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Chapter 18: Umbrella Handkerchief
Despite Sara’s school life having improved, I was secretly wondering if it was going to get better or worse. As far as I’ve heard, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
She seems to be eating lunch with friends during her breaks, and during that time they would chat and talk to each other about things they didn’t understand in class.
The other day she told me about her after school outing where everyone lined up at a tapioca shop. Apparently the tapioca milk tea was very good.
“I drank it for the first time, it was chewy and delicious. We should go together next time.”
“Okay. I actually never tried tapioca. I was curious, but never tried it because it was high in calories. I would love to go to a place recommended by Sara.”
“Oh really? When I said it was my first time, everyone told me that was crazy. I’m glad Shiori-san is also a partner.”
Sara’s expression brightened up as she slumped more into the white sofa where we were sitting. She had a radiant smile, it’s as if an evil spirit had been exorcized. She looked like a different person from the other day.
I met Sara in April, and she didn’t always smile. It was as if there was a dark shadow underneath the times she had. She must have been under a large amount of stress. Though clearly, this is how she really is.
“What’s wrong?”
I loved Sara talking happily.
What should I call this feeling? It’s not romantic love. A mysterious unnamed feeling, that is neither love for an idol, nor just friendship.
I’m just happy, just because this child is smiling so brightly. And I really believed in my goal to keep this smile.
“Well, I thought you looked happier.”
“Thank you. It was thanks to Shiori-san.”
“I didn’t do much, I couldn’t. . .”
I couldn’t protect Sara much at all! She was enthusiastic about it, but I didn’t believe it. The MVP is Sara, and the runner up is Tomoda-san.
“Recently, You’ve been giving off a happy face, I’m happy too.”
“Oh? I wouldn’t know.”
She touched her cheeks with a munimuni looking face. She didn’t know what I was saying, but even that face is different. She has a completely different air to her.
“You don’t need to know. I wondered how things would work out, but I’m glad things have calmed down without incident.”
“When Shiori-san started crying at the cafe, I wondered what would happen too.”
“D-Did I have a runny nose?”
“Yeah, you did.”
Perhaps she remembered that time cause she giggled, I couldn’t help but withdraw my shoulder. If possible, could you please forget about that. Why was I so upset when the person in question was so calm? I can’t help but cringe.
I am older. And if you add the age difference from my previous life, it’s even mentally higher!
“At that time, I remembered the day I first met Shiori-san.”
“The time with the sudden downpour?”
Was it something related?
Perhaps she is going to say I was crying like that storm?
“On the day of the entrance ceremony, it suddenly rained and I was really in trouble. There were so many textbooks, prints, and papers that I couldn’t allow myself to get wet. I was wondering what to do. And then Shiori-san gave me an umbrella.”
“Alright.”
“At the cafe, you didn’t just say that I should do my best, but you said that we should do our best, right? It felt like you offered me an umbrella again when I was troubled. . .It’s a little embarrassing to say it.”
Sara laughed with a shy smile.
I didn’t know what to do, so I stayed silent. After a short time she continued the talk.
“Once again, Shiroi-san has put an umbrella over me and taken me to a dry place. Without Shiori-san I would have given up. I couldn’t study or cook, and I would never had gotten any help from Tomoda-senpai.”
“I could only have helped you a little. . .It was a pretty tattered umbrella.”
“You are always like this! It’s strange how you have such low self-esteem. You can do so many things, it’s like you are a superhuman. Even so, All’s well that ends well, right?”
“. . .Right.”
There are still some parts that I don’t get, but as Sara said, All’s well that ends well. Her smile is now everything.
If Sara made friends, and she now isn’t alone, she could avoid that nightmare future. Eventually I’d like her to connect with someone she really likes, somebody to care for her.
Until then, I will be the big umbrella that will cover her as strongly as possible.
“Hey, what can I do for Shiori-san? I want to give back somehow, but I can’t think of anything.”
“You don’t have to worry about it. I also get various things from just being around you.”
“No, that’s not enough for me!”
“Hmm. . .”
Even so, I’m just grateful that Sara is happy, and plus I’m besides my idol.
If it was Yoko it’d be like, rub your boobs! You could use this terribly to sexual harassment, but I didn’t ask for that. . .Oh, that’s right.
“There is one thing.”
“What is it? Say anything.”
“I want to hug Sara.”
“. . .Huh?”
She leaned towards me as she was asking, until she heard that. Her face went red and she drew back. Oh? When I think about it, it was like staring at a vigilant kitten.
Oh, this is like my reaction when Yoko sexual harasses. She is misunderstanding!
“Wait a minute, let me talk, and it’s a misunderstanding. You see, Tomoda-san and your classmates have hugged you, right?”
“A-Ah, that’s it! Oh my god. I was sure. . .”
“Sure?”
“Nothing! Hug! No problem, look! Come on!”
I imagine I could worm it out of her if I dig more, but I might not be able to get a hug then.
Her face dyed even redder than before, I spread my arms out and gently approached the waiting Sara. As I wrapped my arm around her, I was surprised about how petitie she was. It was much more than expected.
Although she was thin, she was also soft, warm, and had a very nice smell. I wanted to enjoy her a little more, so I hugged her a little tighter, as her thin shoulders retracted a bit.
With such a delicate body, this child had that burden for so many years?
“You did your best.”
I whispered. I patted her back saying she worked hard. I then heard a deep breath near my ears.
“Geeze. . ,Shiori-san. Did you mean it. . .”
Sara said something, but now with a quivering voice.
“. . .handkerchief.”
“Eh?”
“You said you’d be my handkerchief. . .right?”
“. . .Of course.”
Was she confirming, or begging? As soon as I gave permission to sob, we hugged painfully tight. It was a tight embrace, to the point where I doubt she could speak, but still I heard her weeping. Perhaps she has been holding this in, in a way her family didn’t know, nor I. Crying like this is cathartic.
If so, it’s a good thing to cry. I need to remember that this child should be more pampered.
“I was supposed to give back” or “it shouldn’t be like this” I smiled as she cried and gave a cute curse.
While crying, I heard a small voice. “Thank you.”
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A cute chapter, the friendship is more close. Shiori is the perfect big sister.