When was the last time he had to do something hard? Yesterday? The day before yesterday? Or a week ago?
Kazehaya was walking down the stairs of Enoshima island with Takanashi following behind him.
"Say, Takanashi. Is it easy to walk on those legs?"
Kazehaya's question made Takanashi confused. Though it was clear, Takanashi was confused as to why he was asking something like that. Clearly, a person like Kazehaya wouldn't take care of someone who's like Takanashi.
"Uhmm… I've gotten used to it" she replied as she walked down a second set of stairs. There were only three more stairs to go down and when they were done, it would lead them straight to the bridge.
There were loads of people passing by the bridge. Going to the island and leaving the island. Some people were with their families and some with their friends. Some even went there alone but seemed happy and excited, unlike Kazehaya.
The aquarium was just on the other side of the bridge. It would only take them one left turn and they would make it to the aquarium.
Kazehaya's favorite thing was calmness. Everyday, he prays for calmness in his life. And, at that moment, Kazehaya received his wish.
The calm breeze hitting his hair and the noise of the waves hitting the beach. It's—
—nice
The price to pay a ticket to enter the aquarium was 1.500 yen. Depending on the age, college students need to pay around 1.500 yen to enter.
Inside the aquarium, there were fish tanks to fish tanks. Some filled with colorful fish and some filled with highly dangerous fishes such as piranhas.
They—Kazehaya and Takanashi— met up with Sara and Koharu at the other side of the bridge. The one who wanted to wait for Kazehaya was Koharu and Sara, but Sara doesn't want to show that she cares about Kazehaya.
"Wait Sara, isn't the aquarium closed at 5?"
"...really?"
"Well, here"
Kazehaya opened the Enoshima aquarium website on his phone and showed it to Sara.
Devastated. A word that fully explains the face Sara made. A desire she wanted to have but she couldn't get for two days. She collapsed to her knees and started to tear up from her eyes.
"Why-why…?"
She covered her face with her hands, wiping the tears of her face.
Kazehaya let out a long sigh, then his mouth moved.
"You know, if you want to visit the aquarium so bad. Maybe tomorrow I could go with you"
Sara lightened up hearing an offer from Kazehaya. She lifted her head and stood up full of excitement.
"You'll go?!"
"Shees, don't get too close to me. Yea, I'll go. I'll even buy the ticket for you"
"Yappa!!"
Sara jumped, pointing a finger to the sky.
Tomorrow Kazehaya isn't busy, he still remembered what Sara said back at the Cafe. "take a day off or two, you need to rest you know". He'll be quite free tomorrow, basically a day off.
The three of them decided. Since tomorrow Koharu will be busy with her shooting. Sara and Kazehaya would visit the aquarium for most of the day. Now, it's left to—
"—Takanashi, what're you going to do tomorrow?"
"Eh? Me" she pointed her finger to herself.
"Yeah, if you don't have anything to do, you could join me and Sara to the aquarium"
"Mmm… I will"
"Alright, cool!"
Walking through the lit road with other pedestrians walking passed them, they headed to a crosswalk. The light was red, cars were still wheezing left to right making the girls hair in front of him waved in the air.
The city in front of him was all still lit up, it was still a busy street. Kazehaya wondered in his head, what is she doing right now, cooking dinner for me? Remembering that at this time, Yamamoto—the maid who worked at Kazehaya's house—was ordered by Kazehaya's father to make dinner and await
Though Kazehaya had parents, he was raised by Yamamoto herself when he was in junior highschool. Kazehaya and Yamamoto had a special bond. You could say they're like siblings.
Every morning, Kazehaya is woken up by Yamamoto who was already in her maid outfit. At first, Kazehaya hated that he had to wake up early. But when that day happened, everyday since then, Kazehaya has been more productive, even helping Yamamoto with cleaning the dishes and the table.
It's both my house and yours, so why don't we work together. Kazehaya—when he was still in middle school—extends his hands to Yamamoto. It was like seeing a child offering help with your work, that's what Yamamoto saw from her eyes.
Either way, she said yes.
Kazehaya Shouta stopped walking and opened his phone and checked his mail if Yamamoto mailed him. With an oddly disappointing face, he saw no new mails from Yamamoto.
Instead of just closing his phone, he contacted his house and gave Yamamoto a call. When the call picked up, his mouth moved first before Yamamoto could say hello.
"Miss Yamamoto, I'm going out with my friends so I won't be around for dinner"
Understood Master, then I will postpone the dinner time until you get back. Please call me when you're on your way back.
Kazehaya smiled and let out a small giggle.
"Sure, I will"
Stay safe
"Yeah, I will. Thank you"
"You're welcome, Master Kazehaya"
The call hung up from the other side of Kazehaya's phone.
Putting his phone back inside his pocket and continued walking with his friends. He glanced at Takanashi's leg.
She was covering her prosthetic legs with her knee thigh high sock. He knows Takanashi is trying to hide her fake leg because she doesn't want to be shoved aside and be called a "weirdo".
He doesn't really care and forgets about the thing he saw.
The place they were heading was a popular restaurant in Tokyo. It will take them 10 minutes from the Tokyo station to the restaurant by foot.
They made their way to the Fujisawa station and took the train to Tokyo station. It will take them 48 minutes to get to Tokyo by train.
The four of them scanned their cards on the scarecrow-like machine and entered the station where they'll wait for the train to come and stop.
The three girls were looking for a drink to buy before the train arrived, and Kazehaya was looking at his phone, checking through the emails that he hadn't read.
Many of them were from his mother. Some were from a few days ago and some were from months ago. Something doesn't feel right inside him. Does he regret not reading these emails?
No. Even checking through and scrolling through his emails, not even a single muscle moved on his face. His emotionless face came back for a moment.
The station rumbled as the train came in. The three girls ran to the edge of the station to wait for the doors to open. Kazehaya was leaning back on a pillar near the edge of the station.
Takanashi came up to him and pulled his white jacket. Noticing Takanashi trying to get his attention, he put back his phone inside his pocket.
"Um, Kazehaya. The train is already here" she pointed to the train with her finger.
There were people coming out and going into the train. Most of them were college students going home from their travels. He heard the University was going on a trip outside of Japan and just now, they got home.
When the people were finished coming out, Kazehaya and the others went in.
The seats were half full and Kazehaya found four empty seats but it wasn't next to each other. So, they need to decide which one gets to sit with Kazehaya.
Sara—who doesn't want to sit right next to Kazehaya—chose the seat near the door and beside her was empty where Takanashi took a seat. She looked tired and exhausted so she wanted to sit immediately to rest her legs.
Leaving Koharu and Kazehaya to sit next to each other.
Koharu reached into her bag and brought out a box of pocky. She ate a piece and took another piece, meanwhile Kazehaya was watching Sara and Takanashi at the otherside of the train.
"What is it Kazehaya? You're awfully concerned about both Sara and Takanashi…" Koharu took in a deep breath, preparing to say. "Is it? Is Takanashi the girl—"
But her words were stopped by Kazehaya's lukewarm voice.
"No"
A simple answer from a simple man. Though he said no, his mind was filled with thoughts about Takanashi.
It was faint but he swore he remembered something from his past.
Kazehaya took in a deep sigh and lowered his head. His hands were supporting his head, holding it so it won't hurt his neck.
Then, from the edge of his peripheral vision, a stick of pocky came in. He raised his head again to see Koharu offering a stick of pocky to him.
"What is this? An offering or are you trying to play games with me?"
"You know that is not the way to treat girls right? If a girl offers you something, it could mean the girl has an interest in you"
"Are you trying to say that you have an interest in me?"
Realizing what she unconsciously said, her face turned red. She quickly hid her face behind her purse.
"N-no! I don't have any interest in you!"
"Mmm…?"
Kazehaya leaned forward, leaning his head on his hand. Kazehaya smiled and giggled for a moment, surprising Koharu who was still hiding her red face behind her purse.
Tokyo, where they would eat dinner was still lively. Pedestrian passing by and crossing the road. Stores were filled with customers buying all kinds of things.
Kazehaya was walking with Koharu on his side, while Takanashi and Sara were having fun looking at books, figurines, and clothes. They were like kids running around at a toys store.
Takanashi Ichika was a year younger than Koharu. She doesn't really care about fashion and often wears the same clothes in a different way.
She looked like a "little sister" character even sometimes mistaken by others as an elementary student, in actuality, she's already in her second semester in University.
5 minutes later, they were in front of the restaurant. A woman who worked there opened the doors for them and welcomed them to the restaurant.
Takanashi, out of excitement, ran inside to the restaurant but was quickly stopped by Sara who grabbed her in the arm. Sara pulled Takanashi out of the restaurant and brought her to Kazehaya. Koharu was there standing beside him.
"Kazehaya" Sara shot a glare at Kazehaya with her arms on her waist. "You're paying, right?"
Kazehaya looked at Sara then turned to the restaurant, then back to Sara again.
"What makes you say that?"
"—eh?! So you're not gonna pay?!"
Kazehaya pointed at the building's higher stories. There was a sign with the restaurant's name.
As Kazehaya moved his hands, Sara's eyes followed. The hand moved to the bottom right corner of the sign, then Sara realized.
"—how unpleasant"
"———"
"What is it Kazehaya?" Takanashi walked up to Kazehaya with her face only centimetres away from his.
"This restaurant—"
—is his or rather, it own by his family.
When Kazehaya turned 15, his father bought him a restaurant and told him "you can name it whatever you want, I'll take care of the restaurant and we'll split fifty-fifty".
Isn't cool if your father is this very rich businessman. It would be an easy life. You could buy anything and get everything you want. Not for Kazehaya.
Kazehaya didn't see this as the freedom he want. Though his life was made easy because of his father, the world for him is still colorless.
"Wow! I didn't know Kazehaya owns a restaurant!"
Takanashi was taken back by the sheer size of the restaurant in front of her.
"Come on!" Kazehaya said as he entered the restaurant. He stopped at the door of the restaurant and said "Last one at the table gets the cheapest food…"
Takanashi and Sara took Kazehaya's words as a joke though his mannerism was being serious. Koharu ran inside alongside Takanashi.
"I don't want the cheapest food!" Takanashi ran, leaving Sara behind.
"Hey! I don't want the cheapest food too!!" Sara chased after Takanashi who was already in front of the door.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
The moon was shining brightly on the yellow sand. It was a clear night, there were no clouds.
Miss Yamamoto was in the living room, sitting on the soft couch.
Kazehaya allowed Miss Yamamoto to watch tv when she's not doing anything. "Miss Yamamoto, if you're not doing anything or finished with your tasks for the house, you can take a break or watch some tv".
Miss Yamamoto lived in the same house as Kazehaya. When she was still in highschool, Kazehaya was still in middle school. She used to live in an apartment near her school but when she was running out of money, she received support from the Kazehaya family.
Yamamoto was offered to live with Kazehaya Shouta. She declined at first but when Kazehaya begged for her to stay with him, she couldn't decline it anymore.
The phone of the house rang. She stood up from the couch and grabbed the tv remote, turning off the television then putting down the remote. She walked to the small desk where there was the phone and answered.
"Hello? This is the Kazehaya household"
And at the other end of the phone. Was someone Yamamoto recognized
"Yamamoto, is Shouta there?"
"No ma'am, Master Kazehaya is now going out with his friends"
"Ah, I see…" the woman answered in a relieving voice. "Yamamoto, thank you for taking care of Kazehaya for me". At the other side of the phone, the woman smiled.
Yamamoto smiled too, from hearing the gratitude from the woman at the other side of the call.
With nothing else to say, the woman says her goodbye and Yamamoto said hers. Then, the woman hung up.
Me too Ma'am. It's like he's trying to make up the time from before. Yamamoto said in her mind as she headed back to the couch.
Before turning on the Tv again, she grabbed her cell-phone from the table in front of the couch and checked her email. There were a lot of emails from her friends about their trip and their new life. Then, one new email popped up.
Miss Yamamoto, I'm heading back home and could you prepare another futon in my room?
Reading the email from Kazehaya made Yamamoto confused. Why does he want an extra futon in his room? And because Yamamoto is already an adult who just graduated from Campus, her thoughts were filled with dirty things.
Yamamoto… he's still 19 years old, he can't do that! She said in her mind while hitting her head multiple times.
Or is it…? He wants to do it early!? Her mind asked but she quickly answered her own question. "No! He's a good man!" she whispered as she clenched her cell-phone in her hands.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
At the Fujisawa station, he puts back his phone in his pocket. It's the first time, right? "Yeah, it is". Kazehaya thought to himself.
"You know…" he paused as he walked through the crossway of the station. "It was a bad idea to randomly pick a bottle from the bar...". Isn't even illegal? Takanashi is still 18 years old.
The more he thinks about it, the more regretful it was. He should've checked what the bottle was, no wonder why the bartender tried to stop him.
"It wasn't my fault… It was you who brought her that drink" she with her arms crossed said with her unfriendly tone.
"I don't even know where she lives… guess I have to bring her to my house"
"Kazehaya"
"Mmm? What is it?"
"You pervert"
"—————". Still walking with a girl on his back, Kazehaya ignores Sara's mockery. "Shouldn't you both be heading home by now?" Kazehaya slowly turned her head to look to the people behind him while trying not to disturb the girl who's unconscious on her back.
"We can't just leave an innocent girl alone with a guy like you!"
"Yeah, it'll be dangerous if we leave a girl alone with a guy!"
"Why does it sound like you two hate me so much…?"
The garden in front of his house was shining, water was reflecting the night moon. The three of them stopped in front of the door.
"Look… if you two want to keep Takanashi safe. I'll prepare a room for you!" He said while looking at the two girls below the small steps of his front porch.
"No thanks, I have work tomorrow" Sara crossed her arms and turned her back against Kazehaya. She walked out of the front garden and went back to the Koshigoe station.
"Koharu? I guess you too have work tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I do". She also turned her back and started heading to the Koshigoe station.
After watching his friends leaving, he opened the front door and was greeted by Yamamoto.
"Master, the futon you asked is ready!"
"Thank you Miss Yamamoto". Kazehaya said as he carefully took off his shoes and puts them on the shoe rack.
"Oh, who's that in your back?"
"Her name's Takanashi Ichika and she'll be staying for the night"
"Is that why you asked for the extra futon?" Yamamoto asked as she watched Kazehaya put on slippers and headed inside the living room.
"Yeah, I don't want to sleep in the same futon with a girl"
"How about her parents? Won't they get worried about her?". Yamamoto walked beside Kazehaya, where his bedroom was their destination.
"She lives alone, in a cramped apartment. You know how it feels, right? Living in a small apartment". He opened the door to his room, there were two futons that were ready to be use in front of him.
Yamamoto watched Kazehaya as he tucked Takanashi in the futon.
Takanashi's face was all red and her breath was short. It looked like someone was treating a person who's suffering from fever.
"I'll get some tea"
"Miss Yamamoto, no need for tea. She's already asleep. Let's just go to bed now, goodnight!". Kazehaya closed the door to his room.