Chapter 127: Let's Talk About It When You Turn Eighteen

After finishing their meal, Ayako Fuji began packing her suitcase.

"Why don't you just leave the pajamas here, Ayako-san?" Sho Akai folded the pajamas, placed them at the foot of the bed, and walked out of the bedroom.

These weren't his pajamas; Ayako had bought them at a nearby shop just before deciding to come here. Still, they fit well enough.

"Oh? That’s fine, I suppose," Ayako replied, sparing a brief moment of attention for him from her suitcase.

They were set to depart for Tokyo that afternoon. At 7:30 PM, they planned to head together to a small theater in Kitazawa, Setagaya, to catch a performance. In truth, when Ayako had called Sho yesterday afternoon, her original intention was merely to pass along the invitation. However, once the call connected, things had drifted in an entirely different direction before they knew it.

"By the way, I haven't asked you yet—what play are we seeing?" Sho sat down on the floor beside her.

Ayako teased him, "From yesterday afternoon until now, you’ve finally remembered to ask about the performance."

"It can't be helped. There were things more captivating to me than the play," Sho said, diligently picking up a luggage strap and handing it to her.

Ayako gave his hand a light tap. Ignoring the strap, she stood up and walked toward the living room, returning a moment later with two tickets. "Here you go."

Sho took them and glanced at the titles. "'Memories of the Stars'? I feel like I can guess the plot just from the title."

"That doesn't sound like a compliment."

"Not at all," Sho said with a bright smile. "In times like these, even if just for the sake of politeness, one should say it sounds very interesting."

"So everything you're saying now is just social pleasantry?" Ayako pressed, for some reason unwilling to let it go.

"Have mercy on me," Sho said, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender.

Only then did Ayako let him off the hook, her mood clearly improved as she continued packing.

...

Ayako had driven there alone. Before leaving, Sho helped her carry her suitcase to the parking lot and placed it in the trunk.

"How far is your home from here, Sho-kun?"

Sho calculated for a moment. "If I take the train, it’s about a fifteen or sixteen-minute walk."

"That’s quite close."

"Exactly. It would be a bit remiss of me not to drop by," he said. The decision to visit his family home had been made on the spur of the moment that morning.

Ayako nodded. "In that case, I’ll book a private room at that restaurant we went to last time. Let’s meet there, have dinner, and head straight to the theater afterward. How does that sound?"

"Don't worry, I’ll be back in Tokyo before five. I won't stand you up, Ayako-san."

...

After parting ways with Ayako, Sho waited by the roadside for a taxi. Not concerned about the cost, he hopped into a cab and headed toward his childhood home.

Inside the moving taxi, Sho called his house. His mother answered. She and his younger sister, Haru, were home, while his father was off playing golf in Hakone with his school colleagues.

When she heard Sho was coming over, his mother was delighted, immediately offering to run out and buy ingredients for dinner. Sho quickly stopped her. "There's no need for that much trouble. I just happen to have business nearby and can only stay until about four. Besides, I have some recording work to finish tonight."

He wasn't entirely lying. The recording for the two songs on *Singer's Love Song* was finished, but after the play with Ayako, he still had to visit a mixing studio in Shibuya to oversee the final production flow.

"Alright then, Haru and I will be here waiting for you." Her tone dipped slightly, but she still sounded happy.

Sho didn't take the taxi all the way to his front door; instead, he got off at a flower shop nearby and picked out a bouquet of orchids.

He walked home carrying the flowers, rang the doorbell, and heard the sound of quick, light footsteps approaching. The door swung open, and Haru’s energetic voice rang out: "Big brother!"

"Good afternoon," Sho said, handing her the flowers.

"Are these for me?" Haru asked, her face lighting up.

"In your dreams," Sho said, deliberately pouring cold water on her excitement. "These are for Mom."

"…You're so stingy."

Sho changed his shoes in the entryway. "You're still a bit too young to be receiving flowers. Ask again when you're eighteen."

Haru let out a "Hmph," took the flowers, and headed into the living room. She returned empty-handed a moment later.

"What’s wrong?"

"Mom told me to find a vase to put them in."

"Make sure you pick a nice one."

"You don't need to tell me that, big brother!" Haru said, huffing. Despite her attitude, five minutes later, when she returned to the living room with the vase, her earlier annoyance had vanished into thin air.

...

Sho stayed at home for about two hours.

Upon learning he had work in Tokyo, his mother—who had been hoping he would stay—changed her tune entirely, becoming even more anxious about the time than he was. By 3:30 PM, she was already urging him to get going.

This made Sho feel a bit guilty, as his reason for needing to be back by five was for a date, not looming work.

"It takes less than an hour to get back to Tokyo from here; there's no need to be so tense," Sho said. "Actually, it’s such a beautiful afternoon—why don't we go out to a cafe and have some tea?"

"Agreed!" Haru raised both hands in support.

They drove to a cafe near the station, with his mother behind the wheel. The location had been recommended by Haru, who claimed it was very popular among her classmates.

Since it was summer vacation, the shop was filled with teenagers. As soon as Sho appeared, a sharp-eyed girl recognized him, covered her mouth, and looked at him in disbelief: "No way?!" However, mindful of the setting, she kept her excitement in check and didn't cause a scene.

The three of them sat at a four-person table by the window. Sho and his mother ordered coffee, while Haru showed her true colors by ordering three different types of cake.

"Eat that much cake and you'll turn into a big fatty," Sho teased.

Haru puffed out her cheeks. "That is so rude!"

"Is it? That’s just a kind reminder from your big brother."

"..." Haru ground her teeth, lowered her head, and, as if venting, took a massive, vicious bite of her cake. It was as if she were eating her brother instead of the dessert.

His mother looked on with a smile, watching the siblings squabble with a look of pure contentment.

Just then, the girl who had recognized him earlier finally plucked up the courage. Clutching an autograph book, she shuffled over to their table and asked, "Um… excuse me, are you Sho Akai-san?"

Sho looked up and offered a kind smile. "Hello."

The moment their eyes met, the girl’s face turned bright red to the roots of her hair. She held out the book and whispered, "I'm so sorry to bother you, but could you please sign this? I’m… I’m a huge fan of yours…"

"Of course," Sho said readily, taking the book from her. "But I didn't bring a pen with me today. Do you have one?"

"…Yes!" The girl quickly handed over a pen.

Sho took the pen and dashed off his signature with a flourish. "By the way, what’s your name?"

"Haruna. Asai Haruna."

"That’s a lovely name. It suits you perfectly," Sho said casually, writing "To Haruna-chan" on the page.