Chapter 8 - Chapter-8 ~The beginning connection~

–Guuuuuuuuuuuu....

I heard the sound of her stomach growling.

Shinozuka-san held her stomach in embarrassment.

The next thing I knew, it was evening.

I don't remember how much time has passed.

"Damn it, I-I can't help it, I didn't eat lunch."

" Come to think of it, I forgot to eat too"

When was the last time I talked like this?　I couldn't stop. I had so much to say. I was absorbed in talking. Pomeko-san was very knowledgeable. She was the quintessential senior. She is the one in Shinozuka-san's life.

"Let's eat some soba and go home...."

"Don't you want to go home, Pomeko?"

"What?　... We don't have any family conflict, you know. My family is ... trustworthy. They're a little annoying, though.

I see. That's why you still have your kindness. It's a big difference from me.

Pomeko looked around to find a store.

"Yuck!?　Really?"

"What's wrong?"

There was a young lady at the entrance, scurrying around.

When she spotted Pomeko, she ran up to her with a warm, happy face.

She is a woman with a very wholesome atmosphere.

Her beautiful black hair was fluttering and her large brėȧsts were swaying.

Let's not worry about her physical features.

"Anri!　Anri-chan, your sister's here to pick you up~"

The sister hugged Pomeko-san with a breathless smile.

Shinozuka-san wrinkled her brow and looked uncomfortable, but she didn't seem to be full of it.

"Hey, stop it!?　There's people watching!"

"Huh?　Are you a friend of Anri's?　Hello ~."

Shinozuka-san and I said at the same time.

"We're not friends."

"We're not friends!　Hmph."

She smiled and said, "Yes, you are." She patted Pomeko's head.

"You can't do that. I'm not a kid!　Geez"

"Hi, I'm Anri's sister, Saeko-chan. I'm sorry to interrupt you.　I was so happy to see Anri with other kids her age that I just ..."

"No, it's nice to meet you. My name is Makoto Shinjo, I'm in the same class as ... Shinozuka-san."

"You're so cute!　You look like Tetsuro from "The Sword and the Bloody Warrior"!　I love you so much, Anri."

I wonder if I should feel honored to be compared to the main character of a popular anime....

She has a very different look and personality than her sister. She's a real wholesome person.

"Hey, Shinjo, it's time to go home, okay?　Don't get the wrong idea, okay?　We're friends!"

" Yeah, of course. We're not going to get along."

"Yeah~, I want to talk to your friends some more. Because I'm tired of working!　Anri, please."

Shut up! Nyanta, let's go home!　... Oh, I'm sorry."

"O-oi, Shinozuka!?"

We never called out our names before. It was Pomeko and Nyanta who were here. It was no wonder that Shinozuka made a mistake. I almost made the same mistake.

But don't make a mistake!

Saeko-san tilted her head and pondered.

"Nyanta?　Is that a nickname?　... Wait a minute. Nyanta?　... Anri-chan is a Pomeko ..."

I see, Saeko-san knows that Pomeko-san exists.

Saeko-san's mood changed from fluffy to something sharp.

"Nyanta ..., maybe you're Nyanta-senseio from ... "The Great Adventure of Mikey Saburo in Another World"?　Hey, if so, say yes!　You're definitely Nyanta-sensei!　What about you, Anri!!"

Saeko-san's eyes shine sharply.

The warm and fuzzy atmosphere from earlier gradually disappeared.

"I-I don't know!?　I didn't say anything about nyanta!"

" Yes, you did, I swear!　And you have to like novels to be able to talk to Anri, who is not very good at talking!"

She grabbed me firmly by the shoulders.

" Um, Nyanta .... Why don't you reply to my message?　I'm really frustrated, you know?　I just went through the editors' meeting, but ..., come on, say something!"

"Wait a minute. I don't know what you're talking about. ..., I didn't exchange messages with anyone. ..., hmm?　An editors' meeting?"

What kind of coincidence is this?　Is it possible that she's…

"Yes!　I sent you a request for a book deal the other day!　If you're a friend of Anri's, you should have told me!"

Shinozuka and I said the same thing again.

"We're not friends."

"We're not friends!"

"Haa~, you didn't reply at all, I was wondering what happened to you. Sis, you're pouting."

We left the commercial center and walked towards home, passing through the station and heading towards the residential area.

It was getting late at night, so we decided to talk about the book deal another day.

"Whether you accept or decline, you need time to think about it, don't you?" Saeko-san showed her maturity.

Apparently, the Shinozukas live about 10 minutes away from my house. I see, the school district is different, so the elementary and junior high schools are different.

Still, they are sisters but they don't look alike at all.

... No, I don't know much about Shinozuka. The truth is, she may be as wholesome as Saeko-san. ...What do I think?　... Why am I bothered?

Saeko-san was walking behind us in a good mood.

It was as if she was watching over us.

"... Pomeko, I didn't know your sister was an editor."

"... Damn, I didn't think you'd be hitting on her. Damn, I was liked first...."

I guess my approaching wasn't through Pomeko-san.

I was a little relieved by that fact. I don't like connections.

"I-It's not because I'm an editor that I'm getting a book published, Nya-Nyanta!　It's because I was approached by a different publisher."

I knew it was bothering you too, Pomeko.

" Yeah, I know what you mean. I just read the novel ... and it was definitely of a quality that could have been made into a book.

Pomeko's face turned red and she glared at me sharply. It's not scary at all.

"A-are you an idiot?!　You must be embarrassed. Geez, well, you know, thanks a lot Nyanta ...."

–Thank you, huh.

It's been a while since I've heard that word.

My heart must have been empty, but the ... kindness seeped through.

... Am I pleased?

"Fufun, sounds good to me!　After all, we should be friends!　We have the same interests!"

"S-shut up, sister. You remember what happened to me, don't you?... I don't trust anyone. ..."

"I don't believe anyone——–."

I couldn't say a word until the end. I was walking in front of the station before I knew it.

There are many people in front of the station. The probability that I know someone is high. Normally, I would have looked around carefully. I was too engrossed in the conversation.

Saito-san and my childhood friend Miyazaki-san were looking at us with wide eyes.

"An?　What's wrong Nyanta?　... these guys."

Were they friends?　I had no idea.

The two with the red eyes looked astonished.

I couldn't say a word until the end. I was walking in front of the station before I knew it.

There are many people in front of the station. The probability that I knew someone there was high. Normally, I would have looked around carefully. I was too engrossed in the conversation.

Saito-san and my childhood friend Miyazaki-san were looking at us with wide eyes.

" Ma, Makoto ..., W-with 2 woman...w-why?"

"Makoto-kun!　M-my mind is ready..., wait, she is super beautiful!　I mean, Shinozuka-san too!"

I wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.

I wanted to write a novel. I wanted to ask Pomeko-san about the book later.

I didn't want to be seen with Shinozuka-san and her sister. I didn't want to cause trouble for Pomeko-san.

I put on a fake smile and tried to walk through.

"Excuse me."

"Wait!!　–Oh."

Miyazaki tried to grab my arm, but it was cut off in midair.

It's not the same as back then. We are not the same friends we used to play with.

We're strangers.

" Higu, Makoto, ... listen to me ... please ..., Miyu... want to apologize to Makoto..... So we can talk...."

Saito-san stood there, crying.

Apologize?　For what?　It's not a sin that I didn't trust you.

It's just that I wasn't a trustworthy person.

Apologizing won't erase what happened in the past.

–That's why I'm going to ....

Suddenly, I felt a soft touch on my shoulder.

Pomeko-san stares at me with wrinkles between her eyes. She was trying to smile, but her face was wrinkled, like a pug's. –I almost blurted out in my mind.

"Come on, Nyanta, let's go. Oh, while we're walking, I'll tell you the rest of the story."

The red-faced Pomeko-san seemed like a very kind person.

My taut, fake smile peels away.

I let out a sigh.

"Haa .... Pomeko is surprisingly nosy, isn't she?　Yeah, let's go."

I grabbed Pomeko's arm gently through her jersey.

It's a totally ... return favor.

I don't know why I did this. Maybe it was the feeling of Pomeko's touch on my shoulder, the tenderness that made my will stronger.

"Haae!?　Wh-wh-what–"

Pomeko-san let out a squeaky voice.

"Hold on!　I don't know what happened, but I want too!"

Saeko-san tried to grab my other hand, but I quickly avoided her.

"No, Saeko-san is a little ..."

"Ehhh, why?　It's not fair to Anri-chan!　Then I'll hold hands with Anri!

"O-oi, let go of me, Nyanta!　We're not friends, are we?"

" Yeah, I'm not friends with Shinozuka. Haha."

Before I knew it, I had forgotten about Miyazaki and Saito-san.

The two of them froze when they saw us. I felt as if my mind had flown away somewhere.

I tried to speak, but my mouth was just puckering up and my voice was bȧrėly coming out.

"–ma... ko... laughing..."

"What ... are you ... doing ... Miyu?"

I looked at the two of them and felt nothing in my heart.

Please don't get involved with me again.

The scars of the past will never go away. But it felt like it had been filled in just a little bit.

–Don't worry, I won't make that mistake again.

"Thank you, Pomeko-san."

"Huh?　What's with the suddenness?"

I stared at our hands.

With gratitude for Pomeko's kindness–

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~To be continue~