Chapter 8: The Arrival Of Autumn
Chapter 8: The Arrival Of Autumn
Chapter 8: The Arrival Of Autumn
Chapter 8:
The Arrival Of Autumn
M IYAKE HAD BEEN WAITING for her near the school entrance. Hasebe approached him and lightly tapped him on the shoulder.
“Sorry to keep ya waiting,” said Hasebe.
“Nah, no big deal, I didn’t wait long,” Miyake said. “If anything, I was just kinda bored.”
Hasebe had been absent from school for a week, but since she came back, she had been showing up to class every day.
“You’re sure you’re okay quitting the archery club?” she asked.
“It’s more like I was sticking with it out of force of habit anyway, or just inertia.”
“So, you quit because of me?” asked Hasebe.
“It’s not like that. I quit because I wanted to. That’s all there is to it. Anyway, I don’t really care about that, I’m glad you came back to school.”
Hasebe only participated in five competitions—the minimum number required. Although she didn’t see much in terms of results, she had at least contributed the bare minimum to the class. Still, she rarely spoke to anyone other than Miyake, and she was even somewhat estranged with Yukimura as well, who had agreed with Sakura’s expulsion. Miyake continued to stay by her side without a word, as though he had no other choice in the matter now.
“At first, I thought I wanted to destroy everything,” she said. “I thought it’d be fine if I could just get back not just at Kiyopon, but at all the rest of our classmates who abandoned Airi too. They’re bad people. And I’m one of those bad people.”
“Well, I… I understand how you feel,” said Miyake.
“Someone had to be expelled in that situation. But it should have been Kushida-san. That was what they originally promised. That was the correct decision. Right?”
“…Yeah,” replied Miyake.
“I won’t forgive Kiyopon. I won’t forgive our classmates. But I thought it’d be wrong to drag our feet forever to hold them back, to make them suffer for it.” Miyake responded with complete silence as Hasebe continued to confess everything that she was thinking. “Hey, Miyacchi. Just this once, would you…be with me and help me get revenge?”
Judging from the look in her eyes, Hasebe wasn’t joking. But Miyake didn’t have the courage to ask her if she was being serious.
“Haruka…” said Miyake.
“What? Come on, I was just kidding.” She brushed it off with a laugh and then started walking. “I’ll get revenge on my own.”
“I…”
Hasebe had reached out her hand to Miyake as she spoke but pulled it back. Now, she turned her back and left. Miyake, although hesitant, started walking after her without a word.