Killing Yuki

Chapter 3.E - I Almost Lost You There

"Hey, don't be like that. You know how protective that guy is of you. Come on. Let's go."

Kazuki began to walk but paused and glanced back when he noticed Yuki wasn't following. He cast an unsympathetic look at Yuki as a warning, hinting at him not to be bothersome. Yuki complied.

"I didn't bring my bike," Yuki said.

"Me neither. The lock's broken. I haven't got a new one yet," Kazuki replied.

"I see. That's better, then," Yuki uttered, relieved because then he didn't have to back-ride.

On their way home, the two took the chance to catch up. They discussed various topics, particularly the future. 

Kazuki shared his plan to pursue culinary arts and eventually manage their small restaurant. He had a strong passion for cooking and was eager to explore non-Japanese cuisines.

Meanwhile, Yuki revealed his parents' plan to send him to the U.K. Mito's sister had moved there many years ago and had offered Yuki a room in their house if he chose to study at the University of Edinburgh.

"England? Cool! So you'll go to college there?" Kazuki asked in amazement.

"No, not England. Scotland. My aunt said I could study veterinary medicine at a school there." Yuki corrected Kazuki, strangely, with a deadpan look.

While talking, something caught Yuki's attention from the road's gutter. A small kitten was having trouble crossing. 

He gently picked it up and took it to the other side of the street and let it crawl under a wire fence. The kitten looked back to show a gesture of gratitude before disappearing into the bushes.

"You really are into animals, aren't you?" Kazuki remarked. Yuki responded with a subdued smile as he returned to the other side and resumed walking.

"Have you told Ren this?" Kazuki asked out of curiosity. Yuki's expression suddenly shifted from calm to defensive.

"Why would I?" He replied with an agitated voice.

"Why not? He's your closest friend. Don't you think he needs to know, too?"

The frown between Yuki's eyes unstiffened, and the amped-up tone in his voice frittered away after realizing those words weren't meant to tease him into admitting his feelings.

"I'll tell him when it's final. 'Kaasan just mentioned it, but we've never really talked about it. I guess it's not happening."

"Souka. But what if it doesn't happen? Do you have a Plan B?" Kazuki inquired.

"It's better if it doesn't because then I don't need to leave Japan. Many good schools here offer vet med, too, you know."

"That's true," Kazuki agreed.

They eventually reached Yuki's home and separated. Yuki thanked Kazuki for walking with him. At about the same time, Ren's family reached the airport and headed directly to the arrival area. 

It didn't take long for Ren's father to emerge, and as expected, he had brought a guitar home for him. It was the best gift Ren had ever received from his father. 

They rested for a while and searched for a place to eat. They decided to dine at Hotto Motto for about half an hour before heading back to Kashiwazaki.