Involvement

“How’d your dinner date go, Katsumi?”

It had been a few hours since Mayumi left and Nara now took her place. Katsumi was lying on his living room couch fiddling with his cellphone. The two had been sitting in silence for quite some time now—the quiet only being broken by the question Nara posed.

“No. We just ate dinner and then she left.”

“Boring~” Nara sighed. “I’m sure if ya’ wanted to somethin’ coulda’ happened.”

Katsumi rolled over to face Nara who was seated on the floor in front of the television. “It’s not like that at all.”

“Oh?” With her usual grin she asked, “And why’s that?”

“I only met her a few days ago, I wouldn’t even consider that… I’d say she’s not my type really…”

“Hm~? So you like the bad girl type then?” Nara put one hand on her chest and the other out as if she was performing one of Shakespeare’s plays. “I’m deeply and truly sorry Katsumi, but I cannot requite your love and must reject your confession. You’re just too pathetic.”

“As if… and you? The bad girl type?”

A little laugh escaped from Nara.

“Hey, weren’t you gonna drop off that box?” Katsumi asked.

“You’re itchin’ that bad right now?”

“Did you bring it or not?”

“Forgot, sorry. I’ll grab it quick an’ run it back. Just make sure to answer your door. I don't wanna leave it in the hallway.”

“Yeah… of course.” Katsumi swung his legs over the couch and moved to a seated posture. “Hey, Nara.”

“Hm?” Nara didn’t bother turning away from the television.

“I can’t stop thinking about what you said earlier… ‘just like back in high school’. What did that mean?”

This grabbed Nara’s attention, as she now was fully turned to face Katsumi.

“Ya’ never noticed her?” She sounded genuinely surprised.

“No, I really didn’t.”

On hearing this, Nara couldn’t help but smile. However, Katsumi had no idea why she was.

“Nara, why were you being so rude to Arata? I mean I guess I kinda get not wanting people to force their way of living on you. But earlier it felt kinda like you went overboard.”

Nara’s eyes drifted across the room then landed back on Katsumi. “Ya’ don’t know what she did back in high school?”

This caught Katsumi off guard. He had no clue about anything relating to Mayumi.

“She was one of the people initially spreadin’ rumors ‘bout you along side Akito. She’d always give you these dirty looks an’ was tellin’ everyone how terrible you were.”

“Seriously!?” Katsumi was completely taken aback.

“Yeah seriously… An’ when I tried to confront her ‘bout it she spread rumors about me too.”

Katsumi blanked on what to say. Mayumi always carried herself as reserved and wanting to be uninvolved with a lot of people or social situations. So to hear this felt completely out of character for her.

But still, the information was coming from someone who apparently interacted with Mayumi during high school. While Katsumi wasn’t even aware of her existence.

Nara continued. “But anyways, Arata might’ve changed since high school but who knows. Right? Just be careful ‘round her…” She stood up and patted Katsumi on the back.

While Katsumi stared ahead at nothing, Nara moved to exit his apartment.

“I’ll see ya’ later Katsumi. I’ll make sure to drop that stuff off for ya’.”

This left Katsumi alone in his apartment, stewing on the implications of what he was just told. He still had a hard time believing Mayumi would spread rumors like that alongside Saki… It was just too out of character. However, he didn’t want to accuse Nara of lying.

Katsumi scratched the back of his head and stood up.

Do I confront either of them about this? If it’s true and I ask Mayumi I feel like something bad would happen… And if I accused Nara… well… I think she might try to physically fight me over it or something.

After wandering about his apartment considering his option, Katsumi decided on taking a bath. Instead of going to confront either of them he hoped to figure it out on his own—which he had no clue how to do.

Nara finally left? Jeez, they get so loud. And does Murakami even study? Let alone do anything class related?

Mayumi had been sitting in her living room with a hand on her forehead scrolling through social-media for the past ten minutes trying to bear the noise. With a sigh she stood up.

Finally I can get some sleep, don’t they know I have to get up early tomorrow?

Mayumi was lying on her bed checking messages on her phone, ready to go to sleep.

Three loud pounds reverberated through the walls, then shortly followed by a muffled voice shouting, “Katsumi! Katsumi! You dumbass don’t tell me you passed out already!”

Those two…

Mayumi sighed.

She went to her front door ready to confront Nara when she heard, “Katsumi! Get out here! You asked me to drop this off! I really don’t wanna leave it out here. Damnit, I’ll just leave the box outside your door, you better get it soon!”

The box? Is it that box she tried giving him a few days ago…? Don’t tell me…

Mayumi opened the door and stood in the hallway with crossed arms, “What are you doing?”

“Oh, Arata. Didn’t think you were still awake.”

“I couldn’t sleep with all the noise you two were making.”

“Oh my, we weren't making that much noise… Please, don’t think such indecent things.” Nara put her hand to her cheek and tilted her head. She tried to look embarrassed but couldn’t help herself from breaking out in a smile.

Mayumi shut her eyes, trying to calm herself, then opened them. “Why are you here so late?”

“Just uh, forgot somethin’. Had to come back an’ grab it.”

“Then what’s the cardboard-box for?”

“Mmm… would you believe me if I said homework?”

“Homework? Really? Even though you have not gone once this semester.”

“Yup! And just remember it’s a crime to open someone else’s mail.”

“I’m afraid what’s in that box is a crime.”

“Please please, no such thing. And it’s really none of your concern anyway.”

Nara began slowly approaching Mayumi.

“Really, stop poking your nose in Katsumi’s business. I can’t tell if you’re being this delusional on purpose, he doesn’t think anything of you. I mean seriously, he didn’t even know who you were. Thinking back to high school, almost no one did… So what makes you believe you deserve to be around someone like Katsumi? Hm?”

Even with their minor height difference Nara still seemed to loom over her.

“Ya’know, I got the feelin’ from Katsumi that he thinks you’re a pain. I mean honestly, he said some shit about not liking nice girls, but that’s just garbage. He wants you to stop bothering him. Katsumi is fine as is, he doesn’t need some hero savin’ em’. He’s got me and that’s more than enough.”

“It’s Katsumi’s choice of who he wants to be around. I’ll believe it when I hear it directly from him.”

Nara took a pause, staring into Mayumi’s eyes…

“Good chattin’ with ya’. Think it’s about time you go back inside and get some sleep. You have class tomorrow, right?” Nara said.

Mayumi’s response was simply meeting Nara’s gaze.

Their staredown ended with Nara breaking away and storming down the hallway, and into the elevator.

Mayumi heeded what Nara said and stepped inside her apartment. She put her back up against her front door and bit her fingernails.

For the next hour, Mayumi found herself lying in bed staring at the ceiling.

A new wave of curiosity came over her though—it was an undeniable feeling. Before she realized it, she was slipping on her shoes and out the front door.

I feel like I have to know what’s in that box… it’s for… his sake, right?

Mayumi crouched in front of the box.

It couldn’t be anything that bad. He was an honor student for years… that has to mean something.

Mayumi lifted the left flap which revealed a very small glass tube connected to a much larger one.

“What is this?” 

Holding it in one hand she opened the other flap. She reached in and pulled out a black case with two silver latches on it. The latches weren’t locked however, and curiosity overcame Mayumi.

A shattering sound rang-out. Mayumi fell back and pushed herself up against the wall of the hallway.

“O-oh my god… there’s no way.” She covered her mouth and gasped.

I’m… I’m reporting this to the police. Oh my god, there’s no way.

The door flew open and a disheveled Katsumi stood in the doorway. Looking both ways down the hallway before his eyes fell on Mayumi.

“Murakami, I… I’m reporting this to the police.”

She was shaking

“No, you— you’re misunderstanding this,” Katsumi started approaching Mayumi. Both of his eyes were wide open and blood-shot.

“What about this am I misunderstanding!?”

“It-it’s not mine, okay? okay? It’s probably Nara’s brother’s—Junichiro.” Katsumi knelt in front of Mayumi and tried putting a hand on her shoulder, but Mayumi pushed his hand away.

“No, I don't understand! That means nothing to me! Why is there a case with a gun inside it by your front door!? I don't understand.”

“N-Nara probably just grabbed the wrong box, alright? It’s all a misunderstanding. It was supposed to be a different box, alright?”

“What kind of shit are you making up? Why does Tagaki have this in the first place!?”

“L-like I said, it’s her older brother’s, Junichiro…”

“Why— why does… oh my god, what the hell was in the other box then?”

“Heh, uhm–”

“No, I’m done, I-I’m going. I’m reporting this.” Mayumi stood and brushed off her pants, straightening her posture and trying to compose herself before walking towards her front door.

“Wait wait wait, you can’t! I-I’ll spend the rest of my youth in prison!”

“I don’t know! It looks like you are selling guns! I don’t like this… This is beyond anything I could’ve expected.”

As Mayumi stepped through her doorway a cold hand met hers. She quickly spun around, still grasping that hand.

“Please, you don’t have to.”

She didn’t respond.

“There has to be something. You can overlook this, right?”

“W-w-what are you even saying right now!?”

“You gotta believe me, this is all a misunderstanding. I— I can change… Please don’t go to the police. I can show you. I can change!”

“...Can you really?”

Katsumi nodded.

“I just… I just don’t know…”

The warmth that held Katsumi’s hand disappeared, leaving it coldly lingering in place. That coldness soon consumed the air around them.

“Please, I want to change…” Katsumi looked down at his hand and closed it.

“Murakami… I really don’t know you at all, what I thought I knew of you has been changed completely… and I have no idea what your situation is. You're right, and I’m sorry. But I actually do care about you and… and I want to see you do better.”

Katsumi stood up.

“I don’t know if this is the right choice but… I want to work through this with you.”

A radiance filled the dark hallway. Katsumi’s hand was met by two that were soft—that felt like they were full of compassion and life. He was met by a wry smile.

“I’ll try to help you bring that change you’re looking for.

Katsumi couldn’t help but smile.

“I’ll return this to Junichiro tomorrow, I just don’t wanna deal with it right now. Is that alright?”

“Yes… I suppose. It’s probably better to not go out right now.”

Katsumi put the case back in the box and picked it up. “I’ll keep it in my apartment tonight.”

“Alright… Goodnight Murakami.”

“Goodnight.”

Katsumi entered his apartment. Pressing his back against the door, he let himself slide down it and let out a sigh.