{Next to Satou-san}

The second train we transferred to was empty, so we were able to sit next to each other.

The train we got on immediately after leaving the airport was terribly crowded, so both Satou-san and I were doing our best not to be separated from each other.

When we got on the second train, we both sighed in relief.

Inside the rumbling train, lights streaked by as if flying.

Outside the window, the pitch-black world of night stretched out, and I could see Satou-san’s reflection. I thought I caught a glimpse of her slightly smiling mouth.

I remained silent. I had so much to say, but I wasn’t sure if it was okay to speak up. There had been so many events today that organizing my thoughts was challenging.

“Well, you see…”

Satou-san suddenly spoke up.

When I shifted my gaze to my right, I found her with a wry smile.

“I tried calling earlier. To that person.”

“Huh?”

She immediately shook her head.

“No, it’s not that. I was thinking of saying, ‘I can’t wait any longer, so I’m going home.’”

“…I see.”

“Yeah. But I couldn’t get through.”

Her casually spoken words caused a slight pang in my chest.

So she couldn’t get through. I see.

“I thought… maybe that person had come after all.”

Satou-san said this, but there was no way to verify it. Her anxiety remained unresolved and dissipated in a different form. Her words made me think that it was already in the past.

I couldn’t say anything. I had no words.

I just stared at Satou-san, who was sitting next to me.

Satou-san smiled shyly and looked down at her feet.

“Yamaguchi-kun, you really are amazing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Everything. I think you can do anything. You helped me again today.”

“Well, that’s…”

I was at a loss. Since Satou-san seemed genuinely impressed, it made me feel even more awkward.

“I’ve always admired you, Yamaguchi-kun. I wanted to be like you.”

“Eh… why?”

Her unexpected confession left me even more flustered.

“Because you can do anything. And you don’t seem to be struggling at all. You handle everything so smoothly, think seriously about various things, and not only are you kind, but you also give your true opinions. I really think you’re admirable. I want to be like you.”

You’re overestimating me. I was so embarrassed that I almost wanted to laugh.

It’s not really like that. I’m not like that at all. I’m not such an admirable person.

“That’s why I thought you seemed like someone from another world.”

Satou-san said this with a sense of realization, making me shrink a bit.

“It’s not like that. I’m not as special as you think.”

After all, I couldn’t be someone from another world.

I’ve always been right next to you.

Whether in the classroom or now on this train, I am right here, right next to you, .

“In fact, I think I’m quite a terrible person.”

I said this suddenly.

Satou-san looked surprised when she raised her face.

“Why? That’s not true at all.”

“No, really. I never think about people who don’t matter to me. I don’t want to do anything for people who don’t mean much to me; I have always had this mindset.”

At first, I thought about Satou-san in the same way.

When we ended up sitting next to each other, I couldn’t even be happy about it. I selfishly wished for someone cuter and more interesting to be next to me.

But when did it change?

I started thinking about Satou-san, and then only about Satou-san. Before I knew it, I had developed feelings for her. I was drawn to her.

The me from a while ago wouldn’t believe it. He would wonder why I would choose Satou-san from all the girls in the class

But before I knew it, I was attracted at a terrifying speed. Now, it seems like the me who didn’t notice Satou-san’s cuteness before was the one who was strange.

“I’m so selfish that I only want to be helpful to the one I like,” I said.

“Only to the one I really like. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have gone to the airport today.”

This isn’t something I could say lightly.

Satou-san looked puzzled.

She’s originally not very perceptive. She’s slow and dull. I hadn’t planned to say it today, but it seemed like I was being forced to state it clearly.

Well, since it’s come to this, I might as well think of it as a push from behind.

I looked into Satou-san’s blinking, swollen eyes and said the final words.

“I’ve been silent for a long time, but I like you, Satou-san.”

Satou-san stopped blinking.

Instead, she opened her eyes wide.

Then, her cheeks flushed, and she opened her mouth in surprise.

“Huh? Yamaguchi-kun, what are you saying?”

She asked back in a flustered manner.

Would she not understand unless I repeated it over and over? Do I need to break it down and explain it more clearly? I was embarrassed to go that far, but this is really troublesome.

“I like you, Satou-san.”

I said clearly amidst the noise of the train.

Our gazes met right next to each other. Her expression showed confusion. I probably looked similar.

“I actually thought about causing trouble today. I went to the airport with half that intention. I couldn’t do it, but I ended up doing something similar.”

“Eh… but, Yamaguchi-kun, are you serious?”

Since she asked for confirmation herself, I was unsure how to react.

“I’m serious. Have you not noticed it?”

“Uh, not really…”

I thought so. I had a habit of hiding my true feelings. I was quite good at concealing them.

But since I couldn’t keep hiding them, it wasn’t really that admirable.

“But, Yamaguchi-kun, you’re strange.”

Satou-san turned red and made a troubled face.

But I was the one troubled.

“Strange? Why?”

“Because it’s really strange. It’s like we’re not on the same level, and someone like you… absolutely strange. The fact that you like me, that’s…”

“That’s a rude thing to say.”

So I awkwardly smiled and then quietly added,

“In times like this, it would be nice if you could just nod and affirm everything I say.”

Satou-san, sitting next to me, fell silent as if startled.

The train shook, and our shoulders tensed.

The interior was quiet. It was empty. Only the sound of the train rattling echoed.

After taking a deep breath, I said.

“I like you, Satou-san.”

“…Yeah.”

Satou-san nodded next to me.

“I’m not from another world. I’m right next to you, see?”

“Yeah.”

She nodded again.

“So, if possible, could you let me keep liking you like this?”

“Yeah.”

She nodded once more.

Her very straightforward reaction made me smile a little and say something I hadn’t planned.

“And, even if it’s not right away, if you could come to like me, I’d be happy.”

I wanted to say immediately, but I knew that was unrealistic, so if it could happen sometime in the future.

It’s fine, I would wait until Satou-san feels the same way.

“Yeah.”

Satou-san nodded sincerely.

With a serious face, she gave the biggest nod.

But this is Satou-san we’re talking about. She might just be accepting my words as they are and affirming them without really understanding.

After all, it’s Satou-san.

From now on, I want to be next to her. Even if she doesn’t quite get it, I want to repeatedly express my feelings and one day make her feelings turn towards me. I want to make her look only at me.

Satou-san is the one who told me I could do anything.

Thanks to her, I don’t feel like it’s impossible at all.