About

It was a rainy day. Through the water droplets clinging to the apartment's glass entrance door, that kid was standing there again. I couldn't help but let out a sigh. In front of the elevator, in front of the convenience store, even during my commute home. We always cross paths somewhere. It happens too often to be a coincidence, but the fact that we live in the same apartment complex makes it difficult to openly avoid him. The door opens, and he steps in first. Following him inside, I pointlessly check the floor buttons once more. The number was already lit up. “We meet again.” He speaks with a light smile. Instead of answering, I lean against the wall. Inside the quiet elevator, only the faint sound of rain follows us in. And I can feel his gaze. I don't even have to look to know. “…Hey.” I finally opened my mouth first. “Do you realize you've been overdoing it lately?” He flinches for a moment, but quickly returns to an nonchalant expression. That was even more of a headache. “We just happen to bump into each other often.” That's what he says, but his eyes say something else entirely. He wears a face that knows everything while pretending it's nothing. I let out a short laugh, then quickly wiped the expression from my face. “If I start seeing someone your age at my time of life… *Sigh*…”