Although Shouichi was uncertain about his future, he decided to push forward with his life. Life went on, no matter what. Today's sorrow would serve as a reminder of the happiness that awaited him in the future, he reckoned.
Once again, the buzzing phone vibrated in the pocket of his trousers.
Eventually, Shouichi picked it up and unlocked the screen. His heart raced up as his eyes swept through the screen, unnerved for what was to come. In a glimpse of his mind, he wouldn't know what to say if it was Misaki.
Once his eyes met with the screen, "Morimura Ayane" was shown. A big relief alighted in his chest, unloading the weight of sorrow and fear.
His finger flicked the screen to accept the call, "Hello..." He answered it with ease, only slightly quivering in his tone.
"Shouichi-kun, where are you?" Ayane's soft and gentle voice came through the line.
"...Do you believe it? I'm at the riverbank." He replied, amused at himself.
"Are you okay?" Ayane asked, her tone laced with genuine concern.
"Yep. I'm alive." He replied promptly.
Shuffling noises in the background, Ayane began to walk, "Stay there. I'm just five minutes away." She ordered him before the call disconnected.
"Time to face the truth. Sooner or later, I'll have to deal with it, anyway." Shouichi's mind wandered as he skimmed through his phone history.
There were several missed calls from both Misaki and Ayane as well as a heap of messages from them.
"I guess I got you woken up for nothing," Shouichi murmured with remorse.
Shortly afterwards, the jet-black-haired girl appeared on the top of the slope. Her hair was damp, her breathing ragged, and Ayane was sweating heavily from the earlier attempt to chase down her distressed friend.
"You dummy!" Ayane's voice boomed as she irritatedly scolded him.
Almost instantly, the girl jumped in from behind and hugged the boy. Her delicate arms wrapped around his shoulders tightly, signalling warmth and offering the comfort he didn't know he needed. Her silky hair cascaded down his neck, brushing against his skin. Shouichi could smell a mix of sweat and her unique vanilla scent, it smelled somewhat both divine and soothing.
Ayane's tears were warm and soaking his shirt, "Shouichi, you worried me too much." She said, her voice wavering.
"I'm sorry…" Shouichi replied, tapping gently on her arms. "Ain't I supposed to be the one crying? I just got cheated on for god's sake." He pondered puzzledly.
"You knew, didn't you?" Shouichi asked coolly, his voice steady and detached. His calm, stoic demeanour betrayed no hint of the storm within, as his mind shifted from raw emotion to cold analysis, intent on uncovering the truth.
"Yes… " She confessed while sobbing.
"The convenience store is out of nowhere, at an awfully specific time. It sure looked like a set-up to me." Shouichi rationalised.
"Sigh, why didn't you just tell me?" Shouichi asked, bitterness and sorrow in his voice.
"I wasn't trying to hurt you but I... I failed." She blamed herself, her arms tightened around him.
"Hmm… Care to elaborate?"
"Well… About last week, I confronted Ishikawa-san." She confessed honestly, there was no point in holding back the truth any more.
"You did what?" He gasped, surprised, raising his voice louder than he intended.
"I found out that she was cheating on you a while ago. So I met up with the girl, trying to convince her to leave you." Ayane continued to recall her side of the story. Eventually, Ayane unwrapped her arms and sat beside Shouichi so they could properly face one another.
"If that worked, Misaki and I would break up without me ever knowing the truth... the whole truth..." Shouichi imagined aloud, "How considerate of you, Ayane."
"Um, um." She attentively nodded a few times to confirm his assumption.
Shouichi examined the girl closely, noticing that her white shirt had become translucent, clinging to her skin as it was soaked with her sweat. She must have been exhausted with all these commotions.
"Ah… That makes sense." Shouichi analysed in his head, glancing away to the distance.
He continued, "And when that didn't work, you came to me."
"No, I actually went to you first. But you were being persistent... you wouldn't break..." Ayane stared at him, her brows furrowed before adding, "Then I went to Ishikawa and that didn't work out either."
"Sigh, I guess I wouldn't believe it if you just told me the truth," Shouichi remarked matter-of-factly.
Turning his head away, he mumbled softly. "I was too blinded by it."
"Today was my last resort. Listen, Shouichi-kun, I couldn't stand by any longer while she did all this behind your back," Ayane said, her voice soft but firm as she gently patted his back, offering her warmth.
As the warm soothing smile tucked at her lips, "I'm truly glad you're okay," She added.
"Man… I should have just believed you from the start." He lamented with regret, messing up his graphite-black hair in exasperation.
"Exactly! Trust me! I'm your best friend so you can always lean on me." She proudly tapped on her chest.
This was this side of Ayane that kept him positive like a lighthouse against the stormy sea on the darkest day.
"I truly appreciate it, Ayane. I don't know what I would do without you." He praised her, sincerity in his eyes.
Although Shouichi's soul was burdened with sorrow and disappointment, the presence of someone to lift him up, to provide solace, and to offer companionship made it just a little more bearable.
Especially someone like Morimura Ayane.
Ayane sprung to her feet and extended her delicate arm, "Shouichi-kun, let's grab some drinks. I'm really thirsty right now." She suggested with a smile. Promptly, Shouichi grabbed her hand, hoisting himself up to his feet.
***
"Shou-kun… I just wanted to say that I'm here for you." Yamamoto Yoko said, while she was lying on her side facing the boy. The mother and son decided to share the same bed tonight in Yoko's bedroom. The mother was notified of the recent turn of events from Ayane. When the girl tried to track down the runaway boy, the first person she thought of was his mother, Yamamoto Yoko-san.
"Thank you, Yoko-san…" The boy's gaze was fixed on the blank ceiling.
After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "Did you know about it?"
"Yes… Ayane told me about it on the phone," Yoko replied, her gentle voice somewhat soothing. She reached out to pat his chest, her touch gentle, offering comfort and a sense of security, her touch both reassuring and warm.
"... I'm fine really," Shouichi responded.
On the spur of the moment, a flooding warm tear rushed down his face beyond his control. His heart wrenched, strained in a struggle against his mind.
"What is this? Am I crying?" Shouichi sought for reasons but found none.
"Oh, my baby…" Yoko whimpered, leaned in to embrace his head and her finger threaded through his dark hair. Shouichi buried his face in her chest, seeking comfort in the warmth and protection.
After some time, the wails began to fade away. Without a word, Yoko's presence alone was enough to ease his pain, leading him back toward the light.
"Feeling better?" The lady asked him. The gentle voice indicated that she cared for him greatly.
"Hahaha, I think so." Shouichi chuckled, thinking objectively about the whole situation. A full-grown man cried in his mom's arms.
"Good!" She lightly caressed his cheek, Shouichi found her soft and tender touch comforting.
"I love you, Yoko-san," Shouichi said, his voice filled with heartfelt sincerity. It was the first time he had ever expressed it to her.
Suddenly, Yoko leaned in to kiss him, her plum lips perched gently on his cheek. It was a swift but lasting touch.
"I love you, too. Shouichi-kun." Her face flushed with joy and affection.