The interior of the car fell silent. When the red light finally shifted to green, I-chan eased the car forward.
The engine hummed as we picked up speed.
For a while, both of us simply stared blankly at the road ahead, watching the scenery drift by.
"Megu, why do you think I did it?"
I-chan finally broke the silence.
But her question wasn't an answer to the one I had asked her.
I felt a flicker of annoyance. I was trying to have a serious conversation, yet she was being evasive. I knew that was part of her personality, but right now, I couldn't just let it go.
...Back in high school, I don't think I ever would have gotten this worked up over anything involving Yamamoto.
"Why are you asking me?" I replied sharply.
"...Ahaha. You're being harsh."
A shadow hung over I-chan’s face.
She definitely wasn't acting like her usual self.
...Could it be?
Even before I’d confronted her, I had one suspicion as to why she’d invited Yamamoto to the wedding.
But if that really was the reason...
If she’d only invited him to show off her success...
I think I would have despised her for it.
"...I want him to see me. I want Yamamoto-kun to see me in my wedding dress."
"...I-chan, you..."
"Because... because I wouldn't be who I am today without him."
I was left speechless.
The answer was so unexpected that I couldn't find the words to respond.
I didn't understand what she meant.
She was who she was because of Yamamoto?
Their interaction in high school had been so brief. I couldn't imagine that he could have done anything significant enough to fundamentally change her character in such a short time.
"You know how flaky I can be, right? Well, I was even worse in middle school. I never took my studies seriously, and I’d skip class or show up late whenever I didn't feel like being there."
I-chan's past.
It was a part of her life I knew nothing about.
"For the first time in my life, I became obsessed with something. I wanted to win against Yamamoto-kun."
"...I-chan."
"I realized how much fun it is to be passionate about something. I learned that if you actually try, you can get results. ...That was the turning point. That was when I started to take things a bit more seriously."
The car continued its steady progress.
"That’s when I finally started to face life head-on."
Without stopping, we kept moving forward.
"If Yamamoto-kun hadn't changed me, I probably would have drifted away from you and Akari. I used to think that maintaining friendships was just a hassle. But once I started taking things seriously and really looked around... I realized how wonderful it is to have friends. I realized how amazing it feels to have people you can truly trust."
I-chan’s expression was different than usual.
She didn't look solemn or burdened.
She looked happy—the kind of cheerful, smiling expression that suited her best.
But she looked so much more mature than she had back in high school.
"Megu."
"Yeah...?"
"I love you."
"...I love you, too."
"Please stay my friend forever."
...It seemed I had been completely mistaken.
And it wasn't just that I’d failed to understand her feelings.
I had assumed that because I-chan and Yamamoto’s connection was brief, there was no way he could have changed her. I’d looked down on the depth of their bond, and that was my mistake.
...I really am a total fool.
After all, I’d been completely changed by him in a mere two months myself.
I was such an idiot.
"Of course," I said, smiling back at her.
But behind that smile, in the privacy of my own heart, I was thinking...
Yamamoto, you really are incredible, aren't you?
For the first time, I felt a profound sense of respect for the boy who had changed all of us.