After Togawa Sakiko spoke those words, the air seemed to freeze for several seconds.
The lights at the entrance of the police station cast a pale glow on her profile.
Amaya Yuu fell silent for a moment; all his previous guesses and impulsive questions transformed into a surge of complex emotions.
He looked at the unconscious middle-aged man by the wall, then at Togawa Sakiko before him, feeling that he should do something to make up for his mistake.
“What I said just now was offensive, and I apologize for it.” Amaya Yuu’s tone softened.
“Let me help you take him back.”
A flash of surprise crossed Sakiko’s eyes, only to be quickly replaced by defensiveness.
“No need.”
“At this hour, with a completely drunk person, how do you plan to get back?” Amaya Yuu pointed toward the empty street.
“Even if you manage to hail a car, the driver might not be willing to take him.
Besides—” He paused, his gaze serious.
“Can you even support him on your own?”
Those words struck a chord with reality.
Sakiko pressed her lips together and said nothing more.
Amaya Yuu sensed the atmosphere had softened slightly and stopped talking, stepping forward to try and hoist Togawa Kiyotsugu up.
A strong stench of alcohol hit him.
The man mumbled incoherently before falling back into a deep sleep.
Amaya Yuu tried to lift him alone, but he hadn’t expected the man to be so exceptionally heavy, nearly causing him to stumble.
There was no room for acting tough now.
He squeezed the words through his teeth, “What are you just looking at?
Hurry up and help!”
If he ever got any status points, he swore he would put them into Strength first next time!
Amaya Yuu made a silent vow in his heart.
Togawa Sakiko finally snapped out of it and rushed to the other side.
Working together with Amaya Yuu, they finally managed to prop her father up.
Just as Amaya Yuu had predicted, hailing a taxi was not easy.
Several empty cars sped past with a wave of a hand after seeing the drunk passenger.
Eventually, a kind-faced old driver reluctantly agreed and helped them stuff Togawa Kiyotsugu into the back seat.
The car ride passed in a near-suffocating silence.
The taxi finally stopped in a neighborhood where time seemed to have stood still.
Narrow alleys crisscrossed, the walls of old apartment buildings were peeling, and the streetlights were dim, making one feel as if they had returned to the last century.
They supported Togawa Kiyotsugu as they walked up the creaking stairs.
Pushing open the door, a mix of stale air and lingering alcohol fumes wafted out.
The room was tiny and cramped, the furniture sparse and simple.
Empty beer cans were scattered across the tatami mats, a far cry from the life of a ‘young lady’ that Amaya Yuu had imagined.
It seemed her fall from grace was even more severe than he had anticipated.
After settling Togawa Kiyotsugu in the inner room, Amaya Yuu returned to the small living area.
He saw Sakiko standing at the small kitchen sink, silently washing the dishes Togawa Kiyotsugu had used that morning.
Under the dim light, her back looked exceptionally frail.
“Now you’ve seen it.” Her voice was flat, yet it felt wrapped in a layer of ice.
“This is reality.
It’s different from what you thought, isn’t it, Amaya-san?”
“It is indeed different from what I imagined,” Amaya Yuu spoke slowly.
“But why do you have to keep it all bottled up and deliberately keep your distance from your classmates?”
Sakiko turned around, a near-sarcastic bitter smile on her face.
“Should I tell everyone that my father was cast out by the Togawa family and has been a wreck ever since?
That I have to work after school every day and take care of this drunkard?
So they can look at me with eyes full of sympathy or pity?”
Her voice grew increasingly agitated: “I don’t need sympathy!
I can survive on my own.
I don’t need anyone telling me what to do!”
“This isn’t sympathy!” Amaya Yuu was also riled up by her stubbornness.
“Accepting help doesn’t mean you’re weak!
Your so-called ‘relying on yourself’ is just pushing yourself into a corner.
Are you going to force yourself to keep up appearances even at the police station entrance just to refuse a classmate’s help?”
“What do you know?!” Sakiko suddenly looked up, her eyes slightly red.
“How could someone like you, living a comfortable and carefree life, understand how heavy reality is?!”
“I haven’t experienced what you’re feeling!” Amaya Yuu took a step forward.
“But I know that blindly running away from reality will only make things worse!”
Their argument echoed in the small space, their emotions on the brink of exploding.
Just then, a violent coughing fit came from the inner room, followed by the dull thud of something heavy hitting the floor and a drunken roar: “So noisy!
Get out!
Everyone get out!”
Togawa Kiyotsugu unsteadily slid open the door to the inner room, his face flushed red, waving his arms as if to drive them away.
Amaya Yuu took a deep breath and glanced at Sakiko.
She had already quickly lowered her head, returning to that cold, distant mask, though her clenched fists betrayed her inner turmoil.
“Sorry for the intrusion.” After saying that, Amaya Yuu turned and left the room.
As the door gently closed, Togawa Kiyotsugu also pulled the sliding door of the inner room shut.
The small room that was just full of conflict suddenly fell into silence, leaving only the sound of running water in the kitchen sink.
But if someone were to listen closely at this moment, they would be able to distinguish intermittent sobs mixed within the sound of the water.
Because of the situation with Togawa Sakiko, Amaya Yuu returned home much later than usual tonight.
Naturally, there was no chance for a chance encounter with Miss Uika.
After washing up, Amaya Yuu sat alone on the living room floor, staring blankly at the Tokyo night view outside the floor-to-ceiling window.
Although he was happy that Tomori could resolve their issues and form a band, the events of tonight kept replaying in his mind, leaving him with an indescribable sense of annoyance.
“Why did I have to meddle in someone else’s business?”
The more he thought about it, the worse he felt, finally muttering those words as a form of venting.
Just then, the vibration of his phone interrupted his thoughts.
He picked up his phone with some curiosity.
Who would be messaging him this late?
[Misumi Uika: Amaya-kun came back quite late today.]
Amaya Yuu hadn’t expected the message to be from Misumi Uika; this was the first time the two of them had communicated via phone.
[Amaya Yuu: Because I ran into some tricky business, so I got back late.]
[Misumi Uika: Eh?
Was it handled smoothly?]
[Amaya Yuu: I got an earful of grief, I’m so annoyed I can’t sleep!]
[Misumi Uika: I see…]
[Misumi Uika: Are you in the living room right now, Amaya-kun?]
[Amaya Yuu: Yes, I’m admiring the Tokyo night view.]
[Misumi Uika: Then could you please lean against the wall that’s next to my room?]
[Amaya Yuu: Eh?
Why?]
[Misumi Uika: Please just do as I say.]
[Amaya Yuu: I’m already leaning against the wall.]
Despite his questions, Amaya Yuu did as he was told, gently pressing his back against the wall shared with Uika’s room.
A moment later, a soft and familiar guitar melody drifted over from the other side of the wall.
It was that song, “One More Time, One More Chance.”
The notes were clear, like a gentle night breeze brushing past.
As the final note softly faded, the gloom in Amaya Yuu’s heart mostly dissipated.
[Misumi Uika: How do you feel now, Amaya-kun?]
Looking at the message that popped up on the screen, Amaya Yuu couldn’t help but smile.
[Amaya Yuu: Uika-san’s guitar playing is so good, it’s like being at a concert.]
[Misumi Uika: We’re not talking about me, please read the question carefully!]
[Amaya Yuu: I feel much better.]
On the other side of the wall.
Misumi Uika held her guitar, also leaning gently against the same spot.
She saw Amaya Yuu’s confirmation and gave her beloved guitar a satisfied pat.
“Exactly, that’s right.
Friendship shouldn’t be about just one side giving.”
[Misumi Uika: That’s good then.
Goodnight, Amaya-kun.]
[Amaya Yuu: Goodnight, Uika-san.]