“Thank you very much, Takenaka. Even though it was just for a brief period of time, I am genuinely grateful I had the opportunity to work with you and the other individuals at that convenience store.”

I felt like my life had undergone a significant transformation. In both favorable and unfavorable ways.

“Though I have unpleasant memories and became handicapped.”

But everyone saved me, so here I was, living in this manner. Plus, I have never been so moved in my life.

Having lived for 25 years without much thought, I finally became conscious of something that I should have realized in those 25 years.

At that time of realization… I was overcome with a sense of frustration or joy… a feeling I didn’t really understand… and I couldn’t stop crying but…

I was glad to have realized it, and now I could genuinely feel it.

That I was cherished by those around me more than I believed I was.

And I, who thought I was merely existing, was a weak creature who could not survive without the support of those around me.

And now, I have matured to be able to feel gratitude for that support.

In a nutshell, what I was trying to say was that… everyone was “not alone”.

“I… am fine now.”

The experience at that convenience store wouldn’t be in vain. I would indisputably make the most of it and be the one to support them this time.

To do that, I was going to go to the people who need me first. The place… was my new employment.

“Is it officially settled?”

“No, it got complicated due to my accident… But Kinoshita was persistent, and things were somehow settled the other day, so I am just waiting to be contacted.”

“Hopefully, it will be finalized.”

“Yeah. I am quite nervous about it… I can’t wait to be contacted by him.”

“Me too…”

“Yes?”

“I suppose it’s time for me to move on, too.”

Another strong gust of wind blew, and a small tornado swept through the leaves of the trees. Takenaka’s words were clear, and this time he picked up the fallen leaves that had landed on Hyuga’s tombstone.

“I had a talk with the manager as well. The manager assured me it was okay… but I was still hesitant to take a step forward because of what happened to Suzuki… Her words haunted me, and I couldn’t envision myself moving so easily to another place when I hadn’t saved anyone in that place…”

Takenaka gazed up at the sky as he said.

“Your words led me to put an end to the feelings I had been dragging around for so long.”

[You’re only sacrificing yourself; it’s not for your own sake… I know nothing about your situation so I don’t really have the right to say this but I’m sure you have other things you’d rather be doing than being there. So why don’t you move forward with that? Nobody will voice an objection to it. You’ve already saved many people in this convenience store… it’s not as if you haven’t saved anyone because you saved my life…!!]

What Takenaka was talking about must be referring to this. It was several weeks ago when I spoke passionately in the hospital room.

“Thank you… I’ve never been thanked like that before… I was overjoyed that you told me not to try to handle things on my own, and that if I needed any advice at all… you would help me.”

Takenaka looked embarrassed as if the mask he was donning had been removed and announced, “I was then encouraged by Aoyama and Hirai. They assured me that they would protect this place and that I could proceed to the next phase. Me too. It was a pleasure to work at that convenience store and to meet so many good people. I won’t forget it, always and ever.”

“Please do your best, Takenaka… Oh, I won’t let you beat me either!”

The doctor told me to be prepared for rehabilitation, that it would be a long-term battle…

“I’ll absolutely stand and walk on these legs again. So, at that time, let’s meet again.”

“Yes… certainly.”

Takenaka and I exchanged firm handshakes and shared a laugh.

We were both leaving for new places, but this would not be the last time, and we would not return to being strangers. As fellow night-shift workers, our connection to each other would continue. And not only Takenaka―“Hakamada! Takenaka! The bus will be here soon!”

“It’s fine to be laid back, but you’ll be left behind. Even though it’s a ‘Hakamada’s discharge celebration and send-off party,’ it’s a problem if the star of the show isn’t there.”

On the concrete stairs, Hirai and Aoyama came down to call us.

“―Hakamada! By the way, have you decided what you want to eat? Japanese food? Chinese? They have Italian food too! What do you want?”

The manager was shouting loudly above us while wavinghis hands.

“Yes! We’re on our way!” I replied while Takenaka helped me push my wheelchair.

“You two! Hurry up, come on!”

Hirai stood next to the two of us in her lavender cardigan, her breasts jiggling in her flouncy innerwear. Her innocent, fluffy smile was shining brilliantly today.

Yeah… personally, I might miss this loli face and body that disturbed me… not just a little but a lot.

“Didn’t I say―I told you not to use sex appeal.”

“Hie!!”

Ayame glared at me.

Takenaka chuckled as I shrieked in surprise. It was a little sad to say goodbye to this interaction for a while.

“What’s wrong? Hakamada?”

“No, it’s nothing. In fact, I’m sorry (that I only looked at your chest) until the end.”

When I apologized with my face tense, Hirai had a question mark on her head.

“I’m going to miss seeing Hirai and Aoyama.”

“…! Hakamada!”

To prevent Ayame from coming out again, I chose my words carefully, and Hirai’s large eyes became moist.

“Ugh, me too! Me too! I will miss you, too!”

“Whoa!”

“Furthermore, Takenaka is leaving too, I’m going to miss you two so much.”

Hirai hugged us with a sniffle. Hirai…

“This… I… neither of us can withstand it.”

P-Please don’t make that kind of face. It wasn’t like I was flying overseas, and we could always meet up if we wanted to. Let’s get in touch again and have a dinner party together.

She looked so sad that I patted her on the head and tried to tell her so.

“Then what’s going to happen at next year’s Comiket―!?”

“That’s what you are worried about―!!”

I nearly fell out of the wheelchair.

“That was close.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m not at all okay. There are so many other situations I want to draw!!”

“Hirai, please free us from that path… this is a good opportunity.”

Takenaka shook his head.

“Ugh… you’re right. It’s not fair to send you off like this… I’m sorry, both of you, for being so selfish…”

“Oh, no, no.”

“It’s us who will be inconveniencing the newcomers until they get used to it…”Hirai moved her body apart and sniffed, which was adorable, but her line of thinking was so far beyond my imagination that I couldn’t really comfort her in any way.

“No, it’s okay…It’s so frustrating but I’ll put up with it… I’m going to do the recording for the original drama CD.”

…What kind of horrifying product did this person intend to sell at… the next Comiket! Seriously!!

“Ah! But I’ll hand you the script if you’re willing to help me with a separate shot, just read the dialogue that seems to be in it in a sexy way―”

[[No thanks.]]

It was a 120% synchronized humor.

“Well, you really can’t keep on pouting about it forever, you know. As the ‘Second Guardian God’, you see.”

Rubbing her eyes and slapping her face a few times with her hand, Hirai looked crisp and clear.

“But I must admit, I’ll miss you badly when you leave. Hakamada is right, if we want to see each other, we can easily meet nowadays… I know I’m a fujoshi but will you meet up with me again?”

Being told this, we nodded at the same time.

“Of course.”

“But I’d appreciate it if you could spare us the fujoshi talk at that time.”

When I said that, Hirai stuck out her tongue and laughed, saying, “That’s my character, so I don’t think I can do that. Leave the convenience store to me and Aoyama.”

“Don’t worry about anything… But now we have to speed things up a bit.”

“Aoyama…!”

As we were taking our time, Aoyama came to pick us up.

“There you go. The injured should be carried away in silence.”

Aoyama, with his muscles bulging in both arms, effortlessly lifted me up by the wheelchair.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Aoyama, even though I’m heavy.”

“Haha, will you repay me by giving me a kiss on the cheek?”

“No.”

“I’m just kidding, don’t make such a serious face, Hakamada, you’re so cute.”

“Hirai, instead of me and Takenaka, how about you draw Aoyama and the manager next time?”

“No, that’s not moe,” She responded with a straight face. On top of that, it was an immediate response.

At the back, Takenaka was gasping, and that was to be expected.

“What’s burning?”[i]

“Oh, nothing.”

“Oh, but, but! Hakamada, if you’re going to be the universal bottom, it might be moe…!”magic

“Wait, what do you mean by universal bottom―!?”

“What are you guys talking about?”

“I don’t know.”

When we were fussing and fussing, the bus was about to arrive. The manager hurriedly called the four of us.

T/N:

[i] It has the same pronunciation as moe in Japanese

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