Chapter 269: Another Regret
3 p.m.
After school time.
Akira stuffed his book into his bag and was about to stand up, but Kise came up to him with his usual carefree attitude.
"Yo, Akiracchi, let's go to the clubroom."
"Sorry, Ryota, tell coach I can't come today."
"Akiracchi... Coach will be angry if you skip class on the first day of school, you know?"
"Not once or twice I was scolded by the coach, I'm used to it. Anyway, I can't come, I have important business. Then, see you soon."
Patting Kise's shoulder, Akira left the classroom.
"Hey, Ayase-san, do you know anything about Akiracchi's 'important business'?" Kise asked Miharu at the next table.
"Ah, maybe Akira will visit the grave."
Miharu is one of Akira's childhood friends. Of course she knew today was the anniversary of the death of one of her friends.
"Mhm? Akiracchi wants to go on a pilgrimage? Aren't his parents still alive?" Kise was confused.
"Sorry, Kise-kun. If Akira hasn't told you, I can't say it."
Smiling apologetically, Miharu carried her bag and left the classroom. She wants to attend club activities.
"What the hell?! Everyone acts so mysterious…. However, the more secretive they are, the more I want to know."
Kise's curiosity rose. After finishing the monologue he invited Akashi over, then the two of them went to the clubroom.
...
On the way, Akira stops at a flower shop. Buying a bunch of chrysanthemums, he waited for the bus at the stop.
Five minutes later, the bus stopped in front of the bus stop, Akira and other people got in and looked for a seat. After everyone got on, the bus drove down the highway.
Sitting by the window, Akira supported his face with his palms. Closes his eyes and remembers the past that can never be repeated.
20 minutes later, Akira got off at a bus stop on the outskirts of Tokyo. Walking for a while, he arrived in front of the steps leading up the hill.
Climbing the stairs at a slow pace, Akira enjoyed the serene atmosphere brought by nature around him.
There are no car noises, people noises, and advertising sounds on the LCD screen. There was only the sound of crickets in summer and the sound of trees blowing in the wind.
Even Skadi who was in her Spiritual Body form, followed Akira silently. Actually, she really wanted to know why they were here. However, seeing her Master's melancholic mood, she chose not to ask.
No matter how Akira slowed down, he finally reached the top of the hill, where a Torii gate and a small shrine could be seen not far away.
On top of the Torii, there is a wooden plaque that says Tamakura Shrine.
There was also a shrine maiden sweeping the courtyard. Hearing the sound of footsteps, she stopped sweeping and looked ahead.
"Nakano-san, this year you also came. You never miss coming on pilgrimage."
Because Akira regularly came every year, the girl recognized him.
"Good afternoon, Suzuhara-san. Are you home from school? Don't you participate in the club?" Akira made small talk
He also recognized the shrine maiden, Suzuhara Izumiko.
The relationship between the two is normal, only limited to acquaintances and can't even be considered friends.
"I don't belong to any club. Next year I will be a 3rd year student, I have to study so I can enter the university of my choice. Besides, I didn't join any clubs." Izumiko said while lowering her head.
She is a very shy and introverted girl. However, Izumiko meets Akira every year on pilgrimage. According her, a person who consistently visits a restaurant every year must not be a bad person.
"Then I'll excuse myself."
Not wanting to continue chatting, Akira nodded his head at Izumiko, then passed her and headed towards the cemetery area.
Shrines in Japan often provide funeral services or memorials for their devotees. Shrines in large cities or densely populated areas tend to have higher costs than shrines in rural areas.
To be able to set up a grave in a shrine on the outskirts of Tokyo is definitely not cheap.
Akira stopped in front of a tombstone. He stared at the photo of the little girl on the tombstone.
The little girl in the photo has a cute face, red eyes, and her black double locks are tied with two white ribbons.
"I'm coming, Kanade-chan."
Placing the flowers in front of the tombstone, Akira squatted down while rubbing the tombstone.
He did not pray like the common pilgrim. He just sat there doing nothing.
Finally, Skadi couldn't hold back her doubts and asked: "Master, who is she?"
"Suzatsuki Kanade, my childhood friend who died six years ago." Akira answered weakly.
Skadi's face twitched. She wanted to ask how many childhood friends her Master had. But the current atmosphere didn't suit him, so she suppressed the urge to complain.
Without waiting for Skadi to ask, Akira started talking about the past.
"Me and Kanade-chan met at a banquet. You know, relationships are very important for rich people. My father was often invited to banquets and took me instead of the quintuplets. After all, from father's point of view, I am the heir. It wouldn't hurt to get to know those rich kids to make future connections."
"Kanade-chan and I became friends and often played together with Shouko and Miharu. Everything was fine, until an incident occurred."
Akira paused for a moment, took a deep breath, he continued his story.
"One day, Kanade-chan and her parents were on holiday in Singapore, but the plane they were on was damaged and exploded in mid-air, causing all the passengers to die."
"This incident made me realize that human life is so fragile. That incident also caused me to start making plans to cope if people by my side experienced unexpected deaths. As a result, I searched at all costs for individuals who could turn back time and people who raised people from the dead."
"It takes years to find people who meet one of those two criteria. Luckily, I found them after several years of searching. I hope I never use them, but..."
Akira stopped talking and Skadi understood.
Skadi understands her Master has changed the past with the help of Otosaka Shunsuke's Time Leap. That was because Kirishima Shouko had died... Which meant her Master failed to protect her.
"Haaa... If only I could find Otosaka Shunsuke sooner..." Sighing regretfully, Akira looked at the tombstone one last time, then went home.
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