episode_0017

Yako Tomoe

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A year has passed since I became independent from my parents, and fortunately, I’ve been blessed enough to establish my own music agency. Unfortunately, I still haven’t found a way to reconnect with Kyotarou-kun.

I swore I’d forget him, but I just can’t let go. Many men have appeared before me since then, but I’ve turned them all down. For one, I have a physical disability, and I know that if it’s not a really special person, I’ll end up being a burden in the future, so I cool off before I even get to the point of liking someone.

“If you keep saying that, you’ll end up an old maid, you know? You’re the President, so you should just go for it without worrying about such things! We’ll support you on the work front, so there’s no need to hold back!”

Takagi-san, who works with me, tells me that every time a relationship falls through. But being able to think so optimistically was probably only possible until I was in high school. Now I have responsibilities to protect, and I need to consider things more carefully.

“Alright, let’s get back to business for the next project. Next is an ink company’s factory. That famous company wants to feature the President’s piano in their commercial. Since it includes both the performance and the President, it’s an eight-figure deal!”

“Seven figures, right? I’m not that expensive. More importantly, Takagi-san, aren’t you interested in romance? I’ve been hearing all sorts of stories since you started as my secretary, but I haven’t heard a single frivolous story from you.”

From the driver’s seat, Takagi-san raised her left hand and spoke energetically.

“I’m fine! I’m happy just being able to work at the Yako Music Agency, which I admire so much! Let’s achieve the American Dream together!”

“American Dream, huh… Ah, is that why your hair is blonde?”

“First, everything starts with appearance!”

While we were idly chatting in the car, we arrived at our destination factory. Takagi-san, who came from another company at the same time as my agency was founded, is truly excellent. From schedule management to business negotiations, administrative tasks, and even acting as my legs to accompany me to various places.

I’ve been blessed with good people. Thinking that, I vaguely looked around from the back seat, and then. I saw an unbelievable person. I forgot how to breathe; it was so shocking, as if the world had frozen.

My throat gulped, and before I knew it, sweat was running down my cheeks. My heart pounded painfully and began to race. I pressed my chest with both hands, but it was no use, it wouldn’t stop at all.

I found him. He was wearing a slightly blue company uniform, his black hair neater than before, his expression slender and dignified. He was busy walking, talking on his mobile phone with documents in hand.

Suddenly, my chest grew warm. Forgotten emotions surged all at once, and I instinctively gritted my teeth. As I kept watching him from the car, he talked to a driver in the truck yard and then disappeared into the factory.

“Okay, I’ve sorted things out! They say the negotiation will be in the building next door. There don’t seem to be any issues with the content they provided beforehand, so the President just needs to smile… President?”

“……………Ah, I’m sorry. I’m fine. …Um, Takagi-san.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Just one thing, could you ask them? If there’s someone named Hyoukyou Kyotarou working here, I’d like him to be called to the meeting.”

“Hyoukyou Kyotarou-san, you say? It’s fine, but is he someone you know?”

Do I know him? We came to an end. But at that time, I swore.

If God smiled upon me, then I would start all over again from scratch.

…It’s just my selfish desire.

Perhaps he might even be married to that woman from back then, but…

In that case, if he and his wife would allow it, I want to be a friend by your side. Will I fall for him again? But now, I have many people by my side.

I need to properly distinguish… but, by asking this, maybe I’m not doing it.

But, I’ve already said it. Meeting and talking should be fine, right?

With Takagi-san pushing my wheelchair, I reunited with him in the conference room we were shown into. His expression when he saw me was strangely surprised.

He hasn’t changed. Nothing has changed. My cheeks warmed as if I had instantly returned to high school. Seeing Kyotarou-kun completely frozen, I quietly smiled.

He wasn’t given a chair because it was so sudden. I thought I might have done something regrettable, but I couldn’t keep the client waiting. Kyotarou-kun stood quietly next to the houseplant, truly like a tree, and I almost burst out laughing so many times. I’m sorry, Kyotarou-kun.

Once I successfully got Takagi-san out of the room, we were finally able to be alone. I could faintly see Takagi-san eavesdropping beyond the glass wall, but it was a conversation she could hear anyway, and besides, if I didn’t get her on my side, who knows what she’d say later.

Throughout the conversation, I probed, and I understood something. There was no trace of a woman in Kyotarou-kun’s life now. He didn’t wear a ring, his uniform showed no signs of being ironed, and he ate convenience store food.

He had been alone all this time. Just like me. That made me happy.

I wanted to ask what happened with that girl, Chihana, but I couldn’t. It would surely turn into a dark conversation, and if she wasn’t in Kyotarou-kun’s life now, then that was fine.

“Let’s get married, shall we?”

Looking at the ring finger of his left hand, I proposed.

I thought it was no different from when I assaulted him back then, but this time it was different. It was a proposal. If Kyotarou-kun refused this, I would give up completely and decide it was finally time to look for a new love.

I was sure Takagi-san, listening through the glass, would tell me that.

Hearing my proposal, Kyotarou-kun froze for a moment. Was I mistaken, and he actually had a girlfriend? Was he just taking his wedding ring off because of company regulations, when he usually wore it? Or, because of what happened with me, had he given up on all romantic relationships? Ah, that really seemed plausible. Knowing Kyotarou-kun, he might say he was scared of girls now.

I couldn’t help but laugh at my own delusions and internal monologue. I desperately tried to cover my giggling mouth with both hands. It was no use; seeing him still at a loss for words now, my lips somehow relaxed.

“…You seem to be having fun. Is this some kind of prank?”

Seeing Kyotarou-kun look around with half-closed eyes, it was my turn to panic.

“No, that’s not it, Kyotarou-kun. I would never do something like that to you. A miracle… a miracle happened. You see, I swore in my heart back then. If I ever met you again somewhere, I wanted to start over. …It’s selfish, I know, I’m sorry. What am I even saying? Besides, I can’t do any homemaking duties, and I’m still in a wheelchair…”

Living without the use of both legs was more inconvenient than I thought. A wheelchair makes hills scary, and it often gets stopped by even small pebbles. Things like hanging laundry, those ordinary homemaking duties, are probably impossible for me.

I might be able to do them if I tried my best, but I can only do less than half of what a normal person can.

And then, there’s probably the issue at night. I don’t know because I haven’t been with anyone, but given the severity of the accident, I don’t even know if I can properly. A child with Kyotarou-kun would be incredibly cute, and I’m sure he’d want one, but… I have no confidence.

“…I’m sorry, let’s just forget what I said. Really…”

I should refuse. What did I just say? A little thought would tell me. The conversation is too sudden, and he has work. I shouldn’t bother him. I have to stop thinking about Kyotarou-kun after this.

“Is that true? Do you really want to forget?”

“…Huh? Yes, because, it can’t be hel––”

“That’s a lie. Your words just now, Tomoe, those are your sincere words.”

Standing up with a clatter, Kyotarou-kun came right in front of me and knelt on one knee. His serious gaze, piercing me so intensely that I instinctively recoiled against the backrest. But Kyotarou-kun didn’t let me escape.

“I’ve always wished for your happiness, Tomoe. Even if you weren’t by my side, I wished for you to be happy.”

He placed his hand over mine, and slowly, Kyotarou-kun leaned closer.

“I wished for the same thing. If Kyotarou-kun could be happy, then that would be enough for me. Because, well, a lot happened, didn’t it? Even now, Kyotarou-kun might still have a connection with Chihana-san––”

“No, we don’t. The day I parted ways with you, Tomoe, I also parted ways with Chihana and Takeo. On that day, all our relationships as childhood friends ceased to exist. So, there’s no one around me now. There’s no one, not a single person, who will interfere with me and Tomoe.”

Kyotarou-kun’s lips came closer, and slowly, gently, he pressed his lips to mine.

Resist? As if I would. I was just happy.

The moment Kyotarou-kun and I kissed, something from before vanished. Instead, a different emotion enveloped me. I had cried so much for Kyotarou-kun until now, but this was different. These were tears of joy. Tears that didn’t need to be dabbed with a handkerchief trickled down my cheeks.

“Really…? No, I won’t turn back now. Once I’m serious, there’s no going back, you know?”

“You don’t have to go back. There’s no need to go back. I, too, have always wished for your happiness, Tomoe. Your happiness is my happiness. I was so happy, truly happy. I made you wait so long… Let’s get married, Tomoe.”

He pulled me into an embrace, and I stood up, leaning my entire weight on him.

Kyotarou-kun had grown so tall. I really wanted to stand beside him, wanted to stand on my tiptoes for kisses. But kissing him while being embraced like this was also incredibly blissful.

We wrapped our arms around each other and kissed again and again.

Wanting to fill all the空白 (voids) of our past.

Midway, I caught sight of Takagi-san secretly opening the door. But seeing us, she closed the door quietly. I smiled, thinking she’d have a lot of questions for me later, and noticing this, Kyotarou-kun also smiled.

“Did something happen?”

“…No, nothing at all.”

There’s nothing left now. We can be happy too.

Because no one, and nothing, will interfere.

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Next Story: “The Wedding, and then–” *Kyotarou Hyoukyou’s perspective*