It's really fun seeing her - cont.

***

???

You can stop here. My house is right around the corner.

Approaching a split in the road, the girl stops right at the center. Split in three different directions, they had just come from one direction, so there are only two left to go in.

HIROSHI

Hmm, I mean... I wouldn’t really feel right leaving you to walk alone...

???

I make this walk everyday. That, and...

HIROSHI (VOICEOVER)

Just a little more... It feels selfish, but I want to talk just a little more.

HIROSHI

No, don’t worry about it, it’s right here so I don’t mind.

???

...

HIROSHI (VOICEOVER)

Am I pushing this too far? Maybe I should’ve just let it end on a good note.

HIROSHI

Really! It would weigh on my mind if I didn’t walk you all the way.

???

Fine... just don’t blame me if something happens...

***

From a distance, the structure of the building is shaded under the darkness. The street lighting provides a slight glimpse at what the building may look like, but the intricate features can’t possibly be called out from afar within the masking darkness.

As they get closer, and based on which building the girl is looking at, it’s easy to discern which building she resides in. The building is an apartment.

HIROSHI (VOICEOVER)

This building has to be like thirteen stories. It’s so high...

???

Th... Thank you for walking me all the way here.

Following his common theme of zoning out, Hiroshi snaps back to reality to see the girl looking at him. Standing in front of the building, she proceeds to give a deep bow.

HIROSHI (VOICEOVER)

Should she even be thanking me? It was more like a selfish request on my end.

Hiroshi looks at the back of her head as she holds the bow, noticing where each hair connects on the scalp. He looks away for a moment, squinting as he does so.

HIROSHI (VOICEOVER)

Yeah... this isn’t right.

As the girl brings her head back up from the bow, her eyes meet Hiroshi’s. Or rather, they tried to reach Hiroshi’s eyes, but Hiroshi played into the OPERATION one final time, and bowed to her as well.

As he holds his head down, a burning sensation comes from the back of his scalp. Almost as if someone was holding direct eye contact with his scalp... ah... that makes sense actually.

Directing his eyes up, Hiroshi can just barely see the girl’s eyes past his bow. A puff of laughter escapes from Hiroshi’s mouth as he still holds the bow. After a moment of standing there, he gives up holding his bow, and falls to the ground. Alongside his fall, his laughter now fully escapes from his mouth.

HIROSHI (VOICEOVER)

We both looked at each other’s scalps first. That seems so weird... that’s hilarious.

???

...Are you okay? Why did you fall?

While Hiroshi fell, the girl tried to reach out. Not so much to the point that she fell too, but still, it’s the effort that counts.

Hiroshi continues laughing for another moment, wiping away the tearing up in his eyes.

HIROSHI

No, no, I’m okay. It just seems like we’re both weirdos, that’s all.

???

...Is that so?

The girl crouches down, bringing herself down to Hiroshi’s level now. Their faces lie a couple feet from each other, but the gap feels irrelevant to Hiroshi.

???

Well... as long as I’m not weird alone, I think I’ll be okay.

The girl’s imperfect smile emerges again as she stares at Hiroshi. After a second, she stands up, turning herself around and starting to walk towards her doorstep.

HIROSHI (VOICEOVER)

I don’t actually think you’re weird...

HIROSHI

Hey!

Visually caught off guard, the girl turns back around with her hand already on the railing on her stairs.

Hiroshi keeps his smile bright, but also lets a gentleness creep in as he looks at the girl.

HIROSHI

I’ll see you tomorrow!

Matching Hiroshi, the girl creases the corner of her lips, creating an ever so faint smile.

???

Yeah… I guess I will, huh?

Hiroshi waves his arm in large strides, pulling great forces of air along with him as he waves.

The girl brings her arm up in response, slightly waving her hand back and forth, very lightly.

With that, she turns around, finally getting to head insi—

HIROSHI

Ah! One more thing!

The girl turns around again, but surprisingly, she’s not displaying any annoyance. She simply looks in the direction of Hiroshi once more, anticipating his next words.

HIROSHI (VOICEOVER)

Hopefully this doesn’t make her think differently of me...

HIROSHI

I need to ask you for something...

The girl looks down for a second, appearing to have a soft smile as her attention wanders.

HIROSHI

It might be going too far, but please consider it...

The girl nods her head, looking directly at Hiroshi.

HIROSHI

Please...

The girl starts shaking a little, visibly gripping the railing a little harder than before.

HIROSHI

...Tell me your name.

The girl blinks a couple times, loosening her grip on the railing.

???

My... name?

Thinking for a second, she continues to stare off. Her eyes shrink into a squint now, with her eyes still in view through her eyelashes... and her smile being maintained.

Suddenly, she looks back up at Hiroshi.

???

It’s Sachiko. Katou Sachiko.

The large smile previously held by Hiroshi grows even larger now.

HIROSHI

Sa- chi- ko. Sa- chi- ko. Sa- chi- ko.

SACHIKO

...Uh, what are you doing?

HIROSHI

I’m making sure I remember your name. I really don’t want to forget, ya know?

A slight puff of air escapes out of Sachiko’s nose, and her thin smile appears again.

SACHIKO

Again... you say the weirdest things.

Her thin smile expands, turning into a laugh now. With no particular exaggeration this time, it remains quiet.

SACHIKO

...Also, there’s a bathhouse right down the street.

The unfortunate future has arrived. Sachiko glances between Hiroshi’s eyes and his armpits, using her facial cues to back up her statement.

SACHIKO

It’s open late... you can use it.

HIROSHI (VOICEOVER)

She could smell it the whole time... wow, she needs to go inside her house before she witnesses this grown man cry.

SAID GROWN MAN: 17 years old

HIROSHI

You should’ve said something sooner!

Looking off to the side, Hiroshi’s cheeks flush red. Different feelings of embarrassment and impulsive longing for d*ath are no doubt to blame for this.

Sachiko brings her smile back to her face, and finishes her journey by reaching the top of her steps.

They finally wave to each other for a final time before Sachiko turns toward the door to her apartment complex. The last thing visible is her faint smile, still gently holding on to her face as she enters.

As the door closes behind Sachiko, Hiroshi lifts his hand up into view. After a couple seconds, he clenches it, making a fist.

HIROSHI (VOICEOVER)

I did it... I did it!

After standing just like that for a while, he brings his fist down.

Turning around now, he continues his way towards the bath house while mumbling to himself.

HIROSHI

Sa- chi- ko. Sa- chi- ko. Sa...

A heartfelt smile emerges on Hiroshi’s face, keeping its gentle nature for the rest of his walk.