A place I swore I’d never return to.
Some day in October.
Hayashi dragged me out of the house early in the morning. It was a time when I’d usually still be cleaning. If I were a selfish guy, I might’ve grumbled at Hayashi for it.
Lately, Hayashi and I have gotten pretty close.
Back in high school, and even when we reunited after starting university, our relationship was nothing but strained. Yet, in just two months, it’s incredible how much things have changed.
Even so, as we’ve started to get comfortable with each other, today we’re walking in unusual silence, without much conversation.
I can’t tell what’s going on in Hayashi’s heart as she walks ahead of me.
As for my own feelings… a faint unease, tension, and fear. Honestly, not a single decent emotion in the mix.
I thought I’d never have to go back there.
I’d only been to today’s destination once. But back then, I was certain it would be the last time.
Yet, that certainty was betrayed.
It all started with a single phone call that made my smartphone ring.
The call, surprisingly, came to my phone, not Hayashi’s, and it was from the police station.
In that moment, a slight sense of dread flickered through me.
After all, there’s only one case I’ve ever been involved with that would warrant a call from the police.
Perhaps the police sensed my tension over the phone—or maybe it’s just that most people would get nervous getting a call from them—because they made an effort to speak in a deliberately cheerful tone.
Of course, it wasn’t like the worst-case scenario I briefly imagined had happened.
If anything, it was more like…
One morning,
I’m walking with Hayashi.
Our destination is the apartment where she used to live with her lover.
That lover of hers subjected Hayashi to domestic violence, and now he’s living behind bars.
The phone call from the police informed me, in summary, that due to the wishes of her ex-lover’s parents, his rental contract for the apartment would be terminated by the end of the month.
If we were going to retrieve Hayashi’s belongings, there wasn’t much time left.
That’s how we ended up walking this early morning path.
At first, I hesitated.
Should I even bring up the idea of going near that apartment to Hayashi?
…There’s a chance that there might be something precious to Hayashi in that place.
I was well aware of that possibility, but the memory of our last visit there made me question my resolve.
Well, I only agonized over it for a moment, but in the end, I decided to tell Hayashi about it.
It’s true that I thought prioritizing her wishes was important, but more than that, I caved under the pressure of Hayashi’s sharp tone as she squinted and interrogated me about who was on the phone.
Hayashi looked conflicted for a while.
But in the end, she steeled herself and asked me to come with her.
And so, here we are now.
Hayashi still hasn’t shown any sign of speaking to me.
I just hope she’s not bottling up too much.
After what happened last time, I’m a little worried about how she’s doing.
“That apartment’s probably even dustier than before, huh?”
In times like this, I figured I should say something to lighten the mood.
I recall the day I was dragged to that love nest of hers and her ex. The room was so dusty that I couldn’t stop sneezing for a while.
“I even brought an extra mask in my pocket.”
…The fact that I can only come up with cleaning-related topics in moments like this is proof I’m an incorrigible cleaning freak.
“Wearing two masks on a hot day like this would make it hard to breathe, right? Man, I’m such an idiot. Haha.”
Hayashi doesn’t respond.
“…I also brought some anti-dust goggles. Dust in my eyes makes me tear up like crazy.”
“…Did you buy some weird cleaning gear again?”
“Hey, what’s ‘weird’ about it? This thing has its own unique uses, you know.”
“Why are you getting so attached to it?”
Seeing Hayashi’s exasperated expression, I feel a bit of relief despite my outward attitude.
…I thought she’d be more weighed down, but she seems okay like this.
“Thanks. I made you worry, didn’t I?”
“What part of that made you think that?”
“Was I wrong?”
“No, you’re right.”
“Haha, got it.”
Before long, we arrive.
The author’s the only one not taking this seriously, huh?
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