A couple of days passed since I met up with Hasegawa-san. We still talk to each other, but she still hasn't told me anything about what's bothering her. Last time she also said something about showing me something, I'm not sure if she said that as a reason or genuinely wanted to show me something. Oh, well guess it's too late to ask now.
Today is Thursday. School has just finished, but today Taki will be tagging along with me on the way home since his club was on break. Come to think of it. I don't even know which club he joined.
"Taki, I've been wondering, what club did you join?"
"Are you interested in joining clubs?"
"Not really, I just wanted to ask. Even if I did join a club, I'd attend the first day then never come back the following days."
"Ahh, I could imagine you doing that. But If you wanted to know, I joined the occult club."
"Wait, what?!"
"I'm joking. I joined the baseball club."
"That seems boring. Let's stop at that cafe for a second? I kinda want to eat something."
"Sure thing."
We stopped by the cafe to take a rest and get something to eat. This cafe was also the same one where Hasegawa-san and I last hanged out.
I suddenly received a text. I checked, and it was Hasegawa-san. I responded back to her message, and I noticed that Taki was smirking at me.
"Oi! Taki, did you become gay or something?"
The grin he had on his face became more noticeable.
"Hiro, who was that?" he said sarcastically.
"What do you mean who was that? it was just a friend."
He quickly grabbed my phone and began to check the messages.
"And... what do we have here, Miss... Nagisa Hasegawa. Ohoho, is she your new girlfriend or something?"
"Ugh... No, she's not my girlfriend, now give me back my phone."
"Then who is this lovely maiden?"
"She's a friend I met just a few weeks ago."
"And this friend of yours, is she single?"
"Why do you need to know? In fact, I don't even know the answer myself."
"Hmm... No wonder you looked happy these past couple of days."
Now that I think of it. I was never this outgoing. If I recall correctly, all I did was stay locked inside my room watching anime or reading manga.
Suddenly Taki slapped me in the back.
"Don't worry, I will support you both," he said with a determined expression.
"What support?! I told you I don't plan on going out with anyone. Never again..."
"You're still stuck up on that? It's been 3 years now. Look, I might look like I am forcing this on you. But as your best friend, I am genuinely concerned. I can't stand here any longer watching you grieve. You told me before that you accepted it fully, yet why do you still distance yourself from me. I know that this is hurting you but look around. It's not only you agonizing over this. There are people out there who care for you. Watching someone you care for getting hurt while no being able to do something is excruciating."
Taki stands up from his seat then takes his bag.
"Please think about it, Hiro."
Taki takes his lave. I was left at the cafe.
I know! I know it already! But I just can't bring myself to do it. What else can I do? I haven't accepted it. I escaped it.
The reason I was hooked up with manga and anime was that I wanted to escape it all. I wanted to live in a different world. I wanted to live like those protagonists in the manga and anime. I wanted to...