Whenever the wind blows, it robs my body of heat.\n
The light from my phone feels like a glare.\n\n
Risa Enami: Hey, are you listening to me?\n
I donāt know why Iām so relieved to see the words that came from Enami. My body is in the worst shape. My wounds hurt and Iām cold. So why am I typing to write a reply?\n
These questions didnāt stop my hand.\n\n
Naoya Ookusu: Iām listening.\n
Despite all that had happened, I was calm in my head. The beating of my heart, which had quickened earlier, had also stopped.\n
Risa Enami: Thereās something I donāt understand.\n\n
Enami-san sent me the problem text in the form of an image. It seemed to be a physics problem. I skimmed through it to grasp the content.\n
I wondered if I was supposed to teach her how to study in this state. I almost laughed.\n
The pain hit me like a wave. I frown at the suddenness of the waves. There is no part of me that doesnāt hurt. I donāt think Iāve broken any bones, but I might have cracked a few.\n
The sound of the wind. I touched the screen, shrinking my arm.\n\n
Naoya Ookusu: What donāt you understand?\n
Risa Enami: Letās see, ā¦ā¦\n\n
She told me where sheās stumped, in bits and pieces. I listened to what she said and tried to figure out how to make her understand. Itās not that she doesnāt understand from the root.\n\n
Naoya Ookusu: Thatās the thing. ā¦ā¦\n\n
I replied with a slightly longer sentence. I got a reply from Enami-san right away.\n\n
Risa Enami: But when you think about it, this is where ā¦ā¦\n
Naoya Ookusu: No, itās not. To begin with, ā¦ā¦\n\n
Itās like that time. She brought me to a diner and we studied together. Enami-san understood my words immediately. And the conversation went on and on.\n
I forgot about the pain. I kept on typing in a flutter.\n\n
Risa Enami: Thank you. I understood it well.\n\n
She has really become more honest than before. It was a strange feeling for me.\n\n
Naoya Ookusu: Ah sure.\n\n
I reminded myself that I have a test tomorrow. After all, I havenāt been able to study much today. Since Iāve decided to compete with Fujisaki, I really want to challenge her too.\n
A drop of water falls from my hair. I was soaked from head to foot. A few drops of water get on the screen as well. I tried to wipe them off with my clothes to avoid any unwanted reactions, but they were wet too. I decided to give up after all.\n
I heard the sound of a car passing over the bridge. I got a notification on my phone.\n\n
Risa Enami: Itās been a long time since Iāve looked forward to a test.\n\n
I was surprised. And then I got a little happy.\n
Iām sure the teachers will be surprised if Enami-sanās score suddenly goes up. Iāve heard that sheās been getting a lot of red marks since she stopped studying.\n
I was also looking forward to seeing what kind of results she would get.\n\n
Risa Enami: Are you studying there right now too?\n\n
I wasnāt sure what I should say to her.\n
She couldnāt possibly imagine that I was in a grass field on a riverbed with wounds all over my body. I wondered what Enami-san would say if I showed her what I looked like now.\n
I gave her a safe answer.\n\n
Naoya Ookusu: Iām tired, lying down.\n
Risa Enami: Whatās with that? lol\n\n
It doesnāt make sense, does it? I myself wonder why this is happening to me.\n
The physical pain and the mental exhaustion are all due to my own blame. I once lost my mother because of me, and now Iāve brought danger to my sister. People do not grow up easily. There are times when we are tempted to repeat the same mistakes.\n
As I leaned against the bank by the river, my mind became calm.\n
I had done everything I needed to do. There would be no more crisis for my sister. Iāll bow to Yamazaki and ask him to keep an eye on things, but Iām sure I fulfilled their wishes.\n
Defeating them would be easy. Those delinquents are not strong. But it doesnāt matter how many times you beat them. It will only strengthen their resentment towards me.\n
So I cut off the ties.\n
I let him hit me as hard as he wanted. I donāt care what happens to my body. I was able to show his cronies that he could beat me. They had no reason to care about me anymore.\n
I donāt care what it takes. Iām willing to go through any hardship to achieve my goal.\n
Thatās what Iāve decided.\n\n
Naoya Ookusu: Hey, tell me about it!\n
I found myself writing that. About what?ćEnami-san asked me.\n
Naoya Ookusu: Whatās most important to you, Enami-san?\n\n
Itās what I told her some time ago.\n
For me, the most important thing is my family. There is no lie in those words. Thatās what Iāve been thinking for the past four years. Since my motherās death, itās been that thought that has sustained me.\n\n
Risa Enami: I wonāt tell.\n\n
But, after all, sheās still Enami-san. Thereās no way sheās going to tell me.\n
My phone vibrated again.\n\n
Risa Enami: Youāre really tired huh.\n
Naoya Ookusu: Shut up!\n
All this time, Iāve been running ahead without looking behind me.\n
Iāve been focusing only on what I have to do and thinking only about that. Iāve been running and running, looking back several times, and now Iām resting for a bit.\n
But that time is over now.\n
I have a family waiting for me.\n
I have to go home.\n\n
Naoya Ookusu: Well, Iām going to study.\n
Risa Enami: Okay.\n\n
I turned off the screen of my phone.\n\n
This kind of time is not so bad sometimes.\n\n
<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide">\nTN: Wellā¦ Thatās all for now.. Next chapter is like 4 times this chpater. \n\n