Chapter 5: Byte

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Translator: Soafp

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June 7. Friday. By the time I arrived at Nishi-Kokubunji, it was past 5:15 PM. I am sixteen years old.

My part-time job at the beef bowl chain restaurant near Inadazutsumi Station starts at six. I have to hurry. But of course, at times like this, the train with the orange stripe I need is already sliding into the opposite platform.

The platform for Fuchu-Hommachi-bound trains is the farthest from the ticket gate. I ran down and then up the stairs, but mercilessly, the doors of the Musashino Line train closed right in front of me.

Sighing, I sat on the station bench. Because it's cloudy in the rainy season, the sky doesn’t change much in the evening.

It stays gray. My heart remains gray too. Even so, I'm better off. I got a boyfriend yesterday. But my mother… my mother…

…Mother. Today, she didn't recognize me again. Since that day, she's lost herself. She firmly believes I am Kai-chan. I am scared.

Scared that I might become like my mother next. If that happens, if it really happens, I wouldn't be able to live. My mother is the only family I have left.

That's why I visit her every day. I haven't missed a single day. If I skip one day, that day might become the next. No matter how tired I am. No matter how much my friends invite me. I will always go to that big hospital.

But… I wonder. How long will this continue? How long should I keep doing this? How long do I have to remain “Kai-chan”?

“…How long…?”

As I murmured, the next Musashino Line train arrived. Pushing through the crowd transferring to the Chuo Line, I got on the train with the orange stripe.

I transferred to the Nambu Line at Fuchu-Hommachi and got off at Inadazutsumi Station. Exiting the newly renovated bridge station building, the beef bowl chain restaurant was right in front of me.

From now until nine. I work three hours, five times a week from Monday to Friday. It was in the perfect location for me to visit after coming back from my mother's hospital.

I was lucky to get hired on my first interview at my first choice. I'm not bad at cooking. I quickly got used to making and serving beef bowls.

The employee entrance has a number lock. I quickly pressed the six-digit code I memorized by heart. I opened the door and checked the wall clock in the office.

It was four minutes to six. I hurriedly changed into the checkered shirt and green apron. Good evening.

“Good evening.”

Kawahara-san, the cool and mature part-time leader who is only four years older than me, greeted me. But to be honest, I'm not comfortable around him. Once I clocked in, there was no longer Nagisa Arahama, the high school girl.

“Welcome!”

I greeted the customers coming through the automatic doors with the same pasted-on smile I showed Rik-kun.