After finishing a smoke, a little while later, Saki-san suddenly spoke up.

"I'm going to head home soon."

"Shall I give you a ride to the station?"

Rui-san offers.

"Yuito-kun..."

"Me?"

"With me, you'd find me unreliable, wouldn't you?"

"I don't think it will change that much."

I'm not reliable either. I don't play sports, and I have no experience in fighting. I don't have the confidence to protect myself when attacked.

Between me and Saki-san, Saki-san seems stronger.

"Alright, I'll leave it to you."

"Eh."

"What the heck is that reaction?"

"I thought for sure I would be told it wasn't necessary."

"When we get attacked by a random assailant, you will be the human shield."

I was completely expected to serve as a shield.

"See you. Make sure to come to university properly."

Saki-san warned Rui-san before leaving the room with me. We stepped into the night.

I walk towards the station. It's about a ten-minute walk from here.

The surroundings are silent. Away from the main road, in a residential area. Only the light from the street lamps and the windows of the buildings illuminates the night.

"I'm sorry. For making you tag along."

"No."

"I really let loose. I got pretty drunk."

Saki-san had finished three cans of highball. Her face was slightly flushed. Her voice was also a bit higher than usual.

"I usually only drink one. Rui got me to drink more."

Rui-san was more open than Saki-san.

"Still, Rui was a total mess. Sleeping until evening, making me run errands to buy ingredients, recommending alcohol to the biker, and dumping all the vegetables on you."

"Yeah."

I agree with a wry smile.

"But it was fun."

I usually ate alone. At school and at home.

I didn't feel lonely, nor did I want to be with anyone.

Eating with others is just a hassle. But today was fun. The time spent around the hot pot with Rui-san and Saki-san was nice.

"..."

Saki-san stared at my expression for a moment after I answered that it was fun. Then, without stopping her steps, she suddenly brought it up.

"I told you I got close to Rui at the smoking area, didn't I?"

"Yes."

"I had seen her a few times in the classroom before. She always looked bored, sitting alone with her chin resting on her hand. But at that time, I didn't think about talking to her. There wasn't any opportunity, and I wasn't that interested either."

"Then, why?"

"One day, when I skipped a tedious class and went to the smoking area, Rui happened to be there too. She was sitting alone on a bench, smoking a cigarette."

"Did you feel a sense of camaraderie with other smokers?"

"That's true, but that's not all. I was surprised that someone with such a pure appearance smokes."

Saki-san said that, and then she announced something completely unexpected.

"I mean, I'm actually quite popular."

"Huh?"

"Even though I'm popular, it's only with women. I used to get confessed to a lot, and even after starting the band, I had enthusiastic fans. Those people, they say it. They say they love Saki-san. They say they fell in love at first sight the moment they saw me. Their eyes were shining with excitement."

I could understand. Saki-san is cool. Both in appearance and behavior. To women, she might have seemed like an object of admiration.

"I didn't understand that feeling. There were people I liked before, and I had seen many good-looking men and women. But I had never had such a vivid experience where my heart was instantly captivated at first sight. I thought I probably wasn't the type of person to feel that way... until that moment."

Saki-san looks out at the distant night, as if recalling the past reflected there.

"The moment I saw Rui smoking at the designated smoking area, it hit me hard. She had her long legs crossed, exhaling smoke languidly and looked so melancholic. I was captivated by the depth of her shadow. I thought, 'There are women in this world who look like this.' I usually don't use such words, but I thought she was beautiful. Not pretty, not cute, but beautiful. I couldn't find any other words that fit. At that moment, I finally understood the feelings. Before I knew it, I was talking to Rui. She had an unapproachable aura, but I couldn't help myself."

"So that's how you became friends."

"Does all that freak you out?"

"...No."

I replied.

"I understand, I do. That feeling."

Every time Rui-san came to the convenience store to buy cigarettes, I imagined her smoking them.

Reality often falls short of ideals.

Nevertheless, her actual appearance smoking a cigarette on the balcony did not fall short of the ideal image I had envisioned. It was just as good, if not better.

It was beautiful. So beautiful that I couldn't help but be captivated.

"...You're Yuito, right?"

"Yes."

"I'm not saying anything bad. Don't get involved with Rui any further."

"Huh?"

I gaze at Saki-san's profile.

Saki-san continues without making eye contact, staring into space.

"You like Rui, right? But it won't be reciprocated. To her, you're just a playmate. No matter how you feel. Rui has definitely noticed that you have feelings for her. Even I could tell right away when we met. There's no way she wouldn't notice. She is aware of it and is conveniently taking advantage of it. She's that kind of person. She doesn't care about others and manipulates them as she pleases. She throws unreasonable demands at you, all while holding your goodwill hostage. Your feelings will never be reciprocated. Rui will not respond to those feelings. The stronger your feelings become, the more painful it will be when they go unrequited."

"So, you mean to cut ties now?"

"That's right. Before she ruins your life. You can still turn back now."

Saki-san was drunk.

But I can tell by looking into her eyes. She was serious.

"...Even though you're her friend, that's quite a harsh thing to say."

"There are things I can only understand because we're friends. Rui is not a good person. It's not about personality or anything like that. She's the kind of person who ruins other people's lives."

I felt like I understood.

Rui-san has a shadow. And that shadow is one that attracts people. It attracts them so much that they get drawn into it.

I suddenly thought.

Saki-san wanted to give this advice and tried to get me to send it. She was trying to create a time when we could be alone together.

As the silence continued, we arrived at the station. Just as we reached the ticket gate, Saki-san turned to me and said.

"Thanks for the ride."

"Yes."

"Be careful on your way back."

Saki-san said that, then used her smartphone's IC card to pass through the ticket gate. It was when she was heading towards the platform.

"May I ask you something?"

"Huh?"

"Was that advice earlier based on your experience, Saki-san?"

I like Rui-san, but my feelings will never be reciprocated. Still, I can't help but be drawn to her charm. I can't leave her.

Saki-san momentarily wore a look of being taken aback. After displaying a complex expression that seemed both angry and hurt.

"...Maybe."

She muttered that with self-deprecation and laughed weakly.

Just then, a train arrived at the platform. Hearing the sound, Saki-san turned on her heel and boarded the sparsely populated train.

I kept staring at that figure until she disappeared from sight.

Chapter 23: The Night Road on the Way Home