I, who advocate giving up, feel like a disqualified person

"I don't believe it."

I was always skeptical of her words, because she would often tell me something unexpected, "I was just kidding," which made me spend a lot of time trying to figure out whether what she said was true or not.

"Well, anyway, our family has already prepared breakfast. And today, Miss Li is the one who will take her there... I guess dating you two is a sad thing for an older single woman."

"Please don't disclose other people's privacy without making a sound. Besides, this is a date between you two."

But if we comment on this incident alone...it is indeed a bit sad, and that Miss Li should be...the female driver I saw a few days ago.

"Oh, you actually want to bring us together. Oh, I discovered another quirk of yours~"

"I think you misunderstood, and I never remember revealing any weird quirks in front of you."

"Well, anyway, I think she'll follow after she leaves, so try to stay with her until I get there~"

"well..."

Really, it's clearly her family's problem, but she has to involve me... Well, forget it. If this can resolve the conflict between the two of them, I'll have less to deal with.

"Then I'm looking forward to your performance."

She said and ended the call.

"Well..."

My parents should have gone to work by now, so I'll just go out...

At this time, the phone rang again.

"...Where are you now."

The source of this cold tone is clear as soon as you hear it...

"Yeah...near my house. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you..."

Although I haven't left my room yet, it shouldn't be a big deal to tell a lie.

"Okay. Well, I'll be out in ten minutes, and we'll meet at the park last time. Come early."

"...Um."

The conversation ended immediately after that.

I always felt that the conversation was a bit too bland...Rinquanchuan didn't even complain about my slowness.

"Well, anyway..."

Better to try not to be late.

.......................

"Izumukawa has become more cheerful recently."

After she left, her mother mentioned this accidentally.

"Hmm..." I nodded slightly, pretending not to know much.

"Could it be that you made some good friends at school? Hanekawa, you go to the same school as her... Do you know anything about her?" She suddenly turned her gaze to me, and I was a little at a loss for a moment, but I still hid it with my usual habit.

"I'm not sure. I'm busy with the student council and don't have time to take care of...her affairs."

I say this because the mother was not the only one present.

"...People who only care about having fun, how can they achieve anything in the future?" He raised his head and glanced at me. "Only those who know what they want to do can truly achieve anything."

"I will work hard."

Every time he mentioned Rinquanchuan, my father would remind me indirectly not to follow her example, as if he had already forgotten what happened to her.

"Don't say that... After all, that child has never experienced this before, so..."

"Then let her follow her own way. There won't be two heirs anyway."

"..."

It seems like this topic always comes up. And every time I hear these topics, I always imagine...what would happen if I were Rinsenkawa.

After all, being abandoned is actually a relief.

“You’re always like this…”

"Is it because..."

This led to some disagreements between the two of us, but no matter how much we talked about it, they both had a strong consensus that I could gradually become independent.

"Forget it, let's stop here." The mother stopped the topic first. "What do we need to deal with today?"

"...I need Hanekawa's help, so if you have any appointments today, please put them aside."

It wasn't a tone of negotiation, but an order.

Well, after all...

"Well, I don't have any plans today, so I can definitely help out wherever I can."

Sorry, I might have to excuse myself for a moment...

Ah, who am I apologizing to?

...................

"Oh, why are you late again..."

Although I ran as hard as I could to the park, it seems I'm still late.

After all, she is driving...I definitely can't be faster than her.

"Because of the inevitability and connection of things..." I answered while struggling to catch my breath.

After all, that's what it is.

"Well..." She didn't really care, "But why are you wearing such tasteless clothes?"

"...You told me not to be late, so I didn't have time to dress up... But I'm a boy, so I don't need to be so particular about that, right?"

Besides, there will be guys you never expected coming soon.

I actually want to see what kind of expression she would have at that time. Um... is it a bit too much...

"Okay, stop daydreaming..." She took out her phone and checked the time. "We should have plenty of time. Let's go to the arcade where we played last time. I think I've fallen in love with that battle system. Playing at home really doesn't feel as good as playing in the arcade..."

Can't stop talking about games? This guy is really knowledgeable.

"Oh...sure..."

Just as I was about to agree, I suddenly thought of something serious, so I quickly changed my words and said, "No, we can't go there now!"

Because that troublesome guy had said last time that he had been staking out the arcade. And Rin Hanekawa had beaten him up last time... Now it's possible that he brought several people to the arcade to stake out the arcade.

"...Why? Your expression seems suspicious to me." She frowned and leaned closer. "You'd better explain it to me."

Yeah, I look suspicious.

"Anyway, there's a little difference... um... it seems to be decoration."

I was so smart to think of this reason in an instant.

"Hmm? The environment is already good enough..."

Hearing this meant she believed it.

“People are always greedy…”

"...Well, where else can we go?" She seemed to be asking for my opinion, as she had lost all her ideas.

"..."

And how could I possibly know so many entertainment programs?

So please...Rin Hanekawa, you better come quickly.

Reality that needs to be accepted

It seems that only humans can attach special meaning to some insignificant things.

In the final analysis, it is because only humans can think.

Not only things with concrete forms, but even dates that will eventually return to the dust of history will be given corresponding meanings, and then various commemorations and relaxations will be held when they arrive.

Although everyone knows that those days will never happen again, it is like selective ignorance. People simply ignore the years that are passing and repeat those so-called specific days year after year, as if such events can really be replicated one day.

Why do people attach meaning to things? Is it simply to commemorate a person or event?

Although there is a certain relationship, it is probably not the case.

In fact, just from the perspective of commemorating something or someone, it is enough to prove that people are forgetful.

Yes, if there are no reminders year after year and day after day, people will forget things that no longer exist according to the life they are experiencing.

Perhaps life is too comfortable nowadays, so people keep reminding us that war is around us, so that no one will really forget its existence.

If a person is not remembered, he or she may really disappear from memory.

...Well, maybe I'll remember it eventually.

So, birthdays exist solely to prove one's existence to others. For those who are already well-regarded, planning and presents are a constant reminder of their existence, making them the center of attention. Meanwhile, those who are less noticed still receive birthday greetings from apps on their phones, as well as from apps sent on behalf of their friends.

It does make you feel lonely, but it's much better than being ignored.

So normally, birthdays are not actually happy moments, but just a simple way to prove that you are alive in this world.

Although most people today celebrate their birthdays with friends or family, I imagine that those who first thought of proving their existence in this way probably didn't have an easy life.

Chapter 24: Reality to be accepted

After struggling for a long time, I finally suggested to Rinquanchuan that we go to the library together, because I don’t like crowded places, while Rinquanchuan likes to read besides games.

So after weighing the pros and cons, I came here.

Well, I could have just invited her to the amusement park, "following up from last time," but that would have felt too familiar. Plus, it was just a way to stall for time. After all, I didn't know when she'd be coming, and she didn't even respond to the message I'd secretly sent her...even though she'd called me earlier to get back to me.

"Well, I thought I could have some fun on Sunday, but...this is kind of relaxing."

I don’t know if she was talking to me, but she seemed to have fewer complaints when she saw the neatly arranged books on the bookshelf with a wide variety and quantity.

"Well, let's take a break here and then go look somewhere else..."

After all, we had been walking aimlessly since the park, and I had carefully avoided the area of ​​the game hall.

"Ah."

She didn't have any objections, so she went to choose the books she liked... Ah, if I brought a girl to the library for a real date, I probably wouldn't be labeled a nice guy... But my current behavior is already that of a complete nice guy.

"So..."

I turned my phone to silent mode, then on second thought switched it to vibrate, then turned my gaze to the bookshelf.

....................

The amount of knowledge in this world is truly vast and complex, as can be seen from the sheer volume of books in libraries. It would take a lifetime to fully understand everything, not to mention that human memory requires an investment of time.

Is that why some people like to read? Just to absorb as much knowledge as possible from the book... Well, maybe they just want to read.

"Buzz...buzz..."

Before I decided what book to read, the phone in my pocket started vibrating.

"You finally got around to calling me..."

Well, even though I complain, I'm still happy to be free.

"Hmm... a text?" The vibration had already gone off the moment I took it out of my pocket. If it was a call, it would have ended too quickly... But why a text? Could it be because she knew I couldn't answer the phone at the library? Does that mean she's nearby?

Speculating like this, I looked at my phone.

"You two should get along well. I suddenly had something to do so I can't go."

"..."

What the hell... Doesn't that guy take this matter very seriously? And he's been preparing for it for so long... Is he just going to just turn it down for some unclear reason?

"Are you kidding..."