Chapter 28.2
Chako’s here for my sake .
Scared, and frightened… yet, she always stays by my side .
“You don’t have to worry about the game, anymore . You don’t have to be the villain . You don’t have to worry about the protagonist… me… Chako can walk on Chako’s road . You can choose yourself, and seize your own future . ”
Whenever .
However many times .
Chako has always, for my sake .
“Chako, I, want to save Chako . What should I do? How can I recompense Chako?”
“Ehh… No, you see . I want to repay Yui-chan . I’ll be troubled if the person I want to repay repays me . ”
Again, Chako wipes my tears .
“That’s why, Yui-chan can remain as you are now… And, be happy . ”
Golden eyes narrow tenderly .
“That’s my wish . ”
――For me to be happy .
That’s Chako’s wish?
“Rather, Yui-chan . Shouldn’t you be more concerned that I said it’s the world of a game?”
“… But, Chako said it so it must be true . ”
“… No, it’s not like I want you to doubt me but . ”
Chako grumbles with her brows knitted like she’s troubled .
Finding that strange somehow, I unconsciously chuckle .
Chako too, seeing such a me, laughs “Ehehe” .
“… Even if this is the world of a game . Chako is here, linking hands with me . Even if this is a game, my happiness, sadness, mortification… these feelings are all mine . ”
“… I see . ”
After looking at me as though I’m dazzling, Chako suddenly looks up at the sky .
Thin clouds hang in the blue sky .
The colour of the sky seen from the back of the club building is pretty .
“Ah… I revealed my secret . It may have been better if I told Yui-chan earlier since Yui-chan believed me immediately, huh?”
“Un… But, surely, you wouldn’t have known without taking detours . ”
“Eh, I wonder… how troublesome . ”
“That’s right . ”
Yes .
It’s troublesome .
“… Chako, let’s do lots of fun things after the Cultural Festival too . ”
Chako and I always fail to stay together, after the Cultural Festival .
But, it’s different this time .
Let’s always, always stay together .
Doing lots of fun things .
“Kousuke-kun’s birthday is on December 8 . Let’s celebrate it together . ”
“Ah, you’re right . ”
“After that, is Christmas . Let’s party with everyone . ”
“Sounds good . ”
“Also, there’s New Year’s Eve and New Year, January 20 is Tomotaksenpai’s birthday . ”
“… I see . ”
“All of it, all of it, will be done with Chako . ”
“Eh, it’s already decided?”
It’s already decided .
“I won’t let you think you’re fake anymore . Let’s exhaust all the fun things to do, until you’re no longer scared . ”
Looking firmly at Chako’s golden eyes, I smile .
Chako returns a soft smile to such a me .
Then, her eyes close .
“Yui-chan… Thanks for listening to me . ”
“Mm . ”
“… Thanks, for not letting go of my hand . ”
Chako squeezes our linked hands .
“I’m glad I met Yui-chan . ”
Chako lets out a small breath .
Those words feel happy, yet sad, it’s a strange sensation…
I, too, squeeze our linked hands .
“I’m glad I met Chako too . ”
… I wish we never met .
There was a time I thought that but .
“I’ve always been happy… because Chako’s here . ”
Chako asked me to be happy but .
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I, am happy now .
With Chako, and everyone here…
I’ve more than plenty happiness .
Chako’s hand twitched at my words that contained such feelings .
But, she takes a slow breath as though to calm herself down… and softly opens her eyes .
“Un… Alright, I’m okay now . ”
Chako mutters as though to psych herself up .
My eyes meet deep blue ones .
“I’m happy because Yui-chan’s here too .
Chako’s deep blue eyes narrow and she laughs “Ehehe” .
I, too, laugh back with a “Fufu” .
It will surely be okay .
I believe my feelings reached Chako properly .
Chako will probably search for her own road .
Walking on a road she chose herself .
“Chako… You know what, since you revealed a secret, tell me another . ”
“Another secret?”
“Yes . That mountain cherry during the hike . ”
“Ah! That, huh . ”
She didn’t tell me during the hike .
However, I think she’ll surely tell me today .
I glance at Chako’s eyes while holding her hand .
I’m wondering what I should do if she rejects, but Chako nonchalantly nods with a “Sure” .
“It’s nothing compared to the secret just now . That tree is kind of my foster parent?”
“When Chako was at the mountain?”
“Yes yes . You see, a tree spirit gramps called out to me when I was born, and we lived together . ”
“Tree spirit?”
“Un . A 1000 years old mountain cherry tree phantom . He’s sleeping now though . ”
“Sleeping?”
“Un . Ah, there was an incident with Tomotaksama . ”
Chako’s brows knit as though she’s troubled .
Then, as though recalling the past, she goes “Uhhh” while thinking as she continues to speak .
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“I don’t know why but, Tomotaksama, he came to exterminate tree spirits . Then, I became a familiar in exchange for saving Gramps… Well, Gramps’s power weakened too much and he couldn’t maintain his form though . ”
Chako speaks like it’s no big deal .
But, to me it’s like she handed over the key to a treasure chest .
“…! Chako died from falling rocks . That tree spirit was there when you were born as a phantom . Tomotaksenpai came to exterminate him . Is that right?”
“U,n? Yes . ”
I pull Chako’s hand with a jerk and stare fixedly at her .
Chako seems shocked by my threatening attitude and and nods in bewilderment .
At that reply, my body heats up as though it’s boiling .
I found it .
I finally found it .
――With this, Chako can be saved .
“Chako, let’s go . Let’s go together . ”
Desperately suppressing my agitated heart, I stand from the ground .
My right hand lets go, and I pull Chako’s right hand with my left .
“Everyone’s waiting . Chako isn’t a villain . You can walk on the road you chose . ”
Chako gives a small nod at my words .
I walk slowly while still holding onto Chako’s right hand .
The pebbles rub with a gravelly sound when the soil of the sports ground is stepped on .
That sound isn’t just from me, another portion comes from my immediate vicinity .
It’s different from the 2nd round .
Chako’s warmth is in my hand .
“Come to think of it, did you go round the Cultural Festival with Kousuke-kun?
“Un . Ah, I told Yuusei-chan I’d go round with him after that… Do you think he’s angry?”
“… He should be feeling impatient . ”
Looking to the front, I bring up trivial conversation with Chako .
Chako’s brows knit, as though it is only now that she remembered the two of them .
I chuckle at that .
I left the organization of the lumber storeroom to Kousuke-kun but, his head is probably filled with Chako .
As for Yuusei-kun, I implicitly told him about today so he may be worried .
I walk on the sports ground while talking to Chako .
Kousuke-kun and Yuusei-kun are waiting at the entrance of the new school building, they seem relieved after seeing us walking while holding hands .
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Kousuke-kun runs towards us .
His eyes meet mine for an instant…
I return a nod to that .
Then, Kousuke-kun goes to Chako’s side, “Are you okay?” he asks .
Chako goes “I’m sorry”, laughing like she’s troubled .
Seeing the three of us like that, Yuusei-kun laughs softly .
“Chako, what will you do after this?” [Yuusei]
“Ah, let’s see… un . I’ll take a look at the light music club, as planned . ”
“Eh, Chako, you like music?” [Yui]
Surprised at the words I heard, I look at Chako .
Chako answers with a “Hihihi” laugh .
“Well, doesn’t it seem cool?”
“… Chako’s unexpectedly a fad follower . ” [Yui]
“Somehow it seems like you can be popular just by joining a band . So nice . I want to join one too…” [Yuusei]
Chako begins walking to the gymnasium, unbothered by the complicated expressions Kousuke-kun and I are looking at her with .
Yuusei-kun joins us, and the four of us form a line .
“Yuusei-chan . Club activities are principal in being popular . ”
“I see . ”
“An onmyouji who can play instruments will definitely be popular . ”
Chako was speaking seriously a while ago, but has already returned to the usual Chako .
Talking about improper things with Yuusei-kun, receiving exasperated sighs from Kousuke-kun…
The school which has more people than usual is loud with noise .
The voices of the refreshment booth’s touting and the club exhibition meets’ soliciting mix .
There’s also the smell of sauce burning on iron plates, and the sweet smell of meat burning on charcoal fire .
Within that, the four of us, wearing matching class t-shirts, laugh while chatting .
Even if this is a game .
Even if I’m a character .
I want to be with Chako .
I want to always laugh with Chako .
“Chako, I’m, going back to the Student Council . ”
Entrusting the disappointed Chako to Kousuke-kun and Yuusei-kun, I wave at the three .
Because, Tomotaksenpai is surely worried too .