Traveling With a Beautiful Girl

My smartphone started to vibrate. The caller was my mother.

“Pick up.”

Before I could decide what to do, Nanase issued a strong command.

I looked up. Her eyes were demanding, as if saying she wouldn’t forgive me if I ended the call. Feeling overwhelmed by her intensity, I tapped the call button with my thumb.

“…Hello?”

“Sho, Sho! You’re safe…!?”

The voice of my mother, for the first time in 5 days. As if programmed into my genes, relief spread through my heart.

“Sho! Where are you now!? Your mother was really worried…!!”

Her voice was filled with genuine concern, just as her words suggested. I remember she had the same tone when I almost got hit by a car due to carelessness in elementary school. A feeling of guilt began to well up in my heart.

“I’m sorry… I really made you worry.”

“No, it’s okay, it’s okay…”

From the other side of the call, I could sense her shaking her head.

“Your father and I were too harsh… we’re sorry.”

“Yeah…”

“Anyway, come back home quickly. I will listen to whatever you have to say… let’s have a calm discussion.”

“Yeah… That’s true.”

I knew this was the right thing to do. But…

I glanced at Nanase. A gentle smile was floating on her lips.

But it wasn’t just that. Her eyes were about to well up, like a child left behind by her mother…

“Mom, I’m sorry, I’ll call you back.”

With a heavy heart, I ended the call. Taking another look, Nanase was revealing a multitude of emotions on her face. So many emotions that I couldn’t decipher them anymore. I have to say something. What should I say?

Damn it, I can’t gather my thoughts…

“Takahashi-kun, you should go home.”

Instead, Nanase said in a harsh tone.

“You have… a family waiting for him.”

It was a kind rejection.

“I can manage on my own.”

…What are you saying you can manage?

Seeing Nanase’s expression, I thought so in my heart. But in the end… I couldn’t respond.

“Let’s talk again tomorrow.”

Depending on the discussion tomorrow, this journey will end. It was essentially a declaration.

Try to persuade me if you can. I felt as if she was saying that.

After that, time passed meaninglessly. There was no significant exchange or conversation.

The “don’t talk to me” aura emanating from Nanase was intense. She probably meant for me to think on my own. We didn’t even go to the eel shop we decided to go to in the morning. We bought dinner at a nearby convenience store and ate it. It was the blandest dinner we’ve ever had.

I didn’t even edit my YouTube video, a daily routine. I just couldn’t get in the mood. It was a completely dry time, as if the enjoyable five days we had so far were an illusion.

I took a shower, changed clothes, and laid down on the bed earlier than usual. As I heard the rustling of clothes from behind me, I felt Nanase’s presence and thought about various things. About the past that Nanase had revealed, about the days I spent with Nanase, about my parents, about school.

What should I do?

What do I want to do in the first place?

I probably had the answer. But my desire to travel and the realization that I needed a substantial resolve to do so were at odds, and I couldn’t reach a conclusion. In the end, I realized once again that I am the kind of guy who acts impulsively, but can’t take a step forward when a significant resolve is required.

My stomach was about to turn upside down with self-loathing. Unable to come to terms with the cowardice that had built up in my chest, I let go of my consciousness.

I didn’t dream.

The next day, when I woke up, Nanase was gone from the room. On the bed where Nanase should have been sleeping, there was enough money for the hotel for two, and a letter.

In the letter, written in beautiful letters, it said:

[Goodbye.]