Chapter 75

* * * She was gasping, more out of breath now than when we were running. “But there’s a clear line we have to draw before I ask you to be my boyfriend, and I want to convey those words properly from the bottom of my heart, not just on the spur of the moment.” Haru grinned. “I won’t tell you to wait. But one day, when I’m ready to take you on for real…will you accept my challenge?” Honestly… What are you…? “Yeah. Then I’ll give back as good as I get.” I laughed loudly, my eyes squinting up, as if she was a brilliant light. Haru took a short breath, signaling this conversation was over. “Well, then, shall we continue our run?” I stretched. “I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to run all-out now, so try to keep up.” “Wait, stick with me until we’re past the graveyard!” We kicked up soft sand as we started back up again. This kind of thing suits us much better—not just standing around avoiding looking at each other. It’s important, though. And so…I want to treat it with the importance it deserves. Back at the hotel, I found the room dark, the lights off. I figured the three guys were in the hot springs, but only the incandescent light bulb in the back part of the room was lit up. Kaito was there, staring blankly out the window. I went inside without turning on the lights. Kaito looked up and saw me, raising his hand with a “hey.” It looked like he was wearing the hotel-provided yukata tonight. The way he tied the obi was pretty crude, but it looked pretty good on him with his height. “Where’s Kazuki and Kenta?” “They’re still in the hot springs. They take ages, going in and out of the sauna and stuff. I hate doing the same things and sitting around, so I left first.” “Ah yeah, I get it.” As I spoke, I took off my running T-shirt, wiped my body with a towel and a deodorant sheet, and finished with a spritz of Sea Breeze. The air filled with the smell of it, reminding me of the end of club activities, and the air conditioner against my skin felt ice-cold. I put on the T-shirt I’d used as pajamas last night—it had to be better than the sweaty one. I was actually planning to go straight to the hot springs, but for some reason, I ended up sitting down across from Kaito. Beyond the window, the sea was pitch-black, like a smear of dark paint. I started talking aimlessly. “I was out running with Haru. I ran into her outside and she said she wanted to come with.” Kaito lifted the corner of his mouth, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, that sounds like her,” he said, propping his chin up in his hand. “Hey, Saku, can I ask you something?” “No, you cannot.” “I thought you’d say that.” He laughed, but kept talking anyway. “Yuzuki, Haru, Nishino. Be real with me. Is there something going on there?” “…What do you mean?” “I mean, like, romantically.” “…” He knew only the vaguest outline of what had happened with Nanase and Haru, but as far as I knew, he knew nothing about me and Asuka. Maybe he was just asking for the heck of it, just to be friendly, or maybe he had something heavier on his mind. …Either way, I didn’t want to burden Kaito, who already worried too much about stuff. We’ve only known each other since we entered high school, but he’s a genuinely good guy. He’s straightforward and honest with everyone, and he always thinks of his friends. When he hears about the sorrow and suffering of others, he feels that sorrow and suffering as if it were his own, and he always tries to help in some way. Still, his one flaw is that he tends to act without thinking about the consequences, and sometimes he needs monitoring. Come to think of it, Kaito was the first to get angry when he heard about Kenta’s story. Kaito was the first to rush to me when I was confronted by those Yan High grunts at the library. Kaito was the first to chase after Nanase when she left, saying she’d go home alone. And at Hachiban’s after the batting center, when Asuka came up, it was Kaito who got all fired up on someone else’s behalf. I think the word hero is meant for people like him. So I can’t tell Kaito about the stuff I know I need to face up to myself. He’ll take it upon himself to worry, mourn, and suffer in the same exact way.