Author's Preface
Late afternoon of Tuesday, 4th week of May.
5:06 p.m.
About ten minutes ago, at the train station, Runa and Kuroiwa-san arrived. I couldn’t let Kuroiwa-san continue his careless plans so I pushed and dropped him and he ended up kissing the floor. Then I sat on top of his back so he couldn’t move. Afterwards, I called the staff working at the station and told them that he was a stalker. Then they detained him and sent him back home. The end.
Sigh…
Who was I kidding? I wished that was actually what happened, but I wouldn’t really want to attract unnecessary attention to myself. And besides, I didn’t think I was strong enough to pull it off. But honestly, that would have been the best solution. Instead, I tried talking sense to Kuroiwa-san. I told him that he was being irresponsible. That he was not thinking about the consequences that might happen to Runa. If Runa’s mother found out that her daughter was still meeting him in secret, she would definitely be furious. But Kuroiwa-san only answered me with his usual dull voice and said, ‘I know.’ And when we finally exited the train station, all I could do was stare in disbelief.
After a while, we just found ourselves watching Kuroiwa-san’s back as he led us slowly toward our downfall. Runa and I let him take a few steps in front while we matched his speed because moving slow would at least delay the inevitable. I was hoping that at least this guy actually knew what he was doing…
But how could Kuroiwa-san think of having to do this now when exams start tomorrow?
And also… Did this guy even know where he was going…?
“What do I do?” Runa muttered to herself but I heard it.
“I told you to ditch him, right?” I said slightly louder than Runa’s whisper. We had a few meters between us and Kuroiwa-san so I wasn’t worried that he would be able to hear us.
“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t.”
“Why?”
“Because…”
“Because what?”
“...I don’t know.”
I exhaled a breath.
“Did you even try stopping him?” I asked.
“I did! I honestly did,” Runa replied. “But he wasn’t listening and I couldn’t change his mind.”
“That’s why you should have—”
“You know that won’t do. If leaving him behind would’ve stopped him, then we’re all going home safe, without worries.”
“So, what now? Just watch him lead us to your doom?”
“...No.”
“Then try to talk some sense into him.”
“Weren’t you listening? I already tried.”
“Well… you could always try again!?”
“How? You already lectured him back in the station!”
“But that was me trying. Clearly you two are on better terms than me and him.” I insisted. This was not the time for Runa to be indecisive. She needed to act now.
Runa looked down and started biting her lips.
“Runa!?” I continued with firm urgency.
“Fine,” Runa replied. She walked faster to catch up to Kuroiwa-san. She tapped his back and they talked for about five exchanges… Then she came back to my side. When I glanced at her, she turned her head slightly to the right to avoid my eyes.
That didn’t look promising…
“So?” I asked. “Why are we still walking forward?”
“Umm…” Runa said hesitantly, “I told him ‘Maybe this is not a good idea?’ He said, ‘It’ll be fine.’ I said, ‘Do you really have to go talk to Mom?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ I said, ‘Okay.’ And now I’m here.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“Can you even call that trying?”
“I mean, I really tried harder back in his apartment. But Kuroiwa-kun, if he said he’s going to do something, he’s definitely going to do it.”
“Even so—”
“If he said it’ll be fine, then I don’t have a choice but to believe in him. Whatever happens later then… it is what it is. If… Mom gets angry at me again… I’ll just have to bite my lips for a second night, right?”
I tried to say something, but I just left my mouth hanging. The words stifled inside my throat after I saw the determination in Runa’s eyes. Even with her small, uncertain smile, her words carried absolute certainty. I closed my mouth and turned my head toward the ground. I was still trying to search for ways to make Kuroiwa-san stop, or think of how to help Runa. But I was just repeating everything she had just said in my head. Was it really okay to just let this all happen?
“I don’t understand you. Earlier you were just worried, and now you’re accepting whatever happens.” I finally said. “How could you trust him so easily?”
I glanced at Runa and she was trying to think.
“Hmm… it’s probably because he helped me gain a lot of confidence when it comes to studying.” Runa finally answered. “Don’t get me wrong though, I am still a little worried. But having studied with him in the past few days, I got the feeling that I might actually pass.”
“I don’t think that answers my question,” I said.
“I guess it isn’t. Hehe…” Runa replied with a silly smile.
We let the silence grow for a while as we continued walking. I internalized everything that she just said. It was not like I had already given up, but it was more like, if I did more then I would just move in the wrong direction. Just like what happened on the rooftop last week. And I don’t really want to repeat what happened back then, at least not right now.
“But you know, don’t you think last week felt like a dream. Like, at the beginning, everything didn’t feel real,” Runa continued. “And then, as the week went on, everything started to add up. Well, the week ended badly,” she giggled. “But even so, you helped me.”
Runa turned her head toward me and she started smiling, more genuine than earlier.
“I wouldn’t have helped you if I knew it would cause you more trouble like now, you know,” I said. Even though deep down I knew I was partly to blame. Maybe if I hadn’t told Kuroiwa-san about what happened to Runa. Maybe—
“True.” Runa interrupted my thoughts while she chuckled at what I said. Afterwards, she stared into the ground looking like she was contemplating if she was to say something else. But then she continued. “Do you know what I saw the first time I went to Kuroiwa-kun’s apartment?”
“What?” I asked curiously.
“He showed me his room.”
“That doesn’t sound right.”
“Just listen…”
“Fine…”
“You know, that room. There were a lot of things in it. A computer with three huge monitors,” Runa started to gesture what she saw. I knew she was exaggerating the sizes of the monitors by how she drew a picture of them in the air with both her hands, but I just let her be. “A guitar here, an electric piano there, and there’s this small board that has a lot of buttons on it,” she pointed at the road as if she was exactly inside the room showing me where those items were supposedly placed. “There were also a lot of papers scattered around the floor, and his desk is messy, like super messy.”
“Is he trying to become a musician?” I asked. Somehow I thought that room fit him. It’s a messy room and I always pictured him to be somewhat of a slob based on how he always left his hair unkempt. But a computer, instruments, papers scattered, and a messy desk. It sounded like he was focused and busy rather than someone who was just lazy. Maybe I was—
“He told me no…” she giggled. Why? “But you know what, that room when I saw it. It kind of reminded me of your room.”
“Haa? My room isn’t that messy!” I protested and frowned.
“I know, mostly your room was clean and everything was in order.”
“Then don’t compare the mess you saw from his room to mine.”
“But that’s not what I mean. You see, whenever I visited you by surprise back when we were kids, your mom would let me in and I would just go inside your room without knocking. And there would be crumpled papers on the floor. I would go peek at what you were doing and you wouldn’t notice until I talked or poked your cheeks.”
“That— That’s different.”
“Yeah, in a way it is different. His room was messier. But you know what I mean, right? Whenever you study, you put a lot of time into it, you get serious and all. That mess in his room was five times more than yours, and I could tell, and I know you can too, that he definitely was spending most of his time in that room.”
I looked at her and just listened.
“Kuroiwa-kun said he was still just learning. But learning all of that at the same time, don’t you think that’s amazing, along with the fact that he got a perfect score in our practice exams? I don’t know if I could even achieve half of what he was doing.” Runa continued. Her eyes softened as she watched every step she made. “Maybe he was working toward a dream or a goal. Maybe he was just doing it as a hobby. But either way, he decided to set them all aside for now. Just so he could help me.”
“I—” I said then stopped. I tried to say something… but what?
“I know,” Runa replied. “I told him that he didn’t need to do all that for me, but he said it was necessary for him to focus on helping me reach top ten by the end of the year. And I thought he was crazy,” she giggled. “But I couldn’t help but want to believe what he said, after all, that’s a huge sacrifice to make and he sounded very serious. So I went back and then he greeted me with the materials he had written without sleeping, gave them to me, then sent me home.”
I found the absurdity of it all to be funny, so I chuckled.
“I really was scared of him,” Runa paused and she looked up toward the sky.
“I was too,” I said.
“Yeah, and I was really surprised you were even able to scold him back at the station like you were trying to scold Yui.” Runa giggled.
“He wasn’t listening though.”
“I don’t know. Maybe he was. But, I think that’s just how he is. I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do, but since he already decided, he’s going through with it.”
“You sound like you’ve known him for a long time.”
“No, I don’t know much about him. But after seeing how sure he looked when you were talking to him, and how sure he sounded when I talked to him again earlier, it’s more like I am choosing to believe in him than knowing what he was actually thinking. Besides, except for one thing, I don’t think he has ever let me down… at least not yet...”
Sigh…
“You’re so reckless.” I replied.
“Yeah, so let’s see what’s going to happen next.” Runa said finally sounding relaxed.
I stared, wondering if her calmness was genuine or not. But she just smiled at me. “I swear, your excessive curiosity is going to be your downfall one day,” I said.
Runa chuckled a little. “Maybe it’s going to lead me to my downfall tonight.”
“That’s not funny.”
“I know,” Runa said. “But I’m glad I am this curious, otherwise we wouldn’t have ended up being friends until now.”
A smile formed on my lips. It’s true, she was the one who always tried to play with me when we were still just kids. She was persistent and in the end we became inseparable. Although we went to different schools in elementary and middle school, we always hung out all the time. And we have stayed as best friends ever since.
“You’re ri—”
I was looking down but when I was about to reply to Runa and looked up, I hit my nose and bumped into something in front of me. I covered my nose with my hand and looked around. We were at an intersection. And Kuroiwa-san was standing in front of me.
“Why did you suddenly stop!?” I reflexively yelled at him. “At least you could’ve said something!”
“I did,” Kuroiwa-san said. “I was asking which way to go.”
Did he? I couldn’t tell. I didn’t know if he really was saying something.
“You should’ve shouted.” I replied.
“I did,” Kuroiwa-san said.
I took a long breath then I heard Runa laughing beside me.
“That wasn’t funny,” I told her.
“I know, I’m sorry,” Runa said. “But I just couldn’t help it, I mean, I saw him do something when we were still far behind him. I just realized he was actually shouting.”
Oh, I thought Runa was laughing about me bumping into Kuroiwa-san.
“Anyways, come follow me,” Runa guided Kuroiwa-san this time instead of letting him lead us to nowhere.
“Runa,” I called out to her before she started walking. “I won’t go home yet. I’ll stay with you,” I said.
“You don’t need—”
“I need to…”
“Okay,” she said and smiled at me.
I let Runa and Kuroiwa-san walk ahead before I followed. I gathered all the courage I could muster. After all, facing Runa’s mother when I knew she was going to become angry wasn’t something I was looking forward to. But I decided to see all this through, so I shouldn’t be doubting myself.
I stared at Runa and Kuroiwa-san’s backs. I noticed there seemed to be much more of a gap when they were walking beside each other. Unlike when I walked with him yesterday. Yet they were talking to each other comfortably.
I looked down.
And for some reason, I felt uneasy.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I checked my phone to look at the time. It was already 5:28 p.m. when we finally arrived at Runa’s house. Right in front of the door, I could see Runa’s face had tensed up. Kuroiwa-san didn’t particularly show any expressions like always. As for me, I was trying to calm down, but as soon as Runa opened the door, I got nervous and I felt my hands tremble a little.
As soon as we went inside, Runa announced our arrival.
“I’m home!” Runa shouted.
“Oh, welcome home,” Shizuna-san’s voice called out from inside. I heard her footsteps come in close and soon enough she appeared from the doorway of their living room. “Can I ask you to go buy some soy sauce from the grocery—” she said as she was walking but interrupted herself when she saw us at the main entrance. “Oh my, Mika, nice to have you visit us,” she said as she looked at me.
Shizuna-san turned her glance toward Kuroiwa-san and she stopped for a moment. My heart started beating faster as I saw her eyes flare up with suspicion.
“Hmm, we have another guest,” Shizuna-san finally said. “I’m afraid I’ve never met you before,” she remarked toward Kuroiwa-san. “And it’s a boy,” she continued while glancing toward Runa.
Runa avoided Shizuna-san’s stare, which made Shizuna-san even more suspicious. I held my breath for a second then let it all out before I decided to speak.
“Good after—”
“Let me introduce myself,” Kuroiwa-san interrupted me before I could finish greeting Shizuna-san. “My name is Kuroiwa Rei. I am a classmate of your daughter and Tojo-san.”
Kuroiwa-san bowed after introducing himself to Shizuna-san. I couldn’t do anything but stare. It took me a lot of courage to try saying something and he just interrupted me like that. But that was not the reason why. It was that when he decided to speak, I felt like the thing I was being nervous about was going to start.
Shizuna-san crossed her arms. “Might I ask… What is your relationship with my daughter?” she asked.
“Moooom, is Runa-nee back?” Rurika peeked from the doorway then gasped when she saw us.
“Rurika, stay in the living room. Close the door after,” Shizuna-san firmly told Rurika.
Rurika nodded silently then did what her mother asked her to. Shizuna-san then glared toward Runa for a moment before going back to staring at Kuroiwa-san.
“I am the one who was teaching your daughter,” Kuroiwa-san calmly answered.
Shizuna-san closed her eyes and blew out a breath. When she finally opened her eyes, she frowned and her stare intensified at Kuroiwa-san. I looked at him but he didn’t seem to be bothered. He was still his usual calm and unreadable self. She turned her gaze toward me and I reflexively turned away. I was guessing if she was thinking if I knew everything about this. And me looking guilty would have shown that I did. I was not sure at all, but either way, her eyes were just too intimidating for me.
“Runa,” Shizuna-san said. “Go to your room.”
“...No,” Runa replied.
“I said go to your room!” Shizuna-san’s voice got louder and sharper. And even though she was trying to direct her daughter, her glare never left Kuroiwa-san.
“I’m staying here,” Runa said defiantly. “I’m sorry.”
“Fine… but we’ll talk later,” Shizuna-san replied to her daughter, still not looking at her. “So, what are you doing here?” she asked Kuroiwa-san.
“Miyase-san,” Kuroiwa-san said. “I am here to tell you about your daughter’s progression from our study session together.” He paused and went into his bag to get something out. “I have here the results of—”
“Tell me what you’re really here for.” Shizuna-san cut Kuroiwa-san off and insisted on a more direct answer from him.
Kuroiwa-san finally found what he was searching for in his bag. He held them with his right hand as he continued to meet Shizuna-san’s gaze. They were test papers. And I could see from where I was, which was behind him, that they were from our practice exams a few weeks ago. But the stack didn’t make sense, there were supposed to be six test papers. But even if I didn’t count, what he was holding had more.
“I am here to convince you to—”
Smack*
A sharp and heavy slap interrupted Kuroiwa-san. The sound echoed inside the hallway, thundering inside my already distressed heart. The silence that followed just added more to what was already a very heavy atmosphere. I kept a hand on the doorknob. The thought of running away came to mind, but I held the doorknob so I could prevent myself from falling, since my knees started feeling weak. I looked at Runa and her eyes were wide and her mouth was covered with her hands. Her bag fell to the floor. I checked to see if mine had also dropped, but I noticed that my hand holding its handle was gripping it very tightly. I never even had the opportunity to let it fall.
“How dare you try to manipulate me into your scheme!” Runa’s mother shouted at Kuroiwa-san. I looked at him and I only saw his face turned opposite of where Shizuna-san’s hand came from when she slapped him. He finally covered his red cheek with his hand, but never verbalized his reaction. I couldn’t even properly see his expression. “You have already tricked my daughter into coming to your apartment alone and now you’re trying to convince me? Convince me of what? Continue to deceive my daughter?”
Runa’s mother raised her right hand again.
“Mom, stop!” Runa shouted. “Please just listen to him!”
“Don’t defend him!” Shizuna-san shouted back. “Runa, you lied to me! I told you to never go to this guy’s apartment again!”
“But I needed to—”
“Miyase-san,” Kuroiwa-san finally said.
“What!?”
“Yes?”
Both Runa and her mother replied. Kuroiwa-san glanced at both of them simultaneously looking confused. I, on the other hand, just noticed I was holding my breath so I let it go.
“R-Runa-san,” Kuroiwa-san corrected himself.
“Kuroi—Rei-kun?” Runa replied.
I, despite feeling horrified by what was happening, had noticed how both Runa and Kuroiwa-san started calling each other by their first names. I understood why Kuroiwa-san had to do it, but Runa, for some reason, changed how to address him.
“Your mother is right, you don’t need to defend me,” Kuroiwa-san said to Runa.
“Why?” Runa asked.
“I came here prepared for what needs to happen to me. I need to talk to your mother, not to convince her, but to show what you have achieved."
This was the first time I saw Kuroiwa-san change his expression. His relaxed unchanging face started showing conviction. His dull lifeless eyes stared at Runa with determination. And Runa was staring straight into those eyes.
“...Okay,” Runa replied.
I glanced toward Shizuna-san and I saw her eyes shifting back and forth, glancing toward the side and then looking toward Runa and Kuroiwa-san. She was biting her lip, but she didn’t interrupt them. But her hands were still tightly closed. She crossed her arms after a while and turned her attention toward Kuroiwa-san again.
“Miyase-san,” Kuroiwa-san said. He reached out his right hand toward Runa’s mother. The same right hand that was holding those test papers. “If you could only just—”
“Get out,” Shizuna-san calmly said.
“I just need you to—”
“I told you to get out!” Shizuna-san interrupted Kuroiwa-san a second time. This time her voice started to sound fierce again. “I don’t want you to convince me about anything. I need you to stay away from my daughter!”
“Miyase-san—”
“GET OUT!” Shizuna-san pushed Kuroiwa-san toward the door. He went out of balance and started falling backward.
“Kuroiwa-san!” I yelled.
Crash*
I tried to catch him on reflex, but we both ended up falling together. My back hit the door behind me and his weight fell onto my legs. The last thing I saw before that was the test papers scattered in the air and now resting on the floor.
“Ow!” I cried in pain.
“I’m sorry!” Shizuna-san said.
“Mika!?” Runa yelled.
Kuroiwa-san immediately composed himself as he knelt down on the floor and faced me.
“Are you okay?” Kuroiwa-san asked.
I inspected myself for a moment. “I’m fine, it hurts a little, but I don’t think I got injured.” I answered.
I saw Runa reaching her hand out to me. I grabbed it and we both pulled together for me to stand up.
“I’m glad you're okay,” Runa said as she hugged me.
“I’m fine, don’t worry,” I said, patting her back. I turned toward Kuroiwa-san. “How about you?”
He only nodded.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to,” Shizuna-san continued to apologize. Her hands covered her mouth and they were shaking a little bit.
“Shizuna-san, I’m okay, you don’t need to worry,” I assured her, smiling even though I still couldn’t help but be intimidated.
Of course I still was! She looked terrifying just a few seconds ago.
I heard papers shuffling below me so I looked. It was Kuroiwa-san collecting the test papers that were on the floor. I was about to crouch to help him, but Runa did it first. And before I could even try again, they were both done. I reached out my hand to help Runa stand, she took it, and after she stood, we both reached out our hands for Kuroiwa-san.
“It’s okay,” he replied to our gesture.
Kuroiwa-san turned toward Shizuna-san. He bowed slightly then stretched both his hands that were carefully holding the test papers toward her.
“Miyase-san,” Kuroiwa-san said. “I don’t understand what you are accusing me of. All I came here for was to show you these.”
Shizuna-san slowly turned her stare from me to Kuroiwa-san. I still saw doubt in her eyes. She stepped back once after a moment of pause. “Have you done anything to Runa?” she asked Kuroiwa-san. Her voice sounded careful.
“We only studied,” Kuroiwa answered.
“You are not trying to manipulate her?”
“I had no such intentions.”
Shizuna-san hesitated but eventually stepped forward and reached toward the test papers. She inspected the ones that were in the front and then she turned her gaze to Runa.
“Runa… are these…?” Shizuna-san asked.
Runa avoided her gaze. “I’m sorry,” she answered her mother.
“As you can see, the first six test papers are the result of the practice exams that happened a few weeks ago,” Kuroiwa-san explained. “Runa got 26 in English, 24 in Science, 18 in Math, 27 in History, 31 in Japanese Literature, and 28 in Social Studies. They were all way below the average scores, which meant she failed all of her subjects.”
“Rei-kun!” Runa loudly whispered. “You didn’t need to elaborate on my scores!” She looked at Kuroiwa-san, who was still bowing his head. And when she noticed he wasn’t paying attention to her, she pouted. “You didn’t even need to emphasize I failed,” she whispered a little quieter.
My first thought was… She really was now committed to calling Kuroiwa-san by his first name.
“But,” Kuroiwa-san continued. “If you look at the ones that are in the back, you will see different scores. Those are the ones I made her take before we got here.”
Shizuna-san shuffled through the test papers and her eyes widened.
“English 58, Science 68, Math 73, History 62, Japanese Literature 71, and Social Studies 67.” Kuroiwa-san again elaborated. “As you can see, all have significant increases. They are all way above the average score. They may not look great right now and the real midterm exams are definitely going to be harder. But those scores are the result of her own hard work.”
Kuroiwa-san placed his hands on his thighs, palms open, and fingers pointed at the opposite hand. He folded his elbow to form a slight V-shape, just like someone who was holding their hips. Except for him, he was bowing.
“I did not come here to convince you I wasn’t a bad guy, I did not come here to show you evidence of something I cannot prove. I came here to just show you those test papers. To show you the result of her efforts. She worked hard for them. And even if I could visibly see her struggling, she never gave up.”
I didn’t know where Runa and Shizuna-san were staring. But I knew my eyes never left him. I listened to everything he said. And every word that he spoke, I felt his sincerity.
“I told her that I would help her become a top ten student in our grade by the end of the year. I had all the intentions to do just that. So… please… let me continue to teach her.” He slowly leaned forward and bowed until his forehead touched the ground.
My eyes widened at the sight of him grovelling in front of Shizuna-san. After he was slapped by her, after he was pushed away, he was still here not taking advantage of Shizuna-san’s impulsiveness and shock. He was begging her. All to keep a promise that he made when we first talked to him. He really meant that. And after hearing the scores that Runa got…
I never thought of Kuroiwa-san as a miracle worker. In fact, if he were to succeed in helping Runa pass, I would expect him to get her at least a few points above the passing score. But those scores were the scores of an average student, not someone who was struggling.
A thought came into my mind.
If he could turn around Runa’s scores like that… maybe he can also…
“Mom, please,” Runa said. And she walked toward Kuroiwa-san. She was about to kneel down when her mother grabbed her arms and pulled her back up.
“I know,” Shizuna-san said. “And I’m sorry.”
“Mom…”
“You really didn’t do anything else besides studying?” Shizuna-san tried to confirm.
“We didn’t, I swear,” Runa answered.
Shizuna-san hugged Runa. “I’m really sorry for doubting you… You were working hard, but I was jumping to conclusions without even listening to you. I was trying to protect you, but I failed you instead. I’m really sorry… I hope you can forgive me…”
“I know, Mom. I understand,” Runa replied. “I… I don’t think there’s anything to forgive.”
“Thank you,” Shizuna-san said. She let go of the hug and placed her hands on Runa’s shoulders. “But couldn’t you at least study elsewhere? Like in the library or at school? Or even here at home? Why did it have to be just you and him in his apartment?”
“Erm… well…” Runa hesitated to answer her mother.
“It is important because the isolation and silence are good for her concentration. She wouldn’t have progressed this much if there were any distractions.” Kuroiwa-san answered Shizuna-san’s question while still grovelling on the floor.
Shizuna-san pursed her lips, still not buying Kuroiwa-san’s excuses.
“Kuroiwa-kun,” Shizuna-san said. “You can stand up now.”
Kuroiwa-san stood up slowly and turned toward Shizuna-san.
“I still don’t trust you fully,” Shizuna-san continued. “But I understand what you are saying.” She turned her gaze toward Runa. “I will not be against you and him studying together.”
“Mom, thank you,” Runa replied.
“But on one condition,” Shizuna-san said firmly. “I don’t want you two to be alone in his apartment.”
“Impossible,” Kuroiwa-san replied.
I sighed. Everything was going smoothly, and then this guy had to ruin it.
“Like I said, the isolation and si—”
“If you are going to insist on that, then I won’t approve,” Shizuna-san interrupted Kuroiwa-san.
“But—”
“I’ll go with them,” I said, interrupting Kuroiwa-san before he could say anything stupid. I never intended to get myself involved but…
“If Mika is going, then it’s fine,” Shizuna-san replied.
I looked at Kuroiwa-san. By the way he remained silent, I had a feeling that he didn’t seem to approve. “Is there really no other choice?” he asked.
Shizuna-san stared at him with one of her eyebrows raised. “There is another option. You can just study in our house, I promise I won't disturb you.”
Kuroiwa-san sighed. “Then perhaps I would take Tojo-san’s suggestion instead.”
“Alright then,” Shizuna-san replied.
“If that’s the case, I would like to take my leave,” Kuroiwa-san continued. He bowed slightly in front of Shizuna-san. “Excuse me for intruding. And I’m sorry for troubling you.”
Shizuna-san didn’t reply. Instead she took a deep breath and exhaled.
“If you’ll excuse me…” Kuroiwa-san said.
“Wait, I’ll walk you to the station,” Runa told him.
“No need. I’ll be fine,” he replied, then opened the door and left.
There was a bit of silence for a moment as we all watched the door close behind him.
“He’s weird…” Shizuna-san said.
“Yep… he is…” Runa chuckled.
I let out a sigh of relief. Finally everything was settled. But…
I held a deep thought. The things that I had witnessed just now, I knew would linger in my mind for a while.
…
…
…
I wondered if tonight… I would be able to focus on studying…