Love, Dreams, Friendship

That Day

"What's? Really true?"

"Yes, he said that."

After returning from club activities, Masaki comes to Nao's house to convey Atsushi's words. Nao looks relieved and happy when he says that Atsushi is grateful to Nao.

"So what happened?"

"No, it's not a big deal ..."

Nao briefly talks about today's event to Masaki, who asks curiously.

"I understand. That's right."

"Yes, Kaori and her friends followed me because they didn't say bad things, but it was awkward anyway..."

Nao looked back today and laughed bitterly.

"Well, that's what Miyashita and her colleagues said. It wasn't bad at all, and I understood that Hasumi wanted to thank him."

After hearing Masaki's words, Nao showed a relieved expression again. After saying that, Masaki decided to ask the question that came to him.

"...But, is there any other reason why I said that about Hasumi?"

"e?"

"It seems I was the reason at the time, but wasn't there anything else on Nao that I don't think he was rumored to have?"

Nao answered an unexpected question from Masaki. After all it seems impossible to cheat Masaki's long relationship.

"...I've met Hasumi-kun.maybe."

"Is that so? But maybe what?"

"No, I guess so, but it's now very different to Hasumi-kun, so I wonder if it's a memory error ..."

Nao started talking about the moment he met Atsuto and Potsupotsu while saying so.

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It was the first summer of junior high school.

One Sunday, Nao was in the library as usual. The weather was fine, so I read on the bench outside. There were many children playing cheerfully and adults exercising in the courtyard, and a lively voice echoed. I like to read books while using sounds like BGM.

When I finished reading the book and suddenly looked towards the page, I saw a boy. He was not that tall, but he had a slender figure. Probably my age.

The boy put a baseball glove on his right hand, held the ball in his left hand, and repeatedly threw it as if checking every move. It seemed like he came alone, he did not play catch with anyone, and he kept checking the shape of the throw without throwing the ball.

Since Masaki played baseball, he had some knowledge of baseball but did not know his specialty. But I just found out that the shape of the boy's throw is beautiful. Nao has been fascinated for a while.

After checking the form a few times, the boy began cleaning tools, doing light stretches, and then running. Nao suddenly came back to me and looked at the clock.

"Oh, let's go home soon."

I didn't notice the boy, but I was embarrassed to keep staring at him, so I hurriedly started preparing for my ride home and headed for the bike shed.

"Eh, lie, the worst ..."

Nao calmed down as he looked at his bike. Turns out the rear tire is flat. I thought I couldn't go home with this, so I searched for a smartphone for my parents to pick me up, but I couldn't find it anywhere. I wondered if I dropped it somewhere, but I remembered that it had just been plugged into a charger this morning. The stunned Nao sighed and crouched down to the side of the bike.

"Is there no choice but to push home ..."

Nao gave up and decided to push his bike home. It's heavier than I thought I'd start pushing. I was tired after only a few meters. When I felt desperate about how long it would take to get home, I heard a voice from behind, "What happened?"

When I turned around, the boy who was fascinated by Nao stood up worried. When Nao was shocked, the boy looked at Nao's bicycle tire and saw everything.

"Wait a minute."

The boy said so and ran towards the bike shed, pushed his bike and returned to Nao. And stop my bike.

"Can you push my bike? I'm gonna push him here."

When Nao hesitated about the unexpected proposal from the boy, the boy smiled.

"Is there a bike shop nearby?"

"Yes, it's about a 5-minute walk."

"Then, guide me. I'll push you that far."

Nao was surprised that he should have gone to the bike shop instead of going home like that, and at the same time, he thought that it was impossible for the person he had just met to take on such a problem, as it was, so he tried to reject the offer.

"Eh, but it's bad ..."

"It's hard for a girl to be alone, right? ... Oh, or if his house is near here, I'll push him home ..."

"Oh, my house is a little far away ..."

"Okay, then let's go to the bike shop. My bike, nice to meet you."

The boy received a bicycle from Nao who restrained himself and began to continue. Nao is confused but starts pushing the boy's bike. Although I am grateful for the kindness of the boy who gave me this much to my strangers, I am full of regrets.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm tired ..."

"e?"

Nao, who was watching the boy's training, was worried about the boy's physical strength, but the ignorant boy looked a little strange.

The boy, who understood Nao's words, smiled gently and denied his tiredness.

"Oh, it's okay, 'cause I'm just doing light exercise."

"... Do you always practice here?"

"No, I came here for the first time today. Sundays are mostly club activities and games, but today is a rare holiday. I'm free, so I think I should come some distance."

"Is your home far from here?"

"Yes. Oi. I'm in the south."

"Eh! Is it in the south? Isn't the direction opposite?"

Nao was very surprised to hear the name of the Junior High where the child went to school. Then he stopped the boy's bike and stopped.

"It's fine."

"Huh? Why?"

"If I go to the bike shop in the opposite direction even though it is far ..."

While saying that, Nao tried to accept his bike which was pushed by the boy.

"That's right from here and I'll bring it myself."

"It's okay. I'm confident in my physical strength because I usually train at a baseball club, and I'm going home on a bike, so it doesn't matter if the distance changes a little."

"but……"

"I happened to find someone who was in trouble because of a flat tire in the park that I came to for the first time today, so let me help you."

With a carefree smile, Nao could not reply to anything. I felt sorry, but I decided to take the risk with the kindness of the talkative boy.

Then they headed to the bike shop, chatting amiably. Dream, school, family. It took about 5 minutes to walk normally, but it took more than 30 minutes. Partly because he was pushing the bike flat, it seemed like the conversation was strange and the desire to talk more to each other naturally slowed down the walking speed of the two.

"Thank you very much. It's saved."

With that said, Nao bowed deeply.

"No, no. I'm a little coerced."

"Yes. That's not true."

Nao shook his head with all his might. Seeing Nao shake his head too strongly, the boy straddled his bike, laughing, "I'll hurt my neck."

"... Then let's go."

"Yes. Thank ye. Careful."

"That too .... See you soon."

"Yes, see you later."

The two waved and exchanged greetings. Nao watched until the boy who left was still a child.

I happened to meet today, and the boy lives far away from here. Most likely you will not be able to meet again. I want to believe in the possibility of the word "see you", which we talk about with each other naturally.

I wish I could meet again.

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"Well, did that happen?"

"But back then, I didn't ask for names, my body was small, and most importantly, more expressive than it is now ... So I don't have complete confirmation that it is Hasumi-kun. I hate it if it's different or I don't remember."

Nao smiled bitterly while saying so.

"Well, don't you understand it someday?"

"I don't think so?"

"You don't have to answer now? You have to get along little by little. But once you get to know her, you'll become clear if she's Hasumi at that time."

Masaki, who was always in a good mood and just playing around, sometimes said something serious like this. Nao is often saved and cared for by Masaki's words.

"Mas-kun..."

"Hmm?"

"I told you something that surprised me."

"I think I'm trying too much for" sometimes "."

Masaki smiled bitterly after saying that. Nao patted Masaki on the shoulder and apologized lightly, "Sorry, forgive me." And immediately express gratitude in a serious tone.

"……thank you."

Masaki replied, "Oh," as if he was a little telephoto.

Masaki came home after a short chat, including Junto. In the room alone, Nao lay in bed and looked back at today and time in the middle. Then, while biting at Masaki's words, I thought of the boy's face at that time and Atsushi's face now.

I wish I could hang out with Hasumi little by little.