Chapter 2: Passing the exam

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

---

During the summer break, I wasn't just curled up under my futon the whole time.

(Really?)

Yeah.

I was planning my escape.

In a rational way.

(Is that when you decided to live alone?)

That's right.

It was just around the time of university entrance exams.

I wanted to go somewhere where neither Akiho, Toma, nor my family would know.

(Haha, but it didn't work out, did it?)

Not in the end, no.

(Do you regret it?)

Not at all.

I changed my target school and threw myself into studying. It was also a good excuse to stay locked in my room, right?

(Killing two birds with one stone.)

You could say that.

After the summer break, I talked to my homeroom teacher.

“Nagoya University, huh? To be honest, it's going to be tough with your current grades.” (Haru)

That's what I said.

But I had no choice but to push myself. I had to aim higher if I was going to change my target school.

(It's easier to convince people that way.)

Exactly.

By that point, my life was just a back-and-forth between school and home. I didn't even go to cram school.

Looking back, I think it was pretty reckless.

(Haha, that's so like you.)

You always laugh at me like that.

(Oh, I don't mean to make fun of you.)

I wonder about that.

But thanks to my efforts, by the end of the year, I got a B-rank result.

“Haruto, you're doing well. Keep it up!” (Mother)

My mom was happy that I was getting closer to passing.

She probably just wanted to get rid of me as soon as possible.

Her reputation was more important than her son.

“We'll only cover the bare minimum for your living expenses. You'll have to earn the rest by working part-time.” (Mother)

That's something my mom often said to me.

(Living alone does cost money.)

Especially with my sister getting ready to start high school.

To relieve some of the stress from studying for exams, I also studied stocks and forex trading.

I wanted to become independent as soon as possible.

(That's pretty forward-thinking.)

Money is important.

I studied non-stop, even during Christmas and New Year's.

It was a stark contrast to the previous year.

But I think most students preparing for exams were in a similar situation to some extent.

After the New Year, I barely went to school at all.

As a result, I ended up being a shut-in again, staying in my room all the time.

(That's so unhealthy.)

I never really cared about health.

(That's how high schoolers are.)

You kind of take it for granted that you're healthy.

On the day of the exam,

“We splurged and got you a pork cutlet sandwich today. Eat this and make sure you do well.” (Mother)

My mom, with her old-fashioned thinking, prepared that for me because “katsu” means “to win” in Japanese.

(Aw, she was actually concerned about you.)

Even though eating fried food in the morning gave me indigestion during the exam?

(Normally, that wouldn't be a problem for most high schoolers.)

Well, I guess I wasn't normal.

I had some lingering doubts, but I managed to get accepted to my target university.

(Congratulations!)

That meant I was officially no longer a burden.

(You're so cynical.)

Actually, my dorm was already decided the weekend after the exam results were announced.

“It might be a bit early, but go ahead and move out. Just come back for the graduation ceremony.” (Mother)

I was clearly being kicked out.

The following week, I had my things packed and moved out.

(You finally got to live on your own.)

In the end, I didn't attend the graduation ceremony.

I didn't want to see Akiho or Toma.

On the day I moved out,

I was supposed to take the train alone.

My family was all out.

So, I was escaping all by myself.

But as I was heading to the station, something unexpected happened.

(Something wrong?)

I ran into her.

The one person I least wanted to see in this world.

“Haruto?” (???)

Just hearing that voice from behind me, I knew exactly who it was.

It was Akiho.

The moment I realized, bile rose in my throat, and I felt nauseous.

I bolted and ended up throwing up in a park restroom.

I couldn’t move for a while and just sat on a bench in the park.

I almost ended up being late on my first day of work because of that.

(What job did you start?)

Sorting packages for a shipping company.

You know about that, right?

(Oh, was that it?)

That’s how I was trying to adjust to life in my new town.

(Adjust to the town?)

I had to, since I needed to live.

I still hadn't gotten over my distrust of people.

(That's right.)

There was one thing that troubled me after moving to the new town.

(What was it?)

Going around to greet the neighbors.

Right after I moved in, my mom took me around, but the people next door were never home.

So, I couldn't greet them.

(That can't be helped.)

I didn't think much of it at the time.

I had no idea that the neighbor who lived there would change my fate.