Takamura-kun is Cursed Chapter 9

Chapter 9 – Hiwatari Shuu Comforts (1)

 

　The university Takafumi attends is having a Cultural Festival today.

　Let’s forget about the end-of-term test for now and depart for the Cultural Festival. There’s also matters more important than the term tests to consider, but let’s forget about them for now too.

　The matter that plagues my heart to the utmost. Its emergence dates back to several days before.

　Looking back at the mirror, I gaze at my waist. Sure enough, there resides two snakes that are about fist-sized. I’ll remain male as long as these snakes continue to reside on my waist.

　But my heart is unable to keep up. There’s no signs that my heart will come to like Sena. After all, I thought he was a girl until a mere couple of days ago. Moreover, even now, Sena’s appearance, gestures and everything are those of a girl’s. From my perspective, it’s exceedingly difficult to have feelings of love for him because I don’t feel like becoming lesbian.

　A dress shirt with ¾ length sleeves paired with loose jeans. Only a wallet and smartphone are in my leather bum bag.

　It appears that the band Takafumi is in will perform at 10.30am. There can’t be anything harder to associate with Takafumi than a band, but it seems he’d been in one since his high school days and he’s the guitarist there. That’s too much of a surprise.

　I left the house with these thoughts in mind, but goodness, the train’s been delayed. It’ll be delayed for up to 30 minutes so I may not make it for Takafumi’s performance. I sit down on a bench in disappointment. People who’re likely planning to go to the Cultural Festival are gathering at the platform of the ascending line.
　When I nonchalantly start people-watching, I spot the figure of a familiar tall boy.

“Ah, Hiwatari.”

　Having spotted Hiwatari, who is wearing a black shirt, slacks and a knitted jacket with stripes, I unconsciously called out.

“… Takamura-san.”

“Are you going to the Cultural Festival too, Hiwatari?”

“Yes, I suppose.”

　I may have no right to say this of others, but Hiwatari’s replies are so short that it’s hard to continue the conversation. The awkwardness is difficult to bear.
　Needless to say this of Kousaka and Sunohara, but even Sena and Takafumi are the talkative type, so it was fine for me to just listen. I believe I’m quite fortunate.

“Is there someone you know there?”

“Yes, well. My older brother formed a band.”

“My cousin will be playing in a band too. I wonder if it’s the same one?”

　Hiwatari had a surprised expression when I told him the name of the band Takafumi belongs to. Seems like it’s the same band.

“Then, Hiwatari’s onii-san and my cousin are friends, huh.”

“That might be so. Still, we’ll definitely not make it at this rate.”

“That’s true, huh… I wanted to hear Takafumi-kun’s performance.”

　The train still has not been fixed. We’re already plenty late at this point.
　Takafumi will definitely look cool during the performance, huh. I lowered my gaze slightly.

“Do you like him so much? That ‘Takafumi-kun’?”

“Rather than ‘like’… well.”

　Staring at my toes, I shifted them restlessly. Various feelings emerged when I recalled the time when I liked Takafumi.

　The feelings I have for him now are probably special. I absolutely don’t know if they’re romantic sentiments or affection for Takafumi, who’s an older-brother-like existence to me. But I carry much, much heavier feelings towards him than towards Sunohara or Sena.

“We apologise for the delay during busy times. Normal service will resume as of now.”

　In the end, the service resumed after 26 minutes. There’s a thin line between whether I’ll make it or not for Takafumi’s performance. But I’ll be happy even if I can see only the ending.

“Let’s get on, Hiwatari.”

“Eh, are we going together?”

“Can’t we?”

　The two of us chatted this much together and are even going to the same place. Isn’t it strange if we don’t go together at this point?

“Well, it is not like we can’t.”

“Let’s go together then.”

His indecisive attitude is bothersome so I forcibly dragged him onto the train.

　It’s past 10.40am when we reach the university. Takafumi’s band should have started already. I’ve to quickly get to the gymnasium that Takafumi and the others are performing at, but I don’t know where it is at all. I’m directionally-challenged. By the way, I can’t read maps either.

“Hiwatari, I don’t know the way.”

“Are you not holding a map?”

“I can’t read it.”

　I hand him the pamphlet so that he can read the map.
　Hiwatari reluctantly accepts the pamphlet and opens it to the page of the school map. After staring at that map for a while, Hiwatari points to the right of the main entrance.

“I believe it is this way.”

　I follow behind Hiwatari who walks a couple of steps ahead.

“What’s Hiwatari’s onii-chan’s name?”

“It is Kaede.”

“I see…”

　Thanks to Hiwatari’s guidance, I manage to reach the gymnasium in one piece. Folding chairs are arranged in the frontal half of the gymnasium, and most of those chairs are filled. A lot of people can also be seen standing and watching the performance in the back.
　Looking at the stage, Takafumi stood slightly off-centre, a little towards the right, as he held a guitar. It isn’t the usual gentle and leisurely Takafumi; you can feel a wild manliness from him. That expression and attitude leave my heart thumping so much that there are tingles running down my spine. At the same time, I feel like crying because his existence feels so far away.

“Which one is Takafumi-san?”

“Eh, ahh…”

　Because I had been staring at Takafumi intently, I was unable to reply to Hiwatari’s words immediately.
　Thinking that I can’t let him notice my uneasiness, I look up at Hiwatari who is standing next to me and do my best to smile.

“He’s the guitarist on the right. Which one is Hiwatari’s onii-san?”

“He’s the bassist. The one acting cool.”

“I see… he sure is cool. He resembles you, Hiwatari.”

　Hiwatari made a strange face. My heart gradually calm down as I look at such a Hiwatari.
　I’m aware that it’s weird for me to feel uneasy when I see a side of Takafumi I don’t know. I’m aware.

“Takamura-san resembles Takafumi-san too.”

“I resemble Takafumi-kun?  … Is that so?”

　I’d never paid much attention to that. In the first place, I never thought that we’d be similar.

　Noticing that I’m making a dubious face, Hiwatari starts explaining as though it’s tiresome.

“It’s like… the feeling where you unnecessarily delve into others is completely the same.”

“… I see.”

It’s no-good because Hiwatari’s always honest with his words.

　The band performance ends 15 minutes after my arrival. Although I couldn’t see much of it, I’m already fortunate to be able to catch it despite encountering an accident like the train delay.

　The door open before I could text him. Hiwatari’s older brother, Kaede, and the band’s drummer exited from the stage’s wings.

“Oh, Shuuー! So you came after all. As expected of a tsundere~”

“Shuddap. It was senpai who brought me here!”

“Eh.”

　Just as I kinda watched Hiwatari who was getting his head rubbed by Kaede, he arbitrarily made it so that it was me who brought him here by force.
　When I look at Hiwatari in an attempt to protest, he give me a glare that says: “Don’t say anything unnecessary!”

“Eh~, you, what -chan are you?”

“I am… Takamura Mahiro…”

“Mahiro-chan! I know. You’re Takafumi’s cousin, right! Uwaawaa, cute. What a cute face.”

　Poke poke, he prod a ‘hole’ on my cheek with his index finger. He subsequently hugs me, and even rubs his cheek against mine.

　Even though his unruly ash-purple hair, fair skin, straw-like tall and thin build, facial features and atmosphere are identical to Hiwatari, the insides are completely different.

“… Hiwatari.”

I gaze at Hiwatari, seeking for help.
　Hiwatari gives a deep sigh and tug my arm, pulling me away from Kaede.

“What, so you were Shuu’s lover? Sorry about that.”

“We’re not lovers, I say. More importantly, I think Takamura-san is looking for Takafumi-san. Where’s Takafumi-san?”

“If it’s Takafumi, he’s still inside. Feel free to go in.”

　I take Kaede’s advice and enter the backstage.

　The stage’s wings are dark and I can’t see clearly. When I blink several times and let my eyes adjust, I see Takafumi, together with a girl, further in. There aren’t any female members in Takafumi’s band. That girl’s definitely someone who’s allowed to watch Takafumi from the closest possible location, the stage’s wings.

　And just like that, they exchange a kiss.

　Thinking that I can’t let them notice my unsettledness, I slowly back away and head out the door like that.

“Takamura-san, are you okay?”

“I was surprised. It sure is awkward to witness one’s relative kissing.”

　When I give him a smile, Hiwatari let out a sigh so deep that it was unnatural.

“You’ve been forcing it since just now, you know? You don’t usually act so frivolous, right.”

“Frivolous…”

“Even though you’re unsettled because Takafumi-san was taken by that girl. You’re hurt because an onii-chan you’re related to seemed like he was taken away, aren’t you.

　Am I unsettled? If I’m unsettled, why so? I wonder why.

　My feelings are left abandoned in a dark and cold place. My feelings are left in a place so deep like the depths of hell. I’m afraid to go looking for them, but I can’t possibly leave them abandoned like this.

“I… am hurt?”

“That’s right.”

“I see.”

　I probably like Takafumi. I didn’t want to admit it, but I can’t deceive myself anymore.
　After all, I’m already in tears. I’m in tears because I’m anxious that Takafumi’s a couple with that girl.

　Yes. For these 17 years, I’ve always liked Takafumi.

 

[1] An offstage area

Chapter end