135 135 Long time no see (1/2)

”Did you tighten the door?

”You did it right in front of me.”

Zhou smiled small and bitterly at midday when he drew attention like a teacher or something in the hallway of his own living floor.

Normally I wouldn't bother to say so far, but he worried and cautioned to vacate the house for a long time.

I'm supposed to be home for about two weeks from today, and I guess I'm aware of anything in the meantime.

”I saw that, just in case”

”Yes, sir. You're the one who won't forget anything, will you?

”I haven't forgotten. I'm sending you the baggage you need, and I checked your baggage again in the morning. The doors are perfectly tightened, and rest assured that everything from Zhou Kun's garbage disposal to checking the contents of the refrigerator is clear.”

”Thanks for taking the time to do that”

There's no reason to carry two weeks' worth of baggage on the boulder. We ask each other for courier, so there's no pull out there. Besides, he even did the Zhou house thing, so I couldn't get my head up.

While appreciating the lucidity of noticing such details, I receive the bag that was in my midday hand and hold my hand instead.

”I like that about Zhou-kun,” he said in a small way after blinking properly at midday, and shook Zhou-kun's hand back.

The place where Zhou's parents live is an hour or so from where Zhou Da lives on the Shinkansen.

If you were interested in sitting in the reserved seat and enjoying the scenery while chatting, the Shinkansen would have arrived locally in no time.

In a long time, even though I feel indescribable nostalgia for the sight of the station I haven't seen in about a year, I pull my hand at midday to the rendezvous place.

”This is Zhou-kun's local area, isn't it?”

”Mm-hmm. Well, I can't say it's perfectly local because my house needs to get there without either taking the train or driving a little more.”

I just got off here because the Shinkansen only stops at the big station and it actually takes a little longer to get around.

This time, Shibako, whose plans were vacant, came to pick me up at the station, which was a generously sweet shape. Simply because Shibako wants to see you early at midday.

If I was aiming for the big pillar in the ticket slot that I often use to meet up, I could see my mother from a distance.

It's embarrassing to hold your hand in front of your mother on a boulder, so if you let go of your hand, the subtle soggy air seeped in from midday, so you rush and gently slap your back.

Forgive me for not telling you we're still dating.

Because holding hands is becoming routine, we tend to hold hands together, but we have to be careful during homecoming.

Even at midday, which seemed somewhat unfortunate, I return to my usual expression as to whether I was convinced to capture Shibako's appearance.

Shibako's side noticed the two of them, too, and came closer to us with a bright grin that people liked.

”Long time no see.”

”So-so midday there you are! Nice of you to come. Hey!

Zhou laughs bitterly that the first place to greet him at midday is like my mother.

At midday, Shibako's momentum had been shaken for a long time, so he bowed his head with a sober smile and work.

”Thank you for inviting me. This is an opportunity for the family in the corner to join me...”