I made haste in finishing the dinner they had shared with me, they gave me a small note with his address written down. Apparently, he was working at a hotel as a receptionist. It was quite unfitting for his personality, but seeing his drive to change himself and be more suitable to others, I bet there was someone else involved in his decision.
I stood for a minute or so at the entrance of the hotel, quite large and clean, the small sign was illuminated by floodlights, the large glass doors let in natural light, but at night it pooled light outwards onto the sidewalk. I proceeded inside after composing myself.
Immediately the warm air greeted me, followed by a small door chime as the inner doors slid open to let me into the lobby. I looked around for a moment, the lobby filled with a couple of groups all varying in size and appearance. Only until I shifted my gaze to the counter, which took up a large section of the far right corner, did I spot Torabe talking unusually enthusiastically with a customer. I smiled a little to myself as I got in line behind the customer occupying his register, ensuring he didn't notice me.
After the man took his key and left the counter I hurriedly approached Torabe and gave a small "long time, no see," before waving my hand up above my shoulder.
"Ah— Karusu?"
"Hey! Don't go calling me that as well, Torabe."
I could tell I not only confused him but put him back a pace or so in disbelief as he shook his head and turned away from me slightly.
"You had to come to visit me at work…you're quite a nuisance, aren't you?"
"I just knew you couldn't bear waiting to see me if you knew I was in town any earlier."
While slightly joking, I did wonder if Torabe would have wanted to see me at all in the first place. I didn't exactly leave Tokyo with Nao with fair warning. Nor did I come back to Tokyo with any advance message either.
I would not be too surprised if Torabe simply ignored me and tried to get me to go back to Kanazawa. I wouldn't blame him if he hated me now.
"Karusu, you realize ditching me back then and showing up like this out of the blue is quite frustrating for me, right?"
"Hm? Is it really that bad?"
"Yes!" Torabe quickly quipped at me before wrapping up his shift, calling to his boss or supervisor of sorts and calling the night. Apparently, he was a good worker because he could freely call his shift. Perhaps they had extra staff.
Torabe is quite a mysterious character since last seeing him.