I couldn’t understand what was written in the diary.
And in my loss of words, Miyuki stared into my face.
“Asahi…? What’s wrong with that notebook?”
It seems strange, but Miyuki asks in a somewhat worried tone.
“Nothing’s wrong! Oh? Did I perhaps remember wrong? Haha... don’t worry.”
“If something happens, don’t hesitate to tell me, ok?”
Miyuki - not entirely convinced - said so with a worried look.
I must be remembering wrong.
Changing the past and things like that don’t happen.
And as if to shake off such fleeting thoughts, I put the diary back into my bag.
◆―◆―◆
April 10
Today, we elected a class committee.
It’s the worst. I became class representative by drawing lots.
The vice prez was a girl called Takenaka or something.
It would have been easier if it was someone I know, but maybe it was lucky since she was cute. LOL
◆―◆―◆
“How nostalgic...”
I was just thinking too much about the events in the morning.
That must be it - thinking so I picked up Arata’s diary again before sleeping.
Today is page 3. The entry for April 9 seems to be flying past. That's so like Arata.
He wrote that he likes writing a diary… but why? I feel lonely thinking that, but it also feels somewhat funny.
“That’s right. In the first semester, we both worked as class committee members.”
That was the first time I recognized Arata.
I wonder why I forgot. Why did I forget?
Even though it was such an important memory.
I wonder if I should have also kept a diary.
…。If I did so, I would have remembered my memories with Arata - every single one of them.
Why did I just think of that now when there is nothing more I could do?
…Then again, I didn’t think at that time I would go out with Arata.
And lastly, I wouldn’t have thought that … that our last farewell would be like that.
Having these thoughts, I was already fast asleep before I knew it.
◆◆◆
“Ok, let’s start the homeroom—”
When I looked forward after hearing the voice ring out, there was… Tabata-sensei standing by the lectern.
(Again?...)
Once again, I was dreaming.
And again, a dream of those days in our third year middle school when Arata was still there.
(This can’t be, but today is…)
“Now then, let’s choose the committee members today... First, the class representative and the vice president.”
(I knew it…)
“We’ll decide by… drawing lots. The jackpot is the class rep, and the consolation prize is the vice president.”
The dream has the same events as what’s written in the diary…
Coincidence…? Or…
(It can’t be!)
Suddenly falling asleep after reading the diary… the events just stayed in my head.
I’m sure, that’s got to be it.
If not, then that’s so strange…
Repeating the past within my dreams...
“Next, Asahi—”
“Eh, ah Yes!”
When I came to, it was already my turn.
(If it’s like the past… then, I will draw the consolation prize…)
“Hey, uhm...!”
“Huh?”
I resolutely called out to my friend behind me - Hina.
“Um… I need to go to the restroom so will you go ahead and draw first?”
“Alright! Go before the teacher finds out.”
“Thank you.”
I quietly walked out of the classroom to the hallway so as to not be noticed.
“Haah...”
I don’t know if something will change or not…
But if I let it stay the same, I wouldn’t know when I woke up.
I want to know.
What the situation is with that diary. What really is going on...
”Oh? Uhm Takenaka-san?”
When I sat down in the hallway to think… I was called by an unexpected person.
“...”
“Hmm?”
“A, uhm… Suzuki-kun?”
In front of me… was the Arata of three years ago.
“Ah— I’m Suzuki. What are you doing here?”
“I—ah, I was...”
“Did you crouch because you suddenly feel ill? Do you want to call a teacher?”
I didn’t remember this happening.
It’s also impossible that I just forgot.
That means...
(This dream is not just reminiscing about the past.)
“Takenaka-san…?”
While Arata was worrying, I stood up in a hurry.
“Uh, no! I just went to the restroom and got back. But somehow it became hard to enter.”
When I told that reason, Arata looked surprised for a second but then smiled mischievously.
“Oh! I understand. There are times I was like that too. I often hoped ‘won’t the bell just ring?’ at times like this.”
“That’s right~! Haaah… Oh right! Suzuki-kun, how come you’re outside as well?”
“Well, that...”
“Arata, for some reason, hesitated to speak.”
“That’s strange. Didn’t he hear me?”
I became worried at Arata’s reaction but… he just grinned.
“Me too! Me too! I just suddenly wanted to go to the restroom!”
“Is… that so?! Same with me!”
I felt relieved at Arata laughing.
I was worried about his momentary downcast expression but— it was all gone now.
“Do you want to go in?”
“Yes! Let’s go!”
We were supposed to open the back door gently and creep slowly inside
The two of us entered one after the other… But our seated classmates and the grinning teacher were staring at us.
“Huh? Huuh?!”
“Welcome back, you two. There are still two lots left.”
Looks like while we were talking in the hallway the lottery to decide the class committee ended except for us.
(No way…)
“Well then, which one will be the class rep and the vice?”
Tabata-sensei seemed pleased, and our classmates were giggling.
“Aah! Fine! Let’s draw! Takenaka-san!”
Arata walked towards the lectern accepting his fate.
“Ah, yes!”
I walked after him and after readying myself also drew a lot.
And the result is…
“So with that, the class rep is Suzuki, and the vice is Takenaka! You two, we’ll be together for the 1st semester!”
I resisted but… but really nothing’s changed—the past, and the contents of the diary are set in stone.
(But, that’s to be expected, right?)
The past is the past.
It won’t change.
There’s no way it would ever change.
That’s why I became sure…
(The thing from yesterday, I’m sure that I was just mistaken.)
Because the contents of the diary were impressive, I just happened to see its contents in a dream.
It’s different from my memory because it was three years ago. So, I just forgot.
What happens in a dream is just a thing in a dream.
So, it doesn’t matter to me now.
There is no way the past can be repeated in a dream.
I felt the answer came out.
I felt like something stuck in my chest quickly disappeared.
◆◆◆
But the me of that time just didn’t notice it yet.
The past was changing
—The story was about to move.
◆―◆―◆
April 10
Today, we decided on the class committee.
When I came back from the infirmary, the draws were over.
How cruel, Tabata-sensei, to do the draws while I was away.
Furthermore, two positions were still left. How tyrannical! I can feel your malice, teach!
And so, with my strange good luck, I became class representative.
By the way, the vice president is a girl called Takenaka.
I talked to her a little in the hallway and she was very nice.
She was also kinda cute. LUCKY!
If this is the case, I think I can do my best for the first semester.
I’ll try my best not to cause trouble as much as possible.
◆―◆―◆
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