Shou—! Will you wait for mother to come home?"
...
"Shou—! I will be back home!"
...
"Shou… please be a good boy from now on"
….
"Shou…"
….why?
"I love you"
He spoke with a venomous tone in his voice. He screamed out in anger, spilling all of his emotions onto the wall.
The ocean wave slammed into the shore, splashing water in his face. He'd awoken from a brief nap.
"—"
And as he rolled around in pain, no one seemed to notice. He leaned against a bridge railing, watching the ocean waves and breathing in the cool breeze. The lights of enoshima lit up the dark sky beside him.
"I should—"
"—wow, I didn't think you'll be here!"
In the back of his head, he could feel someone gazing at him. His voice was familiar, a voice he sometimes hates.
"Need help? I saw you rolling around on the floor, screaming"
Aoi Ishigami was standing beside him, holding a cold drink in his hands. Wearing only a t-shirt and jeans, the only thing keeping him warm is his blue scarf.
"Come on! I'll help you with anything—just say it!"
"—"
Sobs came up his throat, hot tears slipping out of his eyes and falling upon his cheeks.
The flood of seemingly ceaseless tears continued as Shouta said in a sorrowful voice, "could you carry me back to my house?"
It was Aoi who carried him when he was unconscious after confessing his true feelings to Ichika.
"Sure?"
Aoi crouched down, putting his drink down first. Then Shouta grabbed onto Aoi's back, carefully not to spill his drink.
—As he closed his eyes, trying to forget about it, the first thing that came to mind was a question that loomed over him.
Is she going to forgive me?
Without a doubt, she could not forgive him. He can't imagine a world where Ichika forgives him, no matter how hopeful he is. But when he saw the person standing in front of his door, all of his thoughts vanished.
"Shouta! Why did you run?! I was worried!!"
Ichika's voice could bring happiness to him. Her worried tone ran through his ears and into his heart. But the tears didn't stop flowing.
"Look… I don't know what happened here but… can't we talk about it inside? My back hurts— this guy is heavy!"
Ichika nodded and walked into Shouta's building. It's odd that she didn't knock first.
When Shouta saw the light from inside his house, Mia and Yamamoto were waiting for him on the living room sofa. Mia and Yamamoto had worried expressions on their faces, and their voices reflected their feelings.
"Onii-chan! Are you hurt!?"
"Master, is there anything wrong?"
Mia asked, with Yamamoto by her side. Her eyes were reflecting the light, covered in tears.
—Ichika must have arrived here first. She thought Shouta ran to his house.
"I-it's nothing…"
"—"
"—"
"Bro, you wanna go to your room or stay here?"
"My room would be nice"
The three girls in the living room fell silent when Aoi took Shouta into his room.
Mia broke the spell later, but not before.
"...Miss Takanashi, this has never happened before," Mia spoke up, her voice brimming with zeal. Ichika can sense Mia's anger.
"Please… don't come again"
"B-but, I started th—"
"I HATE YOU! BIG BROTHER DOESN'T ACT LIKE THIS!!"
Having something she doesn't want, the girl pursued her with a cry that threatened to tear her asunder.
"Miss Mia, please calm—Miss Mia, please calm down, your brother doesn't want you"
"It's okay, Miss Yamamoto— I'll leave now"
"GO!!"
Covering her ears, shaking her head, making wordless sounds, Ichika ran. She ran.
And kept running.
She doesn't care where her feet take her.
—it all happened when Ichika and Shouta met the girl, Nakamura Tsubaki.
Before he ran away, Shouta had asked her a specific question, which she recalled. She had to call a halt to the meeting because Shouta was late, so she dashed over to his house to see if he was around.Asking Yamamoto, she was obviously unsure of Shouta's location.
Ichika wondered what would happen if she hadn't met Shouta.
Would he be happy? Or would he stay as dead as he was? The look on Shouta's face before, he thought it wouldn't mind him.
If she hadn't met Shouta, he would never have met Nakamura Tsubaki again. And Mia wouldn't be angry like she is at the moment.
—These thoughts are hindering her from walking straight, nearly hitting a lamp post at the side of the road.
She had run for 10 minutes non-stop, her knees begging for mercy, her face drenched with sweat.
"No… it's not my fault! I didn't make Shouta feel like that!"
With tears in her eyes, she ran back to the station and rode a train to her house.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Back at Shouta's house, Mia broke down to tears and cried on the floor beside Yamamoto.
The maid hurried to get a tissue to help wipe Mia's tears.
What she did wasn't wrong. What she said wasn't wrong either. If Ichika didn't meet Shouta or even interact with him, he would be like his usual self—lifeless, dead soul.
Meanwhile, Shouta was asleep in his room. Aoi was sitting right next to his futon, with his back against the wall.
"You must have a rough time, huh?"
"Yeah, a rough time that I don't like"
"Clearly! Nobody likes when their life gets tough like this"
"Yeah"
"Say, wanna go to the beach? You know next month is summer"
A good time to spend his days with Ichika. He could make her happy once more, taking her to the beach is one of the options.
"With only you?" Shouta asked.
"Fujiwara, and you'll try to invite Minase, right?"
"Guess I'll try"
"Alright then"
You don't want to?"
"Not feeling it…"
"Fine then, I'll ask Fujisawa. If you want more people, try asking Minase"
"She's probably busy"
"Seriously? In the summer too?"
"She's a busy woman"
Almost everyday she has to attend some sort of meeting for a movie or an interview. She once did a meet and greet in Akihabara and attracted a lot of male viewers because of her slender body and her cute voice.
If she isn't busy, she spends her free time either sleeping or going out with her friends.
"Alright then, I'm leaving now"
"Okay"
——Ichika, where are you?
Mia told me to not meet you again…
So? Is that a reason not to answer my question?!
It's for the best, okay? I'll be having fun with Nakamura, you don't need to worry about me!
Then, the call ended.
He didn't say anything, only clenched his phone tighter with each passing second. Then he slammed his fist the wall beside him, making a loud noise.
His breathing was shallow and labored. His pulse was pounding. It was frightening without anyone to rescue him from half of his cold feelings. What happens if she vanishes for the rest of his life?
Will he revert to his old self? injuring himself physically and mentally.
"I don't like it"
—His eye began to light up with courage.
Inside his chest, a burning sensation bursting with heat. It's a sensation Shouta had forgotten about; it wasn't new to him, but he hadn't experienced it in a long time.
"Onii-chan! I made you tea!"
A little girl's voice came into the room, carrying a tray and two cup of tea and another glass filled with sugar. Her voice sounds happy and bubbly, like she had done something she wanted.
"Thank you, Mia"
Shouta said cheerfully.
—It was obvious he was playing it. He's not very good at being happy. Only laughing when he gets hurt.
"Mia, why did you kick Takanashi out?"
"—?!"
"Mia?"
"Y-you heard it… didn't you?"
"You were screaming, of course I heard you"
"Well… since miss Takanashi begin to be your girlfriend, you've been spending less time with me and you've also been acting weird"
"What acting weird?
"It's not like your usual self-abuse! But… you were acting… happily"
"What does that mean?" Shouta giggled.
"You've been smiling the entire time you were with her— it made me…"
"Jealous?"
"Yes!"
"Huhu… that's my cute little sister. You're jealous because you weren't the one who made me feel alive again, right?"
"I-i hate to admit it… but yes"
While watching his little sister blushing, he patted her head then played with her, soft and straight, hair.
"Thank you, Mia. But the thing you did was bad, and I now—"
"—No!! Don't!!"
"Why?"
"I hate her!!"
"But, I love her"
He closed the door behind him, leaving Mia inside his home, and his new life had begun. He's no longer able to back out. He is no longer able to flee.
He ran into the living room and slammed the front door shut behind him. He was relieved that the day had not yet ended and that he could still catch up with Ichika and apologize. And—"—I'll tell you how I really feel! With a grin!
He dashed to a location he refers to as "middle point." He stood in the center of the station, looking around, disappointed to see that Ichika was nowhere to be found.
He turned around to return to the station's door, but then he heard a girl's voice calling to him—his ear numbed when he heard her voice.
"Shou-chan!"
Sato Sakura, an old classmate, dashed from the platform edge to the card-scanning machines near the entrance. Wearing costumes that resemble those worn by cosplayers.
"...."
"Where are you goin—"
"—Hahahaaaa!!"
"—eh?! Why're laughing? Is my costume on backwards? Did I forget an accessory?"
"Hahaa, I didn't know that you're doing cosplays! Are you paid to do these, or are you doing it for fun?"
"Hey! Don't say mean stuff to your friends!!"
"Well, who told secrets to the teacher when she was in 6th grade?!"
Sakura was caught off guard by Shouta's abrupt tone change. It had been a long time since she had heard Shouta laughing and crying angrily.
"A-ah… Uhm, I'm sorry— you probably won't forgive me…"
"Like hell I will!!"
"See— I kn-knew you wo-wouldn't forgive—"
—Sakura remained quiet. She felt a weight on her shoulders. Her costume had been yanked off.
"Hey, looks like someone wants to take a picture with you. I'm glad that you've found a place for yourself"
"Huh? Weren't you mad at me?"
With tears in her eyes, she asked Shouta.
"I still am. But, I'm happy you're not the same like you use to"
Shouta bolted from the station. Sakura tried but failed to hit him with her hand. She brushes her tears away and crouches down to converse with a small child who wanted to take a photo with her.
Shouta ran down the stairs and headed to the next station, right across the Fujisawa station. Taking an escalator to take him a floor higher, he saw Koharu from the corner of his eyes.
He remembered both she and Ichika wanted to meet with each other, because Koharu wanted to borrow a novel from Ichika.
"Hey!! Minase!"
She was stunned when she was addressed by her last name.
All was staring at Shouta as he made his way through the crowd to get to the next floor through the escalator. With his hands, he almost tripped and punched a boy.
Fortunately, he made it to Koharu without incurring any injuries.
"W-who are you!?"
"Kazehaya Shouta, someone who regretted—"
"Okay, now I know it's you!"
"Great, mind—"
"Why are you here? And why are you in a hurry? Did something happen? Where's Takanashi?! Kazehaya!! She never left your side since you both started dating!!—"
"—shut that mouth! You're making a scene" Shouta covered Koharu's mouth with his hand. Then, he pointed towards the crowd behind him and in front of him, behind Koharu.
People were encircling them and flashing their cameras at them.
"I'll tell you everything, once we find a nice place to talk"
Shouta took Koharu's hand with hers and dashed out of the station. They were now on the walkway that ran between the two stations. Shouta explained what had happened before when they both stood at the edge of a pedestrian bridge, gripping the railing.
"I don't like it…"
Her eyes were ragged and her cheeks were moist as she spat out her emotion to the mirror, which reflected her face. Her eyes may have reddened if she had been weeping for a little longer.
She then layed on the ground, in front of her bed, knees touching her chin. Her feelings were mixed and twisted.
"I know that I'm not wrong! She's wrong! Mia's wrong! I'm always right! I'm never wrong!"
Her decisions have never been wrong in the last few years, primarily three. When she is faced with a choice, she always chooses the best one, resulting in people's happiness.
But when—
—suddenly, she heard knocking on her door.
She was startled and let out a loud yelp, but the person who knocked on the door couldn't hear her.
The banging persisted, becoming increasingly louder and shaking the door more violently. She didn't have the nerve to react because it terrified her. She wishes the knocking would cease, but her wish has not been granted; instead, the knocking has become increasingly louder.
She began to wonder if she was dealing with an animal or a suspect. And the way the thing on the other side of her door slammed shut was unlike anyone she knew.
There was a flash of light that caught her intention.
It was her cell, which had unexpectedly turned on and made a soft bing sound. The knocking was always going on, and it didn't seem to be going anywhere any time soon.
Shouta: Where are you?
What should she answer with? Mia had told her she was the one who made her brother this way and told her to never talk or meet him again.
—She left him on read.
Taking her last breath, she put down her phone and walked slowly to the door. She checked through the peephole of the door and saw three people standing in front of it.
She was definitely getting robbed.
"W-what should I do?"
What should she do in this situation? The first person who came to mind was Shouta, but she had just put him on read, which had led her to believe she was done with him. He wasn't going to console her, much less forgive her.
If she opened the door and acted cluelessly, it wouldn't change the robbers mind. She would still get robbed or maybe, even worse.
If she opened the door and straight up begged for mercy, still, the robbers wouldn't change their mind about robbing her place. And if she begged anything for them not to—
"—Hey!"
A third party had entered from the other side of the aisle. It was the voice of some boy yelling at the thieves who were attempting to break into her apartment.
"Who are you, brat?" A tall thieve exclaimed.
"Yeah! Stay out of this!!" his friend followed.
"We're trying to rob here!!"
—are these people dumb?? Wait no, why am I asking. These guys are dumb.
She thought in her head. The thieves had just explained what they're doing to someone who clearly doesn't know what they're doing.
"It's quite embarrassing, you know? Being caught up in the act. I'm confused why you three aren't even trying to cover up what you're trying to do?"
"Cause' we know we're going to beat your ass!!"
Ichika quickly ran back to her phone, wanting to call for help. But her guts were holding her back to push any buttons on her phone.
"Yeah! You're just a little kid, what're you going to do? Run away and call mommy?"
—When the last words were spoken by the man who was pick-locking the door to Ichika's apartment, he was unable to say another word.
"..."
Instead of his mouth, his feet moved and moved him closer to the robbers. The robbers were not ready, and jumped back like a pathetic coward.
"Don't ever mention my mother!!"
With his foot, he kicked the tall robber and knocked him down on the hard concrete floor. Then, with his right hand, he yanked the two others against the wall, clutching their heads. Both of them were hitting and pinching the boy's hands, but he remained unfazed.
The tall robber got up and punched the boy from his back, making a loud sound. The boy screamed in pain, it felt like a part of his bone had cracked.
"Ekk—!"
Ichika screamed behind the doors, unaware of her twitching hands and feet. Something had slammed onto it.
"Y-you three are troublesome, huh? Bet you guys had robbed multiple houses before, ey?" the boy laughed, coughing.
"Seems like you, brat"
With him, still holding the two others, the big one punched him again, making him scream in agony.
"You're a tough one, kid!"
"Haha…! I guess you three didn't bring any weapons because the owner of this room is a girl, right?"
"H-how did you know?!"
—how can he know?!
Ichika gasped, behind the doors of her apartment.
"You've been following this girl, right?"
"Kid, I don't know what you're playing but if you don't shut you—"
"You all want to have the girl, am I right?!"
"Ahhhhh!!!"
The tall one screamed and prepared a punch. The boy dodged his punch and his first flew right to his friend's face, knocking him unconscious.
"Thanks for the help! Old man!"
"Dammit you brat!!"
A fight broke between the two of them.
The boy let go of the other robber who he had choked so hard to the point he fell unconscious.
Upper kick, round house, hook, jab. It was like a boxing match had started in front of Ichika's house.
Screaming, groaning, moaning. They were enjoying their fight and were laughing every time one gets a punch on the other one.
"Haha! Looks like I'm better than you!"
He said as he jabbed the boy's abdomen.The boy moaned and coughed. Keeping the wall around him, he was on the verge of losing his equilibrium.
"You are! I'm just copying movies from the anime I watched!!"
"What are you?! Some kind of looser neet?!"
"Nah!"
He then raised his index finger to the sky. Posing for the camera in front of the robber. Smiling, his pain from his punches hidden.
"I'm Yamaguchi Shouta, a kid from Kyoto!"
After presenting himself, he slammed his fist into the robber's head, flinging him against the wall and knocking him out. The robber's nose was broken as he slammed into the wall, blood splattering everywhere.
Yamaguchi Shouta sighed and wiped the blood from his brow with his hand. He was battered by the kicks. He screamed one last time before collapsing on the floor, his abdomen throbbing with pain. Blood is being vomited out.
"I…! Win… haha…"
His vision grew darker, and darker. His eyes rolled to the door to Ichika's apartment. His blooded lips moved, smiling, looking at the girl standing behind the door, tears flowing from her eyes.
"I'm sorry that you have to—"
—look at me like this.
And, in the next instant, he—Yamaguchi Shouta—fell unconscious.
Sirens roared in front of Ichika's apartment. Both black and white cars were in front of the building.
People bringing in four bodies to four different ambulances. Officers were standing by and watching the scene.
One officer came up to Ichika.
"Ma'am, we're going to ask you questions about what happened"
The officer said in a charismatic voice, trying to calm Ichika down.
"Y-yes sir! Thank you for your service!"
"Stay calm, take a deep breath, this isn't your fault"
The officer, patting Ichika on the back, is still trying to calm her down. Giving her a glass of water to stop—
"—Takanashi?!"
"Hm??"
A familiar voice to her, called her name from the side.
She cocked her head and blinked open her eyes. A young lady, flanked by another young lady. She was dressed in a lovely blue gown with a white scarf. The other girl, who stood behind her, was dressed in an attempt to conceal her identity.
"What happened here?! Did you get hurt?!"
Sara ran towards Ichika, hugging her afterwards. The girl behind her followed and opened her mask.
"Takanashi, is Kazehaya fine?"
Koharu asked, holding Sara's shoulder.
"...He's badly wounded"
"W-where?"
"The first ambulance that set off, he's in there"
"A-are you okay, Takanashi?"
"Ye-yeah, I'm alright… but—"
"—Miss Takanashi!"
Someone called her. A little girl, running towards her in her highschool uniform. The girl's hair waved as her eyes flowed with tears.
"Mia…"
"I'm s… I'm so.... I'm sorry… s-sorry, sorry… shorry…!"
"M-mia…"
"I'm sorrrrrryyy... I-I… I was wrong with… I was wrong… I'm so… sorry…"
"Mia"
Mia kept saying, "I'm sorry," but her voice wouldn't allow her to say it clearly. Instead, she sobbed in front of her, pulling on Takanashi's clothes.
"I-I… I'm sorry too…!"
She cried when she saw Shouta's younger sister weeping over her brother, and she hugged Mia with her warm embrace.
For that moment, everyone wasn't speaking. The officers didn't have the will to interrupt and bystanders were watching and talking to each other. In the crowd of people—
—a muted voice was watching them, sobbing along with them. But she couldn't bring herself up to them.