Chapter 7: Let’s Walk Hiyori-san to the Station
“I’m sorry. You treated me to dinner, and on top of that, you’re even seeing me off. I was supposed to be thanking you, but I ended up troubling you again.”
“No, I should be the one apologizing. My family was noisy and a bother, weren’t they?”
“Not at all! Your mother and your little brothers too, they were super fun and really nice people!”
After we finished dinner, I chatted a bit with my cheerful family… and by the time we were done with all that, it had gotten completely dark outside.
My mom and the others must have figured it was getting too late, so they decided to call it a night. They left seeing Hiyori-san off to me and are now in the middle of cleaning up at home.
I thought about walking her all the way home, but Hiyori-san said that would be too much trouble. So, at her suggestion, we decided I’d see her off to the busy station front.
She said she’d take a taxi from there, so I agreed to that.
“It feels kind of strange. It’s only been a few hours, but it feels like we spent a much longer time together.”
“Ah… so it was tough for you after all? Like how difficult times feel longer, that sort of thing?”
“That’s not what I meant. Even though it was my first time at your place, and I was with people I’d just met… it didn’t feel like that at all. It felt like I was spending time with people I’ve known for a ve~ry long time… It was so fun, time just flew by.”
I was worried about what Hiyori-san thought of my family’s (or rather, my mom’s) behavior, which was quite forward, or even rude, but it seems she wasn’t offended.
As I felt relieved by that, Hiyori-san turned to me and spoke.
“Don’t you think so too, Yusuke-kun? We’ve only been talking like this for about a day, and we’re already calling each other by our first names.”
“Y-yeah, you’re right. It certainly is strange, now that you mention it…”
Feeling a little embarrassed, I agreed with Hiyori-san’s words.
To tell the truth, I could somehow understand what she was saying.
Just as she said, it’s only been about a day since we practically got to know each other, yet we’re already calling each other by our first names.
The strange thing is, it feels like it’s always been this way… That can’t be true, and I still feel a bit shy about calling her by her first name, yet there’s a part of me that accepts it.
However, while it was strange, it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling. Judging from her demeanor, Hiyori-san probably felt the same way.
As I was bewildered by this strange state of mind—wanting to feel relieved but also feeling inexplicably restless—Hiyori-san stopped walking, a serious expression on her face, and said.
“…Um, Yusuke-kun. I have a favor to ask, would you hear me out?”
“A favor? What is it?”
“…Starting tomorrow, at school too… would it be okay if I called you by your first name?”
“Eh…?”
Her request made my eyes widen in surprise.
I wondered what had come over her so suddenly, but then yesterday’s events and what she told me this morning flashed back in my mind, and I understood the true meaning behind her request.
For a year after she started dating Ema, Hiyori-san had kept it a secret from everyone around them.
She desperately hid their relationship, continuing to act as just childhood friends, and spent a year like that… Yesterday, she found out that Ema had been betraying her all along.
The more she tried to hide the fact that she’d gotten close to me today, the more those memories would resurface. The thought that she was doing the same thing as when she was dating Ema would flicker in her mind and refuse to leave.
That’s why she probably wanted to show herself as she is, without hiding the fact that she’d become friends with me.
Honestly, it’s embarrassing. I was also worried that my friends at school might tease me the same way my family did.
But… if it means Hiyori-san won’t have to suffer, then none of that matters. If I can make her, who has suffered so much, smile, then I’ll gladly accept any teasing words and embarrassment.
“…Yeah, okay. In return, would it be okay if I called you Hiyori-san, too?”
“Y-yes! Of course!”
When I steeled myself and nodded with a smile, Hiyori-san’s anxious expression instantly brightened into a happy smile, and she looked delighted.
I’ll probably get poked fun at by our classmates soon enough… But even so, I was able to make Hiyori-san smile like this now, so that’s fine by me.
“I have one more favor to ask. Would it be okay if I came over to your house again like this, Yusuke-kun? I mentioned it briefly, but both my parents work, and they often don’t come home… Eating dinner alone is lonely, you know.”
“Of course, it’s fine! Mom, Masato, Taiga, and of course, I would all welcome you! Don’t hesitate to come over whenever you feel lonely!”
“…Thank you. Yusuke-kun, you’re so kind…!!”
I didn’t miss the words Hiyori-san murmured, her voice tinged with tears even as she smiled happily.
If something this simple can make her happy, it’s an easy task. I’ll invite her to dinner as many times as she wants and make sure she has a good time.
Yes… it’s just simple things like this.
Calling each other by our first names, sharing a meal at the table, just things like that.
If that’s all it takes to make the hurt Hiyori-san smile, I’ll gladly do it.
Thinking such thoughts, I continued walking slowly, matching her shorter strides, and before I knew it, we had arrived at the station front.
There were several taxis waiting for passengers at the taxi stand, so she’d be able to get a ride home right away.
However… there was a part of me that felt disappointed by that.
While wishing I could talk with her just a little longer, I didn’t let it show as I saw Hiyori-san get into the taxi. Just as the door was about to close, I called out to her.
“Hiyori-san! Today was fun. See you tomorrow at school.”
“…Yeah! See you tomorrow at school!!”
――Was it just my imagination, or did Hiyori-san’s expression seem a little downcast for a moment?
I wondered if she, too, was reluctant to part ways with me… Scolding myself for such a conceited thought, I watched Hiyori-san leave.
Even after the taxi door closed, it started moving, and she disappeared from sight… I kept staring in the direction the car had driven off for a long, long time.