A Warm Place

XIII My Current Position

I'm reading a book while lying on the bed, but I can't really focus. The content of the book isn't entering my head at all. My chest feels fuzzy and restless. In the end, I close the book and leave it at the edge of the room.

--I wonder how many days have passed since I came to this town.

It shouldn't have been long. Although, my memories are hazy, perhaps because so many things happened in the past few days. I open my cell phone to look at the calendar, and I notice that the school entrance ceremony is coming soon. Now that I think of it, I haven't tried my uniform at all. I'd better check the sizes later.

"I hope I can get into the same class as Tsubaki."

I've run into a series of coincidences that it should be called a miracle. So maybe... well, at least let me hope that I can spend a fun school life again at that school....

I vacantly recall my nostalgic high school memories. I didn't think much about anything. I only thought that the fun days would continue forever. But all of a sudden, my future was smashed into pieces that day.

Am I going to start over from now on?

(.....Start over?)

What am I trying to start over in the first place? The future of [my past self] had ended. The sorrowful look of my childhood friend faintly surfaces for a brief moment--Her future is still going on.

This time, Tsubaki's face, looking exactly like my childhood friend appears in my mind. It makes me wonder what she is doing right now. Oh, right, she said she's going shopping.

"........."

I'm reminded by the fact that Saki was flirted with by two men. Is it okay for her to go out alone? Although Saki did warn her, the more I think about it, the more I get worried. I end up calling Tsubaki, but it doesn't connect. Maybe her phone ran out of battery or something.

......I'm sure it's because she is someplace with poor signal. Acting like a worrywart will only bother her instead.

.........

............

"I-I'm worried."

If I knew this would happen, I should've just asked to go with her from the start. Since I can't stay still anyway, I go out to search for her.

*

"It's been long since last rode a bicycle~ The wind feels nice~"

I borrowed the bicycle from Saki before going out to search for Tsubaki. I have no idea where her destination is, so I just look wherever I can think of. I have gone around quite a few stores that Tsubaki might visit, but I still couldn't find her.

Maybe we passed by each other and she already went home. Having given up, I decided to return home. For some reason or other, I drop by a public park on my way home, and I spot the sight of Tsubaki sitting on a bench by herself.

The park is empty. I wonder if she is thinking about something all by herself--she's only sitting while looking down.

"Tsu-baki!"

When I cheerfully call out to her, she looks at me, surprised.

"Hinata-san?"
"Ehehe, what a coincidence. Have you finished shopping?"

I shift my gaze next to her, and I see a plastic bag filled with foodstuff. It seems that she's done shopping.

"Yes, I have decided on what to buy beforehand, so it didn't take long. Hinata-san, what are you doing here?"
"I'm cycling, with my sister's bicycle."