“I see… well, now that it’s out, there’s no helping it. From a societal standpoint, I’m clearly the one at fault.”
“…”
“Oh, and you can just get rid of my stuff however you see fit. Even though we were living together, most of my belongings are still at my apartment.”
The sound of her footsteps echoed softly as she moved about the room.
They didn’t sound heavy.
If anything, it felt as though a weight had been lifted from her chest, as if she were almost relieved.
“Oh, one last thing.”
“What is it?”
“You’re not entirely blameless either, Kei.”
“Huh…”
“I’ve never been satisfied with you, Kei.”
“Wha—?!”
I instinctively turned to glare, but by then, she was gone.
The door she had left open was slowly swinging shut.
“Damn it… damn it… DAMN IT!”
Alone in the empty room, I slammed my fists on the desk again and again.
Even as my hands turned red and started to bleed, staining the desk, the explosive emotions within me wouldn’t subside.
If only I hadn’t fallen for her.
I wouldn’t be feeling this way now.
If only I hadn’t dated her.
Seven years of my devotion—gone.
Why, how… the questions swirled endlessly.
“I just want to forget everything…”
I wanted to drink myself unconscious, collapse, and never wake up.
But I had no alcohol on hand.
And no energy to go out and buy any.
If I wanted to forget everything…
“If I’m going to skip work anyway, I might as well put a hole in the wall while I’m at it… ha.”
Like a zombie—or maybe a slug—I got to my feet, moving weakly toward the corner of the room.
Then I slammed my head into the wall.
THUD.
The sound was harder than I expected. At the same time, sparks exploded in my head.
THUD.
This time, my consciousness wavered.
It felt like the disorientation of being drunk—like losing my sense of balance entirely.
Now that I think about it…
I felt this way the first night I spent with her, too.
It was after a drinking party with the university club… I’d had too much to drink, staggering around…
And I’d caused trouble for Shizuku that night, too.
I wonder what she’s up to now.
Not that it matters.
My relationship with Shizuku… is long over.
THUD.
The third blow.
The world flipped upside-down in slow motion.
* * *
“Hey, Kei.”
Someone was calling me from far away.
This voice… was it Shizuku?
“Kei, come on.”
So, this must be one of those life flashes before your eyes moments.
How ironic, that my final thoughts would be about my childhood friend, Kato Shizuku.
Looking back, Shizuku must have been worried about me then—
about me, caught up in the throes of a one-sided love.
And I’d coldly cut her off, distancing myself…
Ah, what an idiot I was…
“Kei!”
I felt someone shaking me.
…Strange.
This felt far too real for a mere flashback.
My eyelids were heavy, but I managed to open them.
Even so, my head was spinning, and I felt sick—
almost like I was drunk.
“Come on, wake up, Kei!”
My blurry vision flickered.
So, I survived, huh?
If so, then this must be a hospital…
“Huh?”
The scene before me didn’t make sense. I rubbed my eyes in disbelief.
The noise of boisterous young people laughing and chatting filled my ears.
What… is this?
It looked just like… one of those drinking parties from my university days.
“Finally awake, huh?”
I heard a familiar, exasperated voice beside me. Turning my head toward it, I froze.
“…Shizuku?”
Standing there was Shizuku, her long, light-gray hair framing her face, her expression filled with concern.
“Kei, you drank too much… Let’s head home, okay?”
“Huh… Shizuku? Why are you here…?”
“Seriously? Don’t drink until you black out, okay?”
“But I’m not—”
“Liar. How long have I known you? You can’t fool me.”
“…Sorry.”
It seemed she had me figured out.
As expected of my childhood friend—she was sharp.
—No, wait.
That’s not the point.
Something’s wrong.
Why is Shizuku—my childhood friend, who I’d drifted apart from—right here next to me?
It felt too real to be a dream, and I was utterly confused.
As I looked around again, I saw a group of lively, laughing young people.
Every face was familiar.
No doubt about it, they were all from my university club.
“What? Wait, is this a dream?”
“What are you talking about?”
“No, because… huh?”
I couldn’t make sense of anything.
Seeing me glance around nervously, Shizuku sighed and rubbed her forehead.
“Ugh, you’re completely useless. Come on, let’s go home.”
“O-okay.”
0 Comments