When I seriously disliked something, I was told “It’s just a joke, can’t you take a joke?” Once, when Hanazono was absent from school due to a cold, an “incident” occurred.
Hanazono was mocked. In that moment, I was consumed by an unpleasant emotion and couldn’t see it as a joke anymore.
Apologizing for things that weren’t wrong. Deciding based on fragmented information. I couldn’t understand the normal world of middle school.
Back then, I didn’t have Hanazono to stop me. I couldn’t hold myself back. I thought “I can just reset it later if I mess everything up.” I thought I didn’t care if I destroyed everything.
So the [incident] happened. The classroom was destroyed, with broken desks and walls, and the terrified students were shaking and crying out in fear. I reset the negative emotions that were overwhelming me.
Since then, no one in that class has spoken to me. Even the teachers have started to avert their gaze from me. The principal, who knew my circumstances, was running around behind the scenes. Only a few students know the details.
The class changes every year. People forget unpleasant things. It gets repeated over and over.
But there are always people who remember.
**
Sorimachi had the same look as those former classmates of mine. She sees me as someone clearly beneath her. That’s what she thinks.
……People’s superiority or inferiority isn’t something that’s easily determined.
“But Toudou was surprisingly cool back then, huh? Haha, you really weren’t used to girls, were you? You’d turn bright red just from me talking to you~. Hey, wanna try dating for real? Hehe, aren’t I cute?”
I made eye contact with the bearded manager. He sighed and approached us.
“–Manager, sorry to bother you, but this girl keeps pestering me. Can you take my order?”
“Toudou-kun, I’m sorry. –Sorimachi, even if you’re a former classmate, he’s still a customer now. Please do your job properly.”
“Eh, manager, but it’s Toudou, right? So it doesn’t matter, right? Oh, and 3 drinks from the free refill station, please!”
“Are you an idiot?! Aren’t you working here right now? Think about it, doesn’t that seem weird?”
The manager pulled Sorimachi’s uniform and led her away to the back of the kitchen.
I could hear the quiet scolding lecture.
There is a world of children that adults can’t understand. A world that only children can comprehend. The police won’t intervene in this.
She was in the same class as me in our third year. Sorimachi doesn’t have any malice. No, it might be accurate to say she has nothing but malice…malice has become the norm. She simply accepts the notion that I’m inferior.
I’m feeling a little tired…
“Yo! Sorry to keep you waiting!”
“Tsuyoshi, what happened?”
The two of them had returned. When I saw them, I let out a relieved sigh. I cleared my head. If this had been me a little while ago, I might have just reset everything. But the current me…is more mature.
We went to get some drinks from the free refill station and started chatting.
“I was really surprised by Haru-chan, you know…”
“Haha, it can’t be helped…she couldn’t control her emotions…”
“Looks like you two were able to have an honest talk. –So, what happened?”
They glanced at each other, like mischievous children about to do something naughty. Come to think of it, Hanazono used to make that kind of expression a lot back in middle school. …I thought she was just being mean to the awkward me, but that’s not it. This is a form of expressing affection.
“–I was really dependent on Tsuyoshi, you know. …It seems Haru-chan felt the same way. She thought she was the only one hogging Tsuyoshi–“
Tanaka continued.
“We, like, totally argued a lot, you know. About each other’s bad points–and selfish parts. …But in the end, Toudou was the most important thing, you know…Ah, um, we also decided to cherish our own feelings too…”
“Yeah, since we’re starting over, Haru-chan and I thought we could start over too. No more compromising, because we’re friends! So, Tsuyoshi–count on us from now on, okay?”
“Yeah, count on us!”
“–Ah, yeah, I’ll be counting on you.”
I have to admit, this is a bit difficult for me to fully understand. It’s like peeking into the depths of their hearts.
They were dependent on me? Rather, I was the one dependent on them. That strong dependence distorted my ability to reset. Being with them now, my heart races and I feel a strange sensation. It’s something I can’t suppress, no matter how hard I try.
But the one thing I’m sure of is that the two of them have made up.
And that alone makes me happy.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
–So there’s no need for me to say anything unnecessary now.
At that moment, the employee Sorimachi, for some reason, brought over a plate of fries and placed it on our table, even though we hadn’t ordered anything.
“Here you go, an order of fries!”
We glanced at each other. We didn’t plan to have a meal here. Getting an unwanted dish was just annoying.
“–Hey, aren’t you that Sorimachi guy from our old school? You work here now. And we didn’t order this, you know.”
“Hanazono is still as prickly as ever, I see. This is my goodwill gesture. Hey, you’re Toudou’s friend, right? And the girl next to you is really cute, by the way.”
It seems she just brought over some leftover food from a mistake in an order at another table.
Both Tanaka and Hanazono seem troubled by Sorimachi’s attitude. Seeing them like that, I remembered something.
At that time, was I trying to help Tanaka…? Yes, that’s right, I released the [Limit] to try and help Tanaka. And that’s why I lost my memories.
It’s an abnormal situation. I’m starting to remember my memories.
[Limit] is a power that exceeds the limits of [Reset]. It causes me to surely lose my memories. My high-speed thinking is uncovering my past data. In the past, the reason I lost many memories was due to the imperfect reset, but it was also because I used [Limit] to help someone, pushing my brain’s limits too far. That’s why I can’t recognize when I’ve used [Limit]… or so I thought.
I take a deep breath to calm my mind. This is not something I should be thinking about right now.
Because this is not an extraordinary situation. Hanazono is here, Tanaka is here, it’s the peaceful everyday life that puts my heart at ease.
… But my emotional fluctuations are strange. I don’t want the two of them to feel unpleasant.
I stand up and hold a plate of fries.
“The fries are unnecessary.”
“Huh? I didn’t ask you. You’re Toudou, don’t butt in.”
“Hey, what’s wrong with you! You’re making fun of Tsuyoshi!”
“Yeah, it’s a bit weird. Suddenly coming in and making fun of Toudou…”
I place my hands on Hanazono and Tanaka’s shoulders. I realized that touching them calms my heart.
“I’m alright.”
If I’m mocked, it bothers Hanazono and the others too. So it’s not enough for me to just be mocked. So I put a little strength in my eyes and stare at Sorimachi.
Sorimachi starts trembling and his body shakes.
“Uh… what’s this? Hey… the guys from our school are also making fun of Toudou–“
Only he, with a pale face, desperately shakes his head to try and stop his friends. And he leaves the family restaurant as if running away.
“Huh? I wonder what’s up with him? By the way, you, just Toudou, are being disrespectful.”
“Pardon me, I don’t even remember you well enough to have a relationship. Sorry, but I don’t want to get involved. And aren’t you on the job right now? Do your work.”
“…Tch.”
“I was just stating common sense. The child’s world is not everything.”
At that moment, someone approaches our table.
“Hmph, that’s a good point. But you know, Toudou, strong logic doesn’t reach people. Sis, I’ve come to pick you up.”
A beautiful voice is heard. It’s Tanaka’s little brother. I got involved with him before. He is extremely overprotective of Tanaka. Today, he seems to be hiding his presence. When he entered the family restaurant, it was as if he had to strain to be recognized. He’s definitely not a simple person.
“Taking my sis home is my job, so let’s go.”
“Takuya, you idiot! Use proper honorifics! Toudou is your senior, you know! And you haven’t even ordered a drink yet, have you!?”
“Eh, really? …Then I’ll order a drink too. Toudou, come sit next to me.”
“Hmm, Hanazono, do you mind?”
“U-Uh, I don’t really care. Though, Haru-chan’s little brother… Hmm, whatever.”
“He is quite a handsome young man.”
Tanaka says to me with a puffed-up face.
“Hehe, but Toudou is cooler, right?”
“Why doesn’t my sis say I’m cool too!?”
“Well, because you’re Takuya, you know. Anyway, go get the drink, okay? I’ve ordered for you.”
Sorimachi, standing there dumbfounded, speaks up.
“H-Hey, um, are you… Takuya’s sister? And, Toudou, are you friends with Takuya? Please, could I… get your autograph?”
I don’t understand. An autograph? Some kind of contract? Contracts are very serious things. Is he trying to trick the little brother? I won’t allow him to be deceived.
“Toudou was the class burden, wasn’t he? So you should listen to what I–“
“I don’t understand much, but do your work. This is a time to enjoy with my friends.”
“Huh? You–“
I look into Sorimachi’s eyes, piercing through her, and place my hand on her shoulder. I put the sadness I felt in middle school into it. I don’t know if it will reach her. But she is human, not a beast.
I transmit my emotions to Sorimachi–
“Ah… U…”
Sorimachi’s movements stop. She takes a step back. Behind her is the store manager.
“Sorimachi… Cut it out. You, go wash the dishes. Hey, what’s wrong with you?”
“Ah, uh, why, why, why…”
Sorimachi can’t move, even though she tries. her legs are trembling slightly. Tears are welling up in her eyes.
Sorimachi is dragged away into the back by the store manager. And a crying sound is heard.
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