It was now after school. The original plan was that once classes had finished, we'd all head to my family's restaurant, but a small problem came up. Including me, we had six people in our group, and Mei's car was a five-seater.
I always thought having a car was a blessing—but now, the gift was making us choose who to leave behind.
Well, if I have to choose, the answer's easy.
I pointed at Yu and said, "I think he should be the one to walk. He loves walking after all."
I expected him to overreact, but he just shrugged. "Sure—I don't care. I don't mind walking."
I couldn't tell whether he was being genuine or simply being nice, but either way, I couldn't help but feel a little guilty about it now.
"NO!" Remi shouted, drawing the attention of nearby students and teachers. She didn't seem to mind—or even notice as she continued. "Yu will NOT be walking alone! We never leave a man behind!"
My eyes narrowed.
But if it were me, she'd probably leave me in a ditch without a second thought. I guess this is the result of them getting closer.
This was basically the cycle we were in. If we all walked, Mei had to drive alone. If we took the car, then someone had to walk alone. And if we split up, we'd arrive at different times.
Either way, to settle it, we needed to break the rules one way or another.
I turned to Mei and asked, "Do you care if we just put four people in the back?"
Mei lowered her head, seemingly deep in thought. "Hmmmm. How far is your restaurant from here?"
"Maybe about ten minutes, depending on the traffic."
Mei gave me a small nod. "Then that's fine."
She fished her keys from her cardigan pocket and unlocked the car.
"So, who's sitting–"
But before she could even finish, Yu and I bolted forward. We were neck and neck, so I leaned to the side and shoved him with my shoulder, throwing him off a step. That was all I needed to pull ahead of him.
My hand shot out, grabbed the front passenger seat door, swung it open, and I jumped inside.
Yu stared at me, mouth open, his face caught somewhere between shock, jealousy, scorn, and disbelief.
"Wh-why are you sitting there?!" he sputtered.
"What do you mean?" I said, buckling into my seatbelt. "I got here first, so it's only reasonable that I get the seat. Finders keepers."
Yu scoffed. "Are you stupid?! I'm the biggest one, so it only makes sense that I get the isolated seat! Do you want me to sit in the back and squish the other three?"
When he phrased it like that, I couldn't help but agree with him a little. And that was what made messing with him all the more fulfilling.
I did a simple shrug. "Yeahhh—that sounds like a problem you backseat sitters will have to deal with. You guys can figure it out."
Remi lightly grabbed Yu by the shoulder with a loud sigh. "Just give it up—he's not going to move. If it makes you feel any better, Sora and I can sit in the middle, so you and Luna can get on the sides."
Yu deflated, then waved her off. "No, it's fine. Sora and I can sit in the middle. You two should sit on the sides."
Remi opened her mouth, but before she could get the words out, Luna leaned in and cut her off.
"Well, if you're THAT insistent, Yu, I guess we have no choice..." Luna did a small, seemingly reluctant sigh, but that didn't hide the grin on her face. "Well, let's go, Remi!"
Once everyone took their seats, we drove off toward my family's place. During the ride, the four of them in the back talked loudly about whatever it was that came to mind. I pitched in here and there, but because I sat in the front, it made it a little more difficult for me to participate—not that I felt left out.
It wasn't because I didn't care; the thought just never had the opportunity to cross my mind. The only thing I could think about was Mei.
Even though Mei was already sitting quite close and four people were right behind us, there was this pressure in my chest, one that pushed me forward—urging me to get closer.
Maybe… just this much won't hurt.
I propped my elbow on the left armrest and rested my head on my hand. From here, I could vaguely make out the scent of Mei's perfume.
The pressure eased a little—but the heat only swelled.
I… want to get closer.
Without turning my head, I glanced at Mei from the corner of my eye. She was doing the same thing, her eyes flickering between me and the road.
Seeing her doing the same thing I was, my body convulsed, but I remained seated and bit the inside of my mouth.
Every muscle in my body urged me forward, but the taste of iron kept me in check.
You can wait until this is done. Only a couple more hours left.
With a long road ahead of me, I rode out the rest of the car ride without uttering another word.
***
We piled out of the car and stood before a small, white building—that was actually a house—on a narrow, quiet street. I'd seen this same thing for years when I was a kid, but now that I was here again, I couldn't help but stare longer than I should have.
Wow. Time really flies...
As a kid, I dreaded coming to this place. Back in elementary school, whenever Mom picked us up, she'd drive us here because she didn't trust my sister and me at home alone, and we couldn't afford a babysitter.
I spent hours of my childhood trapped inside this place, either playing on my Dad's phone or helping out with the store. I hated every second of it. While other kids were out playing at the park or with their friends, I was stuck here.
The only exceptions to this rule were when Mom was really sick and stayed home—which happened often enough to keep me from fully despising the place—or when there was a lot of housework.
I'd avoided coming back for years.
Now, though, after all these years had passed, the hatred that I had once held onto wasn't as potent anymore. All the memories I had of this place—while I wouldn't say I looked back on them fondly—felt just a little more tolerable.
I guess… coming back every now and then isn't so bad.
While I may have moved on from my hate for this place in a sense, there was another—bigger—present-day problem.
I glanced back at my friends as they gawked at the building.
...I hate bringing my friends here.
I'd brought my friends over to this store and my house a few times before—and I hated it each time. I couldn't even say why. I just hated the thought of them stepping into a place that was technically supposed to be a private place of mine. It was almost like I was exposing some part of myself by letting them in.
Another part of it was that I just hated having my friends and family in the same room. I could deal with many things, but that was too awkward even for me.
This was why I tried to keep things as separate as I could.
Why didn't I just refuse?!, is what I found myself thinking, but I knew it was pointless.
If I didn't show up, I wouldn't put it past Julie to track me down and drag me here. On the other hand, if I showed up alone after saying I'd hang out with my friends, she'd feel guilty for making me choose her—even if she'd never admit it.
It was a lose-lose no matter what.
I took a deep breath, then announced in a flat tone, "Well—this is the place."
Sora cleared his throat, trying to play the confident student council president.
"W-wow, I'm a little nervous," he said with a weak chuckle.
Yu slapped him on the back, shoving him forward. "There's no need to be embarrassed! Hoshino's Dad is a chill guy. If he could accept me, then he could accept anyone!"
This was the one thing I could probably give my Old Man without arguing—he didn't judge anyone. It was almost childlike. Just raw simplicity.
"Well," I said, stepping forward and grabbing the door handle. The cold metal shouldn't have felt any different than usual, yet the memories from back then resurfaced the moment I did.
This door used to feel so much heavier…
But I quickly brushed that thought off as I said, "Let's go, I'm getting hungry."
I opened the door and waved everyone in. They stepped in one by one, with Mei being the last one. Our eyes lingered on each other for just a moment before breaking, and she went in.
Surprisingly, the longing that had been flaring in my chest didn't spike. For the first time, it felt like I could treat Mei like any other person.
Well, of course it would. After all, what I've been through with Mei…
Once everyone was inside, I turned around and stepped in after them.
The bell rang, signalling that a customer had arrived. But the sound fell flat in my ears.
The moment the door closed behind me, my face relaxed to the point where my facial muscles felt non-existent—into the same expression I always had in my house.
...Is nothing compared to what I've been through with my family.