Chapter 87: Monday 15:00, Time Leap

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Translator: Soafp

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[Momo PoV]

“Without the captain, the team wouldn’t be able to come together, right?”

“Compliments won’t get you anything, Momo.”

“Your face is so flushed, Kashiwagi Captain.”

It was 2 PM.

Time spent chatting with teammates while snacking on fries was enjoyable.

It should be, yet I felt an unsettling sensation in my back.

Something.

Like something unpleasant was about to happen.

“—!! S-Senpai, this is bad.”

“What?”

“Did something happen? Is it—”

At the hamburger shop.

In a distant place, I thought surely we wouldn't run into them.

Unless—unless, of course, I was being followed.

“Um, um, they're coming…”

However, the worst predictions often come true.

Especially at the times you most wish they wouldn't.

—“Oh, there they are!! Where have you guys been?”

—“Man, that was a tough match because of all the assignments!”

Just like a well-scripted event, those former members appeared.

“…Eh? How?”

“We just saw you at the family restaurant…”

It really felt like they were connected somehow.

“Uh, um…”

“Sorry, we're in the middle of a reflection meeting.”

“Oh? For that, the atmosphere seems pretty relaxed, huh?”

“Seriously, it wasn't this easygoing when we were around, right, Kashiwagi?”

“…I'm sorry.”

The captain stepped forward to handle the situation.

We could only watch.

We couldn’t escape like this.

I couldn't imagine leaving the captain behind.

Besides…

At this rate.

We'd end up on the usual lecture course, easily passing 3 PM.

“Today is special. The second-years need to come with us. It's a reflection meeting.”

“Get ready.”

“Wait.”

“Um, I have other plans after this…”

“Oh!?”

“You have something more important than us?”

…W-What? A reflection meeting?

Don’t joke around.

Just today. Just today, I really didn’t want this.

Why are you getting in the way?

Icchi invited me, after all.

“—I-I'm really sorry! I can't today—”

…So.

I knew it was a bad move, but it slipped out before I realized.

“Hmm? You're annoying, just tall and with a big attitude, huh?”

“You probably don't have anything important to do anyway.”

“No, well…”

“…Hey. Is this girl…”

Wearing my favorite white blouse.

A cute, light pink cardigan that matched.

And a pretty black long skirt.

They were staring at me with that creepy gaze.

I didn't choose this outfit to be seen by people like them.

“Could it be—a guy?”

“N-No, it's not…”

“…Tch! That reaction totally gives it away!”

“Come on, we'll finish this quickly.”

Their eyes were completely focused on me, not the entire team.

“Really, I have something to do…”

“Just come with us.”

“I'll teach you as a former center.”

“W-Will it really be quick?”

“Hahaha, yeah!”

“Yeah, super quick! Kashiwagi, we will borrow her!”

…In the end, I realized I couldn't escape from them.

Then, for now, it was best to accept the invitation and quickly slip away—

That would likely be the most effective plan.

Then my teammates could leave as well.

I could… manage to escape and make it to my meeting time with Icchi.

…I knew.

How difficult that would be.

“Wait, Momo.”

“It's okay… really.”

I shook off the captain's hand and followed those two former members.

Then, at that moment—“he” was right in front of us.

I hadn't noticed him. He just appeared out of nowhere.

Icchi was standing right there.

“Eh?”

“Hey, what are you doing here?”

“…Ah, H-hello…”

“I-Icchi!?”

He stood there with his knit hat on.

…I hadn't even noticed when he got here.

“Huh? You know him?”

“…Hey. Could this guy be—”

“—N-No, he's not!”

I'm sorry.

If our relationship got revealed right now—this would be the end.

The lecture, which was already going to be long, would intensify.

That would still be fine.

Those OGs would definitely dislike him, who was surely getting in their way.

They might even direct their ire at Icchi.

So.

I couldn't let them focus on Icchi.

I didn't want to cause him trouble.

“Uh… um.”

His reaction.

He pleaded with his eyes.

Somehow, I felt like I understood.

“How creepy. Who are you?”

“Get lost.”

“…”

“Hey, come on, center.”

“Is this guy suspicious… move aside.”

I wanted to retort against those words, but I couldn't.

I was dragged outside the store.

“…I'm sorry, Icchi.”

That voice wouldn't reach him, I was sure.

---

[Hajime PoV]

“Momo-senpai…”

“W-Will she be okay?”

“…I'll try contacting her later. I think she'll be fine since it's Momo, but—”

In the hamburger shop.

In the place where she had disappeared.

Hatsune-san's teammates were anxiously discussing among themselves.

“By the way, who was that person?”

“Who do you think he is?”

“…Could it be, Momo's…?”

I quickly threw away the trash on the table and rushed out of the store.

“…”

I slumped down.

In the hamburger shop.

2 PM, and I hadn't done anything.

A sense of helplessness washed over me.

Her voice echoed in my mind.

[—“N-No, he's not!”—]

I understood the meaning of those words all too well.

She didn't want to get me involved.

And— I could feel the determination from her eyes to somehow make it work.

…So.

Maybe it was okay to believe.

That weak part of me screamed out.

“…”

Well, even so.

Following them would be permissible, right?

My hobby was stealth, after all. I gazed into the distance.

I followed the three of them until they arrived at a “karaoke” place.

“…Did they go in?”

At the entrance.

Where they had entered, I stood there frozen.

…I couldn't do anything.

If I followed them any further, I'd surely be noticed.

Even if I followed, there was nothing I could do.

“I'll wait…”

I understood.

If I made contact with Hatsune-san now, she would bear the brunt of it.

I knew that—I knew it, but still.

---

14:58, 14:59.

I glanced at my phone, and eventually, the moment arrived.

—15:00.

“…She's not here.”

I scanned the surroundings at the station.

I shouldn't have to say this, but there's no way I'd miss seeing Hatsune-san—

—Rrrring!

“!?”

I reflexively grabbed my phone.

That incoming call.

“…Hello?”

“Ah. Is that you, Icchi?”

“Yeah, this is Toumachi.”

“I'm really sorry. I ended up hanging out with the OGs for a bit.”

“Yeah.”

“Today, I'm sorry. I don't know when it'll end… so, um, let's hang out next week, okay?”

“If Hatsune-san is okay with that.”

“I'm fine with it. There's another day off next week… Let's talk again, okay?”

“Got it.”

“Sorry again! You went out of your way to invite me.”

“It's fine.”

---

The call ended with a “click.”

[—“If Hatsune-san is okay with that.”—]

Those words.

The voice of my weak self echoed endlessly.

“Ha, it's even raining… I guess I should head home.”

Then, I felt a raindrop on my cheek.

Looking up, the sky was cloudy. It had started to drizzle.

…Ah.

Since that was what my promise partner said.

That shaky, almost tearful voice.

On the other end of the line, she must have had a clouded expression.

…Even so.

Today—this should be the end, right?

“…”

Walking under my folding umbrella in the rain.

[—“Please take care of dyed hair more carefully than normal hair!”—]

Friday.

That's what the hairdresser told me, so I had it ready just in case it rained while I was out.

While everyone around me was flustered, I walked calmly into the rain and wind.

But in my mind, I was anything but calm.

“Does Hatsune-san have an umbrella?”

“…Well, it's just a passing shower.”

“It'll probably be night soon…”

In the rain, I murmured these words softly, unheard by anyone else.

Before I knew it, I had stopped in front of the station.

What am I doing?

I could just get on the train and head home.

“…”

The clock in front of the station told me how much time had passed.

Reality is foolish.

If I don't do anything, nothing will happen.

No one will conveniently reach out their hand for me.

If I go home, the world will continue as it is.

Nothing will change.

Tuesday will come, then Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday…

Repeat.

Repeat.

Repeat.

It had always been like that.

And then…

[—“I wish I had tried a little harder.” —]

Time, cruelly, doesn't turn back.

This three-day weekend can't be redone; it simply won't return.

That's a given.

…That regret.

…This lingering feeling.

I'll probably remember it forever.

“I don't have any memories, but you've come from the future to redo your life. So, what will you do?”

“—Tch, damn it…”

Ah, I know that much.

If I'm going to keep dragging this feeling along with me.

At 3 PM on a Monday in late May, if I leave that moment forever stained with regret.

If I came back to redo such an “now”…

Then it's decided…

“Of course!”

[I will take her back.]

I recalled the question that floated in my mind and remembered the answer.

Even if it's just for one holiday.

This day, the first time I invited a friend.

I don't want to be stained by that regret.

Thinking strongly, I once again took my phone out of my pocket.