Hurry... I have to get to Kazunari-san's house...
I had barely been home for a moment before I tried to rush back out, only to be stopped by Mother.
"I'll drive you," she said.
"What's this? Are you going somewhere?" Father asked.
"She says she’s heading over to Natsumi-chan's house."
"Hahaha, already? You two are as close as ever. Well, I’m going to take a nap before I start working."
Somehow, the conversation moved forward without my input. Well, it allowed me to leave the house easily enough, so I suppose I shouldn't complain.
"So, is Kazunari-san's house where you're really going?"
Mother had obviously seen through me.
"…Yes. I need to see him today, no matter what."
"I understand. I'll head back once I've dropped you off, Sara-chan. Just contact me when you're finished."
I had considered the possibility that she might try to stop me or tell me to wait until tomorrow, but it seemed my worries were unfounded. Even if she had tried to stop me, though, I hadn't the slightest intention of listening.
Thanks to Mother's help, I made it as far as the house, but...
The lights were off.
I didn't think Kazunari-san would be out at this hour. Just in case, I had sent him a message on RAIN before leaving home, but it hadn't even been marked as read. I refrained from calling him on the off-chance he was already asleep, but standing here wouldn't solve anything.
For now, I would go inside.
Knock, knock... Click.
As I opened the door to the entrance, I saw his shoes.
So he really was asleep? That was a pity, but perhaps I should come back tomorrow morning—
I woke up to the sound of the entrance door opening.
Sara-san!?
I realized the lights weren't on, but I didn't care. Right now, I just wanted to see her.
As I approached, Sara-san seemed to notice me as well.
"Kazunari-san? You're here, aren't you?"
Ah... it was Sara-san's voice.
Hearing her for the first time in five days resonated deep in my soul. It felt as if the gloom Yuzuha had cast over me was being washed away.
"……Sara-san."
I intended to speak normally, but my voice came out weak and fragile.
"Kazunari-san!!"
A sudden impact jolted my body. Sara-san had thrown herself at me with incredible force. Maintaining that momentum, she wrapped her arms around my back and hugged me tight. I did the same, reaching around her shoulders, and we stood there, locked in each other's embrace.
"Sara-san... Sara-san..."
The person I had been longing for over these past few days was finally in my arms. I was happy—truly, deeply happy.
"Kazunari-san, I wanted to see you so much!"
"Me too... Sara-san."
Was I smiling right? Was I acting normal? Between the loneliness and the thought of Yuzuha flickering in the back of my mind, I knew I was being emotionally unstable.
"Hehe... first, let me do what I promised."
She reached behind my head and pulled me toward her chest. Ah... this was Sara-san's scent. The scent of the girl I loved.
"Kazunari-san, you worked so hard while I was away. There, there."
Slowly and carefully, she stroked my head while holding me close. Her kindness seeped into my heart. Damn it, don't cry.
When I relaxed slightly, Sara-san tightened her grip.
"...For the last five days, I spent every moment thinking about how I would do this for you the next time we met. Perhaps that is why I feel so much at peace now..."
"I feel like I spent my time thinking only about you coming back, too. To the point where I couldn't focus on anything else..."
The pathetic truth spilled out of me. For these five days, I really had been living only for the moment she returned. That was why this second was so precious.
And yet... I hated Yuzuha for intruding on this happiness and making me think about things that didn't matter.
"Shall we turn on the lights? We can't see each other like this. Don't worry, I'll go back to giving you more 'there, there' in just a moment."
Turn on the lights... see her face...
Was I really smiling properly? I didn't want to make Sara-san worry. This was all Yuzuha's fault. If she hadn't appeared... if I hadn't seen her face...
I had finally started to forget. I thought I could move on.
While those thoughts swirled in my head, Sara-san turned on the light.
"There, that's better. Hehe... now, let me see Kazunari-san's fa—"
Her expression clouded over.
"…Kazunari-san, did something happen?"
As expected, she saw right through me. What was I supposed to say?
"Kazunari-san... if you are feeling anxious about something, please tell me. It's okay... I will never leave you, no matter what happens."
Seeing how deeply she cared for me, I felt a sudden urge to lean on her. If she was going to see through me anyway, wouldn't it be better to just tell her? Between my mental exhaustion and the overwhelming relief of her presence, my resolve crumbled.
"…I'm sorry. Actually, today... I ran into my childhood friend."
"!?"
Sara-san looked genuinely shocked. I suppose she hadn't expected that topic to come up now of all times.
"I met someone I didn't want to meet, and talked to someone I didn't want to talk to... I think I managed to get away, but the anxiety is still there—"
I couldn't finish the sentence. Sara-san hugged me even tighter.
"…It's okay. It's okay now... because I am by your side. Seeing that childhood friend made you feel anxious again, didn't it?"
Holding me close, she began to speak in a slow, soothing voice.
"I am so sorry that I could not be with you when you were feeling so afraid."
She stroked my head over and over with such care. As I basked in her affection, the anxiety surrounding Yuzuha seemed to dissipate. Once she sensed I had calmed down, Sara-san leaned close to my ear.
"Kazunari-san, are you still afraid to talk about what happened in your past? I will be fine, no matter what I hear."
She pulled back slightly to look me straight in the eye. Her gaze was serious and unwavering.
"I do not know exactly what it is you fear. However, if it would save you, I am willing to walk away from my school... my status... and leave this city behind with you. Please remember that I am by your side with that level of resolve."
I was stunned. I trusted Sara-san more than anyone, and I knew she would stay by my side, but I hadn't realized her feelings ran that deep. She was saying she would go that far for me. She wanted me to feel safe.
Was it right for me to just keep depending on her like this? Wasn't it pathetic? This was my own past—I should be the one to overcome it.
In that moment, something shifted inside me. First, I would tell Sara-san everything. Then, I would tell Hayato. I didn't know what Yuzuha was planning, but she probably intended to use Hayato just like she used me. If I could stop her just by being honest, that would be enough.
After that... it would depend on her next move. If she left us alone, fine. If she tried something else...
With my mind clear, I found myself chuckling at how quickly the solutions were coming to me.