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"Oh, Hikigaya! It's been ages!"
The woman who said that had a loosely permed hair that looked somewhat familiar. She seemed to be around the same age. The reason I described it that way was partly because her hair was longer than I remembered, but more so because of the strong feeling of "why are you here?"
"Huh, Orimoto...?"
"It's been forever. Oh, is this seat okay?"
Before I could say anything, Orimoto sat down in the seat opposite me. She immediately ordered the same A Set as me from the waiter who brought her cold water, then propped her elbows on the table.
"Wow, I'm surprised. So you got a job over here too, Hikigaya?"
"Yeah... You too, Orimoto?"
"Yep. My office just moved to a building nearby recently."
"This area has a lot of good shops, right?" Orimoto continued, then stared intently at me. "What is it? Does she not like the dimple in my tie? Sorry, I'm bad at tying ties."
"Your suit, Hikigaya, it's hilarious."
"No, it's not..."
Orimoto, on the other hand, was dressed in a light outfit: a flared skirt and puff-sleeved top. She looked more like a magazine editor than an office worker.
"Hikigaya, what kind of work do you do?"
"Ah... In a word, consulting. What about you, Orimoto?"
"I'm, what do you call it, an editor for an information magazine?"
"Don't ask me."
It seemed my prediction was correct. As we continued chatting about our lives, Orimoto's lunch set arrived.
"The food here is good, isn't it? Not too expensive, and delicious."
As Orimoto put her hands together and said "Itadakimasu," something on her left ring finger glinted for a moment. It was unmistakably a ring.
"Ah... By any chance, are you not 'Orimoto' anymore?"
"Oh, you noticed? Well, this is my engagement ring."
Orimoto smiled as she said that, and a clear sense of happiness radiated from her face. "Even she can make an expression like that?"âSuch a rude, yet honest thought leaked only within my mind.
Marriage, I suppose, is truly something special. It can make even the usually straightforward Orimoto wear such a dreamy, girlish expression.
"By the way, you know who the person is, Hikigaya."
"Huh...? Ah... Seriously...?"
When she said it like that, I somehow had a feeling. Among our mutual acquaintances, if someone had that kind of intention, the candidates were extremely limited.
"So, what about you, Hikigaya? Do you have a girlfriend?"
"I do have a girlfriend, but..."
"Huh, who? Someone I know?"
"...Isshiki Iroha, who was the student council president in high school."
"Eh, no way, really?! And we're both dating former student council presidents, that's hilarious!"
Well, yes, that's such a coincidence it would probably make even me laugh. So, it's definitely Tamanawa-san, then. This means I no longer have to worry about him blowing on my bangs. Though I probably won't ever see him again.
"Speaking of which, what I heard, it was really true then."
"Huh?"
I honestly had no idea what she was talking about, so I tilted my head, my fork still stuck in my food. Seeing my reaction, Orimoto continued playfully.
"When we were preparing for the Christmas event, remember? I asked you, 'Are you going for Isshiki-chan?'"
"Ah... That did happen."
I certainly felt like she had asked me something like that. At the time, I had absolutely no such intentions, but in this world, you never know what might happen. Looking back, it's strange how I didn't fall for her despite spending so much time together.
"So, what about marriage?"
I couldn't immediately answer that overly direct question. Of course, I wanted to get married. It was precisely because that desire was so clear that I struggled to find the right words to describe it.
"Not yet."
When I finally said that, unable to come up with a better answer, Orimoto took a sip of water and then nodded thoughtfully.
"How long have you been together?"
"A little over four years."
"Then that's a good amount of time. Why aren't you getting married?"
She was still as straightforward as ever, or rather, brutally direct. Well, in a way, that kind of directness makes it an easier topic to discuss.
"It's not that I don't want to, but... there's a lot going on."
Somehow, saying it like that made it feel unexpectedly like I was making excuses. Orimoto must have felt it too, as a clear question mark appeared on her face.
"That's not really a reason, is it?"
"..."
She really hit me where it hurt, point-blank. Orimoto continued, poking at her salad with her fork.
"Private life and work, you know, once you become an adult, you're always busy. If you wait for a free moment, you'll never get married."
"Well, that's true... Actually, time isn't the problem; it's more about whether I can really support her."
"No, no, no."
Orimoto seemed still dissatisfied with my answer, shaking her head. Her voice was gradually getting more serious.
"Marriage is about supporting each other, isn't it? Why are you trying to support her all by yourself, Hikigaya?"
Those words hit me like being punched with a running start. Truly, habits of thought are terrifying. Without even realizing it, I had once again become fixated on a self-centered idea. From an outsider's perspective, it would even seem like I was running away from marriage.
If someone asked if my stubbornness was that important, the answer would surely be no. I already know what's most important, more than enough.
"...You're right, Orimoto. This is no different from running away."
"..."
When I said that, Orimoto looked puzzled, still holding her fork. Huh, what's with that expression? Did I say something that strange?
"No, what's with that reaction...?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. You're just really honest, I guess."
"Honest" is a somewhat ticklish expression, but at this point, I had to admit it. After all, I was the one who kept making excuses and putting limits on myself.
"To be honest, I do want to get married. The only thing left is whether Iroha feels the same way..."
"What? Is there no such vibe at all?"
"...When we were asked about marriage when we were both together, Iroha said, 'That's something for later.'"
I remembered when it happened at Nene-san's wedding. When Zaimokuza brought it up, Iroha hesitated before answering that.
"Then you just need to make her feel like 'This is the only person for me!'"
"You say that so easily..."
If I had to describe our current relationship in one word, it would be "semi-old couple." Although Iroha's actions have changed recently, our relationship can still be described as stagnant.
"Then,"
Orimoto said up to that point, then placed her fork on the plate with a clink. Contrary to me, who was sighing with relief, Orimoto said with a strangely lively expression:
"I'll give you advice."
â-------
"Thank you for your assistance. We look forward to continuing to work with you."
"We look forward to working with you too."
Following my section chief, I bowed to the client's representative and left the client's office. Stepping briskly out of the building, I saw a sky so blue it made me feel like I didn't want to be working.
Today was one of those rare days for outside visits. I followed the section chief, gave greetings, took minutes during the business meetingâbasically, I was like a bag-carrier. Though I don't actually carry the section chief's bag.
"Man, it got late, didn't it?"
Looking at my watch, it was well past 12:30. The meeting ran long, so it couldn't be helped, but I was starting to get a bit hungry.
Perhaps because of that, I kept finding myself looking at restaurants as I walked down the street. Come to think of it, I remember a senior's company being around here. Maybe, just maybe, I might run into themâ
"..."
The moment that thought crossed my mind, I saw the figure and involuntarily stopped. But it wasn't just because I spotted my senior.
"Orimoto-san...?"
Her aura had changed a bit, but there was no mistaking it. On the first floor of a large building. In a window seat of a restaurant facing the street, my senior and Orimoto-san were having a meal together, making what looked like serious expressions.
Why are those two here together? Well, I just coincidentally ran into Hayama-senpai the other day, so I guess these things happen.
"Oh, Isshiki-kun?"
Then, I suddenly remembered. A long time ago, I had asked my senior, who was acting strangely, if something had happened with Orimoto-san. At the time, he brushed me off saying, "A lot happened in the past..." But that was like saying there was something he didn't want to talk about.
"Hey, Isshiki-kun. Let's go."
"...Ah, yes."
Called back to attention, I looked forward to see my section chief already quite a bit ahead. I wanted to confirm, but the timing was a bit bad. This person, despite his barcode hair and mellow personality, is still my section chief, and I couldn't keep him waiting.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Mm. It got a little late, so how about we grab lunch somewhere? I'll treatâ"
"No, I have my bento."
"Oh, really..."
For now, I'd deal with today's events when I got home. I was sure my senior would tell me something. Walking beside the somewhat dejected section chief, I wondered what they had been talking about.
â-----
"I'm home."
My senior's voice reached the living room when it was almost nine o'clock at night. He must have worked overtime again today, but it was still earlier than usual lately. It was a good time to talk.
"Welcome home."
I said that and stood up, then went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. That is to say, I just had to warm up food that was already cooked. He had told me to eat first again today, so I had already finished my meal.
"Dinner's served!"
"Oh, thanks."
I placed the warmed dishes in front of my senior, who had changed clothes and was now at the dining table. Once all the dishes were out, I sat down in front of him. I watched him eat his meal enthusiastically, perhaps because he was hungry. He must have noticed me watching, as he chewed with his mouth full and met my eyes. Did he understand what I wanted to talk about?
"This chingensai (bok choy) stir-fry is good."
"...Is that so?"
No, that's not it. I don't want his thoughts on the food! I glared at him in disapproval, and my senior tilted his head in confusion. I thought about asking directly, but it felt a little too soon. I wanted my senior to tell me on his own.
But in the end, my feelings didn't get through, and he finished his meal in about ten minutes. We carried the dishes to the sink together, and I started washing them, feeling a little disappointed.
"I can do the dishes."
"It's fine. You're tired, aren't you, senior?"
Doing the dishes was my senior's responsibility, a rule we had decided when we started living together. But since I often ate alone, that rule had become vague.
Now, would my senior notice my slightly annoyed demeanor? I hoped he would tell me himself.
"..."
For some reason, my senior was staring intently at me while I washed the dishes. I could tell from his expression that he was thinking about something. What was he thinking...? Oh, this is getting annoying.
"Senior. Isn't there something you need to tell me?"
I couldn't help but say it with a bit of a sting. But it couldn't be helped if he wasn't going to say it himself. My senior took my words, then put a hand to his chin. After a moment of thought, he stood up. Wiping his hands with a towel, he stood behind me.
"Iroha."
And then, he hugged me. It was so unexpected that my heart felt like it would leap out of my mouth.
"Um... thank you, always."
"What's with you, all of a sudden...!"
As soon as he said that, my senior kissed my cheek. Kissing itself was something we had done countless times. But for him to do it like this, out of the blue, and completely unexpectedlyâmy cheeks involuntarily flushed hot.
"...What's wrong with you today?"
"Nothing... Just looking at you, I felt like kissing you."
Oh, really. What on earth was wrong with my senior today? If he didn't want to say, then fine. But if he was going to act like this, then I had my own ideas.
"Then, senior,"
I slipped out of his arms and turned to face him. Pulling on the hem of his shirt, I looked up at him with an upward glance. Gazing into his eyes, I said in an exceptionally sweet voice:
"I have something I want to do too."