Volume 1 - CH 31

“I will stay at the boarding house.”

I am inwardly relieved to hear that one word.

I don’t know why I felt that way.

But I was definitely relieved.

“I don’t dislike my father. I think it is okay to go back to my home. But there is an opportunity for me to change myself, and there is a new environment here. I am sure that I will be able to grow more than I have been up to now. It may be selfish of me, and it may make my father feel lonely, but I will stay here.”

A few moments of silence pass.

The determination in Himekawa’s eyes is surely unwavering.

“I understand. Then, Anri-san, please complete the procedures such as changing address in the near future.”

Imai-san put the documents in her bag and handed a new sheet of paper to Himekawa.

“What’s this?”

“This is a list of procedural matters that I think you should do after this, such as changing your address. I don’t think I’ve ever done anything like moving alone.”

Himekawa stares at the sheet of paper handed to her.

I glanced at it with a sideways glance, but it itemized the procedures involved in moving, such as changing one’s address and forwarding mail.

I remember going to the city office with my parents when I moved here, and doing all sorts of things.

“I understand. I’ll take care of it as soon as possible.”

Himekawa leaves the paper folded in two at hand and takes a sip of tea.

“Then, that’s all from my side. If you have any further questions, please contact me at the address on my business card. I will help you as much as I can.”

After saying this, Imai-san was about to leave the room.

“Are you leaving already?”

“Yes, I have another client I have to see after this. Then…”

“I’ll walk you to the entrance.”

Himekawa gets up from her seat, followed by Imai-san.

My father also got up from his seat and bowed lightly to Imai-san.

“I would like to thank you, Imai-san, for all the help you have given my son.”

“No, no, no, it’s absolutely nothing. Please call me if you need anything.”

“Imai-san, thank you very much. Thank you very much. I really appreciate your help.”

I got up from my seat and bowed to Imai-san.

“I know it may be tough for you, too, Tsukasa-kun, but do your best.”

With a smile on his face, He said that to me.

His smile might have included kindness, but his eyes were not smiling.

Himekawa walks him to the entrance to take Imai-san home.

I take a seat with my father.

There is a long period of silence.

It seems that we are both trying to think of something to say to each other, but I don’t know where to start.

“Tsukasa. I was honestly surprised. I heard you were classmates, but I didn’t expect it to be a girl.”

As I recall, I think I told him over the phone, but I feel like I didn’t say it.

Well, it’s my fault for assuming that there would be no problem.

“Huh? Didn’t I tell you? I know it’s a little late for that, but she’s a classmate of mine.”

“It’s really too late for that. Look, don’t make any mistakes, okay? You know what I mean?”

My father, who usually has a scary face and a sharp look in his eyes, shoots those words at me with a serious face and eyes that could make a person shudder.

No, no, no, please don’t. I’m seriously scared.

“I’m fine. I won’t cause any problems! I’m going to keep my promise to my father!”

“Well, that’s all right then. By the way, are you out of these?”

“Look, I haven’t touched mine yet, so here you go.”

“Sorry.”

Dad smiles at me and puts his hand on mine to take it.

How much do you like the monaka?

Dad asked me again as he put a piece of the monaka in his mouth.

“By the way, Himekawa-san is quite a pretty girl, isn’t she? Are you in love with her?”

“Boo-hoo!”

I was about to drink my tea when I involuntarily throw up.

If I am not mistaken, he asked me if I was in love with her.

“Oh, me in love with Himekawa?”

Dad nods silently. The reason he is silent is probably because he has a snack in his mouth.

Am I in love with Himekawa? Do I like her? What kind of feeling is liking?

Does me being annoyed or relieved mean I like her?

No, no. Frustration is at me for not being strong enough.

I was relieved because I felt sorry for Himekawa who had to go back home and live alone.

I am sure that the feeling inside of me is not “I love her” It was just pity for my classmate.

“I don’t know. I don’t know, like falling in love or something, I don’t really know yet.”

“Well, A man protects the woman he falls in love with. That’s the kind of creature men are. Tsukasa, be a man who can protect the woman you fall in love with.

“I understand. I will protect the woman I fall in love with if there is such a woman.”

I let my father’s words slide as I sipped the tea I was about to drink again.