Hayashi Megumi’s roommate is stoic.

“…Well, to put it bluntly, it’s nothing major. In the end, I just didn’t want to see my family, so I couldn’t bring myself to go back home.”

Before saying that, Yamamoto flashed a wry smile, as if exasperated for a moment.

I couldn’t help but give a wry smile back at Yamamoto’s words. Now that he mentioned it, he was absolutely right.

The reason Yamamoto didn’t go back to his family home.

No matter how you look at it, it’s because Yamamoto didn’t want to go back. He felt he didn’t need to. That’s all there is to it.

“What I want to know is the real reason. Stop with the vague excuses, like you’re skating on thin ice.”

“…Yeah, you’re right.”

Yamamoto smiled gently.

It’s strange, isn’t it?

When Shiho-chan told me about Yamamoto’s past earlier, it felt so much heavier, more desperate.

But maybe because the man himself doesn’t take it so seriously, I found myself accepting it easily now.

“…What do you think?”

“Huh?”

“The reason I didn’t go back home. Did you think it was because I wanted to keep my distance from my family?”

“…At first, maybe a little.”

I looked down.

After hearing about Yamamoto’s heavy family circumstances secondhand, it’s only natural that most people might want to keep some distance from their family.

No, that’s not it.

Heavy family circumstances or not, isn’t it normal for a nineteen-year-old guy to want to leave home? To prefer hanging out in the city over going back to their hometown?

Wouldn’t that be perfectly reasonable?

But with Yamamoto, I didn’t think that was the case.

Because Yamamoto…

The Yamamoto I know…

“But you’re not the type to run away, are you?”

I know.

I know there’s no one kinder to others and stricter with themselves than this guy.

I know.

It’s impossible.

For Yamamoto, of all people, it’s impossible.

To neglect his family, to run from something unpleasant—that’s just not him.

But that’s exactly why it’s so puzzling.

If that’s the case, then why hasn’t Yamamoto gone back home even once since moving to Tokyo?

There must’ve been plenty of chances. We’ve gone back to our hometown from Tokyo multiple times by now. He could’ve found a moment to stop by.

But Yamamoto never did.

“…A long time ago, when my mom remarried and we found out Shiho was on the way, both my parents were over the moon.”

Yamamoto started speaking, his eyes distant.

“I was desperate to fit in. A stranger became my dad, and it felt like my mom had become a stranger too. I started wondering if I was even part of this family anymore. I was losing it.”

I didn’t say anything in response.

“Back then, I did something out of character—I broke down crying and yelled at my mom not to have the kid. I can still see her face from that moment. She wasn’t angry, just… sad. She apologized, said ‘I’m sorry,’ and hugged me. I felt pathetic. What was I even trying to do by making my own mom sad? I agonized over it for three days and three nights. And then, facing it head-on, I realized something. I wanted to be family with my mom.”

“…Yeah.”

“But right after that, I realized something else. They provide me with food, shelter, clothing. They give me love. Aren’t we already more than enough of a family? …I realized it.”

Yamamoto gave a faint, bittersweet smile.

“I couldn’t forgive myself for my foolish actions, for not seeing something so obvious and hurting someone so important to me. That’s when it started. That’s when I stopped running.”

Perhaps because he’d reached a natural pause in the story, Yamamoto fell silent for a moment.

And then, he continued…

“You said my not going back home isn’t about running away, right? That’s true. There’s no bad blood with my family. They’re all precious to me. Honestly, I’ve wanted to go back even just a little bit sooner.”

“Then why…?”

“Because I haven’t accomplished anything yet.”

Yamamoto’s face was brimming with resolve.

“…I left home on a whim. I started living alone in Tokyo. But even after pushing through with that selfish decision, I didn’t think it was right to keep going back home. I came to Tokyo to do what I wanted, didn’t I? So until I’ve got something to show for it, I didn’t want to go back.”

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

Just for moving to Tokyo, this guy…

This guy is seriously, unbelievably hard on himself.

…But it’s so like him.

Kind to others, ridiculously strict with himself. Never running away, always determined to achieve his goals with unwavering resolve.

It’s so, so like him.

“Shiho-chan thinks you hate her, so you should clear up that misunderstanding.”

“…Got it.”

Yamamoto made a face like, How did it come to that? But he nodded obediently, so it should be fine.

“Sorry.”

“Huh?”

When I apologized, Yamamoto let out a weird sound.

“I mean, you didn’t want to go back until you’d accomplished something, right? But in the end, I made you go back empty-handed.”

“I’m not empty-handed, you know. Not for this trip.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve got you, don’t I?”

…Am I making a weird face right now?

My face feels hot.

He just said it so casually, like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

…It’s embarrassing.

“When my dad and mom get back, I’ll introduce you properly. As my important friend.”

“…Looking forward to it.”

Zelda’s busy too, but lately, the lack of lovey-dovey stuff has been making it hard to keep writing.

Stop worrying about family drama and just do what you gotta do.

Guess I’m the one holding things up.

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