A Warm Place

IX A Place Next to You

"......san."

Huh? Someone's calling me.

"......Hinata...sa..."

I need to wake up. My mind's already awake, but my eyelids feel too heavy to open.

"Hh!!!"

Finally, I manage to prevail over the sandman. When I open my eyes, a nostalgic face comes to my vision. Startled, I raise my body vigorously.

"Kyah?!"

Surprised by my sudden action, that someone jolts back. Then I'm hit with another surprise to know that it's actually Tsubaki--I place my hand on my chest and repeatedly take deep breaths. On the surface, I may look fairly calm, but my heart is actually beating like crazy.

"S-sorry. I've startled you."
"........."

She doesn't say anything. She only stares at me with a serious expression. Umm, could it be that I've made her angry? Tsubaki comes close to me and reaches out her hand. Wait, is she gonna hit me-?! or so I thought for an instant, but that's not the case. She wipes some liquid from my eyes with her finger.

"......Eh?"
"Hinata-san, you're crying."

I place my hand on my eyes, and I find out that she's right. It's damp around my eyes, my tears have made traces along my cheeks. I didn't even notice that I was crying.

"I thought that you were having a sad dream, so I decided to wake you up... I'm sorry."
"Nah, thank you. It wasn't a sad dream, though... it's just so nostalgic that I ended up crying, I think."
"A nostalgic dream?"
"Yup. Maybe I feel homesick."

It's true that I've been having those nostalgic dreams ever since I moved here. But, I know that it's not the real reason.

"Do you want to return? To the city?"
"No, that isn't it."

...Well, I can't return to [that place] anyway. Not anymore.

To quell the gloomy mood, I give a smile to the worried girl. Then, I start stretching my body. Now that I've awakened, there is something that tugs my mind.

"By the way, Tsubaki, what are you in my room? --Huh?"

Right after I say that, I realize.

"Aah?!"

I grab my cell phone from nearby to check the time. It's already past the promised time.

"Uwah, aaah..."

What the hell have I done! I'm the worst kind of idiot for breaking my promise, goddammit!! Aaaah geez, [she] had scolded me time and time again in the past, but why do I still mess it up like this?

"Sorry... I'm ready to commit seppuku."
"I-it's okay! Please don't do that!! Please don't mind about it!! Please calm down!!"

Tsubaki gets flustered as she tries to stop me, which cools me down in the meantime.

"Haah."
"Um, please, cheer up."
"Haha, you're so kind, Tsubaki."

She's so kind even when dealing with a no-good human like me. What a good girl, too good even.

"You know, in the past, I had a childhood friend who's strict with time. Scratch that, she's strict with everything. She'd chew me up if I'm late to a meetup, even if it's only a minute. So, I've always been trying to be on time... but it doesn't really work out."

She'd get angry at me every time. She would get in an ill humor, and wouldn't listen to what I say. But, she'd always forgive me in the end.

"So that's what it is about."
"I've been meaning to try, you know..."
"I know, it can't be helped."