Part-3 Ch-06 Ep-06

(Maki's POV)

“So, you two are going to different universities.”

During lunch break, while I stood in front of the vending machine in the school courtyard debating what to buy, Kagami-kun walked over and stopped beside me.

Keeping my gaze fixed on the rows of drinks inside the machine, I answered, “Yeah, that’s right. Though whether or not either of us actually gets into our first-choice university is a completely different matter.”

Cold drinks were already starting to feel a little too chilly.

Part of that was probably because I’d only recently recovered from being sick, but when I stepped outside again for the first time in a while, I was startled to realize the season had changed entirely, carrying the unmistakable atmosphere of late autumn.

According to the calendar, autumn itself was already nearing its end, with winter practically waiting just around the corner.

Remembering how cold the mornings and evenings had become lately, I decided I should probably get something warm after all, then pressed the button for hot tea.

Since Matsuri had run out of drinks too, I figured I’d buy one for her while I was at it and bring it back to the classroom.

“I see... So your paths really are splitting apart.”

“Why are you the one looking so depressed?”

Watching him look so visibly crestfallen immediately brought the image of a dejected large dog to mind, making me let out a quiet laugh.

“I just always thought you two would stay together forever.”

“It’s not like we’re breaking up or anything, you know.”

“But still, you’re going to end up long-distance, right?!”

“H-Hey, don’t suddenly raise your voice like that.”

It was rare to see him, normally so calm and composed, get this emotional. Calling it unlike him would’ve been an understatement.

Seeing Kagami-kun unexpectedly lose his composure left me feeling strangely awkward and self-conscious.

He’d always watched over us like a guardian until now, so realizing just how much he genuinely cared about us, and how deeply invested he was in our happiness, filled me with a faint sense of guilt.

Letting out a soft sigh, I slowly pulled out my smartphone. Opening the map application, I searched for what I needed and immediately found it.

“About that...”

“...About what?”

“Just take a look.”

Trying to reassure the thoroughly dejected Kagami-kun, I turned my phone screen toward him and pointed at it.

“This is my new first-choice university.”

As I showed him the screen, I also pulled up the directions to the campus.

The app instantly calculated the route and displayed the estimated travel time alongside it.

“...Wait, this university’s in the neighboring prefecture.”

“Yep, exactly.”

“The transportation access actually looks pretty good.”

Leaning closer to the screen, he rested a hand against his chin and murmured thoughtfully.

“Right? It takes a little over an hour each way, but there aren’t many transfers, so I think I can commute from home for the time being. Whether I’ll eventually start living on my own is something I’ll figure out later.”

“So you’re not actually going to be long-distance...?”

Kagami-kun muttered those words while looking utterly drained.

Seeing that expression, I couldn’t help thinking, I know, right?

Still, I was the one who wanted to avoid ending up in a long-distance relationship with Mari, which was exactly why I’d spent all this time researching my options.

“I think I got really lucky that there happened to be a university that suited me in a neighboring prefecture. Even then, the commute’s still going to take time, so naturally I won’t be able to see Mari as often as before. But if we really want to meet up, we still can.”

“I see... That’s a relief...”

Watching Kagami-kun murmur those words with such heartfelt relief, as though this had been his own personal concern, warmth quietly spread through the depths of my chest.

To be honest, Todoroki-kun had stopped me only moments earlier, and I’d ended up giving him almost the exact same explanation.

For some reason, the people around me cared so deeply about the two of us, and only now did a delayed sense of gratitude finally wash over me.

“So I worried for nothing.”

Even while saying that, he looked genuinely happy again, his mood recovering almost instantly.

Kagami-kun lightly thrust a small fist out toward me with a short, “Here.”

Drawn in by the gesture, I raised my own fist as well, and our knuckles bumped together.

“I’m rooting for you,” Kagami-kun said.

“Having you cheering me on honestly makes me feel incredibly reassured.”

“Right?”

“But I haven’t actually passed the exams yet, you know. Besides, the same goes for you too, doesn’t it?”

“True enough. Let’s both give it everything we’ve got together.”

Together.

It really was a beautiful word, I thought.

Even when it came to my own future, I didn’t have to carry everything entirely on my own anymore.

If there was something I couldn’t overcome by myself, then I could simply rely on the people around me.

I had my friends, and I had the person I loved more than anyone else.

“Yeah.”

A cold gust of wind swept past us, cutting between the two of us.

Before I realized it, the leaves on the trees planted throughout the courtyard had begun fluttering down one after another, quietly announcing that winter’s arrival was close at hand.

With this, my preparations were complete.

Now I could finally give it everything I had without any lingering regrets holding me back.

“Let’s all do our best, together.”

Answering him that way, I bought one more tea for Mari, then headed back toward the classroom alongside Kagami-kun.

End of Chapter 6

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Authors Note  

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Thank you very much for reading this far!

This story, now approaching roughly 300,000 characters in length, is scheduled to conclude in the next chapter.

I would be truly grateful if you would stay with me for just a little while longer.

From Chirichiri