With tightly clasped hands in front of her, she looked nervous.

Why is she here? I wondered, but I replied for now.

“No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

“When I arrived at the station, I happened to see you. Are you taking this train?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, me too.”

The temporary extraordinary from earlier seemed to continue a bit longer.

My heart was fluttering, but I quickly suppressed it with a megaton hammer.

I shouldn’t have strange expectations, and I shouldn’t think too conveniently.

I’ve learned that many times before.

“Where are you going?”

“To O-town station.”

“Ah… I’m going there too.”

“…Is that so…”

…What is this turn of events?

Somehow, I manage to fake a smile while trying to hold my racing heart in check and use reason and common sense to the fullest.

It was just a coincidence, nothing more, nothing less.

Eventually, the train flowed into the platform, and the double doors opened left and right.

As departing passengers exchanged places with new ones entering, I found a spot where we could sit side by side.

“Shall we sit here?”

“Yes.”

As we sat close enough for our shoulders to touch, the train slowly began to move forward.

“Um…”

“Yes?”

“I’m Setsuna Shiraishi.”

“Shiraishi, Setsuna-san?”

“Yes. It’s falling snow and rapeseed flowers.”

“I see, it’s a beautiful name.”

Hearing my honest impression, Shiraishi-san seemed pleased, her cheeks relaxing.

Falling snow and rapeseed flowers, even though we just met, it seemed like the perfect name.

Her soft smile complemented her white skin.

Thinking of a spring flower blooming in the lingering snow.

—It’s my own imagination, though.

But, is there a point in introducing ourselves?

When we arrive at the station, we’ll part ways.

From there, it’s back to the same old routine.

But, even for a brief moment, we spent time together.

Knowing each other’s names might make for cleaner memories than being strangers.

But whether that matters to her, I don’t know.

“I’m Hazumi Kousaka. It’s pronounced like the ‘dan’ in ‘bullet’—’hazumi’.”

“Kousaka, Hazumi-san… That’s a rare name. I feel like I’ve never heard it before.”

“Really? Yeah, probably. At least, I’ve never met anyone with the same name before.”

“A name like that makes you memorable, doesn’t it?”

Does it?

I’ve never benefited from having a memorable name.

Rather, it brings back bitter memories of being teased as a child with chants like “hazui hazumi~”.

“Actually, not really. I’ve been given some weird nicknames because of it.”

“Weird nicknames?”

“Hazui Hazumi, for example.”

“That’s… awful…”

“Well, it’s in the past. Anyway, your name suits you well, Shiraishi-san.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It’s a beautiful name, perfectly fitting for you.”

“…Thank you very much…”

After saying it out loud, my face started to heat up. Why did I say something so out of place here?

Shiraishi-san’s profile next to me also had a faint blush.

Then, with hardly any further conversation, the train arrived at O-town station.

“We’re here. Shall we get off?”

“Yes.”

Good, this frees us from awkward silence.

If I were better at conversation, maybe I wouldn’t be feeling like this, but probably.

Passing through the ticket gate, it’s the usual way home.

“Then, I’m going this way.”

“Um, I’m going the same way…”

“……”

God, today is quite something. There’s a limit to capriciousness.

How far will this extraordinary continue?

On the usual way home, illuminated by white streetlights, I’m walking with Shiraishi-san.

My steps feel a little lighter, my heart a little brighter.

But this is just a temporary dream, not something that will last forever.

Let’s maintain our composure so we don’t become ruined after waking up from the dream.

And then, the familiar high-rise apartment.

The location is good, but the layout is a bit narrow and the building is old, so even someone like me can manage to live here.

Stopping in front of it, I spoke to Shiraishi-san.

“Sorry, this is where I live.”

Looking at me with beautiful eyes, Shiraishi-san moved her lips.

“Um… I live here too…”

“I-Is that so…?”

I don’t know what’s going on anymore.

Entering from the entrance, Shiraishi-san presses the button in front of the elevator.

“Well then, I’ll take the stairs.”

“Huh? But wouldn’t that be difficult?”

“No, my room is on the second floor, so the stairs are faster.”

“I see… My room is on the eighth floor.”

“I see. Well then.”

As I try to quickly disappear from this place, Shiraishi-san’s voice reaches me.

“Good night, Kousaka-san. Let’s continue to get along well from now on.”

“Yes…”

What does she mean by “get along well”?

That’s right. It was completely unexpected, but our apartment buildings are the same.

I wouldn’t say we were neighbors, but at the very least, we were socializing, I guess.

I lightly nod and proceed toward the stairs.

I turn the key to my room’s door and illuminate the dark interior.

Today felt like a long day, after a long time.

At parting, Shiraishi-san’s black eyes as she looked at me came to mind.

No, don’t dwell on it too much.

That was just today, an illusory extraordinary day made possible by a combination of coincidence and luck.

Once that’s over, the usual routine is waiting with its mouth open.

That’s probably fine, and that’s okay.

After reassuring myself, I undress in front of the bathroom.