１．Ｓａｔｕｒｄａｙ Ｍａｒｃｈ ９， ２０１９
文字数 5,447文字
The silver SkyTree appears hazy, buried in the dust of the floating metropolis.
I can't recall the last time I visited Sumida Ward in Tokyo. Maruta stood motionless, watching as the train he had just disembarked from departed again as if gasping for breath.
A residential area where someone might whisper in his ear, "Take a look. This is the average Japanese lifestyle." When the sound of the railroad crossing ceased, Maruta attempted to resume walking, but suddenly he stopped his legs.
Wait, was I supposed to cross this railroad crossing? An unfamiliar territory is nothing but a concrete jungle.
Stepping back into an empty space in the bicycle parking area, Maruta retrieved his smartphone from the shoulder-strapped bag.
"Alright, then, let's meet at Omu Station on the Tobu Line tomorrow at 2 p.m."
This is the last text message that Kira sent through the messenger app last night.
Come to think of it, we hadn't decided specifically where around the station to meet up. As Maruta was thinking, "There's a convenience store, but it's a bit far from the station," a man called out to him from behind.
"Maruta-san."
"Ah, Kira-san. That's great, you're already here."
Fifteen minutes before the appointed time. There's been no dramatic change in Kira's appearance since Maruta last saw him a week ago. It was as if he had been vacuum-sealed since they parted ways last week and just now been unpacked, judging by his demeanor.
"You live in Kawasaki, don't you?" Kira asked. "How long did it take from your home to here?"
"I can go straight to Akihabara from my place, but from there, I had to transfer two or three times, so all in all, it took about an hour."
"Sorry for the inconvenience of making you travel such a long distance."
"I'm the one who invited you. Your home is in Uguisudani, right? It's nice to have a loop line station as the nearest one. It seems convenient."
"Living in densely populated areas like that actually makes me want to live in a more spacious place."
Enduring a very boring conversation like example sentences from a Japanese textbook, Maruta followed behind Kira and began walking along the street intersecting the railway tracks.
"Kira-san, Have you been around here many times?"
It isn't always easy to breath and move forward, engaging in conversation with someone just got to know. Maruta walked while organizing topics to bring up, aiming to avoid creating an uncomfortably silent atmosphere as much as possible.
"I've been to their house a few times with Silva, but not that many. It's nostalgic for me. I think it's been about a year since I walked around here."
"Did Silva-san and Tokyo Spread get along well?"
"It seemed like they did, at least from my perspective."
Kira no longer showed hesitation when discussing 〈Tokyo Spread〉 as much as last week. Maruta began to feel a sense of satisfaction inwardly as Kira spoke fluently.
"However," said Kira. "I've never peeked into their minds. So, I don't know what kind of feelings they had when interacting with Silva."
"Did the members of Tokyo Spread not relocate after the murder case?"
"It seems like they had plans to move, but in the end, they didn't. Since they don't have nationwide recognition yet. And,"
While speaking, Kira keeps his gaze fixed straight ahead.
"I don't know why, but they are good at hiding themselves."
"What do you mean by that, exactly?"
"Um, I've never heard anything about viewers identifying their house. Popular video creators often upload videos of viewers who visit their homes without permission, right? Those kinds of things don't happen around their house for some reason."
Maruta felt like thinking about it. But Unable to sit down and ponder, he continued on his way.
After about five minutes, Kira pointed to a building on the right with his finger, so Maruta looked in that direction.
"This is it. The fourth floor here."
In front of the two, there stands a modestly sized apartment building painted in white. Maruta quickly estimated it to be around thirty years old by scanning it from top to bottom with his gaze. It is not so much frugal, but it does not appear to be inhabited by a popular idol recognized by the entire nation, neither.
"I'm getting nervous now," When Kira said that, the anxiety spread to Maruta at a tremendous speed, almost as if it were contagious through the air. Here, Maruta finally realized that he shouldn't meet with 〈Tokyo Spread〉 with the same ease as with Kira. The word 'intimidated' exists, and Maruta was exactly in that state at that time.
Recalling their actions observed in their videos until then, Maruta imagined himself feeling lost as he couldn't interact with them on equal terms. However, Maruta, driven by a deeply primitive emotion, stubbornness, pushed himself forcefully towards their lair.
I can't possibly say, "I got scared too, so I'm going home." There's no need to film with them; all I have to do is ask what I want to know and then leave.
However, at that moment, Maruta felt that Kira's steps were still lighter. So, pretending to be guided, he followed after the new friend.
I can't recall the last time I visited Sumida Ward in Tokyo. Maruta stood motionless, watching as the train he had just disembarked from departed again as if gasping for breath.
A residential area where someone might whisper in his ear, "Take a look. This is the average Japanese lifestyle." When the sound of the railroad crossing ceased, Maruta attempted to resume walking, but suddenly he stopped his legs.
Wait, was I supposed to cross this railroad crossing? An unfamiliar territory is nothing but a concrete jungle.
Stepping back into an empty space in the bicycle parking area, Maruta retrieved his smartphone from the shoulder-strapped bag.
"Alright, then, let's meet at Omu Station on the Tobu Line tomorrow at 2 p.m."
This is the last text message that Kira sent through the messenger app last night.
Come to think of it, we hadn't decided specifically where around the station to meet up. As Maruta was thinking, "There's a convenience store, but it's a bit far from the station," a man called out to him from behind.
"Maruta-san."
"Ah, Kira-san. That's great, you're already here."
Fifteen minutes before the appointed time. There's been no dramatic change in Kira's appearance since Maruta last saw him a week ago. It was as if he had been vacuum-sealed since they parted ways last week and just now been unpacked, judging by his demeanor.
"You live in Kawasaki, don't you?" Kira asked. "How long did it take from your home to here?"
"I can go straight to Akihabara from my place, but from there, I had to transfer two or three times, so all in all, it took about an hour."
"Sorry for the inconvenience of making you travel such a long distance."
"I'm the one who invited you. Your home is in Uguisudani, right? It's nice to have a loop line station as the nearest one. It seems convenient."
"Living in densely populated areas like that actually makes me want to live in a more spacious place."
Enduring a very boring conversation like example sentences from a Japanese textbook, Maruta followed behind Kira and began walking along the street intersecting the railway tracks.
"Kira-san, Have you been around here many times?"
It isn't always easy to breath and move forward, engaging in conversation with someone just got to know. Maruta walked while organizing topics to bring up, aiming to avoid creating an uncomfortably silent atmosphere as much as possible.
"I've been to their house a few times with Silva, but not that many. It's nostalgic for me. I think it's been about a year since I walked around here."
"Did Silva-san and Tokyo Spread get along well?"
"It seemed like they did, at least from my perspective."
Kira no longer showed hesitation when discussing 〈Tokyo Spread〉 as much as last week. Maruta began to feel a sense of satisfaction inwardly as Kira spoke fluently.
"However," said Kira. "I've never peeked into their minds. So, I don't know what kind of feelings they had when interacting with Silva."
"Did the members of Tokyo Spread not relocate after the murder case?"
"It seems like they had plans to move, but in the end, they didn't. Since they don't have nationwide recognition yet. And,"
While speaking, Kira keeps his gaze fixed straight ahead.
"I don't know why, but they are good at hiding themselves."
"What do you mean by that, exactly?"
"Um, I've never heard anything about viewers identifying their house. Popular video creators often upload videos of viewers who visit their homes without permission, right? Those kinds of things don't happen around their house for some reason."
Maruta felt like thinking about it. But Unable to sit down and ponder, he continued on his way.
After about five minutes, Kira pointed to a building on the right with his finger, so Maruta looked in that direction.
"This is it. The fourth floor here."
In front of the two, there stands a modestly sized apartment building painted in white. Maruta quickly estimated it to be around thirty years old by scanning it from top to bottom with his gaze. It is not so much frugal, but it does not appear to be inhabited by a popular idol recognized by the entire nation, neither.
"I'm getting nervous now," When Kira said that, the anxiety spread to Maruta at a tremendous speed, almost as if it were contagious through the air. Here, Maruta finally realized that he shouldn't meet with 〈Tokyo Spread〉 with the same ease as with Kira. The word 'intimidated' exists, and Maruta was exactly in that state at that time.
Recalling their actions observed in their videos until then, Maruta imagined himself feeling lost as he couldn't interact with them on equal terms. However, Maruta, driven by a deeply primitive emotion, stubbornness, pushed himself forcefully towards their lair.
I can't possibly say, "I got scared too, so I'm going home." There's no need to film with them; all I have to do is ask what I want to know and then leave.
However, at that moment, Maruta felt that Kira's steps were still lighter. So, pretending to be guided, he followed after the new friend.
