"How was that? I don't think there was anything particularly special about what I shared."
"That's not true at all. I'm really glad I got to hear so many things about you that I didn't know before, Senpai. That's exactly what I wanted—your everyday stories. The specific details don't matter."
Yeah. Learning about all the things I had never asked about and had been overlooking was significant.
Besides... I had ended up holding Senpai's hand... and I still hadn't let go. What should I do...?
As that thought crossed my mind, Senpai slowly released my hand and straightened her posture.
"Is there anything else you'd like to ask? Even if not today, please feel free to ask me anytime in the future if something comes to mind."
It wasn't that I had nothing to ask, but most of it would just be out of curiosity. I could always ask later when the moment felt right.
"Then it's my turn. That said, there's really not much to tell about me. It might be quicker if you just asked me about anything you wanted to know or were curious about, Sara-senpai."
"Fufu... Then could you tell me what your daily life is like?"
I told her about my usual routine at home, which mainly revolved around playing games, reading manga, and browsing the internet.
I explained that my parents lived at our family home and that I was living alone due to family circumstances.
At school, I only mentioned that things weren't going well with my classmates.
I had already told her that much before.
As for housework, I said I was handling the bare minimum... or at least I thought I was.
That was pretty standard for a guy living alone, right?
When it came to meals, I almost slipped and admitted that everything was instant food, eating out, or convenience store bentos.
"A relative comes over to help you, right?"
She brought that up first, which reminded me of the backstory I had given her.
It wasn't like I had to hide anything. It was my life, after all...
Before she asked her next question, I noticed her expression turn slightly serious.
"If you don't want to talk about this, I won't press you. But... would you be willing to tell me about your time in middle school?"
I figured that topic would come up. After all, I had only given her a vague account before.
But... there was a reason I honestly didn't want to talk about it. Especially not to Senpai.
I didn't care about Yuzuha anymore, but I didn't want to make Senpai feel uncomfortable... not when we were enjoying ourselves.
Could I manage to explain just the surface of it?
"Senpai... I'm sorry. The story from back then involves other people's circumstances, so I can't go into too much detail."
"Ah, then please don't force yourself. I..."
"But... would it be all right if I only share what I can?"
"...Are you sure?"
"Yes. Just a simple version."
"I had a childhood friend. We were close through elementary school, but we drifted apart a little after entering middle school. I'd looked after her in all sorts of ways since we were kids, so even after that I kept watching over her with concern. But she started getting influenced by the people around her and changed more and more. Both her appearance and the way she acted honestly became the type I disliked. Still, that was her own choice, so I had no right to say anything about it."
Senpai listened quietly.
I continued.
"Around that time, I happened to learn about something involving her that I couldn't overlook. I got angry and punched the person responsible. That led to all sorts of trouble afterward, and I ended up being ostracized by everyone around me for the rest of my middle school years."
In truth, thanks to Yuzuha's lies, I had been treated like a criminal and denounced by the entire class...
But there was no need to go into that.
He was clearly avoiding anything he couldn't talk about. There was no doubt the real story was far more complicated than what he had shared.
Even though it must have been painful for him, he had still opened up to me this much...
I decided I would never bring up this topic again.
If one day Takanashi-san felt ready to tell me everything, I would accept whatever he said, no matter what it was...
However, there was one thing that still bothered me... Just this one thing.
"...There's just one thing I'm curious about. Even after you ended up in that kind of situation, what was your childhood friend doing?"
"Ah, well... she probably thought she was getting dragged into trouble because of me. The punching incident was somewhat related to her, after all. We had a pretty bad falling out afterward, and in the end, she started ignoring me completely."
From the way he told it, Takanashi-san had likely gotten angry over something that involved his childhood friend.
I didn't know the exact reason, but for someone as kind as Takanashi-san to actually punch another person, it must have been something truly serious.
Had his childhood friend not even considered that...?
And yet, according to the story, she had instead joined the side that condemned him...
"I see... I'm sorry. Since I don't know the full details, I can't make any careless comments... But there is one thing I can say clearly. I am on your side, Takanashi-san. I wanted to make that perfectly clear."
I knew Senpai would say something like that.
Even though my explanation had been so vague, the fact that she would still declare her support made me genuinely happy.
In truth, I didn't think I had been wrong.
If there was a saying that went "he deserved to be punched," then in my opinion, a punch hadn't been nearly enough.
"...I don't think I could ever get along with that childhood friend..."
Senpai muttered those words in a small, expressionless voice...