Lonely Rock for the Blind.

Yamada Ryo raised his head and said.

"If the cat's liver was born first, then the cat's liver should be the one from the cat's nest?"

Kita Ikuyo said thoughtfully.

"...Do you...do you want to eat people?! I can't do that!"

Goto Ichiri shook his head frantically as he spoke.

"Just kidding, Pochi. Seriously, don't take everything we say seriously."

Ichika Ichika stopped shaking her head only after she finished explaining.

Her gaze shifted to Nekoyashiki Haru, who was slowly eating fries across from her, and she pursed her lips.

I didn't feel anything at first... but after mentioning "Poison Cat"... I feel like... Mr. Nekoyashiki's voice sounds a little like "Poison Cat"?

Looking at Nekoyashiki Haru, Goto Ichiri seemed lost in thought.

Chapter Thirty-Two: Photographs

Time flies.

After dinner, everyone went home to find their own mothers... well, some people couldn't find theirs.

They said goodbye to each other at the restaurant entrance, with Goto Ichiri and Yamada Ryo leaving first.

Nekoyashiki Haru declined Ijichi Nijika's offer to take her home and chose to walk back on her own.

Ichi Nijika originally wanted to force her to go, but Kita Ikuyo behind her stopped her.

"?"

Ichi Nijika looked at Kita Ikuyo behind her with a puzzled expression.

"Ijichi-senpai, please be considerate of Nekoyashiki-senpai's pride."

Kita Ikuyo raised her index finger and whispered.

"...This shouldn't be enough to hurt my pride or anything..."

"Ichi Nijika hesitated," she said.

"As for it, boys have a strong sense of self-esteem, so girls need to take good care of boys' feelings."

"...Something feels off..."

After thinking for a while, Ichi Nijika said.

Kita Ikuyo shook her head and continued.

"Anyway, it's not far away, and Nekoyashiki-senpai can go home by himself."

"…All right…"

Ichi Nijika looked at Nekoyashiki Haru's retreating figure in the distance, sighed, and nodded, deciding to listen to Kita.

"Hehe... And then, I have a few more things I'd like to ask you for help, Ijichi-senpai."

"Huh? What? Kita, just ask away, I'll help you!"

"Ichi Nijika smiled."

Kita Ikuyo nodded.

"Actually, I saw Nekoyashiki-senpai's face today! Without his sunglasses on."

"... "

Ichi Niji Natsumi paused for a moment.

"And then...?"

"But Senpai kept his eyes closed and wouldn't let me see, so I thought I'd ask you, Ijichi-senpai. You must have some old photos of Nekoyashiki-senpai, right? I'm a little curious, can I take a look?"

Kita Ikuyo asked with a smile.

"... "

The air suddenly became quiet.

Ichi Nijika lowered her head slightly, her blonde hair gently covering her red eyes.

A breeze blew by; the evening wind was a little chilly, gently ruffling Kita Ikuyo and Iji Chi Nikka's hair.

"senior?"

Kita Ikuyo tidied her wind-blown hair, then noticed that Iji Chi Nijika still didn't react, so she hesitated for a moment before asking softly.

"Hmm? Oh! Sorry, I just spaced out again. Hehe, I've been getting easily distracted lately."

Ichiji Nijika suddenly raised her head, scratched the back of her head, and said with a smile.

"Ah, it's a photo of Nekoyashiki-senpai when he was a child. Does Ijichi-senpai have it?"

Kita Ikuyo continued to ask.

"Hmm? That kind of thing is really quite old, and I don't recall taking any photos of it. I think it's highly unlikely, haha."

"Ichi Nijika said with a smile."

"I'm sorry, Kita, I don't think I can help with this."

"That's a real shame... I was really curious."

Kita Ikuyo sighed.

"Well then, see you tomorrow, senior. I'm going home now."

"Okay! See you tomorrow, Kita."

Ichi Nijika smiled and waved goodbye.

"goodbye!"

Kita Ikuyo turned around and waved goodbye, then ran towards the station.

"…goodbye…"

Ijichi Nijika continued waving until Kita Ikuyo walked further and further away, at which point Ijichi Nijika slowly lowered her hand.

"... "

Ichi Nijika didn't say anything, but just walked towards her home.

My legs felt a little heavy and I couldn't lift them.

When Ichi Nijika arrived at her home, the Starry Night downstairs was still open for business.

Instead of helping, she went upstairs to her own home.

After unlocking the door with her key, Ichika Nijika sighed wearily and sat down in the living room.

After sitting for only a few seconds, he walked back to his room.

boom.

After closing the door, Ichiji Nijika walked towards her bed, then slowly knelt down and dragged a suitcase out from under the bed.

The suitcase looks a bit old; its brownish-red surface is uneven and has many scratches, all traces left by time.

Click.

The suitcase was opened, and the contents were neatly arranged.

There are toys, cassette tapes, and many old items whose meaning is unclear.

Ichi Nijika smiled, then sat down and took a photo out of her suitcase.

The photo is a group photo.

In the group photo, the black-haired, purple-eyed boy stands quietly next to the blonde girl.

That was Ichi Niji Natsu when she was a child.

In the photo, she is stretching out her hand, smiling and making a peace sign, while the boy next to her is also looking at her with an upward curve to his lips.

"...I'm sorry, Kita."

Pressing the photo to her chest, Ichiki Nikka softly apologized.

"I lied to you. I have photos of them, and I've kept them safe and sound, never letting them get dirty or damaged."

He hugged the photo to his chest.

“But…this is my stuff…even though you’re just curious…I…don’t want you to see it, Kita…”

Ichi Nijika narrowed her eyes.

"I feel like... I'm being really selfish. I'm the band's leader... but I don't want to hand it over to you... no, I don't want to hand it over to anyone but me..."

"...So...I'm really sorry for lying to you, Kita..."

An inexplicable pressure weighed on her heart, and Ichiji Nijika suddenly felt a little breathless.

Is this guilt?

Ichi Nijika didn't know.

She shook her head, putting aside the feelings of guilt, then slowly curled the corners of her mouth, held up the photo, and looked at the two people in it.

"I will always remember you, little cat."

The smile that curved her lips was incredibly sweet.

"I remember the times you were with me when I was little, the times we went to school together, and the times you protected me when I was bullied."

"I remember everything..."

Ichi Niji's red eyes trembled with a watery light.

“I’ve always missed you… I know that after Mom passed away, when you comforted me and I scolded you back, you didn’t go to school.”

The photo was held tightly.

“You went to find your sister, you went alone, so your sister came to find me, and that’s why I didn’t continue to wallow in sadness.”