As I Know Anything About You, I'll Be The One To Your Girlfriend, Aren't I? - Volume 1 Chapter 4.1

Just Like You Did for Me 1

“Baseballs and tennis balls were fine, but soccer balls are no good, huh.”

“What are you talking about, Kuuya?”

“Recently, balls keep flying at me.”

As I said this, Yuuji chuckled, saying, “What kind of season is this?”

We’re in the school’s infirmary, and it’s already July.

The air conditioning is cool, but my head is too dizzy to fully appreciate it.

“The nurse isn’t coming, huh… You okay?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine. Sorry, Yuuji, for making you bring me here.”

“No problem, just treat me to a full-course Chinese meal later.”

“That’s a hefty price tag, isn’t it?”

Lying on the bed, I chat with Yuuji, who’s sitting beside me, but outside the window, our classmates are energetically playing soccer in their PE class. Just a little while ago, both Yuuji and I were out there with them.

“Direct hit to the face with a ball, huh? You were totally zoning out, man. Didn’t even try to dodge. What were you doing?”

“The sky was beautiful. I was just staring at it.”

Saying it out loud makes me want to sigh at my own stupidity, but it’s the accurate and honest answer.

Yuuji, who knows me well, didn’t laugh.

“Did you see something?”

“I did… It really was beautiful. The clouds spreading across the blue sky, changing colors here and there… as if they were tired of staying white and testing what colors could compete with the blue of the sky… It was incredibly beautiful.”

“Man, that’s talent…”

Yuuji said thoughtfully.

My view of the world sometimes becomes different from reality. The colors and shapes of real things mysteriously change, becoming incredibly beautiful, ugly, lovely, or terrifying.

And with those visions deeply imprinted in my heart, entwined with several prayers, I paint.

“But thanks to that, I ended up trapping the ball with my face. Knocked me out for a moment.”

“It looked painful, even from a distance. Lucky your nose is okay.”

“Lucky indeed. But Yuuji, you can head back now. Thanks, man.”

“…Ah, well, yeah.”

“…? What’s up?”

“I wanted to report something.”

“What, getting formal now? Is it about your girlfriend again?”

Since mid-June, he had been dating someone he had feelings for since our first year. Yuuji always seemed so happy—

“We broke up.”

I was expecting another love-dovey story.

“…Eh?”

“More like, I got dumped! That was quick, huh? Haha.”

“…Oh, I see.”

I want to punch myself for not coming up with something better to say. There’s got to be more than such a dumbfounded reaction.

“I’ve been buried in club activities on weekends and after school, right? Even though we started dating, she said it was too much for her. With summer break coming up… she didn’t want a boyfriend who’s always busy with club activities… When she said that—! There’s nothing I could say!”

“…Yeah.”

“Kuuya, you helped me out and I consulted with you, so I wanted to tell you properly. Sorry to drop this on you when you’re feeling dizzy.”

“…Ah, no worries.”

He seemed to need a moment alone to talk about this, away from everyone else.

Yuuji, explaining all this, maintained his usual bright and likable smile throughout. Anyone could tell it didn’t fully reflect his inner feelings.

He’s always been that kind of guy.

“I see… that’s how it is.”

Though I knew he wanted me to smile, I couldn’t manage it for my dear friend.

After a brief silence, Yuuji spoke up.

“Also, I wanted to thank Kuuya.”

“For what? I didn’t…”

“No, not for the ‘she’s into you’ advice—though I’m grateful for that too, but not that. After I got dumped, I went to see your painting in the art prep room.”

“…My painting?”

“I knew some people visit your paintings when they’re anxious or down, so I thought, ‘Is it my turn now!?’ And man, it’s funny, but… I cried a bit.”

Yuuji continued, somewhat bashfully.

“Your paintings are amazing, I’ve always thought so, but at that moment, really, truly… It’s like… imagine going to the hospital, right? Say your leg hurts like crazy, and you want it fixed, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“But if the doctor says, ‘Ah, it doesn’t seem that painful,’ or ‘There’s nothing particularly wrong here,’ it’s super frustrating, right? Like, ‘Understand my pain! It hurts!’ I’m going through something significant here!”

That feeling is familiar to me, as hospitals are a part of my life. I nod deeply in understanding.

“But on the flip side, when they say, ‘Ah, this must hurt,’ or ‘This must have been hard for you…,’ even though the pain hasn’t lessened, it feels like you’re halfway healed. It’s like your feelings are saved, lifted.”

“I get it, I really do.”

“Right! So, your painting is like that.”

Yuuji says, carefully weaving his feelings into his words.

“It’s like it understands, ‘It’s tough, it’s lonely, it’s scary.’ Looking at it, I feel like, ‘Ah, my tough feelings are drawn here.’ And that’s such a relief.”

Yuuji told me he cried looking at my painting.

But now, I’m the one on the verge of tears.

“I thought I knew your painting was amazing, but now I truly understand its significance. Your paintings have protected many people, just like they did for me.”

Saying this, he’s saving me without realizing it, always wearing his kindly smile.

“And I thought, even though my girlfriend dumped me, I have such an amazing friend. ‘I’ll go to school tomorrow with pride,’ I thought. So, I wanted to thank you today.”

“…So, we’re square on the full-course Chinese meal?”

I finally manage a smile and tease him, to which Yuuji also smiles.

“Fine, fine, I’ll let it slide just this once.”

“Thanks.”

“Hehehe, you’re special! …Alright, I’m heading out. …Kinda got all talkative there, huh! Turned into ‘Storytelling Yuuji.'”

Standing up from the chair and heading towards the door, I call out to Yuuji.

“…Yuuji! Hey, …I’ll paint even better paintings! I’ll create something amazing! So, come see them again.”

“You saying that like you expect me to get dumped again?”

“There are girls out there who can’t see what’s in front of them. You didn’t know that?”

“…What, Kuuya~, you love me that much~?”

“That’s right, you idiot.”

“Hehehehe~”

Leaving behind his laughter, Yuuji exits the infirmary.

“……”

Would Yuuji be happy if I painted the scene I saw today?

Could I heal my friend, even just a little, who spoke of the whole situation with a smile, his voice wavering slightly here and there?

“…But, …damn.”

I can’t paint today’s scene without red. It’s an absolutely essential color.

“I need to become stronger…”

I believe in painting. There was a time I cursed it. But painting also saved me.

It may just be a painting. But if it can save someone, then it’s worth risking my life for.

I clench my right fist tightly with my left hand. My nails dig in, and blood seeps out.

The red color oozes out.