The train ride home felt like an eternity. I gazed out the window, the rhythmic clatter of the wheels on the tracks providing a backdrop to my thoughts. Waiting, waiting, waiting… When would this train finally reach my house?
I couldn't help but let out a sigh, glancing at the empty seat to my left. Did she feel upset that I had left her alone? Impossible. Ichika was undoubtedly the type of person with a vast circle of friends. She was friendly, caring, and I wouldn't be surprised if all the boys had secret crushes on her.
Spending the school day with her had been unexpectedly fun. It was an entirely new experience.
Ichika's the first outsider I've felt at ease with, and talking to her just feels natural. She's comforting in a way I didn't know I needed. Still… I can't let myself fall for her. That would ruin the friendship we started…
I had never had a crush on anyone before. All my life, I'd been content in solitude, never yearning for a romantic relationship.
As I contemplated, doubts filled my mind. What kind of girl would be interested in someone like me? I didn't consider myself particularly ugly, nor did I possess the confidence to claim I was extraordinarily handsome. I was, by all accounts, an average guy. The issue, I suspected, lay more with my personality.
Thankfully, the train chose that moment to stop at my destination, cutting off my internal debate. I gathered my things, my thoughts still in a whirl, and exited the train onto the platform. Home was within reach, but my feelings and unanswered questions remained, lingering in the back of my mind.
As I stepped off the train, thoughts of the day still swirled in my mind. The station was relatively empty, with a few people bustling about, minding their own business. I walked toward the exit, my pace slow and contemplative, when I noticed a homeless man sitting on a street corner, bundled up in ragged clothes.
The sight of him made me pause. It was a chilly evening, and I couldn't fathom how he endured the cold. I couldn't help but think of the small amount of change I had left from when I'd bought energy drinks for Ichika and me earlier. It wasn't much, but it could make a difference for him.
I approached the man, and he looked up at me with weary eyes, his scruffy beard and disheveled hair adding to his forlorn appearance. Without saying a word, I extended my hand, offering the change I had left. He gazed at the coins for a moment before a faint, grateful smile crept across his face, revealing the resilience that had carried him through his hardships.
His voice was raspy, as if rarely used, but he spoke with a sincerity that touched my heart. "Thank you, young man. You don't know how much this helps. You have a kind heart."
I nodded, not sure how to respond to his gratitude. Then, he surprised me by saying, "I've seen you before, you know."
I furrowed my brow, puzzled by his words. "Y-you have? When?"
His eyes, though weathered by the harshness of life on the streets, held a hint of nostalgia. "I saw you walking to the train station a while back. You looked like you didn't know where you were going."
"O-Oh…" A bit of heat crept up my neck. Did people really see me like that?
The homeless man's voice softened, and he spoke with a knowing tone. "Sometimes, being lost can lead to finding what you never knew you were looking for. I've been lost for a long time, but maybe one day, I'll find my way, too."
His words resonated with me. It was a simple gesture, giving a few coins, but the encounter had given me a perspective on life. As I continued my journey home, I couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of purpose, inspired by the homeless man's resilience and wisdom.