“…Please take good care of Sayu for the few days she has left,” Issa said with feeling.
“…I will.”
I nodded solemnly.
Just as our conversation came to an end, the waiter brought over our meals.
The look on Issa’s face immediately changed, and he grinned at me.
“All right, let’s stop all this depressing talk and eat. The food here is always delicious, no matter what you order.”
“Well, if you insist… Thank you for the meal,” I replied brightly, not wanting to drag the bleak atmosphere out any longer.
I’d ordered some kind of pasta and tomato sauce with a name I didn’t understand. From the very first bite, it was obvious the food was on a whole different level from your regular chain-restaurant offerings.
Recalling how hungry I had been when I woke up that morning, I devoured the pasta with gusto.
“Good-bye, then. I’ll see you again when I come to pick up Sayu.”
“I’ll do what I can to help her until then.”
Once we’d finished our meal, Issa drove me back home.
We exchanged casual farewells, and then Issa took off. I watched until his car disappeared out of sight, then went back into my apartment.
When I unlocked the front door and walked inside, I found Sayu sitting upright in the living room.
“Welcome back. Where have you been?” she said, staring at me.
I thanked her for the welcome, took off my shoes, and stepped into the living room.
“I went for a fancy French breakfast with your brother.”
Sayu’s eyes went wide at my response, but all she said was, “Oh, I see.”
“Did you just wake up?”
“Y-yeah… Sorry, I slept for way too long.”
“No need to apologize. It’s the weekend, after all.”
“Yeah…,” she replied half-heartedly, then fell silent.
It didn’t feel right to wear my outside clothes at home, so I quickly changed into something more comfortable.
I recalled how nerve-racking I’d found it to get changed in front of Sayu when she first arrived. Recently, I’d become totally used to it.
Once I had my pajamas on, Sayu started to speak again.
“…Did my brother say something to you?”
“What kind of something?” I asked.
She looked down at the floor, troubled.
“Just…you know, something.”
She looked so cute, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“He wasn’t bad-mouthing you or anything, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Yeah, he’s…not really that type of guy.”
“Actually, I got the impression that he really loves you.”
“Love—?! Th-that’s, well…” This got Sayu flustered, and her face turned bright red. Then her voice went quiet, and she nodded. “Yeah… He cares about me a lot.”
“You probably shouldn’t have cut off contact with someone who cares so much about you… Though I understand how you must’ve felt.”
“Yeah…I’ve already thought over that a lot.”
I could see Sayu’s spirits dampen. I probably shouldn’t have started lecturing her, I thought. There was no point reiterating something she already knew all too well.
“…Hey, are you still feeling scared?” I asked.
Sayu lowered her gaze and nodded slowly.
“…Yeah, I’m terrified.”
“Well…that makes sense,” I said, acknowledging her apprehension. It was only natural for her to feel that way.
“I don’t think…the day will ever come when I won’t be afraid to go back there.”
“…You’re probably right.”
“But…”
Sayu suddenly glanced up at me. The look in her eyes was somehow reassuring, and I couldn’t bring myself to turn away.
“…I know I have to go home.”
“…Okay.”
I wasn’t sure how that statement made me feel, so I kept my reply vague.
“I just need to make sure I’m ready… That’s all. But…” Her voice began to quiver slightly. “It’s still…so scary.”
“…I bet.”
Sayu seemed much more comfortable expressing her feelings now than when she had first come to stay with me.
That was definitely a change for the better, and it made me happy.
I felt like Sayu had changed in all sorts of ways since she started living with me. Was it growth or regression? That was probably a question only Sayu could answer. But what I did know was that something deep down inside her was different now. It would be wonderful if her life improved as a result.
What could I do for her with the last few days we had left together?
I gazed at Sayu as I thought this through. She swiftly looked up and locked eyes with me.
“But for now, I’ll just keep up what I’ve been doing,” she said.
The anxiety in her words a moment earlier had disappeared, and she seemed in high spirits, like her mood had been reset.
“I’ll put my all into the housework and my part-time job. And when I’m done with those, I’ll loaf around and chat with Asami if she comes by…”
She paused, and a peaceful look came over her. I found myself captivated by it.
“I want to enjoy my day-to-day life here,” she said. “The things I can’t experience anywhere else…for the short time I have left.”
I felt a pang in my chest at her last few words.
We’d always known our life together came with a time limit, but it was still painful for me to acknowledge.
“Let me know if there’s anything you want to eat, Mr. Yoshida. I’ll try my best to make it for you!”
“Y-yeah…”
I nodded, trying not to put a damper on Sayu’s enthusiasm.
“All right. If I think of anything, I’ll let you know right away.”
“You’d better!”
She nodded vigorously, then stood up.
“Okay, I’ve stayed in bed for way too long. It’s time to get started with the laundry!” she declared, pumping herself up before making her way over to the washing machine.
I felt a strange, profound sadness come over me as I watched her go.