"You know, I usually don't talk to anyone except Jasper and Momiji. I avoid getting involved with others. Any idea why?"
"Because you're actually a ghost?"
"This is not a place for jokes."
Just then, a steel can transformed into a flying object aimed at my face. I deflected it with a backfist and tossed it straight into the nearby trash can.
"No matter who I talk to or interact with, it's just boring. It seems like only Jasper and Momiji were exceptions; I felt no real meaning in relating to anyone else. Is that about right?"
"If you understand that, stop messing around and just say it from the start. You'll end up disliked, you know?"
Aoi Yuki sighed, exasperated, though she didn't seem too bothered. "In social interactions, you often laugh at uninteresting things or say things you don't actually mean just to fit in, right? I can't stand that. It's a pointless act that doesn't help either party. Shallow relationships make me nauseous."
"By that reasoning, I feel like I might also fall under the category of people you dislike."
"I mentioned it at the beginning. I don't mind if you're a friend of Jasper's."
"I now realize that those words held more meaning than I initially thought."
"If you're a friend of Jasper's, I can trust you unconditionally. Honestly, I don't even know why I can trust you this much."
"That's a good thing, right? It's rare to find friends you can believe in without reservations."
So far, the only one I could trust unconditionally was Summer. But since Summer is my sister, she doesn't count.
"Jasper is like a light that illuminated the shadowed parts of my life. Momiji is more of a bonus, but I like her because she's genuine and straightforward."
"Hey, you're treating Kaba pretty carelessly. If she were here, she'd genuinely be upset."
"If that happens, I'll leave Kaba to you. Make sure to comfort her properly."
"Sorry, but I think that kind of thing is something couples do for each other."
"I knew you'd say that."
Aoi Yuki let out a sigh, one of many.
"For now, you're good at picking up on other people's feelings, so help Kaba—no, Jasper too. If either of them is struggling or feeling down, lend a hand."
"I'll help Aoi Yuki too."
"Huh?"
I thought I was stating the obvious, yet Aoi Yuki stared at me in surprise. I tilted my head, confused by her reaction.
"What? We're friends, right? Besides, you seem to have trust issues. If I don't help you, who will?"
As I spoke, it began to dawn on me. Aoi Yuki probably spent her life solving everything on her own. That's why she wasn't used to relying on others.
"—It's okay. You can relax, Aoi Yuki."
So I flashed her my best smile and offered my hand.
"With me around, your daily life won't be boring, and you don't have to bear your troubles alone when times get tough. I can say that for sure. So, Aoi Yuki, let's make every day enjoyable from now on!"
"Shuhei…"
As I extended my hand, Aoyuki's lips softened into a smile. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled before opening her eyes again.
"Hey, Shuhei."
She pulled a candy from her pocket and placed it in my palm.
"—Do you want some candy?"
"…"
Faced with her pure, unblemished smile, I found myself at a loss for words. It was the first time I had seen Aoyuki's genuine smile, shining brighter than any jewel yet radiating the innocent charm of a girl her age.
"—What's up? You can smile properly after all."
A smile can change a person's impression entirely. Aoyuki suited this cheerful demeanor far better than her usual stoic expression.
A gentle breeze swept through us, carrying new possibilities and sweeping away the old.
At that moment, something shifted within Aoyuki. The dull days of the past seemed to fade, giving way to a new chapter in our daily lives. Just looking at her smile made it clear.
"I'm Fukinagi Shuhei. Nice to meet you again, Aoyuki."
I took the candy from her hand and returned her smile with one just as bright.
"I'm Mizuno Rapids Aoyuki. Nice to meet you, Shuhei."
We both tossed the candies into our mouths. The sweet flavor filled my heart as we laughed together. I had a feeling that from now on, we would continue to laugh every day without ever growing bored.
"Ah, how beautiful is the bond of friendship! Wow, this is quite a sight!" Jasper appeared, clapping his hands and wearing a satisfied smile.
"Ha ha… Good morning to you both!" Behind him, there was also Momiji, her cheeks reddened as she shyly scratched her face. At the sudden visit, Aoiyuki's smile vanished, replaced by a stoic expression, as she scrutinized Jasper, who continued to beam at Iris with curiosity.
"…Jasper, how long have you been watching us?"
"Oh, it was around the time Ethan struck his 'I got this, Aoiyuki, you can relax' pose. He looked so cool!"
At least Jasper hadn't been listening the whole time. Realizing this brought a wave of relief to both me and Aoiyuki.
"Peeking is a rather poor hobby, isn't it? Hey, Momiji, you should have stopped him properly."
"I did try! But Jasper insisted he wanted to hear it because it might become future material for him," she replied, almost defensively.
"So it's Jasper who's in the wrong?"
"Looks that way. I'd say I'm more of a victim in this situation!"
"Jasper, should we head to the infirmary? At this hour, the bed would probably be available." I grabbed the collar of Jasper's shirt and pulled him along.
Surprisingly light, he was easily dragged behind me without much effort.
"What do you think you're luring me into?! Wait, are you suggesting we practice… health and physical education?!"
"The bed is my own kind of kindness. I could easily choke you out right here and leave you lying there. It's still early spring, and the ground is cold, but would you prefer to be choked out on the floor or on the nurse's office bed? Which do you think is better?"
I asked Jasper with my broadest smile, but his expression completely froze in response.
"Don't you think it's wrong to be violent towards a girl?"
"Huh? You want me to choke you out quickly? Alright, leave it to me!"
"Wait!? I never said—ouch!?"
With a perfectly executed headlock, I found myself surprisingly aligned with his height. Jasper's head was just in front of my eyes, and the scent from his hair tickled my nostrils.
"..."
It felt oddly nostalgic. I didn't even understand why. But one thing was certain—I recognized that scent. No doubt about it.
"G-give… Shuhei-kun… I give up!!"
Yet, I couldn't remember. I knew I should, but why couldn't I? It was as if my memories were locked away. Even more bewildering was the feeling that I shouldn't try to remember.
"...I..."
Damn it… What's happening?! The more I tried to recall, the more muddled it became…!!
"—Shuhei!!"
"...Huh!?"
A jolt of realization snapped me back. Suddenly, light broke through the darkness of my vision, and in front of me stood Aoyuki, smiling wryly and pointing down.
"Jasper is completely out of it. Going any further would be overkill," I said.
"Oh, crap!"
I held Jasper tightly in my arms, making sure he wouldn't fall. I hadn't really meant to choke him out...
I lightly slapped his cheek, but there was no response; it was clear he was completely unconscious.
"Ethan, you really don't hold back, even with girls," came the teasing remark.
"Well, it can't be helped this time; it's Jasper's fault. But really, what were you thinking?"
"..."
After a moment of hesitation about whether to tell Aoi Yuki, I eventually decided not to.
"I was just wondering what to have for lunch today," I replied.
To be continued…
"—Ahahaha! What was that? Hahaha!"
During lunch break that day, I told Summer about the morning's events, and as expected, she burst into laughter. I watched her, arms crossed, feeling dissatisfied as she continued to giggle without a care in the world.
I was supposed to introduce Summer to Aoi Yuki, but we agreed to wait until after school when we had more time.
"Whoa!? Hey, you idiot! Don't crush that juice box; it'll spill everywhere!"
"Well, it's your fault for being such an idiot, hahaha!"
So, just like yesterday, we spread a leisure sheet out under the blue sky and relaxed... relaxed? Well, we spent the time as usual. By the way, Summer and I were on the rooftop, conveniently ignoring the sign that said "Students Forbidden Beyond This Point."
"The breeze feels great, doesn't it?"
"This season, there's nothing better than eating here. The view is fantastic."
"I can't believe a simple 108 yen sandwich tastes so good. It's true that the scenery makes the food delicious!"
"From now on, let's eat here every day!"
"Agreed!"
There's a world of difference between the cityscape and the view surrounded by nature. In the city, all you see are towering buildings. In contrast, Nijigoka Town offers forests and rivers, providing a refreshing sight for those of us used to the urban hustle.
"By the way,"
"Hmm?"
"Do you know why there's a fence installed on the school roof?"
I spat out my coffee milk. The brown liquid misted around Summer.
"Whoa, that's gross... Do you have a hobby of covering your sister in coffee?"
"Why bring up such a dark topic in this conversation?!"
"They built it to prevent not just falls, but suicides."
"I know that!"
"Then what do you think she's trying to do?"
Summer suddenly pointed sideways. Wiping her mouth with a handkerchief, I followed her gaze to see a girl with orange hair climbing over the fence.
Oh no, if she keeps that up in her skirt, her underwear will be visible...
"She's just trying to commit suicide, isn't she?"
"Do you think so too, big brother?"
"I mean, climbing over the fence just to do that—what else could it be? Even with a fence, people like her still find a way, so what's the point?"
"If they at least used barbed wire, it might help prevent this sort of thing, but this just isn't enough."
"Barbed wire? That's like something out of a prison."
"Right? Hahaha."
"Haha!"
"..."
"..."
"Wait!! This isn't a moment for calm analysis!!"
Summer and I dash toward the girl climbing the fence at full speed. She's already at the top, and if she lets go, she's going to fall straight to the ground.
"Stop this foolishness!!"
As I shout, the girl looks at us, her expression filled with surprise as if she just noticed our presence.
What do I do? How should I handle this? Damn it! I've never thought about how to deal with someone trying to commit suicide! Should I try to persuade her? What would be most effective? Anything will do!! Right now, stopping her is the priority!!
"—Hey! We can see your underwear!!"
"Are you a pervert!?"
The girl, gripping the edge of her skirt, glares at me with a face flushed red with embarrassment.
What am I even shouting about at this critical moment? There must have been better words I could have used! But whatever, the outcome is what matters. At least I've stopped her for now. The real question is, what do I do next?!
"...Wait, is that you, Summer?"
"...Huh?"
At the sound of that carefree voice, my mind, which had been racing at full speed, froze.
The girl was looking not at me, but at Summer, her face lighting up with joy as she waved cheerfully.
"…Flora?"
Summer seemed to be caught up in the girl's lightheartedness too, waving back.
"Summer, do you know her...?"
"Classmate... sort of."
"Sort of? Sunny is definitely in the same class as you!"