☾☾☾
“YOU called again last night?”
“Yes. He hasn’t told me not to.”
After school, we met in that clubroom by the stables, as this was not a conversation I was comfortable having amid a large crowd.
About a week had passed since I had started calling Chouko.
Each night, I would borrow Haruto’s phone and call him.
He hadn’t answered even once, but even hearing the ringing of the phone was enough to make me feel closer to him.
Shimozuru had been absent the whole time, just as he had warned Shizuku he would be. And Mochizuki and the others had also been absent.
“I tried Ui-Ui and Shirazu, too, but no luck there, either. Same as Oboro.”
So everyone had their smartphones off. Which meant we had no choice but to wait another week for them.
A sigh escaped my lips.
“I just wish we could talk to someone.”
“Weren’t Aoyama and the others acting strange? Maybe I should try forcing them to spill what they know?”
“No, please don’t push them any further.”
Hattori and her friends hadn’t been shy about announcing on the first day of school that Chouko was studying abroad, but after that, they avoided us, or acted as if they were going to run whenever we came near.
“Let’s just wait. You’re patiently waiting for Shimozuru, after all. So I can, too.”
I clenched my fist, trying to reassure myself. Shizuku glanced at me and looked as if she wanted to say something.
It will be all right. Please don’t worry about me, Shizuku.
“Urara...”
“I haven’t made any tea yet. Please wait a moment, I’ll go do it now...”
“Urara! Let’s try...to call one more person!”
“Who?”
Who exactly were we going to try to call? She grabbed my hand as I reached for the teacups.
“I didn’t want to if we didn’t have to, but...I guess beggars can’t be choosers.”
As she gritted her teeth, she showed me her phone screen. On it were displayed the words “Cat Dork.”
“That dummy. He’s still been sending me those cat pics all week, so I know his phone should definitely be on!”
Before I could comment on the fact that Mochizuki hadn’t given up and she might be on her way to a love triangle route, she yanked the phone out of my hand and jabbed the screen.
Her phone had been switched to speaker, and I could hear it ringing. I watched her face as, in the middle of the third ring, the sound cut out and a loud, magnanimous voice boomed throughout the clubroom.
“Finally realized the true cuteness of Bergamot, have you, Aritomo?”
“I’ll be fine not knowing it for my whole life.”
The interaction between the two of them hadn’t changed a bit, but I was in a hurry, so I cut in.
“Where’s Chouko? Mochizuki, what’s happening with Chouko?! We heard a rumor...that he was going to study abroad.”
I understood this was a breach of etiquette, but I simply could not help myself. Mochizuki did not seem at all surprised as he calmly answered my question with another question.
“Tendou? Where are you calling from?”
“We’re calling from the equestrian clubroom,” I answered. “The new one.”
“I see. That’s a safe place to talk, then.”
We heard him lightly tapping on something before he continued in a hushed tone.
“Chouko Tsukuyomi will never return to that school again. It has already been decided.”
I already had that feeling, but hearing Mochizuki declare it so plainly dashed any lingering hope I might have had.
“Is that really true?”
“There’s no point in lying now. Did you two just call me hoping I would ease your fears?”
Or were you hoping for something more, it sounded like he was implying.
I was.
“No. No, I want to see Chouko. I want to see Chouko and talk things out,” I said, letting Mochizuki know how I felt.
Wasn’t there some way to get my feelings across to Chouko? Just as I rose, ready to ask this, he responded in a cold voice. “This weekend, during the Full Moon Festival, we will have very special ceremony.”
“A ceremony?”
“Attending and participating in the ceremony and feast will be Chouko Tsukuyomi’s final duty.”
Chouko’s final duty? Then that would likely be my last chance to see him.
If there was even a possibility, then I had to try.
“Mochizuki, please. Is there any way I can get an invitation?” I pleaded, my heart overflowing with hope. I folded both hands in front of my chest, praying hard.
“Please, Mitsuru! We’re counting on you!” Shizuku pressed, trying to help me.
Hearing our entreaties, Mochizuki gave a little sigh. “It’s not going to be a pleasant experience for you two.”
“We can take it.”
“It’s going to be hard to watch. There will be a lot of nasty people. I’m being honest.”
“It doesn’t bother us. We don’t mind.”
I couldn’t sit around waiting any longer.
If I couldn’t get through to him without going to him, then I would go. I would run. No matter how far.
“All right. I’ll send a car for you the day of. Make sure you’re ready.”
Having heard my resolve, Mochizuki granted my request, his voice softened.