Hina finally had the chance to stop by the agricultural supply store, which, as she said, was a bit far from the shopping center. My hands were red from carrying the bags.
"Aren't you going to come in?"
"I prefer to wait here. I can already smell the dirt from here."
I used the smell as an excuse. None of the three criticized me, and they let me wait outside. That way I save myself from walking around the store with the bags. And I can put them on the floor to rest my hands.
"Don't run off with the bags"
Otsuki, whom I asked if I could stay outside, joked before entering the store behind Hina and Tsukiyomi.
I waited by the door of the store.
Fearing a smell much more pleasant than that of the dirt.
The people passing by on the sidewalk didn't even bother to look at me, noticing more the number of bags I had next to me.
Just so you know, they're not mine…
They'll probably think I'm a fashion fanatic or something. Now that I think about it, with the clothes I wear, I doubt they will.
The wait felt long. I spent most of the time watching YouTube videos. I would never stoop so low as to use social media like Twitter or TikTok.
Approximately forty-five minutes passed before Hina came out the door carrying a bag full of gardening supplies.
"Look at that, Riku didn't run away."
"Don't play into Otsuki's hands."
She was quite reluctant to let me carry the bag with everything she bought. Not because she thought I was going to steal it too.
"I prefer to carry it myself. Besides, you already carry a lot."
She politely declined. I didn't know it, but her decision was for the greater good. If I had taken it too, it would have been so heavy my hands would have been killing me.
The bag seemed to weigh even more than all the ones I was carrying, and Hina held it without any problem.
"This…"
Outside the shop, Tsukiyomi was standing behind Hina and Otsuki. I was startled by how well she was hidden. Her friends turned around to listen to her.
"I'd like to go home… I'm tired…"
Tsukiyomi's not-so-famous-to-me ultimatum. I made that up on the spot.
Because of her personality and attitude, she always gave the impression of being downcast. In some ways she resembled me, but we were so different that it would be unfair to compare us.
"So, shall we all go?"
Although Hina asked us, she assumed we would leave too. We had spent almost the entire morning outside, and it was already lunchtime.
Another day where I'll eat late. I'm going to end up making it a habit.
"Yes." "Yes," Otsuki and I exclaimed in unison.
For the return trip, the train was about five times more crowded than on the way there. To prevent the girls from missing their stop because I was handing them their bags, I left them with them once we boarded.
I chose not to put on my headphones and left them resting on my neck.
"Where do you get off, Riku?"
"At the second-to-last stop."
"Well, you were right about living near Riku, Atsumi."
We avoided separating on the train once it left, staying far enough away from them so as not to bump into any of them and cause a scene. I didn't want to ruin a day like this.
I need to focus. I can't mess this up.
"Are you getting off at the same stop?"
"In the one before."
It was Otsuki herself who answered me.
* Rumble, rumble…*
I could hear the clatter of the train even with so many people inside. It's always served as a kind of background noise. Better than people's voices.
The girls kept talking even on the train, which I found strange. I didn't say anything until we arrived at a station.
[ Next stop… ]
"Ara, that's ours."
Hina spoke to Tsukiyomi, who nodded. They approached the door behind them, ready to leave as soon as it opened.
"I suppose we'll see each other again at school, if you don't mind."
Something similar to what he said a couple of hours ago. Let's see each other again.
Coming here, I was determined never to see them again. After this, it was time to move on. With them, Otsuki included. And now, the last thing I wanted to do was let go.
I can't turn the page if I'm still reading it.
"Yes, I'll see you in class."
The door opened and people began to come out.
"See you."
"But I never want to see you again."
"Hey."
"Just kidding. Bye."
Hina got ahead of Tsukiyomi, already off the train. She hadn't said goodbye yet.
Is she so ashamed that she can't even say goodbye to her friends? Maybe it's because I'm here.
"Goodbye, Atsumi…"
"Goodbye, Natsuki."
And even with the shame weighing on her, she managed to say goodbye. Not to me though. She at least looked at me, so that's some neat progress. The least I could do was return the farewell at least.
"Goodbye. See you on Monday."