Novel Bin
Chapter 426
Chapter 426. [America's Last Day]
When I turned around, a delinquent was standing there. My body instinctively tensed up in alarm.
《Pyehh!? W-w-what!? Did you come to get revenge on me or something!?》
After that whole incident, he’d been taken away and suspended, but apparently, he’d been allowed back. I shielded my bag with my favorite merch and hissed at him like a cat.
《Iroha... Nyaaan— Wait, are you trying to act cute? W-well? Honestly, I don’t think I did anything wrong...》
《Aww, Iroha-chan’s so cute~! Are you imitating a kitty?》
《What the heck are you two even seeing right now!?》
Even though someone I’d once considered an enemy was right in front of me, both Shiten’ou and the girls were acting weirdly carefree. Like, hello? I’m radiating hostility here, and nobody’s picking up on it...
《I-I won’t let you hurt my merch again!》
Well, last time, it turned out to be a fake anyway.Learning from that experience, I immediately tried to call for help...
《It’s probably fine. As far as I know, he hasn’t done anything bad since that incident.》
《...I can’t believe that. And even if it’s true, that doesn’t mean I can just forgive what he did in the past.》
《Iroha, that’s—》
《Enough!...... Stop. I didn’t come here for that crap anyway.》
While I’d been away from high school, it seemed like a lot had happened between them. The way Shiten’ou was defending the delinquent, the delinquent’s attitude... It was all kinda surprising.
《Today, I just came to give you this.》
《Huh, this is...!?》
What the delinquent held out was a plushie.
Don’t tell me he...
《I really screwed up back then. I don’t expect you to forgive me. So, this is just... closure. If you don’t want it, you can throw it away. I dunno if it’ll make up for that doll, but it’s from that anime......》
《—WROOOOONG!!!!Ugh!!!!》
《Wha!? The hell’s your problem, yelling all of a sudden!?》
The delinquent looked confused, taking a step back.
Beside him, Shiten’ou sighed. 《Ugh... here we go.》
I knew it!
I thought ‘maybe’—but this guy doesn’t understand VTubers AT ALL!
《No, no! Completely wrong! Listen up, okay?—VTubers aren’t anime characters!》
《Huh?.............. Aren’t they kinda the same? I tried to get one that looked close.》
《I said! They’re! Not! The same!!!》
I stomped toward him, closing the distance.
Any wariness I’d felt toward him earlier had completely vanished from my mind.
《Sure, VTuber merch is hard to find in America! But that’s no excuse for buying the wrong thing! How could you not tell the difference!?》
《...Oi, what the hell’s gotten into this guy? What’s he even talking about?》
The delinquent shot Shiten’ou a pleading look.
He just held his head in his hands, muttering, 《Here we go again...》 Again? What do you mean, again?
《Well, if that’s how it is, I’ll just have to educate you! There are more places selling VTuber merch in America now! C’mon, let’s go! If you really wanna apologize, buy the right thing this time!》
《............So, does this mean I’m forgiven or what?》
《Hey, you! Don’t get the wrong idea! Iroha’s just like this with everyone!》
《Whatever...... Huh. So, guess I’m not that different from you after all.》
《Wha!? Oi, you!? Don’t tell me you’re actually......!?》
《Welp, guess I got asked out on a date. See ya.》
《WRONG!? When did Iroha say it’d be just the two of you!? I’m coming too!》
《W-wait!? I wanna come too~!?》
And so, on the last afternoon of my high school life, I went out with friends from school for the first time.
The four of us wandered around, gushed about our favorites, and in the end, he bought me a plushie...
...though I couldn’t resist buying like ten more myself.
Then we went our separate ways.
Maybe someday, somewhere, our paths will cross again.
We’d already exchanged contact info.
And I’ve already learned that the world is vast... but also, surprisingly small—
***
Later, after finishing preparations for the move............
The house I’d grown so familiar with now stood empty, eerily quiet.
We sat side by side on the usual couch.
Cardboard boxes were stacked around the room.
Our life here ends today.
Her voice sounded like she was on the verge of tears.
《.........Tonight’s the last night we’ll spend together in this house.》
《......Yeah.》
I leaned my head against Angu Ogu’s shoulder.
She leaned back against me in return.
Tomorrow, even this couch we’re sitting on will be carried out with the rest of our things.
She said she’s planning to move out of this apartment entirely—nothing will remain.
《......Iroha, it’s time for bed.》
《......Yeah.》
We’d already shared America’s last supper, taken a bath together, and now all that was left was to sleep.
But neither of us moved.
As if clinging to these final moments.
As if wishing this now could last just a little longer.
But we couldn’t stay like this forever.
Angu Ogu spoke up, resolute.
《Well then, Iroha...... it’s about time.》
《...Yeah.》
Her gaze was fixed on the Advent calendar.
Only one door remained.
My heart ached with tension, my palms damp with sweat——.
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