The train on the way back was packed.
Not only could I not sit, I could barely move, clinging to a strap as the crowd pressed in around me.
Heading home alone, I replayed my conversation with Aso-san.
"Do you have someone you like?"
I couldn't answer that question yes or no.
Seeing my indecisiveness, she kindly said, "If you do have someone you like, you should come here with her instead."
Of course, I don't believe in charms, so I tried to stay in line, but Aso-san said, "I'll explain it to my friend. Besides, if things don't work out with that girl, it'd feel like my fault."
She quickly left the line, and in the end we left that store without buying anything.
After that, she said she'd just wander around and head back since we came all this way, and disappeared into the town.
I got on the train alone.
"… What am I even doing, really."
The train stopped, and pushed along by the wave of people getting off, I stepped out too.
Outside the station was the familiar, everyday town.
I walked a bit and returned to the workplace that was supposed to be our meeting spot, just as the manager came out of the store.
"Oh, Aoyama-kun. Weren't you shopping with Aso-kun today?"
"Hello. Well, we ended up going our separate ways."
"Haha, so modern. But I was a little surprised that you're the kind of person who goes shopping with someone on a day off."
"Really?"
"Haha, sorry, sorry. But thanks to you, Aso-kun seems to have perked up lately. Keep being good friends with her."
The manager, looking a bit giddy, headed off somewhere.
Come to think of it, today he was finally meeting his girlfriend after a while.
He said they've been together since college.
It's amazing how you can stay devoted to one person even when you can't see them very often.
Aso-san should learn from him.
Instead of getting distracted so easily.
"Please don't fall for someone just because they happened to be nice to you."
Even someone as dense as me can tell she's starting to have feelings for me.
Maybe it's not real love, just the rebound after a breakup.
But she genuinely feels affection for me.
I don't think I can reciprocate that.
That's why I ran away like this.
"… She's not here yet."
I came back to the apartment, but there was no sign of Yuzu.
I went back to my room, lay down on the bed alone, and stared at the ceiling, letting out a deep sigh.
Then a LINE message came.
"Sorry about today. I'm on the train now too, by the way. See you at work tomorrow."
Reading that message, I sighed again.
"Hah… I really did something bad, didn't I."
Even though I'd agreed to go shopping with her, I was restless the whole time.
Even without saying I wanted to go home early, my attitude showed it.
If someone acted that bored around you, of course they'd end up saying that.
I'm the worst.
"… I hope she comes over soon."
I kept looking at the entrance.
But no matter how long I waited, Yuzu didn't appear.
Lying down, glancing at the door again.
Repeating that over and over.
Before I knew it, it was evening.