Volume 2 - CH 1.3

Chapter 1 - Reunion (Part 3)

It was already night when we arrived at our destination.

Outside the fence surrounding the platform was an orange field. There was also a group of houses. And beyond that, the mountain I had watched from the train stood proudly.

"This is the country."

"I don't like insects and things like that."

"I think it's the insects that tend to run away from you."

"Haaaa?"

"Oh, there's grass on the tracks too."

"Hey!"

I blatantly tried to ignore Kana and kicked my heels lightly.

"We'll meet Hoshimiya soon." ....... I'm excited but also nervous. Hoshimiya......"

"You're really crazy about Ayana, aren't you? Riku is the kind of man who would never cheat on his wife, right?"

"Of course not. If I had time to cheat, I'd rather go on a date with Hoshimiya."

"I have a feeling you're already with Ayana."

"It's not just a feeling, we are."

And we haven't officially said that we broke up either. ...... When I thought about it, did that mean I had cheated on her? I confessed to Yono while I was still dating Hoshimiya, and we got together because of it.

I folded my hands in thought and continued to stare at the grass growing on the tracks.

"Is that ...... Kuromine-san......?"

I turned around as someone asked me.

It was an old woman who had probably sat on a wooden bench on the platform some time ago.

Her hair was dyed white and her face was wrinkled, showing that she had endured countless hardships. The light green kimono she was wearing, combined with the rustic atmosphere, gave her a strong old-fashioned image.

............Who is she? I've never seen this person before, yet my brain is tingling.

I had the urge to reach into my brain and scratch it.

"Riku?"

The worried Kana tugged at my sleeve. I didn't even have time to react.

The old woman in front of me straightened her back, looked at me with fresh eyes, and explained herself in a calm tone of voice, without worrying about those of us who couldn't hide our excitement.

"I'm Ayana Hoshimiya's grandmother."

"Eh────?"

It was Kana who raised her voice.

According to Kana, Hoshimiya was at her grandmother's friend's house.

But the person in front of us was Hoshimiya's grandmother.

She seemed to be a very calm person with more than decent dignity for her age.

"I heard you were alone, Kana-san, but ...... you were there too, right, Kuromine-san?"

"Oh, sorry. Considering Ayana's current situation, I thought it would be better to cover up about Riku instead..."

Kana explained the situation for me.

Granny Hoshimiya shook her head slightly from side to side as if to say that she did not mind.

"I've been waiting to thank you, Kana-san."

She looked at me this time and bowed deeply. I was surprised by her sudden attitude. I didn't understand the meaning of her actions.

"Eh...?"

"I never forgot that accident, not even for a day."

"────?"

"I also heard from Mondo about the circumstances surrounding Ayana and Kuromine-san. I'm sorry."

"Um...."

I tried to speak to Hoshimiya's grandmother, who apologized with her head bowed, but I covered my mouth as the words continued, "But..."

"Ayana is suffering too... .....! If Kuromine-san ........ did something more to Ayana because of the accident...!"

──── Oh, so that's what you mean. I thought I understood what you meant.

I was ...... misunderstood that I came here to take my revenge on Hoshimiya.

"I'm not going to apologize to you. I just want to say that it's not Ayana's fault, it's mine..."

"I still haven't made up my mind about the accident."

"────"

Hoshimiya's grandmother's head was bowed, so I couldn't tell what kind of expression she had on her face. Still, I could feel her gasp at my one word.

Kana, who was standing next to me, also watched the situation without moving an inch.

A strong silence enveloped the place, and the sound of the wind blowing in the air wafted between the three of us.

I felt that the world was waiting for my words.

So I expressed my purest and most sincere wish.

"I just want to meet ...... with Hoshimiya. That's all."

"............"

"There's no way I hold a grudge. I'm not even angry. Of course, the accident is still fresh in my mind. But that's not the point right now."

I twisted my true feelings so easily that even I was surprised.

The feelings for Hoshimiya that had been building up deep in my heart began to overflow.

"I want to meet Hoshimiya. And I want to live with ......."

"────!"

I finished my statement as if it were a statement of fact.

Grandmother Hoshimiya did not look up, said nothing, and continued to bend at the waist.

Words were no longer necessary.

Everything was settled here and now.

"Kana, let's go."

"Yes, but..."

"Let's go."

I walked past Hoshimiya's grandmother and continued on my way without even looking back.

Kana showed signs of concern about what was behind her, but I deliberately ignored her and kept walking.

I didn't have to look back to find out.

Even now, I could see that she was still resting her head on my back....