Happiness: With You

Steam rose from the bubble filled water.

“One-thirty…” Katsumi looked at a clock he brought into the bathroom.

She’s probably standing up there right now, giving the presentation alone. Why is this stuck in my head?

Why…?

Why…?

Why…?

“Don’t act like I don’t care… I do.” Katsumi repeated to himself the words he said yesterday.

It just came out of me… I didn’t think for a second about what I was saying. Why did I say that?

“...”

Do I care?

The trip to Tokyo…

Studying… Eating dinner together…

‘You looked miserable so I thought I’d help.’

The umbrella… She came to me for no reason other than to help.

‘Thank you…’

The image of him holding Mayumi on his couch came to him.

Arata was crying. She’s gone through so much… for me.

He involuntarily rubbed his eyes. Then again—and again. Tears were welling up and falling down his face.

Katsumi laughed.

“Why am I crying?”

He tried wiping them away but more kept rolling down his face.

“What’s wrong with me?”