Chapter 3 - Prologue ③

However, in those few seconds, something appears in my field of vision.

What I saw was a long rod-like object lying on the seat.

It is probably a bamboo sword.

If memory serves me right I saw a high school girl carrying a bamboo sword in her bag before getting on the train, so it’s probably hers.

Maybe I could use this to my advantage.

Besides…

I have a little confidence in handling bamboo swords. Fortunately, my mother was a fifth-degree sword fighter and thanks to that, I practiced kendo when I was younger.

Until the sixth grade in elementary school I was beaten and kicked around like an idiot with a bamboo sword.

I didn’t have any skills because I quit playing soccer before I took the high-school entrance test, but I was able to fight on par with adults who were first or second degrees in the same field.

It’s not life-threatening, but I have a past of being subjected to a certain amount of violence. Compared to the pain at that time, such an attack from this murderer is nothing!

-Dash!

The murderer charged at me with momentum.

If I’m not composed here, I’ll definitely lose. I started running at full speed and dodged the knife that he swung at me again.

“Tch!!”

This time it was dangerous. I barely managed to avoid the hit this time. If I got stabbed by the knife, I would definitely die.

However, that moment paid off and I reached the location with the bamboo sword tightly gripped in my hand.

I opened the cover and took it out. As expected, it was a bamboo sword. It’s a little over 1 meter long. Its reach is also longer than the murderer’s knife.

If I can somehow attack him without getting hit by the knife and neutralizing him, all I will have to do is wait for the police to arrive.

“Oh, a bamboo sword. Are you trying to be a ninja now?”

He grinned even more and charged at me again.

This time he thrusted the knife.

“Aahh!!!”

I held the bamboo sword horizontally and diverted the knife stab. Even compared to my mother’s movements, I’m still slow. If this continues, I’ll definitely be finished.

I shook the bamboo sword and threw the knife away with all my might. The knife fell out of the man’s hand and eventually fell to the ground. I immediately kicked it aside and pushed the man back.

“Kugh!!”

“… Phew.”

“Hey, what the h-ll are you doing?!”

The man screamed and I walked up to me. While thinking that he might be hiding something dangerous, I swung the bamboo sword and hit his head again.

-Bam!

A loud sound echoed in the subway car and the man collapsed as if he lost consciousness from the direct hit to the top of his head.

“Haah… Haah”

I was a little tense and as soon as I saw him losing consciousness, I felt a sense of fatigue on my back. As I sighed, the train announcement was being made as we reached the next spot.

“Next stop is the ×× station. This is an emergency stop.”

It looks like it was a close call.

After waiting for about ten seconds, the door to exit the train car opened and I kicked the unconscious man as hard as I could towards the platform.

Ultimately, no one died in the murder case, but several people were seriously and lightly injured, and I was also examined at the hospital just in case. After the examination, there was also an interrogation at the police station, and I wasn’t able to return home till the next morning.

“Thank you so much for saving me that time!,” she said, slightly blushing as she bowed her head. It felt like a confession, and I felt a little embarrassed.

“Ah, it’s no big deal. It just happened to be me.”

“But, I… I thought I was going to die because no one was there to help me… and yet, onii-san came to save me, I really can’t thank you enough…”

“Well… it’s true. I’m glad that you are alive.”

“Th-this is… You Left it in the subway.”

Then, she offered me a paper bag she had been holding with both hands. When I looked inside, there was my high school uniform. I didn’t realize until now but it seems I left it there in the midst of the chaos.

“My uniform…”

“I thought it might be something important, so I bought it back with me.”

“Ah, thanks. I’m sorry for letting you carry a stranger’s item.”

“You’re not a stranger… u-um, it’s okay. If I think about how you saved me, this is nothing in comparison.”

“It’s really no big deal. I am just happy that you are safe…”

“Yes… Well then, I’ll be going now. I hope we can meet somewhere again…”

“Ah, yeah… definitely.”

As she said that, she was led away by a woman who seemed like her mother, walking away. However, on the way, she turned back to me and waved.

“I’m Suzune Mitoma! I hope we will see each other again!”

Despite being startled by her sudden self-introduction, I waved back and said,

“I’m… Miyoshi Kazuma. See you again!”

In the end, it’s been four years since that encounter and I haven’t met Suzune Mitoma again.

Time passed and I even forgot her name after we parted. One year, two years, three years and eventually four years… Before I knew it, I had already graduated from High School, and after taking the entrance exams for a well reputed university, I entered it.

I joined a few clubs and even dated a girl during that time, but I eventually broke up with her and spent my sweet and sour youth, even though it was not perfect.

The counter we had was fading away from my memory. I didn’t know her age, where she studied, where she lived or where she came from. The only thing I remembered was her name…

That’s what I thought, but suddenly… She showed up in front of me.

Suzune Mitoma was standing in front, completely different from the last time I saw her.

“Senpai, it’s been a while…”

“Huh?”

“Senpai…?”

“Ah, I see. It’s been a long time,” I said, shocked at her sudden appearance.

“Yes, it has. It’s been about four years, hasn’t it?” Suzune Mitoma said with a smile.

I couldn’t believe it. Four years had passed since we last met, and she had appeared before me again, as if it was only yesterday. I had completely forgotten about her, and had even dated other girls in the meantime. But at that moment, everything came back to me at once, and I felt a mix of emotions.

“So, how have you been?” She asked.

“Ah, I’ve been well. I graduated from high school and am now a university student. How about you?” I replied.

“I’m doing well too. The last time we met, I was in my 2nd year of junior high school,” she said.

I didn’t know what to make of it, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was something strange about her. But at the same time, I was happy to see her again after all these years.

“It’s good to see you again, Suzune Mitoma,” I said with a smile.

“It’s good to see you too, Miyoshi Kazuma,” she replied with a warm smile.

We stood there, looking at each other and smiling, not knowing what the future held for us. But at that moment, all that mattered was that we were together again.

————————————————————

[POV] Suzune Mitoma (Durning 2nd year of Junior High School) 

On the way back from the police station.

“That older brother was so cool…”

“They protected Suzu, right?”

“Yeah! He was like a hero, like a prince… I feel like I’ve found my destiny!”

“You’re still saying things like destiny, and you haven’t even gone out with him yet?”

“M-mom! Don’t say things like that! I still have a chance! I’m definitely going to go out with that older brother!”

“Well, if you want to. Just be moderate, okay? You’ve got exams next year, and I want you to definitely get admitted into a national university.”

“I know! I’m smart, so it’ll be fine!

Hehe~~

Today I met a cool guy. Miyoshi Kazuma-san, huh. My future husband… Ah, I feel like it’s destiny. My first love…

Even though it’s my first time falling in love… This must be what they call the euphoric feeling of love…

My first love… 

My charming prince… I have to definitely marry him.

Ah, I’m getting wet just by thinking about him. 

Geez, I just received myself a while ago, in the police station’s bathroom.

This is getting bad… 

Come to think of it, I wonder if Kazuma-san noticed his shirt…

I hope I didn’t get it too wet…