Chapter 1: Eina (6)

I Hold Your Voice Alone, Under The Starry Sky

It was Monday, and the books were safely next to the noticeboards. I headed straight to the student council office once they were set up.

The president was alone, sat working.

“President, I brought it like I promised.”

“Thank you, and like I promised, we won’t be taking your clubroom.”

“Yes! I owe you one.”

“In exchange, it might seem boring, but do your activities properly, okay?”

“Got it.”

I left their office in triumph.

＊

The new students’ booklet, late as it was, caused a quiet boom within the school. Our literature club had a tradition of publishing things under our real names, but ‘Eina’ was obviously a pseudonym. On top of that, there weren’t many people who wrote stories like Eina’s.

Everyone was curious about who on Earth had written it, and it seemed like more people were reading it than normal. For example, when I was eating lunch on Wednesday, the newspaper club’s ace, Sakai Keisuke appeared.

Sakai had been in the same class as me since first year, and we’d done a lot together, but he hadn’t shown up in the clubroom before then.

“Who’s Eina? A new member? An alias for one of the upper years? Or you even?”

Saki didn’t bother to push up his glasses from where they had slipped and showered me with questions.

“I’m not telling you.”

Besides, I couldn’t even if I wanted to, I knew barely anything about her myself.

“Please, we’re friends right? My boss threatened me to come and ask who they were!”

Sakai was all but on his knees begging me. It was a bit pitiful, but if I couldn’t tell him, I couldn’t tell him.

“Sorry, I can’t.”

“You’re heartless.”

“I’ve got my own circumstances, and so has Eina.”

“Ahhhh, I’m gonna get fireeeeeeed!”

It was tough to calm Sakai down from his crying, but I was happy that it was that popular.

I wanted to tell Eina right away. I sent Sakai away and sent a message to her.

Shuu: Everyone likes your story!

The reply came when I got home.

Eina: Really!?

I didn’t normally get messages from Eina during school, so she probably sent them when she got home. Maybe she went to a school that forbade phones.

Shuu: Really! The newspaper club came to cover it. They want to know who wrote it! I dodged it though.

Eina: It’s doing that well!?

I could feel her happiness from the screen.

Then, I remembered something important.

Shuu: Oh yeah, I forgot. What shall I do with the finished book? Want me to post it?

Eina: Posting it… might be a bit of an issue.

Shuu: I guess you wouldn’t want to give out your address.

Of course she wouldn’t. As far as she was concerned, I was just some random person.

Eina: No, I wouldn’t mind… But my family might not like someone they don’t know sending something…

Shuu: I see.

Eina: U-um… Could you… possibly… give it to me in person?

My heart leapt as soon as I saw the message. I’d be meeting with Eina—

Eina: Ah! I’m sorry! I didn’t ask where you live.

Eina sent another message while I couldn’t decide what to reply with.

Eina: I live in Chiba, so I think anything around Kanto should work.

“Ehh!?”

I couldn’t help but cry out in surprise. Eina lived in Chiba too!?

Did coincidences like that really happen?

For some reason, my heart was pounding.

Eina: Shuu-san, where do you live?

Shuu: I live in Chiba too, in C City.

It had ended up with a string of messages from Eina, so I hurriedly replied with where I lived.

Eina: Than shall we meet by C Station?

Shuu: That’s fine.

Eina: Alright, thank you. Until Saturday then!