We talked all the way on the train and during dinner about our day.

about the software I bought, and how I actually looked up the gold necklace I bought and found out that an actor I often see on TV wears it in his private life.

At first,

“Are you okay?” Mirei san asked me, but I was glad to hear that she gradually stopped asking me.

We took baths separately today.

I was a chikened out, but also because we were both tired.

“Good night.”

“Good night.”

And I became Mirei san’s hug pillow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hey, little man!”

“Come play soccer with us.”

“N-No”

“Why don’t you just say that?”

His body moves on its own.

Playing soccer on the back side of the gym instead of the playground.

“Gwah!”

“Stop bullying Masaya kun!”

“I’m not picking on him. He’s an idiot, he can’t do sports, he’s short with a shaggy head, and to top it off, he bullied my friend.”

“N-No that’s not true.”

“Heee Masaya kun, I didn’t know you were like that.”

“Surprising.”

“I thought you were a dark-rooted guy.”

“N-No that’s not true.”

“So from now on, let’s all ignore this little guy.”

“I agree.”

I don’t like it.

“Masa, you’re cheating on me!”

“No, Mirei san, I’m not!”

“So why don’t you come play with us?”

“I’m free, so let’s go.”

Don’t go.

“Goodbye.”

Don’t go!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Dream…”

I had a bad dream.

“Huh?”

crying. Me?

Let’s look in the mirror for now.

I try my best to get out and go to the sink.

“Why?”

I just had a dream…

I know Mirei san is there too.

I can’t stop crying.

I tried my best to wipe away my tears with a towel.

Let’s go back.

I walk down the hallway.

It was still dark at night.

I open the door.

“Masa?”

Mirei san was awake.

And I told her about my junior high school days.

That I was bullied by him. He made up a story about bullying, and I was ignored because I had no one around me to stand up for me. When I went home, my father would beat me. I think this was the first time I heard about this because I only told President Takuya about it.

“Where’s your teacher?”

“The teacher was not around, so most likely he doesn’t know anything about it except that my father”

“I see. Don’t worry. I won’t leave you. I will always be on your side.”

She said, “I will always be on your side.

“I won’t be able to live without you.”

“It’s okay.”

She hugged me for a while.

I felt her warmth, almost like a mother’s.

When I woke up in the morning, it was like Mirei san had opened the window and was looking out.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning.”

I looked and it was 8:00 in the morning.

“Oh no! I’m going to be late for school!”

I was about to go back to my room.

Mirei san said.

“It’s okay at least for today, right?”

Mirei said.

“Let’s just take it easy today, okay?”

So I called the school and decided to take it easy today.