Living with the Arrogant Queen from High School is Surprisingly Not Uncomfortable

Akari and I had been waiting in the waiting room for Itchan for a while now.

“Akari, why don’t you take a nap?”

“Huh?”

We had to leave Tokyo early in the morning because Itchan’s wedding dress fitting was scheduled for ten o’clock. I had come to know very well that Akari wasn’t great with early mornings… Lack of sleep, combined with the excitement of being with Itchan in the car until now, made her drowsy.

“Are you sure?”

“Do you think I’d say no?”

“I wouldn’t think so. Because you’re Meg.”

If that’s the case, this entire conversation is pointless.

As I was about to point this out, Akari happily rested her head on my shoulder.

“You should be doing this with Yamamoto or someone.”

“But right now, you’re the only one who will let me do this, you know?”

I sighed at Akari’s frank admission.

Really, Yamamoto is underappreciated. I had a faint sense of guilt for him.

“…Just sleep.”

“Mhm.”

After a while, I could hear Akari’s soft snores.

I switched on my smartphone and took a close-up shot of Akari’s sleeping face. Even the sound of the shutter didn’t seem to wake her up. It seems like I’ll have some fun teasing Akari with this for a while.

With that thought, I found myself smiling gently.

The waiting room was quiet.

From the fitting room next door, we could faintly hear some noises. I had no idea how challenging a wedding dress fitting could be, but considering the long wait, it seemed like a rather complicated process.

It was a sweltering day, unseasonal for this time of year.

The window of the waiting room was open, and the soft wind blowing in rustled the curtains.

Today…

I realized that Itchan’s wedding was approaching soon.

And soon, the three of us wouldn’t be able to hang out together like we used to.

There was a sense of sadness.

There were feelings of not wanting it to happen.

But just as Yamamoto had said, even then, I… I wanted Itchan’s marriage to be wonderful.

Yamamoto saw how troubled I was and smiled, saying it was just like me.

But I was thinking…

During high school, I never yearned for the past, never wished to return to it. I was so content with life that I never thought such things.

But after graduating high school, during those hellish days, I became trapped in the past.

That’s why I started longing for the past.

When I realized I couldn’t go back, I felt a sense of loneliness.

But I’m sure…

During those hellish days, I probably…

I remember feeling lonely because I couldn’t return to the past…

But I don’t think I could have celebrated the present.

But now I can.

It’s because I was saved from that hell.

I do feel trapped in the past sometimes. There are times when I wish I could go back.

That’s because reality turned out to be so much more brutal and tragic than I ever imagined during my high school days.

But I want to live fully in the present.

The reason I’ve changed.

The reason I was saved from that hell…

“I wonder if he’s doing okay?”

It was a strange feeling.

“Can he fold the laundry properly?”

Even though it’s only been a few hours since I left his place.

“Is he eating properly?”

I can’t stop thinking about him.

“I wonder if he can finish cleaning in one hour?”

The lukewarm wind stings my skin.

It’s not uncomfortable.

More than that, right now… I want to see Yamamoto.

That’s how I felt.

“The fitting is over, ma’am.”

The door to the waiting room was knocked on, and I stood up.

“Ah!”

I had completely forgotten about Akari, who had been sleeping with her head on my shoulder, due to the sudden news. Akari was drooling, half-awake, and peering around.

“Really…”

I wiped Akari’s drool with a handkerchief and helped her up.

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“To see the bride.”

I smiled softly.