The next morning,
Koremitsu's eyes were bloodshot, his skin dry as he went up the slope leading to the red tea shop Bonne Chance.
He pondered over Honoka and the significance of Michiru's tear over and over again the previous night, unable to sleep.
His head and body were ostensibly seared by fire, and even as he tried to lie on his side on the futon and close his eyes, the images of those two would appear in his eyes; Honoka yelling 'it's alright', and Michiru, removing her glasses , rubbing her cheeks as she apologized 'it's alright, I was just shocked'. His heart ached.
He rolled about on the futon, and looked at the clock with his half-opened eye to check the time—then, he realized something.
Hikaru could not sleep at night.
The blue moonlight shone in from the window in the midst of the humid summer night, shining on Hikaru's gloomy sidelong face
It was a gloomy sight.
The cool and distant face.
The tightly shut, lonely lips.
(So Hikaru has been like that when I'm sleeping so soundly.)
There was no human voice, no sound, and shown in those eyes were merely just darkness.
He could not take a walk to ease his burden, and he could not read books to spend the time. Perhaps he could only stare at the sky like this.
Koremtitsu walked forth and he whispered, asking,
"Ghosts...can't sleep?"
Hikaru's gloomy eyes seemed to waver.
Perhaps he noticed the reason why Koremitsu was not in a good mood, and answered with a refreshing face,
"I was already used to having insomnia when I was alive."
Hikaru answered with clarity.
"I do wonder how many nights I end up unable to sleep even after switching off the lights...because the girls in my bed would not let me do so."
Koremitsu realized that Hikaru was trying to pass this off as a joke, and felt more anguished within.
"Eh, do not be like that. Why are you giving such a scary look, Koremitsu? It is not a big thing that I cannot sleep. I think it is interesting to count the tatami blocks and play a word chain by myself."
"Ugh, Hikaru!"
"Y-yes?"
"Even if it's a day earlier, I want you to be able to sleep properly."
After hearing Koremitsu's affirmed declaration, Hikaru showed a stiff smile, and said,
"I do feel those words seem to imply a different meaning."
However, Koremitsu in turn was completely pumped up.
(Right, if I continue to hesitate, it'll take a longer time for this guy to depart, and he'll continue living through such painful nights. I'm already suffering so much being unable to sleep for an entire night; if I'm going to be like this every night, it's no different from Hell. Better settle this guy's emotional issues and send him to the afterlife.)
First, he would have to look for Saffron.
"You better look for Saffron properly today!"
Hikaru too looked on calmly,
"You are right. She probably was getting impatient waiting for you."
"Uu, it's my fault for ignoring her message and leaving first. Shall I send a message back first?"
YOU ARE READING
"Suetsumuhana" - Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro......(Volume 5)
Romance> The story starts with the death of Hikaru Mikado. That guy was a natural charmer, a "harem king", but had no real male friends. After he died, he became a ghost, a soul, but Koremitsu Akagi can see him. Koremitsu though, isn't really like Hikaru...
