Hayashi Megumi’s Gaze

Watching a girl named Nene scratch her head with an embarrassed chuckle, I felt a hint of madness.

A whirlwind two-day, one-night trip to Shikoku. On a bike, from Tokyo, with barely any breaks.

Is that really… like Nene said, normal for bikers?

Bikers are something else… (Not that I cared much).

“What kind of bike do you ride?”

Yamamoto asked.

“A Suzu◯ SV650.”

“Whoa, a big bike? I had this random assumption that girls would ride midsize ones.”

“Well, when I first started college, I was on a midsize one, you know?”

…Big bike?

Midsize?

What’s that about?

I’m pretty clueless when it comes to bikes.

“I got my big bike license and bought this one recently.”

“Whoa.”

Yamamoto seemed a bit taken aback.

“…License and bike, at the same time?”

“Haha, Yamamoto-kun. A license is practically free if you shell out about two hundred thousand yen, right?”

“That’s the moment the concept of ‘free’ shattered for me.”

Yamamoto looked exasperated.

“A big bike must’ve cost a pretty penny too, huh?”

“Yup! I took out a loan for it.”

“You’re so carefree.”

“That’s just normal for bikers!”

“Stop making such sweeping statements.”

With a sigh, Yamamoto let out a long “Haa.”

The conversation seemed to hit a natural pause, so I tugged at the sleeve of Yamamoto’s shirt.

“Hey, Yamamoto? What’s this big bike and midsize stuff?”

“Huh? …Oh, it’s about the bike’s engine displacement. The higher the displacement, the more power and acceleration you get.”

“Oh, cool.”

“Riding a big bike down the metropolitan expressway at midnight is just exhilarating…”

Nene’s face took on a dreamy look, like she was lost in some memory, while Yamamoto narrowed his eyes at her.

“Did the old motorcycle club folks teach you that bike obsession of yours?”

“Huh? No… I didn’t really talk to them much.”

“Oh, got it…”

“Yeah… Honestly, they kinda scared me.”

The two, who had been (one-sidedly) getting along just fine, suddenly looked down awkwardly.

Seems like there’s some kind of backstory here.

“…Apparently, she got caught up in some messy love triangle drama.”

Yamamoto quietly explained the situation to me in a low voice.

A love triangle mess, huh.

From the way he said it, it sounds like Nene got hit on by some guy in the motorcycle club she used to be part of.

…That’s rough.

Back in high school, I got tangled up in some drama like that myself a few times.

You know, I was kind of a big deal back then.

Every time, it was a real hassle.

Friendships fell apart, and there were days I cried in secret so no one would notice.

“Hey, don’t you ever think about finding new biker friends?”

“…That’s…”

“…Want some help looking?”

“Huh?”

“Don’t get the wrong idea.”

I turned my face away.

“I just don’t like seeing Yamamoto’s friends feeling lonely, that’s all.”

…Th-that’s all it is, nothing more, nothing less.

“…Is that okay?”

“Well, just a little help, you know.”

“Really, someone like me is fine?”

“Ugh, enough already!”

I shot a glare at Nene.

“Stop being so timid! You’re cute, so act like it and put on a happier face!”

“C-cute…?”

Nene’s cheeks flushed as she looked down.

She seemed flustered just from being called cute, but at least she didn’t look guilty anymore.

“…Then, um, please.”

“…Sure.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.”

Out of nowhere, Yamamoto jumped in.

“Make some biker friends there. Maybe even get them to tutor you or something. Yeah, that’d be good.”

What’s Yamamoto going on about?

…Whatever, I guess.

A small sense of earnestness was starting to sprout inside me.

Right now, I was remembering something Yamamoto did for me once.

All those times… when Yamamoto helped me, saved me… I was recalling them.

If I said I wanted to repay him, Yamamoto would probably only accept my gratitude and nothing more.

But if I pushed and insisted he accept something, he’d probably end up saying something like this:

“Then go help someone else who’s struggling.”

With some half-hearted excuse.

In that annoying, reluctant tone of his.

That’s definitely what Yamamoto would say.

…So.

He didn’t actually say it, but still!

I decided I’d live up to that expectation.

…I’m gonna do this.

Quietly, a fire was burning inside me.

“Speaking of which, Yamamoto-kun! Bikes! You interested?”

The fire went out.

“…Me?”

“Yes! You, Yamamoto-kun!”

“Why me? There are other people, you know.”

“Because… you’re good at studies, seem to have free time, and don’t have any friends, so it’s gotta be you, right?”

“Hold on a sec. The friend thing’s got nothing to do with it.”

“It’s a huge deal!”

“Why?!”

“Do you really think I could have a normal conversation with a total stranger?”

“…Sorry. I didn’t think it through.”

“Right? …Oh, um, so, Hayashi-san! You should totally get a bike too—Eek!”

Nene let out a scream.

She screamed just looking at my face.

“…Yamamoto’s off-limits, got it?”

“Y-yeah, you’re right…”

With a dejected look, Nene mumbled.

Less than a month until the book’s release.

Worried every day about whether it’ll sell… as if.

I’m looking forward to lots of people buying it!