Episode 26: Cloudy Skies

For once, Takizawa had no cram school, yet she turned down our study session.

Takizawa attends cram school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and I usually get her to tutor me on the other days.

Today is Saturday.

She absolutely must have no plans, yet she refused.

I asked if she was going out with Mai, but she said no. When I pressed her about someone else, she ignored me.

“I thought we could meet today…”

Realising I wouldn’t see her after expecting to meet her made my mood sink, and I let out a muttered complaint.

Why did I even want to see Takizawa in the first place? It was obvious she’d do something unpleasant…

　I flung my phone, which wasn’t replying, onto the bed.

The house was silent, not a sound to be heard.

Of course.

No one else lives here.

Tired of facing this murky feeling, I invited Akari and Nao out to play.

I hardly ever ask them out, so they were all for it, saying let’s go out. I decided to leave the quiet house.

　I ended up accompanying Nao and Akari shopping at the mall, but I still couldn’t get into the swing of things. Being high school girls, they were buzzing about cosmetics and clothes.

I like cute things and clothes too, but not as much as them, so I just sort of listened, adjusting to them and becoming my usual self.

As we wandered around, a cute café caught my eye.

Sitting there was someone I knew.

　Takizawa…?

Sitting next to Takizawa was a beautiful woman with short hair.

They seemed very close, with a different kind of distance than when she was with Mai. Takizawa would normally never go to such a stylish, cute café. Yet there she was, wearing a skirt and a mature blouse, listening intently to the woman beside her.

That sight made my chest ache sharply.

　In front of Mai, Takizawa smiles and adapts to some extent, but in front of me, she doesn’t hold back at all. She says cruel things without a second thought, even when she knows it hurts.

I knew she was cruel and cold, but I’d foolishly assumed it was something special, directed only at me.

But now, the emotion Takizawa seems to be directing at the woman beside her looks different from the one she shows Mai or me.

　They seem very close; Takizawa is the one clinging to the woman beside her.

I’d invited my friends out to clear the fog in my chest, but instead, an unshakeable haze settled over me. I gently stroked my chest.

Today isn’t a very good day.

In the end, I spent the whole time thinking about Takizawa, and our time together ended. We parted ways.

　Darkness fell, and stillness descended.

The walk home wasn’t that far, yet the path felt twice as long as usual. I think I felt this way the day I first met Takizawa in the park too.

Suddenly, I remembered Takizawa from that time and the night sky visible behind us.

It really was a beautiful night.

And Takizawa’s beautiful eyes and beautiful black hair, which didn’t pale in comparison, remain unforgettable to this day.

　Recalling that, I looked up at the sky, where a starry expanse similar to that night stretched out.

“Beautiful—”

I meant to say it silently, but the words escaped my lips.

These countless stars spread out endlessly, shining perpetually.

They say stars guide you when lost, but even without being lost, they shone so beautifully it felt as though they guided people’s paths.

　And amongst those stars, there is one that has guided me all the way here.

“Sora…”

I found myself murmuring her name without realising.

The fog that had enveloped me just moments ago vanished instantly from within me, leaving only the overwhelming desire to see Takizawa.

I’ll stop by the convenience store, grab my favourite drink, contact Takizawa, and arrange to meet.

　On my way home, as I reached for my usual orange juice at the convenience store, our hands collided.

Before I could say sorry, I was so startled by the person standing before me that I lost my voice.

Does fate truly exist?

Beautiful eyes, beautiful black hair.
A slightly pouting mouth, a perfectly shaped nose.
While I stood stunned, my name was called.

　I remembered that the reason she hadn’t met me today was that beautiful woman, and I felt a little annoyed, but right now, there was something more important than that.

I want to see her again tomorrow.

“Can we have a study session tomorrow?”

Takizawa gave a small nod.

If I stayed here any longer, I’d probably start wanting to ask about that woman from earlier, so I decided to leave.

　The orange juice beeped through the convenience store till.

Thanks to this orange juice, I got to see Takizawa today.

It felt silly to thank an orange juice, but I silently said “thank you” to it.

As I was leaving the shop, I remembered the night sky I’d seen earlier.

If only I could honestly say, “You can see so many beautiful stars, like Takizawa,” then perhaps the mist in my chest would lift.

　I possess neither the courage nor the confidence for that now.

I simply wished to share this beautiful view with Takizawa.

“The stars are really clear tonight, you should take a look.”

My feelings wouldn’t reach her, and Takizawa looked at me as though I were something strange.

I stepped outside the convenience store, hoping that look might clear up even a little once we were outside.