The Matter of Starting to Live Together With a Long-Time Friend From High School After Becoming a Working Adult - Chapter 32: Migiwa's SIDE ~ His Figure Is Missing

“Haa…”

She takes off her shoes and steps into the pitch-dark living room. The click of the switch as she turns on the lights echoes unnaturally loudly.

In that space, which is unusually spacious for a tower mansion, there is only Migiwa.

The figure of him who had been here until this morning—was nowhere to be found.

“Just as I thought… he’s not here.”

The voice of her heart spills out directly from her mouth.

If there were a colleague from the company here and they saw the current situation, they would definitely be unable to hide their surprise.

Rather, she might end up feeling cool and calm after going through it all.

She was feeling that down. It was hard to believe that she had been so high-spirited during the day. Her current state was at a level where it was hard to imagine such a drastic drop.

“Haah.”

With a sigh as heavy as a solemn voice, Migiwa throws herself onto the sofa. She savors the soft sensation against her back, and what she sees are dazzling lights.

Migiwa simply stares at it with a blank expression.

The faint sounds of the city barely audible from outside only amplify the loneliness.

“Dinner, what should I do…”

She glanced briefly at the counter kitchen, there was no one there.

Until yesterday, he was definitely there. The sight of him efficiently preparing meals.

In a perfectly fitting apron, moving the knife rhythmically, the sound of “ton ton ton” is incredibly pleasant. Not only is there no sound of something sizzling or frying, but she can’t even hear the sound of the exhaust fan at all.

Don’t just lie around, go change your clothes—such a voice mixed with a wry smile never sounded like a matter of course.

In the first place, there wasn’t even a single “Welcome back” today.

Of course. He has already fulfilled his role and has gone home. It was none other than herself who acknowledged this, and if anything, she even bowed deeply and expressed her gratitude by saying, “Thank you very much.”

She thought to herself this morning as she went to work, “One day, I’ll properly bring a box of sweets and go to his house,” but now that she has come home in the evening, look at this mess.

Her heart feels like it’s being tightly squeezed.

There is no sign of his belongings in the tidy room. It was as if he had never been there from the start. It was as if everything that had happened until now was just a dream.

“…Why?”

What that question meant, Migiwa herself didn’t understand. She just couldn’t help but murmur it. That was all there was to it.

Her body sinks into the sofa.

It was supposed to be clear, but it turned into a gloomy, overcast sky.

Just back to the usual scene— the more she thinks about it, the more her body sinks into despair.

The creaking sound of the sofa is clearly audible, and she is reminded once again that she is the only one here in this room right now.

So she desperately thinks that it’s only natural, and then she sinks.

Migiwa had become a state where she could only keep repeating that.

“It’s strange.”

The voice that naturally slipped out, Migiwa herself couldn’t understand it at all. Her mind was in such a mess.

Finally, she curled up her body and tightly shut her eyes.

What on earth would happen then—there was no way she could have known that.

(…7 o’clock.)

The clock hands she caught a glimpse of were pointing exactly there.

(If I get on now, I’ll arrive over there…)

Naturally, her mind starts to work. The gears that were about to stop began to turn rapidly. Her eyes, which were losing their light, gradually opened, and then――she got up.

“――I can do it!”

Migiw muttered that one word, picked up her bag, and moved again. Without changing out of her suit, she put on her pumps, her hair slightly disheveled from lying down, completely as it was.

After confirming that all the lights in the house are turned off, Migiwa leaves the room.

She locked the door with the card key, taking the elevator down to the first floor, and bursting out of the entrance with vigor.

She pushes straight through the night streets, heading directly to Meguro Station without looking away.

Passing through the ticket gate, she boarded the subway that had just arrived and took a seat. The electronic display above the door clearly showed “Urawa Misono-bound.”

The doors close, and the train starts moving.

At the same time, Migiwa took out her smartphone, operated it, and launched the messaging app.

[I’m heading over there now.]

She typed that much and sent it. And a few seconds later, it was read.

[What happened?]

Such a reply arrives from him. Migiwa felt her cheeks naturally relax as she typed another message.

[There’s nothing in particular. I just felt like going over there.]

[I don’t understand the meaning.]

[It’s okay if you don’t understand. Anyway, I’m going to Katase-kun’s house.]

[Huh?]

[I’m already on the train, so I’ll arrive in about an hour.]

The message was read, but there was no reply after that. However, a few minutes later, only a stamp indicating understanding was sent.

After seeing that, Migiwa smiled contentedly and closed the messaging app.

(This is good. Now, I just have to ride straight to the final destination♪)

Migiwa’s expression was a very bright and cheerful smile. It was hard to believe that just a few minutes ago, she had a face that seemed to sink into darkness.

And an hour later—the train safely arrives at Urawa Misono Station.

She stepped out onto the platform, took the escalator up, and headed towards the ticket gate, and there it was—

“Ah…”

He was there. Without a doubt, his classmate, Katase Ritsu, was there.

There’s no doubt he came to pick her up. As soon as he spotted her, he waved while looking in her direction.

Migiwa hurriedly passed through the ticket gate.

And then――

“Katase-kun!”

She hugged him head-on with all her might.