Chapter 421 - Rainbow
(1)
"Congratulations, Kisaragi-kun."
We were greeting Kisaragi-kun.
Today is Kisaragi-kun and Iori-san's wedding.
The afterparty was held with only the Watanabe group.
"Thank you."
"Thank you very much."
The two of them say.
"Today is a celebratory day, so take your time and enjoy yourself."
Saying so, we return to our seats.
At our table are the Tada couple, the Kiritani couple, and the Watanabe couple.
The same members as always.
While eating, we were enjoying the entertainment by ALICE and Master-do.
It seems ALICE's major debut has been decided for the end of the year.
Recording for the new song has already begun.
It seems they have secured a famous producer.
It seems Master-do has also been decided to participate in the end-of-year comedy grand prix.
Their name recognition will likely rise as well.
It seems Mayor Morishige's municipal administration reforms are also progressing smoothly.
First, they seem to be aiming to clean up the city's budget.
Of course, there is also opposition in the city council, so they say the real battle starts now.
I tried asking how Sakai-kun's work was going.
"If you call it smooth, I guess it's smooth..."
It seems the number of people who lost their jobs due to Akira-san's whims is countless.
They say Sakai-kun is living a life of stomach aches every day.
A policy of absolutely not allowing overtime. Not even unpaid overtime.
It sounds good, but there are aspects that are worse than a normal black company.
The burden on the employees is immeasurable, such as how approval documents they want to pass on that day must be created and passed by 15:00 at the latest, or they won't make it in time.
Sakai-kun is also desperately looking through them in cooperation with the secretary and the managing director.
That said, there are also times when he visits clients or takes up time.
Of course, he looks through the documents even while traveling.
It seems every day moves on a schedule down to the second.
Of course, working on holidays is also not allowed.
If one were to incur Akira-san's wrath, Hello Work would be overflowing with unemployed people the next day.
In a way, it is worse than the Knights of the Sun.
It seems Watanabe-kun is also having a hard time.
Dealing with alcoholics, providing employment support for people with disabilities. That is still on the better side.
His biggest worry seems to be how to get people who are able-bodied but have no will to work to actually work.
There is also the problem of the working poor.
Watanabe-kun and his colleagues' job is to save the impoverished. That said, welfare is funded by national taxes, so they want to reduce costs.
That dilemma torments Watanabe-kun and his colleagues.
Makoto and his team seem to be doing well. Makoto says that if they keep going like this, staying in J1 is certain.
He did the bare minimum of work. Makoto is relieved, thinking there won't be a contract termination.
It seems Kanna is also somehow managing her quota.
That said, it seems Kanna has no intention of continuing her current job either.
"If Makoto earns for us, I'll focus on trying to conceive," she says with a laugh.
Speaking of trying to conceive, Mika-san also wants to have a child, but it seems difficult due to her lifestyle mismatch with Watanabe-kun.
They say it's tough because they can't even align their days off.
"How about you, Ai?"
Airi was asking Ai-san.
"It might still be difficult. I'm anxious about whether we can make a living."
"I'm sorry..."
When Ai-san says that, Kiritani-kun apologizes.
I've somehow noticed that Kiritani-kun is acting strange.
Usually he would be talking nonsense with Makoto, but there isn't even that.
"What's wrong, Kiritani-kun?"
Airi asked Ai-san.
"Well, his behavior has been strange lately. It seems he hasn't been playing games much either. And it seems he hasn't been able to sleep."
Ai-san says.
It seems his emotional expressions have also decreased lately.
"Well, Eita must be tired from work too, right?"
Watanabe-kun says so.
"Kiritani-kun, you haven't put anything in your mouth for a while, are you okay?"
Airi was asking Kiritani-kun.
"Somehow, even when I eat, I've started to lose my sense of taste."
Kiritani-kun says.
"Well, let's forget about work today and have a blast! The afterparty is karaoke, right?! Kanna has tomorrow off too, so I'll hang out with you until morning!"
Makoto says to Kiritani-kun.
"That's right, Eita-senpai. Let's have a blast."
Haruto also came over.
"I have a late-night shift tomorrow too. I'll hang out until morning."
Ai-san also says. But...
"Sorry, I'm just not in that kind of mood."
Kiritani-kun says so.
When the afterparty ends, the high school group and Kiritani-kun say they are going home.
"Ai, since you have the chance, stay and have some fun."
Saying so, Kiritani-kun went home alone.
We move to the karaoke venue.
Led by Kitamura-san, Umemoto-kun, and the others, everyone was making a racket.
However, Ai-san has a gloomy look on her face.
She seems anxious.
"Ai-san, it might be better if you go home to him. I also have a few things that concern me."
I said to Ai-san.
When I said that, Ai-san seemed to make up her mind.
"If I stay here like this, I'll just make everyone worry, so sorry. I'll head home first. I'm really concerned."
Saying so, Ai-san went home.
"Toya-san, Kiritani-kun is okay, right?"
Airi asks.
Should I answer honestly?
"Toya. How is it? Tell me honestly."
The Tada couple, the Watanabe couple, and Honoka-san also seem worried.
Is it better to say it honestly?
"He was filled with some kind of negative aura. I have a bad feeling."
When I say so, everyone falls silent.
"What do you mean, a bad feeling?"
Watanabe-kun says.
"It's worse than when it was Nakajima-kun. I just hope he doesn't do anything foolish..."
"What do you mean, anything foolish...?"
Airi asked.
I told myself it was just my imagination.
At least, it's not something to say right now.
"It might just be my imagination. Let's enjoy ourselves for now."
I said, as if telling myself.
"Toya, I've studied various things in my own way. I've handled cases like that too."
"I'm really concerned too. If you'd like, why don't just us go to Eita's house tomorrow?"
Watanabe-kun also seems to be concerned.
"...That might be for the best."
"Well, shall we leave this topic here and liven things up?"
A short while after Watanabe-kun said that, a message arrived.
It's from the Watanabe group.
Everyone looks at the message.
And they lost their voices.
"Eita attempted suicide."
It's from Ai-san.
"Which hospital?!"
I was asking.
"We're heading to Nishimatsu Clinic right now!"
"We, Toya, and Tosaka-san will go! Everyone else, please standby!"
When Watanabe-kun says so, we leave the karaoke venue and head toward Nishimatsu Clinic.
(2)
I go home alone by train.
Naturally, there is no one at home.
Lonely.
No such emotion wells up.
Relief.
I even begin to feel that kind of mood.
And anxiety.
What will become of me from now on?
Will I be able to continue this work in the future?
Will I be able to continue a borderline fraudulent job while being verbally abused by my boss?
A business method of sweet-talking lonely elderly people into buying ordinary energy drinks at three times the price of a convenience store.
Selling supplements that cost hundreds of thousands.
My conscience is already paralyzed.
If I don't produce results, my boss's verbal abuse awaits.
Even so, I've done it thinking of it as atonement to Ai for everything up until now.
I was afraid of quitting here and going back to square one again.
I can't turn back anymore.
Changing jobs = no guts.
I hated the thought of Ai thinking of me that way.
Ai works hard, even if it's tough and difficult.
Because if she doesn't, we can't eat.
That's why I have to work hard too.
But I can't bear this any longer.
Even if I sell supplements to elderly people in poor health, there's no way it will have any effect.
Even so, they buy them because I talk with them.
They buy more than they need.
I can't bear looking at the smiles of those elderly people.
But I can't quit.
I'll place a burden on Ai again.
I can't afford to place any more of a burden on Ai.
But...
Isn't the very fact that I am alive a burden to Ai?
If so, I want to make things easier for Ai.
I am a useless human being.
Ai is a wonderful woman.
To the point of being too good for someone like me.
I left a message for Ai on a piece of stationery.
To Ai.
I'm sorry for everything up until now.
I've caused you hardships all this time.
You supported me with all your might.
I don't want to make you suffer anymore.
I was happy to be with you.
I'm sorry for causing trouble until the very end.
But I no longer have any hope to go on living.
I cannot find any value in my own existence.
Ai is a wonderful woman.
I hope you meet someone better.
Goodbye.
Thank you.
Leaving the note behind, I stood in the kitchen.
And I take out a kitchen knife.
It must be painful.
Both of my hands tremble.
But, at that moment, Ai came home.
"Eita!"
My movement stopped with a twitch.
It seems Ai immediately guessed from my appearance.
Approaching me, she takes the kitchen knife from me and slaps me.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Ai was crying.
My thoughts have stopped.
It seems Ai noticed my note.
Taking it in her hand, she reads the note and then tears it to shreds.
Ai is calling somewhere.
Once the call is finished, she takes my hand.
I was resisting.
"Just come with me!"
Ai put me in a taxi and it started moving.
In the taxi, I was thoroughly lectured by Ai.
Ai was crying.
(3)
"Ai-san, it might be better if you go home to him. I also have a few things that concern me."
Told by Katagiri-kun, I left the karaoke venue, caught a taxi, and went home.
Katagiri-kun's hunches are usually right.
When I got home, Eita was standing in the kitchen.
What he was holding in his hand was...
I immediately snatched it away from Eita and slapped him.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
I was crying.
Why couldn't I notice until it came to this?
Eita must have been sending out SOS signals all this time.
I, who should have been the first to notice, failed to notice.
I shudder to think what would have happened if not for Katagiri-kun's words.
I was shaken.
Calm down!
What is the first thing to do?!
Call the hospital.
I can't say I'm calm either.
I decide to use a taxi.
When the taxi arrives, I take Eita and put him in the taxi.
"To Nishimatsu Clinic."
My head is still in confusion.
What should I do?
What kind of words should I say to him?
I just need to convey my feelings.
"I'm glad I made it in time."
That was my first utterance.
"I'm sorry, I didn't notice until now. I didn't even try to notice that you were pushed that far."
Encouragement and scolding are forbidden words.
I carefully choose my words, one by one.
In that way, I convey my feelings.
It doesn't matter if they don't reach. It doesn't matter if they don't resonate.
I appeal to him, thinking only of Eita.
While doing so, we arrived at the hospital.
We head to the psychiatric emergency desk.
And I receive the examination together with Eita.
Depression caused by work stress.
Just as I thought.
For now, we receive antidepressants and sleeping pills.
"Take a break from work for the time being."
I told him so.
"I can't do that. It costs money for treatment too."
"Just rest. I'll handle the paperwork."
"...I'll cause trouble for Ai again. Just how useless of a man am I?"
"Why do you think that?"
"I'm always causing trouble for Ai. Even though I can't do anything for you."
I embrace Eita.
"Just being like this is enough. It's enough that you are alive right now."
If you die, we won't even be able to do this, you know?
"Ai-san!"
Watanabe-kun and the others rushed over.
I explain the situation to Watanabe-kun and the others.
Katagiri-kun didn't say anything.
Watanabe-kun speaks to Eita.
"Why didn't you consult us at all?!"
"...I didn't want to involve everyone."
"You say you didn't want to involve us, but you actually have! What are friends for?!"
When Mika-san says that, Katagiri-kun opens his mouth.
"Mika-san, Watanabe-kun, calm down. Kiritani-kun, you should just rest well for today. Well, we'll be going. I'm relieved that Kiritani-kun is safe."
"Well, see you, Ai-san," Katagiri-kun and the others said as they left.
We also went home.
Once we got home, I made him take his medicine, let Eita rest, and then called Eita's company.
"It's troublesome if you suddenly take time off!"
The company says so.
"Neither as his wife nor as a nurse can I allow him to go to work."
"He is still in his probationary period. We can even dismiss him, you know?"
Is that a threat?
"Please feel free to do so."
Saying so, the other party hung up.
After that, I consult with everyone.
"I understand Kiritani-kun's seriousness. I'll introduce a good job to you. Rest assured and wait for your illness to recover for now."
Emi-san said that for me.
After a while, Eita wakes up.
Is it about time for lunch?
I make a meal and eat with Eita.
I explain things like the job to Eita.
Eita was depressed by the word 'dismissal', but I encourage him.
"It's okay. Just rest well for now."
Once I finished tidying up, I naturally became sleepy, so I went to sleep.
I woke up once every two hours, though.
I was worried whether Eita would do something foolish again.
Eita was watching television with hollow eyes.
After eating dinner, when it became time to go to work, I left the house.
"Well, I'm off."
"Have a safe trip."
A few days later, a notice of dismissal arrived from the company.
After that, a letter of introduction arrived from Emi.
A sales position at Eguchi Trading Company.
A job providing new products to clients.
Since dealing with clients is the main focus, there are no quotas.
They prepared it for him, thinking it would be perfect for Eita, who was capable of door-to-door sales.
Hearing that, Eita also seemed relieved and was recovering smoothly.
Since Eita's recovery is also necessary, I had them set his hiring to start next fiscal year.
For now, still rest.
I say so.
Eita's story is a do-over once again.
The road continues on, long and far.
If rainbow-colored rain pours down, the sky resounds.
Deep behind the dazzling smile, a sad sound plays.
Snuggling close, having the present, it is so very precious.
The warmth when we hold hands.
Each and every piece becomes you.
The seeds of hope carried by the wind.
The light becomes the bud of a dream.
If you laugh, I can laugh too.
Each and every piece becomes you.
Your story, which begins from now.
A long road continues on.
If rainbow-colored rain pours down, the sky resounds.
(4)
"Alright, starting the countdown!"
Kiritani-kun's voice heard through the headset.
Kiritani-kun begins the countdown.
We charge along with the shout of "GO."
Our guild, with me at the front, suppresses the enemy base all at once and secures the fort.
And then, time is up.
"Good work~"
The moment everyone feels relieved.
It seems Kiritani-kun has gotten much better.
It seems he is currently undergoing rehabilitation while attending a work support facility.
At this rate, he will probably recover soon.
On this day, for the first time in a while, four of us participated, including Ai-san and the others.
Seeing Kiritani-kun commanding today, Ai-san also seemed relieved.
The laughter of the two of them can be heard.
"Well, we're logging off now."
Saying so, they log out.
"I'm glad for Kiritani-kun."
Airi says.
"Yeah."
Airi also seems relieved.
Airi started watching a drama.
I am looking at my smartphone.
"Akiyoshi-kun, when is ALICE's major debut?"
"I think it will be next year."
"Then, they'll be showcased again at Christmas, right?"
"That is the plan."
Akiyoshi-kun and Kiritani-kun are talking.
"With this, the Watanabe group's problems are gone."
Watanabe-kun also seems relieved.
"Is that really so?"
The one saying so is Sasaki-kun.
"What do you mean, Sasaki?"
"It's the same for Tada-san and Kiritani-san, but the Watanabe group really can't hold their heads up against women, can they?"
"T-That's not true, right? Makoto."
"Y-Yeah, that's right. I say what needs to be said, clearly."
It seems Makoto and Kiritani-kun have also learned.
"Sasaki, you're not married, so you don't understand!"
Kisaragi-kun says.
"What do you mean? I might get married in the future, so I'd really like you to tell me."
"Doing as you're told is just about right. It's a test of a man's caliber."
"Just as Makoto says. Even if they're a bit noisy, it's best while they're nagging at you."
I take back my previous words.
The others started talking in the Watanabe group.
"Can you really say it's good that you can't even say what you want to say?"
"They say it all the time, right? If you say one word, it comes back threefold. In the end, men are just that kind of creature."
"If it's threefold, that's on the better side! In our house, it comes back about a hundredfold."
"In our house too, Iori's nagging has increased since we got married. Women are monsters. They are creatures that reveal their true nature after marriage."
Even Kisaragi-kun starts talking.
Should I leave my smartphone alone soon?
But by the time I realized, it was already too late.
My smartphone is taken away by Airi.
"Shota is good at metaphors. Women even put makeup on their hearts. Once they get married, they stop even putting on that makeup... Gah!"
"Come to think of it, Ai stopped wearing makeup too. Do women even lose their sex appeal... Ah!"
"What's wrong, you two? What happened? ...Ah, Iori!"
"All three of you, come to the Watanabe group!"
Airi types.
When I have Airi return my smartphone and look at the Watanabe group, it had become disastrous.
"You guys... I thought you'd been quiet lately, so that's how it is."
"Just let your guard down for a moment and this is what happens... men."
"What are you thinking, Sho-chan?!"
Kanna, Ai-san, and Iori-san are speaking.
The other men are claiming they are innocent.
I am also desperately claiming to Airi right now that I have nothing to do with it.
"I know," Airi smiles.
But she is worrying, "Do I nag a lot?"
Placing my smartphone on the table, I get into bed and say "Come here" to Airi.
Airi gets into the bed.
I turn off the lights.
Then, I explain to Airi that there's no such thing.
The road continues on, long and far.
If rainbow-colored rain pours down, the sky resounds.