Episode 2 – At My Childhood Friend’s House

The rain never seemed to die down.

I ran through the school gate, weaving between the students as they left for school.

The feeling was still terrible, but my body was comfortable. Wet from the rain, I feel cold. It was as if my head was in a state of excitement, but it wasn’t.

I couldn’t stop crying. I moved my body as if on autopilot, heading for home, not caring what anyone around me thought.

Just for today, I wanted to forget everything. It didn’t matter what would happen to me after I forgot about it. If the present moment was fulfilled, even for a moment, I would be saved.

I swept past the waves of people. I reached a traffic light near my home. It was a red light, so I had to stop here.

I took a moment to catch my breath and then ran again.

The rain was coming down even harder.

I waded through the familiar streets and approached an intersection toward my house.

There, my feet stopped again.

“Masatoshi?”

A girl with a black umbrella was walking around my house.

She was tall with long black hair. Slender eyes full of compassion.

“Rika, you……”

“If you run without an umbrella, you’ll catch a cold, you know? Just come to my house, like in the old days. Take a shower.”

“No, don’t mind me. I can take a shower at my place.”

“Wait !”

Before heading home, I realized something important.

I had left my key at home. But there was no one there.

“Things have changed. I wonder if I can rely on Rika.”

“I wish you had said so from the beginning. Then, let’s go.”

I’ve been betrayed a lot in my life, but I have a few friends.

One of them is Kamisato Rika, who I have been friends with since childhood.

We have known each other since elementary school and have been together every chance we get. Our parents both work, so we must have been on the same wavelength.

Since our houses were within a few minutes’ walk of each other, we usually played at either Rika’s or my house when we were in elementary school.

When I reached puberty, I felt a little bit self-conscious about her and we became somewhat estranged from each other. I felt bad about being constantly supported by her.

Even when I was betrayed, Rika remained my ally. She was the greatest emotional support. This much is certain.

“Come in. I’ll boil a bath for you, so wipe yourself off with a towel and wait.”

“You’re so thoughtful, Rika. I really admire you.”

“It’s not something that deserves respect. We have known each other for a long time.”

“Then, I’ll just say thank you and be grateful.”

Soaking in the bath, I began to feel more and more relaxed.

My anger seemed to have passed its peak, and I was able to accept the facts a little more calmly.

“I was dumped, wasn’t I?”

To put it bluntly, I could even say that I’ve lost the last few months. If we broke up because we weren’t compatible with each other, then it’s my fault.

However, an affair with zero ill will is a different story. The ratio is ten to zero, she is at fault.

Even after justifying myself, my heart ached. I’m not strong enough to move on immediately.

“Not good.”

I got out of the bath because I had been thinking so much that I almost passed out.

“You don’t look happy.”

Rika, who was sitting next to me, said to me first.

I had finished getting dressed, etc., and was sitting down on the sofa. I was trying to keep a normal face, but there was no way I could hide it from my childhood friend.

“What made you think that?”

“Whenever you have a problem, you put your hand on your chin.”

“I really can’t hide anything from you.”

“What happened to you, Masatoshi? You ran out in the pouring rain with all your might.”

“It’s a little difficult to explain, but-“

Once I had the introduction, the words came out easily.

I had been dating Kisaki Saki, and had been dumped unfairly because of her incomprehensible philosophy. I had revealed my anger at her because we didn’t see eye to eye.

Even now, I still feel a complex mixture of anger, dismay, and despair.

Rika accepted everything like a bodhisattva until the end. She did not try to deny me. To put it in the extreme, she was totally positive.

“That’s Kisaki san’s fault.”

“Do you think so too?”

“Of course. Out of all the monsters Masatoshi has met so far, she’s one of the worst. I think it was a big shock because you’ve always trusted her. But it would have been worse if you had continued to be deceived. It was better than losing it after all these years.”

“What about the hole that was left? It’s a gaping hole, and it’s not going to be filled.”

It’s a loss.

It doesn’t matter who I’m dealing with, I’ve still lost.

“Anything is fine as long as it fills the hole.”

“Basically. I’m just looking for a quick way to forget. It’s hard to be betrayed.”

“I know it’s hard. Then, I want you to rely on me. Just like old times.”

Just like old times, huh.

Whenever I had a hard time, I would tell Rika about it. She encouraged me and wrapped me up warmly. I remember that I naturally calmed down when I did so.

“Are you sure?”

“Did I ever say no?”

Let’s do it. Let’s rely on her.

There is a sense of crisis, as if I was on the wrong path. If I let myself be spoiled again, I might not be able to get out of the situation.

I may have been able to stay away from her for the past few years, but I may be stuck again.

Still, for now.

“Look, come here.”

Rika waits with her arms outstretched to her sides.

“Let’s hug, shall we?”

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