Volume 1 - CH 1.3

Chapter 1 - Reunion (Part 3)

After explaining the situation to the manager who had come to the store, she then called the police to report it to them.

It was almost 10pm, so we decided to discuss the details later.

By the way, I had to make sure not to tell them that I came to this mountain for the suicide.

Unfortunately, the CCTV footage clearly showed that I acted proudly when the kitchen knife was pointed at me. So, the police as well as the store manager confronted me to explain about it.

At first, I thought about explaining everything, but then I decided that it would definitely cause trouble, so I blurted out, "That guy. He looked panicked. That's why I bullied him like that."

The adults were skeptical, but in the end, they believed my words. However, they still advised me, "Don't do anything dangerous like that again, okay?!"

"That's wonderful, Kuromine-kun."

"What was?"

Suddenly, I got a compliment. Out of curiosity, I looked at the face of Hoshimiya who was next to me.

I'm not sure how to explain it, but he had a pitiful expression on his face after crying for so long.

Right now, we were in a corner of the department store parking lot. This was the small area where my bike was parked.

The cool mountain breeze caressed my skin.

The environment around me was pitch black. However, the dazzling light emitted from inside the convenience store illuminated Hoshimiya's profile and created shadows.

"When you saw the robber, you got scared and improvised by pretending to want to Suicide up, right? You're very brave, you know. You're smart."

Hoshimiya, with his shining innocent eyes, looked at me respectfully.

Gosh, even Hoshimiya was fooled too like those adults? You have a good heart even though you're a gal. No, now you're a mossy megane-chan.

"Everything I said to the adults was a lie. Just so you know, I really want to be suicide."

".....Eh?"

"Just like I told that robber, my family really did die in a car accident, and it's also true that my childhood friend dumped me. That's why I came here for a duicide."

Back then, I was in 8th grade when my parents, my younger sister, and I were taking a walk around the city.

When I stopped walking because my shoelace was untied, a car hit my parents and younger sister who were walking right in front of my eyes. It was a scene that I will never forget.

It's not every day you get to see someone smashed to pieces, is it? Even though I didn't want to see it at all.

"That's the story. Goodbye Hoshimiya."

I straddled my bike and was about to pedal away when my arm was grabbed by him.

I was surprised to see Hoshimiya's face. It was because she was crying. She was crying nonstop, and his voice was sobbing.

"Hoshi ..... miya?"

"I-It's ...... very painful, isn't it? ...... Losing your family and ..... being dumped by the person you love ...... hikss...."

"What?"

"J-If it were me ..... I definitely wouldn't be able to endure it. .....H-Just by imagining it ..... huwaaaaa ..... huwaaaahahahaaa .... hiksss, hiksss....."

Hoshimiya who seemed to have no shame, cried like a baby in front of me. She couldn't even speak properly.

"You're amazing, Kuromine-kun. ......You really have fought hard ...... to stay alive, haven't you?"

"Ah..."

She wasn't trying to comfort me or anything. She was just trying to express her sincere sympathy for me.

The strongest proof of that were her tears.

"S-Sorry ...... because I've always lived in peace, so I can only imagine the suffering Kuromine-kun went through. .....B-But even so ...... I still don't want Kuromine-kun to just die ...... hikss, hiksss."

I felt Hoshimiya's hand grasping my arm even tighter.

"Hoshimiya, let me go."

"I know it's selfish. ......But, Kuromine-kun .... please live ...... please, hikss .... hikss."

I don't know what this feeling is. But, this is a strange feeling. The smart and kind girl in my class suddenly turned into an innocent girl who cried bitterly because she was worried about me.

It felt like there was a warm little fire suddenly lit deep inside my heart.

"Kuromine-kun ....... hikss ....... hikss......"

"Haaa .... yes, yes I got it! I won't die. I won't die!"

"Really?"

"Yes, I promise."

Since Hoshimiya, with an anxious expression, had been trying to persuade me, so I couldn't help but keep my intentions deep.

If I suicide up now, Hoshimiya will definitely be in deep shock.

To be honest, I came to this mountain with the intention of being ignorant of everything, but after seeing Hoshimiya's crying face, it made me change my mind. ......It was because his cheeks were soaked with tears that I felt bad for him.

"I didn't realize that Hoshimiya was such a crybaby. You even cried when you were robbed."

"Of course I cried! I was really scared back then!"

And well, Hoshimiya started crying again.

Well, that's my fault. It's only natural for someone to feel scared when a robber is pointing a knife at them. Moreover, Hoshimiya was a girl and she was alone there. It would definitely leave her traumatized.

"Well, at least I'm relieved that Hoshimiya wasn't hurt."

"Thank you ...... hikss ......"

Hoshimiya who was still sobbing started to let go of my arm.

Come to think of it ...... this is the first time in my life I've been touched by someone of the opposite sex other than my childhood friend.

"Is Hoshimiya's house around here?"

"I'm not sure. But it's about 15 minutes away from here by bicycle."

"Isn't that far from school?"

"Yes, it is. But I go to school by train, so it doesn't bother me too much. Is Kuromine-kun's house nearby too?"

"No, not at all. It took me three hours to come here by bicycle."

"Eh? EEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHH! How come?!"

"Of course it can, because I came here for the suicide!""

"Oh my God! That's not something you can be proud of, Kuromine-kun! Ugh...... Ugh...... Uwaaaa!"

Tears welled up in her eyes as her emotions overflowed once again.

Wait, I'm really sorry. That's not funny, is it? Then, should I kneel down and apologize? If necessary, should I commit harakiri at once?

Hmm .... that would be counterproductive, wouldn't it?

By the way, I've never seen Hoshimiya cry this much. In class, Hoshimiya was a smart and gentle girl, and I never once imagined him crying.

"Don't worry, Hoshimiya. I'm not suicide."

"Seriously?"

"Yes, seriously. I promise."

I looked Hoshimiya in the eye and said with a firm expression. Hoshimiya seemed to be successfully convinced in this way and breathed a sigh of relief.

"It must be hard to travel home for three hours, right? .......Does Kuromine-kun live with someone? Can't you ask that person to pick you up?"

"Unfortunately, I live alone. I don't even have money to call a taxi. I only have 5 yen left."

"I see, well. It must be hard for you."

"Not really. After all, with that 5 yen capital I was able to be reunited with Hoshimiya .... or in other words, there was fate's intervention in it."

"Fufu, you're funny, Kuromine-kun."

Hoshimiya smiled sincerely. I'm not sure but ..... what's so funny, huh? It's not even a joke.

Perhaps it would be more appropriate if he responded with, "Haha, not funny."

"Kuromine-kun. If you don't mind, would you ..... come to my house?"

"Eh?"

It was an unexpected suggestion. So I unconsciously made a silly sound.

"I also live alone, so there's nothing for you to worry about."

No, no. Of course I have something to worry about, you know?

A man and a woman of the same age living together under the same roof......

I tried to tell him about it, but Hoshimiya's previously tearful expression was refreshed.

Ah, I see ..... so he doesn't see me as the opposite sex either, huh?

Well fine, after all my childhood friend thinks so too. How gloomy I am. If I had a nuclear bomb switch in my hand, I would have pressed it without hesitation long ago.

"......Kuromine-kun?"

"Ah, alright. I'll stay at your house for the night only."

"Sure. But, let me clean my room first."

"I understand. So, please clean up as cleanly as possible, okay?"

"My room isn't that dirty, you know! Hmph!"

Hoshimiya, whose cheeks were puffed up, looked at me with a reproachful gaze. It looked quite cute and adorable.

Then, I followed Hoshimiya who started pedaling his bike.

My original intention of coming here was actually to go round, but somehow, I ended up staying at Hoshimiya's house instead. And now I've come to a realization. If I'm really a suicide, then there's no doubt that I've put a tremendous burden on my childhood friend.

Well, the point is, in every way, Hoshimiya might have saved me.

"Hey, Hoshimiya..."

"Wh-What?"

Hoshimiya slowed down and turned around. I was a little embarrassed, but I managed to thank him.

"Thanks you very much, yeah."

"Haha, you don't need to thank me. I'm the one who should be thanking you. Because you saved me from the robber earlier."

No, Hoshinomiya. It was you who saved me. Thanks to the tears on your face, I managed to cancel my intention to die.

It seems that ...... I'm much simpler than I thought.