Clannad VN:SEEN6800P7
Sections
Text
<3671>
// May 24 (Monday)
<3672>
// The next morning.
<3673>
// My feet were heavy, coming into the office.
<3674>
// To be honest, I didn't want to come.
<3675>
// To cause that much trouble, what face would I put on?
<3676>
// Coming closer to the company step by step, only meaningless fear and bitter self-hatred grew.
<3677>
// Finally, I was in front of the company.
<3678>
// I put my hand on the sliding door, and after taking a breath, readied myself.
<3679> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Good morning! Sorry about yesterday!"
<3680>\{Ông Chủ} ""
// \{Boss} "Morning. So, sorry about what?"
<3681>\{Người Thợ} ""
// \{Worker} "Oh, the young guy. You ran all the way to the site the other day, didn't ya?"
<3682>\{Người Thợ} ""
// \{Worker} "Our new young guy's got some admirable willpower."
<3683>
// I looked up, dumbfounded.
<3684>
// Where everyone should have been blaming me, they were praising me.
<3685> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Umm... why...?"
<3686>\{Johnny} ""
// \{Johnny} "Why? You ran to the place, didn't you, boy?"
<3687> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Huh."
<3688>\{Johnny} ""
// \{Johnny} "Hey, Yuu-san, this kid doesn't know the conditions, do you, boy?"
<3689>
// I coudldn't tell exactly what he was saying.
<3690>
// Just that Yuu-san happened to be Yoshino-san, as he came from inside, heeding the call.
<3691>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "\m{A}? Morning."
<3692>
// An unusual smile.
<3693> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Good morning."
<3694>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "You have a mysterious face there."
<3695> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Of course. I came here thinking that you would have an angry face..."
<3696>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "Messups can't be helped."
<3697>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "The problem is how to recover."
<3698>
// Calm words.
<3699>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "If you do the best that you can, everyone will definitely appraise you."
<3700>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "That's what I like about this kind of job."
<3701>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "I thought you did absolutely everything you could yesterday."
<3702>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "That's why everyone's saying so."
<3703>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "Everyone thinks the same way."
<3704> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "B-but if I had done it right..."
<3705>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "You'll get used to screwing it up."
<3706>
// Though I'm grateful that Yoshino-san says that, but I couldn't agree.
<3707> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "B-but, I ruined your holiday, Yoshino-san..."
<3708>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "It's not for your sake. It's for the customer's."
<3709>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "Because it was a job that had to be finished before before yesterday."
<3710>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "You still don't get it?"
<3711>
// Silent, I shook my head.
<3712>
// Instead, I felt so inexcusable.
<3713>
// That's why I couldn't depend on Yoshino-san's kindness.
<3714>
// Doing that, Yoshino-san's expression changed in a subtle way.
<3715>
// Only just a bit, but almost as if he did.
<3716>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "... if you do think something this insignifcant is inexcusable, then remember this."
<3717>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "If you have the will to always continue in this job, you'll soon have to deal with a new person."
<3718>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "Someone like you, who's young, who doesn't have a direction."
<3719>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "When the time comes when he messes up, you'll have to follow up."
<3720>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "If you want to return the favor to me, do that."
<3721>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "That's your job."
<3722>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "For that is also..."
<3723>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "Love."
<3724>
// Though it'd be better if he didn't make that his last word...
<3725>
// But, I didn't really have any words to return either.
<3726>
// I was too much of a burdening child.
<3727>
// But, the day where I will walk on my own wil come.
<3728>
// That's why.
<3729> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "... okay! I will! I'll remember!"
<3730> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "That's why... I'll... work......\p my... hardest..."
<3731>
// I couldn't bring out any more words. That's why I kept bowing, on and on.
<3732>\{Yoshino} ""
// \{Yoshino} "You seem so tearful there."
<3733>
// Yoshino-san murmured as if shocked, and everyone patted my shoulder, as if sympathizing.
<3734>
// Now that I look back upon it, today might actually have been the day I really started.
<3735>
// Cohabitation
<3736>
// A lot of things have begun to move.
<3737>
// I've been doing well at work since that day.
<3738>
// And when it got dark, I'd talk a lot with Nagisa, brushing off the weariness from the job.
<3739>
// Simply waking up early was painful as always, but when I see Nagisa's sleeping face, my willpower builds up.
<3740>
// Nagisa also got to talk a lot with Nishina and Sugisaka.
<3741>
// That was becasue they had finished with the choir club, and finally got some time.
<3742>
// And thus, our calm life together began.
<3743>
// I went to visit the Furukawa household once a week.
<3744>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Umm, \m{B}-kun, could I ask you for some advice?"
<3745>
// Nagisa asked holding some plastic containers.
<3746> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Hmm?"
<3747>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It's about dad."
<3748> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "What happened to pops? Did he trouble Sanae-san with some harassment again?"
<3749>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "That's not it."
<3750>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Umm... well..."
<3751>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It seems that dad formed a small theatrical company with the people he performed with, and they're launching."
<3752> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Heh... that's somewhat, great."
<3753>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Yes..."
<3754>
// It was probably hard for Nagisa to stomach.
<3755>
// He should still have been a member, hadn't he given up on his dream.
<3756>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "They gave my dad an invitation to come to their performance."
<3757>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Dad must want to go."
<3758> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I guess. They're old friends, after all."
<3759>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "But, he has work, so he's said he isn't going."
<3760> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Work? It's just for half a day. What's he saying?"
<3761>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "No, it won't be for half a day. This performance is in Kyushu."
<3762> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Guahh... that's far..."
<3763>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Even if he took a bus, he'd be gone for two days."
<3764> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "But, it's okay for him to leave the shop open for at least two days, right?"
<3765>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Dad leaves the shop a lot to play but, every morning he bakes the bread."
<3766> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I see... then he'd have to close the shop down for two days."
<3767>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Dad doesn't want to be negligent, so I think he'd say he wouldn't go."
<3768>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "He's continued on in the bakery this whole time without stopping..."
<3769>
// That wasn't the only reason. He probably also has his own responsibility.
<3770>
// He'd act as if something like that had absolutely no meaning to him in front of her.
<3771>
// That's the kind of feeling I had about it.
<3772>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "But, I'd like him for to go if possible."
<3773> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, I know."
<3774>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "That's why, \m{B}-kun..."
<3775>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "How about baking for him instead?"
<3776> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3777> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "You will?"
<3778>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I meant you!"
<3779>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I did say '\m{B}-kun' clearly."
<3780> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "It'd be impossible for me to replace pops."
<3781>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "You worked with them, \m{B}-kun."
<3782> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "But it had nothing to do with baking."
<3783>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "You also helped mom."
<3784> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Sigh...)
<3785> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (That reassures me...)
<3786>
// I suddenly spaced out.
<3787> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Besides, I also have a job."
<3788>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It's next weekend. You don't have any work on Saturday. Didn't you say so, \m{B}-kun?"
<3789> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I did, yeah..."
<3790>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I have school, so I won't be able to help until the afternoon."
<3791>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I actually want to bake it but... it's a lot of physical work, so a lot of it is impossible for me."
<3792>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "That's why I'm asking you, \m{B}-kun."
<3793>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Or maybe you can't...?"
<3794>
// Not that I can't, but it's impossible
<3795>
// Guess we'll have to...
<3796> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Not that I can't, but it's impossible."
<3797> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Besides, pops couldn't rely on me for that."
<3798>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It's also something I'm asking fo you."
<3799> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Even if you did, it's obvious it's impossible."
<3800> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "He prides himself in that pretty well, after all."
<3801>
// Besides, he'd be so stubborn not to let this slip by, even with this.
<3802>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "That might be true..."
<3803> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Besides, this time won't be the only time for the company, would it? They just launched, so they're only beginning."
<3804> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Maybe in the future, they'll come nearby."
<3805>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I suppose. That's probably true."
<3806>
// Pops probably wants to maintain a natural relationship with Nagisa just as much as she does.
<3807>
// I think it's better Nagisa not deal with this.
<3808> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Pops can at least write back an answer, and we don't need to worry much more than that."
<3809>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay..."
<3810>
// She nodded slightly, and didn't bring up the topic again.
<3811> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Guess we'll have to..."
<3812>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "You'll help out?!"
<3813> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah... I know how you feel."
<3814>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Thank you so much!"
<3815>
// A man with a large build was leaning against an iron bar in the park, smoking a cigarette.
<3816> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, isn't that pops?"
<3817>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Yes, it's dad."
<3818> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "He's slacking off again."
<3819>
// We dropped by the park.
<3820> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Pops!"
<3821>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Yo."
<3822>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Oh, it's you guys."
<3823>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I'm back, dad."
<3824>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Yeah, welcome back."
<3825>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Dad, please look at this."
<3826>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It's vegetables that I cooked. Would you like to try them?"
<3827>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Yeah, I'll take 'em in one shot."
<3828>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "You can't eat that way! I'd like for you to taste the flavor."
<3829>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Yeah, I'll do that."
<3830>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "And also, there's something really nice I'd like to talk to you about."
<3831>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Oh? You're coming back to the house? Sounds like great news."
<3832>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I'm not! I want to be with \m{B}-kun!"
<3833>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Tch, I know. Don't make that so damn clear already, okay? He'll be so giddy, see!"
<3834>
// Nagisa looked at me.
<3835>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "He's not really giddy."
<3836>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "He just suddenly went back to a serious look. He's a broody lech."
<3837>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "What's broody? I don't know what that is."
<3838>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Talking about how he's such a lech, but covers it up like it's all normal."
<3839>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "\m{B}-kun's not like that!"
<3840>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "To hold on keeping that covered up... I don't think that would be excusable."
<3841>
// ... don't say something like that in front of your parents.
<3842>
// Like always, it took a while before we got to the question we needed to get to.
<3843>
// Glancing over to Furukawa Bakery, Sanae-san had just come out, and happened to find us.
<3844>
// Smiling, she came over.
<3845> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yo."
<3846>\{Sanae} ""
// \{Sanae} "Good afternoon, \m{B}-san."
<3847>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Ah, mom. I'm back."
<3848>\{Sanae} ""
// \{Sanae} "Welcome back."
<3849>\{Sanae} ""
// \{Sanae} "Akio-san!"
<3850>
// Greeting Nagisa with a smile, she turned to pops and made a cute scowl.
<3851>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Yo, Sanae."
<3852>\{Sanae} ""
// \{Sanae} "Akio-san, you can't."
<3853>\{Sanae} ""
// \{Sanae} "You always disappear on the spur of the moment."
<3854>
// He really was slacking off.
<3855>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Y-yeah..."
<3856>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "I got bored 'cause there weren't no customers. Sorry."
<3857> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Giving some excuse won't fix it...)
<3858>\{Sanae} ""
// \{Sanae} "You were bored...? Then, that can't be helped."
<3859> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (It did?!)
<3860>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Yeah, I was just having some fun so that I wouldn't be bored. I'll go take care of the shop."
<3861>\{Sanae} ""
// \{Sanae} "Please do."
<3862>
// Oh man, I don't think I can slack off on baking the bread compared to a childish man like him...
<3863>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "That said, \m{B}-kun will be taking your place and baking the bread on Saturday and Sunday."
<3864>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Oh, I'm lucky. Then I can sleep until noon."
<3865>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "That's not it! Please go and see the play!"
<3866>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Play?"
<3867>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "That's right. Your friends from the theatrical company that launched invited you to come."
<3868>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Tch... where the hell did you hear that?!"
<3869>\{Sanae} ""
// \{Sanae} "I told her."
<3870>
// Sanae-san really is an honest person.
<3871> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Go and see them. I'll be baking all the bread."
<3872>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "You know...! This ain't a job to be handing over to some damn amateur!!"
<3873> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Weren't you saying, 'Oh, I'm lucky', just now?"
<3874>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "... shut up, that was a joke!"
<3875>
// I knew it...
<3876>
// In front of Nagisa, he wasn't one that could touch the topic of drama.
<3877>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Dad, please, go and see them!"
<3878>\{Sanae} ""
// \{Sanae} "Akio-san, don't be stubborn and go."
<3879> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, just go."
<3880>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "Shut up, okay?"
<3881>
// ... why only me?
<3882>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Dad, I'd like for you to behave normally."
<3883>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I've been thinking about this."
<3884>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "... in regards to me."
<3885>\{Akio} ""
// \{Akio} "........."
<3886>\{Sanae} ""
// \{Sanae} "Umm, I'll come and bring some tea."
<3887>
// Sanae-san stood from her seat.
<3888> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Ah, I'll go and use the washroom, then."
<3889>
// I also went at the same time, leaving that place.
<3890>
// Gah... in the end, Nagisa's persuasion didn't work out. Pops didn't agree to it at all.
<3891>
// Nagisa was angry the whole time as we headed back.
<3892>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "He still wouldn't leave it to you, \m{B}-kun, saying something so rude!"
<3893>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Dad is so stubborn!"
<3894> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Uh, well, I'm glad you covered for me but... don't be so agitated..."
<3895>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I could have persuaded him a little more! It's so regretting!"
<3896>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It bothers me so much!"
<3897>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Hmph, hmph!"
<3898>
// For Nagisa to be this angry is quite rare.
<3899> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "You being angry is kind of interesting."
<3900>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Eh? What's interesting?"
<3901> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Your face."
<3902>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Eh? Is it that strange...?"
<3903> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "And I was thinking like, there's such a person at this time that's expressing her anger, huh...?"
<3904>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "That's embarrassing!"
<3905>
// Well, you're making that face again...
<3906>
// It felt like I got something done today, having seen a face of Nagisa's I never knew.
<3907>
// Cohabitation
<3908>
// And then, June ended...
<3909>
// And busy times went by.
<3910>
// Cohabitation
<3911>
// And then, June ended...
<3912>
// Work went well during June.
<3913>
// Cohabitation
<3914>
// And then, June ended...
<3915>
// May went by, and June ended...
<3916>
// The rainy season came upon us.
<3917>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Umm, \m{B}-kun,"
<3918>
// Seated at dinner.
<3919> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Hmm?"
<3920>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I have something to talk about!"
<3921>
// She was unusually tense.
<3922>
// It was something painful to discuss, without a doubt.
<3923> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "What, you want a swimsuit?"
<3924>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "No, that's not it!"
<3925>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Ah, well... \wait{1000}not that I don't want one but..."
<3926> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Okay then, let's go buy one during the holiday tomorrow!"
<3927>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Ahh, well... is it really okay to be buying a swimsuit, I wonder...?"
<3928> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I'd also like to see what you look like in one. You don't happen to have a school swimsuit, right?"
<3929>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "No... but, I don't really mind even if it was a school one."
<3930> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I do."
<3931> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I guess I really want to make my girl look cute."
<3932> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "And all the men will be stuck looking at you... ahhh, feels so glorifying."
<3933>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "No way, no one's seen me in a swimsuit!"
<3934>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I don't really think such a style... is any good..."
<3935> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "As long as you're cute, it's okay."
<3936>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Even if I'm cute..."
<3937>
// I glared at Nagisa, telling her that it was fine, just before she denied it.
<3938>
// I told her not to look down on herself, and thus, she remembered.
<3939>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Ahh... I guess... I'm cute after all, so I'm sure it'll be okay!"
<3940>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Wait, if I say that, I'll be a weird girl!"
<3941>
// That made me so happy.
<3942>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Geez, seems you're playing with me, \m{B}-kun!"
<3943> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Well, don't pout like that. We'll go shopping in a rush, then."
<3944>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay!"
<3945>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Wait, that's not it!"
<3946> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Eh? You don't want to go buy any?"
<3947>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Sure, I'd be happy to, but not tomorrow."
<3948> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Why?"
<3949>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Umm, \m{B}-kun,"
<3950>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I have something to talk about!"
<3951>
// She went back to her topic.
<3952> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Why are you being formal?"
<3953>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Well... you see..."
<3954> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I don't want to."
<3955>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Eh? I haven't even talked yet."
<3956> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Knowing you, I'm sure you're proposing something that I'd be reluctant about."
<3957>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "That might be true..."
<3958>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "But, we've lived together for two months, now."
<3959> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah."
<3960>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Every week, we go to my parents' house..."
<3961>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "But..."
<3962>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "We haven't gone to your house, \m{B}-kun..."
<3963>
// I knew it...
<3964>
// I didn't want to come to this.
<3965>
// It felt like I was knocked from heaven, down to the depths of hell.
<3966>
// Even though I had been having so much fun...
<3967>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "\m{B}-kun, how many times have you gone to see your father since you graduated?"
<3968> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Like I'd know."
<3969>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "\m{B}-kun!"
<3970>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "\m{B}-kun, you have to tell me clearly."
<3971> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3972> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Once, when I packed my stuff and left... that was all..."
<3973>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I see..."
<3974>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Then, let's go and see him tomorrow."
<3975> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I don't want to."
<3976>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Why?"
<3977> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Because..."
<3978> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I've been working so hard..."
<3979>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Yes, I know..."
<3980> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I'd at least... like to spend time on the holidays with you."
<3981>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I promise I'll spend time with you next time, okay, \m{B}-kun?"
<3982> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "No. Tomorrow, too."
<3983>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "\m{B}-kun..."
<3984> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Don't... you understand?"
<3985> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "That distance between me and \bthat person\u..."
<3986> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "A distance that will never be filled."
<3987>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Yes..."
<3988>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "But, you've also become a working adult, and have gone through a lot of difficult things."
<3989>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "You've worked hard, climbing over everything."
<3990>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "If it's now, I thought you might be able to go meet him, to confront him."
<3991> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<3992>
// I wonder...
<3993>
// Have I... gotten stronger?
<3994>
// From the day when I ran away?
<3995>
// Maybe I was deceiving myself, so that I wouldn't look at that...
<3996>
// Besides that, I've been working hard with everything else.
<3997>
// All for you, Nagisa.
<3998>
// That's why...
<3999>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "\m{B}-kun,"
<4000>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I'll be with you. I always will be."
<4001>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "If we're together, we can beat anything."
<4002>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Am I wrong?"
<4003>
// You are
<4004>
// .........
<4005> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "You are."
<4006>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Eh... I am?"
<4007> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I've been doing everything to make you smile and be happy."
<4008> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "But, even if I tried with my father, it'd be useless..."
<4009> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I'd just feel terrible..."
<4010> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Well? Am I right?"
<4011> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I'm independent now... I don't need my father."
<4012> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I only need to work as hard as I can for the two of us."
<4013>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "\m{B}-kun, you're stubborn."
<4014> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "You too..."
<4015>
// This might have been the first time where we put our opinions against each other without pulling back.
<4016> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "You have a good family, so you must think it's simple."
<4017>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I wonder about that..."
<4018>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It's just that I was thinking that if it was you right now, you could face forward a lot more."
<4019>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Or maybe I had the wrong idea?"
<4020> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "You talk pretty well..."
<4021>
// Words like having the wrong idea or being a letdown really hurt a man's self-respect.
<4022> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "You have the wrong idea."
<4023>
// Even so, I didn't pull back.
<4024>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "........."
<4025>
// For a while, the two of us were silent.
<4026>
// There weren't any words even after we finished eating, and while we cleaned up.
<4027>
// Nagisa was seated at the desk. Was she doing her homework?
<4028>
// I looked at her from behind, turning down the TV volume.
<4029> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Is she angry...)
<4030> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (If that's the case, it's a bit rare...)
<4031> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I'm gonna go take a shower."
<4032>
// Saying just that, I stood up.
<4033>
// Finishing up and returning to the room, Nagisa was seated.
<4034> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I'm back."
<4035>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay."
<4036>
// She remained looking at her notes, making only that response.
<4037>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "........."
<4038>
// Even at ten o'clock, there wasn't any indication of her working.
<4039> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Nagisa, it's already ten o'clock. You should go and take a shower."
<4040>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "........."
<4041> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Or what, you're not taking one today?"
<4042> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "You've been sweating, right?"
<4043> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Is it okay when I hug you after you've sweat?"
<4044>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "........."
<4045> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Are you fine with that...?"
<4046> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Are you so stubborn that you'll keep that up until I sleep...?)
<4047>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "........."
<4048>
// What should I do?
<4049>
// Should I apologize?
<4050>
// But, I was just persistent in what I thought was right.
<4051>
// To apologize for that is strange.
<4052>
// But, I want her to face me.
<4053>
// I want to talk like we always do.
<4054>
// .........
<4055> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Nagisa..."
<4056>
// Just at the same time when I didn't know what to do anymore, calling her name weakly...
<4057>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I'm done!"
<4058>
// Nagisa held her notes high.
<4059> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Eh...?"
<4060>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I've finished all of my homework!"
<4061>
// Scrubbing her knees, she faced me, saying that.
<4062>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "With this, I can go out with you all day, \m{B}-kun."
<4063> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "All day...?"
<4064>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Shopping."
<4065>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "You didn't want to go?"
<4066> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "W-well... I did say that, didn't I...?"
<4067>
// I was so relieved, I thought I let out a tear.
<4068>
// She wasn't ignoring me. She was only concentrating.
<4069>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "We don't have to buy anything. I'd just like to see the place where swimsuits are sold."
<4070> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "No, I'll buy it. I definitely will. I'll buy whatever you wear."
<4071>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "No way, I'm not going to be wearing any of it, so you don't have to force yourself to buy anything."
<4072> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Then, one thing that you like."
<4073>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay... if it's one thing that I like, then I might pester you."
<4074> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Fine, I'll buy that. I definitely will."
<4075>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "All right. I'll ask you then."
<4076> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<4077>
// When she puts it that way... I can't tell her she is.
<4078>
// We want to work hard and conquer every obstacle.
<4079>
// We've been working hard this whole time so...
<4080>
// But... have we...
<4081>
// really become any stronger... if it's the two of us?
<4082>
// Even if... \pit's something like this that can't be helped...?
<4083> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Then..."
<4084> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Would you always hold my hand?"
<4085>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Yes."
<4086> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "If we part... I may run away then."
<4087>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay. I won't let go until we come back."
<4088>
// The next morning.
<4089>
// The two of us stood in front of the nameplate labeled '\m{A}'.
<4090>
// The place I haven't visited ever since graduating.
<4091>
// And... the first time Nagisa really did come here.
<4092>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I'm tense..."
<4093>
// From Nagisa's standpoint, it was a simple situation involving meeting the parent of the boyfriend she's been living with, nothing more.
<4094>
// Ahh... if only \bthat person\u were a normal parent.
<4095>
// If that happened, Nagisa would also get along much like I do with pops and Sanae-san... create a new family, and live happily ever after.
<4096>
// It was inexcusable to have such a parent that wasn't.
<4097> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "You're sweating."
<4098>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Oh, I see..."
<4099>
// She raises the hand she's holding mine with.
<4100> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Wanna dry off?"
<4101>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "No, it's fine."
<4102>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Umm... unless you're feeling bad, \m{B}-kun..."
<4103>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Ah, well... even if you are, I won't let go!"
<4104>
// She grasped my hand tightly.
<4105> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<4106> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Well... \pI'm sorry."
<4107>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Eh?"
<4108> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "To make you feel pressured just from seeing my father..."
<4109> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I'm also bringing a problem here..."
<4110> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "And I didn't want to come see him either..."
<4111>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "No, that's completely fine."
<4112>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Ah, well... meeting your father is what's tense."
<4113>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "About how you like a girl like me..."
<4114>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "But it really makes me happy that you can endure being with me in regards to your problem."
<4115>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Ah, well... saying it makes me happy is rude."
<4116> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "No, it's fine."
<4117> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I can understand that."
<4118> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I had those feelings ever since I met you, after all."
<4119>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Is that so...? Then I'm glad."
<4120>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Then let's go, \m{B}-kun."
<4121> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah."
<4122>
// My father was sleeping lifelessly in the living room.
<4123>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Has he always been sleeping over there?"
<4124> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah."
<4125>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "He'll catch a cold."
<4126> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "He's used to it."
<4127> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, father."
<4128>
// I shake his shoulder.
<4129>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "Mmm..."
<4130>
// He cleared his throat, and then opened his eyes.
<4131>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "Ahh..."
<4132>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "That be you, \m{B}-kun...?"
<4133>
// Moving his body, he then moved to a kneeling position.
<4134>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Umm, nice to meet you!"
<4135>
// Nagisa deeply bowed to my father, facing him.
<4136>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "Eh...?"
<4137>
// Someone other than me was in the house. This was a situation that never happened once before.
<4138>
// But after the moment my father was surprised, he immediately fell calm.
<4139>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "Are you... \m{B}-kun's friend?"
<4140>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Yes... I'm Furukawa Nagisa."
<4141>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "We're close friends from school... in the same year."
<4142>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "Oh... \wait{1000}how about now?"
<4143>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Now... umm... well..."
<4144>
// I showed him the hands that we were holding.
<4145> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "We're going out."
<4146>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "Oh... \wait{1000}you finally did as well, \m{B}-kun..."
<4147>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "I'm glad, I'm glad..."
<4148>
// What a hateful smile...
<4149>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "The two of us are living together."
<4150>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "Where at?"
<4151>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It's an apartment close by. I'll guide you there."
<4152>
// Don't.
<4153>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "An apartment... wouldn't it be small?"
<4154>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It might be small, but it doesn' thave to be wide."
<4155>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "The space we have right now is enough."
<4156>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "Renting at first is painful, isn't it?"
<4157>
// ... you think you know what you're talking about?
<4158>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "This house is rented though but... you can use it if you need to. There are rooms left over."
<4159>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "No... that's too much."
<4160>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "We left the house, so that we'd work hard with our own power."
<4161>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "That said... I'm grateful you offered, but we'll have to turn it down."
<4162>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "I see..."
<4163>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "You can come any time. In troubling times, you can tell me."
<4164>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Thank you so much."
<4165>
// Nagisa looked at my face.
<4166>
// ... he's a nice person.
<4167>
// That's what her eyes tell me.
<4168>
// That's why I expected what she'd say next.
<4169>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Umm... \m{A}-san,"
<4170>
// Nagisa so called my father.
<4171>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "Hmm?"
<4172>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I apologize, to have been... keeping \m{B}-kun away for all this time."
<4173>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "It's okay..."
<4174>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It might have been painful for you."
<4175>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "That's why..."
<4176>
// Don't say it...
<4177>
// ... I'll always bring \m{B}-kun with me.
<4178>
// Don't say that.
<4179>
// I tightened my grip on Nagisa's hand.
<4180>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "........."
<4181>
// Nagisa stopped... \pclosing her eyes.
<4182>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Ah... well..."
<4183>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I'm... really sorry."
<4184>
// ... she picked up what I felt.
<4185>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "Well... you don't have to apologize like that..."
<4186>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "I'm happy that we're meeting like this."
<4187>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay."
<4188>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "Really, you can..."
<4189>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "come at any time."
<4190>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay, thank you very much."
<4191>
// And from there, we continued on to trivial topics.
<4192>
// Like stuff about how vacant land's being used up, how the area around us has changed a little bit, etc.
<4193>
// Nagisa perservered to make things favorable, and all I did was listen in.
<4194>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "\m{B}-kun?"
<4195> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Eh...?"
<4196>
// He suddenly talked to me.
<4197>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "\m{B}-kun... you've been eating her cooking every day, haven't you?"
<4198>
// He repeated himself.
<4199> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Y-yeah..."
<4200>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "I'm envious. I've always been eating take-out food."
<4201>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Umm... it'll be noon very shortly, so how about I make some?"
<4202>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay?"
<4203>
// I gave her a glance, telling her that much was fine.
<4204>
// To be sitting at a dining table with my father gave me the shivers.
<4205>
// Besides, how many years had it been?
<4206>
// But, if I can put up with this, I'll just sit without making eye contact and finish this.
<4207>
// That was the attitude I promised Nagisa earlier.
<4208> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah..."
<4209>
// That's why I thought I should hang on.
<4210>
// Nagisa opened the refrigerator.
<4211>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "There's nothing here."
<4212> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Guess we'll have to go and buy something."
<4213>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Yes."
<4214>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Are you coming?"
<4215> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Of course."
<4216>
// Leaving my father, we headed off for the grocery store.
<4217>
// It had been an hour by the time we got back.
<4218>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "We were a bit slow. I'll make it quickly."
<4219>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "It's fine, I'll be patient."
<4220>
// She went past my father, returning to the kitchen.
<4221>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Will you also help, \m{B}-kun?"
<4222> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, I'll help but..."
<4223> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Are we gonna do this like this?"
<4224>
// How long have we been holding hands exactly?
<4225>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Yes."
<4226> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "My left hand's pinned down, and your right hand holding the kitchen knife will be juggling around."
<4227>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "We can do this well."
<4228> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "We'll definitely get injured!"
<4229>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Really?"
<4230> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Oh, whatever. I lose. Let go, so you can handle it the way you need to."
<4231>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I'm not letting go."
<4232> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I won't run away."
<4233>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It has nothing to do with that."
<4234> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "If you don't, my left hand'll be in trouble."
<4235>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I see... then it can't be helped."
<4236> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I'll hold you from the back instead."
<4237>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "If you do that, I'll get injured!"
<4238> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I'm joking, I'm joking. I'll watch you right from behind."
<4239>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Then I'm relieved."
<4240> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Okay, let go."
<4241>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay."
<4242>
// Pain ran through my fingers as I opened them. Was it bent the entire time?
<4243>
// My palm finally had a breath of fresh air.
<4244>
// The sweat from the two of us cooled off.
<4245>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Well then, I'll be starting."
<4246> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah, good luck."
<4247>
// While staring at Nagisa from behind, I heard a voice from afar.
<4248>
// Did he turn on the TV?
<4249>
// Then I heard another sound.
<4250>
// A voice mixed with my father's.
<4251> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (A guest...?)
<4252>
// I peep in. There was an unknown man. They happened to look my way.
<4253>\{Người Đàn Ông} ""
// \{Man} "Good afternoon."
<4254>
// He bowed to me.
<4255>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "Mm... \m{B}-kun,"
<4256>
// My father looked back at me, seated on the floor.
<4257>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "This is Shijou-san."
<4258>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "My co-worker."
<4259>
// Co-worker...
<4260>
// From before? Or someone new?
<4261>
// If it's a co-worker from before, then I'll have faith in that.
<4262>
// As far as I know, there shouldn't have been anyone bad.
<4263>
// A drinking friend from when he was triumphant and full of energy.
<4264>
// But if it's a new co-worker, then I definitely wouldn't.
<4265>
// The way my father is now, he shouldn't be able to tell who's good or bad.
<4266>
// If he's come with some profitable discussion, without a doubt he'd take it suspecting little to nothing.
<4267> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "What job?"
<4268>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "An antique store."
<4269>
// I never heard anything like that.
<4270> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Go away."
<4271>
// I declared with a low voice.
<4272>\{Người Đàn Ông} ""
// \{Man} "Eh...?"
<4273>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "\m{B}-kun, this person's a good man."
<4274> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I said go away."
<4275>
// I repeated that, ignoring my father's words.
<4276>\{Người Đàn Ông} ""
// \{Man} "Y-yeah..."
<4277>\{Người Đàn Ông} ""
// \{Man} "I'll come another time, \m{A}-san."
<4278> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Don't come again!"
<4279> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I'll beat the shit out of you if you do!"
<4280>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "........."
<4281>
// My father was dumbfounded, seeing him off.
<4282> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Hey..."
<4283> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Have you talked to your old co-workers?"
<4284>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "Yes..."
<4285> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Really?"
<4286>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "No... not yet..."
<4287> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<4288>
// I said nothing for the remainder of my anger.
<4289>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "But you know... I thought I might get lucky or something so..."
<4290>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "I haven't had anything good come in so long..."
<4291>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "This time, really..."
<4292>
// I grab his shoulder.
<4293> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Something important like that isn't decided through a gut feeling, you idiot!"
<4294> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Your gut feeling over your ridiculous luck...!"
<4295> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I don't know what the hell you think of me but...!"
<4296> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Even I'm not so stupid as to let myself roam around so miserably...!"
<4297> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Because you see...!"
<4298> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I'm your goddamn family!"
<4299>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "........."
<4300>
// We stopped for a while.
<4301>
// He put his hand to his chin.
<4302>
// And then then brushed his unshaven face.
<4303>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "\m{B}-kun..."
<4304>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "Come on, today..."
<4305>\{Cha} ""
// \{Father} "Your girlfriend came so..."
<4306>
// What...?
<4307>
// Is that your excuse now?
<4308>
// An excuse to get away from the fact you can't tell your real family?
<4309> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<4310>
// I want to hit something, I don't care what.
<4311>
// The wall or the glass will do.
<4312>
// Throw a punch
<4313>
// Deal with it
<4314>
// I swung my arm.
<4315>
// Clatter, a large sound.
<4316>
// I don't remember too well what happened afterward.
<4317>
// The back of my hand was hot.
<4318>
// Nagisa embraced me.
<4319>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "\m{B}-kun, you can't...!"
<4320>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "You'll cut your hand...!"
<4321>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "You have to go and see a hospital...!"
<4322>
// The scenery changed.
<4323>
// A familiar hallway.
<4324>
// Yeah...
<4325>
// I came from this abominable place, didn't I...?
<4326>
// I was relieved with just that.
<4327>
// Nagisa was with me.
<4328>
// And always will.
<4329>
// Looking at my hand, there was a white bandage wrapped around.
<4330>
// I look down at the lower half of my body.
<4331>
// Blood had stained my trousers.
<4332>
// Nagisa looked at me all the while. It felt like she said I had to have them washed up.
<4333>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "\m{B}-kun, do you want to take a bath?"
<4334>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Just your body, so that your hand doesn't get in?"
<4335>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It might be difficult, so I'll help."
<4336> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Well... my body's hot, so it'll be bad."
<4337>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Then, how about just your legs?"
<4338> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I guess."
<4339>
// I had been always calm ever since coming back to the apartment...
<4340>
// It really felt like Nagisa was about to cry.
<4341>
// Even though she didn't hate my father...
<4342>
// Even though she had prepared lunch...
<4343>
// It was all my fault it had all gone to ruin...
<4344>
// Even so, Nagisa wanted to cry, being beside me.
<4345>
// I wanted her to know how much I had regretted that.
<4346>
// And then... I comforted her, telling her it was fine.
<4347>
// But...
<4348>
// That was being naive.
<4349>
// I turned around in the darkness towards Nagisa's back.
<4350> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (In the end... I've always been running like this... haven't I...?)
<4351>
// Dealing with the pain on my own... I spent the night without sleep.
<4352>
// I closed my eyes.
<4353>
// And take a deep breath to cool off.
<4354> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (Nagisa...)
<4355> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (... Nagisa...\p Nagisa...)
<4356>
// I repeatedly called her name in my mind.
<4357> \{\m{B}} ()
// \{\m{B}} (I'll be calm soon, okay... Nagisa...)
<4358>
// My trembling hand...
<4359> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<4360>
// It was enveloped in the warmth of someone else's.
<4361>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "What's wrong, \m{B}-kun?"
<4362>
// Ahh... I really...
<4363>
// did calm down in an instant.
<4364>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "\m{B}-kun, there was yelling just now."
<4365> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Oh...\p it's nothing."
<4366>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Then, I'd like for you to help me."
<4367>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Something difficult just came up."
<4368> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Okay..."
<4369>
// Understanding the situation, I was grateful that Nagisa took me away.
<4370>
// After that, my father and I didn't exchange any words.
<4371>
// I only talked with Nagisa.
<4372>
// It had been many years since we sat at the dining table for a meal, but...
<4373>
// That wasn't a family meal.
<4374>
// It was just one of those meals that acquaintances happen to have...
<4375>
// Even more, it was unpleasant, like the relationship between them wasn't that strong...
<4376>
// ... that kind of meal.
<4377>
// On the way back.
<4378>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "You hung in there, \m{B}-kun."
<4379> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I didn't do anything, though..."
<4380>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "You did by coming."
<4381>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "And you were there until the end."
<4382> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I guess... since I've always been running away..."
<4383>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I think this much is fine."
<4384>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "If only it weren't so, strange."
<4385> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Like that there wasn't any family...?"
<4386> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Didn't you say so before... that even if separated, somehow we could communicate...?"
<4387> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "No one communicated to anyone."
<4388> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Not even... in the heart."
<4389> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Even so, is that fine?"
<4390>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Well, the last thing I meant was... that it wasn't strange at all."
<4391>
// Is that related...?\p Even now?
<4392>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Even the neighbors talk about how boys leave the house and only come back on New Year's."
<4393> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "........."
<4394>
// If she's really speaking of thinking it's fine to go once or twice a year...
<4395>
// In that case, it feels like I could put up with it.
<4396>
// Because if I gained the power to face forward, even a little, then I'd feel that I've been saved.
<4397>
// Because... I've always been running away.
<4398>
// I didn't want Nagisa to see that me.
<4399>
// But, in the end... Nagisa was beside me, so...
<4400> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Nagisa..."
<4401> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I sometimes get afraid."
<4402>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "About?"
<4403> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "When I'm thinking about the meaning of my life."
<4404>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "The meaning of your life?"
<4405> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Yeah..."
<4406> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I was able to meet you, Nagisa."
<4407> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "And... now I'm able to be with you."
<4408> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "See... if I'm with you, and can make you happy, then that makes me happy."
<4409> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "No matter how painful my work becomes, I'll sweat it off and continue working."
<4410> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "And when I come back home, you're there."
<4411> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Everyday, those days are my one and only happiness."
<4412> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "That's why I think that's my meaning of life."
<4413> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "But, I also think that just happened to happen."
<4414> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "If I were never to have met you, what would I be doing right now...?"
<4415> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "For what reason would I be living for...?"
<4416> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "In such a family... with such a terrible bond..."
<4417> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I wouldn't have any friends after I graduate..."
<4418> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Even the people that work hard..."
<4419> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I wouldn't be working hard for any of them..."
<4420> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Exactly what would I be living on...?"
<4421> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Other than living with you, Nagisa, I don't think I hold any meaning to my life."
<4422> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "That's why I'm afraid..."
<4423> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "It's like saying that we met by fate..."
<4424> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I don't believe in such a thing."
<4425> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "That's why I think it was fortune."
<4426> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "It was good luck that brought me to you."
<4427> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Thinking that, it feels like there's no universal meaning to my life."
<4428>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "........."
<4429>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "At that time... I think someone else will be with you, \m{B}-kun."
<4430> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Really...?"
<4431> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I think I'd be alone."
<4432> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "It's because it's you, that you want to be with me."
<4433> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Particularly you from before. You were saying that, weren't you?"
<4434> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "At the time, I was like that."
<4435> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Though as I grow older, I may think differently about it..."
<4436> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Even so, I'm sure if I never met you, then I would be alone."
<4437> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "And...\p my father would trouble me..."
<4438> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "I'd be at a loss, having even no support..."
<4439>
// And then, when I discover that I have no meaning to my life, what would happen?
<4440>
// The root of my fears is within that.
<4441>
// I felt like the vague, massive existence called "living" was swallowing up the small existence called "me".
<4442>
// It would be overwhelming... not something I would resist.
<4443>
// Even if I shouted alone, it'd be useless.
<4444>
// Even strong willpower would not reach.
<4445> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Hey, Nagisa, could I come over there...?"
<4446>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Ah, sure... go ahead."
<4447>
// I left my futon, and slipped into Nagisa's.
<4448>
// The warmth of her body was cozy.
<4449>
// For a while, we looked at each other in the darkness, without touching each other.
<4450>
// And then in the end, I hugged her.
<4451>
// Pulling her small back in with both my arms.
<4452>
// Our chests touching together was warm.
<4453>
// Our faces touched, our noses brushing against each other.
<4454>
// A pleasant scent came from her.
<4455>
// I'm being supported by something this small but, just hugging her like this calms me like a child.
<4456>
// Yes, I met someone such as her.
<4457>
// I was lucky.
<4458>
// But, this was reality.
<4459>
// I'll stop, and not think too deeply about this anymore.
<4460>
// And after that, all that's left is to continue protecting her.
<4461>
// I'll just think that and live on.
<4462>
// That's what I thought.
<4463>
// Passing through the middle of July, the days became warm and humid.
<4464>
// The setting sun lit the room up at evening, bringing steep and high temperatures.
<4465>
// Nagisa prepared dinner like that. I figured she was tired from the heat, so I went out to a junkyard and picked up an electric fan.
<4466>
// There would be a lot of people lined up buying one before the heat wave came, and so I was able to find one without much trouble.
<4467>
// It blew, could hang, and everything was working. Wherever our hands could reach, it could as well, so it filled its function well.
<4468>
// It was placed in a corner of the room.
<4469> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Just this makes the room suddenly feel so small..."
<4470>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "But, it feels like summer's come. It's somehow elegant."
<4471> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "You're saying it."
<4472>
// She pushes the switch and turns it around.
<4473>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It's really cool."
<4474>
// She brings it close to her face, fluttering her forelocks.
<4475> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "But, I guess I really do want an air conditioner."
<4476>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "The fan is enough."
<4477> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "It'll just keep getting hotter, you know."
<4478>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It's fine. There have been times back at home where we didn't use cooling either."
<4479> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "But, the setting sun is pretty strong on this room."
<4480>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It's fine. I can deal with it."
<4481> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "You sure?"
<4482>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Yes, I am."
<4483> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Well, if it gets hot, you can go in your underwear."
<4484>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "No I won't!"
<4485>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "I'll wear normal clothing, with an apron, and make dinner that way!"
<4486> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "The fan's blowing a pretty strong wind."
<4487>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "It's not strong, but it is blowing."
<4488> \{\m{B}} ""
// \{\m{B}} "Don't waste electricity, okay?"
<4489>\{Nagisa} ""
// \{Nagisa} "Okay."
Sơ đồ
Đã hoàn thành và cập nhật lên patch. Đã hoàn thành nhưng chưa cập nhật lên patch.