I Want to Hear Your Voice

as no longer of a young boy.
Sousuke, who had grown into an adult, was holding out an umbrella to Satori with a concerned look in his eyes.

…It’s Sousuke.
It’s Sousuke.
It’s the same old Sousuke.
I met him at last…

At that moment, the thread that had been glowing faintly in the darkness twinkled for one last time and then vanished as if it were melting away.

(I wonder if he feels sick.
Maybe he got a heat stroke or something?)

Satori couldn’t mutter any word as if it got stuck in the back of his throat.

“Are you okay? Can you stand? Should I call the ambulance?”

(…Could it be that he’s a homeless person or that kind?)

“…Sousuke.”

Sousuke started to have some suspicion towards Satori who didn’t reply back.
Then Satori was finally able to speak.

“Yes?” Without seeming like he questioned why the man in front of him came to know his name, Sousuke replied.

At that moment-

“Isn’t that person Ogigami Sousuke the announcer?”

Such a voice can be heard.
When Satori turned his head, there were two young women with umbrellas pointing their fingers in his direction.

“You’re right.
Huh? What is he doing in this kind of place?”

(He’s way hotter than how he looked on TV.)

(We’re so lucky!)

“What should we do? Should we go talk to him?”

It seemed like Sousuke could hear the women’s voices.
Satori could tell from Sousuke’s mannerisms that he felt bothered by them, even without reading his mind.

 “…If you’re okay by yourself then I’ll take my leave.”

Even though he had finally been able to meet Sousuke, Satori panicked when he felt that Sousuke was about to leave.
Sousuke then made Satori hold the handle of the umbrella while saying that he’s free to use it.
Satori grabbed his hand from above on the spur of the moment.

“Wa- wait! I’ve always been searching for you, Sousuke!”

Sousuke frowned his face slightly.

(…What? Is he a stalker or something?)

Satori was startled when could feel the faintest hint of suspicion that came from Sousuke’s palm.

“Sousuke.
I-I-I….”

Satori tried desperately to find a word to reply back, but he was feeling so shaken that he couldn’t find the right words.
His fingertips that touched Sousuke’s hand trembled.

Sousuke narrowed his eyes.

(…His hand is hot.
Does he have a fever?)

Satori could feel the air around Sousuke that had been filled with caution until then, suddenly became relaxed.

(Was there a hospital around here again?)

…It’s Sousuke.

Even when Sousuke felt suspicious about him, he still got concerned about Satori’s condition.
Satori’s chest became full when he felt Sousuke’s feeling of worry.

It’s Sousuke.
It’s Sousuke…

Sousuke’s appearance could be said to have changed a lot, but his kindness had not changed at all.
He was still the same old Sousuke that Satori knew well.
Satori couldn’t help but feel so happy about it that he felt like crying.

“I don’t need to go to the hospital.
I’m just happy to be able to meet Sousuke.”

Sousuke furrowed his eyebrows slightly towards the smiling Satori.

(It should be the first time we met, but why did he-… Is he a stalker after all?)

Satori could feel the feeling of suspicion that appeared once again in Sousuke’s head, but he didn’t feel hurt anymore.
To be honest, he felt a bit lonely that Sousuke didn’t remember him, but Satori was happy to know that Sousuke was still as kind as he had always been. 

Satori had thought that if he could meet Sousuke again just one more time, he wouldn’t mind dying right after that.
However, now that he could meet Sousuke again, he became more and more greedy.
He wanted to spend more time with him, he wanted to look at his face, he wanted to talk with him, and, if possible, he wanted to stay by Sousuke’s side forever… There was no end to his desires; that was why Satori had no choice but to cut himself off from his lingering attachment.

“…Thanks for worrying about me.
Sousuke, please live a long and healthy life.
I wish your happiness would last forever.”

–Even if I can never see you anymore…

“I don’t need this umbrella, so I’ll return it to you.”

Satori returned the handle of the umbrella back to Sousuke.
Satori cheerfully said that he was leaving, but then Sousuke suddenly stopped him.