Ch 52
“Haa, haa…”
Chasing after relying on intuition in the uneasy light of the streetlights installed along the road.
The exchange with Ageha was only for a moment, but in that moment I lost sight of Karen.
If you get off the national highway a little, residential areas line up, and the roads are complicated.
In addition, the sun was already setting, so it would take some effort to find someone.
It would be no good if I continued to look for her in the dark.
(At times like this, if you’re Karen…)
Pulling up old memories, I tried to predict where Karen might be heading.
Karen has always been regarded by the adults around her as a calm and smart girl, but that was because she was trying to be a good big sister in front of her younger sister.
The real Karen is quite selfish and stubborn, so things like today happen from time to time.
Whenever she showed herself in a way she didn’t want to show to Ageha, when she was sad, happy, or angry, Karen would–.
“… No, I don’t see how much of that is true.”
I shook my head with a wry smile at the place that suddenly popped into my mind.
It is located far from the national highway where the family restaurant is located.
It would be closer to my house.
Where else could she possibly be headed?
I looked around, trying to find other possibilities, but I kept my eyes on the place.
◆
The gentle sound of running water tickled my ears.
The moon, which had been floating in the sky before I knew it, was reflected on the surface of the river flowing by my side.
I continue to walk along the riverbed.
Maybe because of the time of day, there was not a soul to be seen.
—-No, there was.
There is a slender figure on the slope of the riverbed, which is thick with grass and flowers.
My heart tightens nervously, at the same time as I feel relief that my bet-like guess was right.
I reflexively ran after her, but I wondered what I should say to her.
Thinking about it again, I didn’t have anything to say to her.
Even after realizing this, my feet did not stop moving forward.
I descended the stone staircase to the halfway point and stepped onto the slope.
Karen was sitting in a triangular position with her face buried between her legs.
She must have noticed my presence.
Her shoulders were shaking slightly.
I was about to speak to her, but kept my mouth shut.
I stopped for a moment, and then, with determination, slowly sat down next to Karen.
It could have been a mistake, a misunderstanding.
The words that went through my mind were so empty that I couldn’t put them into words.
For the time being, I stopped thinking about it.
I stopped thinking and just stared at the river.
It’s dark and eerie, but the moonlight softens the atmosphere somewhat.
How long had I been doing that?
Suddenly, the phone in my pocket shook.
I took it out and looked at the screen, it contained a nyain from Ageha.
“I went home first. Sis isn’t here yet, is she with you?”
It’s a delicate place to say that this situation is the same, but for the time being I’ll just return “Yeah”.
It will be marked as read immediately, and “Do your best nya!” A cute cat stamp was sent.
(Even if you say so…)
I glanced at Karen again with a sideways glance and saw that she was still looking down.
I turned off my phone and put it in my pocket.
As I pulled my legs together, Karen muttered something to me.
“… I’m sorry, I jumped out suddenly.”
“Well, you know, it happens.”
“What’s that?”
Karen gave a small laugh at my words.
I am aware, without needing to be pointed out, that I am not very good at choosing words.
So, even though we have started a conversation, I am unable to think of the words to continue.
I am not sure if Saijo is cheating on her or not, but in the end I have no words to say to her as I am not a party to this.
The only reason I came here was simply because I thought it would be a bad idea to leave Karen alone like this.
When I was at a loss for words, Karen continued to mutter to herself.
“Actually, I kind of had a feeling.”
“A feeling?”
“I thought Saijo-kun might be seeing another girl.”
“Why do you say that?”
As far as I remember, Saijo-senpai didn’t seem like the kind of person who would cheat on his girlfriend.
He even went out of his way to call me over to see if something was wrong with Karen.
He was very gentlemanly and seemed to be in a serious relationship.
So there is a part of me that thinks that what I saw earlier was just my imagination.
Karen denied my thoughts.
‘I haven’t heard from him in a while. Before… he used to send me nyain every day.”
“…….”
I don’t think that alone is reason enough to suspect cheating, but since it seems to be the case, I can’t say anything.
Is he having an affair or not? In the end, the only way to find out is to ask him.
“It may be difficult, but now that it’s like this, I guess I have no choice but to question Saijo-senpai.”
I don’t think it is an easy thing to do, considering what Karen is going through.
But it would be much better than leaving it ambiguous.
When I suggested this, Karen gave a small shake of her head.
“… It doesn’t matter, leave it as it is. You don’t have to do anything until Saijo-kun says something.”
“Why?”
For some reason, I got irritated and asked with a slightly strong tone.
Then, Karen slowly stood up on the spot.
“Maybe Saijou-kun knows it too.”
“……?”
“Anyway, I’m fine now. Thank you, Haru.”
As if to say that the story was over, Karen started walking towards the stairs.
Thank you.
It was a smile that I hate.
After staring at Karen back going up the riverbed for a little while, I followed her.
“Thank you, you’re even worse at choosing words than I am…”
I’m swirling with emotions that I don’t quite understand.
What do you think of this feeling?
I couldn’t think of that word.
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