What you can't see is what you can't see. Nothing more, nothing less.
Mayu: Mao. I quitted Aporia.
Mao: Come again? That's too sudden... Since when?
Mao: Didn’t see that coming at all.
Mayu: I mentioned before the capable guy Rikkun called in to help Aporia get back on its feet, right? I heard he'll be joining you officially soon.
There will be some new faces as well, that’s why Kiho told me to take some time off. That’s when I asked if I could quit.
Oh, by the way. They seem to need a few more guys who can do character acting. If you know any good ones, remember to introduce them.
Mao: I'd actually prefer to be introduced to someone with those qualifications instead.
Well... As long as it’s not a sudden dismissal, that’s fine.
In fact, I was just about to say that we should take a long break if the store seems to be able to stay firm.
Mao: Since the incident with Riri-san, you haven't had much time to rest, have you?
Mayu: Not really. Although compared to before, it was surely hectic.
Mao: Wow, you really said that. It’s not everyday I get to see you carrying a lot on your shoulders.
Mao: I didn't expect you to suddenly quit at all, but I'm glad you decided to leave for a while and have some time for yourself.
Anyway, you know how it went. I thought I'd take a break for a while and wander around.
I’m gonna try whatever pops up in my head in order.
Mao: You’re saying that now? You always do whatever you want anyway.
Mayu: Even if I am unsure, I know Mao will push me forward. If I don’t want to regret not doing something, I should just do what I want… That’s what you told me.
Mao: It's your life, Mayu. There's nothing else I can say other than that, just do what you want to do.
Mayu: Ahaha, that's true.
Mayu: Well then, I'll come back when I feel like it.
The mug, the slippers she had taken off and were rolled aside, the cushions piled up in a strange shape….
Mayu left everything as it was and left.
It was just another night, the "usual" nights that had passed countless times in the repetitive daily life, free from madness or disruption.
Kise: Good work! Sorry for bothering you on your day off, can I talk to you for a moment?
mA0: Good work to you too. What's wrong?
Kise: It's about the yukatas you ordered for Tomose and Yuragi the other day. Have they arrived yet?
Tomose is going to come during lunch the day after tomorrow, so I thought it would be a good time to let him try it on.
I glanced at the cardboard box that arrived from my parents' house this morning, it remained unbothered at the entrance.
After I told him I'd take it there, we talked a bit and I put my phone back on the table.
Mao: (The day after tomorrow, Yuragi will be there for work as well. Maybe I'll get him to cooperate too. Although I haven't decided on the sandals to go with those outfits yet, I want to see the length at least. I'll bring something that might work just for the fitting then.)
(Yuzuru’s size is the same as Tomose’s, so I’ll borrow those from him later, as for that guy..…. Will mine even fit him? His feet are surprisingly big.)
Mao: (Is it this box that contains what I bought last year?)
(Oh. Mayu's stuff? Then this one...)
Huh? Why are these heels in this box? These gotta be hers too...
In the neatly organized shoebox, I randomly picked out a box, and couldn’t help but sigh when I saw Mayu's personal belongings popping up one after another.
She probably came to stay the night right after shopping and shoved her shoes in the shoebox, then put on new ones and left on the next day.
These are what she called “stock” and of course, it didn’t limit to shoes, the closet on the second floor was literally no different.
It’s not rocket science, she’s free-spirited though and through. Made me wonder if all sisters out there were like this.
Mao: (Once I return the yukata, I'll pack these things up and send them back to where they belong. There should be some space in the room, I don’t think I have to worry about where to put–....)
A thought flashed across my mind as I looked at the box in front of me, but I didn’t let it stop me.
Mao: (It's not like there's a lot to the point where her stuff is overflowing or anything. Just more work for me to collect Mayu's things from here and there and pack them up...)
But there's no reason to go beyond the effort. In that case, it's more efficient not to touch them.
An everyday life liberated from unnecessary things, only what was deemed necessary and convenient was worth putting together. Life just went on smoothly in the end.
Just as I reached the same conclusion as always, I put the lid back on Mayu's sneakers, which were neither to my taste nor the right size.
Mao: Good morning, Tomose. You're sure early today.
Tomose: And here I thought I was early. Did I keep you waiting?
Mao: I took a taxi and I left a little early today. The roads were clearer than I thought.
But I’m glad it turned out this way. Otherwise, I would have made you wait even though I called you so early in the morning.
Tomose: In the first place, it was me who specified morning instead of after work. Doesn’t it look more like I was the one calling you here?
Mao: Hey, I was the one who asked for your time to try on clothes. Yuzuru told me that you plan to leave at 3 PM today. You have something to do, right?
Tomose: Yeah. Yu is coming home.
Mao: Yu? That reminds me, I didn't see him yesterday. Is it work?
Tomose: Acting as a bodyguard from last night until 5 PM today. That's why I told him I'll be home from this evening onwards. Due to the nature of the job, he left all personal belongings behind this time.
Mao: All his personal belongings... Ah, I see. Since he doesn't have a key, he can't get in the house without Tomose, not to mention, no phone. Doesn’t that mean you can't contact him?
Tomose: Yeah. That’s why I'll wait for him to come home as promised.
Mao: ……………………Can I ask what goes on your mind at times like these?
Mao: When you’re waiting for Yu.
Tomose: ……. Is your question “am I worried or not”?
Sorry. Thinking about it, I shouldn't have asked that when Yu is still away.
I tried to take it back by saying "forget it," but Tomose beat me to it.
Tomose: Right now, no. But… That used to be the case.
Tomose: I admit that I used to doubt his words when he said that there wasn’t any problem and he would come back after finishing the task safely.
Once I send him off, there is only one thing I can and should do
Mao: ... Believe that he will be safe and wait for him to come back. Nothing else, right?
Mao: That sounds just like you.
If I feel even the slightest bit of possibility that he won't be able to return safely, I will not let him go alone.
The words came out of Tomose as he continued his sentence like it’s nothing…. made my thoughts frozen for a moment.
Tomose: Either stop him or accompany him. Even if I end up not being needed, it's fine as long as everything goes smoothly.
Mao: Thanks for going along with my ridiculous question out of the blue. Shall we get started?
This is your yukata. Have you ever worn one?
Tomose: No. Let me know if you need me to wear one myself.
Mao: I'll have to help Yuragi dress anyway, you can just leave it to me. But it's not that difficult, so how about learning it?
Mao: First, put this on over your underwear... But, before that, why don’t you bring your work clothes from the locker?
Just put that on after taking off your yukata. It’s gonna be a hassle to change back and forth.
Tomose: Sounds like a plan.
Tomose gave me a brief reply and left down the hallway.
The sound of the door, which hadn't been slammed roughly, echoed loudly for some reason.
Before it disappeared after intertwining with the sounds of that night that still lingered in the back of my ears.
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