CH 54

Don’t go to France

After enjoying the feeling of riding the bike behind Yamamoto for a while, we stopped at a red light.

“…Surprising, isn’t it?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

I muttered a word under my breath, and Yamamoto immediately asked without missing a beat. After hesitating for a moment, I revealed my true thoughts.

“I actually thought Yamamoto would drive more aggressively. Despite saying, ‘Let’s go full throttle,’ you’re sticking to the speed limit.”

“…What do you think of me?”

Yamamoto let out a deep sigh.

Without turning back to face me, he continued speaking.

“That was obviously a joke. Besides, I’m a high school baseball player, you know? If I mess up, the entire team gets punished. It’s not just about me getting caught, but it would cause trouble for the whole team.”

“…It’s strange to hear Yamamoto saying something sensible.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind, it’s nothing.”

This guy was still scary, after all.

I was starting to get a little used to him lately, but I was reminded of it all at once.

The signal turned green, and the bike resumed its journey. When we reached a long red light with a waiting time, I opened my mouth again.

“Did you have any interaction with Shuji, Yamamoto?”

“…Summer festival. You were there too, right?”

“…Ah, that’s right.”

Now that I think about it, on that day, Shuji was made to help run the yakisoba food stall with Yamamoto. They mentioned having some connection when they were in elementary school, and the topic of motorcycles might have come up during that time.

“But seriously, why did you come? As a way of repaying Shuji for helping at the stall?”

“…Like I said before, I don’t even know myself.”

“But you could have refused the request. Especially when the person you’re giving a ride to is… well…”

I stopped myself from saying the words “love rival.” It was too direct to be exchanged between the two of us, who were directly involved.

After a brief awkward silence, Yamamoto snickered.

“I understand what you’re trying to say. Even when I heard about the situation from Ikeno, I couldn’t help but think it serves him right. However…”

Yamamoto paused there, as if hesitating, and then continued in a slightly softer voice than usual.

“For you, maybe it doesn’t matter, but I… I want Mizutani to be happy. But when I’m around, she doesn’t smile. In fact, I’ve recently realized that I’m just a nuisance to her. So, when I thought about who makes Mizutani smile the most when she’s with someone… It’s you. It’s obvious.”

“Is that so?”

“Shut up, you clueless idiot. Just die.”

“Uh… okay…”

Wasn’t that a bit unreasonable? I simply asked, “Is that so?” What’s more, the sound of the bike’s exhaust was much louder.

Well, I can somewhat understand Yamamoto’s feelings. Even if I were in Yamamoto’s position, I’d probably come to dislike myself.

But wait, if I were to say, “I understand your feelings” from my position, wouldn’t that sound like provocation? On the other hand, if I were to act nonchalant and say, “Hahaha, too bad,” like a villain, it would feel wrong too.

…Wait a minute, aren’t I stuck here?

While I pondered how to respond to Yamamoto, he continued speaking.

“Don’t worry. Whatever you do from now on, my opinion of you won’t improve. I’ll probably hate you forever.”

“That… doesn’t really put me at ease.”

“Is that so? You probably hate me too, don’t you? I think it’s better to be disliked by someone you dislike rather than being liked.”

“When you put it that way, maybe you’re right.”

When I answered honestly, Yamamoto burst into laughter.

Then I suddenly realized.

Could it be that what just happened was Yamamoto’s way of self-deprecation?

But it was too late by the time I realized it.

And there was something crisp and refreshing about Yamamoto’s laughter.

Perhaps he had come to a decision of some sort within himself.

People really have so many different facets.

Even taking just one person like Yamamoto, he changed like a kaleidoscope depending on the situation.

And with each change, the impression I got changed as well.

Maybe it was the same for others too.

…No, that’s not it.

Perhaps it was not Yamamoto who changed, but it was me who had changed.

Or maybe it was both. When the other person changed, the impression we received naturally changes, but even when the recipient changes, the impression we received from the other person also changed. It was because our perspective on things had changed.

Thinking about such complicated things once in a while wasn’t so bad.

“Are you sure it’s okay to drop off here?”

As I got off the bike in front of the station, Yamamoto took off his helmet and asked for confirmation.

I compared the station name visible from where I got off with the screen of my smartphone, and after confirming that this was the destination, I replied.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine here.”

“I see… Well then, that’s it for me.”

Yamamoto put on his helmet again and gripped the handlebars.

As he was about to leave, I said to him.

“Thanks for today. Next time, let me pay for the gas.”

“Nah, I don’t want to take money from you. Besides, that guy Ikeno, who acts like he did a lot of work just by calling me, annoys me. I’ll charge him next time.”

“Alright, if you insist.”

I thought he had changed, but it seemed like he hadn’t changed at all.

In a sense, he was unwavering, or something like that.

“Well then, see you later.”

“Shut up, you idiot! Don’t ever show your face again.”

As a final parting greeting, Yamamoto retorted with a curse.

In a way, it exceeded my expectations and gave me a sense of reassurance, almost like being back at my parents’ home.

Yamamoto revved the throttle and the bike took off.

After bowing my head to his departing figure, I turned toward the station.

The time was a little before 9 o’clock.

Thanks to Yamamoto, the chance of meeting Mizutani had increased slightly by taking a shortcut.

…Well, the probability didn’t really matter.

If I never meet with her, I would not be able to face Yamamoto and Shuji.

* * *

After transferring trains a few times, it was a little past 10 o’clock when I finally arrived at Narita Airport.

At first, I was a bit confused because there were multiple terminals here, from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3, but I managed to find my way without getting lost.

However, just arriving wasn’t the end of it. There was no point in coming this far if I didn’t meet Mizutani. So, first things first, I needed to find a floor map and locate the boarding gates for flights to France.

After wandering around for a bit, I quickly found the floor map. I hurriedly approached it and carefully studied every detail.

I was currently on the first underground floor… and the international departure gates were on the 3rd floor.

The next flight to France was assigned to Gate 37 according to the electronic display boards. I had to find Gate 37… was it here?

I took a photo of the map and then used the escalator to go up to the 3rd floor.

During the trip, I was practically running the entire time. It must have been extremely bothersome for the regular passengers, but I didn’t even have the luxury to consider my surroundings.

Once I reached the 3rd floor, I followed the map to make my way to Gate 37.

Gate 31 was right in front of me, and Gate 33 was visible to my left, so if I continued further ahead…

Bright, familiar golden hair caught my eye among the crowd.

It was Mizutani—The moment my brain registered it, she also turned to look in my direction.

I couldn’t help but think it was a coincidence. It was not an appropriate expression for someone like me who could never become the protagonist of a story. However, if I were to capture that moment alone, it felt like a scene from a drama. If you could overlook the overwhelming lack of talent from one actor, that is.

She was in a formal uniform, and I was in jeans and a T-shirt. If you observed our situation from a step back, it might have appeared as a metaphor symbolizing the difference in our positions.

“…Why.”

Mizutani’s faint murmured words reached me clearly, despite there being some distance between us. I felt as if even her sighs reached me.

Her sparkling emerald eyes, like precious gems, trembled with confusion.

I took a step closer to Mizutani, then another.

Mizutani stood there, dumbfounded, clutching the handle of her suitcase in her right hand.

What should I convey to Mizutani right now?

To be honest, my thoughts were completely scattered. So when I finally reached Mizutani, my mind was blank.

As I looked into Mizutani’s eyes reflecting my own image, I vaguely pondered.

—Ah, I see.

Mizutani mentioned it too, didn’t she? I still hadn’t used that ticket.

She was about to go abroad now.

If that was the case, while she was still in Japan, I should use whatever I could.

“This…”

I took out that ticket from my wallet.

The ticket Mizutani gave me before, the “one-time request for anything” ticket. It might seem like a child’s plaything, but between Mizutani and me, this ticket indeed held power.

“What about it?”

Mizutani glanced briefly at the ticket in my hand and asked.

“Can I use this now?”

“Well, that’s fine… But there’s not much I can do in my current state, I think.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t intend to ask for something impossible.”

While I said that, I still hadn’t decided on the content of my request.

To say “I don’t intend to ask for something impossible” without having decided on it yet—what an irresponsible person I was. The rational part of myself in my head mocked me.

What did I want from Mizutani right now?

When I thought about it deeply, there was only one thing.

But once those words leave my mouth, there was no turning back—I was aware of that.

No turning back?

Was that really what was important right now?

No, it wasn’t.

“Mizutani, don’t go to France.”