Early June. The lingering heat of the day still hung in the evening air. Maoto Shinya stood frozen in front of the apartment building, clutching a cardboard box and a backpack. He no longer had the key. It had been confiscated. "[sad]...What am I gonna do?" The landlord had come back just past five, right after Shinya got back from his part-time job. He'd been about to say the usual thing—"This month for sure"—but the landlord spoke first. "Be out by the end of the day." Well, of course. He hadn't paid rent in three months. Even juggling a convenience store job at 1,150 yen an hour and a night shift at a warehouse, he couldn't pull in 120,000 yen a month. Not when the rent alone was 75,000 yen. Shinya looked up at the aging two-story apartment building with his deep brown eyes. His black hair clung to his forehead. His slightly wavy short hair was plastered down with sweat. His white shirt and black slacks were a little grimy from the warehouse work. He wanted to throw on a hoodie or something, but in this heat, that was out of the question. He fiddled with the piercing in his left ear. A tiny silver one. He'd gotten it on a whim back in high school. (*Well, whatever.*) He thought. He hadn't even started thinking about where he'd sleep tonight. He wandered aimlessly through the shopping district. A bicycle rattled past, and the smell of grilled chicken skewers drifted from somewhere. His stomach growled. But he had no money. He stopped by the convenience store "Silver 24" and bought a canned coffee. 150 yen. The loose change in his pocket was dwindling fast. When he stepped outside, the setting sun was blinding. A year since he'd graduated high school. He'd thought that if he just made it to the city, he could become something. But before he knew it, he was just living job to job. No qualifications. No skills. Just a slender, unreliable body standing here, 170 centimeters tall. The water in the drainage ditch by the road glittered with reflected light. (*Nothing's changed at all, huh.*) When he was seven, his mother left. She packed her things and left in the middle of the night. His father never said a word. But Shinya knew. It was because he wasn't enough. Because he wasn't a good kid, he'd been thrown away. That feeling still hadn't faded, even now. He wanted to be needed by someone. Desperately, desperately. But he didn't know how. He rubbed his palm against his chin, where a faint stubble had started to grow. He was just about to turn the corner. "[excited]...Shinya, is that you?!" He nearly collided with a girl coming from the opposite direction. She was holding convenience store bags in both hands. (*...Who is she?*) For a moment, he didn't recognize her. But that deep crimson, long hair looked familiar. It fell in loose waves, and when the setting sun shone through it, it was incredibly beautiful. And her eyes. Her right eye was amber, and her left was a pale silver. Mysterious eyes, with different colors on each side. "[surprised]Akari...?" It had been five years. They'd been together so much in middle school, but they'd drifted apart when high school started. That was the last he'd seen of her. Akari looked completely different from before. She was about 160 centimeters tall, a little shorter than Shinya. But her whole presence felt more mature. A blouse in a subdued color, simple denim. She looked clean and put-together, like a proper working adult. "[gentle]What's with all the luggage?" Akari tilted her head. Her glossy red hair swayed softly. "[sad]Ah... well, rent's been kind of a problem..." He was embarrassed. Ashamed. But he had no choice but to be honest. For just a split second, Akari narrowed her amber and silver eyes. But then, immediately, her face broke into a bright smile. "[excited]Then come to my place!" "[surprised]Huh?" "[gentle]I've got a spare room. And there's a sofa in the living room." "[scared]No, but I'd feel bad..." "[laughing]It's fine, it's fine. Holding back never suited you, even back then." Saying that, Akari quickly reached out for the cardboard box. "[gentle]Come on, let's go." Before he could refuse, she was already walking off with the box. Shinya hurried after her. (*She was always like this.*) Getting swept up in Akari's pace, going along with the flow before he even realized it. And yet, he didn't mind it. Akari's apartment was about a fifteen-minute walk from the shopping district. A three-story building called "Green Heights," built about ten years ago. It was far from the station, but the surrounding area was a quiet residential neighborhood. They climbed the stairs to room 301. The key turned with a click. "[gentle]It's a little messy, though." When he stepped inside, it was surprisingly tidy. It wasn't a studio apartment; it was a proper 1LDK with a separate living room and bedroom. When he asked about the rent, she said it was 75,000 yen. The same amount Shinya hadn't been able to pay. In the corner of the living room, there was a desk with a large monitor. The screen displayed what looked like design software. "[surprised]You work from home?" "[gentle]Yeah. Graphic design. It's nice because I don't have to go into an office." Akari briskly started preparing dinner. She took vegetables out of the fridge, and the sound of the knife rang out in a steady rhythm. Shinya sat down on the living room sofa. A single-person one, a little on the small side. When he lay down sideways, his feet stuck out. It wasn't a size he could fully stretch out on. (*So this is where I'm supposed to sleep.*) Well, it was more than enough. Better than sleeping inside a cardboard box. Dinner was warm. Nikujaga, miso soup, and boiled spinach with bonito flakes. Shinya ate in silence. He hadn't had anything like this in so long. It had always been convenience store bento or instant cup noodles. How long had it been since he'd had a proper meal with someone else? A gentle warmth spread deep in his chest. "[gentle]You've been through a lot. Take it easy, okay?" Akari sat across from him, sipping her miso soup with a smile. Her amber and silver eyes held a soft light. (*I'm saved...*) He truly felt that way. After dinner, Akari said, "I've got work to do," and retreated to her bedroom. Shinya lay down on the sofa and fiddled with his smartphone. Time passed quickly, and before he knew it, it was past one in the morning. He turned off the screen's light and closed his eyes. He was exhausted, so he fell asleep right away. How much time had passed? Suddenly, he woke up. He didn't know why. Just a vague feeling. The living room was pitch black. Only the charging light on his smartphone blinked green. The air felt chilly. (*...?*) He kept his eyes open, but he couldn't move. Right next to the sofa. There was a shadow sitting on the floor. It was Akari. She was hugging her knees, staring intently at him. Her expression was blank. The smile from earlier was nowhere to be found. Her amber and silver eyes were fixed on Shinya's face, like two utterly black holes. A chill ran down his spine. (*Why...*) He tried to call out to her. But he couldn't. The moment their eyes were about to meet, Shinya reflexively shut his eyelids. His heart pounded with an unpleasant thud. (*I'll pretend I didn't see anything.*) (*It's just my imagination.*) (*Definitely, just my imagination.*) In the darkness, he strained his ears. Akari's presence didn't move. How long did he stay like that? Eventually, there was a faint rustle of clothing, and the sound of the bedroom door closing. The next morning. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, and Shinya woke up. A nice smell drifted from the kitchen. "[gentle]Morning, Shinya." Akari turned around and smiled brightly. She was frying eggs in a frying pan. "[gentle]Did you sleep well last night?" The scene from last night flashed through his mind. But right now, she was so cheerful, so normal. (*Maybe it really was a dream after all.*) "[serious]...Yeah, I guess." Shinya got up and sat at the table where breakfast was ready. The aroma of coffee tickled his nose. "[gentle]You can stay here for a while." Akari said as she handed him a cup of coffee. "[gentle]Don't worry about rent or anything." "[sad]But still..." "[gentle]It's fine. This place is too big for just me. And besides." Akari lowered her eyes just a little. "[whispers]I'm happy... to be with you again, Shinya." Her voice trembled slightly. A gentle warmth spread through Shinya's chest. But at the same time, there was a tiny, nagging feeling. (*Why is she being so kind to me?*) The doubt vanished quickly. (*Well, we're childhood friends, after all.*) That was enough to convince him. As he watched Akari's back while she washed the dishes, Shinya thought idly. She's so mature. She has a proper job, her room is tidy, she can cook. She's independent. (*She's a proper adult.*) Completely different from himself. But even so, she had told him, "You can stay." That made him incredibly happy. "[gentle]...Thank you for having me." He murmured quietly. Akari turned around and smiled once more. Outside the window, the June sunlight was already growing harsh. A hot summer was on its way. Shinya decided, just for a little while, he would accept her hospitality. What this "little while" would eventually turn into— He still knew nothing at all.