Beginning Beyond The Horizon

It's been two weeks since Hajime talked to Kenji. He wanted to go to Kenji's apartment to find Kenji, but he thought that if he did that, he might violate Kenji's privacy. He sent a lot of text messages to Kenji, and Kenji seemed to have read them all, but Kenji didn't reply.

At the end of the month, Hajime decides not to text Kenji anymore because Kenji hasn't responded to his texts, he may not be very smart, but Kenji made it clear that Kenji doesn't want to continue the relationship, and also, they are not lovers or even dating.

Hajime was sitting on the roof having lunch when Keiji approached him. As soon as he saw Keiji he stood up and walked away.

Keiji said, "Hey, why are you running away so fast?"

Hajime didn't answer.

Keiji said, "Looking at you like this, could it be that my brother severed ties with you?"

Hajime still didn't answer.

Keiji said, "Do you think my brother will continue to see you?" He pushed Hajime away. "I know who you are, you acted close to my brother because you knew he could support you financially." Hajime didn't say anything to him, and there was no sign that Hajime was interested in arguing with him. He grabbed Hajime by the collar. "I'll tell you the reason why he didn't answer your call." He stared at Hajime. "Because my parents are at home, he has one date after another, so he is too busy to call you. Soon, he will get married and I will have a sister-in-law."

Hajime slowly took Keiji's hands away from his collar, and said, "Congratulations to him and to you." Hajime started to walk away from Keiji.

Hajime quickly ran down the stairs into the men's bathroom, he knew what Keiji told him was true, but he still lied to himself that he would not cut off relations with Kenji until he saw Kenji with someone else.

He began to live his life as usual. During the day he would go to school, although the students' made fun of him and calling him names. At night, he has a part-time job. Tonight, during his working hours, Hajime services and cleans private rooms as always, because other workers were taken advantage of Hajime, but Hajime didn't mind at all. He told himself that the restaurant management was the one paying him, not the people he worked with. He finished sweeping the floor and picked up all the empty wine bottles. He grabbed the trash bag and walked out of the room when another employee bumped into him.

"Hajime," the employee said. "Help me take these dishes to the private room over there, and you will take out the garbage later." She snatched the garbage bags from Hajime's and put the three garbage bags back into the room. She grabbed Hajime's hand and dragged him to another private room.

Hajime walks in with another employee carrying a tray of food when Hajime sees Kenji sitting across from his date. Kenji noticed Hajime immediately. His face suddenly burned with guilt.

Hajime and the employee put the food on the table and left the room. Hajime walked back to the kitchen after work to hang up his apron. He put on his coat, picked up his backpack, said good night to the owner of the restaurant, and left through the back door of the restaurant with the three garbage bags.

After throwing away the trash, Hajime started walking towards home. He walked for a while until a car stopped in front of him.

"Hajime-kun," Kenji said, pulling over to the side of the road. "Hajime-kun."

Hajime stopped and looked at Kenji. "Kenji-san, can I help you?"

Kenji said, "Come in, I'll take you home."

Hajime opened the passenger door and sat in Kenji's car. "Thank you for taking me home." He didn't look at Kenji, and Kenji didn't speak.

Hajime and Kenji were silent for a long time, Hajime asked, "Are you out on a date tonight?"

"The people I work with invited me," Kenji said. "A group dates."

Hajime said, "I see…"

Kenji looked at Hajime and said, "I'm sorry I didn't reply to your text message, I've been very busy recently."

Hajime said, "I see…"

Kenji said, "I was just thinking of visiting your house after the party. How is your mother?"

Hajime said, "She's still the same."

Kenji parked the car on the side of the road. Hajime gets out of the car. He said, "Kenji-san, thank you for taking me home, good night." He closed the passenger side door.

Kenji quickly got out of the car and rushed towards Hajime. "Hajime-kun wait." He grabbed Hajime's hand. "Hajime-kun, you have the right to be angry with me for not calling you back, but at the same time I don't want to lie to you, and I don't want to lie to myself."

Hajime said, "Say what you want, don't beat around the bush."

"I'm dating someone right now," Kenji said.

The word "date" that Kenji said broke Hajime's heart into pieces. Hajime didn't look at Kenji but lowered his head to hide his tears. "I see," he said. "Thank you for telling me this. Good night, Kenji-san." He broke away from Kenji and rushed up the stairs quickly.

Hajime opened the door and walked in. He went straight to his room and locked the door. He lay on the bed and began to sob. He cried for a moment when he heard the front door open. He quickly wiped away his tears and opened the door to see if it was his mother.

When Hajime walked out of his room, he found Aimi collapsed by the front door. Aimi can only manage to close the door. Hajime walked over, locked the front door, took off Aimi's heels, and carried her to bed.

Hajime looked at Aimi who was sleeping on a small bed. He said, "Goodnight mother." He slowly slides the door panel shut.

The apartment Hajime and Aimi share is a one-bedroom apartment, but it has a large storage room that can accommodate a twin size bed and Aimi decides to turn the storage room into her bedroom, while Hajime occupies the bedroom. But Hajime knows Aimi better than anyone, and since the last incident, Aimi has been watching him closely so that her boyfriend does not fall in love with Hajime. She even tied a bell to Hajime's door, so every time Hajime opened the door, she would hear it.

It was past midnight, but Hajime was still awake. His heart was restless, and his mind was also restless, when he suddenly received a text message from Kenji. He read the text message and Kenji wrote, "Tomorrow, see you at five. The café we ​​usually go to'. Hajime just stared at the text message without replying. He turns off the phone.

The next day, Hajime tells himself he won't come out to meet Kenji, but instead finds himself sitting at a small table by the window inside Kenji favorite café. The rain had already started to fall, and he checked his phone from time to time, but he never heard from Kenji.

Hajime was sitting patiently on the table waiting for Kenji to arrive. He sat at the table for nearly four hours watching the rain drops slowly dropped down from the window and joining with other rain drops created a bigger and faster rain drops.

It was almost closed to closing time when Kenji finally arrived. Kenji sat across from Hajime and looked at Hajime without speaking.

Hajime looked to see Kenji's expression and he knew right away that it was not good. "Kenji-san, what do you need to talk about?"

Kenji sighed and hesitated for a while before he said, "Hajime-kun."

Hajime smiled and asked, "What is it?"

Kenji said, "Hajime-kun…I…I'm…I'm getting marry."

With just three words, Hajime's heart was torn apart. He knew this day would come. When he became Kenji's casual lover, Kenji made it clear that he wanted to get married in the future, but Hajime was too stubborn, and he naively thought that as long as he really loved Kenji, he could change Kenji's heart.

Although Hajime was full of sadness, he still gave Kenji a smile. "Congratulations. Thanks for telling me this," he said. "Is this the last time we see each other?"

Kenji nodded but did not answer Hajime.

Hajime smiled and asked, "Do you want to order anything?"

Kenji smiled and shook his head. "I'm meeting my parents and Yua's parents." He took out a credit card and put it on the table. "This is for you."

Hajime picked up the credit card and said with a smile, "A parting gift?"

Kenji nodded, stood up, and turned around and left.

Hajime hurriedly said, "Kenji-san." He looked at Kenji and tried to hold back his tears. "If I were a woman, would you still marry?"

Kenji turned his back to Hajime and said, "No." He walked away from Hajime.

There will be no Kenji to continue to encourage him in the future. Although he won't have the chance to be by Kenji's side, he still can't find himself hating Kenji. He should hate Kenji for leaving him and choose someone else to marry, but deep down in his heart, Hajime is only grateful for Kenji. Kenji came to his world when he was at his lowest, and Kenji pulled him out of the dark abyss. Hajime's tears finally flowed from his eyes. He murmured, "Kenji-san, thank you."