Soul for a Girlfriend?

Chapter 152 - Red Dahlias In Her Hands

It was the start of the week, and Nee-chan also left for her university yesterday. Even though I only got to spend two days with her, that period of time was indeed enjoyable.

Whenever she came to visit me, I never once thought about how my parents might be doing since the feeling of not caring was mutual from both the sides.

Did I ever wonder how they might be doing? The answer was a simple, No. I know they don't really care about me since all they do is send me money monthly, but till this date, they never for even once have asked how I was doing. Well, it didn't particularly bother me, so I couldn't think less about pesterous stuff like that.

Lilith also discussed this while Nee-chan was there but I didn't actually give her any proper answer, but it didn't matter since she can read my mind, anyway. It's just that since Nee-chan was there, I couldn't afford to blow our cover like that.

Though, for the few days she lived with me, Lilith and she grew quite comfortable with each other, so that was a surprise for me. And I was sure that Nee-chan could tell what me and Lilith were showing was fake, but she didn't say it out loud.

Also, I had planned to talk with Naoto that day about something, which I decided not to stir up when we were in the infirmary after her accident. I was hoping that she was present since it's already been three days since that incident, so she has gotten at least the amount of rest needed to walk again.

My interaction with the supposedly friends I made from the kendo club decreased a lot over the course of last week since I was busy with something else. Gaisen and Kizhashi both were acting weird around me for some reason.

I glanced around at Ts?men, who was busy flipping Kana off as they were probably playing some kind of a dumb game of roasting each other with hand signs. To be honest, it seemed like they shared the same brain cell for a moment.

I sighed and looked down at the silver medal clenched between my fist. It was Monday, so we already had our prize distribution ceremony in the morning. I got a medal after quite a few years.

From our class only a few people got medals, which included me and Tsumen, as he had this gold medal from the archery event. Kizhashi and Gaisen also got a bronze one but since Kizhashi was excited about it so Gaisen gave it to her.

What was weird was the fact that three people in my friend's circle got medals. This was one heck of a coincidence if I were to say so. Sometimes I feel as if someone else is controlling and actions and they already know about all the events that would occur in my life.

"Ayo Sakamaki! Good job at the festival man!" I heard one of my classmates' voice call over to me. Ever since my performance at the sports festival, I've been getting a few of these compliments.

It was a free period after lunchtime, so rather than doing my pending physics homework about rotational vectors, I decided to talk with the girl I apparently professed my attraction for.

I walked into the club and noticed that it was back to how it used to be before the festival. Those empty halls, the unorganised racks, and kendo sticks laying around like tree branches. 

Making a creaking noise as I walked over the wooden floors, I headed towards the main room. The hallways were dim as there was no light, and the club was silent since there was no one inside.

For a moment, the thought of returning back came to my mind, but I noticed a beam of light glistening through the narrow gap between the door, which slid open slightly as if someone forgot to shut it completely. There was a room at the end of the hallway, which basically led to the posterior of the clubhouse.

I headed up to that door and slid it open to notice the figure of Naoto sitting alone on a wooden step with her back turned towards me. Her dark coloured hair left open as they were flowing with a gentle tug of the breeze.

Listening to my footsteps, she slightly turned her head towards me and looked at me with a side glance. Her dark coloured orbs, shining in the sunlight, as she just let out a heavy breath.

One of her legs stretched out straight in front of her with a pink-coloured crepe bandage on it

Walking a bit closer, I noticed a small ginger coloured cat lying on her lap, curled like a cotton ball. It seems like the cat was sound asleep, but it was really cute.

We didn't say a word, as both kept staring into the empty lawn in front of us with nothing but periodical chirping of birds and sound of wind blowing by.

To break the silence between us, I asked, "How's your leg… Senpai?"

Her hand, which was gently caressing the cat, stopped for a subtle moment as her eyes shifted towards me and with a serious smile, she said, "It's good… I mean I can at least walk now."

I gave her a slight nod, and with a chuckle I said, "Now? You could've walked that day too…"

Her eyes narrowed, and a frown formed on her face, as she was clearly confused by what I just said. In her calm and polite voice, she asked me to repeat, "Sorry?"

The expression on her face wasn't that of mere confusion, but rather it was an overwhelming surprise that she was having trouble to comprehend. Her eyes widened up and her shoulders became stiff.

I walked up to her front and looked at her face, as I pointed towards her injured leg and said, "After all… your ankle never actually sprained, did it?"