When I Picked Up A Stunningly Gorgeous Downer-Type Beauty In Front Of The Entrance.

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I Ask My Neighbor To Meet Her Mother.

There’s no use forcing my empty head to worry.

Sometimes, a change of pace is necessary, so I immerse myself in retro games.

Every now and then, I play a blockbuster game, too—I retrieve a faded gray cabinet with chipped corners and a worn surface where the logo is almost erased, a relic from long ago.

While newer versions compatible with the latest consoles exist, the charm of retro games lies in playing them on the original arcade cabinets.

The whirring sound of the disc spinning fills me with excitement. Final Fantasy VII is a masterpiece.

As I played like this, I was about to step into the month marking the end of autumn.

Late October. One more day, and it would be November.

“…What have I been doing seriously?”

With the controller in hand, only my upper body seems to recline off the bed, in a position almost as if I’d fallen off.

As for what I’ve been doing, the only answer I can give is that I was creating sandcastles.

It’s a major blunder to have spent nearly a month escaping reality like this.

Naturally, while I’ve been languidly spending time, there’s no chance I’d come up with a proper plan to broach the topic of the tripartite conference. The game screen reflects the emptiness as my level 99 character, nurtured over time, lines up.

But wait.

It’s not like I haven’t been thinking at all. It’s just that no matter what plan I come up with, Sajou-san probably won’t agree, or rather, the rift with her mother isn’t something that can be easily resolved.

…Well, it’s essentially like procrastinating on summer homework. I won’t make any more excuses.

“Sigh… Alright.”

As soon as I sigh, my lower body remaining on the bed slides down to the floor.

Half-heartedly rolling on the carpet, I inwardly realize that there were things that I had to do after all.

I subtly tried to bring up the tripartite conference with Sajou-san, but I didn’t receive a favorable response.

“So? What about it?” Her words were chilly, leaving me no room to continue. “Oh, it’s nothing…” was all I could mutter.

Guiding the conversation skillfully or trying to deceive her.

Starting with such thoughts was a mistake.

After all, there was no other way but to tell Sajou-san directly.

Although I had arrived at this conclusion, I avoided the obvious answer and continued escaping into retro games, and now the tripartite conference is just a few days away.

“…I guess it can’t be helped.”

I weakly throw the controller I had been gripping onto the bed. It lands with a thud.

Hit or miss. It’s a gamble. Perhaps I’ll bet everything on one throw of the dice.

Prepared for a cold reception, I resolve to honestly speak with Sajou-san.

“…Well, I guess tomorrow will do.”

Resolved… decided?

Yeah. I pick up the controller thrown onto the bed.

I’m not a coward.

The night before the decisive battle. I’m preparing myself mentally.

***

Thus, on the evening of November 1st, having resolved myself, I informed Sajou-san upon her return from work that “there’s something important to discuss,” and knelt in seiza at the living room table.

“…I’ll change, so wait a moment,” she said, and those few minutes waiting felt like an hour, even though my legs had gone numb despite not having knelt for long.

With a click, the door to the hallway opened. My body jumped at the sound.

Without turning around, I stiffened as Sajou-san, dressed in her usual hoodie, passed by my side.

A glance. After a brief sideways glance, she sat directly across the table from me.

Our eye levels aligned in the darkness, her vacant eyes reflecting my presence.

“What’s this about?”

“Uh, um… What could it be?”

“Sigh…”

“Wait, wait a minute!? I remember now! Don’t get annoyed and try to leave!”

I hurriedly stopped Sajou-san as she slowly rose from her seat.

My mind was blank with nervousness. In fact, I had forgotten what I was going to say.

I almost ended the conversation as soon as it began.

“…Stop babbling and get to the point if you have something to say.”

“Yes…”

I felt scolded even before saying anything. I’m really anxious about how she’ll react when I bring up the tripartite conference…

I sank back into my seat, faced Sajou-san again, and the silence filled the room. Occasionally, the sound of water dripping from the kitchen echoed like ripples.

I cleared my throat, wiped my sweaty hands on my knees several times.

Looking up slightly, I met Sajou-san’s gaze.

Her expression was faint, almost void. She seemed puzzled by my reaction, almost completely emotionless.

It’s not that her heart is empty and blank. Rather, it’s as if layers of emotions have been painted over and darkened. Not bleached out, but simply unable to express any emotions because so many conflict within her.

And a major factor in this is Sajou-san’s mother.

What reaction will she show when I ask Sajou-san to meet with her mother?

Will she get angry?

Will she be indifferent?

Will she be exasperated?

Or perhaps… like that day, will she cry?

The days I spent with Sajou-san didn’t even amount to half a year, yet the intensity of those moments was profound. Still, I had no clue what she would say.

I didn’t want her to cry… but maybe, just maybe, this was necessary.

I clenched my fist tightly. Swallowed hard.

I lifted my head and said, “Will you attend the tripartite conference… and meet your mother?”

I said it. It came out. It should have reached Sajou-san’s ears, audibly and clearly.

But despite that, she showed no change in demeanor.

There was no difference before or after speaking those words.

It was as if nothing had changed, like a frozen moment captured in a photograph.

“…”

A painful silence enveloped the room.

It felt like rough paper brushing against my skin.

With each passing second, my throat tightened, my breath grew shallow, as if suffocating.

How much time had passed?