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This is bad news, man."
That was Hashimoto's reaction. Well, it was exactly what Yoshida had expected.
"You really think so?"
"It's beyond bad," Hashimoto emphasized.
During their lunch break at the office, he had asked Yoshida about how he got home. One thing led to another, and Yoshida ended up telling him about Sayu. He couldn't keep something like this bottled up, and he certainly couldn't hide it from a friend who occasionally dropped by his place for drinks.
And while Hashimoto was usually easygoing, he was—as he claimed—very tight-lipped.
"Did the family file a missing person report with the police?" Hashimoto asked. Yoshida shook his head.
"I was worried about that too, so I searched her name on the relevant sites."
"And?"
"Nothing. Not with the Metropolitan Police, and not even on private missing person boards. Not a single trace."
"I see..." Hashimoto rubbed his chin, genuinely troubled for his friend. "Still, keeping a high school girl you know nothing about at your place is..."
"Now that I think about it, it really is bad."
"You don't even have to 'think' about it."
"Oh, did something happen?"
As the two were discussing in hushed tones, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind them. Yoshida nearly fell out of his chair in a panic. He turned around hurriedly to find Ms. Goto looking at them with a smile.
"Ah..."
Yoshida couldn't see his own face, but he imagined he looked terrible. Ms. Goto's smile, however, seemed as unchanging as ever.
"It's nothing major," Hashimoto answered with a smile, stepping in for the stunned Yoshida. "Actually, this guy accidentally doubled an order while shopping online. It was pretty expensive, so it'll be a pain if he can't cancel it."
He even came up with a reason on the spot. Yoshida was sincerely impressed by his friend's ability to improvise.
"I see. You two looked so gloomy sitting there that I thought it was something about work. By the way, if you don't go eat soon, your lunch break will be over."
Ms. Goto let out a light chuckle and waved at them. Her gaze lingered on Yoshida for a split second before she turned and walked away.
Hashimoto waved back with a smile, then nudged Yoshida in the chest with his elbow once the sound of her heels faded.
"Hey, you could've at least said one word."
"What am I supposed to say to the person who just dumped me...?"
Yoshida bit back a bitter smile as he watched Ms. Goto disappear.
"You're colleagues; you should at least say hello." Hashimoto sighed and stood up. "Let's head to the cafeteria."
"Yeah."
With a cluttered mind, Yoshida followed suit.
He had expected to feel sad or angry when they met again, but the truth was, he simply couldn't bring himself to dislike her.
Her slim-fit suit and pinstripe shirt were perfectly pressed. Her long, slender legs were encased in sheer black tights beneath her skirt. Despite being tall—and even taller in heels—she didn't look bulky; instead, she gave off an air of seductive elegance. Her slightly curled brown hair and refined makeup struck a perfect balance between nobility and beauty.
And, of course...
"Her chest is so big..."
"Yoshida, don't say your inner thoughts out loud."
...
After two hours of overtime, it was past 9:00 PM by the time Yoshida got off at his local station.
Has she eaten yet...?
As he passed a convenience store, he thought of Sayu back at home. He remembered her saying she had no money, and the supplies in the fridge weren't enough to make a proper meal. He had left some cash before work, which should have been more than enough for three meals, but that girl was occasionally a bit airheaded—she might have overthought things and stayed hungry. He decided to buy two bento boxes just in case.
"Try not to get too emotionally invested. I don't want to see you on the news."
On the walk home, Hashimoto's words from lunch echoed in his mind. He knew that, of course. From any angle, taking in an unidentified minor was extremely dangerous.
"They'd be happier if I weren't around anyway. It's fine."
But whenever he thought of the expression Sayu made when she said those words, Yoshida couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation. He unconsciously quickened his pace.
The moment Yoshida opened his front door, a familiar aroma greeted him.
"Ah, welcome back, Daddy?"
Sayu leaned out from the kitchen and greeted him.
"Stop it. You're giving me goosebumps."
Seeing that Sayu was still in the mood for jokes made Yoshida feel a bit more at ease.
"Do you always get off work at this time, Mr. Yoshida?"
"No, I had overtime today."
"So there's overtime occasionally."
"No, there's overtime almost every day."
"Then you always get off at this time~"
While talking to him, Sayu turned back to continue stirring the pot. The sight of a high school girl in an apron from behind was strangely alluring.
"Miso soup again?"
Shaking his head to clear the stray thoughts, Yoshida walked into the kitchen and glanced at the steaming pot.
"Because you said you liked it."
"Did I say that?"
Seeing Yoshida's confused look, Sayu laughed.
"You were so drunk that night, and yet you kept saying you wanted miso soup. So I figured you must really love it."
"For real...?" Yoshida had no memory of it.
"But it's only miso soup. Sorry about that."
"It's fine. I bought bento boxes; you haven't eaten either, right?"
Yoshida lifted the plastic bag to show the bento boxes inside. Sayu smiled, nodded, and took them from him.
While waiting for Sayu to heat up the food, Yoshida stepped into his bedroom.
His shirts were ironed and folded. The vacuum cleaner had been moved to a new spot. His desk was clean and organized...
Though he had told Sayu he was leaving the housework to her, he hadn't actually expected much. To be able to do all this without even being asked—this sharp girl might be more responsible than she looked.
Feeling his mood lift, Yoshida took off his suit and changed into loungewear. He then pulled his favorite cigarettes and lighter from his suit pocket.
"Hm?"
He realized the ashtray that was supposed to be on his bedroom desk had vanished. Come to think of it, Hashimoto had once complained that after his wife tidied up, he couldn't find his own things anymore.
"Sayu."
"What is it?"
Yoshida returned to the living room to find Sayu setting the table. Even though they could have just eaten out of the bento boxes, he wondered if she didn't find the extra dishwashing a hassle.
"Where's the ashtray?"
"Ah, sorry! I washed it while I was cleaning the kitchen." Sayu clapped her hands together cutely, then lightly tapped the ashtray she had placed on the living room table.
"I see. Thanks."
Yoshida picked up the ashtray and walked toward the balcony.
"Eh?"
For some reason, he heard a sound of surprise from Sayu behind him. He looked back to find her staring at him with her mouth slightly open, looking a bit silly.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing... I just thought you'd smoke in here, Mr. Yoshida."
"But you're here."
Yoshida's answer made Sayu's eyes widen slightly.
"What's with that face?"
If he were alone, it wouldn't matter. But when someone else who doesn't smoke is present, you exercise self-restraint. Yoshida felt this was just common sense.
"Nothing..." Sayu lowered her head, looking thoughtful, before beaming a bright smile that suited her age. "You're really kind, Mr. Yoshida~"
"Huh?"
The girl's smile made Yoshida's heart flutter inexplicably, causing him to raise his voice with a sharp, prickly tone. "How is that 'kind'?"
"Well, it's because you're different from all of them. You actually take my presence into account."
Sayu fidgeted with her fingers, trying her best to suppress her smile but failing. Noticing Yoshida's gaze, she hid her hands behind her back.
"Listen. I'm not kind. It's just that those other guys were irredeemable scumbags. Don't get it twisted."
Yoshida pointed his cigarette box at Sayu, unable to understand his own current feelings.
"Eh, but—"
"Anyway, don't set your standards for people so low. If you misunderstand things just because you're treated with a little bit of decency, you're going to suffer for it one day."
After finishing his forced lecture, Yoshida placed his hand on the balcony door handle. "I'll have one cigarette and then we'll eat. Wait a minute."
"...Mm, okay~"
After getting Sayu's reply, Yoshida stepped onto the balcony. As he closed the door, he caught a glimpse inside. Sayu, sitting with her back to him, was twirling a strand of her hair with a slender finger—whether out of shyness, confusion, or both.
Yoshida took out a cigarette and lit it. The metallic click of the lighter sounded exceptionally loud in the night.
"Sigh..."
He took a drag and exhaled with a sigh. As his mind settled, a bit of anger and sadness remained in his chest, refusing to leave with the smoke.
"What a bunch of scumbags."
He muttered under his breath and took another drag. To think that such a small gesture was enough to win the favor of a girl as cute as Sayu—just how warped had her values become?
Yet, Yoshida was also aware that in the eyes of the world, someone like him—who provided a hideout for a runaway high school girl—was also one of those scumbags.