Tokyo Puts on Fake Smiles

FOURTH ACT: To Know You

First Contact

The first time I met one of Makoto's girlfriends, he tried to pass her off as just another classmate. Being treated like that, a friend, she got angry and eventually broke up with him. I'll be honest: I felt less guilty than relieved.

But, the first time I met one of Kazuhiro's girlfriends, there was no reason to hide their relationship. It didn't make sense.

Every time I saw or heard Kazuhiro enter his room with someone, I knew they would part ways the next day without saying a word to each other. There were no reproaches; both were aware of the arrangement. But it wasn't always like that; for some reason, over time, everything stopped, an end.

If I was the cowardly lamb and he was the brave wolf, how could I beat him? It didn't matter; none of that mattered. It wasn't just one reason; there were many reasons. And my name was on his list.

I had to apply three coats of white paint to cover his message on my wall.

☻☻☻

I tried to forget the night when, after reuniting with Makoto, I got drunk and my roommate left me a message on the wall that I had to paint over, in order to get through the rest of the week.

No, that's a lie. The rest of the week? Just a bunch of days of Miyazaki making me go around in circles, doing ridiculous things without giving me a chance to ask him a single relevant question. Trying on hideous hats, buying Hawaiian shirts, or leaving me stranded in the middle of Shinjuku to drink and play. A huge pile of work accumulated on my desk, making it impossible to return to the bar; but girls kept stomping through my place night after night.

However, I managed to survive until the morning of a stormy day. That is to say, the morning when I would meet Makoto's fiancée, Manami.

Although I thought it would be a sad, desolate morning, where I would spend hours cursing his name, the reality was different. Miyazaki was still asleep when I woke up, and luckily, there were no guests waiting in the living room. I was able to dress, do my makeup, have breakfast, and clean up in peace.

It was a shame that all that peaceful atmosphere ended when, out of nowhere, just before heading to the entrance and leaving the living room, he woke up.

"What are you doing awake?" His voice startled me, and, pale, I turned around. From a corner of the hallway, Miyazaki was watching me, calm, arms crossed. "It's your day off, isn't it?"

I swallowed hard and approached him. I really thought honesty would be the best solution. "Please!" I closed my eyes and clasped my hands. "Don't bother me today and stay home. I have to urgently meet someone!"

But it was no use. Miyazaki, without compassion, smacked me on the head with his hand and laughed. "You're going to see that scum, aren't you?"

Frightened, I raised my head and nodded. "He's going to introduce me to his fiancée."

"I see," he nodded as well. "I'll come with you."

"What, why?!"

Miyazaki, grinning from ear to ear, turned halfway and headed back to his room. Panicked, nervous, and furious, I followed him and grabbed his arm, pulling him towards me. "No, no, you have work. You can't go!"

"The guys and I have the day off. If I stay, I'll be bored."

"It doesn't matter; you can bring whoever you want!" I kept pulling, in vain.