Keiko Kawakita and Aya Sasaki’s Gossip
◇ Keiko Kawakita’s Perspective ◇
“Takatsuki, do you remember what we did back then?”
“Nope, completely forgotten.”
“Then I’ll tell you exactly what happened! Back in junior high—”
“I want to forget! Why are you digging into my dark past?!”
It looked like Ryousuke and Takatsuki were chatting happily. Ryousuke could be friendly with anyone, but it was rare to see him actually teasing someone like that. It felt like there was a different sense of distance between the two of them. They are closer than I remember...
“What’s up, Saki? You’re staring,” Aya pointed out, peering at my face. She’d come here with Takatsuki. The two of them were even dating now.
“I was just thinking—those two are close. We all went to the same junior high, but I never noticed.”
“Yeah, it’s surprising, right? They seem different when they’re talking together.”
“You’re right... I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ryousuke so unreserved with anyone but Takatsuki.”
Even in our old world, a lot of people had relied on Ryousuke—now, he had the heavy responsibility of being a hero and a commander of a knight division. I was used to him being steadfast and ready for action, but seeing him this relaxed was unusual.
He doesn’t even look like that when he’s with me...
Takatsuki was one of his closest friends... So much so that there would be no other to replace him.
“It sorta feels like we can’t be part of men’s friendships like that...” Aya murmured. She then turned to me, concern visible on her face. “Saki, what’s up?”
She’s always so sharp.
“Well... I was really awful to Takatsuki at the Water Temple...” I mumbled.
“Awful?”
I took a breath and began to explain what’d happened. Right after we’d arrived, Ryousuke had invited Takatsuki with us to Highland. But I’d glared at Takatsuki before he could answer, wordlessly demanding that he decline Ryousuke’s offer. I’d thought that an apprentice mage would be a burden since his skills were all so weak. Looking back on it now, I’d been acting so selfish. We’d all been helpless in this new world.
Aya just listened.
Hang on, I realized after a moment. She’s Takatsuki’s girlfriend! This’ll definitely piss her off! I knew I had to apologize, but then I looked at her expression.
She seemed...grateful?
“Oh! So it was thanks to you that Takatsuki and I got to meet again!” she exclaimed. She explained that if he had gone with Ryousuke, the two of them wouldn’t have been able to meet in Labyrinthos.
Which meant...she wasn’t angry at all.
Still...I needed to apologize to Takatsuki.
◇
“U-Um! Takatsuki, I want to talk,” I said, pulling him aside on our way back to the infirmary. Aya had already gone on ahead.
“Kawakita? Sasa said she had something to do, so she already left.”
No! I said I wanted to talk to you!
“Do you mind coming with me for a bit?” I asked. There were a lot of people around the entrance to the infirmary, so I wanted to go someplace with less of a crowd.
“Um...” He seemed baffled. “Y’know, I don’t have any money on me...”
“I’m not trying to take your money!” Why would he even think that?! What kind of image did he have of me?! He’s a bit of an airhead, isn’t he...? Well, whatever, I can still do what I came here for.
I summoned my courage and just came out with it. “Takatsuki! I want to apologize for being so awful to you at the Water Temple. I’m sorry!” I bowed my head.
He paused for a long moment, and then...
“Uh?”
So, I explained it again. I was sure he was going to look down on me, or get angry, so I kept my eyes on the ground as I spoke. But when I finished and flicked my gaze back up, I saw him shrug.
“Nah, it was a good thing you stopped me. If I’d gone with Sakurai, I wouldn’t have been able to meet Sasa again.”
Huh. He’d said the same thing as Aya.
“You’re...not angry?” I asked.
“Nope, I’m grateful.” His expression was honest, not simply one of consideration. He must’ve truly felt that way.
Seriously, Aya, you sure are special to him.
“You sure love Aya, huh?” I asked.
“Since junior high,” he admitted.
“H-Huh... Right!” We’d been in the same school, but I hadn’t noticed at all. “What started it, by the way?”
“Well, she came over to my place, and...”
I’d come here to apologize, and now we were just talking romance. I might have gotten a little overexcited. We spent a long time in conversation before Aya came out, yelling and asking us what was going on.
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