Chapter 2: Let’s Hear Nanase-san’s Story
“…So, you heard, huh? How embarrassing…”
“Sorry. I knew it wasn’t right, but I couldn’t help but…”
“It’s fine. It was our fault for talking about something like that in a public place. But… if you really feel bad, would you mind listening to me for a bit?”
“…If you’re okay with me, I’ll listen for as long as you want.”
As the sun set and darkness began to creep in, Nanase-san, who had been desperately eating the hamburger I offered her while sitting on a park bench, spoke with a faint smile.
As she crumpled the wrapper in her hand, I told her I’d keep her company, partly as an apology. Nanase-san looked a little happy and began to talk.
“…Hidetoshi (that guy) and I, well, we were childhood friends. We’ve been together since kindergarten, right up until now. I vaguely developed feelings for him… and then, in the summer of my third year of middle school, I confessed to him, and we started dating.”
“Summer of third year middle school, that’s around when you retire from club activities, right?”
“Yeah. He was in the basketball club, and on the very day his team lost to Onoue’s school in the district tournament and he had to retire, I confessed.”
Nanase-san said, looking at me with a smirk.
Honestly, I was surprised she knew I was in the basketball club during middle school, but then again, I also remembered Ema, whom I played against in matches, and Nanase-san who had come to cheer for him, so I figured it made sense.
“He was the team’s ace, you know, so he felt responsible for the loss and was crying his eyes out. Seeing that, I felt I had to support him. We’d been together for so long, and I had romantic feelings for him. But, he—”
Even though he accepted her confession and they became a couple… he was also dating other girls.
Towards Ema, who had deceived her for nearly a year since that summer, Nanase-san seemed to have moved past anger and into despair.
It would be natural to be shocked after discovering that the man she’d spent so long with as a childhood friend, the one she confessed to and became lovers with, was such a scumbag.
While I was wondering what to say to Nanase-san, who was suffering more than I imagined, she continued her story.
“…I’d thought something was off for a little while now. He became somewhat distant, yet his physical touches increased. So, the other day, when he said he had an errand and went home alone, I followed him… and there he was, flirting with Shibamura from our class. He wouldn’t even hold hands with me, saying it’d be embarrassing if people found out, but he didn’t say a thing when Shibamura clung to his arm, acting all lovey-dovey…!”
“So today, you called Ema out and confronted him, right?”
“…Yeah. And that was the result. He got defensive and then said something stupid… What the hell, saying my face and chest are better. Is that all he thinks about? I wonder if that’s all he was thinking about since we started dating…?”
“…That’s a terrible story. Even just listening, I couldn’t forgive Ema.”
Knowing it was shameful, I should have intervened sooner. If I had, Nanase-san might not have been hurt this much.
I can’t forgive Ema, but as I clenched my fists in frustration, feeling just as much anger towards myself for not being able to take that final step despite thinking I couldn’t forgive him, Nanase-san muttered.
“…Maybe I should have just given in?”
“Huh…!?”
“I thought it was still too early, and that we should do ‘that kind of thing’ when we’re more adult. But… I wonder if I had just given in a little, maybe I wouldn’t have had to feel this miserable. Like he said, my face and body are good. If I used that as bait, Hidetoshi too—”
“You shouldn’t say things like that. No, you shouldn’t even think them.”
If she had given in physically, would this not have happened? I firmly denied Nanase-san’s words.
Staring into the eyes of Nanase-san, who looked at me in surprise, I poured out my feelings to her.
“What you said before wasn’t wrong, Nanase-san. ‘That kind of thing’ isn’t something to be taken lightly. Besides, a relationship held together by physical intimacy isn’t a relationship between lovers, or anything at all.”
“…You’re right, huh? Even if he liked me for doing that, it wouldn’t be a real relationship between lovers. Just like you said, Onoue.”
“That’s right! In fact, you should think of it as lucky! You might not feel that way now, but thanks to finding out Ema’s true nature soon after starting high school, you didn’t have to waste any more time on him!”
“Ahaha! That’s certainly true! If I had just done whatever he wanted and let him have his way, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life! Besides… thanks to being down like this, I even got a hamburger treated to me!”
With a grin, Nanase-san stood up from the bench and tossed the crumpled hamburger wrapper into a nearby trash can.
Pleased that her shot made a beautiful arc and went in, she exclaimed, “Yes!” with a fist pump, then turned back to me and spoke.
“Thanks, Onoue. Thanks to you, I feel a bit better now! I need to pay you back for the hamburger, huh!”
“It’s fine, I did it because I wanted to. If you’re feeling better, Nanase-san, that’s all that matters.”
“…Thank you. I was super down and embarrassed, but I’m glad you were here, Onoue. If you hadn’t been, I don’t know what would have happened to me.”
Nanase-san thanked me, smiling shyly.
Seeing her, I felt a sense of relief, glad that my words, insignificant as they were, could cheer her up even a little.
“I should probably get going soon. It’ll be trouble if it gets any darker.”
“Then, I’ll walk you home. I’m still a little worried, you see.”
“Ooh, how kind of you~! In that case, I think I’ll take you up on your offer!”
And so, I walked Nanase-san to near her house.
As she left, she waved and said, “See you tomorrow at school,” with a refreshed smile… Seeing that, I finally felt truly relieved and headed home with a smile as well.