The smartphone screen was utterly lifeless. Beneath the sent message, not even the tiny text indicating it had been read appeared. The humid July air hung stagnant in the living room, untouched by air conditioning. In the sweltering heat that clung to his skin, Maoto Shinya sat on the sofa, opening and closing the same contact over and over. Seio. Two weeks since that day, since he'd been unilaterally blocked. Since that night when Akari had smiled and said, "No more weird people can say anything to you now," time had slowly but surely been carving away the "outside" from Shinya's world. When he went to his warehouse job, Akari was always waiting at the back door. When he came home, her smiling face greeted him at the entrance. Shower, eat, hold each other in bed. It was all the kindness of routinized surveillance, and Shinya was steeped in that lukewarm water. "[gentle]Manato, what are you looking at?" A voice came from behind him, and Shinya instinctively flipped his phone face-down. Turning around, he saw Akari standing at the kitchen entrance. A kitchen knife in her hand. On the cutting board, finely chopped green onions were scattered. Her deep crimson hair was casually tied up, and she wore a relaxed outfit of a white T-shirt and jeans. Her odd eyes—amber and silver—were fixed on the overturned phone. "[serious]No, it's nothing." "[gentle]Really? Dinner's still going to take a little longer, so just wait a bit." Akari smiled brightly and returned to the kitchen. The rhythmic sound of the knife resumed. Deep in Shinya's chest, a small needle pricked with a stinging pain. He'd said it was nothing, but it was everything. He wanted to talk to Seio. He wanted someone to hear this tangled mess inside him. But— "Hey, Manato." Her voice flew from the kitchen again. "[gentle]Are you free this Saturday?" "Yeah, I'm off work." "[excited]Great! I have a suggestion." Akari stopped her hands and turned around. Her face looked somehow solemn, yet filled with determination. "[serious]I want to apologize to Kei-kun. Directly." Shinya was at a loss for words. "[gentle]I got so emotional back then... I cut ties unilaterally without even talking things through properly, right? I was in the wrong. So I want to apologize. He's your precious friend, after all." Her amber and silver eyes gazed straight at Shinya. There was no lie in them. He wanted to believe that. "[surprised]Are you... really okay with that?" "[gentle]Yeah. And, if it's alright, I was thinking we could invite him over for dinner. I'll cook for him." A faint hope flickered in Shinya's chest. (Akari's trying to reach out.) (With this, I can talk to Seio again.) (Maybe everything will work out.) "[excited]Got it, I'll try contacting him!" Shinya immediately picked up his phone. He unblocked Seio and searched for his contact. With trembling fingers, he typed a message. "This Saturday, want to come over for dinner? Akari says she wants to apologize properly." A few minutes later, a reply came. "...Alright. I'll come." Shinya let out a breath of relief. "[gentle]That's good. He'll really come." Before he knew it, Akari was standing behind him. She gently took the phone from Shinya's hand and read through the exchange carefully. Her profile wore a satisfied smile. "[whispers]I hope everything goes well now." She whispered that and squeezed Shinya's hand tightly. Hard enough for her fingers to dig in. Was it just his imagination that her smile seemed somehow cold? — Saturday evening. Shinya and Akari had come to "Mart Foods," the supermarket in front of the station. Akari had been in high spirits since morning, humming as she pushed the shopping cart. Her grip on Shinya's hand was stronger than usual. She had barely let go all day. "[excited]I wonder what Kei-kun likes. He's a guy, so meat dishes are probably better, right? Should I make hamburg steak, or maybe ginger pork?" "Anything's fine, isn't it? Seio doesn't seem like a picky eater." "[excited]No, we have to think about it properly. He's coming all this way. And he's your best friend." Akari stopped the cart and stared at the meat section with a serious expression. She looked just like a truly devoted girlfriend. "[gentle]Manato, hold this for a second." Akari entrusted the cart to Shinya and walked over to the meat counter. She was asking the clerk something. Leaning against the cart, Shinya gazed absently up at the ceiling. The white light of the fluorescent lamps. (Will this really work out?) (Akari's trying to change. I need to get my act together too.) (I've been making Seio worry, after all.) "[excited]Manato, I've decided! Hamburg steak! And potato salad, and let's buy fruit for dessert too." Akari returned with a smile. Shinya smiled back vaguely. — Six PM. The intercom rang. "[excited]Coming!" Akari ran to the entrance with a lively voice. Still in her apron, she opened the door. "[gentle]Kei-kun, welcome. It was far, wasn't it? And so hot out." Standing at the door was Seio. Short silver hair, sharp jade-green eyes. He looked a little thinner. The furrow between his brows was the same as always, but Shinya didn't miss the wariness lurking beneath it. "[serious]...Pardon the intrusion." Expressionless, Seio removed his shoes and stepped inside. "[gentle]The living room's this way. I'm just finishing up, so wait just a moment." Akari returned to the kitchen. Shinya and Seio sat facing each other across the low table in the living room. Silence. "[serious]It's been a while." "[serious]Yeah." "[serious]I'm sorry about back then. Suddenly becoming unreachable." Seio said nothing, just stared intently at Shinya. His jade eyes moved as if searching for something. "[laughing]It's ready! Sorry for the wait!" Akari appeared carrying a large platter. Steaming hamburg steaks. Carefully arranged potato salad and a colorful assortment of fruit. The dishes spread across the table all looked delicious. "[excited]Kei-kun, don't be shy, eat up. Manato, you too—did you wash your hands?" The three of them sat around the table. Akari was perfect. "[gentle]Kei-kun, you're busy with university, right? I heard from Manato. You're studying law. That's amazing." "[serious]No, not really." "[excited]I'm really sorry about the other day. I got so emotional. When it comes to Manato, I just can't help worrying. But I'm glad we could talk properly today." Akari poured beer into Seio's glass, smiling naturally. There wasn't a trace of falsehood in that smile. "[gentle]Manato, you see, he's the type who gets easily swept along by others. So I have to keep a proper eye on him. Right, Manato?" "...Well, maybe so." Shinya nodded vaguely, carrying a bite of hamburg steak to his mouth. The meat juices spread richly. It was delicious. Seio moved his chopsticks silently. Observing. Watching Akari's every move. But her behavior was flawless; there wasn't a single flaw anywhere. (Maybe it really was just my imagination after all.) A little of the tension drained from Shinya's chest. The meal progressed peacefully. Akari led most of the conversation, and Seio gave only minimal replies, but the atmosphere wasn't bad. Shinya honestly enjoyed the time spent with Seio for the first time in a while. "[gentle]Kei-kun, want some dessert? I cut some watermelon." "[serious]No, I should be going soon. I have an early morning tomorrow." Seio stood up. "[sad]Oh, you're leaving already? Stay a little longer." "[serious]Sorry. Thanks for the meal, it was good." Seio headed for the entrance. Shinya stood up too, about to see him off. "[gentle]Manato, you stay seated. I'll see him out." Akari gently pressed Shinya's shoulder, smiling at him. "[serious]But—" "[gentle]It's fine. I just want to apologize properly, just for a moment." Saying that, Akari followed after Seio and closed the entrance door. Click. The air in the hallway was cold and stagnant. Seio silently put on his shoes. Akari stood behind him. The narrow space of the hallway. Just the two of them. Only the buzzing sound of the fluorescent light seemed unnaturally loud. "[cold]Kei-kun." Akari's voice dropped low. Seio turned around. Akari's face was smiling. But only her eyes weren't smiling at all. Her odd eyes, amber and silver, gleamed cold as ice. "[whispers]The next time you get close to Manato, I'll spread a rumor on the university bulletin boards and social media that you've been secretly filming female students." Seio's movements stopped. "[whispers]The evidence will be fabricated, but once it's spread, it's all the same, right? Whether you're reported to the university or suspected by the police, your life is over. You won't be able to face your parents, you won't find a job. All your friends will leave you too." Akari's voice was flat, devoid of emotion. "[serious]...Are you serious?" Seio's voice trembled slightly. "[cold]If I weren't serious, I wouldn't be saying this. You see, I'll do anything for Manato's sake. I don't need even a millimeter of space for an 'outsider' like you to slip in. It's always been that way. Manato has always belonged only to me." Akari slowly brought her face closer to Seio's. "[whispers]If you understand, don't ever contact him again. Don't come near this apartment either. If you break this, I'll release everything the moment you do. I'm quite good at that sort of thing." Seio couldn't say anything. "[gentle]Well then, Kei-kun. Thank you for coming today. It was fun." Akari's face instantly returned to a smile as she opened the front door. When she returned to the living room, Akari said in a bright voice, "[laughing]Kei-kun was such a good kid! As expected, Manato's friends are good people." Shinya knew nothing. — Three days passed after that. There was no reply from Seio. Not even a read receipt. When he called, a mechanical announcement played. "The number you have dialed is in an area without signal, or—" Call rejected. "[sad]Why... Did I do something?" Shinya sat on the living room sofa, holding his head in his hands. He couldn't understand. That night, at dinner, they'd talked normally. Seio had even said Akari's cooking was good. So why—? "[gentle]Manato, what's wrong?" Akari peered at him with a worried face. "[sad]I can't reach Seio anymore. He's blocked my calls." "[surprised]Huh... Why?" "I don't know. I just don't know." When Shinya raised his voice, Akari's expression gradually clouded over. "[sad]...Does that mean it's my fault?" "No, that's not—" "[crying]You're saying Kei-kun left because of me!? That I was in the way!?" Tears welled up in Akari's eyes. "[scared]No, that's not what I—" "[crying]I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Manato! Was it a bother having me by your side? Am I just an obstacle to you!?" Akari crouched down on the spot. Covering her face with both hands, she burst into tears, her shoulders shaking. She cried out loud, like a child. "[scared]Stop it, Akari. I'm not blaming you or anything." Shinya hurriedly crouched beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "[crying]But, but... I just care about you so much, that's all... and I felt so sorry towards Kei-kun too. And yet, in the end, it's like I'm the bad guy..." Akari clung to Shinya's chest, continuing to cry. "[sad]I'm sorry. I was wrong. It's not your fault. I was just getting impatient on my own." Before he knew it, Shinya was apologizing. Even though he was the one who had been upset, he had somehow ended up on the side comforting Akari. "[crying]Really? You don't hate me?" "I don't. I don't hate you." Akari lifted her tear-streaked face. With traces of tears still on her cheeks, she smiled just a little. "[sad]Thank goodness... I love you, Manato. Stay with me forever." Akari wrapped her arms around Shinya's neck and held him tight. She squeezed so hard he wondered where such strength came from in those slender arms. —