Chapter 9

Skipping classes wasn’t anything new to me, so I didn’t really feel opposed to her idea of staying on the train. The train had been full of students from our school, but now we were the only two. Seats were now open, so we took two beside each other. “O-oh no… Now I’m corrupting you…” “Oh, c’mon, it’s not that big a deal.” Fushimi was almost tearing up, but I smiled at her. I had no idea where we were going or when we were getting off, and I doubted I’d get a clear answer if I asked. As far as I could remember, Fushimi had never arrived late at school or skipped classes. “Seriously, don’t worry about it. I do this all the time.” “Yeah, I know.” The train went on to another station and another— We were getting farther and farther away from school. “I wasn’t planning for this. Sorry,” she said, apologizing multiple times. Every time, I reassured her it was no problem. “I doubt anyone cares about me,” I said, “but everyone’s gonna lose it once they know you’re late and didn’t even call ahead.” “Uh… Yeah, probably.” Then she murmured, “Maybe I’ll say I had a stomachache.” Can’t you come up with a more creative lie? I searched for the school’s number, which I had saved in my phone, and told it to her. “Why do you have the school’s phone number?” “So I can lie about being sick and skip classes whenever I want.” “Wow… Ryou, since when are you such a delinquent…?” “Oh, please.” We got off the train at the second-to-last station so we could call the school. Fushimi tried to make the call while we were still on the station platform. “Hey, hey! They’re going to hear the announcements if you call from here.” I recommended that she do it in a restroom. “Oh, you’re right! You’re not a veteran truant for nothing, huh?” “Who do you take me for?” Fushimi came back from the restroom after five minutes. “A…clerk?…answered the phone and said she’d relay the message to Miss Wakatabe.” Apparently, she hadn’t asked Fushimi anything. The deed was done without trouble. “She just said, ‘Okey dokey.’” “Wow, I would’ve been thoroughly interrogated… That’s how it went in first year, in fact…” “I guess they just really trust me.” “And not me. Dammit…” “Ah-ha-ha,” she laughed. “Now that we’re here, want to stroll around?” With that, we exited the station and decided to wander around town. There were few buildings around the station, most likely because the terminal was right near the foot of the mountain. The only cars nearby were the couple of taxis parked at the roundabout. We enjoyed our hike, walking wherever Fushimi’s whims took us. I was worried some police officer would ask us what was going on, but nothing happened. There were hardly any people, let alone cops. “Ah, I can smell the sea.” The thick scent of the shore clung to my nose. “Huh? The sea? Is it close to here?” “Maybe.” We kept walking until we reached the national highway, which had much denser traffic, and saw a windbreak at the other side. We glimpsed the white sand and blue ocean peeking through the trees. “It’s—it’s the ocean!!” “Lower your voice!” Fushimi was as excited as a dog in the snow. “L-l-look! Ryou!” “Calm down, geez.” “S-sorry, it’s just that it’s been such a long time!” Delighted and giddy, Fushimi ran off toward it. “Hey, wait!” I pursued her. We found a crosswalk on the highway and went past the windbreak to the beach. “Wowww!” Even though it wasn’t her first time there, Fushimi was lost in the moment, her eyes gleaming. She held her hair to protect it from the wind and walked through the crisp sand to the shore. We’d come together to this same beach before, back during summer break in sixth grade. Back then, Fushimi had drawn an umbrella in the sand and told me to write my name under it, on one side on the handle. Then, blushing, she’d written her own name on the other side. Ryou Hina What an embarrassing pair we were back then. It was nine AM. All our classmates must’ve been in class by then. “Wh-whoa!” At a sudden gust of wind, Fushimi held down her skirt as she stood in front of me. I took off my uniform’s blazer and gave it to her. “Here, wrap this around your waist. I don’t want to be flashed, either.” “But all the sand will stick to it.” “Doesn’t matter.” “…Okay. Thanks.” She tied the sleeves together at her waist, just like Mana always did with her cardigan, and picked up a stick. She started writing in the sand. I love… Slowly, she turned back to me. “Oh, yeah, I figured.” “Huh?!” Startled, she buried her head between her shoulders, then smiled bashfully. “S-so you really noticed…?” “Anyone would. You’re so excited about it.” “Huh?” Fushimi’s expression turned serious. “You love the sea. That’s it, right?” “…Huh?” A cloud crossed her face. “You’re not talking about the se—?” “No!” She puffed her cheeks. Immediately after, they turned red in embarrassment. She changed from one emotion to the other so quickly; I’d never seen her like this at school. “…Gosh… Stupid.” She was staring at me through her lashes, but the look was both angry and embarrassed. So you meant me? But I couldn’t ask that. What if it was another wrong guess? What if she wanted me to give her advice about someone else or something? The possibilities were endless. And if you did… Why? After all, Fushimi was the most popular girl at school. I was just her childhood friend. That would be the only reason to choose me. There had to be lots of other, way better guys. I bet some of them had already asked her out. “Tell me, who do you think I’m talking about?” she asked with mischief in her eyes.