This is a Story From a Long Time Ago. ②

“Akari, have you decided what you’re doing after graduation?”

“Yeah, maybe become a bride? What about you, Meg?”

“Hmm… Well, if I follow my parents’ orders, it’s probably off to college, but honestly, I’m not thrilled about it.”

“I get that. Family expectations can be tough, right? I totally understand. Just yesterday, my mom was like, Akari, make sure you gargle and wash your hands when you get home.”

“You should probably do that, you know.”

Break time.

Laughter drifts from the corner of the classroom. The ones chatting are Hayashi and Kasahara, who’ve grown completely comfortable with each other by now. I’ve thought this countless times, but ever since we ended up in the same class in our second year of high school, those two have been inseparable. Even someone like me, who isn’t particularly close to them, can see it plain as day.

At the start of the year, I ended up seated near Hayashi, but since then, our seats have hardly ever been close. It’s almost miraculous how our desks always seem to end up on opposite sides of the room. Back then, I thought it was a pretty convenient arrangement. No need to worry about Hayashi shooting me glares or snapping at me for no reason.

Still, for some reason, those two chatting during break time always seemed to catch the corner of my eye, no matter how far away they were.

But that day… the day after Kasahara got rejected by that senior, Sekine, during break time, I think I was consciously watching her, unlike usual.

Kasahara, chatting with Hayashi, was all smiles, speaking in her usual gentle tone, her demeanor soft as always. Even today, she was talking to Hayashi with the same vibe as ever.

Despite what happened after school yesterday, Kasahara was living her life like nothing had changed.

Yesterday, after she told me about getting rejected, we barely exchanged any meaningful words. I didn’t know what to say to her, and seeing her act so tough, with that unbothered expression, I didn’t feel like offering words of comfort or encouragement either. I mean, back then, I was even more cynical than I am now, so maybe I wouldn’t have said anything anyway…

In any case, I was convinced that even though I’d stumbled upon that scene, there was no way my relationship with Kasahara would deepen beyond that.

The turning point came after school that day.

On days when I wasn’t on trash duty, I was always one of the first to leave the classroom. At the time, I was obsessed with working out, heading to the gym with money my parents gave me right after school. Sweating it out and heading home was my routine. I didn’t join any clubs—group activities just weren’t my thing.

That day, too, I was heading home after a good workout.

The gym I went to was closer to school than my house. To get home from there, I had to take a train for about three stops.

When I got to the station, I waited for the next train. In the countryside, trains only come every thirty minutes or so, and my timing was off, so I was stuck killing time at the station for a while.

At a rural station at night, voices carry well. There aren’t many people around, and there’s barely anything to block the sound, so it’s only natural.

I was messing around on my phone to pass the time when I heard a familiar voice from the ticket gate and looked up.

“See ya.”

“Yeah, later.”

Beyond the gate, at the entrance to the station, I saw a few familiar faces. There were about five girls, including Hayashi and Kasahara. Kasahara was waving goodbye to the group, including Hayashi. It seemed like she was the only one among them who took the train to school.

Hayashi and the others smiled and waved back as Kasahara said her farewells. After their voices faded into the distance, Kasahara passed through the gate.

To get from the gate to the platform, you have to cross a walkway. That’s why I could see the group hanging out in front of the gate from the platform, but I must’ve been staring at Kasahara too absentmindedly because our eyes met as she passed through.

Oh no.

Why did I feel that way? I don’t know.

But I felt uneasy and dropped my gaze back to my phone.

Has Kasahara already crossed the walkway and reached the platform?

I didn’t bother checking, nor did I want to. I just hoped she didn’t think I was some weirdo.

“You’re heading home pretty late, huh?”

“Gah!”

I was so absorbed in my phone that when a voice came from beside me, I let out a weird yelp. My phone slipped from my hand.

“Whoa, whoa… Phew, looks like the screen’s fine.”

Kasahara, the reason I dropped my phone in the first place, picked it up with a smile and handed it back to me.

“Thanks.”

I thanked her sincerely. I may be cynical most of the time, but even I’m not so rotten that I can’t express gratitude properly.

“Sorry for freaking out.”

“No worries, I don’t mind.”

A moment of silence. Honestly, it was awkward.

My mind was racing. Why on earth did Kasahara just come up and talk to me?

…Oh, probably because I was staring at her after she passed through the gate.

“Sorry for making you uncomfortable.”

I apologized. I assumed she came over to call me out for staring.

“Huh?”

But it seemed I’d missed the mark.

For a moment, we just stared at each other in silence.

“…Um, I just thought, since I’m waiting for the train, maybe you could keep me company?”

“I see.”

“Yeah… Was that annoying?”

“Kinda.”

“Oh, kinda, huh?”

If someone saw a lowlife like me talking to her, it could tank her social standing. That’s the kind of petty drama that happens. I didn’t want to stir up any trouble, so I brushed her off, factoring in all that. But Kasahara didn’t seem to care. Then don’t ask, I thought at the time.

“So, what’s keeping you out this late?”

“I was at the gym.”

“Oh, the one next to Pablo’s café?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow, Yamamoto-kun, are you into some kind of sport?”

“Not really. I’ve just been into weight training lately.”

“Cool! Hey, can I feel your biceps?”

“…Heh.”

“Oh, was that a no?”

“No way. I’d go so far as to say I’ve been waiting for this moment to satisfy my need for validation.”

The reason I, a guy with few friends, got into weight training was partly for self-improvement, but honestly, it was mostly to feed my need for validation—contradictory as that sounds. I’d often strike poses in front of my bedroom mirror, thinking about it.

Somebody praise me already!

“Wow, they’re so firm!”

Kasahara was happily poking at my right bicep as she said it. Her reaction filled me with a strange sense of satisfaction.

“…Thanks, Kasahara.”

“Huh? For what?”

“My family keeps saying I’m too obsessive, that weight training’s gonna wreck my body.”

Basically, they’re worried I’ll overdo it and hurt myself, so they tell me to quit.

“You’re the only one who’s praised my muscles instead of calling them gross.”

“Really? Then I guess I’m your first.”

“That’s a way to put it that could be misunderstood, but you’re not wrong.”

Kasahara laughed, Haha!

After a bit, I started to feel something off about her attitude again. Despite getting rejected by the guy she liked yesterday, she was acting totally normal—at school, chatting with her friends earlier, and now here. She didn’t seem fazed by the heartbreak at all.

“…You’re pretty tough, huh?”

“Am I?”

“Yesterday… you know, after what happened, it’s kind of impressive that you can laugh like this.”

I realized my comment lacked tact and trailed off, my words growing heavy. Even if Kasahara wasn’t hung up on yesterday, that didn’t mean she’d want to have it brought up.

“Sorry, that was a weird thing to say. Forget it.”

“No, it’s fine. Yeah… it was a shock, but I can’t keep dwelling on it, right?”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

That must be where Kasahara’s strength comes from.

“…But, you know, I haven’t told anyone else yet.”

“Huh?”

“You’re the only one who knows about yesterday.”

Kasahara smiled, almost seductively.

“…Honestly, it’s a bit hard to tell everyone else. They’d probably worry too much, you know? I can even imagine them turning Sekine-senpai into some kind of villain.”

“Yeah, I can see that.”

“So… for a while, Yamamoto-kun, if it’s not too much trouble… could you maybe be there for me?”

“What? No way.”

Why should I, someone totally uninvolved, have to do that?

The denial slipped out before I could stop it.

Kasahara burst out laughing.

“That’s harsh! Come on, just a little?”

“No way, sounds like a hassle.”

“Aw, come on… You’re so mean, Yamamoto-kun. You’ll never get a girlfriend like that, you know?”

“Well, I’m not exactly trying to.”

“…Oh, really? Pfft.”

Kasahara laughed again. It didn’t seem like a bitter laugh. I had no idea what she found so funny, but she was clearly trying to hold back a chuckle.

“…Yamamoto-kun, are you always heading home around this time?”

“Pretty much.”

“Got it.”

Just then, an announcement about the train’s arrival echoed through the station.

“Well, I’ll be waiting tomorrow, too.”

“…You say you’ll wait, but…”

“Doesn’t bother me.”

“What doesn’t?”

“If you’re running late. I’ll just be waiting here on the platform. Maybe even until the next morning.”

“That’s more aggressive than I expected… Fine, do whatever you want.”

“Yay!”

Was it for comfort? Or was there some other emotion at play? I don’t know.

But from that day on, Kasahara really did start going home with me.

Thank you for the #1 weekly ranking in the genre!

I think this might be my first time getting it. I’m thrilled.

And yeah, I totally forgot about the whole “posting two chapters a day” thing. It’s an author-approved unofficial setting, so…

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