Iwanako's Letter
Text
Page 1
Dear Hisao,
How are you? I hope you are well
and happy at your new school.
Everyone here misses you. Almost
all of our second-year class got
put together in class 3-1 for the
final year, so we are pretty
comfortable right from the
beginning of the year. I'm sure you
would've been assigned to this
class as well.
Page 2
The mood among third-years
seems to be very anxious about
the final exams, even though they
are so far away. The teachers are
badgering us about it all the time -
even old Mr. Tachibana who is, by
the way, out homeroom teacher this
year. Would you believe it? I was
sure that he'd retire after our
second year, but here he is, nagging
everyone about studying for exams.
Page 3
I think things like that are the main
reason why the mood among the
third-years is so nervous. I must
admit that I'm somehow losing
confidence in myself as well, even
though I've always fared reasonably
well in exams.
Page 4
It's so weird to think that we are already
seniors, isn't it? Time has really
flown past. I wonder where it went.
The new first-years seem so young
and somehow really innocent. I keep
wondering if I was like them in my
first year. I've been feeling
nostalgic like this for the whole
first trimester.
Page 5
There are other things I want to
say. I'm writing to you because I
felt that there are thing I
should've said after the incident
back in winter. I really regret that I
wasn't able to say them in person,
and I have no excuse for it.
Page 6
The truth is, the times when I
visited you at the hospital made me
worried about you. I am not talking
about your health. You seemed to
become more and more distant and
disheartened. It was natural after
something like that happened, I'm
sure, but somehow I got the
feeling that you had given up on
something back then. Happiness,
maybe?
Page 7
I wanted to somehow express my
feelings, but the right words didn't
come to me. I couldn't say anything
to comfort you. I am really sorry
for not being able to support you
when it mattered the most, even
though I like you so much. At least
now, finally, I can be more honest.
Page 8
If I could go back to those quiet
days in February and March, I'd tell
you not to give up on yourself.
That's what I would say. Maybe you
wouldn't have drifted so far away if
I had just said something. I hope
you've managed to get back on
your feet on your own.
Page 9
Now that the distance between us is
also physical, it also feels more
final, somehow. I wonder if we will.
meet again. Perhaps it's for the
best if we don't? Still, if you would
like to correspond with me, by all
means write me back. I'd very much
like to hear about your new school
and how you are doing. I wish you all
the best.
Sincerely, Iwanako
