CH 1

Author: カヤ (Kaya)

The Day We Fell

It was 7 PM on a Friday night, and the May holidays were over. Chiharu quickly cleaned up her desk and prepared to leave.

“Oh, Asou. That’s unusual, you leaving on time.”

“I’m meeting a friend for drinks tonight.”

“Oh, but you’re really going to meet a boyfriend aren’t you?”

“Ahahaha. If only that were true. See you later then.”

“Bye.”

Chiharu lightly brushed of her superiors words and quickly made her way out of the office building. She would then catch a bus to the nearest train station. And there she would meet her friend, Maki Aida.

It had been three years since Chiharu started to work at this distribution company. She worked in sales. Even if there was some overtime, it wasn’t one of those black companies. However, the building where she worked was in an industrial park with lots of warehouses, which was far from any train stations. As Maki had been transferred to a different office in the spring, this was the first time they would be drinking together in over a month.

Chiharu arrived at the closest station. It was the beginning of summer, but the night air was still cold on her skin as she tightly wrapped her pink cardigan around herself. The sweet, flower-print skirt moved in the wind, as did her loose, wavy hair as she ran to the spot where her friend would be waiting. Many men turned their heads when she ran by, however, Chiharu had never been hit on by a man in her life. Chiharu was under the impression that this meant she was not very popular, but the few men that ever asked her on a date, were always the serious type who only thought of marriage. In other words, she was too delicate looking, that it was hard for people to casually approach her.

She arrived at the lion statue. Her friend was waiting there in a black pantsuit with beautiful black hair that just missed her shoulders. As always, Chiharu was taken by how cool she looked. It warmed her heart.

“Maki-chan!”

“Chiharu!”

She couldn’t help but smile. Chiharu Asou. Maki Aida. Close friends called them by their first names. They had joined the company at the same time and had immediately formed a friendship. And that friendship became stronger once they found out that the other could really hold their liquor. Maki was cheerful, tidy and mindful of others, but also had a carefree side as well. While Chiharu seemed soft and kind but could be rather dark-sided. But that made them a good team. Ever since then, they had gone out to drink like this. They were such good friends that they would even go on trips together.

They entered a nearby bar and were led to a private table. It was a good thing too, considering their purpose today.

“What will you get, Chiharu?”

“Hmm… I’ll start off with some potato shochu. On the rocks.”

“Hah, as cool as ever, you are. Starting with shochu. And on the rocks. Well, I think I’ll have pure ginjo sake. In a wooden cup.”

“Ah, Maki, you’re starting with sake…and ginjo sake… This bar has a great lineup.”

There was something that looked off-putting about the way the waiter looked at them, but they didn’t mind. Not today.

“Well, let’s make a toast.”

“Oh, uh, let’s do a classic one.”

“Okay.”

“Cheers to being dumped!” “Cheers to being dumped!”

“Damn it. I won’t deny that we saw less of each other once we started working, okay? But, it’s been five years! And this is a really important time in our lives as adults. What’s wrong with me working hard at my job!”

“Exactly! Exactly!”

“I wear out the bottom of my shoes every day at work. Then I get home all tired. It’s me that wants to have dinner made and feel some relief!”

“Exactly! Exactly! Oh, waiter, I’ll have a lemon highball now.”

“Ah, give me one too. I wanted to spend time with him just as much as he did, but our days off would never align.”

“Exactly! Exactly! Oh, I’ll have an omelet.”

“Ah, I’ll have some takoyaki. Also a radish salad. But still he…”

Maki was starting one of her drunken rants.

“I totally understand, Maki-chan. Let me guess what your boyfriend said. Oh, not boyfriend, Mr. Idiot.”

“Chiharu…that’s quite mean…”

“You may be able to get along by yourself. But a girlfriend should not get by alone. I have to support you…”

Chiharu said with a mocking gesture.

“…That’s right, Chiharu…are you the devil?”

“What, no. Maybe God.”

“That’s a good one.”

“Huh? You worked hard to be able to provide for yourself! That’s what being an employed adult is about. Am I wrong, Maki-san?”

“Uh, not at all.”

“You are working hard even if you might actually like to be indulged. That’s what it means to work in society. Am I wrong, Maki-san?”

“Uh, no. By the way, isn’t it wrong that I have to look after new people who say they can’t do anything, live with their parents and leave unfinished work for me? Chiharu-san?”

“Oh, that is very wrong, Maki-chan-san.”

“Uh, you should just say Maki-san.”

“Oh, right.”

They were both face-down on the table now. To put it simply, both of them had lost their boyfriends to new employees who had joined the company in the spring. Why was there even a tutor system?

No, it was a good thing for veterans to teach newcomers, but this resulted in new couples at an alarming rate. Chiharu continued.

“You know, it’s way too early to be thinking about marriage, but it was him who was trying to rush me into it you know? And I did tell him that it was too early. But then he said he wanted me to stay home. I think not!”

“Well, you do look like the type guys would want to protect.”

“But how is it strange for me to want to work a little bit longer? I’m not even a veteran yet!”

“It’s hard, but working is very fun…”

“Yes… Next time, I’ll fall for someone who can support me in my job and life as much as I support him.”

“Yes. Yes. Someone like him should fall for that sweet newcomer and disappear!”

“Hehehe…”

“Wh-what is it?”

“Maki-chan, I don’t know about your boyfriend, but my ex’s new girlfriend…”

Chiharu emptied her highball in one gulp.

“Waiter, red wine, in a decanter!”

“You keep going. Aren’t you mixing them a bit much?”

“Two glasses!”

“Me too?”

“So,”

“Ah, we’re going back on topic…”

“Everything that she has and wears are expensive brand items.”

“Hoho. Chiharu, does that mean?”

“She’s squeezing him dry.”

“What an idiot, your boyfriend.”

“Ex-boyfriend.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“It’s what he deserves!”

“Exactly!”

The decanter was now empty. Neither of them had meant to drink so much, but they had started with too much momentum.

“On to the next bar!”

“Yeees!”

They no longer cared about their exes. They had alcohol and friendship. They drunkenly left the bar, arm in arm and in the best of moods.

Then they fell.