A Warm Place

VI A Trembling Me

"What a great weather~"

Mother told me to retrieve the uniforms, so I'm off to the store where we had ordered them. Blue sky and white clouds extend wherever I see, and the great sun has risen right above me. It's the perfect day to make an excursion.

"Hnng~ it feels pleasant."

There's nobody around, and I stretch my limbs wide. I want to take a nap by the river during such weather, but then I realize that I've just woken up earlier. I had been taking such a pleasant sleep, but Mother woke me up at noon.

"Well, I have to go and retrieve the uniforms anyway."

Saving the afternoon nap for another time, I walk towards the uniform store. I was given a map to the store, but I already know the place since the previous [me] went to the same store at middle and high school.

Relying on my memories, I walk for a while until I find the place where I remember it. Maybe because so many years have passed since I was separated from this town, it took much longer than I thought to reach here. Now that I think about it, if I add my age and the past [me] together, it's easily over 30 years... isn't it...?

(So from my mental age, I'm an auntie that's over 30 years old.)

Thinking about it gives me mixed feelings. On the other hand, my body is that of a teen, bursting with youth and energy..... Ahaha.

"E-excuse me-! I am Hayase. We have ordered some uniforms from you."

In order to stop myself from thinking further about it, I vigorously open the store door.

*

"...It's heavy."

Carrying the large, heavy plastic bags with both my hands, I sluggishly tread the path home. With this weight, I feel as if my arms will get pulled apart. If I knew this would happen, I would've pulled Saki along even if she resisted. Although, even if she was here, she would just say something like, "I can't carry anything heavier than a pair of chopsticks~☆"

And Mother... she'll just make me pointlessly tired, so no.

"Uuh... it's heavyy..."

While I'm confident with my strength, I'm not too sure about my stamina. Exhausting my energy in no time, I let go of the bags and take a rest. Carrying that heavy thing have created smarting marks on my palms.

"Haah... I'm tired."

While I am regulating my breath, an acquaintance comes into my view.

"Good afternoon, what a coincidence."
"Uhyoo?!"

Jolt! My heart throbs loudly, making a strange sound.

There stands a young girl whom I just met yesterday-the one that resembles my childhood friend. Thrust by the sudden encounter, my whole body stiffens from surprise, and I can't make a proper response. On top of it, my heart is pounding noisily.

Aah, this throbbing heart... I see. This must be love--wait, no no no no, am I an idiot?! Calm down, me! Even though this girl really looks like her, she's a totally different person in the first place! I don't have to be so flustered! I shake off the confusion from my head, and I feign composure. Although I believe it is far too late by now.