[Fantasy Novel Category] "√365" |

▼ This story is a part of "√365". Once you have read the "Prologue", you can read any of the other chapters as standalone stories.

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　On the swaying train, I lean my head against my husband's shoulder.
　The town with the beautiful sea has already blown away past the window, and little by little, we have drawn closer to the cluster of buildings.──We are back. While I feel relieved, what comes to mind is our wedding ceremony from last night.

　When the reception was over and we were seeing off the guests, Tatsuhiko Amaike, a bad friend who went to the same middle and high school as me, stopped in front of me and bowed his head deeply, very deeply.

「I am truly sorry.──Let me say it again.」

　When I look at him blankly, he says, "It's about back in middle school," looking uncomfortable. My parents, who were standing next to me, frowned. They had been against inviting Amaike to the wedding until the very end.

　When I was in middle school, I was bullied. One of the people at the center of it was Amaike.

　Originally, the one who created the bullying was my homeroom teacher. She was in her mid-40s and just hated me, and she would berate me in front of everyone at every opportunity. For example, when I forgot something. Even though others weren't scolded that much when they forgot things, when I forgot something, she would announce it in front of everyone and use me as an example, calling me lazy or saying it was embarrassing.

　I wonder when the atmosphere in the class, which was sympathetic at first, changed. Eventually, the bullying spread among the students and took deep root. Everyone thought that it was acceptable to throw anything at me.

　I had a boyfriend in the next class, but I couldn't talk to him about it, and eventually, we drifted apart.

　After agonizing over it, the escape route I chose was to transfer schools.
　Most of the class was happy. I must have been that hated. Amidst that, the only one who was flustered was Amaike.

　Perhaps he didn't recognize it as serious bullying. Did he think it was just what you call "teasing"? I think that's too insensitive in itself, but regardless, he took action. Only Amaike did.

　He came to my house, pressed his forehead to the ground with force, and apologized.
　Even though he was berated by my father and chased away by my mother, he came many times.──Eventually, I forgave him. I couldn't forgive what had been done to me, but I felt sincerity in his attitude afterward.

After all, everyone else in the class acted as if what they did to me never happened. Many even justified it by saying it was my fault.

In middle school, every time I entered the classroom, my chest would tighten painfully. I couldn't breathe. I now think of Amaike, who I was always terrified of just being near, as someone who is smart yet foolish, simple, and straightforward.

When I was about to enter high school, I decided to return from the school I had transferred to. I chose a local preparatory school. He went to the same school. Until I enrolled, my anxiety was greater than anything else. There are many people here who know the past me. What if it happens again—.

I couldn't help but think that. In fact, there were former classmates who tried to pick on me. Even then, Amaike acted as a wall for me.

We never developed anything like romantic feelings for each other, but before I knew it, we had become bad friends who could talk about anything that came to mind. At the very least, we were close enough to invite each other to our weddings.

It was the first time I had ever seen a grown man cry.
As we were leaving the reception, tears welled up in Amaike's eyes. In a strained voice, he kept repeating, "I am truly sorry."

"I was made to realize once again that you were raised being loved by so many people. When I think about it, it's obvious, isn't it?"

Then he wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and made a grinning face, saying, "Even so, I never knew you were this beautiful." Before I knew it, he had returned to being the usual foolish, simple, yet Imperial University-graduate Amaike.

The new home we moved into two months ago is on top of a hill. It's a modest, neat apartment. Before going home, we go down to the bottom of the hill. That's because there's an inexpensive supermarket there. My husband is a person who likes to cook, and we bought ingredients at the supermarket as we pleased. My husband chooses the meat, and I choose the vegetables. Once we decide whether it will be Japanese or Western style, we each make our assigned dishes.

Since my husband said he would make Hayashi rice, I made a colorful salad and a Japanese yam potage.

A summer breeze blows in from the living room. Sweat trickles down my cheek. My husband notices and gently wipes it away. I hear the sound of a wind chime.

"Hey, is Amaike-kun an ex-boyfriend of yours?"

When my husband said that, he looked down and adjusted his glasses. I laughed and said, "No way!"

"That man is a lovable idiot, you know. I could never see him as a man."

"I see..."

My husband didn't seem very convinced.

"More than that, I was interested in that beautiful Mitsuya-san from your circle. I didn't know you had such a pretty friend. It's a bit depressing."

"There's nothing going on with her! Mitsuya is dating Aikawa. They've been together since college."

Even so, perhaps my husband had feelings for her. Just as I, in truth, had relied on Amaike back in high school.

Amaike will not be in my future. I have decided that.
Being married is one reason, and if we have children in the future, I will naturally become more and more distant from him. It is even possible that yesterday was the last conversation we will ever have in our lives.

It feels a little lonely, but I think that is what it means to be an adult. Choosing what is important, and letting things go. It means making decisions for yourself.

"This potage is delicious."

"I simmered nagaimo, leeks, and onions until they were soft, then blended them with a hand blender. Then I thinned it out with milk. Oh, and I added bacon as a secret ingredient."

I answered proudly. It's fun because I can talk about cooking with my husband.

I think that being able to become a married couple with this person like this is only possible because it is now.

If we had met when we were in middle school, what would it have been like? He was serious and inflexible, not at all sophisticated, and I don't think I had the kind of personality that could laugh off jealousy like this.

I'm sure he wouldn't have liked me. And even if we had been lucky enough to fall in love, I don't think it would have lasted.

Thinking about it that way, I believe that all human connections are probably about timing.
I am glad that I met this person as the "me" I am now.

▼ This novel is a part of √365. You can read it one chapter at a time from anywhere, but reading the prologue and epilogue creates a subtle connection in the story. I'm still debating which category to enter for the Creative Awards...