My Friend Doesn't Hesitate 28.5

 ACT28.5     Is It Okay if I Gaze at You?


「Uuhyaa, it's raining again!」


Kizaki Kiriko's basketball club practice ended early today at 6 p.m., and after she finished changing clothes in the clubroom building, torrential rain was pouring from the jet black sky, and she let out a groan.

Even though it had been raining all day, the rain still showed no signs of slowing down.

She'd heard this torrential rain would last until midnight.


「But at least the wind has stopped, so I guess this is comparatively better?」


Since she was tall, if it was windy as well, it would have been very difficult to go home, so maybe that could be considered a small mercy?

Yeah, let's stay positive!

With that in mind, Kiriko unfolded her favorite yellow umbrella and was about to trot across the schoolyard toward the main gate,


「...... Mm?」


But she spotted a petite figure standing in the well-lit entranceway who looked distressed.

She was looking from a distance, but even without looking carefully, she knew that face.


「Onatsu!」

「Eh, Kiri-yan-san?」


When Kiriko changed course, ran to the entrance, and called out to the girl there――Midoriya Natsu, Kiriko's friend, looked surprised.

Behind her thick glasses, her green eyes were perfectly round.


「Onatsu, why are you hanging around here? You don't have an umbrella?」

「Ah, yes. I left it at the umbrella stand, but it seems someone in another class took it.」

「So that's how it is? That's pretty unforgivable! I'll take them to task later!」

「No, there was an umbrella there of the same type as mine but tagged with a different name. They just made a mistake; it's not like they stole it.」

「Mm, is that so? In that case, it can't be helped. Have them return it later!」

「I'll do that. The problem is what to do now, however...」

「... Okay, Onatsu. Wait a sec.」


So saying, Kiriko went inside the entranceway and, leaving her umbrella open, rummaged through her sports bag.

Natsu tilted her head in confusion, but paying no mind to that,


「Ah, there it was. Here, Onatsu.」

「Eh... a folding umbrella?」


She took out and handed her a folding umbrella with a navy blue and bluish purple checkered pattern.

It was small for Kiriko, but it was big enough for Natsu's small build.


「I'll lend it to you!」

「I-is that okay?」

「Of course! Onatsu, there's no way I could leave you alone when you're in trouble!」

「Ah... thank you very much. You really saved me!」


Looking relieved from the bottom of her heart, Natsu smiled at her, and Kiriko started to feel warm.

Sure enough, being able to help her precious friend was gratifying.


「So then, shall we go home together? If you like, I'll escort you all the way to your house!」

「N-no no, having you do that on top of lending me an umbrella would be too much! Besides, I commute to school by train!」

「Then, until the station!」

「Like I said, you don't have to go that far――」

「Okay, let's go, Onatsu!」

「... Ah, once you're like this, you can't be stopped anymore, huh. Understood. Please accompany me to the station.」


With a wry smile, Natsu unfolded the folding umbrella and followed her.

As Kiriko walked down the still intensely rainy school route, she kept pace with Natsu by making her stride a little shorter than usual.

Come to think of it.

――This is my first time going home together with Onatsu.

Kiriko had been doing club activities after school ever since she entered high school, so when she noticed that fact, she was a little surprised.

She'd had some days off from club activities, but even so, she had never gone home with Natsu before, so thinking about that made Kiriko feel how fresh this was.

What should we talk about at a time like this?


「Nevertheless, Kiri-yan-san, it's surprising that you also had a folding umbrella despite properly using a big umbrella.」


But Natsu spoke to her first.

The first move was taken. Oh well, that's fine.


「Yeah, just in case, I always have a folding umbrella in my bag.」

「Heh, you're very cautious. I want to follow your example.」

「By the way, look. There are two more in here.」

「Two!?」

「The polka dot one is a spare folding umbrella, and the black one is the spare's spa――」

「Doesn't using that joke feel a little lacking in due respect!?」

「Eh? Onatsu, what are you talking about?」

「No, um... don't worry about it.」


She didn't really understand what Natsu was muttering, but, well, it didn't seem like a topic Kiriko would be able to guess.

That being the case, it seemed best to let the matter drop.


「No matter what, I'm glad I was able to come running when Onatsu was in a pinch.」

「!... We-well, it's a situation invited by my own carelessness, however. If I hadn't stayed until such a late time, I might have been able to avoid this.」

「However.――Onatsu, you're working hard on your manga manuscript, right?」

「!」


Kiriko knew.

Natsu had recently been earnestly creating her manga manuscript while receiving guidance from the female senpai she had barged in on and become apprenticed to.

She was a very good senpai; even though that senpai was a third year student and was preparing for exams, she was giving proper guidance... that person probably has a deep passion for drawing manga.


「Onatsu, you're responding to that senpai's passion, right?」

「Saying that much makes me blush, but... yes, that's right. I'm at a bit of a climax right now, and I wanted to finish it properly at home. That's why I'm grateful to Kiri-yan-san. If the manuscript got wet, it would be hopeless.」

「Yeah! That's why I'm really glad I passed by!」

「... Really, you are――」


Exactly as she said, Natsu was blushing, and it seemed like she muttered something else in the depths of her folding umbrella, but unfortunately, Kiriko couldn't hear what she said due to the rain.

Should I get a little closer?

Kiriko had that thought, but before she could do that, Natsu turned to her and said,


「Nevertheless... I'm impressed you were able to presume that much. Kiri-yan-san, you're too sharp; I'm surprised.」

「Yeah! Basketball has a lot of tactical situations, and you need the ability to predict the opponent's mentality, so I guess it's an application of that?」

「... When you say that, it kind of fills me with trepidation.」

「? What do you mean?」

「No, nothing. Having my own circumstances divined by that power of insight... Kiri-yan-san, even now, you're a bigwig in a certain sense, but I think you will become a person of considerably great talent in the near future.」

「Mm, but, part of it might be because it's about Onatsu.」

「Eh?」



「Onatsu, I'm looking at you more than you might think.」



「!!!!!」


When that was said, the eyes in the depth of Natsu's glasses opened wide again, her blush grew even deeper, and her mouth opened and closed repeatedly.

What in the world was the matter?


「Kiri-yan-san, you really...」

「?」


It looked like there were various things she couldn't put into words.

However, since her feet hadn't stopped walking, it seemed she possessed a sturdy presence of mind.

For the time being, was it better to not talk to Natsu until she had calmed down? Or was it better to say something?


「Haa... well, but, that's so.」


And, when it seemed she had managed to recover, Natsu let out a big breath.

Her thick glasses were just slightly out of place, and she was looking up at her with her large green eyes.



「I'm... always looking at you as well.」



「――――」


When that was said to her.

Just like the other day, when they acted like a married couple, she was deeply moved.

She wondered what the warmth gradually filling her chest could be.


「............」

「............」


After that, both of them just walked in the rain without saying a word.

However, Kiriko understood that the atmosphere was by no means bad, but rather, was comfortable.

She wanted this moment to continue a little longer, but... after about a minute, they arrived at the station that was their destination.


「We-well then, Kiri-yan-san. This is it. I'll return the umbrella tomorrow...」

「O-ok. Take care!」


A slightly awkward exchange at parting.

... Having the day end like this wouldn't be refreshing for Kiriko.


「Onatsu!」

「? What is it, Kiri-yan-san?」

「When our schedules match, let's go home together again!」

「――――」


Upon hearing that, Natsu once again blushed and looked surprised.

Though in a matter of seconds, she managed to recover, and turning toward her, she smiled softly.


「Yes, gladly.」


So saying, Natsu waved her hand again, then turned her back and walked through the ticket gate.

The gait of her retreating figure was light; it seemed she had cheerfully accepted her feelings.

Kiriko, along with feeling refreshed.

Felt her chest become a little warm again.


　　☆　　★　　☆　　★　　☆　　★


.................. That wasn't just at the level of a silver lining in a dark cloud.

I'm writhing in agony on the train, and from other people's perspective, I'm surely the picture of strangeness, but.

In comparison, even that is inconsequential.

Right now, it's truly unbearable.