Name 3
After school, Akari, who was left alone in the art room, rested her brush and used her shoulders.
The canvas painting was almost completed, but the final school time was rushing.
If she is too late, it will be annoying to Matsukawa-sensei who rented the art room.
"Let's clean up ..."
When she tried to get up, she heard "Akari" and "Akari-chan", from Natsuki and Miou.
Looking at the door, two people who prepared to go home were looking.
"Both of you ... Didn’t you go home already?"
"Because us three haven’t been able to go home together, so I and Miou waited for you. Right, Miou?"
When Natsuki enters the art room, she turned on electricity. The lights of the fluorescent lights spread inside the room.
"Yeah, I studied with Nacchan in the library."
"It's so beautiful. As expected of Akari!"
Yes, it was Natsuki who exclaimed.
Miou, who was looking at the picture next to her, nodded, "Right?" And turned to Akari.
"Is this the Virgin of the Church?"
"Yeah. From before, I had a sketch, so I wanted to draw it."
Akari gently touched the canvas with her fingertips.
The gloomy look of the Virgin statue nestled in a dark church was illuminated by the light passing through the stained glass.
"But ... it's difficult to express the excitement of what you see with your eyes."
"Eh!? You draw well right? The feeling of sacredness is transmitted! "
"I think it's a good painting too. I think that she draws the cool air, quietness, etc. very well."
Natsuki and Miou say that, but it's still not what I was looking for.
What I want to express is not accompanied by skill. Recently, I often felt that.
"Akari is raising her huddle too high!"
With a vague smile on Natsuki's words, Akari got up with her palette.
"That, I'll help cleaning too."
"Oh, but Nacchan. I can do it on my own."
"It’s okay. It’s okay. It's faster if we do it together."
"Akari-chan, Do I bring it to the art preparation room?"
"Yeah ... thank you. Nachan, Miou."
Classes will be available tomorrow, so I should leave my easel and canvas there.
Akari moved to the art preparation room with Miou.
By the time she finished the cleanup and left the school building, the last chime rang echoed in the school building as she was leaving school.
* * + * +
After leaving school, Akari group were walking side by side on a sunny school road.
"Once the winter vacation is over, we have to take the exam immediately ... Akari and Miou do your best."
"Nacchan has decided to be a vocational school, right? What about Interview and recommendation?"
Miou looked at Natsuki.
Natsuki, who had been worried about her career until the end, decided to go to a design college.
"I guess there seems to be an essay at least. What was it about, an essay written about what?"
"Well, maybe it's the reason for your appointment?"
"I want you to finish soon. I haven't been able to eat cake recently."
"Yeah... We haven't been able to go together recently too."
"What about Akari? Are you going to eat cake together recently?"
Akari, who was obsessed thinking about Natsuki, looked up, saying, "Eh?"
They stopped before the pedestrian crossing.
"With Mochita!"
"Ah ... yeah. Just a little while ago ... but recently Mochizuki-kun also looked busy."
"Mochita? Busy?"
"Isn't it the graduation movie? It looks like it's not finished yet."
Miou looked at Natsuki and said,
"Hmm ... but I was told that Mochita hasn't appeared in the clubroom recently?"
Natsuki tilted her head and says, so Akari hurried and told a lie, "Something like a house errand."
Souta didn't want many people to know that he was writing a novel.
As they crossed the pedestrian crossing, they waited for the traffic light to change, and walk along the sidewalk illuminated by street lights.
After being silent for a while, Natsuki hesitated to say, "Akari ..."
"You haven't responded to Mochita's confession yet?"
"…Um."
Akari nodded after being a bit lost.
"I see ..., Mochita ... You’re still waiting huh. Do your best."
Natsuki was staring at the sky with her hands behind her head.
Akari’s heart was pounding hard about those casual words.
"Akari-chan, have you already decided? The reply."
Miou on the side asking what I thought as well.
"Yes! I want to know that too. Akari. What do you think of Mochita?"
Akari was puzzled and dropped her gaze as they stared at her.
Akari herself wanted to know what she thought of Souta too.
"I think Mochizuki is kind ..."
Though she had been thinking for a long time, all she could say was such plain words.
When there is a student who is having trouble at school, he always helps them, like guiding them around the school building.
He is the kind of guy who won't leave you alone when you ask for his help, because he just can't say no.
Usually when choosing a cake at the shop, he always get lost while having such a serious face.
It seems that sometimes when we have a queue behind, he may order a cake that is completely different from the one he was worried about.
And he likes coffee with a lot of milk!
His favorite movie genre is romance. He likes comedies, but he's not good with horror.
Sometimes his inner talking leaks out but he doesn't seem to notice it.
He also called me "Akarin", but he didn't seem to notice.
At times like that, Akari just smiled and was really happy.
From time to time, we go home together and did their relationship gets a little better just like that?
But that's just a small part of him.
I also want to know more.
It is fun to be with Souta and above all, I feel secured.
Akari has a habit of being vague when she talks, but even in such cases he always waits quietly.
The reason why Akari feels comfortable is because Souta has always adapted to her pace.
Aaa, This person…. is so kind…
If I think it that way, I may have liked him.
Even imagining it would be fun if we went out.
[But is this really love ...]
This summer, Haruki and his friends asked her to draw a painting for use in a movie from the Film Research Club.
At that time, I felt like I knew a little bit of the feeling [love].
It was shiny and beautiful, but it was a little painful.
When you feel it, your chest gets warm inside, that's love.
Akari has been searching for those feelings in herself.
“Akari? ''
With Natsuki's voice, her consciousness that wandered in her heart is brought back.
When she noticed, they were staring anxiously.
"Akari-chan, you don’t have to think so much you know? Surely you'll be able to understand it soon."
Um, she returned a smile to Miou and gently said, "Um!"
There is a color of love in Miou's eyes. The same is true for Haruki.
When they stare at each other, they look gentler than at any time. Natsuki and Yu would be the same.
Akari is also longing for the feeling of love.
"Miou is sweet! So sweet!"
Natsuki screamed as her legs crossed.
"If Akari and Mochita don't hurry at all, they won't progress at all. If I leave them be, they’re gonna be the same as my grandfather and grandmother. Two people, relaxing and drinking tea in the garden! "
"It may actually be like Akari-chan and Mochizuki-kun."
While saying so, Miou smiled.
"Oh, I want to eat something sweet. I want to eat!"
Akari laughed with Miou as Natsuki shouted into the sky.
Someday I want to have true love with someone.
That someone---.
[I want to eat cake with Mochizuki-kun again...]
Akari looked up at the sky where the stars were blinking, thinking vaguely at that.
* * + * +
It’s the second week of December.
The first class of the day is a classical class in which Akechi-sensei, who came to the classroom, rolls a call on the platform.
Eventually, Souta's name was called, but there was no reply.
"Mochizuki - Mochizuki Souta - Mochita"
Lonely laughter spreads among the students.
Akechi-sensei looked up and over the classroom.
"You are really absent today...?"
He then checks the attendance sheet and calls the next student's name.
[What happened ... Mochizuki-kun ...]
Akari looked at Souta's seat.
It has been vacant since this morning’s home room.
During the lunch break, Akari moved to the art room with Miou and Natsuki.
We used to eat on the rooftop before, but since the outside was completely cold, We often spent time off in the art room.
"Um ... Nacchan. What happened to Mochizuki-kun?"
As she walked down the hallway, Akari was worried and asked Natsuki.
She thought she might have heard something from Yu or Haruki.
"Oh ... Mochita, he's fallen asleep because of a cold since yesterday."
"Huh? Cold?"
"It's like he’s stuck and can't move. He’s alone at home and his family are away on a ski trip."
As Natsuki stops, Akari and Miou are entangled and stop at the end of the corridor.
"Then, are you worried about him?"
Hearing Miou words, Natsuki turned her head, "Oh?"
"He’s always sad, depressed when he’s sick and alone."
"Yeah ... I hope someone can help him. I can't ask Setoguchi or Haruki. Even after school."
Miou is also worried.
"Yu has a mock-up for the preparatory school, and Haruki also seems to have a need to talk to Akechi-sensei. I too ... Um, right... I have errands with Miou!"
For some reason, Natsuki, looked unnaturally at her, and suddenly say "Righ, right!?"
"Eh, me !?"
"Yes, you know, an important task! Going to buy a reference book or something like paints."
Miou paid Attention to Natsuki, and then made a small voice with "Ah".
"That's right ... I have to go and buy...?"
"Yes! That's why. We're unfortunately unlikely able to take care of Mochita. How about Akari? Are you busy!?"
Akari snarled a little as Natsuki shook her face.
"Hmmmm"
[Today, Sena also said that she had a job for shooting ...]
There is also no prep school.
"I don't think there was anything ..."
When she answers, Natsuki makes a gut pose, saying "OK!"
"Huh?"
"No, nothing, nothing. Nothing at all!"
Natsuki was fooling around, hiding her fist.
"So then ... we’ll all pay for this, so we want you to go and take a look at Mochita!"
In the smile of Natsuki, "Oh ... Nacchan really…" Miou laughs.
"...... Is it okay if I go?"
"Of course, it’s okay! If he looks at Akari's face, Mochita's cold will be cured in one shot. You looked worried while looking at Mochita’s seat all the time during class. ''
Akari was flustered by Natsuki's words.
[Is that so ...]
Now that she mentions it, sometimes she feel like she was looking at Souta's seat.
I couldn’t stay calm because his back that I always wanted to see was no longer there.
"I think Mochizuki would be more pleased. Akari-chan, can you please do it?"
Akari thought a little because she was asked by Miou.
"But I don't know Mochizuki's house ..."
"It's okay! I'll show you the way!"
Natsuki raised her thumb satisfactorily.
Souta is her childhood friend and his house is not so far away, so she knows the way.
"Well ... I'll go see him on the way home."
"You have to do that. Please, Akari!"
Akari laughed and answered, "Yes," as Natsuki pushed her back with both hands.
* * + * +
After school, Akari headed to Souta's house, and his sister was just back.
When she told her that she had come to see him, his sister said, "If you are looking for Souta, go upstairs, he is in his room," and took off her shoes at the entrance.
Souta's room was on the second floor.
When she went up the stairs and enter the room, the curtain was closed and it was dark inside.
In there, Souta was lying on a bed and wrapped in a futon.
Akari entered shyly and closed the door before heading to the bed.
She lowered her bag and sat beside him.
Sometimes the sound of coughing could be heard from inside the futon.
As she was wondering if she could call him, Souta opened his eyes lightly.
His weak eyes stared at Akari.
His lips moved a little, "Akarin ...", but he didn't speak fully.
She took his stretched hand and it's terribly hot.
[What should I do. I have to cool him down ...]
Is there any medicine at home?
Souta's sister seems to be still in the living room, so she'll know.
When she tried to get up, he said, "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, Akarin ... I promised ..."
He was saying that in delirium, with a painful breath.
"... Mochizuki-kun?"
I tried to call him while confused, but Souta was in pain and closed his eyelids immediately.
[Maybe Mochizuki-kun, wasn't he…?]
{"It's a promise"}
Akari gently grasped Souta's hand, thinking back to when she tied her little finger with his.
[I'm also sorry ...]
After taking the medicine, Souta seemed to have calmed down a little.
She was worried, but it would take too long to return home.
Akari stood up with her bag.
When she was about to leave the room, she suddenly stopped because she noticed a picture on a corkboard in front of his desk.
[Oh, this picture ...]
This is a picture of Souta doll jumping out of a surprise box when she tried to surprise him when she asked him to be a drawing model.
"... You really cherish it."
It was just a quick drawing. She was glad that he was decorating his room with it.
"I’m glad......"
She smiled and touched the picture of Souta with her finger.
Then look over the desk and she found a large envelope.
The destination was a publisher.
"This is……"
Akari looked back at Souta sleeping on the bed.
[The manuscript Mochizuki-kun was trying to send ...? ]
Perhaps a cold prevented him from sending the manuscript.
Akari was worried and took out the phone.
Open the publisher's site and viewed the award application guidelines where Souta was trying to send.
The deadline is-.
"Today ...?"
Was it not in time?
Did Souta apologize and being sorry for this?
When she looked at the site again, it was written "accept postmark on the day" next to the deadline.
She looked at the time, it was 4:45.
[If I hurry, I may still make it ...]
Akari took her mobile phone, held the manuscript and her bag, and looked at Souta.
Perhaps she was trying to do something selfish. But she knew that Souta worked hard late every day for this manuscript.
So she doesn't want to waste it.
"Mochizuki-kun. I'll keep this manuscript."
Akari whispered to the sleeping Souta, and quickly left the room.
When she leaves Souta's house, the sky is dim and light rain is falling.
The nearest post office will be closed at 5 o'clock.
[If I don't hurry ...]
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