I was sitting in a cafe, looking into a mug of cooling tea.
Sayo was talking, smiling, laughing.
And I had only one thought in my head.:
She saw everything.
Miyako.
That look, her departure.
And the way Sayo held my hand, as if I didn't mind.
"Kurume?" Sayo leaned closer. "Are you listening to me?"
— Huh? .. oh, yes... sorry, I was thinking.
"It's okay. It's just that you've become so quiet. I'm worried.
She put her hand on my arm.
I reflexively removed it.
"Don't," I said shortly.
"I'm sorry,— she squeezed her shoulders. "I just... wanted to be supportive."
Later, on the way home
"You know, you're not what you seem at all," Sayo said as we walked along the road.
"What do you mean?"
"Well... you always look so calm, detached."
And now he's confused.
You're probably very attached to her?
—Listen...— I stopped. — Don't go where you shouldn't.
She blinked in surprise.
"I didn't mean to… I just want to be there for you. When you feel bad.
I didn't say anything.
He just moved on, leaving her behind.
Night
"I'm sorry..."
"I didn't know how to react. It all came out kind of abruptly."
I sat in the dark, staring at the screen.
A message for Miyako. That's the third one of the evening.
But he never sent it.
Deleted it.
Turned off the screen.
Is it too late?