CH 4

Chp. 4

Foot race

(Is that… Haruki?)

I’ve been thinking about the girl who sat beside me, Haruki, all afternoon during class

A childhood friend that I used to play with back in the countryside of Tsukinose, running around the fields and mountains together

[Ah, I caught one! I got one too, Hayato!]

[All right, all right, don’t hit me!]

Ah… what a pleasant memories

Earlier, I remembered that Haruki had a bad habit of hitting me in the back when he got excited (TN: I guess MC isn’t 100% sure whether Nikaido-san is the same as Haruki he knew back then)

It was now wonder that I called her Haruki since she did the same stuff as what he did back then

(Is Nikaido-san…. Haruki?)

Also, there’s no way that she’d know my grandpa unless you’re from the Countryside of Tsukinose.

I observed Haruki Nikaido with glazed eyes

I knew it, but I couldn’t believe the fact that this girl sitting next to me, this innocent, and matured looking girl was my monkey-like childhood friend, Haruki

[..!]

[..!]

She noticed my gaze and suddenly hit me with a shredded eraser in the form of a decorative pin. It doesn’t hurt, but I’m surprised by her childish behaviour

(How childlish!)

Nikaido Haruki… she looked at my surprised face with satisfaction, then sniffled and looked forward. The pink tongue that she showed a little back then seemed to be a protest against being a monkey monster

◇◇◇

Finally, today’s class is over

My classmates quickly return to their own business and most of them are relieved of their boredom. The sky in June, nearing the summer solstice, is endlessly blue, indicating that it’s still bright outside. It’s the perfect weather to go out and play

[Hey Kirishima, we’re going to the Karaoke together, would you like to join us?]

[Yeah, I’ll treat you for a drink since it’s also a welcoming party for you]

[I’m curious to see what the new student will sing]

[Ah, no thanks. You see, I’m...]

I’m  surrounded by a group of well-behaved and curious people

It was probably a normal thing for them. But for me, who had never interacted with any friends in the countryside, wondering what I should do

(Moreover, I’ve never been to Karaoke…)

As I stumbled around in a vague manner, a hand was forcefully placed on my shoulder and I was almost taken away

[Anyway, let’s go]

[Wa- wait!]

[No!]

But then, a sharp voice stopped them

[Eh?]

[Uhm?]

[Nikaido… san?]

[ah...]

It was an unexpected situation for them as well, so they decided to pay attention to her, Nikaido Haruki

Haruki herself wasn’t expecting that, so she was surprised, coughed for a moment, and turned around

[Well. you see. Kirishima-kun has asked me to show him around the school after school. Right, Kirishima-kun?]

[I see, well then, have fun! I’m so jealous that you can spend your time with Nikaido-san, you lucky bastard!]

[Ah, no, wait. Nikaido-san?!]

As soon as said that line, Haruki pulled my bag and pulled me forcibly against the envious stares of the boys

The power which pulled my bag was unbelievably strong for such a thin arm. She doesn’t let me say anything. If anything, it’d be better to say that I was being dragged along

After that, instead of showing me around school, I was taken directly to the doorway and got taken out of the school

[Oi! Where the hell are you taking me?]

[It’s fine, it's fine. Just play along with my scheme]

I ran out of school as Haruki pulled me through the residential area

If someone else were to look at this, you’d see that a boy was being forcibly taken away by a beautiful girl

It’s true that my face was filled with shame with embarrassment

But Haruki ran ahead as if she didn’t care about it

At the same time, this is taking me back to when I was still a kid. Being pulled around by Haruki in the countryside

(Hahaha! Nothing has changed, huh?

But instead of walking on the dirt or ravine, we’re kicking on asphalt right now. That was the only difference

[I don’t know where you’re going, but… you’re slow]

[HM!]

I tried to provoke her to run faster, just like back then. I started to run faster.

At an instant, Haruki started to run faster as well

Sometimes, I was ahead, but at the other time, she was the one who’s ahead. Both of us ran through a series of passed and being passed. Running at our full speed with our hands still linked to each other

[Ahaha!]

[Hahaha!]

I didn’t know what happened

But, I did know that, running with her made me happy

I was reminded of the events and emotions of the past. And now, I finally ensured that… the girl in front of me right now, was Haruki

Even if they had changed appearance from the past, there were still things that hadn’t changed, and that made me really happy

[Okay, we’re here. Here we are!]

[Eh, this is...]

A not common house in a residential area. We didn’t even have to ask where we were.

It used to be common for us to visit each other’s houses

[Hm? What’s wrong, Hayato?]

[Nah, I’m good]

She had a long hair that reached her back, small hands that were a little cold, and a beautiful face that wasn’t the same as before.

I felt a bit resentful when she smiled like she was in a good mood

But if I left here, I’d feel as if I had lost somehow. So I said, "Sorry for intruding" while having those childish thought