Erase

Act 24: The Obstacle

"An obstacle?" Said Jun.

"Yes. Kurumi kept talking about this guy, whom she said forbids her from loving another man." Mr. Ozawa replied. "However, she never told me his name, or anything. She just called him 'that guy'."

"I used to think 'that guy' was her ex or something. But that turned out not to be the case." Mr. Ozawa continued. "If anything, he seemed more like a family member. A brother or something."

"Anyways, Kurumi would tell me the many ways that 'that guy' forbid her from going to the bar to spend time with me." Mr. Ozawa continued. "I still remember the first time she ever told me about 'that guy'. It was 1999."

FLASHBACK
21 YEARS AGO

The year 1999. One year before the new millennium was starting to rise. 1999 saw several significant changes in history and pop culture, including the Y2K scare, the rise of cellular mobile phones, the peak of boy bands, teen idols and nu metal bands and the arrival of the new generation of video game consoles.

But to Shun and Kurumi, 1999 was the year when their relationship started to blossom from a simple friendship into something much more romantic. But before they could take it to the next level, there is still one more obstacle in their path.

"That guy..." Said Kurumi.

-Ozawa Bar & Drink 8:38 PM-

Kurumi sat on the counter, looking somewhat gloomier than usual. Her usual happy demeanor is replaced with a somewhat sad look on her face. Not even Ozawa Bar and Drink's famous sake could cheer her up.

"Is something wrong, Kurumi?" Said Shun.

Kurumi sighs.

"Sorry, Shun... It's just... that guy..." Said Kurumi.

"Who?" Shun replied.

"A personal acquaintance of mine." Said Kurumi. "He really, really hates it when I spend all night here at your place."

"He thinks that I bar-hop too much... or something like that." Kurumi continued. "He thinks that I focus too much on staying here that I'm losing focus on him."

"Oh..." Shun replied.

"He has this dominant behavior, in which he thinks he rules me or something like that." Said Kurumi. "Sometimes, he even tries to lock me up."

"You live with this guy?" Shun replied.

"Well, yeah. We live in a single apartment together." Said Kurumi. "As much as I didn't want to. But I have to. It's the only home I have left."

"Only home?" Shun replied.

"Both of my parents are gone, and between him and me, I'm the only one with a job right now." Said Kurumi. "And it's not even a high-paying one."

"So, yeah. I have to deal with a roommate that's manipulative and jealous." Kurumi continued. "God, I hate this life."

"Hey, don't think that. Remember: you always have a place here at Ozawa Bar & Drink." Shun replied. "If you have any problems, just spit it out here and I'll listen."

"You're like a friend to me, Kurumi. The closest one that I ever have had." Shun continued.

"Really...?" Said Kurumi.

"Yeah. In fact, there's something I wanted to confess to you..." Shun replied. "I... I, uh..."

However, Shun's confession was interrupted by...

"Oh... sorry, Shun. But I have to go now. That guy's waiting for me." Said Kurumi. "Wouldn't want to make him mad."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure to come back here tomorrow per the usual time. That's a promise, OK?" Kurumi continued.