YNoMH? (BL)

31

Chapter 31: Where Home Is (7)

It was exactly one week after Ushio's surprise visit to the studio. Kei left the announcer department to head to the pre-show meeting, and what was when Tatsuki called out, "Kuniedsan," and caught up to him.

"Did Tsuzuki-san happen to break his cell phone and changed phones or something?"

"Huh?"

"Pa.s.s this message to him for me: Tell me if you're gonna change your contact info, okay!? Geez, I didn't expect him to be so cold~!"

"...Huh?"

Kei stopped in his tracks to stare at Tatsuki and wondered, What the h.e.l.l is he saying? But it looked like Tatsuki was just as confused as he was.

"The last time I went drinking with him, I suggested that he come play baseball in Osaka with me. So now I'm in the middle of gathering people and setting the day for it, and I wanted to ask when he'd be free—" Tatsuki pulled out his cell phone and showed Kei his screen. "But I got this."

It was an error message from LINE that said, This member does not exist.

"I thought it was really weird, so I tried sending a text to his cell phone, but that didn't get through either... Um, Kuniedsan, I take it that you don't know anything about it?"

"No... He said he would be holed away for work, so I haven't heard from him."

There were a few times that Ushio stayed over at a studio somewhere working non-stop, and generally Kei never bothered him with calls or messages when it happened. The last message that Kei received from him was last week, the same as the last time that Kei saw him. When Ushio said, I'll see you later, just before he left the hotel room, he seemed perfectly normal.

"...Senpai, let's get in the elevator for now."

Tatsuki seemed to have noticed Kei's quiet agitation and led him past the doors for some privacy. He asked, "What does the screen on your LINE account say?"

"I only have my work phone with me today."

"Well, maybe he really did drop his phone in some water or something, and he felt like changing everything over. Like maybe he thought his number was too hard to remember and wanted a new one."

Yeah, that could be it. And Ushio would contact him after his work was done. Maybe the explanation was really that simple. He could see Ushio calling him up, listening to Kei complain, and then teasing him, Oh, did I make you worry again? And then that would be that.

"Even if he wanted to break up with you, I don't think he's the type to be a coward and ghost someone without an explanation."

"Don't say things like that, dammit!"

"Huh? I was trying to make you feel better."

"Well, it backfired!"

This isn't funny. I didn't see any signs like that at all. Was he unhappy with the cows and tuna? Ugh, but I can't think of anything but that surreal bedtime story conversation.

The elevator arrived at the staff room floor before Kei could sort out his feelings, and when the doors opened, Ushio—of course, he wasn't there, but in his place, which didn't really sound right, a stubborn old geezer was waiting there for them.

"Wah...!"

Kei had already lost his composure, and he gave a short cry at the unexpected surprise. Eba scowled and said, "How rude."

d.a.m.n idiot, how about you have some consideration for my delicate heart!

Tatsuki asked, "Are you taping today, Old Man Eba?"