After I parted ways with Ibusuki at school, I hurriedly headed to Ura’s house. The problem was that Ura’s house was pretty far from the school. It wasn’t impossible to get there by train, but it would have taken a while to walk there from the nearest station. Since it was already past five o’clock, I’d have felt bad if I were to show up there when it was already late.
Incidentally, Ura got to school by either taking a commuter bus or getting dropped off by his parents. Seven times out of ten, he had his parents drop him off at school.
Anyway, I could have taken the local bus from the bus station near my house, but the next bus was an hour later. As a student, I was left with no option but to ask someone to drive me there. I could have gone home and asked someone to take me, but I chose another option.
“I see. So, you asked Orihara-san to give you a ride,” Kana said over the phone. I was calling him as I sat in the passenger seat.
He must have been just as worried as I was. I promised I’d keep him informed, so I made sure to keep my promise by letting him know what was going on.
“I thought that transportation would be an issue if you were to go to Ura’s house, but I forgot that you have your reliable girlfriend, Momo.”
“Come on, don’t make fun of me.”
“...I would have liked to have gone along with you if I could have, but it looks like preparations with my class will still take a little while. Even if I were to go after we get done, it’d be too late in the evening... Plus, my sister isn’t here anymore.”
“Oh, that’s right. Your sister...”
“Yes. She moved out after she got married. Right now, she’s living outside the prefecture.”
Now that I think about it, he did kind of mention that when we went on that summer camping trip... When Kana and his friends lost their driver and adult chaperone because of a sudden cancellation, Kana’s older sister was brought up as another option. However, he said that she was busy lately and didn’t ask her. Apparently, the reason she was so busy was because of her wedding ceremony: Kana’s sister had gotten married that summer and moved away.
“...Come to think of it, when you and I would go to play at Ura’s house a long time ago, my sister was the one who took us there and picked us up. That sure takes me back.”
“Kana...”
“Well, anyway...it looks like I’ll have to leave Ura to you, Momo. I’m counting on you.”
“...Yeah, leave it to me,” I said. Our call finished, and I put my smartphone in my pocket.
“You’re finished already?” Orihara-san asked me from the driver’s seat.
“Yes.” After nodding, I lowered my head slightly. “I’m sorry I asked you to do this after you got off work, Orihara-san.”
“No, don’t worry about it. I didn’t have any particularly big plans.”
“Thank you.” Orihara-san gave me a carefree smile from the driver’s seat. She was wearing her business suit. Apparently, when I’d contacted her, she had just gotten home from work, so she came to get me at school without changing clothes. I was really grateful to her.
“It looks like things have gotten kind of messy, huh? I wonder if Ura-kun is okay?”
“I’d like to think he’s okay... I guess all I can do now is talk to him in person. We’ve texted back and forth a few times, but now he’s stopped checking my messages.”
The same thing apparently happened with Kana too; Ura had finally stopped responding to the both of us. The reason he responded to us those few times was probably just to let us know that he wasn’t absent because he was sick or injured. I wonder if he did that because he felt sorry or because he was just annoyed... Either way, he probably wanted to tell us that he was shutting himself indoors of his own volition.
“By the way, Momota-kun... I’m sorry to inconvenience you, but...what time do you think you’ll go home? I have an early day tomorrow, so if it gets too late it’ll be kind of tough for me...” Orihara-san said apologetically.
“I won’t take long. It’d be rude to his family if I stayed too long, after all.”
“Okay. I’m sorry.”
“...No, I’m the one who should be sorry. I’m really sorry to make you help me with my problems even though you’re busy.”
“No, like I said before, you don’t have to worry. In fact, I’m kind of happy.”
“Happy?”
“Yeah. I mean, this is the first time you’ve relied on me for something like this, right?”
“...” That’s probably true. The old me, the me who’d just started dating Orihara-san, definitely wouldn’t have been able to call her for a ride like this. I’d have made excuses like “I’d feel sorry for calling her to come and get me” or “I don’t want to annoy her” or “I shouldn’t get her involved in my problems with friends,” and I wouldn’t have been able to rely on her. Now, however, I feel like I can rely on Orihara-san. I do feel a little sorry about it, but I don’t really hesitate or feel conflicted anymore.
“I just kind of naturally relied on you, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you kind of naturally did.” Orihara-san laughed and honestly seemed happy. “I think it’s totally normal in a couple for the one with the car to drive their sweetheart around for their errands.”
“I think that it’s usually the guy who does the driving, though.”
“Hmm, well, yes, but I mean, that kind of sexism is outdated. I’m sure it doesn’t matter who drives the car.”
“Ha ha. You’re right.” I laughed too. Even though Ura was going through a tough time right now, I couldn’t help laughing. In a good way, I felt less tense. My heart, which had been hardened because of Ura and Ibusuki, was starting to become relaxed. It’s kind of a strange feeling. There was a time when I thought Orihara-san was the best girlfriend ever, so I had to push myself and act as cool as I could. That feeling hasn’t gone away, of course, and I’d like to look as cool as I can even now. But I don’t feel ashamed to show my weakness and rely on her anymore. When I’m in trouble, I rely on her. I can make that choice naturally now. I don’t know if that means I’m being weak or being strong, but...I definitely know that it’s not wrong. After all, Orihara-san and I are this happy.