episode_0014

Furuya Takeo

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At the new hospital, I apologized to Tomoe’s parents. Seeing Kyotarou sitting beside Tomoe, continuing to pray, her parents began to ask me questions. To explain everything properly, it would surely be better if Kyotarou wasn’t around.

After using innocuous words, Tomoe’s parents and I moved to the hallway.

What had happened? What did it mean for Tomoe to get excited seeing that girl?

I honestly confessed to all of their parents’ questions. That Tomoe loved Kyotarou, that a woman named Watashima and I had interfered with that, that Watashima and Kyotarou were currently dating. And that I had forcibly taken Tomoe’s lips.

When I finished speaking, Tomoe’s father punched me once.

His mother desperately tried to stop him, but I wanted it.

Kyotarou hadn’t punched me; he hadn’t even given me a chance for atonement. So, even though it was just one punch, I thought it was good that her father hit me. Nothing would change, but something solidified into resolve within me.

I would end everything related to my relationship with Tomoe. Once she woke up, I would apologize, and then I would disappear from her sight. She probably wouldn’t be sad. From Tomoe’s perspective, my existence was nothing but a hindrance.

After a while, as dawn broke, Kyotarou came out of the hospital room, crying.

The words I heard completely severed our relationship.

“Goodbye.”

It was nothing; Tomoe must have also given up on us. A childhood friend relationship was nothing but a nuisance. If that was Tomoe’s answer, I would accept it without complaint.

Tomoe was sad about her parting with Kyotarou, but when she saw me, she smiled just once, like she used to. It was that Tomoe, like she was in high school, like she was about to call out, “Takeo-kun.”

And then, she bade farewell to me just as she had to Kyotarou. I knew it would happen, but it hurt a little. Although I told her to let me know if she ever had financial difficulties, knowing Tomoe, those words would surely be meaningless.

As expected, Tomoe rose to prominence in the music world within three years.

She couldn’t have returned to that level with ordinary effort. Her street piano videos quickly surpassed a million views, collaborations with industry veterans, and concert venues filled up as if the world had been waiting for a star named Yako Tomoe.

I, for my part, worked hard in my own way, but in the end, I only appeared on year-end television or occasional tournaments. Otherwise, as a consultant and a master of martial arts still actively fighting, I occasionally appeared on TV, becoming a puppet that made the public laugh.

It had been six years since I debuted as a professional fighter. Balancing it with academics was truly tough, but after successfully graduating from university while still active, my career broadened. I started appearing frequently as an announcer, on morning news programs, and even on variety shows I had quietly continued before. I believe my name, Furuya Takeo, spread to the point where no one in the world didn’t know it.

That must be why people began to dig into my past.

The past, of course, referred to my relationship with the now-popular pianist, Yako Tomoe.

It was well-known that we were childhood friends, and it was even revealed that I had been in love with Tomoe. There was a mountain of evidence. Since photos existed of me foolishly going to Tomoe’s house during high school, it was nearly impossible to deny.

“Furuya the fighter, could you tell us a good story soon?”

“It seems this couple is adorning the weekly magazines again today~”

“Speaking of dating since high school, they must truly be childhood friends.”

“We will be showing never-before-seen photos of the innocent couple on our program for the first time!”

Television, the internet, weekly magazines—everything trying to pair Tomoe and me reminded me of Chihana and her friends in high school. We were over. My existence only caused Tomoe suffering.

Why wouldn’t everyone release us? My fists trembled with boundless rage.

“Calm down, you idiot. Your fists aren’t for that kind of thing.”

“Master… I’m sorry, I’m just going to cool my head.”

Time spent with the Master at the dojo I’d been going to since childhood. Recently, this was the only place of respite. This space, completely isolated from my surroundings, soothed my mind. If it weren’t for this place, I surely would have destroyed everything with violence.

True to my word, I cooled my head and addressed the paparazzi waiting outside.

I invited them for a drink and meticulously, calmly, explained my relationship with Tomoe, but…

Ultimately, my efforts were in vain. Trying to shut down each photographer and magazine reporter was an endless chase. There was nothing left of my relationship with Tomoe; I had already abandoned the childhood friend dynamic. No matter how many times I denied it, nothing changed.

The more agitated I became, the more real the rumors seemed. And my opponents were amateurs; if I were to lay a hand on them, even by chance, I would instantly create the biggest scandal. Living day after day, piling patience upon patience, was surprisingly difficult.

No one believed me, no matter how many times I said it wasn’t true.

Even though it felt like being a werewolf, I poured all of that into my matches.

Winning matches felt good; I could forget Tomoe just for the moment of victory. Perhaps I was that kind of terrible person, one who calmed his mind by beating down opponents.

“Congratulations! Who would you like to dedicate this victory to?!”

Had Tomoe seen through that?

Is that why she had always pretended not to see me?

I snatched the microphone offered before me. And then…

“Shut up! Don’t follow me around forever! This victory is dedicated to Master alone! There’s no one else! Are you satisfied with that, you bastards?!”

With a high-pitched ringing feedback echoing, I screamed at a volume that reached not just the venue but even outside. The female reporter covered her ears and crouched down, looking up at me with a face contorted in terror.

I messed up. My work would probably decrease from tomorrow onward. There was even a possibility of expulsion.

But it felt good. I just hoped Tomoe wasn’t bothered by it.

Getting into the car, I sighed to myself.

That night I went to pick up Tomoe, all my faint hopes came to nothing. I had hoped we could return to being childhood friends, or at least a relationship where we could talk, but…

This was the result. Not only did we not talk, but there wasn’t even a means of contact.

Yet even now, what happened back then was tormenting me.

I want to be saved. I want to be rescued from this bottomless swamp.

Kyotarou, Tomoe… I want to start over with you two.

I know it’s a selfish wish, but I want to spend time laughing like we used to.

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Next Chapter: “Unbearable Parting”