Hayashi Megumi’s Dream

This is from the heroine’s perspective.

Even now, I sometimes have that dream. Two months after graduating high school, I was invited by a female friend from my university club to join a group date. It wasn’t unusual for me to attend such events. Especially after moving to the city for university and leaving my parents’ home, I had more free time, and it became more noticeable.

It wasn’t my first time attending a group date hosted by this friend from the club. That day marked the third one she’d organized. The girls participating in the group date had put in extra effort, wearing heavier makeup than usual or choosing cute, calculated outfits, clearly more enthusiastic than normal.

Apparently, the group date was with a bunch of bankers, and the girls aiming to marry into wealth had a glint in their eyes.

I didn’t care about any of that; I was just there to hang out with friends.

I’d always been invited to group dates like this nonstop. They said just hearing I’d be there made the guys put together a more impressive lineup. But I never got overly eager or desperate, and I didn’t ruin the vibe of the gathering, so the girls liked having me around.

Personally, I was fed up with being used like I was back in high school, but in this place where I had no close friends, even those people were valuable for communication.

With no better options, I joined the group date, and that’s when I met him.

My first impression was of a refreshing, nice guy. Boyish face, friendly demeanor, and he seemed serious… We exchanged contact info, started meeting up after the group date, and before I knew it, we were living together.

Where did I go wrong?

The nights living with him felt endlessly long. So, with a sense of self-punishment, I stared out at the scenery beyond the window, swallowed by the dark night. The pitch-black world gave me no answers. Only time passed, mercilessly.

I was at my limit.

I was truly at my limit.

Go buy tomorrow’s breakfast at the convenience store.

He kicked me awake just before I could sleep, handed me a single thousand-yen bill, and sent me out. I mentioned I needed daily necessities besides food, but he didn’t give me any more money. Manage it with the living expenses I give you. That’s your job, isn’t it? he said.

Perhaps out of concern for appearances, he made me change once at home. The clothes he handed me were a long-sleeved gray sweatshirt, out of place for the season.

Not wanting to return home, I aimed for a convenience store as far away as possible. I passed by so many stores I couldn’t count them on one hand. When I saw the glow of a convenience store sign, I’d think, Next one. When another light came into view, Next one. Finally, I entered a store and decided to kill more time by browsing magazines. But the magazines I used to love so much didn’t bring me any joy.

My mind was spiraling.

What’ll happen to me if I go back now? I’ve taken too long. Will he hit me again?

It was so painful I felt like crying, but no tears came.

What should I do?

I agonized, but no answers came.

Time just kept passing, mercilessly.

I missed those days.

Back then, I hated high school. I had close friends, sure, but there were also those who schemed to bring me down. Why did I have to feel so miserable just going to school? I thought about it countless times.

I talked to my parents, saying I wanted to skip school. But they didn’t allow it. There’ll be even tougher things when you’re an adult. You have to endure it here. I used to hate them for saying that.

But at that moment, I realized my parents were right.

I couldn’t bear to live through this hellish time any longer.

Yet, following his orders, I filled a shopping basket with his breakfast for tomorrow and some daily necessities, heading to the register.

I placed the basket on the counter, but the clerk, probably in the back, didn’t show up right away. In high school, I would’ve snapped at a moment like this, but now it was convenient.

When the clerk finally appeared, they started scanning items without so much as a glance at me.

Listening to the cold, mechanical beeps, I noticed something.

“Wait, Yamamoto?”

The guy I hated most in high school.

In a random convenience store I’d wandered into, I reunited with the worst guy imaginable.

And so, I was saved by the very guy I despised most back then.