CH 20

The examination was uneventful, and the next night, Ageha returned home.

The month had just changed and March had arrived.

The day of the entrance examination was approaching, and she was in the final spurt of her studies.

Fortunately, it was her right leg that was injured, so even though she had some trouble with her daily life, she seemed to be able to study without any trouble.

If it had been his right hand that had been injured, it would have been quite unfortunate.

Perhaps she is acutely aware of this point, and for a while after she was discharged from the hospital, her usual vigor was completely gone.

However, after a week had passed, that seemed to have faded away.

March 7. On this day, five days before the exam, I was called to the Aizawa house by Ageha – or more precisely, a message was sent to me by Karen’s Phone.

I press the chime.

The chime rang out inside the house, and I heard the cheerful voice of Ageha saying “Hai” from upstairs.

After the sound of a slow descent of the stairs, the front door was opened.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Haru-kun!”

I voiced my frustration as she appeared, protecting her right leg.

“I don’t mind that, but I don’t agree with being called out of the blue on my day off, and you didn’t even tell me what you wanted.”

Karen’s message said, “Ageha wants you to come over to the house, can you come?” It was only that.

When I asked her what she wanted, she didn’t seem to know either.

Well, I’m the same person who goes to the house without hesitation, but I can’t help it.

I didn’t question her any further, but instead let out a sigh as I stepped inside the Aizawa house.

◆

The Aizawa house was quiet and still.

As I climbed the stairs, I asked her as she led me up, gripping the handrail as I stumbled my way up.

“What about Karen or Auntie?”

“Sis has a date and mom’s at a PTA meeting.”

“I see.”

I nodded, and she stopped at the top of the stairs.

I looked up at her from the middle of the stairs and tilted my head.

“Ageha?”

“You were asking why I called you, weren’t you?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I wanted you to help me study instead of my sister.”

Without looking at me, she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Before I could point this out, she started walking again.

I hurried to catch up with her.

Since we have known each other for a long time, both of us know each other’s houses very well.

She stopped in front of her room and slowly opened the door.

I followed her and entered the room.

The sweet aroma tickles my nostrils. The room was filled with girly stuffed animals and ornaments.

A small bookshelf was placed near the window at the back of the room, where shoujo manga (girls’ manga) and other books were stored.

To the left of it was a bed with a crutch propped up among the stuffed animals and other fuzzy things.

In the center of the room was a pink carpet with a round table on it.

And just opposite the bed is a common study desk.

Glancing at the desk, I saw that notebooks and textbooks were open and on the table.

“I’ll be right back. I’ll get you a drink.”

“No, it’s fine. You’ve got a broken leg.”

“It’s okay.”

Saying that, Ageha left the room without me.

… I don’t want you to leave your favorite man alone in your room.

It’s a little too much to be careless.

No, well, I won’t do anything about it.

I was too lazy to stand there, so I sat down in the center of the room.

There was a cushion with a cute character on it, but I felt bad about squashing it, so I sat down directly.

Looking at the calendar hanging on the wall above her study desk, I saw that March 12 was circled in red.

It was the day of the Yodogishi High School examinations.

I remember I was trying to go to the same high school as Karen around this time of year.

Of course, one of the reasons I chose this high school was because it was within commuting distance from my house.

“Here you go.”

Ageha returned with two mugs and a bag of Luma*do on a tray.

After placing the tray on the round table, Ageha sat down on the character cushion without hesitation.

I took the offered mug and took a sip.

It was honey lemon.

It warmed the depths of my body.

Although it will soon be spring, it is still cold.

“So what do you want me to do? I don’t think you’re at the stage where you need me to teach you.”

When I said this, she smiled.

“Well, that’s just a pretext. I really just wanted Haru-kun to be there.”

“Why me?”

“I will be more motivated if I have a goal in sight, right?”

“……?”

I didn’t quite understand what she meant.

When I frowned, she pursed her lips in frustration.

“I’m pretty insecure, you know? If I fail, it’s the end.”

“You’re overreacting. It’s not like you’re going to die just because you fail high school.”

I said this to cheer up Ageha, who was looking really anxious, which was unusual.

It is true that when I was a junior high school student, I used to think that the entrance exam was everything and that getting into the school of my choice was everything, but now that I am a little older than I was back then, I have learned something.

It doesn’t matter which high school you go to, it doesn’t make much difference.

You can always start over by taking the college entrance exam, and even if you fail the exam, your life doesn’t stop there.

I can see a wider world now, and sometimes the old me, who lived desperately in a small world, looks a little ridiculous.

I gave her some advice as a senior in life, even though I am only one year older than her, but she shook her head.

“I’m going to high school with Haru-kun, that’s all that matters to me right now. If I fail, it will be the end.”

“…………”

I tried to tell her that she was overreacting, but my mouth didn’t open properly.

Back then, I studied hard to go to the same high school as Karen.

It’s funny to think about it now, but at the time I was desperate.

Knowing that, I couldn’t deny what she said.

When I remained silent, she smiled shyly.

“I thought that having Haru-kun behind me would distract me a little from my anxiety and allow me to concentrate on my studies… was it bothering you?”

“… Well, I didn’t have any special plans today.”

With that said, I grabbed an appropriate novel from the bookshelf with Ageha’s permission and sat back down in front of the round table.

Seeing that I had opened the book, Ageha stood up and sat down at the study desk.

I lifted my gaze from the text and looked behind her as she studied.

I was probably absorbed in the serious profile that I could see slightly.