"Ah... you're here."
Ijichi Seika, the yellow-haired woman behind the counter, turned to look at the young man tapping the floor with his white cane. She glanced at her sister Nijika, still lost in thought beside her, and then at Gotou Hitori, who was cowering behind Nijika. After a sigh, she turned back to Haru and greeted him.
"Haru, it's been a while."
"We just saw each other a few days ago."
"Tch... who knew you'd been back for so long and staying in Shinjuku this whole time..."
"Heh..."
Haru scratched his head, looking slightly embarrassed.
Seika gritted her teeth in annoyance. Just as she was about to say something more, Nijika suddenly snapped out of her daze.
"Wait, wait, wait! You called him Haru! He's... he's really..."
"Yep... your genuine childhood friend, Nekoyashiki Haru..."
"But that's wrong! Wrong in every way!"
Nijika stared at the young man beside her, her eyes trembling as she took in his sunglasses and white cane.
"This... is this some kind of performance art? Or a special blind person experience?"
"..."
Seika sighed and took a sip of her "Good Kid Juice" through the straw.
"...Sorry, it's not that, Nijika."
Haru smiled, though he couldn't be sure if he was facing Nijika directly, his general direction was correct.
"Two years ago, there was an accident, so... I'm sorry, I really can't see anymore."
The atmosphere suddenly froze. Gotou Hitori had already silently crawled into the nearby trash can.
He's... he's Nijika's childhood friend! Now that she thought about it, Nijika often mentioned her childhood friend.
What "koneko" once said... what "koneko" would never do... Ah, that phrase was usually used to criticize Ryo-san.
So "koneko" was actually referring to Mr. Nekoyashiki?!
Click...
Ijichi Nijika's fist clenched.
"...Two years ago..."
"Yeah..."
Ijichi Nijika's breathing grew heavy.
"It's not... not a temporary thing, right? Like something that can be treated, but just takes time..."
"No, it's completely gone."
Nekoyashiki Haru tightened his grip on his white cane.
"I can't see the light anymore."
"H-how could this be?! Isn't this complete blindness?! That's not supposed to happen!"
"Well, my luck's just a little bad. Don't worry about it."
"How can I not worry?! I've been looking forward to seeing you again! And now you..."
Ijichi Nijika's voice trailed off abruptly.
She bit her lower lip and lowered her head.
"I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you."
"Don't apologize, Nijika. Even though I'm blind, my hearing has gotten really good. That's not so bad, right?"
Nekoyashiki Haru said with a smile, but his words made Ijichi Nijika's hair stand on end—not figuratively, but literally, as if her strands were bristling.
"That's not good at all!" Ijichi Nijika shouted, her voice filled with anger. "This... this... koneko... You idiot!"
With one final shout, Ijichi Nijika stormed out the door.
Bang!
Nekoyashiki Haru froze, startled. He turned toward the sound of the slamming door, ready to chase after her, but a hand tugged at his sleeve.
"If you can't see, don't go. She'll be fine outside," Ijichi Seika said, tugging at the hem of his shirt.
"...I see."
Haru sighed, his smile fading considerably.
"Sigh..."
Ijichi Seika sighed and glanced at the nearby trash can.
"Bocchi, why don't you go home first?"
"Thank you so much!!!"
Gotou Hitori burst out of the trash can, performed a backflip, and landed on all fours, fleeing STARRY as if her life depended on it.
Bang!
The door slammed shut, plunging STARRY into silence.
"I knew this would hurt her," Haru said, using his cane to find a chair and sit down.
"She still misses you quite a bit."
"That's just Nijika," Haru replied.
"She's overly kind to her friends." Haru lowered his head.
"So, is that why you didn't contact her immediately after returning to Japan? Were you afraid to face Nijika?" Ijichi Seika asked.
"Maybe a little..."
"Is that so..."
Seika tilted her head slightly. "Do your parents still just send you money?"
"Well, they were really busy with work."
"You were blind back then."
"That's why Mom skipped a super important meeting to take care of me when I first lost my sight," Haru said with a smile.
"Not enough concern. I see."
Seika handed him a box of Good Kid Juice.
"It was enough for me."
Haru took the juice and put the straw in his mouth.
"Actually, I didn't contact you directly because I thought you might have forgotten about me. After all, we were just neighbors back then."
"Hard to forget. You were practically living alone as a kid, and my mom practically raised you like her own son."
Haru froze, his lips pressed together. After a long pause, he quietly replied, "...Yeah..."
Seika also froze for a moment, then suddenly lost her enthusiasm for the conversation.
The deceased often left people speechless.
They silently finished their Good Kid Juice.
Suddenly, Seika asked, "Where are you staying tonight? Why don't you come to my place..."
"No, I've already bought back the apartment I used to live in."
"...I see."
Seika sighed again, feeling like she'd sighed a lifetime's worth of sighs today.
"It must be tough not being able to see."
"It was at first, but I've gotten used to it now."
Haru smiled again.
"As long as I don't run into any stairs, it's a piece of cake for someone as skilled with a cane as me!"
"You're still joking around with me. Looks like you're really okay."
Seika stood up.
"But you actually became a band member... and joined Hiroi's band..."
"I didn't join. I'm just a hired gun."
"...Whatever."
Seika walked behind the counter.
"You can work at STARRY from now on. Do odd jobs, and fill in when the band needs someone. You'll get paid properly."
"Seika-oneesan, you've really become laid-back."
"What do you mean?"
Seika raised her deadpan eyes.
"You used to be so hot-tempered when we were in the band, but now you're completely different... Ah! Not entirely. When you found me the other day, you were practically ready to punch me in the face."
"No wonder! You didn't even tell us you were back. Of course we'd want to hit you!"
"Hehe... Sorry..."
"...Never mind."
Seika sighed.
"STARRY won't be opening today. You can head back now."
"What about Nijika?"
"I'll keep an eye on her. You can talk to her properly tomorrow."
Seika took Haru's white cane and extended a hand in front of him.
"Take hold. I'll guide you back to your old place, right?"
"Yeah, thanks, Seika-oneesan."
"Don't mention it..."
Supporting Haru, Seika felt his unnaturally light weight and sighed.
"Eat properly from now on."
"I'll try."