Episode 20: The Visit
In the end, I couldn’t sleep properly and morning came.
I greeted Father and Mother as usual and left the house.
They saw me off with their usual cheerful smiles. Perhaps I’m just thinking conveniently, but it seemed like they’d forgiven me for yesterday too.
“I’ll do my best today too.”
I said goodbye to them and left the house.
School is about a thirty-minute walk away.
It wasn’t close, but it wasn’t so far that I needed public transport, so I reckoned I’d gotten into a decent school.
As I neared the school, I saw more and more people in the same uniform. I stopped there and buttoned up the top button and tightened my tie.
Ever since I started getting involved with Takizawa, I’d become more conscious of my appearance.
I didn’t think this was like me at all.
My friends Nao and Akari were surprised too, asking what had suddenly made me so serious.
I want to know more about Takizawa.
Takizawa has the top grades in the year, yet she keeps studying. I’m sure there’s a reason for that. Maybe there’s a university she wants to get into, or something she wants to do.
I don’t want to get in Takizawa’s way.
But I want to become closer to her.
It might be selfish, but I’m prioritising my own feelings. So, I’ve decided that even if someone sees me interacting with Takizawa, I’ll make sure it doesn’t have a negative impact on her.
Tightening my tie properly makes it hard to breathe.
I’m amazed Takizawa can study in this state.
Entering the school gates, I spotted Nao and Akari.
“Hey, top student. Feeling lively today?”
Akari spoke in her usual bright tone. Though if you asked if it was the same as ‘usual’, it wasn’t quite.
After everything that happened on Saturday, I hadn’t slept properly for two days.
“Feeling lively today too, y’know.”
I forced my usual smile.
I remembered Takizawa telling me, “Stop that fake smile.”
Is my smile unnatural?
Am I managing it properly?
Such worries made me glance at their expressions.
“You seem your usual cheerful self! Anyway, I went on a date Sunday but ended up arguing with Daiki – it was awful!”
“Tell me all about it!”
That’s what they were talking about.
Their voices grew distant.
Smile, smile.
It’s fine… I’m definitely managing it well.
I chanted that to myself.
After school, they invited me to a café, but I declined because of club activities. Saying no was tough, once you refuse, you have to find somewhere else to go with them next time. Pointless outings weren’t allowed for them.
Strolling aimlessly around town with Takizawa had been fun.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen Takizawa today.
I think Mai was alone too.
During club time after school, I tried talking to Mai.
“I thought it was unusual to see Mai alone today. What about Takizawa-san?”
“Hina being interested in Hoshizora? That’ll be the day.”
She looked at me suspiciously.
“I just thought Mai looked a bit lonely on her own.”
“Wow, Hina-chan, you’re so kind. An angel.”
I wanted her to stop this charade and tell me about Takizawa already.
“Hoshizora took the day off today, which is unusual. She’s skipped now and then since first year, but never taken a whole day off before, so it was a surprise. After club, I’ll take her homework over. I love my friends, but it’s tough when we live in opposite directions.”
Mai said this jokingly.
If she’s genuinely unwell, that’s fine… No, being unwell isn’t fine, but maybe she took the day off because of me.
A sigh threatened to escape me.
That was Takizawa who brought up the subject; I merely agreed to it. Perhaps she didn’t expect me to agree, but I think that’s her fault.
“I’ll take that homework for you. My house is close by.”
“Eh, really!? Hina, you’re practically an angel today. This is such a help!”
Takizawa handed me her homework and handouts.
Takizawa might not want to see me, but I want to see her, so just for today, I decided to be grateful to Mai.
I arrive in front of Takizawa’s house.
What will she say?
She might hate me for just turning up like this. Or rather, she’ll probably ask how I know where she lives. No, I can just say Mai told me.
Just in case she really did have a cold, I’d bought some sports drinks, Jelly energy drink, and rice balls.
Summoning my courage, I pressed the intercom button.
“Hello?”
A voice, higher-pitched than Takizawa’s, answered.
“Um, I’m here to deliver some handouts because Takizawa Hoshizora-san took the day off.”
“Ah…”
The tone of the woman’s voice on the other end of the intercom clearly dropped. The door opened, and a woman who looked exactly like Takizawa appeared.
“She’s upstairs,” she said simply, before disappearing. Presumably Takizawa’s mother.
It seemed I wasn’t welcome.
Come to think of it, Takizawa had never once mentioned her family. I hadn’t pried, as I knew she probably didn’t want to talk about it, but perhaps I should have asked more.
Perhaps I’d done something her mother disliked or found unpleasant.
I resolved to be more careful next time.
I climb the stairs one step at a time, a little slowly, to mentally prepare myself.
On the room doors hung nameplates with the names ‘星空 (Hoshizora)’ and ‘真夜 (Mayo)’ written on it.
I knocked on Takizawa’s door.
No reply.
Was she asleep?
I knocked again, more firmly.
No answer…
Just as I was about to leave the printouts outside the door and go back, it opened.
Our eyes met.
She was wearing her school uniform, even though she shouldn’t have been at school.
“Why are you here, Endo?”
Her voice sounded terribly displeased. Her face clearly showed she was angry.
“I came to deliver the printouts.”
As I said this, a noise came from below, and Takizawa’s shoulders seemed to tense.
“Come inside for a bit.”
I entered the room as Takizawa instructed.
Takizawa’s room was, simply put, a room with nothing but the essentials.
A study desk lined with school textbooks and reference books, a bed with a thick mattress, a bookshelf holding novels and such.
In the middle of the room stood a small desk with a reference book open on it.
Nothing else. Pardon me, but it hardly looked like a high school girl’s room.
Takizawa remained silent.
Just as I opened my mouth to say something, Takizawa spoke up, cutting me off.