Chapter 7: Absurd Reality
Translator: Soafp
It seemed my father had taken my bankbook and withdrawn money.
Since it was an account opened when I was born, of course he knew the PIN.
I knew my father was a worthless man, but I never imagined he would go this far.
“Yamato was using that money to save for his future!”
“I… I just can't continue living like this!”
My father kept giving one excuse after another. He said he wanted to repay his debts and rebuild our lives… so he apparently poured the money I had earned into gambling.
My mother was furious, scolding him, but… no matter what she said now, my money wouldn't come back.
“Mom… it's time for work, right? You should… go…”
“B-but…”
“Come on… go already…”
Perhaps because I was confronted with something so absurd… or maybe because of the fever…
It didn't feel real.
No anger… no sadness… nothing arose.
My mother's anger didn't subside, but she couldn't afford to take the day off work. She told my father there was an important matter to discuss when she got home, and then left.
“Y-Yamato…”
My father had an uncharacteristically apologetic look on his face.
“I-I'll… figure something out about the money… so…”
He said something, but my mind had gone numb, and I couldn't hear him. Ignoring him, I shut myself in my room.
My head ached… my joints hurt… the fatigue wouldn't go away.
I should see a doctor, take medicine, or at least sleep, but I sat on the floor of my room, leaning against the wall in a daze.
How long had I been like this…? The bright sunlight that had been streaming into the room earlier gradually dimmed.
Money was gone. Going to university was now definitely impossible.
Some universities offer tuition waivers for high-achieving students, but with my current grades, that was out of reach. I also considered scholarships, but with a father who had no job and was in debt, and a mother working part-time, having a guarantor was nearly impossible. That hope was slim as well.
I wanted to go to university… no, that's not it… I wanted to keep my promise to Aoi. I wanted to be with her.
“Ugh…”
Now that reality was finally sinking in, tears wouldn't stop.
“Why… did it come to this…”
As I wiped my tears, something caught my eye.
The birthday present I had bought for Aoi yesterday.
“A-Aoi…”
Today was Aoi's birthday. I… wanted to see her. I wanted to see Aoi.
The university, the lost money… none of that mattered now. I just wanted to see Aoi and give her this present. I wanted to see her happy… to see her smile.
I stood up with the present in hand and hurried to school.
I ran with all my strength, forgetting even about my fever.
By the time I reached school, the sun had already set. Passing through the main gate, I could hear lively, familiar music coming from the direction of the field.
“Hey, the folk dance is in full swing!”
“Some couples have already formed!”
It seemed the after-party had already started, and the music I was hearing was for the folk dance.
“The effect of the legend, huh?”
“But there are plenty of male-female friends dancing too. If they hold hands until the end, the story goes they'll confess their feelings.”
The girls at the food stalls near the main gate were talking cheerfully about it.
“Legend… huh.”
As the music ended, loud applause rose from the field. Likely, a new couple had been formed and was being congratulated.
“Hey! I heard the student council president and vice president are dancing next!”
“Really!?”
“So they're actually a couple!”
“No, wait! Maybe one of them will confess after the dance!”
The words from a male student eager to spread the news made all the students near the gate rush toward the field.
“Aoi… Toru…”
Hearing that, I hurried toward the field as well.
At the center of the field, the flames of a campfire rose high, brilliantly illuminating the surroundings.
“Look, the president and vice president are coming out together!”
“I wonder who will confess?”
“Or maybe they're just out here to liven up the event. The third-year teachers danced earlier too.”
When I arrived at the field, the crowd made it hard to get to the front.
As the music began, a large number of students started dancing.
Pushing through the crowd, I reached the front row and finally saw Aoi and Toru dancing the folk dance together.
My heart stirred… as I thought, of course, Aoi and Toru…
“The president and vice president really make a great pair!”
“Yeah, the vice president is doing a great job leading.”
The campfire illuminated the students dancing, but Aoi stood out, exceptionally beautiful… even in this situation, I couldn't take my eyes off her.
Toru held her hand as they danced, and together they looked like the ideal couple.
With about ten seconds left in the music, most of the students dancing released their partners' hands before the song ended.
All eyes turned to Aoi and Toru. They quietly looked at each other and then… slowly let go of each other's hands.
“Ah! So they were just out here to liven up the event!”
“They really did look perfect together.”
“So the rumor about them dating was just that—a rumor.”
The students surrounding the campfire sighed in disappointment.
“So… they weren't dating after all.”
I felt a deep sense of relief. Aoi… wasn't with Toru.
The music was about to end. The school festival was nearing its close. Everyone watched the steadily burning campfire in their own way…
Then, Toru grabbed Aoi's hand, pulled her toward him with force, and hugged her tightly.
“Eh!? Hey, those two!”
“Whoa!!”
The scene drew everyone's attention, cheers and applause erupted, and the music came to a halt.
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1 Comment
This is what you can expect from an addict and it looks like that his father is too far gone that he just destroyed the MC's savings to satisfy his need to gamble.