episode_0008

Kyotarou Hyoukyou — Releasing the hand she held, Chihana approached Tomoe and said, “You’ll catch a chill.” It was already October, a season when one would freeze without an extra layer over thin long sleeves.

Tomoe’s attire seemed to disregard the cold, consisting only of a black sleeveless dress, the kind one might wear in midsummer with a parasol.

“I’m sorry,” Tomoe whispered, then, instead of taking Chihana’s hand, she embraced me and forcefully took my lips. It was like the kiss I’d seen between Tomoe and Takeo in the classroom that day. It was so sudden that I couldn’t resist, and I simply accepted Tomoe.

I fell to the ground, but Tomoe didn’t care, climbing on top of me and holding my head with both hands to kiss me. Again and again, my mouth was drenched in Tomoe’s saliva, and her invading tongue eagerly licked my teeth.

“W-What are you doing?!”

With a shout, Chihana grabbed Tomoe in a full nelson and pulled her away from me, but Tomoe licked the lewdly stretching thread of saliva from her lips as if it were delicious. “Let go,” she said, shaking off Chihana and once again forcefully kissing me. When I realized Tomoe’s hand was groping my crotch, I grabbed her hand and flipped us over, reversing our positions so I was pushing Tomoe down.

“I’m sorry, Kyotarou-kun, I only have you. I’m sorry it took so long. I should have done this sooner. I always wanted you to praise me, Kyotarou-kun. I wanted your applause, I wanted your smile.”

Pinned down, Tomoe began a rapid monologue, tears streaming down her face.

It was only when I gripped them that I noticed: Tomoe’s hands, her slender, white fingers that once played delicate, tuned melodies, were painfully injured, covered in blood-stained bandages and adhesive plasters.

“Tomoe, you…”

“Kyotarou, I love you. I’ve loved you ever since we were in elementary school. But you, Kyotarou, you kept drifting further and further away… I truly love you. I love you more than anyone. I’ve always been—for you, Kyotarou—”

Those words, spoken too late, were the very ones I had always wanted to hear.

It was a relationship of two men and one woman; I knew it would eventually come to an end. And I knew it wouldn’t be in the way I desired.

“Kyotarou, I’ve thrown everything away for you. Please, hold me. I need you… Now, there’s nothing left, is there? Please, I beg you… please…”

“Don’t joke around! What are you saying, suddenly appearing like this?! Don’t you have Takeo-kun?! The genius musician and the genius martial artist—you two were all over TV, the internet, and weekly magazines! Why are you showing up now?! Why?!”

In response to Tomoe’s pleas, Chihana shrieked hysterically. Noticing the neighbors beginning to stir, aware of the commotion, I stepped away from Tomoe, embracing Chihana and urging her to calm down.

“For now, let’s go inside.”

“Are you letting *her* in too?! No way!”

Tomoe reacted with fear to Chihana’s shouts.

“Chihana, you can’t say that. She’s my best friend’s girlfriend… For now, I’ll try to contact Takeo.”

Carrying Tomoe, who was groaning “No, no,” I entered the house, told her to be quiet, and then went around by myself, apologizing to the neighbors for the disturbance.

If the police got involved, it would surely be bad for Tomoe. A single scandal could end a celebrity’s career. After finishing my apologies, I took out my smartphone and called Takeo.

I had my incoming calls blocked, so I thought Takeo might have blocked me too. But apparently, that wasn’t the case, as Takeo answered within three rings.

“Is this about Tomoe?”

Before I could even say anything, Takeo immediately began with that.

Knowing he knew everything, as I naturally assumed, I pressed Takeo for answers.

“What happened? Weren’t Tomoe and you dating?”

“…How is Tomoe doing now?”

“She’s at my place for now. With Chihana… Oh, that’s the girl I’m currently dating. Tomoe was screaming that she loved me, while completely disoriented. It makes no sense… Takeo, did you two have a fight? And what about her hand injury? Won’t that affect her piano playing? Shouldn’t you be protecting Tomoe?”

After I rapidly explained the situation, there was a moment of silence before Takeo sighed.

“…I see, so that’s what happened… Chihana, is that Chihana Watashima?”

“Oh? You know her, Takeo? …Well, I guess it’s not strange, we went to the same high school. More importantly, where are you now?”

“I’m on my way now. About an hour away.”

“Huh, by car? Is it okay to talk on the phone?”

“It’s hands-free, so it’s fine. Sorry, but could you wait there? I’ll come pick you up. And… there’s something I need to tell you, so I’d like the three of you to wait.”

“What is it? You can just say it now.”

“…Some things are better discussed face to face. Well then, see you later.”

Takeo, whom I hadn’t talked to in a while, seemed somehow more mature than before.

After gazing at the smartphone I held for a moment, I headed back to the house where the two were waiting.

“I’m home.”

Inside the room, which was so quiet you wouldn’t think two girls were present, Chihana and Tomoe were sitting formally across a small table, glaring at each other.

As I sat beside Chihana, she slowly took my hand.

I had thought we might hold hands in a different way.

“I just contacted Takeo. He got his driver’s license, too, apparently. He said he’d be here in about an hour… Would you like something to drink until then? I have some store-bought tea, or something.”

“It’s fine, Kyotarou, you don’t have to do anything for someone like this. She just suddenly attacked you, and then she said ‘I’m sorry’ to *me*, didn’t she? That means she knew about our relationship when she did it, right?!”

“Chihana, calm down.”

Tomoe watched Chihana silently, like a borrowed cat.

However, her mouth moved ever so slightly, as if she were saying something.

This space, like a bed of needles, felt unbearably stifling.

It was my own house, yet it felt like a different prison or dungeon.

“C-Can I use the bathroom?”

“Oh, yeah, the bathroom is right behind that door.”

As Tomoe slowly stood up and disappeared into the bathroom, I let out a sigh. My heart couldn’t rest; what had gotten into Tomoe? —Just as I was thinking that, Chihana suddenly pulled me and pushed me onto the floor.

It was a very forceful kiss, just like what Tomoe had done to me moments ago.

“H-Hey, Chihana.”

“No way! Kyotarou-kun is mine now, I’m absolutely not giving him away!”

“What’s that supposed to mean… I’m not an object. Besides, Tomoe’s words just now were spoken in a state of confusion. I don’t think they were her true feelings. It’s probably just a tantrum because she had a fight with Takeo.”

I gently patted Chihana’s head as she lay on top of me, then sat up and kissed her this time. Embracing her, I pecked her lips gently, making a soft sound a few times.

“…Takeo-kun is coming to pick her up, right?”

“Yeah, that’s what he said.”

“Then, when they’re gone, we’ll definitely do it today, okay?”

Chihana looked at me, holding a condom she’d pulled from a drugstore bag.

I told her I understood and stroked her head, and Chihana narrowed her eyes happily.

I had indeed intended to lose my virginity today, but somehow, it felt like it had become an obligation. It was a strange mix of joy and an undefinable feeling. After a while, Tomoe emerged from the bathroom, looked at us, and sat back down on the floor.

“…Um, about that…”

One hour until Takeo arrived—or rather, thirty minutes had already passed. Remaining silent for this long was stifling, so I spoke to Tomoe.

“Tomoe, how have you been doing lately, I wonder? You seem to have injured your hands, and did something happen with Takeo? I was just wondering…”

I was supposed to be talking to my childhood friend, yet what was this feeling? I was so awkward, and had nothing to talk about. Huh? Were Tomoe and I always like this?

Seeing me like that, Tomoe opened her mouth gently, but with a furrowed brow.

“…Lately, I’ve been shut up at home. I injured my hands because I threw away everything related to piano and music. Because, you know, you can’t play the piano without fingers, can you?”

“Why would you do such a thing? You worked so hard on it.”

This question was surely foolish. Tomoe had just screamed the answer moments ago. The real question I should be asking wasn’t such a vague one. It was about Tomoe’s feelings for me, which she had just cried out. I hadn’t noticed any of that when we were in high school.

“…Why I played the piano… Kyotarou-kun, didn’t you realize?”

“Just because you liked it, wasn’t it?”

“No. I never once thought I liked music. I played because *you* were happy. I wanted to see your smile, Kyotarou-kun, I wanted you to tell me I was amazing, I wanted your praise… I only worked hard for that.”

The Tomoe speaking slowly now was the same smiling Tomoe I’d known when we were children.

Even though, ever since entering high school, I had made sure to keep my distance from Tomoe.

But weren’t Tomoe and Takeo dating? Chihana told me so, and they even hugged and kissed at the graduation ceremony, didn’t they?

Just as I was about to say that, my smartphone announced Takeo’s arrival.

He must have really sped here; he’s almost thirty minutes earlier than expected.

There were many things I wanted to ask, but for now, I had to go meet Takeo.

“Takeo seems to be here. I’ll go greet him for a moment.”

It was at that very moment, as I stood up and opened the front door.

That Tomoe shoved me aside and forcefully dashed outside.

“Tomoe?” I couldn’t even ask, and Takeo, who had just parked his car outside, couldn’t react to the suddenness of it either… She burst out of the house, ran to the nearby public road, and then.

“Tomoe!”

In the night city, where my scream and the car’s horn blared.

Tomoe was struck by a passenger car, sent flying through the air, and collapsed onto the road. — Next Chapter: “The Lies I Never Knew, The First Murderous Intent I Held”