V2 - Nara, Shouko, & Katsumi's Apartment: Part Three

“What’re you doing here?”

The man who had asked that question was none other than Makoto. He was always glad to see Katsumi, even if he interrupted his relaxing after a long day at the office.

“I inadvertently got kicked out of my apartment, I think.” Katsumi said.

“You think? How can you not be sure?”

“Can I come in?”

“Yeah, of course.” 

Makoto stepped out of the doorway to let Katsumi in.

His apartment was a fair bit smaller than Katsumi’s, something that crossed his mind from time to time. A difference however, was that he paid his own rent unlike Katsumi.

It was a small square living room connected to a kitchen with a single bedroom separated by a door.

In the living room a couch was placed up against a wall with a T.V on the opposite one—A kotatsu sat in between.

“What’s up?” Makoto asked.

He sat down on the floor in front of the Kotatsu, setting a beer in front of himself and Katsumi—who was on the couch.

“I think Nara is using my apartment to help set up Shouko with some guy.”

Makoto burst out into laughter while Katsumi’s eyebrows sunk into a frown

“Sorry sorry.” His laughing died down. “You gotta admit that’s really funny, come on.”

“It wouldn’t be if it was your apartment.”
“Maybe you’re right, but still, it’s such a Nara thing to do.”
Katsumi rubbed the bridge of his nose as he sank back into the couch. “Yeah… It really is.”

Makoto took a sip of his beer. “So that’s why you came here? You didn’t want to be anywhere near that?”

“Mhm.”

“Wanna stay the night?”

“Probably.”

“Did you get something to eat yet?”

“I went out but forgot to eat when I had the food.”

Makoto raised an eyebrow as he held his bottle to his lips. “Man, you must really be out of it.”

“I’m sober… I’ve just been… feeling weird lately.”

“I know, I wasn’t talking about drugs. It was that Arata girl we went on the trip with, right?”

“Huh? How’d you know about that?”

“Hirano.”

Katsumi shut his eyes and slightly tilted his head to the side. “That woman…”

“Have you talked to Arata at all since?”

“No… I’ve just seen her on campus here and there. She even requested to move seats away from me.”

“That’s brutal.”

Katsumi nodded with a vacant expression.

Makoto smirked. “Are you gonna give up?”

“What’s that supposed to mean? On her?”

He nodded.

“...I don’t know.” Katsumi spoke up after a short silence.

Makoto stood up and walked over to the refrigerator, where he grabbed a few more beers. He sat back down at the same spot and cracked another open. “Sometimes it’s better to not know the answer. Spending time figuring things out helps.”

“You’re speaking like you did.”

“I pretty much have.” Makoto wore an annoyingly cocky grin.

“How is it going with Hirano then?”

“Yeah— I still haven’t figured that out yet.”

“I heard from Maaya that you’ve been seeing her, anything happen?”

“I’m way too nervous to make a move… Afraid it will end up like the nine other girls in the last few months.”

“How do you even meet so many?”

“It was mainly Maaya setting me up. She introduced me to like seven of them.”

“Isn’t this more than just another girl though?”
“Yeah… but that doesn’t make me any less nervous. In fact it probably makes me more nervous.”

“What’d you two do on your last date?”

“We just went out to dinner and watched a movie here… We cuddled during the movie but nothing happened.”

Hirano acting like that…? I seriously can’t imagine that. She would make some snide joke then go outside and smoke, there’s no way.

Katsumi gave a genuine attempt picturing Kaede being held by someone but found it impossible.

“Do you imagine something long term with her?”

Makoto took a second to think. “I’d like to imagine, but it’s impossible to know…

“The answer I expected. Your problem is you never commit to any of the girls you meet. You don’t look bad at all Makoto. If you put in the effort you could get anyone you wanted.”

“Ironic coming from you, Katsumi.”

The blank eyes and neutral lip position Katsumi usually adorned lightened a little at his comeback.

Makoto leaned back on his hands and titled his head at Katsumi. “Hey, why don’t you have Shouko set you up with someone? She’s only a year ahead of you, right?”

“Don’t you know how people view me at Kashiwa U?”

“What, do they not like you?”

“No, I’m the most popular guy there.”

“Is it really that bad?”

“I don’t care though, they all just walk around with shitty facades day in and day out.”

“Spoken like a true loner.” He took a sip from his drink. “Quick change of topic, but how’d we meet anyways?”

Katsumi had been considering lying down for a bit now—as he was already slumping back pretty hard. “I think we both knew Nara and met through her… So how’d you know Nara?”

He gave in and sprawled himself out.

“Kenshi’s cousin.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, the only reason they became so close was because of their shared interest in coke.”

“Great way to bring people together.”

“I know right… But If I’m being honest Katsumi, that group’s been a shit-show ever since Kenshi introduced everyone to what he does.”

“There was a time before that?”

“We were just any other group of friends… Drama, dating, hanging out, going to the beach...”
“So why’re you still around them?”

“...They’re the only friends I got. I’ve known some of them for almost ten years.”

Katsumi gazed at Makoto as he fiddled with the tab of his beer can.

“It’s probably just the alcohol talking but… I wanna distance myself from them.”

Makoto continued, “They’re fun people but they aren’t ones I wanna be involved with as I get older. If I’m being honest, what I really want is to just focus on my career and Hirano…”

Katsumi ran his finger around the rim of his can. “I think that’s good… And that means you’re serious about Hirano, no?” He brought Makoto into focus.

His eyes were teary and his face was beet-red.

A smile formed on Katsumi’s face. “Man you’re drunk. Come on, you’re too hammered to be having a conversation like this. Let’s play some games.”

Makoto nodded as he wiped his eyes.