Chapter 22: Departure

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Translator: Soafp

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In Hiiragi's living room, I was enjoying tea.

As usual, they used wonderfully selected, high-quality tea leaves.

Still, I had not expected to find myself back here again so soon.

Judging by Amanatsu's panic, Hiiragi seemed ready to leave home as early as tomorrow. I had no choice but to see her that same day.

What a hassle.

Why did I have to deal with this?

I did not want to get involved with Hiiragi, but if I was the reason she wanted to go traveling, I could not exactly call it none of my business.

Besides, why did every girl around me stop going to school whenever some new problem came up? They were betting far too much of their lives on romance.

“Woof!”

Rooney-kun barked from where he rested his head on my knee, so I stroked him.

Hehe. You're the only one who heals me, Rooney.

You were cute today too. Maybe I should buy a proper camera sometime and hold a Rooney-kun photo shoot.

Hiiragi had caused me enough trouble that she owed me at least that much. Yes, that was what I would do.

“Thank you for coming all the way here because you were worried about Sakura, Hatsukade-kun. She went to the convenience store, but she should be back soon.”

Hiiragi's mother gave a strained smile. Beside her, her father sat with folded arms, groaning thoughtfully.

“Hmm. We were worried too. Sakura suddenly said she would take time off school and go on a journey.”

“Did you stop her?”

“Yes, naturally. But after hearing why, it was difficult to simply tell her not to.”

“What did she say?”

“Because you are the boy I had hopes for, I'll tell you. Apparently, she reunited with the person she had admired since childhood—but he rejected her. It was terrible. She looked as if her life had ended. She suddenly filled the bathtub with ice water and jumped in. Then she put cooling patches on herself and slept on an ice pillow, even though she did not have a fever.”

That was not what it meant to cool your head, Hiiragi.

Why physically cool yourself down?

Her mother pressed at her temple as though fighting a headache.

“But she loved him that much. Ever since she was little, she said she would marry him. Love does not always work out, but I feel a little sorry for her. So if she really wants to take time off school, we are willing to let her repeat a year—as long as she eventually graduates.”

“…Isn't that excessive?”

“Oh, Hatsukade-kun. For a young girl, a great heartbreak can be a life-changing problem. As a matter of fact, Papa and I met when this man was crying over his best friend's affair on the Rainbow Bridge—”

Just then, the front door opened.

When I turned around, Hiiragi was standing there, holding a convenience-store bag.

“H-Hatsukade, why are you here!?”

…Thank goodness.

If she had been one second later, I might have been forced to hear something outrageous.

“Hiiragi, I want to talk. Can I go to your room?”

---

Hiiragi's room was messy.

Not in the ordinary, lived-in sense—clothes and daily necessities were scattered all over. Apparently, she had been packing to leave on her trip.

“Are you really taking time off school?”

“Hey, Suba—Hatsukade. You came into a girl's room. Could you at least act a little nervous?”

“I said this before: a house is just a house. Besides, it is not my first time entering a girl's room.”

I had gone into my childhood friend's room plenty of times.

“…Ugh. That's awful.”

“More importantly, answer the question.”

“How do you know I'm taking time off?”

“Amanatsu messaged me.”

“…You even exchanged contact information.”

Hiiragi clutched her head and dropped the clothes she had carefully folded.

This was hopeless. She was too emotionally unstable for a conversation to go anywhere.

“Why do you suddenly want to go on a trip?”

“…I lost something precious, and I need time to look inward. Something like that.”

“Is being rejected really that painful?”

“H-How do you know!?”

“Your parents told me just now.”

“Come on! Mom and Dad tell everyone everything—and of all people, Hatsukade!”

Hiiragi sat down heavily on her bed and muttered with a dark expression.

“That's right… I found out I can't be with the person I've loved for so long, so it's hard to feel better. I don't want everyone to see me like this and worry about me. I want time to recover.”

“How much time, specifically?”

“…A year.”

The fact that she said a full year probably meant she wanted to repeat the year and become separated from me and Amanatsu.

That way, she would not have to see us every day, and perhaps she thought she could live peacefully.

“That's too impulsive. Think again. You'll waste an important year over nothing more than heartbreak.”

“You could also say I'd get an extra year of fun high-school life.”

“Use that positivity for something else. People say you can forget a heartbreak by falling for someone new.”

“…You don't understand, Hatsukade. I truly loved him. But now I have a reason I have to give up.”

That reason was Amanatsu.

Hiiragi had repeatedly declared that she would support Amanatsu. She must have felt unable to take it back now.

Only at times like this was she strangely subdued.

The Hiiragi I imagined was the type to pursue whatever she wanted without caring what other people thought.

“Could you go home now? I'm busy getting things ready.”

With that, Hiiragi resumed packing.

It was an enormous amount of luggage.

She really intended to go somewhere for a long time.

“You really have no intention of reconsidering?”

“Yeah… You came because you were worried about me, right? Thank you. But from here on, it's my problem.”

“…Fine.”

I stood and looked down at Hiiragi, who would not meet my eyes.

“Hiiragi, I think I understand the pain of heartbreak too.”

“…Huh?”

“So, I can probably understand your feelings a little.”

“…Hatsukade.”

“Well, see you.”

I left her room and headed downstairs.

Before greeting her parents, who were waiting in the living room, there was one question I wanted to ask.

I spoke to the two of them, sitting on the sofa with worried expressions.

“You're not worried about letting your precious daughter travel alone?”

“…Huh?”

---

The next morning, I woke earlier than usual.

After making some preparations, I headed to the living room.

In our home, we ate together whenever the family was all present. It was a house rule.

When I sat down at the table, Mom smiled.

“Good morning, Subaru. Breakfast is ready.”

“Good morning, Mom. Thanks as always. Good morning, Dad.”

“Good morning.”

Dad looked up from his book and glanced at me over his glasses.

My father taught at a university.

Whether it was because of his work or simply his nature, I did not know, but he was a quiet man.

We put our hands together and said, “Let's eat.” As I picked at a dried horse mackerel with my chopsticks, Dad spoke with a serious expression.

“…Mika.”

“Yes, Hiroshi?”

“This simmered vegetable dish… is good.”

“Oh, I'm happy. Have plenty.”

I nodded along.

“Mom, this rolled omelet is neatly made and tastes good too.”

“Even you too, Subaru. You always compliment me, so cooking feels worthwhile.”

Then Dad took an expensive-looking box from his pocket, his face still stern.

“You said your hands were badly chapped. This hand cream had good reviews online, so I bought it. Use it.”

“Thank you so much, Hiroshi!”

“And I'll wash the dishes for a while.”

“That helps a lot.”

After watching my parents' usual exchange and finishing breakfast, I brought up what I needed to say.

“Dad, Mom, there's something I want to talk about…”

Mom, who had been sipping tea, smiled. Dad, who had returned to reading, shot a sharp look at me.

“What is it?”

“I'm thinking of taking some time off school.”

“Why?”

“…Various reasons.”

If I told them the whole truth, the explanation would become far too long—and it was not something I wanted to talk about. So I tried to brush it off.

Dad's gaze became even sharper.

Mom immediately stepped in.

“You were just involved with the police the other day. Are you planning to do something again? Is it the same girl—or another one? Ever since you looked after Miko-chan, you've never been able to ignore someone in trouble.”

“M-Mom.”

“You take after Hiroshi. Even as a student, he always said he couldn't take his eyes off me because I was so reckless.”

“Ahem!”

Dad cleared his throat loudly, lifted his eyes from his book, and adjusted the bridge of his glasses.

“Subaru.”

“Yes?”

“I trust you. I'm sure you won't do anything foolish. But what do you mean, you won't even tell your parents the reason?”

“…I'm sorry.”

“How long?”

“I don't know.”

“So there is a chance you will have to repeat a year. You are not the one paying your tuition. Do you understand that repeating a year means wasting that money?”

“…Yes.”

Dad was right.

As a minor under my parents' care, I had to follow their instructions.

Dad stood and closed his book with a soft clap.

“As long as you understand. Keep that in mind, and if you are going to take time off, make it meaningful.”

“Yes.”

When I answered, Mom cried out.

“Huh!? Wasn't that supposed to be the part where you said no!?”

“What are you talking about, Mom? Dad never said that.”

“Wait, am I wrong?”

Dad smiled gently at Mom.

“I said at the beginning that I trust Subaru.”

“…Honestly, both of you should speak more directly. Father and son, indeed.”

“Mika is simply too dense.”

“That is definitely not it.”

“And Subaru, contact us whenever something happens. There are many things minors cannot do alone. Also, do you have enough money?”

“Yes. I have savings, and some investments as well, so I should have enough funds for the time being.”

“I see. Then I'll wash the dishes and leave for work.”

With that, Dad placed a photo book of Salami-chan—a Bernese mountain dog popular in recent videos—into his bag.

---

Now that I had permission, it was time to do what I needed to do.

I put on the backpack I had prepared and left home.

I boarded a train at my usual station and got off at my destination.

After leaving the ticket gates and waiting, she arrived at exactly the right time.

Hiiragi stared at me with her mouth hanging open, then let go of her rolling suitcase.

“Yo. Let's go.”

That was what I said to Hiiragi.