Chapter 7

Chapter 7: How to Prevent Sakura Yamauchi from Dying of Pancreatic Disease

Silently closing the door of the barbershop, Miyako Ishida headed upstairs.

"Shoya, there's something I want to talk to you about."

Shoya Ishida was playing a video game, frantically pressing buttons on the controller.

"I'm playing a game, don't have time."

"Shoya!"

"I said I don't have time!"

Miyako Ishida walked over and turned off the power.

"I just spoke with Mr. Takeuchi on the phone, and he told me what happened today."

"Annoying! Who asked you to meddle?"

The game screen vanished, and Shoya Ishida threw the controller aside, burying his head in the nearby pillow.

"I talked to Mr. Takeuchi just now. He said that if you exceed a certain limit, pranks can hurt others. Nishimiya Shouko has hearing difficulties. Her way of speaking is different from yours, but it's not her choice; it's unfortunate circumstances."

"You treated someone else's misfortune as a prank. That's not a good behavior."

Hearing his mother's words, Shoya started crying.

"Shoya..."

Seeing her son's appearance, Miyako Ishida's annoyed expression softened, returning to its usual gentleness.

Kneeling on the tatami mat, she approached Shoya, removed the pillow, and gently wiped away the tears streaming down his face with a handkerchief.

"Shoya, remember the fight you had in fourth grade?"

"How could I forget? Those guys were teasing me, saying I... saying I..."

"What did they say?"

"They said I didn't have a dad!"

"At that time, they used your misfortune to prank you, just like what you did now."

"But I didn't mean it that way!"

"But you did it, and you hurt Nishimiya Shouko."

"But if it weren't for Kyosuke Hojo causing trouble, she wouldn't have known what happened!"

"Shoya! Kyosuke Hojo didn't do anything wrong. You should learn from him."

"What? Learn from that guy? No way!"

Miyako Ishida patted her son's head, smoothing his tousled hair as she contemplated how to make him understand the lesson behind this situation.

Miyako Ishida touched her son's head, pushing his tousled hair back, her face showing a gentle smile.

"All right."

...

Meanwhile, after school, Kyosuke Hojo approached the school gate.

"Kyosuke! Over here!"

A little girl was already waiting there. When she saw Kyosuke, she waved enthusiastically, jumping up and down to make sure he noticed her.

"Sakura, I told you not to shout like that in front of the school, didn't I?"

"What's the big deal? Everyone's already gone. By the way, why did you come out so late today?"

Sakura Yamauchi amber eyes twinkled like a cat's under the setting sun. Even though she had been waiting for quite a while, she didn't seem the least bit upset. With an expression of nonchalance and a voice brimming with energy, she asked her question while her brown ponytail swayed with her body's movements.

"You always have a point. Let's get going. Your mom has probably already prepared dinner and is waiting for you."

"Hey, speaking of dinner, I convinced my mom to make fried pork cutlets today. Want to come over and eat with us?"

Sakura's mother, Maki Yamauchi, was a traditional neon woman who was completely devoted to her daughter's happiness.

"No, I can't. If I go to your house, then my mom will be all alone eating at home."

"Doesn't matter! I'll just ask my mom to invite your mom over."

"No, it's a hassle, and besides, it's your last portion of fried food for the month."

"Fine, fine~~"

Undeterred by his refusal, Sakura continued her cheerful chatter. Although she was declined every time, she still reported her family's dinner plans to Kyosuke like clockwork, inviting him to join them.

"What's the big deal? Just invite Miki-san to join us."

"Right, like that's going to happen."

Sakura, with the agility of a little cat, jumped around as she happily engaged in a one-person game of "jump the squares." Unaware that she was just talking to herself, she continued.

"Even so, I won't give up!"

...

Though they had been walking the same route to school for three years, as long as Kyosuke was by her side, Sakura felt every day was full of happiness. She didn't necessarily want him to come over to her house for dinner; the daily report was more about making sure he was comfortable.

For some reason, the boy next door, Kyosuke Hojo, had become something like her "third guardian."

He would come to wake her up for morning runs before school and would insist that she exercise properly.

The first time, she thought it would be fun and joined him. She assumed it would be like the fun sports classes at school, where they would play games or maybe go to the park to play on the swings.

But it was a strict running regimen, timed and measured. If she didn't finish, she couldn't rest!

How outrageous! She was just a third grader in elementary school; why did she have to run every day?

So, the second time, when her mom knocked on her door and told her that Kyosuke Hojo was there to take her for a run, she declared:

"I refuse! I won't run anymore!"

Sakura buried her head under her blanket and yelled loudly.

"But Kyosuke Hojo brought you a gift."

"What kind of gift?"

From outside the door, her mother's amused yet surprised voice piqued Sakura's curiosity. In her pink pajamas adorned with little bears, Sakura walked over to the door, barefoot. She opened it slightly, peering out to ask softly.

"It smells really good, like something delicious. I smelled it, and my mouth watered."

"Gurgle."

With an empty stomach awakened by the delicious smell, Sakura couldn't help swallowing her saliva upon hearing her mother's words.

"Well, I'll go take a look. But I'm absolutely not going running with him!"

"Okay, then you better change quickly. Or are you planning to meet Kyosuke Hojo in your pajamas?"

"Of course not!"

Blushing, Sakura quickly shut the door and went to change her clothes.

Watching her adorable daughter, Maki Yamauchi smiled with satisfaction.

How many people's dreams would this charming daughter of hers be?

Curious about the neighbor boy named Kyosuke Hojo, Maki Yamauchi couldn't help but wonder.

First, it was astonishing that such a young boy even understood the concept of exercising. Furthermore, Maki couldn't understand why he insisted on bringing her daughter along for these workouts. Did he feel lonely running alone?
The most surprising thing was that Kyosuke Hojo seemed to anticipate Sakura's refusal to run with him today. He actually brought food to tempt her.

Goodness, was this what they called a beautiful childhood friend? In an instant, she imagined her daughter walking down the aisle in a white dress.

Cupping her face with one hand, Maki Yamauchi stood at her daughter's door, lost in her thoughts.