Twenty-Two

I had completely lost track of the time as I waited out there in the corridor. Eventually, I heard approaching footsteps and voices. I opened my eyes and looked down the hallway. One of the voices that I was hearing was most definitely Hiro-san’s. I could never mistake that. However, it was only when the two people rounded the corner and came into view that I became certain about the other voice.

A woman.

“Kakeru?” Hiro-san stopped in his tracks, the smile that he had had on his face till then disappearing. He had an arm around the rather elitely-dressed woman’s waist. She too had been coyly smiling up till then.

It was so obvious what was happening that I sighed.

So, this was why you weren’t at home. I should have known what to expect.

I stood up and dusted myself off. “I should probably have called before coming. My bad. I’ll just come back later.” I began walking towards them to head out the way that they had come in.

“No, Kakeru.”