| Author: Inukai Anzu | Original Source: Kakuyomu | Word Count: 2923 characters |
| Translator: Mui | English Source: Re:Library | Word Count: 1285 words |
| Editor(s): Fire | ||
“Is it okay if I put the hamaya1 here?”
“Feel free to put it wherever you like, Iroha.”
I placed the hamaya on the shelf in the living room. I had bought it because Inazuki said she wanted it, but she didn’t seem to care much now.
“Hey, let’s go to the shrine next year to have them dispose of it. Of course, together.”
Even though it was only the third day of the new year, Inazuki was already making plans for next year. Impatient, or maybe something else.
“Hmm… yeah, sure.”
I couldn’t promise anything, since I didn’t know what things would be like next year.
But… I hoped we could still be together.
I opened the bag Inazuki had been carrying for me. The scent of Chise’s house lingered on my clothes. It made sense since I’d done my laundry there.
Usually, I smelled the same as Inazuki.
Now that I thought about it, even my room smelled like something Inazuki liked. I bought the fabric softener she said smelled good, and bit by bit, my life had become filled with things related to Inazuki.
So many things had turned into “Inazuki,” and that had become my normal.
If we ever parted ways, I might be reminded of her every time I went to the supermarket. I’d probably think, “That fabric softener is the one Inazuki liked.”
I’ve spent so much time with her that she’s become a part of my daily life. Whatever I do, I often find myself thinking, “What would Inazuki do?”
I wondered if it was okay to be like this.
Inazuki, Inazuki, Inazuki.
It felt like about 20% of my body was made up of Inazuki.
“By the way, where should we put the charm? On your school bag?”
“Anywhere you like.”
“Then, let’s put it in the same spot together!”
It was just everyday life. The time I spent in this house had become so normal, and I found myself cherishing that normality.
I went back to the room with Inazuki. While I was unpacking my bag into the dresser and closet, Inazuki was fiddling with my school bag.
I hadn’t seen many people who attached charms where they were visible. But naturally, Inazuki fastened the charm onto the zipper of my school bag.
I just hoped it wouldn’t fall off while I was walking.
“Iroha.”
Out of the blue, Inazuki hugged me from behind.
I was a little surprised and turned my head toward her, but I couldn’t quite make out her expression.
“What were you doing while we were apart?”
“What, like… eating mochi, playing games with Ayaka-chan, getting teased by Chise?”
“I see.”
“…What about you, Inazuki?”
“I was at home, indulging in lazy sleep.”
“Lazy sleep, huh.”
I could smell Inazuki’s familiar scent. It wasn’t something I had forgotten, but somehow it felt nostalgic. I placed my hand on hers, which was wrapped around my stomach.
It was still Inazuki. I was surprised she hugged me so suddenly, but she was always doing things like that.
Today, though, her grip felt a little stronger than usual.
…Maybe she was lonely without me.
Though, I didn’t think she was the type to feel that lonely just because I wasn’t around.
“I mean, there’s nothing left to do anymore. I’ve repeated the same New Year’s so many times. I already know everything my mom’s going to do during our first New Year’s in high school.”
If all you experience are things you’ve already seen, I could understand how that might feel a little stifling.
It’s nice when things go according to plan. But if everything played out exactly as expected, there wouldn’t be any freshness or sense of reality left.
I’d made a rule for myself never to tease Inazuki when she said things that sounded a bit out there.
Especially now, since I’d started picking up on the same signals, seeing visions of scenes from the past.
“But… you always show me something new, Iroha.”
“…?”
If anything, it was me who felt like she was always showing me new things.
“No matter how many years we spend together, I can never predict your reactions, or what you’re going to say. Maybe that’s why… I love you. I want to stay with you, always.”
She tightened her embrace around me.
She was definitely strong, probably thanks to her training.
The force of her hug was stronger than I had imagined, and my body started to ache a little. Still, I accepted her strength.
“Even if you don’t remember anything else… I want to go to more places with you. I want to eat more of your cooking. I want to see your face.”
Her grip loosened.
I turned to face her, and Inazuki looked at me with tearful eyes. Right now, it felt like she was looking at only me.
She placed her hands on my shoulders.
Her dark eyes gradually drew closer.
And as her eyes came closer, so did her lips. She was so near now that I could feel her breath on me, warm and intimate. It wasn’t the heater—it was her warmth. My breath, on the other hand, was probably cold.
She hadn’t asked for a kiss yet.
But something in her had changed, and it seemed like she was about to do it.
Would things change if we did? Would it create a more certain connection, something that would make me trust her more?
Maybe not.
“Iroha…”
She called my name softly, sweetly. I was about to respond, my lips just starting to part, when the sound of an electronic beep filled the room. Instinctively, I stood up.
It was the microwave. I hadn’t used it today, so maybe it was broken?
“…Ah.”
Inazuki’s voice turned into a muffled sound, completely different from the way she had just called my name. She suddenly seemed to remember something and rushed toward the kitchen. I followed her, and the rich, sweet smell of dashi filled the air.
“I was reheating the food I made.”
“Wait, what?”
Inazuki… cooked?
What on earth was going on?
Tomorrow, it might not just snow—it might rain spears… no, tanks.
“What’s with that look? Am I not allowed to cook?”
“It’s not that. You just always said you didn’t feel like cooking.”
“Well, I did. I made it. End of story.”
“Um… why?”
“Because I wanted to win you over.”
She pulled a large plate out of the microwave. On it was a serving of nikujaga.
It looked delicious.
“I’m going to grab you by the stomach with this and make you stay.”
“Well, I’m looking forward to it.”
“Alright. I made more dishes, so I’ll heat them all up and set everything out. You just sit with a thump.”
Sit with a thump?
Not entirely sure what she meant, I sat down in a chair. Watching Inazuki move around in the kitchen felt strange.
When did she even make this?
I separated the sponges for the sink and the dishes, but did she remember to use the right one to clean the pot?
Was the pot put back in the right place…?
I shook my head. Inazuki had made me food, and I should focus on that.
I couldn’t help but feel a little happy. It was like watching a daughter show off something she learned in a home economics class. It might be rude to think that, though.
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