Chapter 47

Morning, 6:30 AM.

Bathed in sunlight just before it got too hot, I was taking my daily walk in the neighborhood park.

Before my accident made it impossible to run, I used to wake up even earlier for self-training, so it was a matter of habit, keeping my instincts sharp, or perhaps a form of mental rehabilitation.

“Fuaah…”

A huge yawn.

The mornings were quiet and nice.

Since this park was along the path to Shinme High School, this time of day was the absolute best.

That must be the privilege of getting into a nearby high school through a recommendation.

“What should I do…?”

I sat down on a bench and looked up at the blue sky.

It wasn’t quite a completely cloudless clear sky, but it was a pleasant blue one.

Though I spent every day having fun, I had worries just like anyone else.

Well, maybe mine were a rather unique case.

And on top of that, they had a time limit.

The longer I put it off, the more troublesome it would get.

Being alone always led to me constantly thinking about this.

My thoughts of spiraling into negativity were always rescued by Yuzu senpai.

I couldn’t thank her enough.

Yet, Yuzu senpai was also deeply tied to the seed of those worries.

Well, that was just how I chose to look at it, though…

Teloring!

“Hm?”

Right as I was about to fall into that inescapable loop of worries, the smartphone in my pocket rang.

Yuzu-yuzu: ‘Are you awake?’

“Dzaa!?”

I let out a weird voice and almost dropped my smartphone.

This account name was unquestionably a message from Yuzu senpai!

Worries with no answers could wait, later, later!

Kakeru: ‘Yes! Good morning!’

An uninteresting account name that was naturally mine.

Should I change mine to Kakekake like Yuzu senpai?

…That just sounds creepy, though.

Yuzu-yuzu: ‘Sorry for bothering you so early in the morning.’

Kakeru: ‘Not at all, I was out for a walk so I’m fine.’

Yuzu-yuzu: ‘…A walk?’

Why was she this cute just through a message?

Yuzu-yuzu: ‘I’m not a morning person, so that’s amazing.’

I know.

I knew painfully well what happened when she was half-asleep.

Yuzu-yuzu: ‘Would you, um, like to talk?’

“Heeah!?”

I made a weird voice again.

W-W-When she says talk, could it be, is it a phone call!?

Prr-prr-prr-prr-prr-prr-prr.

It started ringing with zero hesitation before I could even reply!?

I had to pick up, but my mental preparation was—!

“H-Hello, good morning!”

“…H-Hello.”

Hiiin!

Yuzu senpai’s voice was right next to my ear!

Thank you, whoever invented smartphones!

“G-Good morning! W-What’s wrong?”

“Y-Yeah, good morning. I-Um… I have a favor to ask.”

Yuzu senpai asking a favor of me, early in the morning!?

“What is it?! I’ll listen to anything senpai asks!”

“N-No, it’s not anything that grand, but…”

This was bad, I might have gotten a bit too hyped up.

It’s still morning, me.

“Well, um… Ugh…”

Through the smartphone, this voice felt like a foul.

“Um, it’s a bit hard to say, but…”

“Y-Yes…”

“Y-Yesterday… You called me by my name, right?”

I called her, I called her a lot.

I called her name and chanted how cute she was over and over.

…Contacting me at this hour meant I probably went way too overboard, didn’t it!?

“I-If possible… I’d like us to keep it a secret just between the club room…”

A secret?

A secret… just between me and Yuzu senpai?

“W-Well… if someone else hears it, it’s e-embarrassing…”

A wonderful morning, having someone whisper about being embarrassed right in your ear.

An overdose of cuteness starting right in the morning.

“…Is… is that okay?”

“Y-Yes, absolutely! You mean it’s a secret just between the two of us, right!?”

“Fueh!? U-Um, yeah… Th-Th-That’s right.”

Sharing a secret with Yuzu senpai… This is the best!

“Leave it to me! No matter what happens, I won’t say Yuzu senpai’s name outside!”

“Y-You’re saying it right now…!”

“Ah! I’m sorry…”

“Jeez…”

Just a “Jeez…” was enough to make my ears happy.

“Sorry for suddenly calling you out of nowhere.”

“No! I’m just happy to hear Yuzu senpai’s cute voice first thing in the morning!”

“Clatter! Crash! Rattle!”

“Y-Yuzu senpai!?”

An incredible sound came through the smartphone.

“…I-I’m a little nervous, maybe.”

“Eeeh!? Wait, are you okay!? That sounded like a huge crash!”

“…Y-Yeah. It wasn’t… that bad, you know?”

It was definitely a bad enough sound, though.

“Ah, sorry, I need to go change soon…”

“Wh—!?”

“W-What’s wrong?”

“N-No! N-Nothing, a bug flew by…”

“T-That sounds scary…”

I couldn’t exactly tell her that I was imagining Yuzu senpai changing clothes or what she looked like right now.

“Well, see you later. At school.”

“Ah, yes… Good work.”

“…………”

“…………”

Huh, the call isn’t ending?

“…Kakeru-kun.”

Click.

The call ended.

The destructive power of having my name whispered right in my ear was off the charts.