「…I became class rep again. And Kura-sen’s immediately pushed something troublesome onto me.」
I sat down next to Asu-nee and explained the Yamazaki Kenta-kun situation.
「As imperfectly perfect as always, aren’t you? Like a clean park where you can’t play with fireworks.」
「That’s a very roundabout way of putting it. Don’t you think it’s better for the park to be clean?」
「I’m sure that in that park, you wouldn’t be allowed to play ball or walk your dog either. The playground equipment, which could cause injuries, would have also been removed. No children around. Just sober adults, reading with sober faces.」
「…That would indeed be quite the boring place.」
「If that’s what you think, then you just need to change the rules. That’s all it takes to make the clean park a fun playground.」
「It’s hard to change rules once they’re made.」
「Do you think so? Pull out the warning signs that are currently there. That’s all you have to do.」
「We live in a world full of complaints. The moment a problem occurs, you’d be quickly made an example of.」
Asu-nee closed the paperback and put it away in her leather school bag, and then with a「Yo-」, stood up. After staring at the flow of the river for a while, she turned around and peered at my face.
「For example, if both the girl you’re closest to in class and myself were drowning, who would you save? It doesn’t matter if it’s the ocean or a big river, but you’re frantically paddling your bright red kayak. However, the kayak only fits two people.」
「Couldn’t one person just cling to the kayak…?」
「Well, let’s assume that there are bloodthirsty sharks, piranhas, and crocodiles in the water!」
Asu-nee pouted her lips, holding up her index finger as if admonishing a child.
「I wouldn’t have the confidence to paddle to such a dangerous place, you know.」
As if to say that she didn’t hear whatever I said, Asu-nee continued.
「If it was me, I wouldn’t hesitate to save you. After all, I like you more than I like the boy I’m closest to in class.」
「…And what about that boy you’re closest to?」
I returned the words, inwardly my heart skipping a beat. However, without a doubt, this ‘like’ was not that kind of ‘like’.
「Well, of course I’d pray for him. Something like, ‘at least, may a shark or crocodile swiftly eat him without a second thought’. Doesn’t it seem like it’d be painful to be gnawed at by piranhas, bit by bit?」
Perhaps imagining the scene, she grimaced broadly as she spoke.
「Although, if you were drowning with a cat, maybe I’d save the cat.」
「I’ll make sure to hold the cat so it doesn’t fall, so please let me get on board!!」
「…I’m sure that you wouldn’t choose between either of us, right?」
Asu-nee crouched down in front of me, holding her knees, and looked straight at me.
「You’d say, ‘I’ll be fine, so both of you get on instead’. Believing that to be the most beautiful correct answer.」
「As if. Even I don’t want to be gnawed at by piranhas.」
「And then, as your little toe or earlobe gets gnawed off, you’d think to yourself.」
「Of all places, you chose the really painful ones, didn’t ya?」
It kind of felt like she was striking a sore spot, so I tried to dodge, but she continued to say what she wanted to say, as if my words didn’t bother her in the least.
「…『This is who Chitose Saku is』.」
See? …I thought so.
Asu-nee retrieved her school bag from beside me and slung it over her shoulders. It felt unsatisfactory, but apparently that was the end of the story.
「So, what kind of meaning did that story have?」
「Meaning? No meaning whatsoever. I just said it because it came to mind. Buf if I had to add one… apparently piranhas are edible, so if by chance you were to return safely, we should give it a go!」
「With piranhas hanging all over my body? Am I such an appetizing live bait?」
learning... please hold... 