I stopped in my tracks when I saw the person standing in front of me. I was on my way home at dusk. The man stood with his hands in his pockets on the bus roundabout, where the shadows stretched long.\n
Yamazaki Hiroyoshi. He had eye-catching red hair and was tall. He was staring up at the sky with a pensive look on his face, but when he noticed my presence, he pushed the cigarette he was smoking into the ashtray.\n
He threw away the cigarette butt and took one step forward with his long legs.\n\n
“… It’s been a while.”\n\n
I hadn’t seen Yamazaki since I asked him about the delinquent who had tried to harm Sayaka. About a month has passed since then.\n\n
“… Ah. How can you smoke in that outfit?”\n
“Hmm?”\n\n
He was wearing a school uniform, clearly recognizable as a high school student. It would not be surprising if he was arrested. The police station was on the other side of the train station, but there was a good chance that someone would see him.\n\n
“Haha, no problem. Just smoke with a frown on your face and no one will come near you.”\n
“I guess that’s the advantage of a scary face. Well, with your red hair, they won’t think you’re a normal high school student.”\n
“That’s what I mean. They probably think I’m a cosplayer.”\n\n
Even now, I remember that he used to hang out with other delinquents. Today, however, Yamazaki was all alone. He had a small cut on the edge of his lip, probably because he still spent his days fighting. Standing side by side, I was overwhelmed by how tall he was.\n\n
“Want some?”\n\n
Yamazaki pulls out an unfamiliar snack from his pocket. It looked like a triangular pyramid-shaped gummy bear. I somehow accepted it, opened the plastic, and threw it in my mouth. It tasted sweet and tart. To be honest, I didn’t really like it. He immediately clicks his tongue at me.\n\n
” …You’re so quick to show your face, aren’t you? Don’t worry, you don’t’ have to eat it again.”\n
“Sorry.”\n\n
It is true that Yamazaki has always had a sweet tooth.\n\n
“I had a chance to go away for a while. I thought it was rare, so I bought it.”\n\n
Yamazaki put a piece in his mouth.\n\n
“Well, it doesn’t look like something you can find in a regular supermarket or convenience store.”\n
“Right?”\n\n
Nostalgia lit up in the back of my mind.\n
This had happened to me when I was in junior high school.\n
I might have been too uptight about Yamazaki. Not hanging out with him doesn’t mean not talking to him. Yamazaki has always been a nice guy. I don’t have any problem talking to him like this when I run into him once in a while.\n\n
“… Are those delinquents still the same?”\n\n
Laughing, Yamazaki replied.\n\n
“You’re still a Siscon, aren’t you? The problem has already been solved. They’re not going to get involved with you anymore.”\n
“… Shut up, man. I’m just asking.”\n\n\n\nI’ve never seen his face since. I’ve crushed his reason to be obsessed with me, and I’ve given him a reason to stay away from me. I am convinced that everything is fine now.\n
Yamazaki added another piece into his mouth.\n\n
“People don’t change that easily. Those bastards are still scared of me, and they enjoy bullying the weak. It’s only a matter of time before they’re in the noose.”\n
“Like the arcade?”\n
“Well, the arcade, yeah. I’ve heard that they also mug people at school and hunt old men in the street. I’m just saying, so I don’t know how true it is.”\n
“I see.”\n\n
…Yamazaki hasn’t changed much over the years, but there are a few things that have changed.\n
The atmosphere is more relaxed than before. He was never the type to run around energetically, but he had a tendency to lose his temper. Now, however, he only clicks his tongue.\n\n
“That scar has nothing to do with those guys, right?”\n
“Ah? Oh, this?”\n\n
I had been wondering about it for a while. The scar around Yamazaki’s mouth.\n\n
“Do you think I can get hurt by those guys? That’s impossible.”\n
“Oh, yeah?”\n
“This is a completely different matter. It’s not a serious wound and you don’t need to worry about it. What about your wound?”\n
“My wound is almost healed. Well, there’s still some scarring.”\n\n\n\nThere is still one bandage on it. Maybe it’s time to take it off.\n\n
“From the outside, it might look like I’m mugging you.”\n
“Eh?”\n\n
I looked around and saw a figure looking at me with concern. I indeed look like a nerd right now. It looks like I’m being tangled up with a big guy.\n
When I looked at him, he walked away.\n
After all, Yamazaki stands out. That’s why I’m standing near him and attracting attention.\n\n
“Or maybe it’s that. You’re the class rep who persuades the delinquents. We have different uniforms, so people won’t think we go to the same school though.”\n\n
I don’t know why, but Yamazaki seems to be in a good mood. I don’t think he’s thinking that it’s a good thing that he hasn’t talked to me in a while, but maybe he’s enjoying making fun of me.\n\n
“You’re as bad as ever.”\n
“Did you say something?”\n
“No.”\n\n
I sighed. It was time to end the conversation and go shopping. The refrigerator in my house must have been almost out of stock. It would be better to go home early since I’ve been behind in making dinner lately.\n\n
“I’m going to go now.”\n
“Yeah. See you later.”\n\n
Yamazaki walked past me. Even though he walks slowly, he gives off a sense of intimidation to the people around him. It had been a while since I had had a real conversation with him, and I was enjoying it as well.\n\n
<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide">\nTN: Thanks for the Ko-fi Mateo.\n\n