It's Always Sunny in Kashiwa: Part Four

I think that history quiz went really well… It’s surprising, I haven’t felt like that about a quiz in a long time.

A large yawn escaped Katsumi’s mouth.

I wish I didn’t have to stay up so late. When we did math until midnight… Then studied until what? Two? Three-o’clock? She was barely awake for the last two hours.

Katsumi gazed out from building six’s staircase onto the campus’s main street.

I think I’ll try and get two hours of studying in tonight. Just do that then you’re free for the rest of the evening.

Katsumi descended the stairs and from his pocket he pulled out his package of cigarettes. He tapped on it for a moment before one finally came out.

The last one… I need to stop by the convenience store on the way back. He clicked his lighter once and held the flame up to his cigarette.

After a few more moments of silent peace passed, Katsumi caught something out of the corner of his eye. A hand was reaching out towards his mouth.

Instantly, he plucked the cigarette out and held it above his head.

“Murakami. Give me that.”

“Nope.”

Mayumi grabbed onto Katsumi’s shirt and stood on her tip-toes—reaching out her arm as far as it could go.

Even though at this point she was practically as strong as Katsumi, he still had a noticeable height advantage.

“Calm down, this is my last one. See?” He pulled out the empty carton and showed it to Mayumi.

With a disapproving look she backed-off. “I don’t know if I should be happy or upset that it’s empty.”

“...”

“...”

“So what’d you want?” Katsumi finally asked to break the silence.

“We live right next to each other, and this is the quickest way home.”

“Oh… Right.”

They continued walking for some time, then at around halfway home Mayumi spoke up with a question. “Murakami, I have been meaning to ask. It’s a little bit personal if you don’t mind.”

Katsumi gave her a slightly suspicious look. “Depends.”

“Do you mind me asking about Takagi?”

That’s what she’s been worried about? It’s been obvious she doesn’t get along with Nara… but I never considered she thinks about Nara often on her own. “Yeah, it’s alright.”

“I have been wondering why is she at your apartment so much? And so often not… fully dressed?”

Why does she have to phrase it like that? “Well… Nara’s a… really close friend. Despite what you think, we’ve helped each other a lot. I’ve been there for her and she’s been there for me.”

“...That still does not entirely answer my questions.”

“Ah— well. It’s sort of the only place she can be?”

Mayumi made an expression that said she didn’t understand.

Katsumi took a pause.

“Do you remember Nara mentioning her brother, Junichiro?”

“Yes…” Mayumi sounded apprehensive, which made sense, as this was the man that gave his little sister a box of firearms.

“From the clues Nara’s given me, along with having talked to him… I think he’s involved with a gang—especially after what happened with the box. Nara has never told me directly, but to me, it’s kind of obvious at this point.”

“I don’t mean to sound rude, but does that mean Takagi doesn’t have a home?”

“No— well sorta.”

“So why does she always stay with you?”

He took a long pause before responding.
“...Because Junichiro’s’ violent.”

The two stopped just before a crosswalk.

Katsumi sighed and continued. “I’ve heard from Nara, Junichiro has violent outbursts that have gotten worse since high school… when something goes wrong he usually… takes it out on her. And at a certain point Nara stopped trying to go back and deal with him, and unofficially moved in with me.”

“When you said you have helped her, you meant getting away from her brother?”

Katsumi's response came in the form of a nod.

The pair carried on across the crosswalk.

“I have another question. Is that alright?” Mayumi asked.

“Yeah…”

“Why did you befriend Takagi in high school?”

Katsumi held an open hand in front of him—staring into his palm. “Everyone avoided her back then because of her accent, the way she talked, the way she presented herself. But I think I saw something different in her. What made me first approach Nara was when she came to school with a blackeye one day. It was like a strange tipping point where I had to know more about her.”

Mayumi didn’t press any further, or have any comments to make. This was a signal to Katsumi that he answered something that’d been bugging Mayumi for quite some time.

But an unexpected question followed up.

“Is there anything going on between you two?” Mayumi asked softly.

“No-no-no, of course not. With her? Come on.”

“So you are just friends?”

Again, Katsumi nodded.

“That still doesn’t answer why she refuses to properly dress herself,” Mayumi said with an irritated expression.

After being around and interacting with Mayumi for the time he has, Katsumi could tell she wasn’t being very serious with that last remark.

I’ve been wondering since the first week I met her, how does she know Nara and I? Those two talk like they have history together. That’s not even the way I should phrase it, Nara talks to Arata like she hates her.

I think it’s only fair now that I get to ask a question, right?