Episode 35 – Kuga Ryo “Can’t Deliver”

After doing some light shopping, we returned to Asahina’s house.

“That person! That person!”

Several minutes had passed, but I still couldn’t calm down.

“What the hell is wrong with her!?”

“She’s my former manager, Yamanoe san.”

“I heard that, but she’s too rude!”

“…That’s just how she is. she’s super business-minded, I guess.”

Asahina calmly answered my question while unpacking the shopping bags in the kitchen. The mood for confession had disappeared. No, more than that, the way she was treating Asahina like an object really annoyed me!

“I’ve been working with her for a long time. She was good at her job, so my mother trusted her a lot.”

Those words, spoken softly, made my heart ache.

Mom—Asahina’s former manager had indeed said, “Mom wants her to come back.” I get the feeling that if it had just been the manager talking, Asahina would have refused. But when her parents get involved…

“…What are you going to do from here on out, Asahina?”

I couldn’t help but ask.

“…”

Asahina’s hand stopped. She looked down, her face on the verge of tears.

“I don’t want to be separated from Ryo-kun… but I’m also worried about my mother…”

“I know, it’s natural to be worried…”

I don’t know much about Asahina and her parents. But I know that their relationship isn’t going well. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be living alone here.

“Ryo kun, what should I do?”

Asahina clung to my arm. Her voice was so weak that my heart ached again.

Just when things were finally starting to look up for Asahina, why did this have to happen now…

What should I say to her? It’s frustrating to think that this isn’t all bad news for Asahina.

In the end, all I could do that day was gently stroke Asahina’s back.

◇

The week until the promise was almost halfway over.

I stayed up all night thinking.

About Asahina. About the future.

I think Asahina is probably thinking a lot too.

I have a vague feeling that Asahina’s trauma is caused by her mother. If that’s the case, I think the only thing to do is to talk to Asahina and her mother. It’s better to have a proper conversation and discuss the future as a family.

Even if the result is not what I want, if it’s what Asahina wants to do, I want to support her with all my strength. I think that’s my responsibility as someone who said I would nurture her.

At worst, I might have to endure a heart-wrenching feeling…

I was planning to tell Asahina that today—

“Huh?”

I pressed the doorbell as usual in the morning, but Asahina didn’t come out. She was just staying home yesterday, so what’s going on?

“Asahina?”

I called her, but she didn’t answer. Maybe she overslept for the first time in a while? Or maybe she’s thinking too much about her return and her condition has worsened again…

“Asahina, I’m coming in!”

I was worried, so I used the spare key I had been given to enter her room.

“Huh?”

An unbelievable sight immediately caught my eye, and I was speechless.

The sense of everyday life had completely disappeared from Asahina’s room.

The bed where I had nursed her, the glass table where we had studied together, the plush sofa, the teddy bear from the other day… even the comb I always used was gone. All that remained were a few small trinkets.

…And the light blue dress Asahina had bought first and my sweatshirt were lying in the middle of the room, like empty shells.

“Asahina!”

There was no response when I called her name. The shoe rack by the entrance was empty, and her usual shoes were nowhere to be found.

At least until around 8 PM last night, things hadn’t been like this. What on earth had happened…

“Could it be…”

A chill ran down my spine. A bad feeling rose to the back of my throat.

Just then—my phone vibrated. The name on the screen was “Asahina Toka.”

“Asahina!?”

I hurriedly answered the call.

“Ryo-kun, help…”

Asahina’s voice came from afar. Behind her, I could hear the station announcements.

“Asahina!? Where are you now!?”

“I’m sorry, she’s returning to the entertainment industry.”

Next, I heard the voice of her former manager from before.

“Don’t mess with me!”

My voice was naturally rough. Everything in front of me seemed to turn white or red.

“It’s her parents’ decision. She agrees with it. So please don’t get involved anymore.”

“She agrees… There’s no way she agrees!”

There’s no way. Asahina was hesitating with a tearful expression. She didn’t know what to do and clung to my arm. There’s no way she would leave without saying a word to me!

Was she forced by someone—no, was she pressured by her parents!?

“Let me talk to her! Tell Asahina to come on the phone!”

Shouting, I slipped on my shoes and rushed out the front door. From the other end of the call, I heard the sounds of a bustling crowd and voices again.

“Toka! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

“But… but, this is so sudden!”

“Do you want to be told you failed again?”

This time, it was Asahina and an unknown woman’s voice. From their exchange, it seemed that this voice belonged to…

Then the call suddenly cut off.

“Damn it!”

I tried my best to be reasonable! I even considered Asahina’s family circumstances! Yet the adults ignored everything… They’re trying to push forward with the plan without considering Asahina’s feelings!

“I can’t do it…”

I can’t entrust Asahina to such adults. I don’t want to.

Besides, I absolutely refuse to part ways like this.

I… haven’t given my answer yet. There are still things I haven’t received! There are words I want to convey!

“What do you mean ‘failed to raise’? It’s you who failed her! It’s you who decided she was a failure!”

If that’s how you feel, then I don’t care anymore! I’ll destroy all your selfish adult plans.

Asahina is at the station. There’s only one station near here.

“I’ll never hand Asahina over to you!”

I started running at full speed.

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