Chapter Text
SOMEONE
Do you know why you’re here today?
CHIFUYU
You’re interested in how I turned out after all these years.
SOMEONE
Correct. So, first of all, what do you do for a living these days?
CHIFUYU
Uh.
CHIFUYU sighs, evading SOMEONE’s gaze.
CHIFUYU
Some of my friends founded a business. I work with them.
SOMEONE
And what do you do there?
CHIFUYU
I... research. Yeah. And do paperwork.
SOMEONE
How do you like it?
CHIFUYU
I like my friends. My best friend is a work partner of mine, I do his paperwork. It’s nice, I suppose.
SOMEONE
You suppose..?
CHIFUYU
It’s not my dream job. You know that, don’t you? I’ve always dreamt of being a pilot. Not in this life, I guess.
CHIFUYU laughs dryly.
SOMEONE
It’s never too late to change your field of work.
CHIFUYU
Yeah... yeah, no.
SOMEONE
No?
CHIFUYU
I’m color blind.
SOMEONE
You’re not.
CHIFUYU
And what if I’m not? I’m not going to abandon my friends just like that.
SOMEONE
Why?
CHIFUYU furrows his brows, blinking a few times. He screws up his mouth, but drops it after a few seconds.
CHIFUYU
They’re my friends. Have been for over a decade. A silly childhood dream of mine isn’t going to change that.
There is longing in CHIFUYU’s eyes.
CHIFUYU
Besides, it’s what Baji would’ve wanted. Takemichi takes care of them, and I take care of him.
CHIFUYU opens his mouth to say something, but he closes it again instead.
SOMEONE
Well. Maybe we should change the topic..?
CHIFUYU nods.
SOMEONE
So, how about you tell me something else about your life? Any family? Pets?
CHIFUYU
Peke J died last year. I’m too busy to get another cat.
SOMEONE
My condolences.
CHIFUYU
He really was a sweet boy. Mischievous, but sweet.
CHIFUYU smiles lightly.
CHIFUYU
Other than my mom, I don’t have any family.
SOMEONE
Not even a girlfriend?
CHIFUYU
No. I don’t have time for dating. I don’t even have time for this.
CHIFUYU gestures to SOMEONE.
SOMEONE
Thank you for having me still.
CHIFUYU
You’re welcome. ...It’s good to break out of the routine for once.
SOMEONE
Do you do anything in your free time to pause your work life, and calm down? Any hobbies, perhaps?
CHIFUYU
I like to read mangas. Shojou mangas, to be precise. I haven’t quite grown out of that yet. And I like to take the time to cook hearty meals sometimes.
SOMEONE
Do you live alone?
CHIFUYU
Not anymore. Kazutora’s moved in with me.
SOMEONE
(surprised)
Hanemiya Kazutora?
CHIFUYU chuckles, but there’s slight disappointment in his gaze.
CHIFUYU
There was no one else there for him, so I figured I should take matters into my own hands. He’s a better man now.
SOMEONE
So you’re friends? After everything.
CHIFUYU
Yeah, you could say that. He’s changed. For the better. It’s not going to help either of us if I keep holding what he did twelve years ago against him.
SOMEONE
Well. Does he work with you?
CHIFUYU
No. No, he does his own thing. Currently, he’s working at a café.
SOMEONE
Okay.
SOMEONE pauses for a bit.
SOMEONE
Can I ask you a personal question?
CHIFUYU
You’re a little late with that... But go for it.
SOMEONE
Are you happy?
CHIFUYU coughs, choking on his own spit.
CHIFUYU
Uhm.
SOMEONE
You can think about it, if you want to.
CHIFUYU
No. Yes! I’m happy.
CHIFUYU averts his gaze, not looking into SOMEONE’s eyes again.
CHIFUYU
(under his breath)
I have to be.
SOMEONE
Really?
CHIFUYU
Yes. I’m making the best of everything.
SOMEONE
That’s relieving to hear. Do you have any regrets?
CHIFUYU doesn’t answer immediately. He glances out of the window for a few seconds, and swallows audibly. He looks back towards SOMEONE, but stares through them instead of properly looking at them.
CHIFUYU
Who doesn’t?
SOMEONE
A lot of happy people.
CHIFUYU
(getting upset)
That doesn’t— That doesn’t have anything to do with that. Baji has been dead for way longer than I’d known him. Of course I regret not having done more.
SOMEONE
And you’re friends with Kazutora?
CHIFUYU
We’re close, yes. And I’ve forgiven him.
SOMEONE
But not yourself.
CHIFUYU
(hissing)
No— That’s something— If I hadn’t forgiven Kazutora, nobody would’ve, okay? How else is he supposed to live with himself?
SOMEONE
Okay, okay. Can I ask two more questions?
CHIFUYU nods angrily.
SOMEONE
Do you love yourself?
CHIFUYU
I like myself enough to stop this interview here.
CHIFUYU stands up, throwing the chair to the ground. He leaves the room in a hurry, and slams the door shut.