“Huh? You broke up?!”
So shocked was Mrs. Shirakawa that her voice shot up several octaves, nearly cracking.
“Mom—!” Hugging her stuffed toy tightly, Ringo looked at her mother with a conflicted expression. “Keep your voice down.”
She understood why her mother was surprised to hear about the breakup, but did she really have to be this shocked?
Takeshi had been the same—so shocked he’d almost gotten into a car accident.
“What happened?” Mrs. Shirakawa sat down beside her daughter, her voice filled with cautious concern. “The last time we talked on the phone, you were so happy about going on a date. When did you break up?”
Tilting her head slightly, Ringo replied, “The last time I told you about him was around Halloween. We broke up not long after that.”
“That quickly?” Mrs. Shirakawa’s eyes widened. “Why?”
She clearly remembered how happy Ringo had sounded when she called to say she was going on a date. It was obvious she really liked that boy. She’d never expected them to break up so soon.
“Well…” Ringo gave an awkward laugh. “I just felt like… he didn’t really like me. Maybe he couldn’t even be said to like me at all. So we broke up.”
“I see.” Mrs. Shirakawa nodded knowingly before saying firmly, “Then breaking up was the right choice.”
She took her daughter’s hand.
“Being in love should make you happy. If you’re the only one who loves the other person, and they either don’t love you or don’t return your feelings equally, then it’s better to end things sooner rather than later.”
Ringo blinked. “Mom, you’re so open-minded.”
“Of course I am. What’s there not to be open-minded about? You’re not a little kid anymore. Falling in love and breaking up are just part of life.” Mrs. Shirakawa gently patted her daughter’s head. “All right, it’s been a while already. Don’t keep dwelling on it. The New Year is almost here, so cheer up.”
It really has been a while, Ringo thought silently.
From the day Osamu Dazai disappeared after Halloween until the day after tomorrow—Christmas—it had already been nearly two months.
There really was no reason to keep feeling depressed over it.
She had already felt much lighter after chatting with Takeshi on the way home, and after talking with her mother for a while, she felt even more refreshed.
“Oh, right! Mom made your favorite cheesecake. Want a slice?”
“Yes!”
In the kitchen, Ringo ate her cake while listening to her parents discuss the dinner menu. They even asked if there was anything else she’d like to eat.
“I checked the refrigerator just now,” Mr. Shirakawa said with his arms crossed. “We’ve got horse mackerel, but it’s frozen. I’ll go buy some fresh ones later. We’ve also run out of tempura flour, so I might as well pick that up too.”
“I’ll go,” Ringo said, setting down her little fork. “I’m pretty full after the cake. I was just thinking of going out for a walk.”
“Then let your dad write down everything we need, and you can run the errand,” Mrs. Shirakawa said with a smile. “Thanks, sweetheart.”
“No problem!”
Ringo put on her coat and changed into her shoes. By then, her father had already finished writing the shopping list and handed it to her.
“Off you go. Be careful.”
“I will.”
Taking the note from her father, Ringo headed out.
As she neared Taken Sushi, she hesitated briefly before walking over.
Takeshi had gone out of his way to pick her up at the station. She ought to stop by and say hello.
Thinking that, Ringo had already reached the entrance and gently slid the door open.
“Welcome—”
A hearty male voice rang out. The moment the speaker saw who it was, his tone immediately became much warmer.
“Oh! Ringo!”
“Hm?” Takeshi poked his head out. “Ringo? What brings you here? Want some sushi?”
“Oh, no.” Ringo shook her head with a smile. “I’m running an errand, so I just came by to say hello. It’s been a long time, Uncle. How have you been?”
“I’m doing great, as you can see!” Mr. Yamamoto laughed heartily. “Takeshi and I were just discussing what time we’d close up and head over to your house. And here you are dropping by just to say hello.”
“I happened to be passing by,” Ringo answered obediently. “I’ll go buy the groceries now, so I won’t keep you.”
“You’re going shopping?” Mr. Yamamoto glanced at Takeshi. “Have Takeshi go with you.”
“Huh? No, no, that’s really not necessary!” Ringo waved her hands frantically. “I can manage on my own. Takeshi still has to help you, doesn’t he?”
Mr. Yamamoto waved it off.
“He won’t be much help anyway, and there aren’t many customers right now. We’re closing soon regardless. We’ve got free labor right here—might as well use it.”
While he was speaking, Takeshi had already walked over to Ringo.
“Wait a minute. I’ll go change and be right back.”
He was still wearing the sushi shop uniform. The apron tied snugly around his lean waist only made his well-built figure stand out even more.
Ringo blinked blankly.
“O-Okay…”
After Takeshi went inside, Mr. Yamamoto asked, “Ringo, want any sushi? I’ll bring some over later.”
“Really?” Ringo’s eyes lit up. “I’ve been craving the sushi you make, Uncle!”
“Of course.”
“Then I’d like sweet shrimp sushi and salmon roe sushi!”
It didn’t take long for Takeshi to come back out after changing. After greeting his father, he left the shop with Ringo.
The sushi restaurant had been nice and warm with the heater running, but the moment they stepped outside, the cold wind made Ringo shiver.
“Cold?” Takeshi lowered his head slightly to ask.
“Ah, not really.” Ringo shook her head. “The wind just got down my neck.”
As she spoke, she pointed to her neck.
Takeshi glanced over.
The girl’s neck was slender and graceful. Beneath the thin layer of fair, delicate skin, the faint blue pulse of an artery could almost be seen.
“Why aren’t you wearing a scarf?” he asked, frowning almost imperceptibly.
Ringo hooked a finger around a lock of hair.
“I was in a hurry when I left, so I forgot.”
“Want to buy one while we’re out?”
“No, it’s okay. I already have one at home.”
“What did Aunt ask you to buy?”
“These.”
Ringo took the shopping list out of her pocket.
“It’s all for tonight’s dinner.”
“Let’s see.”
Takeshi took the list and skimmed it.
“You can get everything on the shopping street. Let’s go.”
He handed the list back before grinning.
“Did you make sure to keep the shopping money safe, little Ringo?”
Ringo puffed out her cheeks in protest.
“I’m not little anymore!”
“Hahaha. Then… grown-up Ringo?”
“Takeshi!”
Takeshi accompanied Ringo as she bought everything else first before they finally stopped at the fish shop.
“Excuse me,” Ringo asked from the entrance, “do you have horse mackerel?”
“Sure do!” the owner greeted enthusiastically. “How many would you like? My horse mackerel is fresh and cheap, and the red sea bream is excellent too. Why not take one home?”
Ringo dreaded situations like this whenever she shopped.
She never knew how to refuse sales pitches, so she often ended up buying things she hadn’t planned on getting.
Just as she found herself at a loss, Takeshi spoke up.
“Don’t pressure her into buying more, Boss.”
Though he sounded joking, his attitude was firm.
“We’ll just take the horse mackerel.”
Ringo couldn’t help looking up at him.
The nervousness she’d been feeling instantly melted away.
It’s so nice having someone speak up for me… QAQ
“Oh! Isn’t this Takeshi?” The fishmonger laughed when he noticed him. “How many?”
“Five.”
After answering, Takeshi turned to Ringo for confirmation.
“Right?”
“Huh? Oh… yes.”
She nodded.
She’d shown him the shopping list earlier, and it had included the quantity. She hadn’t expected him to remember it.
While the owner packed up the fish, Takeshi started bargaining.
“Boss, throw in one extra for me?”
“No way. These fish are already cheap. If I give you one for free, how am I supposed to make any money?”
“Don’t be so stingy.”
“You’re the stingy one, brat!”
The two of them were obviously quite familiar with each other. Ringo watched in amazement as the owner ultimately did throw in an extra fish.
Once everything was packed, Takeshi signaled for Ringo to pay. Then he took the bag of fish from the owner.
After saying goodbye to the fishmonger, he smiled at Ringo.
“You get to eat two fish tonight.”
Ringo looked at him with sparkling eyes.
“Takeshi, you’re amazing!”
“Hm?” Takeshi looked puzzled. “What’s amazing? Buying fish?”
Gesturing animatedly, Ringo explained,
“I mean… being able to chat with the owner like that, and even refusing his sales pitch. That’s amazing!”
She added weakly,
“If I’d come by myself, I definitely would’ve bought a bunch of things I never planned on buying…”
“Oh, that.” Takeshi sounded relaxed. “That owner delivers to our restaurant sometimes, so we’re pretty familiar with each other. As for things you don’t want, just refuse them clearly. Don’t feel embarrassed about not buying them. Otherwise, you’ll only regret it after bringing them home.”
“Mhm!” Ringo nodded so vigorously she looked like a pecking chick. “I’ll try next time.”
“That said, there’s no need to force yourself.” Takeshi turned to her with a grin. “Besides, you’ve already improved a lot compared to when you were little. Back then, you couldn’t even speak whenever you went out to run errands.”
Ringo’s face immediately turned red.
“Don’t suddenly bring up my embarrassing childhood stories!”
She’d always been timid and shy as a child.
The first time her family asked her to buy something, she’d stood outside the shop clutching the shopping list and money, palms sweating so badly that she couldn’t bring herself to go inside.
It just so happened that Takeshi had passed by then and gone in with her to buy everything.
“How is that embarrassing?”
“It is!”
Ringo hurried around to stand in front of him, spreading her arms to block his way.
“Hurry up and forget it!”
Takeshi sighed helplessly.
“I really don’t know what to do with you. Fine. I’ve already forgotten.”
“Really?”
Even though he’d only just brought it up, there was no way he could forget it immediately—but Ringo still asked anyway.
“Really—”
Before Takeshi could finish his sentence, Ringo suddenly saw his expression change.
The next instant, he pulled her toward him.
Caught completely off guard, Ringo instinctively grabbed onto the front of Takeshi’s coat just to steady herself.
At the same time, she heard a strange sound beside her.
Smack—