Being home for the first time in a week really was comforting.
Relaxing on the living room sofa, I stretched out, feeling the tension that had stiffened across my entire body melt away. It seemed that, one way or another, I had been pretty wound up myself.
"Here you go, Subaru. Some tea."
"Thanks, Mom."
"These squid crackers you bought are so delicious. It really brings out the natural flavor of the ingredients."
Mom... those are octopus crackers.
Well, as long as she was enjoying them, it didn't really matter.
"Still, the ocean sounds lovely. Maybe we should all go together during this year's summer vacation."
"I can show you around the place where I was staying."
"My, wouldn't that be nice? Right, Hiroshi?"
"...Hmph."
Dad let out a low grunt without looking up from his book, muttering under his breath.
"Subaru, during this time you took off from school, were you able to properly accomplish what you set out to do?"
"Yes... It didn't go entirely as planned, but I think I learned a lot."
"I see. Then that's fine. Just make sure you properly make up for falling behind in your studies. That is the closure and responsibility you owe us for this."
"Of course."
Now then, where should I go from here...?
This wasn't really something I wanted to bring up myself, but I should at least check.
"...Dad, um, are you still in contact with Miko's parents?"
Dad's hand stopped dead in the middle of turning a page, and he turned a sharp gaze on me.
"Yes, I am still in contact with them."
"I see."
"Why do you ask?"
"No reason, I was just curious."
"You wouldn't ask unless you wanted to get in touch with them."
"...It's not necessarily that."
I hadn't sorted out why I needed to think about Miko again. It was just a vague feeling that had arisen after spending time with those girls in that seaside town.
"I apologize for asking something strange."
Dad closed his book and placed it on the table.
"Mika."
"What is it?"
"Would you mind making some coffee? Grind the beans and brew it slowly, taking your time."
"My, that takes quite a bit of effort, you know."
"I'm in the mood to drink it together, just the two of us."
"Geez, you're impossible~"
Though she spoke with an exasperated tone, Mom headed happily toward the kitchen.
Alone with me in the living room, Dad spoke with quiet nostalgia.
"In my youth, before meeting Mika at university, a lot of things happened to me as well. There were people I was close with, and people I dated."
"Huh..."
I tilted my head at this abrupt recounting of Dad's romantic history.
Why was he bringing this up now?
"Romance is a difficult thing. Especially in one's youth, when one tends to focus solely on conveying one's own feelings. I made plenty of mistakes myself. It is hard to say that all of my breakups ended amicably."
"Um, what is this about?"
"Just listen. Have you ever seen the scar on my back? I told Mika it was an injury from my childhood, but in truth, it was inflicted by someone who once confessed to me."
Seriously, what on earth was I being forced to listen to?
Leaning back against the sofa, Dad looked slightly off into the distance.
"I am happy to have met Mika. Even so, in unexpected moments, I sometimes recall those times and wonder if I couldn't have handled things better back then. Perhaps a life without regrets simply doesn't exist. Even so, I will say this to you: Subaru, struggle with all your might and live without regrets."
"...That's contradictory."
"That is what parental love is. A convenient phrase, wouldn't you say?"
With that, Dad gave a faint smile.
"An old novelist once said that love does not consist merely in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction. Think for yourself and act accordingly. If there comes a time when you want to ask me something again, don't hesitate to ask."
"Yes, sir."
In the end, what had Dad been trying to say?
Satisfied with his rather roundabout advice, Dad went back to reading his magazine featuring Saramy-chan, a Bernese Mountain Dog, on the cover.
◇
The next day, arriving at school for the first time in a while, I sat at my desk and brooded over various thoughts.
My feelings toward my childhood friend, Miko.
To be frank, that was already a closed chapter for me.
I felt reluctant to go out of my way to dredge it back up and do something about it.
As I sat there brooding, someone tapped me on the shoulder.
"...Hatsukade-kun, good morning."
"Good morning, Nakina."
"...Mmph."
No sooner had she arrived than Nakina puffed out one cheek in apparent discontent, shooting me a deadpan glare before taking her seat.
Why was she making a face like that first thing in the morning?
She had messaged me last night, so I'd even gone out of my way to dutifully send her a massive collection of memorable photos—a whole photobook of ultra-cute Fujimaru-kun shots, no less...
Glancing up, I noticed Masanori in the seat in front of me staring with wide, round eyes.
"What is it?"
"Ah, no, nothing..."
"All right."
Come to think of it, the other students were wearing similar expressions.
Did I have something on my face?
I lightly touched my cheeks, but there didn't seem to be anything there.
While I was doing that, Shinonome, who had just arrived, sidled up to me.
"Hey, Hatsukade. I forgot to mention it yesterday, but it turns out you've been in contact with Nakina. Why am I the only one left out?"
"You never asked."
"H-Hmph. W-Well, I guess I'll exchange info with you too, then."
And just like that, after having my contact information extracted through brilliant maneuvering, I watched Shinonome walk off with a suspicious, smug chuckle.
I could intensely feel an awkward atmosphere settling in, as if the humidity in the classroom were steadily rising.
"Mooorning, Subaru~! Sakura-chan has made her safe return! Man, spending this past whole week together was super fun, but meeting up in the classroom really feels the most natural, doesn't it?!"
Sakura shouted at the top of her lungs the moment she stepped through the door.
The classroom erupted into an uproar. Masanori's face twitched violently.
And my male classmates were glaring at me with eyes that looked ready to throw punches at any second.
Then, one boy whose tongue was practically tied in knots snapped at me.
"Y-You bastard, w-what the hell is going on here?!"
"Huh?"
Hmm, what was he talking about?