Published at 20th of December 2020 11:32:05 AM
Chapter 14 – Feelings and answer (4)
Translator – Vodka
This will be the last update of 2020 . Another year is coming to an end . My speed of updates came down, but personally speaking, I am happy that I didn’t stop . Covid kinda screwed my plans (well, the world’s plans) for 2020 . It set us back a year . 2021 shall have to be the year we repair the damage that covid has done .
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all you fellas . May the new year rekindle hopes and dreams, and the bustle of humanity rise again from the ashes . Have a wonderful holiday guys .
I sat down on the grass and looked up at the sky . The tree I was leaning against, cut off the strong sunlight, that betokened the advent of summer .
The plants gently swung under the influence of the wind .
The fragrance of the lawn wafted through the air . It had a calming effect .
……Not bad .
It has been a while since I last came here, but, in this one-year period, I have had come here quite a few times .
I am reminded of the time when this place received my personal accreditation for being one of the very few healing spots inside the school campus .
“You don’t have to sit on the ground . I had even prepared a sheet . ”
“It feels better this way……”
Kirasaka called out to me from the side .
She was looking down on me while standing .
Let’s keep quiet about the fact that it seemed like that the inside of her skirt would be visible with a little bit more .
Seemingly visible, yet not actually visible . What an exquisite place to be in .
I looked away from Kirasaka to look in front and surveyed my surroundings once more .
We were in the farthest edge of the school courtyard .
Kirasaka and I were under a tree that stood alone in this corner .
Well, rather than saying that we were here, it would be correct to say that we made our way to this place .
After we finished watching the movie, I was half-forced to accompany Kirasaka for lunch, having ended up acceding to her demands from before .
She seized my bag and dragged me here by the hand .
Halfway through, Kirasaka seemed to want to say something to Shizuku .
They seem to be negotiating something?
If not, there was no way Shizuku would agree to a situation where I was alone with Kirasaka that easily .
I unconsciously let out a sigh at the possibility of troublesome stuff lying in wait . Amidst such thoughts, I was brought to this place .
It was the same place as the one in the photo I discovered in the student council room .
Like that time, there weren’t figures of any other students .
Albeit the courtyard was a popular place, this extreme edge rarely had any visitors .
It was even more so because there was a spot in the courtyard where tables had been laid out for the students’ use .
This place was at quite the bit of a distance from that spot . Hence, Kirasaka and I were the only ones here .
This desolate space felt extremely nostalgic .
“In that case, should I have a seat too?”
“……Your clothes will get dirty, you know?”
“You are the one saying that?”
She covered her mouth and chuckled . Then, she sat down next to me with her knees bent a little to the side – the so-called sidesaddle posture that women often assumed .
I noticed that her sitting style and location were the exact same as they were in the photograph .
Did she choose this place?
Silence pervaded for a brief period .
Just in case, I brought Kaede’s deluxe bento along . Unnoticed, however, Kirasaka had started preparing lunch .
I wonder why……There is a chef clad in the characteristic white uniform standing behind us, you know .
And then, why are there the likes of an iron plate and an oven in this otherwise empty lawn?
“I don’t like this sort of thing very much . ”
“‘This sort’?”
“Yes . ‘Showing off wealth’ is what this is called I believe? However, you don’t seem to mind it . ”
True that . She is supposed to be the young lady of an exceptionally affluent household, but I haven’t caught so much as even a glimpse of her flaunting her status .
The only noticeable things were the luxurious bento and the fact that someone would chauffer her to school and back .
I wondered if she was deliberately showing off, but it would seem she had her worries .
“Worrying about it won’t change anything right?……”
“Human beings are creatures that get jealous of people who have what they don’t……I do not care what others might think, but I don’t need you finding this situation unpleasant . ”
Said Kirasaka, her expression without so much as even a hint of embarrassment . Then, she glanced at the chef waiting behind us .
She could unhesitatingly say things I could never bring myself to say . She was amazing that way .
After she glanced at the chef, he got moving .
He was probably gonna bring over the food soon .
We usually brought our bentos along .
I was certain that we were going to eat from our respective bentos, but she seemed to have other plans for us here .
I felt regretful for not being able to enjoy Kaede’s cooking, but since it should be fine if I just have it later, I put it away .
A woman clad in the waitress’s uniform served the food .
“Although I decided by myself, I asked the chef to prepare us a light meal . ”
Served were sandwiches with lots of bright and colourful stuff stuffed inside .
I wasn’t a big eater either . So, this menu was just right .
Even better said, sandwiches were the best fit for the food we were gonna have sat on the lawn .
“……I am on the receiving end of this after all . I am not complaining . ”
“Thanks for the meal . ”
Having said that, I grabbed a sandwich .
After Kirasaka saw me taking a bite out of the sandwich in my hand, she started talking .
“Does Shinrkun also come here often?”
“‘Also’?……You sound like you do?”
Curious, I asked her .
I had no idea of where she would be and what she would be doing when she wasn’t with us .
Hence, her choice of words piqued my interest .
“This is an important place for me……”
Her pupils held reflections of loneliness somewhere . The fact that the words spoken were reminiscing of a past recollection for her was apparent in her voice .
What is it I wonder?……
She might have remembered the time we met . Though, I still couldn’t summon that memory .
I quietly listened to her speak .
“I won’t ask you to force yourself to remember or anything……just that, I don’t want you to treat it as having never happened even if you don’t remember . ”
A self-deprecating laugh escaped Kirasaka .
It was as if she thought that it was only natural that I didn’t remember .
Then, she proceeded to speak about her recollections of that day .