What? The summer schedule still has almost half a year left, so let’s just put it off for now.
The immediate thing approaching was spring break.
Countries that adopted a three-term system, including Japan, have the impression that vacations are scattered everywhere.
The summer vacation is long, about a month, but the winter vacation is about two weeks, and spring break is just under two weeks, so from my perspective, having spent my school days in Korea, it looked like one vacation split into two.
It’s not that the three terms are particularly short, but perhaps because they overlap at the beginning of the year, the atmosphere during the third term feels a bit loose. Instead of midterms and finals, there’s just one final exam, so depending on the person, it feels a bit more relaxed.
“Am I already in the third year?”
As winter slowly passed and the weather began to feel a bit warmer, Kaoru said with a look that suggested she might die tomorrow while in the literature club room.
“Once the vacation is over, I’ll be a test-taker…”
It felt a bit strange hearing that from someone who had confidently declared just a while back that she would intervene in producing the publication during third year.
Essentially, it was declaring that she wouldn’t study.
“If we’re going by that logic, we should’ve considered ourselves test-takers since the start of the year.”
In response to Kaoru’s words, Izumi replied.
“Don’t say such dreary things~ It’s normal not to be able to study at the beginning of the year.”
In fact, there was a real reason why studying was hard at the beginning of this year, but since the issue related to me, I opted to stay silent and just sit quietly.
I was so serious that I even momentarily set down my dorayaki.
“In summer, studying is hard because of the vacations and festivals, and in autumn, it’s hard due to the sports festival and cultural festival.”
“Well, that’s only natural!”
Kaoru shouted passionately at Izumi’s words.
“How can a person just study all year long? You have to take breaks in between to concentrate better.”
I completely agreed with that, but for some reason, when Kaoru said it, I found it hard to believe.
“And you’re reading a novel right now, too.”
Seeing her gaze shift towards the book she was holding made Izumi’s face turn red.
“I’ll be a test-taker after the break ends.”
And then Kaoru echoed the same words she said earlier.
It’s as if they were a pair.
“What are you looking so relaxed about? You two are next, soon.”
“…Still, I think there’s a big difference between a year and a week.”
At Yuka’s words, Kaoru clutched her heart as if she had received a critical hit and collapsed back onto her desk.
“…Okay!”
But soon Kaoru seemed to recover completely and sat up.
Her eyes were shining brightly.
“Then, I’ll make sure to spend this last vacation splendidly!”
While it was clear in her eyes that she intended to thoroughly enjoy all the future vacations, I knew that there was no point in arguing against such words from Kaoru, so I quietly resumed eating my dorayaki.
“Hey, what’s up, junior? Can’t you hear what the senior is saying?”
“I can hear you.”
“Ugh.”
“And even Koko…”
Seeing Koko, who responded so nonchalantly with a very everyday expression, Kaoru was a bit taken aback.
“And didn’t you say you would still produce the publication this year? Just by that, it’s quite a distant story from studying.”
When Yuka said this, Kaoru shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, that’s that and this is this. Producing a publication doesn’t mean I’m slacking off, right? I’m doing it because the school asked me to.”
She might be doing it for fun. If club activities were boring, she could just quit.
“Oh, speaking of which, last year I was really dedicated to the literature club…!”
“That allowed you to feature occult articles in the publication.”
“That’s not exactly a literature club activity!”
Since the topic of club activities came up, it seemed Kaoru finally recalled that, in fact, she wasn’t a literature club head, but rather the head of the occult club.
“You don’t have to worry too much. Your name is already listed under the literature club.”
Izumi said this, puffing out her chest and flashing a confident smile.
“Aah, is this how my school days will just wither away?”
“Wither or not, I’d say you had a pretty fruitful school life up until last year.”
“That’s true, but…!”
Kaoru let out an incomprehensible groan for a while before suddenly standing up.
“I can’t take this anymore! This spring break, I really have to have fun. Does everyone have time?”
“Uh.”
At Kaoru’s words, I made an ambiguous sound while she directed her gaze toward me. Of course, Yuka wasn’t surprised at all since she already knew.
“Well… the thing is, I’m going on a family trip.”
Right. Kagami had already scheduled it. It seemed she still hadn’t decided where to go.
“A family trip? Perhaps?”
Kaoru, who had been all hyped up until a moment ago, widened her eyes in surprise.
“Yeah. Together with Kagami!”
Koko raised both hands excitedly.
“Oh, well, there’s no helping that.”
Kaoru said in a serious tone, as if she was baffled.
No, really, there was no need to react so seriously.
“That’s good.”
Forget about Kaoru, even Izumi smiled warmly and happily.
Koko, on the other hand, wore a somewhat vague expression. It seems she still hadn’t adjusted to that Kagami. After all, first impressions can last quite a while.
“Have you decided where to go?”
“Well… I’m not quite sure myself. Kagami suggested it.”
“If necessary, I could ask my grandma for recommendations.”
She must have been referring to the onsen we visited last time.
“No, I wouldn’t want to impose that much…”
“Come on, don’t be such a worrywart. It’s not like she’s giving it away for free. It’s not the kind of time when there are no guests, so there’s no way she would go that far.”
Kaoru chuckled at my words.
“But still, we could get a good spot. The prices might even be a bit cheaper. Spring vacation is a good season for other families to travel too, isn’t it?”
That is true.
But… an onsen.
Hmm. It doesn’t sound bad, but…
Thinking about changing in the same bath as Kagami feels a bit burdensome.
“How about Koko? The place we went to last summer vacation.”
“The food was delicious!”
“Right? Grandma takes her cooking seriously!”
When Koko sparkled her eyes while saying this, Kaoru puffed up with pride.
I mean, the food was good.
“Then… I’ll ask Kagami.”
“Yay, I’ll be waiting for your message!”
Kaoru’s beaming smile felt refreshing.
*
“An onsen?”
When I relayed what Kaoru had said, Kagami looked a bit dazed as she asked back.
She usually always has a smiling expression, and even if emotions were moving within her, her expression hardly broke. In fact, I had only noticed that ‘dazed’ look because of very subtle changes in her demeanor.
Living in the same space for a while allows you to pick up on those nuanced changes quickly—it was an astonishing realization, but before I could get lost in thought, Kagami suddenly grabbed my hand.
“Let’s definitely go.”
“…Wait a minute, didn’t you say you had a place already planned to go?”
“There is a place already planned, but we can go there too. It’s a vacation after all.”
If she put it that way, I have nothing to say.
“Do you have any other plans for the break?”
“No, I just left it open-ended just in case.”
“Well, then that’s fine.”
I wondered if they planned to fill the break entirely with trips.
I wouldn’t really care, but…
“Traveling throughout the vacation?”
“Yes, traveling throughout the vacation.”
Koko, who was sitting next to me, asked and Kagami answered with that same cheerful expression.
“Wow!”
Excited, Koko threw her hands up in the air.
Kagami hugged her tightly. Koko’s arms were stuck above her head, unable to move.
Seeing Kagami looking at me while resting her cheek on Koko’s head, I subtly took a step back.
No, that…
I mean, hugging every morning is already more than enough.
Kagami looked a bit disappointed but didn’t forcibly try to hug me back.
Just like I was starting to understand Kagami little by little, it seemed she was figuring me out too.
Thinking that way sent a shiver down my spine.
“What’s the first destination?”
“Various places.”
Well, that vague answer didn’t help me understand.
“I got a car.”
“Do you have a driver’s license?”
That was the most fresh and shocking news I had heard related to Kagami.
I couldn’t picture Kagami driving.
Just as I couldn’t imagine her being called ‘Mom’.
…Wait, thinking about it again, it’s hard to imagine Kagami holding a baby or cooking for someone, either.
“Wait, was the car sitting in front of your house since last week ours?”
“Not ‘sitting’—I’ve been practicing whenever I have time.”
Hearing the word ‘practice’ made me even more nervous.
Could it be that she can’t drive? Although there hasn’t been much opportunity for me to get behind the wheel in a year of being a high school student, I still had some reasonable driving experience in my past life.
Anyway, I hadn’t realized she meant that she wanted to go on a trip.
In fact, I had seen a compact car parked in front of our apartment a few days ago.
It looked too cute to be driven by an adult man. If not, I thought someone might have illegally parked it. Since Kagami didn’t seem to mind, I didn’t bother to ask.
“……”
By the way, are things going smoothly with driving practice and buying a car?
It’s a positive notion, but it’s amazing that Kagami seems to be gradually enjoying life.
She always had a somewhat bright side, but if that was often an artificial facade to create comfort, now she had an authentically bright look.
“…You don’t believe me?”
“No.”
Well, Kagami is the one who brought me back to life. At the very least, she probably wouldn’t want to put my life in danger.
“Just thinking it sounds quite fun.”
Yeah. Once we become adults and start working, it’ll be hard to enjoy ourselves that way.
I don’t know whether Koko and I will end up going to university. At least, I wanted Koko to go to college.
If I could delay that sudden plunge into society a bit longer, I’d be thrilled.
Imagining Koko and I working in a few years is harder than I expected. I wonder if Koko will change a bit by then. Will she stop saying things like ‘wow’?
The current Koko gives off a vibe that suggests she won’t change easily.
Still, just as we’ve all changed little by little, perhaps she will gradually change too. One day we might suddenly think how fast time has flown by.
Time is something that cannot be held back.
You can only reminisce about it after it has passed.
“Can we shoot a video in the car?”
“Of course.”
When I asked, Kagami nodded in response.
Although the danger had disappeared, I still want to preserve the memories.
Memories that I can cherish for a long time.
So that even after 20 years from now—or rather, after the era of the world I once knew—I can remember these moments for a long, long time.
*
Time passed, and spring break arrived.
Since I was planning to be away from home for over a week, I had just gone out for the last party of the school year with friends. It was a party, but it wasn’t anything extravagant; we just went to a yakiniku place and ate meat together.
Departure was the next day.
I woke up early in the morning, had a simple breakfast, and washed up before stepping outside.
I stood in front of a somewhat classically designed, cute car. Standing in front of the beige car felt a bit sentimental.
Although it wasn’t a car I bought.
“Is this your taste?”
I muttered as I nodded awkwardly.
Now that I think about it, I don’t really know Kagami’s taste well. She often did things for me and Koko, but not really much for herself.
Even in clothing, she often wore plain, unobtrusive things. The frequency of wearing pants and skirts was almost equal, and both were typically long.
Every now and then she would wear a dress that revealed a bit of her chest, but typically it would be long-sleeved t-shirts with skirts or just a plain long-sleeved shirt and jeans. I understood that she liked neatness, but aside from that, there weren’t really any distinguishing features.
Maybe she has a uniquely Japanese minimalist sensibility.
“Is it strange?”
“No, I wouldn’t say it’s bad.”
I answered and got into the passenger seat.
“What’s the car’s name? Lapin?”
“It’s ‘Rapin’.”
Isn’t that in English?
“Wow!”
Koko, in the backseat, exclaimed with delight.
All the luggage was in the trunk. Although it was a compact car, it seemed to be made with enough interior space, as there was surprisingly enough room to store luggage.
Still, I held the camcorder in my hand.
“I didn’t think you would buy a car.”
I said while fidgeting with the camcorder.
“I just thought if you were to buy a car, it would probably be a really big and expensive one.”
Certainly, she’d get someone else to drive it.
That’s to be expected; Kagami is still a head of a religious organization. Even if she had supposedly changed from her past of devouring her own followers, she probably still brought in quite a bit of money.
“Should I have bought a bigger and nicer car?”
Kagami responded with a somewhat anxious expression.
“…No.”
I answered her.
If she wanted a better car with her money, she wouldn’t have even thought about staying at that house at all.
While it barely survives without collapsing, Kagami still has a mansion. In fact, it’s closer to the center of Tokyo than this place. If I had judged based solely on money, I might have suggested fixing that place up to live in.
However, for now, I liked it just fine.
Someday, perhaps I might want a room to myself, but not yet. For now, yeah. This is the best.
“I like it now.”
“So do I.”
Kagami said while subtly caressing the steering wheel.
“Living in a house like this, driving this kind of car, having this distance from everything…”
As she said that with a smile, her eyes were on the steering wheel directly in front of her, but it seemed like her gaze was far beyond that.
Is that so?
Maybe Kagami is longing for something ‘ordinary’.
She was born in a bizarrely twisted family and grew up among strangely twisted individuals.
She couldn’t live like regular people. I didn’t know whether Kagami went through school properly or not.
I wonder if Kosuzu ever cared about such things?
Kagami might have had someone she liked. Perhaps she met her first love at school. She might have made close friends and wanted to go out and have fun.
But all of those dreams were taken away by another.
The belief that enduring and overcoming all those challenges would yield something precious was crushed.
Now, all that time has passed, and here we are.
Has Kagami obtained what she wanted?
Or is she still in the process of gradually picking things up?
…The passage of time doesn’t seem to be purely bad.
It seems one can find wonderful things in it.
“Alright, I’ll start now.”
Kagami said while gripping the steering wheel with both hands.
I nodded.
And then I raised my hand to grab the handle above the door.
“Whoa?”
Koko tilted her head and mimicked my actions.
“Koko, seatbelt.”
“Okay!”
Koko nodded in response and fastened her seatbelt in the backseat.
“See? You totally don’t trust me.”
“I just can’t trust your driving skills.”
“That means, I’ll show you that you can trust my driving skills.”
Kagami said and put the car in reverse.
And then she hit the accelerator too hard, causing all of our heads to jerk forward, and we quickly lifted our feet off the pedals.
“……”
My face probably turned pale.
I seriously contemplated taking over the driving instead of Kagami. Of course, doing that would mean I’d be arrested for driving without a license, so I only thought about it.
“Do you trust me now?”
No, the moment she slammed the accelerator, how could I trust her?
But now that it was too late to say I didn’t want to go on the trip, I figured she seemed to have truly practiced driving, so all I did was nod slightly.
“Wow!”
Koko in the backseat was still throwing her hands up in excitement.
Surely, she’s not mistaking this for an amusement park ride, is she?
“Alright, then…”
Kagami, who had regained her composure, eased off the accelerator gently.
The car was moving slowly.
She turned the wheel, completely backed out, and shifted gears to go forward.
Though it was slow-moving, at least it was much more stable than before. My racing heart started to calm down a bit.
“Safety driving. Safety driving.”
As I emphasized twice, Kagami nodded.
“I’m already doing that.”
Well, if that’s the case, then I have no more words left.
At least I just hope her driving skills will improve remarkably during this trip.
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