Free Web NovelChapter 140: To Not Speak
Hajime felt a sharp pang on his neck, causing him to turn around to see if there was someone glaring at him. To his bewilderment, there was no one there— but that was only because Megumi ducked out of the way in time. She was able to react reflexively to Hajime’s movement since she was used to it already.
Seeing no one, Hajime continued to direct his attention at Natsumi who seemed to want to tell him something. He glanced at the bento box that Natsumi handed him, then glanced back at Natsumi, fidgeting as she fixedly stared at her bento box. A forced smile appeared on her face. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"How are you doing? You’ve been missing classes more than usual, right? That’s why you were called to the homeroom teacher’s office?" Natsumi asked as an icebreaker. Even though she had simulated talking to Hajime quite a few times now, she still didn’t have enough courage to get straight to the point.
Ever since the incident, things were different. Of course, things would be different after such a near-death experience. And Natsumi knew all too well that she was helpless in the face of that circumstance. What had transpired had already transpired and there was nothing she could do to alter that course of history.
Hajime didn’t know what to say, so he just nodded along. While every being of him wanted to tell Natsumi about his problem, he didn’t bother doing it. There was never a time when he told someone about his problems and he intended for it to remain that way. All that time was spent with Megumi and her family, it seemed like he didn’t learn anything.
"You have to talk, Hajime." Natsumi worriedly asked. Just like everyone else, she was already aware that his sister was in a coma. Of course, after everything that transpired in his confrontation with Ricardo Basilio, his sister’s situation was put to light, and multiple news outlets covered the sob story.
And during that time, Hajime was unconscious, so he didn’t have a say in the matter. The situation had already blown out of proportion even before he woke up.
Hajime heaved a sigh, patting his thigh with his arm before he turned to Natsumi. He shrugged, gazing into her eyes before he spoke. "I... the accident... it resulted in a lot of things. Before I knew it, a lot had changed in my life. As it turned out, I never really knew my parents. I barely knew why all of those had to happen. And now this. I don’t know what to do, Natsumi." ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
Seeing Hajime’s frustration, Natsumi pouted and shoved a karaage in Hajime’s mouth. "For starters, why don’t you eat first? And then you can deal with all of that with a full stomach."
The karaage almost went down his throat since Natsumi put it there without warning. He coughed while chewing the karaage. It was delicious.
"Look. Whatever it is that you’re dealing with right now, you don’t have to tell me anything. You saved my life. Once. And I intend to return that favor. You should rely on me more, aren’t we friends?" Natsumi reasoned with a valid point, so much so that Hajime was left with no choice but to agree.
"..."
"..."
"Sure... and thanks for the bento," Hajime muttered after a pause. "But you don’t have to help me more than what you’ve already done. And I know you’ve done more than enough for me already."
"Well, if you saved someone’s life, you’d best expect that someone to return the favor." Natsumi smiled, patting Hajime on the back. "Honestly, the only thing I ever did was give you an occasional bento. That’s pretty irrelevant compared to what you did back then."
This time, it was Natsumi who heaved a sigh. She was avoiding this topic but right now seemed like the best time to bring it up. "I’m sure... sigh~... I’m sure Megumi feels the same way. That’s why things have become awkward between you two."
"You saved her life, Hajime, risking your life in the process as well. That sacrifice is pretty hard to take in for her. That’s why you have to be the one to approach her first. Talk to her. You don’t have to think too much about it. Just go up to her and talk, just like how I did when I met you back there, in front of your homeroom teacher’s office. Words will come out naturally, you just have to take the first step."
Once again, Hajime could tell that Natsumi’s words made sense. He just had to take the first step if he wanted the awkward atmosphere to disappear.
"You owe me one, Megumi," Natsumi muttered under her breath.
"What was that?" Hajime asked. Natsumi’s voice was so soft that he didn’t hear what she said.
"N-nothing." Natsumi flat-out denied it before patting Hajime on the back once again. "Chin up, Hajime. The food will help you with all the thinking you have to do."
Just before Hajime could nod in response, a familiar figure appeared in his peripheral. The figure then walked towards the two of them, carrying what seemed to be a pair of bento boxes.
"Megumi?" Hajime muttered to himself, unaware that she had been eavesdropping on them all this time via a small gap from the window behind them.
With every step, Hajime grew oddly nervous about Megumi’s approach. He couldn’t pinpoint whether it was his indecisiveness, or the overthinking that made him anxious (clearly, it was the former). Nevertheless, he wanted to get out of that place. His mind screamed at him, telling him that he was not ready to talk.
But before he could do anything, Natsumi leaned in, her lips puckered.
Long story short, Natsumi landed a kiss on his cheek before she bounced. "You got this, Hajime. I’ll leave you two to it." She whispered.
The colors drained from Megumi’s face as she stopped short in her tracks. Because of the shock and utter confusion that permeated her system, she almost dropped the bento boxes she was carrying. Fortunately, her body turned rigid and she didn’t drop anything, except her jaws, of course.
"And what wa—" Megumi’s short fuse was lit, and she stomped her foot in ’slight’ anger.
"Look Megumi, I-I-I—" Hajime stuttered, not knowing how he’d be able to explain the situation in the first place.
The awkward atmosphere was gone between them, but at what cost?
