Three Days of Happiness

A few days later, we reunited at college. After that, we had a few
lunches together, having long conversations about books and
music.
“I’ve never met someone in my generation who’s read more than
me before,” Wakana said with eyes sparkling.
“I’m only reading, though. I don’t get anything from it,” I replied. “I
lack the ability to get the real value out of a book. All I’m doing is
pouring soup from a pot to a little plate. It overflows from the sides,
and it doesn’t make anything nutritious.”
“What are you talking about?”, Wakana said with a head-tilt. “Even
if it might not seem nutritious, and like you’ll forget it right away, I
think the things you read always stay in your head and make
themselves useful. Even if you don’t notice it yourself.”
“Well, maybe that’s true. I just think... I’m saying this because of the
way I am, but I don’t think it’s healthy to drown yourself in books
when you’re young. Reading is for people with nothing else to do.”
“Do you not have anything to do, Kusunoki?”
“Other than part-time jobs, not really,” I answered.
Wakana couldn’t hide a smile, and said “Well, we’ll have to give you
something to do,” lightly slapping my shoulder. Then she picked up
my cellphone and added her contact info.
If I’d known at that point that Himeno had already gotten pregnant,
married, gave birth, divorced, and by then had completely forgotten
me, I likely would have been more romantic with Wakana.
But I was still determined in my adolescence to keep Himeno’s
promise, and ensure I was still on the shelf. So I never called
Wakana, and while I did get a few texts and calls, they soon
stopped. I can’t get her hopes up, I thought.
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