—The room's atmosphere was tense for Kazehaya Shouta.
A man, Shouta, called by the given name "father" was standing at the end of the hallway.
dressed in a black suit with a red tie. This "father's" hair wasn't as unkempt as Shouta's or any of the other people in the building. The person's superiority over the room was obvious from the way he stood.
Sharp black eyes, glared at Shouta's blue lifeless eyes. His mouth moved.
"Shouta, I have words for you"
"Mmm? What is it?"
The person suddenly sat down on the floor and the image of a scary and tense businessman faded from Sara's eyes.
The person patted the floor right next beside him while raising his head and adjusting his gaze to Shouta.
"Shouta, sit here" he patted twice on the floor.
Shouta slowly turned his head around, staring at his back, still convinced Takanashi was sleeping and that she wouldn't wake up for a long time. He motioned for the "dad" to wait while he walked to his bed, intent on tucking Takanashi under his spare, warm, and comfortable futon.
"So, father, what is it?" Shouta left his room then sat near his father on the floor near the couch of the living room. It is very clear now, the man who's wearing a black suit and red tie, was Shouta's father.
"Oh? Who's this lady?"
"A friend. A very close friend. Sara Fujiwara"
"Mmm? A very close friend? Well… I'm glad that you're making friends. Nice to meet you, miss Fujiwara" Shouta's father gracefully stood up bowed down, greeting the person he just met.
"Nice to meet you too… ughhh…"
"You can call me Kado, you don't need to worry"
"Ah! Y-yes, mister Kado"
Kazehaya Kado. The name of Kazehaya Shouta's father was. The man was rich, really rich. Taking care of multiple companies around the Japanese Island. No wonder Shouta had a lot of money when he was spending his days with his friends.
"Father, what is it that you want to say?"
"It's about your school," Kado paused. Kazehaya instinctively knew what his father was going to say next. "Remember Sato Sakura?"
"Yeah"
"She moved to your school because of a rumor that is spreading wide across the prefecture"
The rumors about a handsome young man who attends the same college as Shouta. According to reports, the young man was unusually tall for a Japanese citizen. His hair was all black, but the girls sometimes noticed that the young men had dyed it white.
"What rumor...". Shouta was the one who inquired. He squints his eyes. He was wary of the rumors that circulated at his college. However, half of him does not believe there was a story about someone who looked so amazing that it spread across the prefecture.
"You don't know, Kazehaya?" putting her hands on her waist, she turned her gaze at Kazehaya. "The rumor is about you, don't you remember dyeing your hair white? And those jackets, I bet you have them inside your closet".
"Eh? Me?" Shouta pointed at himself, still confused like he'd heard it for the first time.
"Are you serious? You never heard of the rumors?"
"No". Quick and simple answer, no need further explanation. Shouta clearly doesn't know what the rumors are.
"...the first time I heard about the rumor, it was the last month of highschool,". She—Sara Fujiwara—accidentally overheard her seniors—who graduated a year before—talking about that rumor. At first she was confused about what they were talking about and was too afraid to ask.
But, not too long, those rumors were becoming a topic in her school. Not only girls who were talking about it but boys also. I want to be friends with him. I want to date him. I hope he likes this. Words were everywhere, around the corner of the hallway, the classrooms and even overhearing calls in the bathroom.
"You did make the prefecture shook"
"What does that mean?"
"She means you made the whole prefecture talk about you, non-stop" Kado said before anyone could explain. In fact, no one understood what Sara said except Kado.
"Kazehaya, you could ask one or two highschool or college students, maybe 9 out of 10 people knows about the rumor"
"I also heard the same college Shouta attends has been getting a lot of students from the whole prefecture, wanting to get in," Yamamoto said as she washed the dishes.
"Eh? All because of me?"
"Is this why you're bad at socializing?"
"What makes you say that?!"
The clock on the wall ticks, and the tv turned on and startled both father and son who were sitting near the sofa chair.
"...Mmm… when is the anime starting?" a little girl spoke out of frustration, clicking each button on the remote, switching channels to channels.
"Mia, would you mind being quiet for a moment, father wants to talk to your dear onii-chan…"
"I don't want to be called onii-chan by you…!". Shouta leaned back in disgust. He doesn't want anyone to call him "onii-chan" other than his little sister. Truly a sis-con.
"Shouta, can I continue?"
"I'm not stopping you"
"An answer that I want". Kado smiled. "Sato Sakura is transferring to your campus. Do you want to stay here in risk of that getting spread around your campus or move to another college? It's your choice".
Everyone—except Shouta—was surprised hearing the words Kado voiced out. Sara, confused, asked Shouta what his father was talking about, walking closer to where both father and son were sitting.
"...Kazehaya…"
"Do I still have to go over all that happened before? I'm sorry, but I don't have the energy or the time!" Shouta jumped to his feet and marched to his bed. Anyone in the room could tell he was upset because he slammed the door on his back with such force.
"Kazehaya…?". Feeling like she's the one who was responsible for Shouta's rage, she turned around and headed towards the door but then Kado stopped her.
"Miss Fujiwara, I reassure you that Shouta's anger isn't because of you".
"...thank you" Sara said as she opened the door and stepped outside of the house. Though Kado already reassured Sara it wasn't her fault, it was still lingering in her mind, is he going to be mad at me? Is he still friends with me?
The clock on the wall continued to tick. Shouta, lying on the wooden floor of his home, kept repeating those thoughts, unsure of what would happen to him in the future.
He wondered aloud to the sleeping Takanashi beside him if she knew anyone he'd been trying to meet for the past seven years.
"Takanashi". Shouta tapped her on the shoulders.
"————"
"Takanashi…". He again tapped her on the shoulders.
"————"
"....Takanashi…". This time, Shouta pressed her cheeks.
"——? Mother? Why… are you… here?" she rolled her body around to the other side, her eyes met with Shouta's
"Too bad, you're still in my house"
"Eh?".
Takanashi yelled at the top of her lungs, breaking the silence that had fallen over both of them. She jumped back, causing the futon she was sleeping on to kick up.
Kazehaya said, pulling off the futon on top of him, "Takanashi, slow down, it's just me." "I'd like to ask a something."
"Kazehaya? What am I doing here?"
"You fell asleep because you were tired"
"...eh? Tired because of?"
"...I pulled you… no, I took your hand and took you to place that I enjoy the most"
"Eh? W-what?"
"We're now in a relationship, I as your boy—"
"Kazehaya! Don't say that to a girl you just met!"
"But, wasn't being my girlfriend you wanted to say when we were eating breakfast? Wait no… since you visited the cafe for 2 months straight! You wanted to be my girlfriend!"
"...n-no!"
"Takanashi"
"Yes?"
"You're blushing right now"
"...no I'm not!". She closed her eyes out of
"Takanashi!"
"Wha-what?!"
She suddenly felt something hugging her. It was warm but then, she felt tears of happiness, someone was crying on her shoulders. The only person in the room with her was—
"—Kazehaya?"
Right beside her, hugging her, crying on her shoulders, was Kazehaya Shouta.
"Thank you"
A word.
"Thank you for making me feel something warm"
The feeling of warmth and satisfaction spread throughout her body.
"Takanashi… please stay by my side. Don't leave me. I don't want to feel cold thoughts anymore!".
In the next moment, Shouta broke into tears.
Confused but happy and sad. Seeing someone she wanted to be with, crying on her shoulders like someone trying to ask help. Takanashi held her tears from flowing out while hugging Shouta, patting his head like a caring mother.
"Takanashi…"
"What is it, Kazehaya?"
"Could you…. Stop playing with my hair now?"
To stop Shouta from crying again, Takanashi had to stroke his hair slowly, feeling all the strands of his soft black hair that seems to be messy all the time.
"I was expecting these hair to be hard and oily but… it is surprisingly soft, how can it be messy everytime you go outside?"
"It's my style"
"..."
Takanashi didn't make any other reaction, she only laughed. Shouta knows Takanashi is trying to tease him but her face was too cute and the laughter only enhances the image of cuteness.
"Takanashi…"
"What is it?"
"How much would it cost to… buy permission to use this lap pillow?" Shouta then rubs his hands all over her thighs. "It's soft and… surprisingly warm…".
"Ummm… I don't know. Maybe this is what couples should do…?"
"Ohh… so that's what they do?". Shouta turned his gaze to Takanashi. His eyes filled with joy… "Takanashi"
"Yes?"
"I don't know anything about dates and lovers so I'm basically a virgin at those stuff"
"Eh?"
Shouta woke up from her lap. It felt like sleeping on a heavenly pillow that has been descended by angles.
"Thank you for the lap pillow"
"Yeah, your welcome!"
The clock in the room ticked. Shouta gazed at the clock, the clock had hit 11:00 pm. It was already that late.
"You want to go home? I'll accompany you back there but I don't know where you live though"
"———"
"Takanashi?"
Her face was looking down. Shouta doesn't know what she was doing but from the way she sat and her hands in between of her thighs—
"Brother are you awake?"
A little girl came inside the room.
"Am I interrupting something…?" she said, flummoxed.
Shouta was sitting there with his arm touching Takanashi's head. Takanashi was sitting beside him, only inches away from his body.
"———"
"———"
"———"
None of them spoke. Three sets of eyes swiveled.
Mia was the one who broke the silent.
"Brother…" she gazed at her brother, suspiciously. "You perv"
"don't get the wrong idea here, Mia!"
"But… you're with a girl in your room, alone…"
"I think you're the one who is the perv"
Shouta smirked at his sister.
"Mmmm…" Mia puffed her cheeks and closed the door. She ran to the living room.
"Shouldn't you…?"
"It's okay, she knows that we aren't doing anything weird"
It is at this time, Shouta often sleeps but since he has a guest over at his house, he decided to sleep a bit late.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
A gentle ray of light shone through the train's windshield. Shouta and Takanashi were seated next to each other.
The bulk of the passengers Shouta could see this early in the morning were highschool and junior highschool students. A group of girls are conversing with each other, while a group of boys are laughing at each other.
He was bored and stared out the train window.
Dammit, I thought this dating thing would change or even make me feel something different! But I guess… I only started last night.
"Kazehaya?"
"What is it?"
"Emmm…"
Shouta turned his eyes to Takanashi.
"Too afraid to say it?"
"Y-yeah…" she lifted her phone and put it in front of her face, hiding it.
"Text me if you're too afraid to say it with your own mouth"
Then, Takanashi lowered her phone and started pressing the buttons.
"Hmm?"
Can I call you by your given name?
Shouta, shocked, looked at Takanashi's face. Of course, her face was red because of the question she gave to Shouta, hiding it.
When she was hiding her face, she heard a soft beep from her phone. Lowering her phone, she checked what was making the noise.
"—?!" her eyes opened wide.
Yeah, of course.
Reading the message she got from her new boyfriend, she smiled and giggled.
"Happy?" Shouta asked.
"Yeah, I am!"
The train stopped at the second to last station of the Kodomonokuni line. The doors opened and people were starting to leave the train. Takanashi got up and walked to the door.
"Uhmm… Shouta, aren't you going to get off here?"
"I like to take my time and enjoy the moment of the morning. I always get off at the last station". He stood up from the seat and walked out of the train. "But for now, I'll follow you".
"Oh, okay…"
The sun was already high but its shine was still warm and a soft breeze flew past the crowd of highschool students. Shouta was at ease when he felt the breeze of the wind flowing through his hair and white jacket.
"Does it feel good?" Takanashi asked. She was walking right beside him, wanting to hold his hand.
"Yeah, this moment is the very thing I enjoy the most"
"I see"
"Hm? Ichika, what are you doing?"
"Making you feel good"
"By holding my hand?"
"Yes"
"And clinging to me like a little sister?"
"Yeah"
"Yeah, it does make me feel good"
They walked to a supermarket near the station and bought drinks and snacks. Takanashi bought mineral water and Shouta bought coffee. Both stopped below a street light to drink.
"What time is it now…?" Shouta said. As he looked at the position of the sun.
"9 am, I still have time before class"
"Same here"
Shouta took a sip of his canned coffee.
"I thought you and Fujiwara were going to meet at some point of the road…"
"Why?"
"You two looked so close. At first, I thought you two were weird couples but I was wrong"
"I did get a lot of those glances when walking beside Sara. It's really unpleasant but I got used to it"
"Well… how about now? You and I are in a real relationship and… do you still feel the same glance from people?"
"Yeah, I do. But like I said, I've gotten used to it"
Another group of highschool students passed both of them. They were wearing the uniform of the highschool near his campus.
"Ichika, where's your uniform? Private classes?"
"..."
Not a response. Instead, his phone made a soft beep then it vibrated, allerting Shouta to pick up his phone.
I go to classes for disables and there's only me in the class. And you also gave me this clothes.
A sharp pain cut through his feelings, leaving him speechless.
"Well… good luck on that"
Shouta puts back his phone inside his pocket.
A car passed in front of them. It wasn't a large car but it could fit a family inside it, excluding the elders.
Shouta glanced at Takanashi's feet, trying to look at her prosthetic but she hid it behind her thigh high sock. Truly someone who's trying to hide something embarrassing from others.
Though knowing Takanashi's trying to hide her prosthetic leg because she doesn't want to be looked at. He still asked.
"Why hiding your prosthetic?"
"...."
And again. A soft beep then a vibration.
I don't like getting weird looks from people
It's obvious, why did I ask anyways…?
How long are they going to stand there? Takanashi looked again at her phone; it says 8:30 am.
"Ah! I gotta go to school now!" she hurriedly put back her phone and closed her water bottle.
"See you, Shouta!" she waved goodbye. As her present disappeared amongst the group of highschoolers.
Not even a second later, Shouta chose to go back to the station. He walked by himself now. But the warm breeze made the journey calming.
He lied to Takanashi. He doesn't have class today and he wasn't even planning to have classes today. He only wanted to take Takanashi to her school but it seems that she's brave enough to go alone.
But…
"Lying isn't good, isn't it?"
A familiar voice behind him.
"...have you been stalking the whole time, Koharu?"
She was indeed stalking the two couples. But her disguise was too well even the sharp eyes of Shouta couldn't spot her.
"I was gone for only a day and you two are close now?"
"Why? Jealous?"
"No idiot! It's just weird that someone like you getting something very precious like her"
"So you're jealous…"
"...."
"Don't you have class?"
"Nope, work is also on break because the director is currently sick"
"Sad to be an actress huh?"
"Not really. Unlike you, I still enjoy some things while doing my job, while you-"
"Sit around and do nothing. Pretty accurate"
Shouta was already tired of the conversation he was having.
"Can I… go back home?". Shouta pointed with his thumb at the station.
"I'm going with you"
Koharu then hurriedly walked to Shouta and grabbed his hand.
Her hold was tight and Shouta was starting to feel a bit of pain.
"Koharu"
"What is it?". A scent of anger could be heard from her voice.
"You really are jealous…"
"...."
No answer from Koharu. She really is mad, her face was all red.
Lucky them, they don't have to wait too long for the train to come to the station. The train came quickly and left quickly.
Since it was already past 8:30, a lot of the highschool students weren't riding the train anymore. They'd probably skip school because of embarrassment or something along those lines.
"Koharu"
"...."
Not a single word came out of her mouth.
"Okay, you're still mad at me"
"How can you tell?" She said. Her voice stuttered.
"As far as I know. You're the only person I read"
"Really?"
"That was a lie, I've read many people before. Their emotions were so clear that it made me very uncomfortable to read people again. So I could say this is my first time in while"
"What are you even speaking, Kazehaya?"
"To put it short. First time in a long time"
"Mmmm…"
Koharu's voice seemed bored. She slanted herself with her hand.
"No more questions?" he said. Expecting Koharu to interrogate him more.
"Are you two that close? You called her by her given name, and same for her"
"We are girlfriends and boyfriends"
"I'm gonna call police"
"Why's that?"
"Mmmmm"
"...."
"Why are you two in a relationship now?"
Shouta avoided her question. He doesn't want anyone to hear what happened last night or anything involving his and Takanashi's relationship and the reasons.
"Nice move…" she said.
"Thank you"
"...."
"Well then, how about a switch?"
"What? You as my girlfriend?"
"No, you straightforward idiot!"
"Then what?"
"I'll treat you food"
"Sorry, I lost my appetite when I heard some restaurant was cutting open a live animal"
"Isn't that a hoax?!"
"Yeah, but the image of the thing makes me very uncomfortable"
"So… you don't want to eat?"
"Not at all" maybe he should try to forget everything about the hoax but he had already embedded the image of the hoax inside his mind. It was hard to forget. "Maybe something that doesn't involve beef?" he asked.
"You already had ice cream yesterday"
"Sara told you?"
"Yeah"
"...."
"So, what do you want?"
"Ramen"
"You know there's meat in ramen, right?"
"I'll just order a meatless ramen"
"You sure? The ramen won't taste the same without the meat"
"I am sure it's going to taste like it always does. Even without meat"
It was still early in the morning but it's already busy in their city. The city of Fujisawa, Roads were full of cars and busses. Pedestrians were walking past them and walking in and out of buildings.
The ramen stand they were heading two was near the entrance of the fujisawa station. It was also the same place where Sara and Shouta ate ramen 3 days prior.
The ramen there was cheap and was good enough.
"...." Koharu looked displeased.
"Why? Something's bothering you?"
"Yeah"
"What is it?"
"You chose a stand that sells cheap ramen"
"So? Is it untrustable?"
"I've never been here before… yeah"
"I've been here before, it's trustable"
The ramen stand had just opened, Shouta and Koharu were the first customers to buy their ramens.
"Mister, one Shoyu with fish please!"
"And I'll have a Miso"
"Coming right up!"
Inside the Ramen stand, it was like an empty stand. Literally, only those two were sitting there and nobody else. And only one person was working and it was the owner himself. His crew hasn't come yet and every morning, he does the cooking and serving all by himself.
"Enjoy the food" the owner said.
"Thank you, for the meal," both friends said in unison.
The ramen was good for its price. It was cheaper than any average ramen but it was surprisingly better than some ramen.
The two finished and Koharu paid.
The two left, waving their hands at the owner. He waved back.
"Thank you," he said.
"You're welcome"
Koharu let out a smile.
When they left the ramen stand, it was 09:40 A.M.
Takanashi was probably learning all by herself in her private classroom and Sara was attending her classes, not like her senpai.
"What to do now?" she said.
"I'm going home. I need to get ready because today, I need to get back to work"
"Going back to the cafe?"
"Yeah"
The day was about to start for Shouta. After taking the two day break Sara told him to, he was ready to head back to the cafe.
He took the train and walked to his house. There, he was greeted by Mia who was getting ready to go to school.
He already ate breakfast. All he needed to do was change his clothes and he was ready to go.
He waved goodbye to Yamamoto, at this time, Mia had already left for her school. He opened the door to his house and walked outside—
"You sure are early," she said, crossed arms.
"What're you doing here?"
"Nothing in particular, just passing by"
"It's clearly that you did this by purpose"
"...."
"Are you two really jealous of me and Takanashi?"
"Who said?"
"Koharu looked all red when I brought up that topic"
"...."
"Bet you're the same… see"
He only slightly moved his eyes and what he saw was what he talked about.
"Why do you care!?" she said. Utterly embarrassed.
"It's bothering me. Could you both stop?"
"What have we done?!"
"Not telling the truth, huh?"
They were walking to koshigoe station.
The station was now busy with people wearing business suits and some even carrying heavy equipment. Usually, Shouta takes the train that has the least amount of people riding it.
The train arrived and with a screeching sound, it stopped at the station.
"Excuse me, you two"
Someone was calling him. Wait, no. someone was calling both of them.
Shouta turned around, with a slight annoyed feeling behind his face.
"Yeah? What is it?" he said.
"Are you two from here?"
The girl seemed out of breath. Her voice was stuttering and her breath was loud.
"I live here but I am not from here," Shouta said.
"I am from here, do you need any help?" Sara said.
The girl walked into the train, didn't say anything.
Both Sara and Shouta walked in and followed the girl to an empty seat at the back of the train.
"Ummm… how do I start this…" the girl sounded nervous. She took a deep breath to calm her mind down and lift her head, turning her gaze to Sara.
"Do you know the fastest route to keio university?"
"The fastest route to the university—"
"Are you attending that university because of the rumors?"
Shouta's voice was bold. The girl rolled her eyes to Shouta, who was wearing his favorite white sweater with fur on the hood.
"..."
"No answer, huh? Well, just take the odakyu fujisawa line and stop at shonandai station. And take the bus to the campus right from there"
"Uhmm, would you mind telling me which bus I need to take?"
"Don't know, I never took the bus"
"Then, is it— w-wait? You also attend the same university as I am?!"
"Yeah"
"Uhmm, could you tell me where the boy is?"
Something snapped inside Shouta. He was pissed.
"Nope, don't know who he is"
"Wha-what?! How do you not know?!"
Please go away.
"Do you even have a cell phone?"
To stop this, Shouta needed to do something.
"No, I don't have"
"Liar!"
"You caught me"
He tried his best, but always failed every time. What was he thinking, trying to lie to someone?
Lying is bad, isn't it?
He remembered those words.
"Yeah, I know about the rumors and I know about the person himself"
"Is that another lie?" she asked, crossed arms.
Shouta sat next to her, the row behind him was empty.
"Nope, it's not"
"Then… where is he?"
"Don't know, never talked to him in 5 months"
"So you're friends with him?"
"Yeah"
"Mmm…" the girl puffed her cheeks. The look on her face was cute.
"I lied again"
"I knew it. Do you honestly like lying to people?" The tone of her voice was cheerful. She was joking with the question she asked.
But to Shouta…
"I am him"
"That's also a lie! Stop joking!"
"No, I'm actually him"
Shouta turned her gaze to Sara, who was standing in front of them, looking and hearing their conversation the whole time.
"Sara"
"What is it?"
"I'll be leading this girl to the campus, tell boss please"
"Like hell I'll do that"
"After work, I'll buy you dinner again"
"...."
"So?"
"You know that it's unfair!"
"I know, but you always say yes and you like it"
The journey to Shonandai station took 20 minutes. The girl and Shouta walked away from the train station, leaving Sara behind. The girl wanted to join him instead of taking the bus since he was already there. He was the one who knew the way because he was the one who knew the way.
"Is this the way we need to go?" she said, pointing to a direction, clearly not the direction of the campus. She was way off.
"No, it's that way"
"Oh. then lead me there!"
"Why should I?"
"Then why're you here?!"
"Just kidding. Don't go wandering off. If you get lost, I won't find you"
"Such a rude thing to say to people you just met"
"Yeah, like you and I just met"
"Like heck we've met before-" she stopped. Her eyes widened. "Have we met before?" she slightly tilted her head out of curiosity.
"....I'll tell you when you met this boy that you're looking"
"Why should I wait!? If we've met before, tell me now!"
She was demanding it. It isn't like he doesn't want to tell her about it but it wasn't clearly the perfect time to tell her. Anyways, what is he trying to tell her?
"...."
"Why are you not answering?!"
"Come on! I'll leave you behind if you just stand there"
"Hey do- wait! Don't leave me here!"
The girl caught up to Shouta, walking behind him. It was slightly out of view but he could see in the corner of his eyes that she was following him.
"Nice to meet you, my name's Kazehaya Sakuta"
A lie. But it was on purpose, not a joke.
"Why suddenly introduce yourself?"
"What's your name?"
"Hmmm… name's Sakura, Sato Sakura"
Yeah, I know.