Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.
Chapter 4 ā Reunion With an Old Friend\nVolume 1\n<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide">\nThat night, I received a message on my phone.\n
When I opened the screen, there was a personās name on it.\n\n
Risa Enami: Are you awake?\n\n
Itās already past 11 pm. I was in the living room drinking a cup of barley tea for a break.\n\n
Naoya Ookusu: Iām awake, whatās up?\n\n
Iām no longer surprised when I get a line from Enami-san. I finished drinking everything in my glass.\n\n
Risa Enami: I knew it, youāre studying hard.\n
Naoya Ookusu: Yeah.\n\n
Tomorrow, Iām going to clean up everything. My mind was already made up.\n
But that didnāt mean I was going to lose my midterm grade. I went to my desk, determined to do everything I could today.\n\n
Naoya Ookusu: Whereās Enami-san?\n\n
There was a pause as I typed that. Eventually, a picture was sent to me.\n
When I zoomed in, there were notebooks and textbooks spread out. It was the math subject I had taught before. Apparently, Enami-san had been studying for the test.\n
She continued to send me messages.\n\n
Risa Enami: Iāll avoid red marks.\n\n
Thatās what I told her before. Sheās trying to be disciplined about it.\n
Naoya Ookusu: Good luck!\n\n
Iām sure that Enami-san has something to shoulder. Yet, she still continues to move her pen in order to fill in the blanks in her studies. Itās an unbelievable change from the old Enami-san.\n
Suddenly, I thought of something and sent her a message right away.\n\n
Naoya Ookusu: Tell Nishikawa about it!\n\n
I remember Nishikawaās lonely face. I hoped that if both of them cared about each other, they would properly convey their feelings to each other.\n\n
Risa Enami: Why?\n
Naoya Ookusu: I heard from Nishikawa. She said that she and Enami-san have never had a proper line.\n
Risa Enami: Did Nishikawa care about that?\n\n
After all, Enami-san has no great intentions. Sheās just indifferent to such details.\n\n
Naoya Ookusu: She was in a frenzy when she heard that you exchanged lines with me.\n
Risa Enami: Why? lol.Ā \n
Naoya Ookusu: Maybe because she thought she was Enami-sanās best friend.\n
Risa Enami: I donāt think itās something you should be so worried about.\n\n
Maybe so. I know very well that the friendship between Enami-san and Nishikawa is solid.\n
But thatās why I wanted Enami-san to tell her what she needed to do.\n\n
Naoya Ookusu: Whatever. Just tell Nishikawa that youāre studying hard. Iām sure sheāll be happy.\n
Risa Enami: If you say so much, ā¦ā¦\n\n
I sit down on the sofa in the living room. I put my phone on the table and took a deep breath. About three minutes later, my phone shakes.\n\n
Risa Enami: I got a reply right away. ā¦ā¦ And sheās really excited!\n
Naoya Ookusu: See, I told you.\n
Risa Enami: I didnāt know it made her that happy.\n\n
There was no malicious intent on Enami-sanās part. Even so, if you donāt think about it properly, you may overlook something important.\n
I think thatās how it is.\n\n
Risa Enami: When I told her Iād avoid red marks, she sent me a crying emoji.\n
Naoya Ookusu: Thatās how worried she was, right?\n
Risa Enami: Iām not so sure.\n\n
I donāt know how Nishikawa and Enami-san came to have the relationship they have now. Still, Iām sure they have their own history and memories.\n
So thereās only so much I can do for you.\n\n
Risa Enami: Maybe Iāll try to line up with Nishikawa once in a while.\n
Naoya Ookusu: I think that would be a good idea.\n\n
Maybe itās just me being nosy, but I wanted the two of them to get along.\n
I found myself looking at the Buddhist altar in the living room. I offer tea and rice there every day. My eyes met with a picture of my mother.\n
Her eyes looked as if she was condemning me or forgiving me. Gradually, it became difficult to keep eye contact with her, and I looked up at the ceiling.\n
The fluorescent light was dazzling. The phone in my hand was shaking again.\n\n
Serious, huh? If you didnāt know about my past, that word would be enough to cover it.\n
No one at my current school knows that I had a rough time. Luckily, Iāve been able to keep it a secret until now. When I was in junior high school, I didnāt know many people. When I stopped being a delinquent, I was met with a cold stare from my classmates.\n
I couldnāt get along with them.\n\n
Naoya Ookusu: Ah well.\n\n
The truth is, some of those who know me may have heard about my past. But it should be difficult to connect me of then with me of now.\n\n
Risa Enami: Youāre going for first place again, arenāt you?\n
Naoya Ookusu: Of course I am!\n\n
Iām no longer thinking about finding my own value or anything like that.\n
All I can think about is what I have to do. What I need to accomplish.\n
Iāve never told anyone about it. And yet, I always have to be the best.\n
Even if itās for my own satisfaction.\n\n
Risa Enami: If I canāt understand something, please teach me.\n\n
It looks like sheās already going back to her studies. Iāll return the gesture.\n\n
Naoya Ookusu: Itās no problem.\n\n
So the line stopped.\n
I found myself feeling a little better after talking with Enami-san. The things I had talked about with Yamazaki kept running through my mind while I was studying. I wasnāt able to concentrate much.\n
But by letting out my feelings, the haze faded away. Thank you, Enami-san.\n\n
I can still do my best. Thatās what I thought.\n\n
<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide">\nTN : unintentional pep talk from main heroine.. š\n\n