{Our Days Apart (2)}

Satou-san was waiting for me outside the store.

I had thought she would be alone, but for some reason, everyone from her workplace was with her.

The surrounding older ladies started teasing me as soon as they caught sight of me. They were saying things like, “Being young is great, isn’t it?” and “I had a time like that too!” in loud voices.

I wondered if Satou-san had said something about me to everyone. If so, how did she explain it?

Just then, a rough-looking guy asked Satou-san, who was blushing.

“Is that Satou’s boyfriend?”

“Yeah.”

Without hesitation, and a bit shyly, Satou-san nodded.

Then she ran over to me, and I awkwardly welcomed her with a smile. The ladies continued to tease us, while the rough-looking guy bowed his head toward me.

“Oh, nice to meet you.I am always grateful to you for taking care of Satou-san.”

“Thank you. Nice to meet you too.”

I bowed back, but I wasn’t sure how to greet him in this situation. Saying, “I’m grateful for your help too,” felt a bit strange. After all, Satou-san isn’t really family or anything like that.

“Everyone, good job today! I look forward to seeing you all next week!”

Satou-san greeted everyone.

Then, turning to me without any hesitation, she said, “Well, shall we go, Yamaguchi-kun?”

Since I was the one who invited her, it made sense, but even though we were dating, it didn’t feel unusual for us to go home together.

Satou-san didn’t ask anything or confirm anything—she just said we should go.

That simple thing made me strangely happy, and I quickly responded, “Yeah. Let’s go home.”

On the way back, I learned that tonight’s gathering was indeed a work drinking party.

“You came all the way out here for that?” I asked.

“Yeah, there aren’t many places to drink over there. It’s an office area, you know.”

Satou-san’s workplace is in a somewhat sterile area filled with buildings and small factories. I knew this because I had once gone there out of boredom. I didn’t actually see where she worked, though—I’m not even sure if I want to.

“But it’s such a coincidence. I never expected to run into you, Yamaguchi-kun.”

Satou-san’s expression sparkled under the streetlights as she spoke.

Maybe she was genuinely happy about this coincidence.

I was also somewhat pleased. I wanted to say that I’d be happy to see her no matter the circumstances, but I had some lingering doubts about it.

“By the way, was the guy who greeted me earlier also from your workplace?”

I casually probed about the rough-looking guy.

Satou-san smiled.

“Yeah, he’s from the delivery team.”

“Oh…”

As I looked down at her smiling face, I felt a complex mix of emotions. Satou-san continued casually, “He’s one year older than me, but he’s already married.”

She probably didn’t say this with any particular intention. There was no way she could know what I was thinking; someone as oblivious as Satou-san wouldn’t be able to see through my feelings.

But in that moment, I was grateful for her timely reassurance.

“…I see.”

I sighed, trying to mask my relief.

Satou-san remained unaware and continued cheerfully as we walked.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it? He’s only one year older than me, but he’s so reliable. I always think I should learn from him.”

As she praised that guy, I felt a familiar sense of unease creep back in, even though I realized it was unnecessary. This time, though, the feeling was different.

Right now, am I the kind of person Satou-san would say “That’s amazing” to?

Just because I went to university doesn’t mean I’ve become serious; the only things I do seriously are part-time work and drinking parties. At those gatherings, I chat happily with cute girls, but I feel uncomfortable seeing Satou-san talking to other guys and childishly get jealous.

I thought going to university would make me an adult, but once I got here, that turned out not to be the case at all.

Has Satou-san become an adult since she started working? She looks exactly the same as before—plain and unrefined. But she seems to be getting along well with that guy and the older ladies, and it looks like she’s continuing with her job, so she might have matured in ways I don’t know. Right now, we’re apart, unable to notice each other’s subtle changes and growth.

Back in high school, when we were in Class C, we were always next to each other.

Will we be able to stay next to each other from now on?

Even if we’re apart, in different environments, or if one of us matures faster than the other.

Suddenly, a different thought crossed my mind.

“…Shall we get married someday?”

After I said it, I regretted being so silly.

Despite my relatively calm demeanor, Satou-san suddenly stopped in her tracks at the edge of the street and froze for about three seconds.

After a moment of silence, she finally spoke.

“Uh… really?!”

“Of course not.”

I internally rolled my eyes, wishing she could have reacted cuter. It was amusing to see her blush and fluster.

“Only when we’re adults, of course. We can’t do that right now.”

“I-I see… right…”

Satou-san sighed in relief. She must have been really surprised. While it’s typical of her to be so straightforward, I wanted to complain about finding relief in that.

“And I just thought that would mean we could be together more.”

As I explained in a blunt manner, I really wished it could happen right away.

I want to be next to her all the time. I don’t want to be apart. I don’t want there to be things about Satou-san I don’t know, and if she’s going to laugh next to someone else, I’d rather she laugh because of my words.

I believe the only way for all that to come true is to live together.

Plus, when someone from her workplace greets me, I could respond, “I’m grateful for your help too.”

“…Maybe you’re right, Yamaguchi-kun.”

After a moment of silence, Satou-san murmured.

When I looked at her, she had her head down and shyly reached out her hand toward me. Maybe she wanted to hold my hand. But given how slow she is, there was no way she could grab my hand without looking, so she only caught the hem of my shirt. Even so, she held it tightly and said,

“I hope that someday it happens, Yamaguchi-kun.”

Clueless Satou-san gave such a vague answer.

So, I forcibly untangled her grip on my shirt and took her hand in mine instead. Then, instead of replying, I started walking down the street. Satou-san followed silently and didn’t try to pull away.

I have to become an adult soon.

Not someday, not just hoping it will happen. I will make it happen.

Determined to make it so, I hurried home, pulling Satou-san along.

Even though we’re holding hands, when we reach her house, we’ll have to part again.

I’ll make sure the day comes when we don’t have to be apart anymore, so I’ll hurry to grow up.