ationshipbetweenJuakatsuki,andSayokowouldundergoashift.SoJuoldhimselftoleavethingsastheywerefornowandwatdwait.

    Iakatsukiwasthefirsttomakeamove."Ihatetothrowthisatyououtoftheblue,butImihSayoko,"hetoldJunpei."Ihopeyoudontmind."ThiswasmidwaythroughSeptemberoftheirsedyear.TakatsukiexplaihatheandSayokohadbeeinvolved,almostbyact,whileJunpeiwasathomeforthesummervacation.

    JunpeifixedhisgazeonTakatsuki.Ittookhimafewmomentstouandwhathadhappened,butwhenhediditsankintohimlikealeadweight.Henolongerhadanychoithematter."No,"hesaid,"Idontmind."

    "Iamsogladtohearthat!"Takatsukisaidwithahugesmile."YouweretheonlyoneIwasworriedabout.Imeahreeofushadsuchagreatthinggoing,itwaskindoflikeIbeatyouout.But,anyway,Juhishadtohappeime.Ifnotnow,itwasboundtohappensoonerorlater.ThemainthingisthatIwahreeofustogoonbeingfriends.O.K.?"

    Junpeispeseveraldaysinafog.Heskippedclassesandwork.Helayonthefloorofhisone-roomapartmeingnothingbutthescrapsintherefrigeratorandsluggingdownwhiskeywheheimpulsestruckhim.Hethoughtaboutquittinguyandgoingtosomedistanttownwhereheknewnooneandcouldspeofhisyearsdoingmanuallabor.Thatwouldbethebestlifestyleforhim,hedecided.

    Ohdayofthis,SayokocametoJunpeisapartment.Shewaswearinganavy-bluesweatshirtandwhitecottonpants,andherhairinnedback.

    "Wherehaveyoubeen?"sheasked."Everybodysworriedthatyouredeadinyourroom.Takatsukiaskedmetocheckuponyou.Iguesshewasnttookeenohecorpsehimself.&quo