Published at 26th of March 2019 12:07 am

Volume 4, Part 11

By the time I returned to the classroom, covering my grin with my hand, a crowd has formed inside.

Some of them have sparkling eyes, some of them wet eyes, but they are all smiling.

What's up? - I only wonder about that for a second.

---Ah, I see.

I immediately recognize the person in the center.

...geez, if Kokone hadn't said unnecessary things, I would have been able to be deeply moved...

While blaming her in my mind, I make my way through the crowd. An unfamiliar metallic frame and tire tubes come into view. And---

"------"

I take that back.

I'm glad I knew beforehand.

If I had seen her without knowing anything, I might have broken out in tears.

"Mogi-san..."

Mogi-san, in her uniform, is in the classroom.

My voice shakes just by that, even though I've been occasionally visiting her in the hospital.

"Hoshino-kun."

Mogi-san notices and smiles at me.

"Were you discharged already?"

"No, no. I merely got permission to go out. I can't live on my own yet. I was allowed to come after school and was brought to the classroom by my mom. Well, I can't do anything on my own, I guess."

She says that with a smile so that it doesn't sound too depressive.

"But I wanted to meet you even if I had to put myself to some bother."

Kokone grins and asks, "Who does this «you» refer to~?" upon which the flustered Mogi-san raises her voice, "T-To everyone!"

The surrounding students start to laugh just by that.

"What's tha~t, everyone, teasing me although it's been a while. ...ah, Hoshino-kun, let's talk a bit closer."

"While telling us not to tease you, you don't even try to hide your affection, huh."

"S-Shut up, Koko-chan!"

I approach Mogi-san as she told me. I open my mouth, thinking that I have to say something.

"...looks cool."

"Eh?"

"Your wheelchair."

"Why on earth do you tell me your impressions of my wheelchair with that timing? If it's about looks, there's something else you should praise!"

I was rebuked by Mogi-san...

Looks, huh... I look at Mogi-san a bit closer. Apparently she's a bit embarrassed being watched like that, because she blushes slightly.

Come to think of it, her physique has mostly returned to how it used to be.

"You gained weight, didn't you?"

"......I know what you mean, but no girl would be happy about those words, Hoshino-kun!"

The surroundings laugh again.

"Eh, err, what should I say, then...?"

"You ask me... not that I mind... umm, look, how about addressing my clothes?"

"Ah, yeah. Don't worry - I noticed."

"No, that's not what I mean. I was wondering how you like it, seeing it after a long time..."

Her school uniform seems to be brand new. It also looks like the length of her skirt became quite a bit longer. Probably because one could... umm... see it otherwise when she's on the wheelchair.

But what should I say? I can't praise that she's taking care that no one can see her panties, after all.

Mh, well, I'll dodge the question.

"Looks cute!"

"...Eh?"

Mogi-san widens her eyes. ...Huh? That's a different reaction from what I expected. I'll try again, just in case.

"You look cute in uniform!"

Mogi-san blushes to the roots of her hair.

She even averts her gaze and punches me softly.

Uuh...? I guess Maria would just say "So what?", Kokone would throw out her (E-cup) chest pridefully, "Of course!", and my big sis Luu-chan would act like she wouldn't want to know though she asked for it herself. So what is this reaction? That's a new pattern.

Suddenly, Haruaki puts his hand on my shoulder.

"I see. So that's how you do it."

"Huh?"

"Did you hear, my ladies? The trick of this man is to say such things without being embarrassed! Many females, starting with Miss Maria, have fallen for this natural philanderer due to this trick!"

What's with that way of talking.

But for some reason, the male students of my class nod deeply to Haruaki's performance and send me cold glances. What's with you guys, you're scary!

"The philanderer Kazuki Hoshino has to be punished with the maximum penalty! We shall punish you by thrusting socks in your mouth that have been worn by Kiri for a whole three days! This is truly the maximum penalty!"

"How is that a penalty!" Kokone objects. "That's rather a reward!"

"I heard they're deadly, really. And I also heard the theory that the poisonous substance called «trikokonethylene» emerges in the process."

"T-That's not possible. NPO requested my support because they can produce actin with my socks that saves the children in Africa!"

Wow, where is this going?

But my mouth relaxes unintentionally.

Although Mogi-san's sitting in a wheelchair right now, nothing has changed from the time when she used to be here. She's still popular while Kokone and Haruaki still fool around.

It's like I've returned to the past.

"......"

---Like I've returned to the past?

I reflexively look around in the classroom.

Return to the past? Why is that possible?

Something like that shouldn't be possible.

In a classroom without Daiya Oomine, that shouldn't be possible.

I look at Kokone. She is laughing joyfully.

I notice something.

Right.

Maria isn't here, either.

"...Mh? What's wrong, Hoshino-kun?"

...I wonder what this uneasy feeling is.

Unlike Daiya, Maria's merely not here right now. I guess she considered it hard to join our nostalgic conversation and either went back to her own classroom or just went home ahead of us.

That's all. It should be.

And yet I can't get rid of this uneasy feeling. It even gets worse. My chest feels almost as if something seized my heart.

"......Mogi-san."

"Mh?"

"Sorry, but I need to go out for a bit."

"Eh?"

Mogi-san widens her eyes.

"What's up Hoshii, going to take a dump?"

"No! It's just that Maria---"

---I have the feeling that I have to go meet Maria.

But I don't finish my sentence.

Because of Mogi-san.

Because Mogi-san's happy expression has changed into another one.

"...I'm sorry, Mogi-san."

"......Eh? Why do you apologize? Umm... it's not like you're leaving... right?"

"I'm sorry."

"......You know... I'll have to go back to the hospital shortly, so I have no time, you know? Let's be together until then? Please?"

"...I'll come back if possible."

When she hears these words she didn't wish for, her eyes become wet.

"Why?"

She asks in a shaking voice.

"Can't you stay here? You can meet Otonashi-san anytime, can't you? Do you not even see me off, although I went through all this trouble to meet you?"

It's not like I don't feel bad, accused by her sad voice and her expression.

Maria's just not here right now. I just have to hold down my urge to rush to her. There's no need to randomly hurt Mogi-san's feelings.

So can't I just stay here for her?

"------"

But I have decided.

To protect Maria above everything else.

Therefore---

"Sorry!"

I rush out of the classroom.

Ignoring the voice that tries to stop me.

✵

I couldn't reach Maria over the phone.

Maria ignores the school rules and usually comes to school on a motorcycle which she parks somewhere in the vicinity of the school. But her bike was already not there anymore.

Even though she usually waits for me.

After confirming that the bike wasn't there anymore, I immediately proceeded to the station.

While being irritated at the slowness of the train, I realize the origin of my uneasiness.

I'm deceiving Maria. I haven't told her about the 'Game of Idleness' and act as if I didn't know Koudai Kamiuchi.

And I haven't told her that 'O' may have lost his interest in me, either.

Therefore I'm always, unconsciously, thinking this:

Maria might suddenly disappear one day.

Probably, I became unable to suppress this uneasiness when I saw Mogi-san in her uniform.

Back then when Mogi-san was normally in our classroom, Maria wasn't here yet. She wasn't part of my everyday life yet. And that's not all. Just like I have changed due to Koudai Kamiuchi's 'box', Maria has changed due to Kasumi Mogi's 'box'.

Mogi-san and Maria form a set, like the two sides of a coin.

That's why I think like this, without any basis:

By the time Mogi-san returns, Maria might already be gone.

"......"

I shift my thoughts to Daiya and Kokone.

Daiya has disappeared. And yet, Kokone's not worrying about it at all. Daiya should be quite an important person for Kokone, but she just got a bit angry because he suddenly disappeared. That's all.

Why is that?

I try constructing a hypothesis.

---Perhaps, Kokone had a presentiment that Daiya would disappear one day?

Of course I don't think she expected him to disappear like that. She shouldn't know about the 'boxes'.

But maybe she did know that he would remove himself from her?

Maybe she did know Daiya's goal?

Hence, she gave up the thought that he could return so soon.

Because she was already prepared for Daiya to disappear.

I don't know what happened between them. Therefore, it's wrong to think that Kokone's cold for apparently accepting Daiya's disappearance.

But I'm not like Kokone. While knowing Maria's goal, while knowing that she's going to disappear, I won't give up.

I will definitely not let Maria go for her selfish reasons.

I arrive at the apartment complex Maria lives in.

When I try to enter, I immediately remember that one doesn't even get through the entrance as long as the occupant of the room's not here. I can't even arrive at the elevator like this.

What should I do?

I nervously walk about. I exert all the proper reason that's still left in me and take out my mobile phone.

I type in her number by heart and initiate the call. The signal tone sounds. Each time I hear this sound, I pray, «Please answer!»

Then---

«What is it?»

Maria's voice.

"------"

Aah---

Even though I heard her voice just a short while ago, even though it's her usual frank tone, I haven't even the composure to answer her.

«Hey? What's wrong? Are you trying to make a silent phone call though you haven't even hidden your number?»

"T-That's not it!"

I finally manage to speak.

"I'm in front of your apartment complex right now. Can you open the door?"

«What? Well, I don't mind... but why didn't you tell me in adva--- aah, you did. I'm sorry. I didn't notice because I was riding my bike.»

"No problem. Anyway, I'll come up, so please open the door."

«Aah.»

The call gets terminated and the door opens.

I head towards the elevator, almost breaking into a run. I can't calm down even while I'm waiting for the elevator and riding in it.

When I arrive at the fourth floor, I rush to the room with the number «403» even though it's not that far.

I ring the chime upon which the door opens.

Maria's face appears in the gap of the opening door.

Just that is enough.

I rush toward her into the room, already before the door's fully opened.

"...what's wrong, Kazuki?"

Maria is surprised by my strange behavior.

"Maria... why did you go home ahead of me without notice?"

"...I went home early because I feel uneasy around Mogi, of course. Why are you so beside yourself? And why are you so early? Are you alright with not talking a bit longer with Mogi?"

"Yeah, I'm alright with that!"

I say.

"You're the most important to me, Maria."

Maria widens her eyes even more---

But then they become soft again.

"I see."

Then, she gently brushes my head.

"Geez... you've been acting strange recently!"

Maria has noticed my change just a little.

"That's just you."

Therefore, I falsify.

I softly stroke her long hair in return.

But the embarrassed smile she flashes seems lonely to me somehow, which feels mortifying after all.

Note: deredere means "being all lovey dovey about someone."

Note: Tsundere (ツンデレ) is a Japanese character development process that describes someone who is initially cold or even hostile towards another individual, before gradually warming to that individual over time. See Wikipedia for more details.

Author's Notes

Hello, I'm Eiji Mikage.

This is the fourth volume of «Hakomari!» (I like the way that sounds) and the final arc of the 'Game of Idleness'.

If you read those two volumes, I hope you can understand why I didn't call them «3(1)» and «3(2)»?

Aah, and let me apologize. I wrote «the next volume should come out in Spring» in the third volume, but it's already become June. I'm really sorry... I'll try to improve!

Alright, I want to talk a little about the story this time.

While writing the fourth volume, there was something that surprised me as author.

All the [classes] of the last round were the best matches for the images of the corresponding characters.

To tell the truth, I didn’t do it on purpose. I mainly allotted the [classes] to maximize the drama, so it wasn't all that important to me whether the [classes] matched their images or not.

But in the end it happened automatically.

I think this wasn’t a coincidence. I think that this part became only visible in the final product as a result of thoroughly elaborating the story.

It feels good to work out a story that exceeds superficial understanding.

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