Epilogue
It was a holiday at “Miss Me Blind”.
The cafe was, as usual, a resting place for the elderly, but today, there was a rare sight: a pair of high school girls.
Minase Mishio and Koreeda Murasakiko.
The two of them were sitting at one of the tables, chatting happily over coffee. It was, ironically, the same table where Minase had her discussion with the drama club seniors. Although Minase herself probably felt no particular connection to the spot.
At that time, Minase had cut off her path to returning to the club.
And just the other day, I had clearly told Kuki that I wouldn’t be returning to the soccer club. He had simply said, “I see. Got it,” with a refreshing smile.
Looking back now, I realized I had been saved by Kuki’s passion. The thought that I was still a needed person, that there was a place that would welcome me back, was a source of comfort for my broken spirit. I had to thank him for that.
But I wouldn’t go back there.
Because I had found another place I wanted to cherish.
“Waiter!”
A voice suddenly rang out in the cafe. It was Minase. She was waving her hand to get attention.
“She’s calling you, Misumi-senpai.”
“You know she’s calling you, though.”
Misumi-senpai said, pushing the request away coldly. Since Minase only said, “Waiter,” didn’t that mean she was included, too? But that was probably just sophistry.
“Wait. Take this with you.”
Misumi-senpai called me back just as I was about to head to the table where the two were waiting.
What she handed me was a pot of coffee. It seemed I was supposed to pour them a refill.
“Thank you.”
I took it and headed for the table.
“What’s up?”
I asked, looking at their cups. Minase’s was empty, so I poured her a refill without asking if she wanted one.
“Thanks!”
Minase thanked me innocently.
I looked at Yukari’s cup. There was still a little left.
“Yukari?”
“Thank you. But I’m fine.”
Since it was time for disposal, I wished she would drink it. I guess I’d take it later.
“So?”
I asked what they needed with just a single word.
“Oh, right. Koreeda-san said she’ll join the “Quit-Club Alliance”.”
“Hey, don’t drag her into this.”
Yukari wasn’t so bored that she would join this weird alliance.
“Oh, I don’t mind. In fact, I thought I was already a member.”
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, we had talked about it when we watched the all-night drama marathon the other day. The criteria for membership in this three-person alliance were already incredibly lax.
“So, what exactly do we do?”
“I don’t really know.”
We had agreed to do things that people who weren’t in a club could do.
“Um, like going out for salt ramen for dinner, or suddenly going to the convenience store for coffee at night?”
Minase listed the things we had actually done, but a question mark was at the end of her sentence, as if she realized something was strange.
“That’s not a very welcoming alliance for new members. ...I can’t just drop everything and go out at night if you call me.”
Yukari said in a cold tone. All I could say was, “I know, right?”
“To be honest, it relies heavily on the environment and the geographical advantage.”
“When you live in the same apartment building, you can do anything on a whim. Like visiting each other’s apartments.”
“Anyway!”
Yukari cut off Minase’s words with a forceful tone.
“Think of something that I can participate in, too.”
Her firm voice sounded almost angry.
“Oh, right. I’m thinking of going to the pool or the beach this summer. How about you join us, Koreeda-san?”
“You have plans for that?”
Yukari asked back.
“Is Sakura going, too?”
“Of course.”
“No, I’m not going.”
If both Minase and Yukari were going, it would be too much for me. It would definitely be a last-minute cancellation due to sudden illness.
“Then I’ll go, too. I’ll have to prepare a swimsuit, then.”
“The one with the deepest cut on the chest would be best. Sakura likes those.”
“I never said anything like that!”
Wait, they were completely ignoring me as they talked. Was I okay? Could they even see me? Was I actually dead?
Yukari casually pinched the neckline of her simple yet elegant cut-and-sew top with her fingers.
“That’s news to me. I wonder if I should have worn clothes like that today, then.”
I choked.
Yukari looked up at me, tilting her head.
“N-No, it’s nothing.”
I quickly covered it up.
There was no way I could tell her. Since Yukari was pulling the neckline of her shirt without any caution, I, who was standing, could see her cleavage.
“I-I’m going back to work.”
I turned on my heel and fled the table.
I returned to the counter and looked back. Minase and Yukari were smiling and waving. Their mouths were moving, saying, “Good luck with work.” I raised a hand in response.
I guessed this was the view that greeted my eyes as I took a new step forward.
I felt like going to see the friends I used to play with as a kid.
Some I had met since coming back, and some I hadn’t. If they found out I came back to play soccer and quit immediately, they would probably laugh and ask, “What did you come back for?” But now, I felt like I could laugh with them.
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