The wind today... is quite lively.
The boy with the suitcase stopped in front of the station. The bright sunlight glinted off his jet-black hair. He wore dark sunglasses, the lenses completely obscuring his eyes.
Even with the sunglasses, it was clear he was handsome. His features were well-defined yet harmonious, radiating a soft, balanced appeal. His androgynous looks suggested he might be the kind of cool guy you'd find at a trendy gathering, the brooding type.
He wore loose, ill-fitting gray clothes that somehow exuded a unique style.
That's it! Style! Only someone with real style would dress like that!
So why... why did I have to run into someone like this?!
The pink-haired girl, guitar slung over her shoulder, met the boy in the station's only passageway.
W-w-w-what do I do?! We're about to collide! 5 meters! 2 meters! He's coming!
Though it was just a normal passing encounter, Gotō Hitori, the pink-haired girl, couldn't see it that way.
The aloof aura of handsome people was about to crush her!
Just a brush of shoulders, just a brush of shoulders, and my body will completely dissolve into wind dust in this breeze. I'll disappear!
Gotō Hitori's expression completely crumbled, her features contorting.
Just keep going, just keep going! Hang on a little longer, Gotō Hitori! We're almost past each other...
Squelch.
"?"
Gotō Hitori looked down at her feet, as if she had stepped on something.
A yellow and black... banana peel?
A banana peel?!
Squelch—
The secreted juices and sugars instantly propelled Gotō Hitori forward.
"Waaahhh!!!"
"!"
The boy in front of her seemed to react only when he heard the noise. He turned toward Gotō Hitori, and then...
Thud!
Nekoyashiki Haru felt something soft collide with him. In an instant, he lost his balance and tumbled backward onto the ground.
Thud!
"Ahhh! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!!!"
Gotō Hitori scrambled off Nekoyashiki Haru and stared at the boy lying on the ground with his arms outstretched, staring blankly at the sky. She apologized profusely.
"...It's okay... but if you could get off me, I can't get up."
"Ah! I understand!"
Gotō Hitori quickly stood up and hurried to the other side.
Looking at Nekoyashiki Haru lying on the ground, Gotō Hitori's lips twisted involuntarily.
Ha... haha... My life is over...
A handsome guy like him must have tons of friends. Tomorrow? The day after? I'll definitely be surrounded by his gang, beaten to a pulp, and accidentally killed. Then they'll just dump my body in some stinky ditch...
Ha... haha... I'm going to die... Gotō Hitori is going to die...
I'm sorry, Mom and Dad... After all you've done raising someone like me...
I'm sorry, Niri... Jimmy Hendrix... I might not be able to come home and play with you every day anymore.
I'm sorry, Nijika... and Ryo-san... We were supposed to start a band together, but now...
Gotō Hitori's mind wandered into these absurd fantasies, but the scene before her shattered them completely.
The young man sat up and pulled a silver-white rod from his pocket.
With a flick of his wrist...
Click-click-click-click-click...
The rod transformed into a silver cane.
Nekoyashiki Haru extended the cane around him, its metallic tip soon touching the base of a wall on one side of the street. After confirming the distance, he leaned forward, steadying himself against the wall as he stood up.
"..."
Crack...
Gotō Hitori's face gradually paled, as if cracks were forming on her skin.
Blind... blind... blind... blind person...
I knocked down a blind person!
This is a real death sentence! I'm going to die! I'm definitely going to die! Even if no one else executes me, I'll execute myself!
Pat, pat...
Nekoyashiki Haru brushed the dust off his clothes and looked around.
Seeing this, Gotō Hitori quickly realized he was looking for her. Trembling, she snapped out of her panicked fantasy and whispered, "Ah... I'm here."
Nekoyashiki Haru paused, then turned toward Gotō Hitori. "I'm fine, don't worry about it... Miss? Or are you a student? Your voice sounds young, so you must still be in school, right?"
"Ah... you're... you're right..."
"My name is Nekoyashiki Haru. And you?"
"Ah... Gotō... Gotō Hitori..."
"I see. Please don't worry about it. I used to live here, so this is kind of a nostalgic visit. I was feeling a bit relaxed and wanted to see if things were still the same, so I tried walking without my cane. It's partly my fault for getting bumped. My apologies. Well, goodbye."
The rhythmic tapping of Nekoyashiki Haru's cane faded as he continued deeper into Shimokitazawa.
He's... he's leaving...
Gotō Hitori stared blankly at the young man's retreating figure.
He was so polite, using honorifics the whole time... And I was the one who knocked him over...
"...No, no, no, no..."
Gotō Hitori shook her head frantically.
I knocked over a blind person and just left without saying anything? That's just awful.
It would be so tempting to just go back and pretend it never happened, but... no, I can't.
If I want to be liked, at least I should have some morals...
She slapped her cheeks sharply.
"Mmm!"
Letting out a breathy sound to encourage herself, Gotō Hitori rushed toward Nekoyashiki Haru.
"Ah! P-please wait..."
But as she reached his side, her voice inevitably dwindled to a whisper.
"Hmm? Is there something else, Gotō...?"
"Just call me Bocchi!"
She blurted out the nickname others had given her, leaving Nekoyashiki Haru visibly puzzled.
"...Is that a nickname?"
"Ah... y-yes! So, just call me that..."
"Alright then, Bocchi. Is there anything else?"
Nekoyashiki Haru's voice was gentle, like warm water.
"Ah... um... if you want to go anywhere, you can tell me! I... I'll take you there..."
"Do you think I can't manage on my own?" Nekoyashiki tilted his head, asking.
It was a perfectly normal question, but in Gotō Hitori's eyes, it was anything but.
N-no way! Is he one of those fiercely independent blind people who refuse help?!
"Ah... n-no, no, no, that's not it at all! I don't look down on you! I... I'm sorry! I shouldn't have gotten carried away!" Gotō Hitori quickly explained.
"...I never said you looked down on me..."
Nekoyashiki Haru listened to the strange noises Bocchi was making and couldn't help but chuckle.
The sound of his laughter froze Gotō Hitori in place.
His laugh... it's so beautiful...
"You're quite the reactor, Bocchi. Well then, I'll leave it to you."
"Ehh?! Someone like me can really guide you?"
"Didn't you offer yourself?"
Nekoyashiki Haru raised his hand, reaching toward where he thought Gotō Hitori was standing.
"Then, if you don't mind, please don't use your cane. Just take my hand."
"Ah... no trouble at all! In fact, I'd be honored... Speaking of holding hands... Ah! No, no, that's not right... Ahem! So, um... where are you heading?" Gotō Hitori asked softly.
"Many Stars. Have you heard of it? It's a live house."
"Oh, Many Stars... Many Stars... Many Stars?!"
Gotō Hitori suddenly exclaimed, startling Nekoyashiki Haruichi.
"W-what's wrong?"
"Ah... sorry... I just didn't expect that."
Gotō Hitori scratched her head.
"I just came from there."
"Really? Then we're quite connected, Bocchi."
"Huh? Connected?
Looking at Nekoyashiki Haruichi, who was handsome from every angle...
Am I really connected to someone like him?
"Ehehe..."
Gotō Hitori couldn't help but giggle.