Even If You're Told You Now Have Wings

The warm summer rain continued to fall. My wet feet keep getting warmer as the time went on. Where did the snail go, I wondered. Had he decided where he would go and went with it?

As the rain showed no sign of let up, I wanted to answer that question, but even if I do, will it made any difference? Everything is up to her, but isn't it alright to say something that I don't need to sometimes?

If I have to do it, make it quick. Is this just an excuse to justify it to my motto? I wondered if this is necessarily a thing that I have to do. But even if it isn't, I would think it's worth it to ditch my energy-saving lifestyle for this. I felt the urge to smash something again, and my hands immediately flew to the storehouse door. There is still no sound from inside it.

"Chitanda, I've said this before, I don't feel things as strongly as you. And I can't possibly imagine the burden you've been carrying these whole time being lifted and told to not carry it anymore."

I don't understand. I can't understand.

"But Chitanda, Even if you're told you now have wings... Even if you won't use it... Even if you fly freely... Even if you're uncertain about the future and having a dilemma..."

It felt like the something exploded, something that I'm not sure why deep inside the bottom of me.

"Even then... It's okay. I'll try to satisfy your curiosity, and deduce the conundrum."

So this is what Satoshi felt back then. Even when I'm feeling it now, I still don't understand.

The sound of silence, followed by drizzle.

With two minutes left before the bus, the riveted door opened, Chitanda was standing beside it, entirely in monochrome.

"Oreki-san, I...."

The trembling voice spoke. I saw the hesitated face speaking it, after a small pause, it smiled. Even though it's smiling, her eyes were clearly crying. But it wasn't a pained one, it was a relief. There are no tears from it. But for some reason, I can tell that it's crying.

I clenched my fist as it somehow pained me. I had nothing else to say.

"Thank you."

She grabbed me and ran towards the bus stop.