Chapter 17

A young boy stood in front of the class, holding a piece of paper in front of him. An old clock was drawn on it, with small bits of text written beside the picture. The boy looked at his classmates, his hands shaking.

Come on. Say it. Just say it.

“Umm… umm…” No words left his mouth. He had no trouble rehearsing in front of his sister and mother last night, so why wouldn't the words leave him now?

“Muranoto.” his teacher sighed, sitting behind his desk. “Have you not practiced last night?”

“I- I practiced!” he could say that, so why did no other words come out?

“Then why wouldn't you say anything? You'll face many more presentations in the future. If anything, it'll be a part of your regular life.”

Kenji glanced at his classmates. Some yawned, looking just like his sister last night. Others did their own thing. One of them even scribbled on her poster with a marker, maybe trying to finish it in time. He had no reason to be afraid. No one paid attention anyway. Nobody but one.

A girl at the back, sitting on the other side of the class from him. He never caught her name, yet she gave him her full attention. Even throughout this rather pathetic display, she smiled just as his mother had. She brought her hands to the side of her mouth and whispered encouragement.

Yeah… I can do it.

Yet, once he turned his eyes away from her, he froze up again.

No, don't worry. No one is judging you. No one cares. No one cares.

“... Enough. Any longer and the others won't get their turn. You can sit, Muranoto. Make sure you prepare yourself more for the next test.”

“Yes, sorry.” Kenji walked back to his seat.

•••

During lunch, he sat alone, as he always did. He missed his chance to talk with his classmates multiple times, and they no longer had any interest in him. He took out his lunchbox, revealing the delicious-looking sandwich his mom had packed for him.

“Muranoto!” the girl from before called out all of a sudden, causing Kenji to shiver.

“Wha- what is it?” Did she come here to mock him? She probably would, considering how successful her presentation was.

“What do you think of my presentation?” she asked. Kenji tensed up, trying to remember what she talked about.

“... Decent.”

“Really? That's a relief!”

Kenji didn't understand. Anyone else would be angry if he called their work just decent. His sister refused to talk to him after he accidentally said that about her abysmal arts and crafts project.

“... Why…?”

“Why?”

“Why… did you… umm…”

She tilted her head, waiting patiently for him to sort out the words.

“Umm… why did you… Why… choose a music box?”

She presented a small music box with a silver ballet dancer inside it.

“Because my grandparents love it!” She grinned.

“But… but the assignment… the things we like?”

“Well, I like my grandfather… and my grandmother… and they both like the music box?”

“That made no sense-” Kenji clasped his mouth.

“You're right, but there's nothing wrong about it, is there? I think it's pretty too!”

Kenji stared at her in shock.

“Ah, right.” The girl extended her right hand forward. “My name is Hakayashi Tsukiko! Nice to meet you!”

•••

The thoughts continued circling in his mind. Tsukiko had left him once before, so she could leave him again. Kenji didn’t have the right to hold her back. He wasn’t his parents; he was just her childhood friend she happened to be close to.

If she wanted to take on the world… then I need to support her…

But…

Something squeezed his heart, his expression souring.

“Brother? Is something wrong?” Amaya asked, waiting for him as he locked the front door. “I returned before midnight-”

“No, sorry, I was thinking about something else.”

Amaya continued observing him, but after a while, she lost interest, heading into the bathroom. Amaya had her own keys, and she’s an adult. Usually, Kenji wouldn’t wait for her to come home before he slept. Maybe that made her suspicious?

Kenji returned to his bed, but he couldn’t sleep. When was the last time he had trouble sleeping? He couldn’t remember any later than half a year ago, when he got too excited at a marketplace listing.

Kenji tossed and turned on the bed, his mind only thinking about one thing. Tsukiko.

I… want her to stay.

Kenji loved her.

It was something he realized many years ago. Tsukiko had captured his heart long ago, long before he understood the meaning of romance. Even before middle school, probably. Yet, Kenji didn’t want to tie her down to this island, hence why even before they parted ways, he didn’t tell her how he felt.

I’ll just go and grab a warm drink.

Kenji got out of bed. He tiptoed down the stairs, stopping on the landing. Voices came from the kitchen. Not one, but two.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

Kenji could hear Amaya’s voice, which meant the one sitting across her should be…

“My boss called me back.”