Volume 1 - CH 20

One day near the end of summer vacation, the doorbell rang in the room where Hayashi and I lived together.

“Coming!”

Hayashi raised her voice and headed towards the entrance. Without even looking at her, I was fidgeting nervously, sitting alone in the living room.

The doorbell of this room doesn’t ring very often. If I had to say, it would be for things like religious solicitation or receiving a package delivery.

However, the person who rang the doorbell this time was different from those people.

Usually, a room’s doorbell rings spontaneously, and even though it seems unlikely that I would know such a thing, I was sure of it. That’s because I had been told beforehand by Hayashi about the person who was scheduled to visit this room today.

Today, we were expecting a guest at our home. The guest was not me, who was renting the room, but a friend of Hayashi, who was staying with me.

She has a lot of acquaintances. However, the guest Hayashi told me about was someone I also knew.

In other words, someone who attended the same school as Hayashi and me during our high school days.

“Meg, I was so worried about you!”

From the entrance, a familiar, high-pitched voice could be heard.

Hearing that voice, my heart skipped a beat.

“Hey, Akari, don’t hug me all of a sudden.”

“I can’t help it. I was really worried, you know.”

Alone in the living room, with my ears perked up, I must have looked quite suspicious from an objective viewpoint.

Well, putting that aside, the guest who visited our home today was Akari Kasahara, Hayashi’s best friend from high school.

“Meg, Meg~”

“Ah, Akari, stop it! That tickles!”

From the entrance, I could still hear Kasahara’s happy voice as always. And similarly, Hayashi’s annoyed voice could be heard.

Their encounter was when we were in our second year of high school. Hayashi and I were in the same class for all three years, and Kasahara also studied with us in the same class during our second and third years.

In short, Kasahara and Hayashi were best friends during high school. They were so close that it was rare to see anything like it within the class, and they hung out together every day.

…I feel bad for the flustered Hayashi, but it’s no wonder they’re happy to see each other again after being out of touch for nearly half a year since graduating from high school.

“…Ah, Akari. We’re in front of the house, and there are neighbors around, you know. Why don’t we go inside the room for now?”

“Hmm? …What should I do~?”

“What’s with that attitude?”

“Nothing~. It’s just that I was really worried, you know.”

“That’s why I’m sorry.”

“So you’re apologizing. Then Meg thinks she did something wrong to me, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“If you think you did something wrong, you’ll listen to a little bit of my selfishness, right?”

What on earth are they talking about?

I couldn’t help but glance back at the entrance where the two were having a suspicious conversation.

I didn’t know it during our high school days, but it seemed that Kasahara could surprisingly speak her mind without hesitation, even with Hayashi. I thought it was a bit surprising since I believed Kasahara was often with Hayashi because she wanted to benefit from Hayashi’s influence.

Good for you, Hayashi. To have a friend who cares about you that much by your side.

“…What do you want?”

“…Hug me.”

“Can you stop doing that at someone else’s front door!?”

I couldn’t help but yell at the passionate atmosphere brewing at the entrance.

Damn it.

It was also my first time seeing Kasahara since our high school graduation ceremony. I really wanted to have a more peaceful reunion. Well, it’s her fault. Of all places, why did she think of doing such a thing at my front door?

Couldn’t she hold back anymore (questioning)?

…Couldn’t she hold back anymore (understanding).

The entrance that was filled with flirtation just a moment ago suddenly became quiet.

Soon, I heard the sound of shoes being taken off and footsteps.

“It’s been a while, Yamamoto-kun.”

Kasahara, who soon came into the living room, spoke to me nonchalantly as if her earlier behaviour hadn’t happened.

“…Yeah. It’s been a while.”

And so, Hayashi, Kasahara, and I successfully had our reunion.