My Friend Doesn't Hesitate 35

ACT35     Will I Be Able to Become Like Her Someday?


「Well then, I'm going to visit Akami now.」


Finally, it was the long-awaited after school time.

After leaving just those words with Kiriko and Natsu, Mashiro quickly left the classroom.

This day at school without Akami somehow felt short, yet very long at the same time.

In its own way, having a day to interact with her other friends wasn't bad, but as expected, Mashiro was already at her limit.

As quickly as possible, forward, forward...!

With such restless feelings, while she didn't run down the hallway, she walked briskly, changed her shoes at her shoe cupboard, and when she exited through the entranceway――


「? Akami?」


Mashiro saw.

In the schoolyard, on the path leading to the side gate, the back of a female student with a height less than 150 centimeters, a slender physique, and shoulder length hair――


「Akami!」


Without even time to wonder anything like why she would be there when she was supposed to be absent, Mashiro called out to that retreating figure.


「Eh? Mashiro-chan? What's wrong?」


As expected, the face of the girl that turned around wasn't Akami's, but her face was familiar to Mashiro in a different sense from Akami's face.

Wearing her trademark blue star hairpin, she gave off a soft atmosphere. The school badge on the chest of her neatly dressed summer uniform was the color of a second-year student.


「Ah... Acchan-senpai.」


It was Inui Aisa, Mashiro's senpai since middle school.

Although her physique was strikingly similar to Akami's, her hairstyle was quite different, but she still made a big mistake.

Mashiro blushed.


「It seems you were kind of flustered... Akami-chan isn't here today?」

「Ah, y-yes. It seems Akami has a fever today.」

「And so you mistook me for Akami-chan?」

「Uu... s-sorry.」

「I'm not reproaching you. That's just how important she is to Mashiro-chan, right?」

「...... Yes.」


Mashiro couldn't help but admire the gently smiling Aisa.

Ever since they met, she had always been that way. A gentle, mature person who smiled at her even when she made little mistakes.

 ...... However.


「Acchan-senpai.」

「Mm, what is it?」

「Are you a little dispirited?」

「――――」


She felt her atmosphere was just a little more listless than usual.

Truly, somehow or other.

After being asked that, although Aisa stiffened slightly, she took a deep breath and smiled softly.


「That's not the case.」


Aisa was just the same as always, without that listless feeling from before.

So it was just in Mashiro's imagination?


「Then, Mashiro-chan, shall we return home together? I have a break from club activities today, and my part-time job starts at 5 o’clock, so I have plenty of time.」

「Eh... umm, I have to deliver today's class printouts to Akami, so is it fine if I stop by on the way?」

「Of course.」


For that reason, she ended up going home with Aisa. The last time was in middle school, so it was the first time in two years.

It was kind of nostalgic, and very joyful.


「When we're side by side like this, I'm reminded once again, but Mashiro-chan, you've really grown tall.」

「Is that so?」

「Yeah. In your first year of middle school, Mashiro-chan wasn't very different from me, but it feels like a huge difference has been born. To the point that I wish you'd share some with me.」


Certainly, when they first met, Mashiro was only about five centimeters taller than her.

Now, Mashiro was 164 centimeters tall, which was more than 15 centimeters taller than Aisa.

She didn't plan to grow up that big, but perhaps she inherited it from her mother, who like herself, was slightly tall for a woman.


「And your chest as well... hmm, it seems like they'll be as impressive as Tomo-san's and Ouka's in the future. Such a big difference is developing...」

「? What's wrong, Acchan-senpai?」

「... It’s nothing. I was just deeply moved by Mashiro-chan's growth for a moment.」

「Is that so?」

「Yeah. Moreover, every time I've caught sight of Mashiro-chan at school from afar, you've looked like you were really enjoying yourself. It made me think that, starting with Akami-chan, you've made truly good friends. That's a very happy thing, but for me, it's just a little lonely, you know? I understand, though.」

「............」


It was just as Aisa said.

Though she didn't have many, Mashiro was now blessed with being surrounded by good friends.

During elementary and middle school, Mashiro was not good at socializing, and she spent most of her time alone. Her meeting with Aisa was like a miracle that wouldn't have been possible without the relationship between their parents.

It could be said that her relationship with Aisa and her younger brother Hiroshi-kun was exactly why she was able to build relationships with various people and somehow get through middle school.

And.

On her first day in high school, she was able to impulsively call out to Akami――


「Thanks to Acchan-senpai.」


By the time she noticed, Mashiro had said that as if it were natural.

Aisa looked a little surprised by that.


「Me?」

「Without the chance given to me by Acchan-senpai and Hiroshi-kun, I might not have been able to start talking to Akami. I might not have been able to become close with Kiri-yan and Onatsu-san either. I'm the person I am now because Acchan-senpai was there!」

「...Mashiro-chan.」

「That’s why, even though we don't meet very often nowadays, Acchan-senpai is the reliable Onee-chan I adore! Up until now, and from now on as well.」

「――――」


In response to those words, Aisa's eyes widened.

Immediately after, even though she looked a little like she was about to cry, she smiled gently,


「Eh? Acchan, senpai?」


Stretched out her arms towards her, and hugged her tightly.

It was the first hug from her in a while. In those days, when Mashiro felt down, she often did that for her, and she felt her warmth every time.

It was nostalgic, and right now, a slightly heart-pounding sensation was spreading through Mashiro.


「Thank you, Mashiro-chan.」

「...... Senpai.」

「As a matter of fact. Hiroshi will be starting full-fledged activities in Tokyo next year, so he'll be leaving home.」

「Hiroshi-kun?」

「I've been prepared for it for a long time, but it's still a little... you know?」

「............」


Inui Hiroshi-kun, Aisa's younger brother.

She knew that he had been scouted by a major talent agency in July last year and was currently active as a kid's idol in the nearby rural areas.

It seemed that starting next year, he was going to move to the full-fledged stage.

Which meant, necessarily, that he was going to start living far away from Aisa.

――It wasn't just in her imagination. Earlier, she really did sense a slight listlessness in Aisa's atmosphere.


「Even if that kid and I are apart, we'll always be together. A small part of me couldn't believe that, but I'm fine now. Thanks to Mashiro-chan.」

「Acchan-senpai.」

「Mashiro-chan, you told me you adore me as a senpai and a reliable Onee-chan, but let me say this as well. To me, Mashiro-chan is a kouhai I'm proud of, and will always be my precious and cute little sister.」

「...!」


That was said to her directly from the front.

Mashiro's chest throbbed in earnest.

Being told that by Inui Aisa, who she adored, made her very happy, and she felt incredibly buoyant.

Therefore, with that emotionally uplifted feeling, Mashiro naturally was about to hug her back――


「Oops, before I noticed, it's already become this time. If I don't hurry, I'll be late.」

「............ Eh.」


But just when she was going to, Aisa moved away.


「Well then, Mashiro-chan, it's almost time for my part-time job, so I have to hurry. Let’s go home together another time!」

「Ah... o-ok.」

「Bye then.」


Aisa waved her hand and walked away quickly without impatience or clamor.

...... She wondered what this letdown feeling was.

Standing in a daze as she saw off her retreating figure, Mashiro fiddled with her feelings that had nowhere to go, and her heart was on the verge of feeling ill at ease, but,


「Mashiro-chan.」


On the way, Aisa turned around and said,



「From now on as well, cherish your friends!」



「――――」


Leaving those words behind with a smile, this time, Aisa kept going away.

She didn't have the listlessness from before, and even though she was small in stature, her huge sense of presence was overflowing.


Ah, what an amazing person.


Mashiro let out a big sigh.

Kind, reliable, an existence like an older sister.

And she would always be someone she adored.

She had thought it many times before, but she was truly glad she was able to get to know her.


「I have to go to Akami's.」


That was exactly why, just as she said, she was going to maintain her feelings for her special person.

It might bring her a little closer to that adoration.

With that hope in her chest, the strength of Mashiro's gait surprised even herself.


　　☆　　★　　☆　　★　　☆　　★


Hah!?

Th-this time, as if my position is being threatened, that kind of pressure...!?

Nn... my fever has already gone down, but.

Perhaps due to the various things I've been sensing, I'm getting terribly sleepy...