Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk.

Page 15

"Miyazawa-kun".

Keiko Miyazawa looked up.

Kiryu Yaya turned around, leaned against the railing, and looked up at the night sky above.

“In the period right after my father passed away, I lived alone in that small apartment. During the day, I would pretend nothing had happened at school, and at night I would go back home and cry under the covers. Later, I couldn’t cry anymore, and I felt like there was something stuck in my chest, a tightness in my chest.”

He turned his gaze from the sky back to her and smiled.

"Later I discovered a method."

Keiko Miyazawa looked at him, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

Kiryu Yaya clenched his fist and punched the water's surface with all his might:

"Shout out what you want to say. Not to anyone, but to an empty space, and shout it out with all your might."

"……call?"

Yes, just like this.

Kiryu Yaya turned around, cupped his hands to his mouth, and shouted loudly towards the river:

"The entrance exams for the University of Tokyo are so difficult!!!"

The sound exploded on the river, and several passersby on the opposite bank stopped, glanced in this direction, and then continued walking.

Someone on the cruise ship in the distance poked their head out to look around, probably thinking there had been some commotion.

After shouting, Kiryu Yaya clapped his hands, turned around and leaned against the railing again, his expression much more relaxed than before.

He looked at Keiko Miyazawa, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"It's your turn."

Should I...should I shout?

Keiko Miyazawa was momentarily stunned, perhaps caught off guard.

"This is an order."

Kiryu Yaya's attitude was unusually firm.

Keiko Miyazawa glanced at him, as if she were making a final mental preparation.

Then she bit her lip, turned around, and gripped the railing tightly with both hands.

She opened her mouth.

Then, with all my might:

"Why me?!"

The scream carried far through the night sky.

"I really can't take it anymore!!"

The sound echoed across the river, carried away by the waves, and finally disappeared into the night sky over Osaka.

Keiko Miyazawa was breathing softly, but her eyes suddenly lit up.

"How about it?"

Kiryu Yaya turned his head to look at her.

Keiko Miyazawa sniffed:

"It's really much better."

"Let's do it one more time!"

Then Kiryu Yaya scored again, continuing to shout:

"I want a promotion and a raise!!!"

"I want to make a lot of money!!!"

This time, Keiko Miyazawa didn't hesitate and also clasped her hands together and shouted:

"Dad, I will do my best to keep the company running!!!"

"Mother, stay healthy!!"

"Kiryu-kun€€€"

After Miyazawa Keiko called out the first two times, she suddenly changed the target, which surprised Kiryu Yaya.

"あ€€り€€が€€と€€う!!!"

She shouted "thank you" for a very long time and with great force, until her voice cracked at the last syllable.

Kiryu Yaya looked at her and chuckled softly.

"No need to be so polite."

Keiko Miyazawa leaned against the railing, turning her head to look at him.

A gentle breeze from the river ruffled the hair behind her ear, and her eyes were filled with gratitude.

"Kiryu-kun, thank you."

"You've already thanked me."

"Not the one from before."

Keiko Miyazawa shook her head and said seriously:

"Thank you for being with me tonight; thank you for bringing me here; thank you for letting me know that it feels so good to shout out my unhappiness."

Kiryu Yaya smiled but didn't reply.

Keiko Miyazawa leaned on the railing, a slight smile playing on her lips, resting her chin on her crossed arms, gazing at the water.

The water of the Dotonbori River is not very clear at night; it is just a dark expanse, occasionally broken by the reflection of neon lights, which briefly illuminates it before it dims again.

At this moment, no one speaks, nor is there any need to speak.

But just then, Kiryu Yaya's stomach suddenly growled, a sound that was particularly clear in the quiet air by the river.

Keiko Miyazawa looked down at his stomach, then they exchanged a glance.

Kiryu Yaya remained expressionless and put his hands back into his trench coat pockets.

"A normal physiological phenomenon."

Keiko Miyazawa burst out laughing, a bright and cheerful laugh.

"Let's go, Kiryu-kun, I'll treat you to dinner."

Kiryu Yaya didn't stand on ceremony and waved his hand:

"You don't need to pay me, but I definitely need to fill my stomach."

"No, this meal has to be on me."

Keiko Miyazawa became unusually stubborn.

"Okay, I'll treat you later."

After Kiryu finished speaking, he started walking.

I came out today specifically to make dumplings for this dish of vinegar, so I can't afford to be careless and lose this opportunity.

“Hey€€€€”

It's only a three-minute walk from the riverside promenade into Dotonbori's food street.

The entire street was brightly lit.

The restaurants along the street lined the street one after another. The smoke from the grills, the steam from the hot plates, and the white mist from the pots mingled together, turning into colorful clouds under the neon lights.

The two walked along the street, their steps drawn by the various food stalls, stopping and starting as they went.

"Two servings of takoyaki, eight in total."

“Hiss…”

"What did you say?"

I said, "It's delicious."

"..."

"Osaka-style kushikatsu! Give me some!"

"Delicious! I'd like some more!"

"There's more to come, keep it under control."

"..."

The two ate their way through the food stalls, and by the time they reached the last one, Miyazawa Keiko was so full that she kept waving her hands.

"No, I really can't take it anymore."