A Hybrid of Life and Gasoline | 命とガソリンのハイブリッド

Part 33 | Accounting

Friday Evening, Ryoji finally told the truth to his friends that he'll be transferring school before the summer break. 

Most of them were devastated, of course, including Akira. Ippei meanwhile, had the time to brace for this so he didn't appear to be too affected by it.

That, of course, was not true. Ippei was just as devastated as the rest of Ryoji's circle of friends.

They all decided they would give Ryoji one final send-off, so they all chipped in for a meal for Ryoji, as final gratitude for their times together. In the end, they selected the chain Shabu Shabu place near the school, as that's all the budget was enough for.

There were 6 friends, all of them in the computer club, including Ippei and Akira, then a friend asked if he could bring his girlfriend with him, and the group was okay with that.

"Hey, Ippei, wouldn't you invite your girlfriend as well?" Another friend suggested, which made Ippei realize that there was no reason not to. So he invited Sachiko as well, and she accepted.

At the table, the atmosphere was surprisingly cheerful and happy, even Ryoji appeared to be thankful for all of them who could be with him till the end. They all promised to keep in touch even after Ryoji moved away, which was going to be soon. Perhaps even before the summer break.

Somehow, Ippei couldn't have the same happy, positive thoughts as his friends. Maybe it's because he knew the actual situation that Ryoji was in.

Somehow, Ippei thought there's no way Ryoji wouldn't disappear from the face of this earth once he moved to Yamanashi. Ippei was a realist, and he knew that the distance was far too much for them to actually stay connected.

That made Ippei look pained and troubled the entire meal, both Sachiko and Akira could see that, and Ryoji didn't want to admit it even if he could see as well.

At the end of the meal, all the friends gathered in front of the restaurant, and they had some parting gifts for Ryoji that they all chipped in.

"Thank you, everyone." Ryoji nearly couldn't hold his tears as he said.

"Hey, everything will be alright, right?" Some friends told Ryoji.

"Yeah, you be as you are, and I'm sure you'll find new friends quickly there as well." Another friends added.

After the meal, the group went home each separate way. Ryoji was picked up by his grandfather as always, while Akira got on his bike to ride away. Ippei and Sachiko took the same bus.

All good things come to an end, no matter how or why, that's the mantra Ippei kept repeating in his head as he saw Ryoji for, who knows if this was actually going to be, the last time.

"Hey, Ippei, have you decided on going somewhere this weekend? Now that your bike is working correctly." Sachiko asked, the bus didn't have that many passengers so they could talk.

"I don't know, do you want to go anywhere in particular?" Ippei threw that question back to Sachiko.

"Actually..." Sachiko said, smiling a bit sheepish, "I'm going to Nikko with my parents."

"Oh." Ippei was a bit disappointed.

"Sorry for not telling you earlier, they just told me this morning. It's a big discount on the accommodation, apparently."

"No, it's fine." Ippei replied, trying to reassure her, "I'll probably stay home to be honest."

"Huh, I thought you'd want to go on a road trip."

"It's you who will be on a road trip." Ippei chuckled lightly. Remembering the green Stepwgn which he was sure the Kinoshita family would be taking on to Nikko, despite it being so old.