Waiting for You in the Rainy Garden - Chapter 15

After Hiyori cried herself to sleep, I watched her sleeping face for a while.

The traces of tears still remained on her cheeks, and her eyelashes were slightly damp.

Her breathing was quiet, and the blanket shifted slightly with each rise and fall of her chest.

She looked completely different from the usual Hiyori.

Hiyori is strong.

More forward-looking than anyone, harder-working than anyone, kinder than anyone.

But the stronger someone is, the less they rely on others until they reach their breaking point.

Hiyori always smiles and says “I’m fine,” hiding her own pain.

I used to love that strength, but now it seemed like that very strength was causing her suffering.

—I want to protect Hiyori.

Quietly, yet certainly, I thought it deep in my heart.

When Hiyori said “I’m scared” through tears, I realized for the first time.

Hiyori may be strong, but that doesn’t mean she can’t break.

There are times when she needs someone to lean on.

I wanted to be that ‘someone.’

The next morning, when I went to Hiyori’s house to check on her, she appeared at the door with slightly swollen eyes.

When she saw my face, she forced a smile.

“You should rest.”

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

I knew both the injury on Hiyori’s leg and the wounds in her heart hadn’t healed yet.

“I’ll go. I want to be with Mashiro.”

My chest grew warm at her words.

Hiyori needed my presence.

That made me happy, but at the same time, my chest tightened.

Because I could feel, painfully clearly, that Hiyori was pushing herself too hard.

When we arrived at school, Hiyori smiled as usual.

She responded brightly when friends called out to her, and took notes seriously during class.

To everyone else, Hiyori was the same as always.

But I noticed.

That behind that smile, the pain still remained.

The shadow in Hiyori’s eyes seemed fainter than yesterday, but it hadn’t completely disappeared.

During lunch break, when Hiyori tried to stand up, she slightly dragged her foot.

In that moment, my chest churned with unease.

“Hiyori…!”

The words escaped before I could stop them.

Hiyori turned around looking surprised, then immediately smiled.

“It’s fine. It just hurts a little.”

“Don’t push yourself.”

“I’m not pushing myself.”

Hiyori laughed, but her smile was faint.

Hiyori’s smile is usually bright like the sun, but now it was weak like a cloudy sky.

That difference stabbed painfully at my heart.

After school, I took Hiyori’s hand.

Her hand was slightly cold, and her fingertips trembled faintly.

“Let’s go to the greenhouse.”

Hiyori blinked in surprise, but nodded immediately.

Her nod seemed somehow relieved.

Hiyori must want to lean on someone too.

I sincerely hoped that ‘someone’ could be me.

As we walked down the hallway toward the greenhouse, I didn’t let go of Hiyori’s hand.

Hiyori didn’t try to pull away either.

That warmth seemed to quietly confirm our resolve for what was to come.