Underneath the Red Trees

CHAPTER 7: SPIDER'S WEB

"Morning," Satoru Akiyama stood over him.

Hayate sat up. "What happened?" He cradled his head in the palm of his hand.

"A lot of shots," Satoru said. "Do you want coffee?"

"Please."

Hayate was lying on a blue sofa. Shinya was fast asleep with Harin in his arms on a futon laid out beside the sofa. Hayate looked around the room. It was small. A coffee table was standing against the wall. It was probably moved to make space for the futon. There was a small balcony to the left of the sofa. To the right was a modest kitchen and what Hayate assumed was the front door. Beside the balcony, on opposite sides of one another were two doors. There was another door on the wall opposite Hayate. The three doors were probably two bedrooms and a bathroom.

Hayate got up, careful not to step on Shinya or Harin. He plopped down at the kitchen table. Satoru handed Hayate a steaming cup of black coffee. "Thanks," Hayate's voice was hoarse.

He took a long sip of the coffee. Some of the previous night's events came back to him. They had gotten to the second bar. Had another drink. Kimiko went home. That's when Touma and Harin wanted to do shots. That was why the back of his throat tasted like tequila. Then, after that, Harin wanted to go dancing. Shinya tried to stop her, but as soon as Touma joined her stance that was the end.

"Where is Touma?"

Satoru nodded toward the door closest to them.

Hayate stared at it and more memories returned to him.

That night they had come home at around four o'clock. Shinya and Satoru had to carry Harin inside. Hayate had to help Touma find his keys. As soon as the door opened Touma bolted for the bathroom. He didn't even bother switching on the light before he vomited up his stomach contents into the toilet bowl. Hayate had moved fast to grab Touma's hair before it, too got covered in vomit.

"How do you feel?" Hayate had asked him. Touma had leaned back against the toilet. His face had been pale. He hadn't answered. Hayate remembered Touma leaning against his leg. He was half asleep already. That was when Satoru had entered.

"Why would he so that to himself?" Touma drank like he didn't know his own limits. He was a year older than Hayate, meaning he had been drinking longer. Hayate knew when to stop drinking, and he had only turned twenty that past January.

Satoru shrugged, "Probably because of his ex."

Hayate wanted to inquire further, but a door opened. Satoru raised his eyes. "How was the bathroom floor?" he asked.

"Cold and hard, thanks." Touma's face had yet to regain its colour. He sat down at the kitchen table and placed his face on the tabletop.

Satoru poured him a cup of coffee. "Here."

Touma groaned. He touched the cup but didn't raise his head. His face was in Hayate's direction, but his eyes were closed.

The couple sleeping behind them began to stir. Shinya sat up, leaning against the sofa. He waved a hello. Harin's head was on his lap, she let out soft moans.

"Harin's going to puke!"

"Oh fuck!" Satoru bolted toward them. The two men lifted her to the bathroom. They heard gagging.

Touma chuckled softly. He would not raise his head from where it lay on the tabletop.

Touma's eyelashes were long.

He finally raised his head and sat up. He sipped at the coffee. "Gross," he said, but still drank it.

"Don't you like it?"