"Where are you?"
...(Read)
I sent the message and was just about to close the chat when I noticed the green highlight indicating it had been read.
"Why do you care where I am?"
"Just asking. You don't have to answer."
"Oh."
She replied flatly, and the chat fell silent.
I switched to the social feed and opened Timeline. (Note: Timeline is similar to a social media feed.)
At the top was Kushida Kikyo's latest post, sharing a photo of herself and her friends enjoying afternoon tea.
I casually liked it and was about to scroll down.
Suddenly, a message popped up.
"I'm at Hirata's."
I didn't open it. I swiped my finger, and the next post was a video of Tetsuya playing soccer at the Soccer Club yesterday.
Huh?
This guy had some skills after all.
His marker looked like an upperclassman, but Tetsuya still created space with clever movement.
Once he'd made some room, he pulled the ball back to keep it from being stolen, glancing up to assess the situation.
But with his team playing so deep, there didn't seem to be anyone in a good position to receive a pass.
He turned around, using his back to hold off the approaching defender, and lifted his left foot as if to pass back.
So he was left-footed?
That piqued my curiosity a little.
In the split second I was distracted, he suddenly flicked the ball backward with his heel.
Then he darted around the defender along the touchline, leaving him behind beautifully.
He drove the ball toward the end line, dodging a defender who came to cover.
He didn't use any particularly flashy tricks; he simply relied on his athleticism to shake off his opponent.
"Tetsuya!"
The moment Tetsuya chose to nutmeg his opponent, the short-haired boy in the middle of the field charged over like a wild horse breaking free.
Hearing his name called, Tetsuya sent in a deft cross.
The soccer ball traced a perfect arc beneath the setting sun.
Sou Shibata.
Even with two defenders closing in on him, he leaped fearlessly into the air.
The veins in his neck bulged grotesquely with the effort.
He turned his head and drove the ball into the goal.
A good pass to a good player.
It was an impressive display of teamwork up front.
I was about to watch it again when another message popped up at the top of my mobile terminal.
"What are you busy with now?"
"You disappeared right after messaging me???"
"What?"
Karuizawa...
What was she up to?
I opened the chat, and the messages she'd sent were immediately marked as read.
The words "typing..." disappeared, replaced by Karuizawa's name.
"Didn't you tell me to leave you alone?"
"..."
"Fine, do whatever you want!"
"Anyway... I don't need his protection anymore. I was just telling him that."
She was like a kitten showing off, chin raised as she waited for praise.
For some reason, I could picture it perfectly.
"That was true either way."
"What?!"
"You—"
She was typing.
The status lingered for a long time, but no message ever came.
"To some extent, getting President Horikita to acknowledge you does show that you have ability, but..."
"Even if it might become true someday, so far it's only been talk."
"Don't declare something you haven't even done yet with such confidence!"
"Have you been bullied lately?"
"..."
"Hmph. Of course not. I can absolutely be called one of the core members of the girls' group in Class 1-D now."
"Right, our Karuizawa can absolutely be called the center of the girls' group in Class D."
"Of course! I'm Karuizawa Kei, after all."
"So someone as amazing as Karuizawa Kei wouldn't have a problem she couldn't handle herself, but still try to act tough and hide it from me, would she?"
"I never said there was anything I couldn't handle! Besides, some people just went and declared me their possession without asking."
"Anyway, if anything happens, remember to come to me."
Unusually, she paused for a moment before replying:
"Got it."
After getting her confirmation, I put away my mobile terminal and got ready to leave the classroom.
Tetsuya had gone to his club activities as usual, while Ryota had planned to wait and walk back to the dorm with me, but I told him not to.
I picked up my bag and left through the classroom's back door.
I went downstairs, and at the landing I ran into a familiar figure.
Ichinose stood with her hands behind her back, facing out of the school building.
She seemed to be admiring the view, or perhaps thinking about something.
My footsteps seemed to interrupt her thoughts, and she turned around.
"Ichinose, why are you here alone?"
She didn't answer my question, instead staring straight at me.
There was a hint of grievance in her gaze, along with a trace of anger.
"Hajima-kun... wh-why... did you do that?"
I understood what she meant. I opened my mouth, but didn't know what to say.
Doing this would help resolve some potential problems down the road.
The ones involving Class B as a group.
I tried to explain.
But Ichinose, who had only been a little angry, suddenly had tears in her eyes.
She pressed her lips together and stared at me without a word.
Oh no!
She was about to cry!
I wanted to comfort her, but I had no idea what to do.
"I know you did it for me... for us, but..."
"But it puts you in an unfair position... No matter what, having a label that doesn't belong to you forced onto you will affect you."
I thought it over for a moment, then said:
"But all things considered, I think it was worth it."
"Besides, maybe everyone won't pay much attention to me. Everyone has their own life and their own world, so you don't need to worry too much about what other people think of me."
"But what about the people who care about you!"
"What will the people who care about you and value you think? Have you considered how they feel?"
"I..."
Looking into Ichinose's red-rimmed eyes, every excuse suddenly seemed so powerless.
"I don't want... I don't want you to carry me like this..."
This was
the second time I'd hugged her.
Warm tears seemed to seep into my shoulder.
They were only tears falling on my shoulder, so why did their bitterness seem to eat away at my taste buds?
For some reason, I could taste the bitterness.
"All right, Ichinose."
I stroked the little head resting on my shoulder as I spoke.
"Being able to share some of your burden is nothing at all."
"Or are you saying that if it were you, Ichinose, you wouldn't do the same for me?"
"Of course I would!"
The girl, who had been resting her head on my shoulder, suddenly looked up.
Even with her eyes slightly red, her gaze was full of determination.
In the hallway, the fading light of the setting sun stretched the shadows of the two figures longer and longer.
Before you continue