I hope Ryuichi-kun isnt overworking himself.
Fufu, looks like hes all you can think about, huh?
While Ryuichi was working his part-time job, Shizuna was worrying about him over her dinner with Sakie. As a matter of fact, Shizuna had been so worried about Ryuichi lately that he had been all she could think about since coming home.
Ill be okay. Im happy youre worried for me and all, but dont stress yourself over me too much, all right?
She loved the Ryuichi whod laughed as he said that to her.
She loved the Ryuichi whod patted her head as he said that to her.
She loved the Ryuichi whod hugged her tightly as he said that to her.
Sigh.
Her heart yearned for any and every variation of Ryuichi, and she wanted his love so badly that she wanted to see him right now.
Asking him to live together with her and Sakie was certainly a conclusion theyd reached together out of concern for him and his family circumstancesbut the biggest reason was that she wanted him by her side all the time.
Hey, Mom. Im a selfish womanarent I?
Those words inadvertently slipped out of her mouth. If they were to live together with him, they would be together from sun up to sun down, from the moment they awoke to the moment they went to bed. They would be like a real family, and she was absolutely certain that they would never be separated.
Yes, maybe you are. But I think the same goes for me, too.
You too, Mom?
Yup. Thats just what happens when you love someone, dont you think? No matter how much they tell you not to worry, you cant help but worry anyway because theyre important to you.
It wasnt just Shizuna; Sakie was also thinking about Ryuichi. Considering his current situation, it would be better for him to have a parental figure by his side. Even if he refused that, there was no harm in letting him know the love of a family.
Ryuichi is strong, isnt he? Hes a very strong kid.
In truth, his family circumstances were so bad it wouldnt have been strange if he was more warped of a person.
In fact, it wouldnt have been strange at all if hed resorted to a life of crime and violence from it, but instead, hed done neither and had attracted others around him with his tolerance and open-mindedness.
That was undoubtedly his charm, and those around him were attracted to his strong heart that never gave in to his environment.
I honestly despised his parents when I heard his story, Sakie solemnly muttered. She hadnt heard about his situation when she first had sex with him, but as she and Shizuna slowly got closer to him, she eventually heard his story too.
On top of her hate and anger, Sakie, having a child of her own, couldnt understand what Ryuichis parents had been thinking at all.
Im so glad youre my mother, Mom.
Oh, how sweet of you.
Likely because shed told him she wanted to hear his voice, Ryuichi straight-up told her that he loved her. Shed originally intended to end the call early since she was concerned he might be tired from his part-time job, but apparently, he wasnt that tired from dealing with Chisa and Satsuki.
Oh, and when I said I was their partner, I only meant I was theirconversationpartner, not their partner in bed, okay? We didnt fuck or anything.
Oh, and when I said I was their partner, I only meant I was their
conversation
partner, not their partner in bed, okay? We didnt fuck or anything.
I know.
She kept it a secret that she was actually slightly jealous of the two girls. Then, after talking for a while and ending the call, she seemingly remembered something and stood up.
Come to think of it, I dont have any use for these anymore, huh.
What Shizuna had picked up was an item of gyaru fashion that she had used before for disguise. She didnt think shed use it anymore, but she thought itd be nice to use it again if she went to somespecialestablishment with Ryuichi again.
She also hadnt shown it to Chisa, who had suggested it to her in the first place, so she thought itd be fun to disguise herself again to surprise her.
What Shizuna had picked up was an item of gyaru fashion that she had used before for disguise. She didnt think shed use it anymore, but she thought itd be nice to use it again if she went to some
special
establishment with Ryuichi again. She also hadnt shown it to Chisa, who had suggested it to her in the first place, so she thought itd be fun to disguise herself again to surprise her.
Well then, I think Im content to end the day after hearing Ryuichi-kuns voice.
She got onto her bed, satisfied and content that she would be having another good nights sleep.
Ohright, I forgot to complain about the picture to him.
She only now realized that shed forgotten to complain to Ryuichi about the picture hed taken. Well, though she said complain, she only intended to confront him playfully and ask, How dare you give me a heart attack! but she smiled and decided to save that for tomorrow.
Good night, Ryuichi-kun.
Shed already said those words to him at the end of the call, but she once again addressed his faraway self. She was alone in bed, but whenever she thought of Ryuichi, he would appear in her imagination. Not a pang of loneliness could be found in her heart, only a great amount of happiness.
Then came the next day. She waited for Ryuichi at their usual spot, but since he told her to go ahead, she walked to school by herself. Makoto and Kaname had told her that was pretty unusual of him, but since he had asked her to go ahead, she had no choice.
Hes late, huh.
Yep.
Thats strange. He aint ever been late these days.
No matter how long she waited, he never came to school. Even when the bell signaling the beginning of homeroom rang, he did not show up, and even as the homeroom teacher entered the classroom, he did not come to the classroom.