After classes ended and I walked Yumiko home, she told me to meet her half an hour later at the nearby train station.
She didn't give a specific reason for it, yet here I am.
Normally, I would have resisted more, but the tone she used was too serious—and knowing her, there's rarely a real reason behind that kind of tone. So yeah, curiosity played a part too.
"I hope the cold doesn't get worse…"
I rubbed my hands together to warm them.
Winter started a little over two weeks ago, according to the weather report, and the temperature is supposed to drop further in the coming days.
At home, I don't worry about the cold—the heater takes care of that—but the streets are a different story.
That's why, over my usual simple outfit—a T-shirt of any color and jeans—I put on a hoodie. Pretty much the same thing I wore when I went shopping with Yumiko.
My wardrobe is full of clothes like these; I can safely say I'm a guy with simple tastes.
Quite the opposite of Yumiko, who bought a mountain of clothes just a week ago. I'll never understand women and their obsession with fashion.
Although… I know one girl who probably doesn't care much about that. Her personality screams otherwise.
I mean Kawasaki, my classmate at the karate academy.
Her attitude leans delinquent—she even fought two guys and beat them up. I don't know many girls who do that normally.
Still, I have to admit she has a feminine side. I can guarantee that.
Thinking about it, ever since the day she stayed at my house, her attitude toward me changed slightly; now she talks to me more when we meet, and we walk home together after class.
I wouldn't say she trusts me, but she no longer treats me like a stranger. That's progress—for her, at least.
And those two idiots who attacked Kawasaki never came back to the academy.
Makes sense, after my little "chat" with Watanabe. As for Tanaka, he's probably still recovering—I broke his arm and might have fractured a few ribs.
Should I feel guilty about that?
I don't think so. They got what they deserved. What kind of mindset do you need to hate someone just because they're not in the spotlight? Pure ego.
But in a way… they were lucky.
Lucky that Kawasaki beat them up first, and that I only added the finishing touch to Tanaka?
Yeah, that's one way to put it. Because if both idiots had decided the best option was to come after me, well—a broken arm would've been the mildest thing that happened to them.
There are no rules in a fight. If someone attacks you, are you really going to pull your punches until they give up?
The other side wants to hurt you, while you hold back to avoid hurting them. You'd have to be out of your mind to think like that.
Of course, context matters. If it's a fight in front of a crowd, the last thing you want is to get reported for assault.
But if you're in the city's dark streets and someone tries to rob you, I doubt the thief's going to run to the police afterward to complain that his victim punched him too hard.
I speak from experience—it's good to keep your body ready. And if the attacker strikes first, I'm technically exercising my right to self-defense.
If, in the process, I end up smashing his nose, arms, ribs, and leg, that's just because I was surprised and reacted.
Am I too sadistic?
At first, I wondered about that. Maybe something's wrong with me.
But I never felt guilt deep enough to call remorse. After all, it was a stranger—someone whose name I didn't even know—who tried to hurt me first.
If I remember correctly, someone once told me this might be a disorder… or at least, that's what she said. But since it came from her, I didn't pay much attention.
I feel perfectly fine.
Maybe my way of acting and seeing things is wrong, but if it's worked so far, I see no reason to change.
Back to those two idiots who attacked Kawasaki—since they haven't returned to the academy and never gave an excuse or contacted Sensei, he's started to wonder why.
Knowing things could get complicated, I made up a story: last Thursday, I said, I walked home with them, and they told me they needed to focus on university—the entrance exam's coming up soon.
Because they were grateful to Sensei for all the years he taught them, it was hard for them to say goodbye directly. So I offered to do it for them—to explain that they wanted to start a new chapter, follow their own path, and keep improving as individuals.
It might sound suspicious, but I never gave him a reason to doubt me. Besides, since he knows I helped Kawasaki for a week while she was recovering, distrusting my words wasn't really an option.
That's how the situation with Watanabe and Tanaka was settled once and for all, and classes at the dojo went back to normal — as did my sparring matches with Kawasaki.
Of course, from an outsider's point of view, it might seem too convenient. But if you do things right, the results will always turn out as expected.
Study for an exam and you'll be rewarded with a high score. Train hard and you'll gain strength and endurance. Earn someone's trust, and they'll believe your words — especially if you know exactly what to say.
Analyzing the people around you is something everyone should do; it helps you avoid unnecessary trouble.
Deliberately provoking guys who look like delinquents will only make you a target. But if you act too submissive, they'll walk all over you. The best approach is balance — make them think messing with you is pointless, that they gain nothing from it, yet you're not looking for a fight either.
As long as you can read and adapt to your surroundings, things get easier.
That would be my advice based on what I've learned through the years at school: adapt, survive, and overcome.
"Raiden."
I won't lie and say things always go as planned — anomalies do exist.
"Raiden!"
Still, being aware of what surrounds you should make life simpler. The rest depends on yourself, as well as—
"RAIDEN!!!"
"Yeah, Yumiko…?"
"How long are you planning to keep ignoring me!?"
I turned to her. Yumiko was wearing a blue long-sleeve blouse under a brown coat, blue jeans, and black boots.
"I–I didn't see you… And could you maybe let go of me? It's hard to t-talk…"
She was pinching my cheek — hard. That pain snapped me right out of my thoughts. I really need to stop zoning out like that.
"You're seriously absent-minded." She finally let go.
"I'm glad to see you too."
"Let's just drop it. Come on, we need to catch the train."
I nodded and followed her into the station.
After paying with our cards, we waited a few minutes until the train arrived.
"What's in the north?"
We were waiting for the northbound train, but that's all she said. Yumiko kept her eyes fixed on her phone.
Whether I wanted to or not, I'd find out soon enough — no point in rushing her.
When the train arrived, we boarded. The car wasn't crowded, so we easily found seats.
After several minutes of silent scrolling — her on her phone, me on mine — we got off at Yotsukaidō Station.
"So, where are we going?" I asked, trying to think of anything noteworthy nearby, but nothing came to mind.
"We're taking a bus," she said, walking toward the stop.
"That doesn't answer my question."
"You'll find out soon enough."
Yumiko usually acts lively, sometimes even teasing, but today she seemed unusually quiet — almost melancholic.
She must've planned it perfectly, because the bus arrived just after we reached the stop.
We rode for about twenty minutes before getting off.
And then I saw it.
This place had crossed my mind, but I dismissed it, thinking it couldn't be...
In front of me stood the entrance to Chiba Cemetery.
"Wait here for a moment."
Yumiko walked over to a few flower stalls near the entrance, exchanged a few words with the vendor, and received a large floral arrangement. She must've been messaging the vendor earlier to confirm it was ready.
I see now... that sudden change in her attitude wasn't random. You don't go from playful to silent without reason — not unless you're carrying the weight of loss.
"Let's go."
Before entering, I pulled down my hood as a small sign of respect to those resting here.
Walking beside Yumiko, I noticed the flowers she carried were white lilies.
I recognized them instantly. When my grandfather passed away, my mother placed the same kind on his grave. It's a gesture of remembrance and love — though in her case, it was also an attempt at reconciliation with the parents she never forgave while they were alive.
People usually bring white lilies. They symbolize love and affection toward the departed — a silent way of saying, you're still remembered.
Along the way, I noticed several graves—well-kept and properly maintained.
After a short while, we stopped at one.
Miura Ayumi—that was the name engraved on the tombstone.
"I brought something for you today, Grandma," Yumiko said softly, her tone calm and serene.
She placed the floral arrangement in front of the grave, her gaze fixed on it, as if recalling the past.
"She was always so kind, always taking time for her foolish granddaughter."
I decided to listen in silence.
"And even though that little girl was clumsy and far too innocent, you always welcomed her with a gentle smile…"
Yumiko laid her hand on the stone.
"Even in your final days, you were happy for me, and your last words were nothing but gratitude for your foolish granddaughter who can't take care of herself. You should've been more selfish, you know?" She gave a faint smile.
Then Yumiko stepped back.
"Even so, I'm not someone you'd be proud of yet. I still have a long way to go… but when that day comes, you'll be the first to know."
Her expression seemed on the verge of tears, but she held them back.
Now I understand better.
Though Yumiko's grandmother loved her until the end, Yumiko feels she didn't deserve it. She thinks she's not someone worthy of all the love and affection her grandmother gave her.
In Japan, the type of flowers left on a grave reflects one's true emotions. So, when Yumiko finally feels she's become someone her grandmother can be proud of, she'll bring a new arrangement.
"She must've been a wonderful person," I said without looking at anyone.
"She was," Yumiko replied, her voice a little brighter. "She was always there for me, ever since I can remember."
She was like a second mother to Yumiko.
"I see… someone to be proud of."
"She was," she said again, her tone turning somber. "But I wasn't someone who deserved such an amazing relative. I was just a foolish girl who couldn't do anything on her own and only caused her more worries…"
The more I listened, the more I understood what she'd been through. After feeling such emptiness, she forced herself to change—to stop being that timid girl who couldn't do anything, and instead become someone stronger, someone who speaks her mind without hesitation.
At school, people often talk about the times Yumiko argues with other students—something I never would've imagined from the girl I once met in the hospital.
If I had to compare, Yumiko has changed tremendously. Even so, if your goal is to live up to someone's expectations, that change might never feel enough.
"You're not the same as before."
"I still have a long way to go before becoming someone my grandmother would be proud of," she said, looking up at the vast sky.
From another perspective, coming here with someone and talking about this shows a great deal of trust.
Or maybe Yumiko just didn't want to come alone—that's possible too.
Still, some might find it strange. It's not exactly common to visit a relative's grave with a classmate and open up like this.
Subjectively speaking, this kind of experience can be heavy for some people, since sharing so much about yourself is, in a way, an unspoken sign of deep trust.
Yumiko must've known that. Even so, she brought me here without telling me where we were going.
Maybe she just wanted to see how I'd react—if I'd find it troublesome, or if I'd pretend not to care.
Being trusted with something like this carries weight, and yet…
I stepped closer to the grave.
"Miura Ayumi, right?" I bowed slightly. "I'm Tsurumi Raiden, your granddaughter's friend."
I did something similar at my grandfather's grave once. I never met him in person, and that always seemed to trouble my mother—that because of her conflicts, I never got to meet him.
I glanced at Yumiko from the corner of my eye; she was just watching.
"Regarding Yumiko, I have a lot to say—well, more like a list of complaints."
Yumiko raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"She's a pretty troublesome girl. Bossy, too. And above all, she's incredibly shameless when she does things without asking." I sighed, recalling all those moments. "Maybe you spoiled her too much, and that's why she turned out like this. But, well, everyone raises their kids differently. If she were my granddaughter, I'd have been stricter with her—made her eat her bell peppers, for starters."
Yumiko looked like she wanted to argue, but I cut her off.
"Still, I think you'd be proud of your granddaughter," I said, my tone serious.
What I'd said before was true—Yumiko has plenty of flaws. But can I really say that about a fifteen-year-old girl? She's at the age where she's supposed to make mistakes, supposed to have flaws. And besides, who am I to point them out when I have my own?
Mentally, I'm an adult, and even then, I'm far from perfect.
"Yumiko's actually really considerate toward others. Even with her grumpy, harsh attitude, I've seen her help people."
Just as I remember her flaws, I also remember her kindness during the time we've spent together.
"Like that time she helped a little girl who had lost her mother. She didn't leave her side until they were reunited. She's stubborn like that."
Once, while we were walking home from school, we stopped at a park because Yumiko wanted to go on the swings. Is she a little kid? I thought at the time.
Before we left, she noticed a small girl who looked lost. I hadn't even seen her. Knowing Yumiko, it was surprising to see her approach and start talking to the girl.
The little girl told us she had gotten separated from her parents. The logical thing would've been to take her to the police station and move on, but Yumiko insisted we help her find her mother.
After a while, we managed to reunite them. The girl's mother even tried to give us money for helping, but Yumiko refused.
That day, I got to see another side of her.
"Or the time she brought a stray kitten to the vet—and even made me help her put up adoption posters. It was exhausting…"
That day, Yumiko came over to my house. After chatting and playing with my sister, I walked her home. On the way, she spotted a small box by the road. Inside was a weak, malnourished kitten.
We took it to the vet to get treated, and that should've been the end of it. But the next day, Yumiko made me help her hang adoption posters with the kitten's picture.
A few days later, an elementary school girl adopted it.
At first glance, Yumiko doesn't seem like the kind of girl who'd go out of her way for a stray animal—but she did.
"And at school, people talk about how Yumiko steps in when some students are being bullied. She doesn't hesitate to lend a hand, even if no one asks her to."
She's an amazing person who helps others without expecting anything in return. She just doesn't show that side of herself—only the tough, arrogant one.
I know because I've seen it.
"For all that and more, I can confidently say you'd be proud of your granddaughter. So rest easy—you raised a good girl."
After saying that, I stepped back.
My words might sound unlike me, but I know what it's like to lose someone you care about—especially when you never get the chance to speak to them again, or apologize for your last words before they died.
"Thank you, Raiden."
Yumiko looked at me with a calm, sincere expression.
I don't know if she expected this from me, but... this is just what I do.
"I was just being honest, that's all."
I hadn't lied about anything I said—it was simply the conclusion I came to after spending this time with her.
"Too honest, if you ask me, but…"
She gave my arm a light punch, reacting to my earlier comments. Then she turned toward her grandmother's grave, a determined look on her face.
"I'll become someone even better than I am now. I'll surpass your expectations, and show you that the foolish little girl you knew has grown up!"
There wasn't a hint of doubt in her voice—only conviction.
"Just don't keep causing me trouble…"
I placed my hand on her head.
"On the contrary, I'll bother you as much as I can from now on. You'd better be ready!"
That cheerful, confident smile suits her better.
After Yumiko's final words, we bowed slightly in farewell and began walking back home.
Today surprised me—I didn't expect to learn more about her. But… I can't say I mind.
And just when I thought that would be the end of it, I turned my head after feeling like someone had called out to me.
"Keep looking after her for me, please…"
For a brief moment, I saw a faint, blurry figure near Yumiko's grandmother's grave—and strangely enough, it seemed to bow to me.
I can't be sure; it happened so quickly I might've imagined it.
There was no trace of what I'd seen or heard—as if it had all been in my head.
Maybe I'm losing it…
Even so, if I had to answer those words that might've never existed, my reply would be…
"Don't give me more work than I already have... I would've done it anyway, even if you hadn't asked."
Clearing those thoughts from my mind, I kept walking beside Yumiko.