Chapter 27

It was about an hour’s walk from my house to the station, then another hour on the bullet train.

After getting off the Shinkansen, we transferred to a local line and rode it for another thirty minutes.

That finally brought us to the town where my parents live.

“…So, we’re here.”

As I stepped out through the ticket gate, a familiar view came into sight.

This was the local station.

Up until I started university, I used to take the train from here almost every day.

“…Phew.”

I felt a bit of relief at having arrived without issue.

It’s my third year at university, and I’ve already been back home more than ten times.

Normally, there wouldn’t be anything to worry about—but today was a little different.

“This is where your real home is?”

I turned around at the sound of a voice behind me, and there was Yuu, looking curiously around the area.

I couldn’t help but stare at her for a moment.

A breezy-colored summer dress, a wide-brimmed hat, and a rolling suitcase in hand. With her beautiful golden hair, she looked just like a young lady visiting from abroad.

“…Yuu?”

“Ah—sorry. I spaced out for a second. Yeah, this is where I live.”

It was the third day of summer vacation.

Yuu and I had come to this station to visit my parents’ house.

Originally, I hadn’t planned to go back home this early.

But the reason we were standing here now was because of a phone call from my mom two days ago, on the first day of summer break.

Apparently, she had assumed I’d come back on the first day of summer vacation, like I always did, and had made all the preparations accordingly.

She said if I didn’t come, all the groceries she’d bought would go to waste.

Well, I wasn’t going to force anything—if Yuu had said she didn’t want to come, I would’ve stayed. But when I asked, she said she was fine with this timing, so here we were.

…Still, I know I’m the one who didn’t keep in touch, but this kind of misplaced trust in my usual habits stings a little.

It’s like she never even considered the possibility that I might make friends and not come back right away for once.

…Though, given my track record, I guess that’s fair enough.

“We were on the train for a pretty long time. You’re not tired, Yuu?”

“I’m fine. Not tired at all.”

Her smile put me a little at ease.

I was glad to see she really did seem okay.

This trip home had been pretty rushed, so it wouldn’t have been surprising if she was exhausted.

“Sorry about all this—how sudden everything was.”

“Ahaha… yeah, it was sudden, but I’m fine. I’m the one who said I’d come, after all.”

We’d only decided to come back the night before last.

The call from my mom came in the evening, and I asked Yuu that night if she’d be okay with coming. I told my mom we’d come after I talked to her.

Yuu didn’t start getting ready until after that.

Since I was just going home, there wasn’t much I needed to prepare. But that wasn’t the case for Yuu.

She spent all of yesterday rushing around, getting ready.

By the time she was done, I think it was already past midnight.

That one’s on me—I hadn’t thought it’d be that much work for her, so I figured one day would be enough and told my mom we’d come in two days.

When I realized my mistake, I considered pushing it back a day or two, but Yuu said she’d be fine, and I took her at her word.

…This whole trip has been rushed—asking if we should go back, asking if she’d come, getting things ready—everything.

I feel pretty pathetic about how little planning I did.

I’ve never really gone anywhere with someone before, so I didn’t even think to discuss the schedule in advance—something that should’ve been obvious.

…Yuu is always going out of her way for me.

I wonder when I’ll ever be able to return the favor.

“Thanks. I’m really glad you came with me. Mom was thrilled when I told her I’d be bringing someone.”

When I said on the phone that I had a friend and wouldn’t be staying long, my mom sounded genuinely happy.

And when I added that I was bringing someone home with me, she was over the moon.

“…Was she?”

“Yuu?”

As soon as I said Mom was happy, Yuu’s expression clouded for some reason.

What’s wrong? I couldn’t think of any reason.

It didn’t seem like nerves—it felt like something else entirely.

“Do you think… it’s really okay? Someone like me, coming along?”

“…Why wouldn’t it be?”

I couldn’t think of a single reason why it wouldn’t be okay for Yuu to be here.

If even Yuu wasn’t okay, then who would be?

“Um… never mind. Forget I said anything. That was weird of me.”

“No, I don’t think that’s something you need to apologize for…”

Yuu wasn’t the kind of person to say something like that without a reason. So there must be something on her mind.

But I had no idea what it could be.

If there was something bothering her, I wished she’d just tell me. I’d do whatever I could.

“…Shall we go?”

“Huh? Ah—yeah.”

But when I tried to ask, Yuu suddenly took my hand and started walking, as if to cut off the conversation.

The soft feeling in my palm caught me off guard, and the moment to speak slipped away.

“Which way is your house, Shin?”

“…Oh, uh, just turn right at that corner.”

And so, Yuu and I made our way toward my house.

Along the way, her face still looked a little clouded over.

…I don’t really know what’s going on, but maybe I should keep an eye on her.

That’s what I thought.