C53

Chapter 53: Between the Two of Them

Tuesday, Homeroom Dismissal

Kujo was showing signs of frustration.

The memory of being called out by the soccer club advisor during the lunch break came rushing back to him.

Without even knowing what it was about, he had headed to the staff room with Sugisawa. And what they were told there was—that until the school made its official decision, they were to refrain from participating in club activities.

"…Huh?"

The sound slipped out of him involuntarily.

He knew the investigation was ongoing at school. But he never expected they would be banned from club activities, too.

"It's not that a punishment has been decided yet. It's just that we're still under investigation."

Even being told that, there was no way he could accept it.

Am I going to have even soccer taken away from me over something like this?

That frustration was still lingering even now during homeroom dismissal.

…Besides, the guys in class were ignoring him again today.

They wouldn't talk to him. If their eyes almost met, they'd look away, and even when he was nearby, he was treated as if he didn't exist at all.

It wasn't like they were overtly doing anything to him. Even so, being treated as a total invisible outsider by everyone made him unbearably angry.

Before long, homeroom ended, and as the homeroom teacher left the classroom, the students began packing up to go home one by one. Kujo grabbed his bag and attempted to leave the classroom as he was.

Just then, a voice called out from behind.

"Kujo-kun."

It was a familiar voice.

When Kujo turned around, Meiko was standing there with her usual expression. However, pausing for just a moment as if gauging the right timing to speak, she opened her mouth.

"Today, um… if you can't go to club activities, do you want to walk home together?"

"Is Rinko okay with that?"

"Rinko seems to have some errands today."

Meiko replied and waited for Kujo's answer.

"Is that so. Then let's head home."

Leaving the classroom with Meiko, Kujo glanced toward the athletic field just once before leaving the building as they walked down the hallway. After watching the students about to start their club activities, he quickly shifted his gaze back and continued down the corridor.

Soon reaching the shoe locker area, Kujo changed his shoes and left the school building together with Meiko.

◇

Even after leaving the school gate, Kujo's frustration had not subsided. As he walked, he recalled the events of the day and clicked his tongue inwardly time and time again.

Meiko watched Kujo's profile from beside him.

"Kujo-kun."

"Hm?"

Pausing slightly as if hesitating over her words, Meiko opened her mouth as if resolving herself.

"…Do you want to stop by the arcade to clear your head?"

Kujo slowed his pace as if thinking for a moment, then directed his gaze toward Meiko.

"…Yeah, alright. Let's hit the arcade."

"That's the spirit!"

Saying that, Meiko smiled happily.

◇

Entering the arcade, the two walked side by side through the interior, looking around at the games that caught their interest. After a while, Kujo stopped in front of a large screen.

"This looks fun."

On the screen, a game was unfolding where advancing zombies were shot down with guns. Gun-shaped controllers for two players were attached to the cabinet.

"Do you want to try playing this together?"

"U-Um, yeah."

Meiko nodded faintly.

"What's wrong?"

"N-Nothing at all!"

With a side glance at Meiko trying to act tough, Kujo chuckled with amusement. Then the two turned back toward the screen, shooting down the advancing zombies one after another.

Soon, a giant boss filled the screen, causing Meiko's body to flinch backward again. Her grip on the gun tightened, and she stared at the screen with an obvious look of fear.

Her reaction was so transparent that Kujo burst out laughing.

"…Hahaha."

"Jeez, stop laughing!"

By the time the game ended, Meiko was completely exhausted. Holding the gun, she took small breaths with her shoulders and stared blankly at the cabinet screen.

"…I'm so tired."

Seeing her like that, Kujo laughed amusedly once more.

"Was it really that scary?"

"Like I said, it wasn't scary…"

Even as she said that, Meiko didn't even have the energy left to put up a front.

After finishing the zombie game, the two started walking around the arcade again. After a while, Meiko suddenly stopped in front of a crane game.

"Ah!"

Meiko stared at the prizes through the glass. Sitting right there was a mysterious mascot with a goofy face.

"…It's Choromaru. Cute."

Seeing the mysterious mascot Meiko was gazing at, Kujo stepped up in front of the crane game.

"I'm actually pretty good at these kinds of things."

Saying that, he challenged it, but for the first few tries, even when the arm grabbed Choromaru, it slipped out at the last frustrating moment. That instead fired Kujo up.

"Kujo-kun… you should probably stop."

"No, this next time for sure."

Whenever his coins ran out, he'd sprint to the change machine and head straight back to the machine upon returning. Irritated by the agonizing placement of almost getting it but failing, he operated the arm over and over again, until he realized he had already poured 2,000 yen into it.

"…Damn it, it's just a little bit more."

Still refusing to give up, he kept going until the arm finally caught Choromaru firmly. As the prize dropped into the retrieval slot, Kujo clenched his fist involuntarily.

"All right!"

Taking out the prize, Kujo looked at Choromaru with satisfaction. Then he turned his gaze to Meiko.

"Here, have it."

Meiko accepted the offered Choromaru by cupping it with both hands. She hugged it tightly to her chest, holding it gently and preciously within her arms. A sweet, involuntary smile bloomed on her face as she looked down at Choromaru with affection.

"…I'm so happy. Thank you."

At that moment, Kujo's heart unexpectedly skipped a beat. For just a brief second, the surrounding sounds felt like they faded away into the distance, and Kujo found himself unable to tear his gaze away from Meiko right in front of him.

Clearing his throat once as if snapping back to reality, he answered briefly to hide his embarrassment.

"Yeah…"

Leaving the arcade, the two began walking side by side toward the station. As the lively sounds filling the store faded behind them, a quiet twilight atmosphere spread across the town.

The low-slanting sunlight filtered through the gaps between the buildings, stretching their shadows long at their feet. On the way to the station, when a crepe shop came into view a bit ahead, Meiko suddenly slowed her pace. Her gaze, directed toward the storefront, soon returned to Kujo walking beside her.

"Hey, Kujo-kun."

"Hm?"

"…You won Choromaru for me earlier, right? Um… as a thank you, let me treat you to a crepe?"

Kujo directed his gaze to Meiko's face, slightly averted his eyes, and answered.

"Yeah… well, I guess I'll take you up on that."

Reaching the storefront, the two peered at the menu side by side. Standing close enough that their shoulders brushed naturally, Meiko moved her fingertips as she looked over the lined-up crepes.

"I think I'll go with… the strawberry mille-feuille."

Right beside Meiko as she made her choice, Kujo lowered his gaze to the menu and pondered for a moment. After tracing several names with his eyes, his gaze lingered on a newly added item.

"…Then, I guess I'll have this one."

What Kujo pointed at was the caramel cream.

Having bought their crepes, the two began walking toward the station. After a little while, Kujo noticed Meiko casting glances toward his hand as they walked side by side.

Tilting his head slightly at Meiko, who was intently staring at his caramel cream crepe, Kujo spoke.

"…Do you want to try a bite?"

Saying that, Kujo extended his hand to offer the crepe to Meiko.

Instead of reaching out her hand, Meiko slightly shortened the distance between them. Her black hair fluttered softly in the evening breeze, brushing against Kujo's arm.

Without changing position, Meiko leaned her face in and took a bite out of the offered crepe.

Kujo's body froze completely.

Raising her head, Meiko looked up at Kujo with eyes catching the setting sun, a soft smile spreading across her lips.

"…It's delicious."

Stunned by that natural gesture, Kujo stared at Meiko in disbelief. With his extended hand still out, he couldn't move for a while.

Soon, watching Kujo's reaction, Meiko cast her gaze down at her own crepe. With a small smile, she then extended it toward Kujo.

"Would you like to try some too, Kujo-kun?"

"N-No, I'm fine."

Kujo averted his gaze, looking embarrassed.

Seeing Kujo like that, Meiko laughed happily. That laughter felt as though it was gently shaping a fleeting moment that would someday become a distant memory…

◇

Arriving at the station platform, the two stood side by side waiting for the train. Surrounded by the figures of people passing back and forth on the platform and the rumbling sound of trains coming from afar, a peaceful time flowed between them.

Before long, the light of a train appeared across the tracks. That distant, tiny light gradually grew larger amidst the lingering twilight scenery, drawing closer to where the two of them stood. As they watched that light side by side, their peaceful moment slowly drew toward its close, as if reluctant to let go.

The rumbling sound of the train closed in right up to them, echoing across the entire platform. As that sound rang out like a bell tolling the end of their time together, Meiko gazed at the approaching car and then turned her face toward Kujo.

"Well then… I'm taking this train."

"Yeah."

Just as the two finished exchanging farewell greetings and Meiko started to head toward the train—

"Meiko."

Meiko turned back after being called.

"Today, um… thanks."

Meiko gave a soft laugh.

"See you tomorrow, Kujo-kun."

With those words, Meiko boarded the train.

As the train started moving, Kujo stood right where he was, tracking the car Meiko was on with his eyes. He watched her figure go until the receding train finally vanished from sight.

And then, standing alone on the platform, Kujo suddenly realized.

The frustration that had been snagged deep in his chest all day long had quietly melted away and vanished before he even noticed.