"I understand. I'll go get Akagi right away. Make yourselves comfortable! I'll be right back!"
— — — — —
I felt a touch on my left shoulder.
After that, I heard Aya, 'Let's go, Ryuu, you heard Miho, let's make ourselves comfortable!'
Then I saw Aya running and jumping onto the couch near the big windows and starting to playfully cuddle and squeeze Honey.
I started walking toward her, but as I got closer, I looked through the window and saw the city from such a high point.
I got closer to the window and saw a lot of skyscrapers and lights shining throughout the night.
'You are not going to take a seat?' Aya asked me.
'I'll stay here a bit longer.' I replied.
I was so fascinated by the beautiful view that I couldn't move from there.
The world seemed so small from up here. I could barely see the headlights of the cars below, like some tiny moving points of light.
Now I realized how truly small I can be. I had been to the mountains before and had been at high altitudes, but I had never felt this way before.
I felt a strange feeling in my stomach. These lights gave me a weird feeling, like everything seemed so close and yet so far away at the same time.
It was very strange. Even though Aya was right behind me, I felt alone, extremely alone. I could feel my heart beating much slower, and my right hand started shaking. I grabbed it with my left hand, trying to calm myself down.
'You seem to be amazed by the view, Ryuu.'
I turned my head to the left and saw Akagi coming down the stairs, with Miho behind him.
"Oh, Akagi, yeah, indeed." I said.
Akagi looked at me, 'Miho told me what happened. Come with me.'
'Sure!'
Then he headed toward the door and left the apartment, with me following him. I closed the door behind me, leaving Aya and Miho alone in the house.
I walked over to him by the elevator and asked, 'Where are we going?'
'We're going somewhere where you can calm down. I saw you shaking while you were standing by the window, and I don't think it was because of the height.'
Then the elevator made a ding sound, and the doors opened.
I got into the elevator, and Akagi pressed the button for the 30th floor.
I didn't even know what to say to him. The silence felt heavy, and I was afraid that he wouldn't be able to help me. Maybe this situation was actually much harder to fix than I thought.
What if the police find me? What if I get held responsible? I don't want to go to prison.
Akagi stood in front of me with his back turned toward me, saying nothing.
Without realizing it, lost in my thoughts, we reached the 30th floor, and the elevator doors opened.
'Come.' Akagi said.
I stepped out of the elevator and followed him. We walked down a long hallway, then went through a door on the left, leading us outside.
There was a park with lots of plants and a swimming pool on that floor of the building.
Even though it was nighttime, the pool was full of people, and all the lounge chairs around it were occupied.
I followed Akagi to an area where there were no people, and he sat down on a bench.
'Take a seat.'
I sat down next to him on the bench.
I was really scared and was about to ask him what was going on, but he said, 'I can think clearly here. It's quiet, and wherever I look, I can only see trees and plants. Look at how beautiful those flowers are. Don't you think?' pointing towards some pink flowers in front of us.
'That's true.' I replied.
'Usually, I would prefer to go somewhere in nature by myself when I need to relax and think clearly before making an important decision. But since I don't have much time, this place is a pretty good substitute. I just have to go down a few floors.'
Then he took out a pack of cigarettes, pulled one out, and asked me, 'Do you smoke?' as he held the pack out to me.
'No.'
He put the pack back in his pocket, took out a lighter, and lit his cigarette.
Then he took a drag, leaned his head back against the bench, and exhaled. 'Ahh…Ryuu, I'll be honest with you.'
'Please!'