Episode 124: A New Life (1)

‘Hoshizora, you’d better hurry or we’ll miss your next lecture.’
‘Sorry, I’m on my way.’

I rush off in the direction she called from.

‘University life is completely different from high school, isn’t it? Have you got used to it yet, Hoshizora?’
‘Not at all. What about you, Ranka?’
‘Me neither. I’m just barely managing to get through each day.’

　Saying that, Ranka gave a wry smile. Yamamoto Ranka and I have been navigating university life together.

She spoke to me on the day of the entrance ceremony. Ranka was in the same class as me in our third year of high school, but we only became close during the school trip. By chance, we ended up at the same university and in the same faculty, so now we’re taking various lectures together.

Ranka has exactly the same mature personality I remembered from our high school days. Her personality is the complete opposite of Mai and Endo-san’s; if anything, I think she’s more like me, someone who prefers to live a quiet, peaceful life.
Because of that, I feel quite at ease around Ranka and can spend time with her without getting too tired.

‘Are you joining any clubs, Hoshizora?’
‘I don’t particularly plan to. What about you, Ranka?’
‘I have kendo practice, so I was thinking of joining a club that wouldn’t clash with that. “Fancy having a quick look at some clubs after class today?”
“Sure. I’ll need to head home around six, though.”
“Got something to do?”

　Even though I wasn’t doing anything wrong, I felt the sweat beading on my back, the kind you get when you’re feeling flustered.

“Yeah.”
“Right, let’s have a look until then. Come to think of it…”
“……?”
“Oh, never mind. It’s nothing. Anyway, I’m looking forward to checking out the clubs with Hoshizora.”

　Ranka seemed to have something on her mind but swallowed it down, simply saying ‘I’m looking forward to it’ in a matter-of-fact tone before focusing on her next class.

As we walked across campus after the lecture, all sorts of people were holding up signs saying ‘Recruiting Members’ and swarming around first-year students, like hunting for prey.

I feel like I’ve been invited to so many different clubs today that I’ve lost count of how many people have spoken to me, but I’ve come to the conclusion that club activities really aren’t for me. The campus right now felt like an uncomfortable space.

‘Everyone’s recruiting so aggressively, aren’t they? Did any clubs catch your eye?’
‘No.’

To be honest, I just wanted to go home.
I wanted to live quietly.

My wish went unfulfilled as Ranka continued walking through the building. As we passed a noticeboard, a single poster caught my eye.

‘Star-gazing Club: Members Wanted! We just relax and look at the stars! If you’re interested, please do come along to the fifth floor of the Science and Engineering building!’

The photograph of the stars on the poster that caught my eye was absolutely beautiful. The stars I had seen with Endo-san back in high school came flooding back to me. The night sky that night had truly been beautiful.

I think I’ve lived my life looking down all this time, so I’ve gone through life without realising such beautiful sights existed.

‘Hoshizora? Are you interested in that club?’

Ranka’s voice startled me, snapping me back to reality.

‘I’m not really…’

Out of habit, I found myself unable to be honest. But perhaps it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to just go with my feelings for once.

‘I am interested. If it’s okay with you, Ranka, I’d like to go.’
‘Of course it’s fine! I love talking about stars and space too, so I’m interested as well.’

　Ranka answered me with a gentle smile. We immediately set off for the club’s meeting place.

Once inside, the walls were covered with posters of various constellations and photos that the club members had probably taken.

“Ooooh! We have first-years!”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Sazaki, the club president! Pleased to meet you.”

　A crowd of people who looked like senior members gathered around us. The woman who introduced herself as Sazaki was very gentle and approachable. The other seniors were all kind too, and my first impression was that it was a really welcoming club. After the introductions, the conversation really got going.

“Hoshizora-chan, what made you interested in our club?”

I couldn’t say because someone I love taught me how beautiful the stars are — so I answered honestly but vaguely.

‘It’s because I thought they were beautiful when I saw them…’
‘Oh! That feeling is so important! I’m really happy to have a junior who feels that way.’

The seniors seemed genuinely delighted, and I felt that this was the only place in the university where I didn’t feel suffocated.

In secondary school, I was a ghost member of the club, and in high school, I didn’t join any clubs because of a sense of duty to study, so this was almost the first time I’d ever felt this way. Is this how senior club members usually treat their juniors? Their reaction made my heart feel a little warm.

‘I was thinking of going stargazing at the school observatory today, how are your schedules?’
‘There’s an observatory!?’

Ranka was the one who reacted most enthusiastically to that.

‘It’s small, but there’s one on the roof of this building! So, if you’re free, please do come along!’

Ranka, who rarely showed emotion openly, had eyes sparkling. The feeling of I want to go, I want to go was radiating off her.

“What about Hoshizora?”

It’s so hard to turn them down…

It’s hard to turn them down, but I really can’t make it today.

“I’m really sorry, but can we do it another time? You don’t need to worry about me, feel free to go without me.”
“It won’t be as much fun without Hoshizora, so another time works for me.”

Ranka gave up more easily than I’d expected and turned down the seniors’ invitation. We decided to put joining the club on hold for now and left the clubroom.

“What did you think, Hoshizora?”
“The atmosphere’s really great, isn’t it? I didn’t join any clubs in high school, but I think I’d want to join that one.”
“I agree. Shall we sort out the membership formalities next time?”

I parted ways with Ranka, who was looking delighted, at school and headed home.

My apartment is about four stations away from university by public transport, then a twenty-minute walk from the station.

‘I’ve got quite used to this route now…’

It’s been about a month since I started university, I suppose.
It’s not exactly the city, but there are far more shops here than in the town where I used to live. I passed by the crowds and shops on my way home.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a small, cosy patisserie selling cakes and the like. I stopped to peek inside and saw lots of lovely sweets. What caught my eye in particular were the colourful macarons.

It’s Friday today. I’m finally starting to get used to university life, and as I’ve worked hard all week, I thought it would be fine to treat myself to a little something. Before I knew it, I found myself drawn into the shop.

Inside, a man with a somewhat sharp gaze was serving customers. He said welcome and then immediately went back to quietly filling bags with sweets. I’m not usually indecisive, but the quiet atmosphere left me feeling a bit flustered.

‘I’d like the caramel, pistachio, lemon and raspberry macarons, please.’

I don’t usually eat such fancy things as macarons, so I didn’t know which ones to choose; I just picked the ones that seemed to be labelled as ‘popular’. Have I bought too many? No, I’ll just decide that I haven’t.

I used the money I’d saved from tutoring in high school to buy the macarons.

‘Come again.’

The man at the shop greeted me curtly, so I decided to head home. Though he was brusque, there was a certain gentleness in his voice, and I found myself thinking it was a lovely little shop.

I wandered down the road with the small bag of macarons in hand. Before long I arrived at my apartment building. I unlocked the keypad entrance and climbed the stairs at a slight jog.
I inserted the key into the lock of Room 302 and opened the door.

The lights were on in the flat, and a young woman came running towards me from further in the room.

‘Takizawa, welcome home.’

The person standing before me looked absolutely delighted. As I tried to walk past her to head for the bathroom, she gave me a look of utter displeasure.

‘Where’s my welcome hug?’
‘Have you banged your head or something? There’s ice in the freezer, so go and put something on it.’
‘You’re so mean. That’s cold.’
‘Shut up.’

I threw out my usual retort, ignored her, and went straight to the bathroom to wash my hands.

I glanced in the mirror and was surprised by my own reflection. What a scruffy face I’ve got. I’d better put on a straight face, or she’ll tease me again.

I composed myself and looked over at her.

“Endo-san, I’m home.”
“Welcome back.”

Endo-san was smiling so happily that the corners of her eyes crinkled.