It might not bear repeating at this point, but Jun came over to Kai’s place around five times a week. Which is to say that on average, they had two days a week to themselves. Maybe work or shopping trips got in the way, or maybe they had prior plans at school or at home. Sometimes their schedules just didn’t line up. So hey, this wasn’t the first day off Kai had to spend without Jun. He was used to this.
Or so he thought.
“All right, let’s get to gaming.”
Why did his subconscious muttering to himself suddenly sound so hollow? He shook his head to clear out those pointless thoughts and turned on his PS4. The console version of WoT’s sister game, a naval war game called World of Warships, finally released this month. Kai had saved his last bit of wages for this, so he planned to master it during Golden Week.
“If I start playing before Jun does, I can get good first. Heh, I’ll have a head start.”
Kai continued talking to himself as he created an account and started playing... until he got bored only thirty minutes later.
Well, not exactly bored, per se. He just couldn’t focus for some reason. Even though he knew beginners had to give 110% when learning a competitive game, he just suffered shipwreck after shipwreck.
“Yep, these just don’t handle the way tanks do. Looks like it’ll take a lot of grinding for me to get used to ’em.”
He didn’t know who he was making excuses to, but he shut down the PS4 anyway.
“Okay, videos. Yeah, let’s watch some videos.”
Kai booted up the old laptop on his study desk. He saw that jyunjyun1203 AKA JJ had uploaded a new Monster Hunter solo hunt video late the previous night. Kai nearly jumped for joy as he smashed that play button.
The video’s contents went in one ear... and out the other. Once Kai realized how spaced out he was, he dragged the progress bar back and watched the video again. And again. He couldn’t get the dot to stop on the exact second he wanted; it always did that, of course, but this time it made him so frustrated that he couldn’t focus. He gently closed his laptop lid in annoyance.
“All right, let’s read a light novel. Good ol’ LNs.”
He took a stack of nearly ten freshly purchased paperbacks out of the bookstore’s plastic bag. He bought these books with the intention of finishing all of them during Golden Week. The first one he reached for was none other than the start of a new series by his favorite author that had just gone on sale that April—a release that Kai had been waiting for with bated breath. Its title was The Immortal Army Strikes Again and Again!
Kai lay down on his bed, put a pillow under his belly, and engaged in maximum comfy mode as he began reading. His first step was to savor Yuunagi’s godlike color illustrations. Ah, what a satisfying blend of euphoria and fulfillment.
Next, he dug into the text... until he realized that his hands just weren’t turning the pages. After a few paragraphs, his attention would drift off. He’d read a little further, realize he didn’t remember anything he’d just read, try to reread a portion, then realize he didn’t even remember where he stopped.
“Gaaaaaah, everything’s booooooring!” Kai shouted, tossing his paperback aside on the bed—a barbarism he’d normally never treat his light novels with. He glanced at the clock in his room; it was 2 p.m.
“...Geez, that early?”
This year was a ten-day-straight Super Golden Week, making this first day the gateway to a world of endless hopes and possibilities. And Kai was already bored.
Such stifling ennui continued the next day.
And the next.
“And playing alone was all I did until middle school...”
Kai could do nothing but lie sprawled atop his bed and stare at the posters plastered to the ceiling. In particular, a Goblin Slayer piece drawn by the god Noboru Kannatsuki, featuring the show’s four main girls frolicking affectionately in their swimsuits.
It wasn’t like Kai was a complete lone wolf in those days. He had friends like Kishimoto to share his hobbies with... but obviously, they didn’t spend every day together the way he did with Jun. Otaku hobbies tended to be solitary pursuits, so Kai didn’t mind too much back then.
But that was then, and this was now. He had changed. He met Jun, someone who was like the other pea in a pod to him. He came to know the ultimate joy of sharing one’s otaku interests with a friend. He never dreamed that going without seeing her would be all it took to make life this excruciating.
And so came the day after that, the final day of April. Kai had the noon shift at work. He left for his commute in the hopes that getting some work done might lessen his boredom. He arrived in the break room, took out his work apron, and sluggishly tied it around his waist. Just then...
“Why, Nakamura. I completed my reading of that thing the other day.”
Kai’s coworker, Kotobuki, called to him from behind. She had the opening shift, so she was currently taking her noon break by chowing down on a homemade lunch. Kai had actually felt someone’s eyes on him earlier, but he ignored her since he couldn’t muster the energy to talk if she didn’t engage first. Now that she had made the first move, he could respond in the same rigid, yet lacking-in-vigor tone he always used with her.
“And whatever might ‘that thing’ be referring to, Kotobuki?”
“It refers to the soccer manga you sung the praises of.”
“My, how rare for you of all people to take interest in a sporting work. And a manga, no less.”
“Works such as the recent Tsurune and Run with the Wind may be about sports, but are not to be underestimated... though I admit I viewed their animated adaptations.”
“Quite the shows, they are!” said Kai. “But I could have sworn you weren’t the type to partake in manga.”
“I was merely concerned about cost efficiency since manga can be read so quickly. I picked this one up only because my younger brother happened to possess it.”
“May I inquire as to your impressions?”
“Speaking frankly, it was awesome. The main character seems to have quite the mojo,” said Kotobuki.
“...Mayhaps you could explain in a way I could understand?”
“Unlike the average sports anime, I felt that the girls were positively adorable.”
“Ah, I absolutely concur!” replied Kai. “Even that suntanned lady who only showed up for a moment was exquisite.”
“Indeed. Although I personally am on Team Hana.”
“Not Team Anri?”
The two looked into each other’s eyes as sparks flew from their gazes. But Kotobuki soon shut her eyelids, as though this was a digression she’d meant to avoid. She cleared her throat and continued.
“It was an awesome manga, but I do have one complaint. Of course, this is merely a personal qualm.”
“If I may be so bold.”
“The romantic scenes were a tad too irritating. I was unable to rid myself of the sense that the protagonist could have made something work had he taken merely one more step. Hana being so cute simply makes one all the more impatient.”
“I suppose you have a point.”
“One. More. Step,” Kotobuki repeated, emphasizing the message she really wanted to send. “That was all he needed to take.”
This gave Kai a realization.
“...Are you psychic?” he asked, finally being brought back to his senses.
Kotobuki gave a cocky “Hmph” in response. The obnoxious, triumphant look on her face was the kind Kai knew her for. “I may not know the reason, but I can tell from a glance that you’re dragging your feet over yet another concern.”
“Whoa... I must be super easy to read...”
“And you’d do well to remember it.”
Kai couldn’t say a word to her haughty sarcasm. She might be obnoxious, but Kai just couldn’t bring himself to hate her. This girl’s fragile emotional stability had made her an expert at watching others, and she always brought that talent to Kai’s aid.
After a deep sigh, Kai untied his apron, stuffed it back into the locker, and replaced it with the messenger bag he brought from home.
“Nakamura?” inquired Kotobuki.
“I’ve gotta go take one more step,” responded Kai. He relaxed his shoulders and gave his thanks.
“Are you certain it’s the correct decision?”
“Yep. But uh, what do I tell the manager?”
“Simple, you have a sudden stomachache and can’t work. I’ll be certain to cover your share of the shift.” Kotobuki’s smug smile made Kai’s eyes widen.
“You sure that’ll work?” He couldn’t help but worry about this newbie coworker.
“But of course,” said Kotobuki, straining to hold her head high. “Who the hell do you think I am? After all, it was you who taught me everything I know.”
“Why, touché!” exclaimed Kai, breaking out in a grin. “I’ll take your word for it, Kotobuki.”
“Perhaps you’d consider repaying this kindness?”
“I’ll think of something later.”
“I eagerly await it.”
They made a familiar exchange as Kai exited through the back door. He took out his phone and tried to contact Reina over LINE as he made a mad dash outside. Thankfully, today was still April 30.