In the following weeks, life fell back into its familiar rhythm, as if the momentous "news exchange" had never taken place.
There were some subtle changes, like a few teachers at Ichihara Middle School becoming aware of their student's condition, and Haruki attending rehabilitation sessions on weekends. And it was hard to deny the visible results of his time spent there. He appeared healthier, stronger, and his headaches had become less frequent. The dark bags under his eyes, much to everyone's relief, had vanished completely.
Dr. Uehara had kept his promise, assuring everyone that Haruki would be fine in no time. With positive outcomes, both family and friends gained confidence that Haruki's mild TBI symptoms would soon be a thing of the past.
*
"It's been forever since we hung out like this, don't you think?" Takumi remarked, seated in a cozy window booth with his three friends at their favorite diner.
The four of them had decided to have another "bro's day out" on a Sunday, realizing it was high time they had some fun after a long while.
"It's been pretty tough with the upcoming entrance exams," Tadashi replied, scanning the menu.
"And Fukuda has been tied up on weekends too," Takumi turned to Kentaro, leaning in and lowering his voice to a whisper. "But seriously, what's up with that creepy grin of his?"
Kentaro rested his head on his hand and glanced at the so-called "creepy" person beside him, sighing. "He's just relieved he doesn't have to go to rehabilitation as often."
Ever since Dr. Uehara declared a significant improvement in Haruki's health, he reduced his hospital visits to once a week, for a maximum of two hours on Saturdays.
"These past few weekends haven't been much fun for him," Kentaro continued, "So he can't help himself."
"He's not even moving. Are you sure he's okay?" Takumi asked, warily observing Haruki.
Haruki shot a stern look at the two of them. "Stop talking about me as if I'm not here."
Takumi seemed relieved. "He's breathing. False alarm."
"Instead of teasing me, why don't you tell us where we're headed exactly?" Haruki turned his gaze to Tadashi, who had been quietly minding his own business reading the menu. "And you, Matsui, how long are you going to sit there cruising through that thing? If you're not going to order anything, let me do it."
"I already did," Tadashi replied nonchalantly. "It's the slow staff here."
Haruki: "....."
Kentaro chimed in, "We've already decided on our plan. First, we'll hit the arcade, and later tonight, we'll enjoy the fireworks festival at the amusement park. Were you not listening?"
Haruki: "...Oh."
Takumi chuckled. "You were completely lost in your own world there."
Haruki had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he had lost all awareness of his surroundings.
Just then, two waitresses brought their food and drinks, swiftly departing to attend to other customers.
"I hope none of you ate before coming. Everything on this table is meant to disappear," Tadashi declared as he set aside the menu, ready to dig in.
Luckily, they hadn't eaten since morning, as the table was filled to the brim with an array of mouthwatering dishes.
The boys feasted to their heart's content.
"Who was the genius who suggested the arcade again?" Haruki quipped, after the four of them had devoured most of their food and were now leisurely sipping their drinks.
"I think it's pretty obvious," Tadashi lazily responded.
It had to be Takumi and Kentaro, of course.
"The arcade is a blast," Takumi defended, turning to Ginger. "You agree, right?"
"It really is," Ken confirmed.
"You'd think after all this time, someone would have upped their game a little," Tadashi remarked, shifting his gaze to the side, purposely avoiding Takumi's intense glare. He continued, "I won't mention any names, but Fukuda and I aren't too shabby at those games. Even Nomura manages to win occasionally."
"THEN WHO ELSE COULD IT BE?!" Takumi erupted.
Tadashi shrugged, unfazed by Takumi's outburst. "Who knows?"
"TADASHI MATSUI, ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A FIGHT?"
"Shimoda is way too strong. This humble soul wouldn't dare," Tadashi replied with an insincere tone.
Takumi instantly lost his cool, grabbing Tadashi by the collar and shaking him vigorously. The scene was quite comical, drawing the attention of other diners in the bustling eatery.
With an exhausted sigh escaping his lips, Haruki rose to his feet and excused himself, signaling his need to visit the restrooms. Kentaro acknowledged his departure, taking a sip of his drink while his attention remained fixed on the two individuals engaged in a lively argument. Silently, he relished the spectacle unfolding before him.
The looming specter of entrance exams weighed on Haruki's mind as he stood at the sink, washing his hands after attending to his business. Each of them were uncertain of their first-choice high schools, and the reality of their imminent separation hadn't fully sunk in yet.
Tadashi had mentioned the possibility of attending a boarding school in Tokyo, while Takumi remained undecided, unsure of his own path. He had made it clear that he wouldn't be staying in Ichihara either.
And Kentaro...
Actually, there was nothing wrong with Ginger. The guy was set on attending the same school as Haruki, so he wasn't going anywhere. Despite being aware of this fact, Haruki couldn't help but smile at the thought. The comforting presence of that familiar face would always bring him an odd sense of relief, no matter where they went.
Leaving the restroom, Haruki mentally prepared himself for the task of diffusing the ongoing conflict between Tadashi and Takumi. Their little group had to quickly move on to the next venue.
However, as he stepped into the spacious room filled with happy patrons relishing their meals, a peculiar sensation sent a shiver down Haruki's spine. He abruptly halted, his senses on high alert as his anxious eyes darted around the bustling space.
There had been an unnerving feeling that someone was watching him, but a thorough scan of the surroundings revealed no suspicious figures. Everyone was engrossed in their own affairs, completely oblivious to his presence.
His gaze shifted to their booth, where Takumi and Tadashi continued their heated argument, while Kentaro finally intervened to mediate. They were too far away to notice Haruki's unease.
"Then where...?" Haruki's thought trailed as his eyes caught sight of a black sedan parked discreetly at the diner's corner, visible through the expansive windows. Without a second thought, he made his way toward the exit.
Just as Haruki stepped outside, he witnessed the tinted window of the driver's side swiftly rolling up, concealing the identity of the occupant. The suspicious vehicle promptly sped away, leaving Haruki with no chance to discern the person behind the wheel.
However, one thing remained certain in his mind. A glimpse of a man wearing shades had imprinted itself on his memory before the window completely obscured the individual's face.
Even the license plate of the car was a little unusual. Haruki couldn't recognize it from anywhere.
Takumi glanced up from his sulky disposition, raising an inquisitive eyebrow at the person approaching their booth. "Weren't you headed to the restroom?" he asked, observing Haruki's distracted demeanor. "Why are you coming from the entrance?"
Reclaiming his seat, Haruki responded nonchalantly. "Received a call from my mom just after I left the restroom, so I stepped outside to answer it. There's too much noise in here, and I didn't want to take the call in the bathroom either."
Takumi nodded, accepting the explanation without further probing, before refocusing his attention on the ongoing discussion with the remaining companions. Apparently, they'd already engaged into planning their day, considering additional venues to visit.
Despite the ongoing conversation, Haruki found his attention divided, merely nodding intermittently to feign attentiveness. Restlessness gnawed at him, his thoughts refusing to settle.
This new experience differed greatly from the time when Akihiro had tailed them. Haruki sensed that this was an entirely separate individual, and this new person's motives were ill-intended.
Silently finishing his beverage, Haruki remained oblivious to the fact that the ginger-haired teen seated beside him had long since detected that something was amiss since Haruki's return.
**
The day flew by in a blur, and after conquering the arcade and belting out tunes at karaoke, the boys unanimously decided it was high time they made their way to the Amusement park for the long-awaited festival.
The fireworks were scheduled for ten o'clock at night, so they passed the time by sampling various rides, enjoying different street cuisines and refreshments, as well as taking on the challenges posed by game stalls scattered throughout the park.
Throughout their escapades, Haruki maintained his usual cheerful demeanor, yet his guard never wavered.
What unsettled him even more was that since the incident that morning, he hadn't sensed any more prying eyes. That feeling had come and gone, just like the suspicious black sedan that had vanished into thin air. He began to question if his earlier paranoia had truly gotten the better of him.
"We've got fifteen minutes until the fireworks start, so you two find us the perfect spot to watch them. Somewhere without a huge crowd," Takumi instructed Kentaro and Haruki before pointing at himself and Tadashi. "We'll grab some snacks."
"I don't want to go," Tadashi grumbled.
"Talkative these days, aren't we? We're going together!" Takumi forced a smile as he grabbed Tadashi by the wrist, urging him to move. "You two call us and let us know where to meet you!" he shouted back at the duo left behind.
Haruki and Kentaro watched their friends depart, one dragging the other, and couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for Matsui. They then ventured in the opposite direction to fulfill their assigned mission, discussing any possible spots that came to mind. They simply needed to find a spot away from the bustling masses, a hidden nook that offered the perfect vintage point for the dazzling fireworks display.
As their conversation tapered off, they were both granted a chance to delve into their own contemplations. After much deliberation, Kentaro finally voiced what had been weighing on his mind all day.
"Did something happen?"
Baffled by the sudden inquiry, Haruki asked back, "Why do you ask?"
"You've been acting strangely since this morning," Kentaro pointed out.
"Really?" the older teen scratched his head, a smile playing on his lips. "You mean Mom's call from earlier?"
"What really happened, Haru?" Kentaro's face turned serious.
Reluctantly, Haruki sighed. "Earlier today, it felt like we were being watched."
Kentaro's expression shifted to bewilderment.
Haruki continued, "But it was only for a brief moment this morning. After that, the feeling vanished, along with whoever was observing us. Maybe I was just being paranoid..."
"Sorry, I was careless and should've noticed sooner."
Haruki waved him off. "No, it's fine, really. I'm not even sure myself."
Kentaro still appeared anxious. "Did you see anyone or anything suspicious?"
"I did see a black sedan, a Mercedes actually. And the person behind the wheel wearing shades," Haruki admitted.
"What about the license plate?"
Haruki described the plate's appearance but couldn't recall the complete number.
At that moment, all color drained from Kentaro's face. It was evident that he was panicking, as he suddenly started scrutinizing their surroundings.
"Hey, don't worry. It could've been anyone," Haruki reassured, patting Kentaro's shoulder. "If we were truly being followed, Tadashi would've probably noticed too. You can't rely solely on my words."
Kentaro's expression remained tense. "If it's you, it's different."
"Wah..." Haruki was momentarily speechless before offering a weak laugh and scratching his head. "Geez, no need to get all worked up about it—"
"I'm serious," Kentaro's eyes bore into Haruki's with genuine concern. "Just... promise me you won't leave my side in the future."
"What if you find yourself a girlfriend?" Haruki teased, a mischievous grin on his face.
Kentaro frowned, his tone serious. He wasn't joking.
Haruki swallowed nervously and dialed down the humor. "Okay, how about if I want to use the restroom?" He attempted to lighten the sudden tension by cracking a joke.
"Don't mess around," Kentaro lowered his gaze and muttered, "Promise, okay?"
Seeing Kentaro in this state, Haruki couldn't help but think of a restless puppy trying to protect its master. He sighed softly, offering a gentle smile. "Alright, no need to get all sentimental. I'll stick by your side."
Only upon hearing those words did Kentaro finally relax. He hadn't spoken again when an angry outburst startled both of them.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO DOING, FLIRTING SO SHAMELESSLY?!" Takumi's irritated voice rang out, capturing the attention of the two teenagers.
He held four candy apples in his hand while Tadashi trailed behind, carrying a gift bag brimming with snacks.
For some reason, as Haruki heard his friend's exclamation, his heart raced, and his ears turned crimson in an instant. "What the hell, Shimoda?! Have a little self-awareness about what you say in public!"
"Weren't you two supposed to find a spot for us for the fireworks? You had one job!" Takumi retorted, and the two of them began squabbling.
Tadashi observed their back-and-forth for a moment before stealing a quick glance at Kentaro, who wore the same rosy hue on his face, though a small satisfied smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
Despite his curiosity, Tadashi Matsui kept his inquisitive thoughts to himself.
~~~~~~