"Whoa..."
The moment we stepped into the fitting room, Akari let out a soft cry of admiration from beside me.
I didn't say anything, but I was just as captivated.
Clad in a pure white gown, I-chan looked like a completely different person. She was breathtaking. No, that wasn't right. I-chan had always been beautiful.
But how was I supposed to put this?
"Fine feathers make fine birds?"
"Megu, that's definitely not the right expression."
I narrowed my eyes at Akari's dry response. Secretly, I’d suspected as much. I really shouldn't try to use idioms I barely understand.
"Hey, hey, I-chan! Can I take a picture?"
Akari was more hyper than usual. Seeing our old friend looking so radiant must have gone to her head.
"Sure."
"...Uh—"
The two of them turned toward me after I let out an awkward little sound.
"Can I... take one too?" I asked, looking away as the heat rose in my cheeks.
When I stole a glance back, they were both wearing mischievous grins.
"Megu, you're such a tsundere!"
"Right? Isn't she cute?"
"W-what's that supposed to mean?"
What was so weird about wanting to take a photo of something beautiful? This was exactly why I hated being honest. Whenever I let my guard down, this happened.
"...I hate you both," I muttered, pouting.
"Whoops! Sorry, Megu, I'm sorry!" I-chan said, trying to placate me.
"Kyaa! Megu, you're so cute!" Akari, on the other hand, was her usual self.
Seriously, what was wrong with her?
As I-chan comforted me, I looked at Akari with exasperation. The scene felt incredibly familiar.
...It was just like when the three of us hung out back in high school.
We were always like this. Whenever I accidentally spoke from the heart, they would tease me, I-chan would make peace, and Akari would just laugh.
I realized then that I’d been wrong.
I’d been so worried that I-chan's marriage would destroy the bond between us. That was why I hadn't been able to truly feel happy for her. But our relationship wasn't going to change just because she was getting married.
Of course, we might see each other less often. But whenever we did get together, we’d still be able to act like idiots, just like the old days.
"I-chan."
"Yeah?"
"You look... really beautiful."
"...Thank you."
I didn't think I would ever forget her face in that moment—wrapped in white lace, smiling just like she did in our high school days.
I think that was the first time I truly, deeply celebrated I-chan's marriage from the bottom of my heart.
On the way back, Akari and I were once again in the car with I-chan driving.
Unlike the trip here, I took the passenger seat. There wasn't any deep meaning behind it; I just felt like sitting there. Akari was fast asleep in the back. The long morning must have finally caught up with her.
"I'm sorry about today," I-chan said. "It must have been exhausting, coming all the way from Tokyo."
"...Hey, I-chan."
"Hm?"
"There's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
I hesitated. I-chan was one of my best friends, just like Akari. I’d told myself I would tell her everything if the chance ever arose. I wasn't looking for sympathy; I just felt that, as her friend, I owed her the truth.
...But was it right to cast a shadow over her happiness with my messy past? I'd been agonizing over that the whole time. But after seeing her today and realizing she was still the same I-chan I’d always known... I finally made up my mind.
"I dropped out of university."
"...I see."
"My ex... he was abusive. Domestic violence. He’s in prison now."
I-chan kept her eyes on the road, driving in silence. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything after all.
"That sounds like it was really hard," she finally said.
"Not really..."
"So, what about now?"
"...Now? Right now... well, ahaha. You might be a bit shocked."
"...Don't tell me."
We hit a red light. I-chan brought the car to a stop and turned to look at me.
"Are you with Yamamoto-kun?"
"...How did you know?"
How could she possibly have guessed?
"Well, if it's something that would shock me... that's the only thing I can think of."
"Is it really that surprising?"
"Yeah. You two hated each other's guts in high school. Akari and I were actually pretty worried about you guys."
"...Ahaha."
Right. I'd really been a burden to them, hadn't I? To I-chan. To Akari. And to Yamamoto, too.
"I see. So it's Yamamoto-kun, huh? Did he save you?"
"Yeah. We ran into each other by chance, and he let me stay at his place."
"Even now?"
"...Yeah."
"Wow. I'm... actually a little jealous."
Suddenly, I recalled a conversation I'd had with Yamamoto a while back.
"Hey, I-chan—"
"I liked him."
The answer was immediate. I hadn't even finished the question.
"...Oh."
I looked down, a wave of guilt washing over me. In the back seat, Akari remained fast asleep.