Chapter 27: CH 27

Chapter 27: Saturday

“It’s hard to play…I can’t play it…” (Hiroto)

“Yes, you’re right, you do make mistakes in the same places. Your father will play it for you, so watch his movements carefully.”

“Wow! Dad is amazing!” (Hiroto)

I still can’t play well…

Dad… I still make mistakes in the same places…

I haven’t touched the piano since that day, so it’s been seven years since I played it…

My mom was so heartbroken… it was a difficult time.

It was sudden… We moved within a few days after that, and even after we came to Saijo City, where my grandpa lived, my mom was still in a terrible state. Even now, she doesn’t talk about the city where she spent time with my dad. I never talked about it… no… I couldn’t talk about it. I couldn’t even ask my mother about Haruka-chan…

The next time I talk to Toru-san, I’ll ask him if I could ask my mom about Haruka.

On Saturday, I headed to my scheduled club practice.

“Takuma, try it out. Just throw it straight.” (Hiroto)

“Yeah! How about that? Was that good?” (Takuma)

“Don’t make any weird noises while throwing it… maybe that’s why your body is so stiff. Come here. ” (Hiroto)

I stood beside Takuma and told him how to use his lower body and his glove arm.

“Alright, how about now?” (Takuma)

“Yeah, yeah. It’s getting better. Now you just need to solidify your form with shadow pitching.” (Hiroto)

“Woo! I think I’m getting the hang of it. Lord Takuma will be the new ace!” (Takuma)

Takuma’s been making a lot of noise at practice. Hopefully he can improve his pitching.

The seniors were also getting better. And… I want to pitch as well…

“Hiroto. It’s no good.” (Yoichiro)

Yoichiro saw the ball in my hand.

“I know, but it makes me want to throw. I think it’s best if I don’t show my face until rehab is over. Just let me know if you need me like you did today.” (Hiroto)

I told the manager about the improvement of their pitching and left the field after greeting everyone.

As I was getting ready to leave, I noticed that my phone was vibrating.

There was a message from Takahashi-san.

The message seemed to have been written in a hurry. I couldn’t make out what it meant so I decided to give her a call to confirm.

“Hello! Yoshizumi-kun!” (Takahashi)

“Takahashi-san. What’s the matter? Are you in a hurry?”

“We don’t have enough questionnaires! Do you have one, Yoshizumi-kun?”

“Hold on. I’ll check my bag.”

Not that… not this either… oh!

Classmate votes… ah! Here it is!

“It’s due as soon as I get to school on Monday. Where are you now, Yoshizumi-kun?”

“I’m at school. I’m sorry, Takahashi-san. I’m leaving now and I’ll bring it with me. Where should I go?”

“Meet me at Saijo Station, call me when you arrive!”

The phone went dead with a ding. I’m sorry for what I did, I was afraid that Takahashi-san was angry. I shouldn’t keep her waiting.

It’s a good thing I wasn’t wearing a uniform because I was only teaching.

Arriving at Saijo Station, I sent a message to Takahashi-san . She immediately informed me that she would be arriving in about 20 minutes.

Well, I guess I’ll just wait at the ticket station.

After waiting for about 10 minutes, the train arrived and many people got off, more than half of them heading for the shopping mall. Among them, I saw Aizawa and her friends in their school uniforms. They seemed to be on their way to school. Our eyes met and she seemed to have noticed me.

“Huh? Yoshizumi-kun. What are you doing here?” (Haruka)

“Eh? Um… Haruka?” (Aya)

“I’m meeting someone. I’m actually a member of the festival committee, but I forgot to give you the paperwork I had to submit on Monday and they said they were coming to get it, so I’m currently waiting. Aizawa-san, are you going to do club activities now?” (Hiroto)

“Ummm… Haruka-chan?” (Aya)

“Yes, it’s a club activity. I guess Yoshizumi-kun also forgets things from time to time.” (Haruka)

“Haha. Of course, what image did you have of me?” (Hiroto)

“Haruka-chan… are you listening?” (Aya)

“Oh, Aya-chan. What’s wrong?” (Haruka)

“What’s wrong? This person… who is this…?” (Aya)

Aizawa-san’s friend asked me while giving me a look as if she had discovered a rare animal. I guess I should introduce myself, though.

“Sorry for intruding, you were on your way to school, right? I’m Hiroto Yoshizumi. We met at the hospital where Aizawa-san’s grandmother was hospitalized.”

“Ah…yes… my name is Nishikawa.” (Aya)

I answered her… but she didn’t seem to be listening. She seemed to be looking somewhere else..?

As I was greeting her, I heard a voice behind me.

“Sorry, did I make you wait long?” (Takahashi)

“Oh, Takahashi-san, it’s okay. I should be the one apologizing.” (Hiroto)

“No worries. Um… do you three know each other?”

“Yes, I met them by chance. This is Aizawa-san, and the other one is… Nishikawa-san?”

“Hello. I’m Aizawa.” (Haruka)

Aizawa-san was bowing and greeting, and she looked beautiful. By the way, Nishikawa-san did not reply. I knew she was a strange girl…

“She’s Takahashi-san, we’re from the same school.” (Hiroto)

“Hello. Yoshizumi-kun, can we go now? I want to do it as soon as possible.”

Takahashi-san… I knew she was angry.

“Well, we’re off. I’m sorry for stopping you, Nishikawa-san. See you later, Aizawa-san.” (Hiroto)

“Yeah. See you later, Yoshizumi-kun.” (Haruka)

Aizawa-san waved her hand adorably, so I responded by raising my hand lightly too, and moved on with Takahashi-san.

TLN: Switches to Haruka’s perspective for the last part.

“Aya-chan. We’ll go too.” (Haruka)

“Haruka?… What’s going on?” (Aya)

“What? It’s just as Yoshizumi-kun said.”

“Haruka… explain in detail.”

“Aya-chan, I really don’t know what you are talking about.”

We turned their heads and headed for school, Aya-chan seemed excited all of a sudden.

The only thing I told Aya-chan was that Yoshizumi-kun, who was in the hospital, was sharing a room with my grandmother.

Aya-chan is quite talkative, so it might be best to not say too much. By the way… why is she grinning at me…