002

The sun shone against my face as I sat down on one of the benches at a nearby park. My eyes were naturally drawn to the group of people who walked idly by, not having a care in the world or rather didn't have any time to gaze at their surroundings.

It was a miracle that nobody bumped shoulders with each other despite having their attention glued to whatever was happening on their phones. Some had smiles, perhaps hearing some good news or receiving a message from their significant others.

Others had a scowl on their faces, grunting and grumbling beneath their breaths. I was one of them, frowning at the words that echoed inside my mind.

"We want you to find a girlfriend soon."

Okāsan's words were still fresh in my mind even though a full day had passed by since I visited my parents.

I was never one to form long-lasting relationships. Case in point was the fact that I only had my family's and one other friend's numbers in my contact list.

"Why do I even need to get a girlfriend? Adoption is always better. "

I repeated what I had told my parents yesterday, which immediately caused me to wince when I remembered the pain that came right after those words.

"That's not the same Raku, quit making up excuses."

Otōsan scolded me right after he hit the back of my head. I wish he'd just rely on his words instead of raising his hands just to get his point across.

The thought of having a girlfriend or any other friends other than my best friend never crossed my mind.

Thinking back, it's probably the reason why I was in my current situation.

I gazed at the single suitcase that sat beside me, its contents being some clothes and other necessities like my toothbrush and my resume.

"Maybe I should have made more friends back when I was in college."

I'd have gone to Waseda University, enjoying how the school had provided me with some challenges and the peacefulness that it brought.

Even though the school had offered a wide range of extracurricular activities such as clubs and other kinds of fun events, I'd have always spent most of my time in the library. Relishing in the fierce academic competition that it brought.

"There was one girl that caught my eye, although I considered her more of a rival than an actual girl."

I'd have forgotten her name, but I had remembered a girl with a tuff of red hair that had always chased me around, challenging me in different ways, which ranged from chess matches and academic races

"I'm sure I won't be meeting her again, I don't even have any information about her or anyone."

Of course, that was just an excuse.

I took great pride in the course that I had finished, being criminology and sociology, which caused me to take one extra year to finish all of my classes.

But in the end, everything paid off as I got an amazing opportunity to work as a detective at the police department in Takadanobaba.

" And that's why I'm here." I nodded to myself as I recalled my situation.

I had no friends nor had any contacts, which surprisingly made it difficult to lease an apartment, and capsule hotels were too expensive for the mediocre services they offered.

"Guess I should call him, of all people..."

I couldn't ask my parents for help because they would have used the opportunity to set me up with a random girl I didn't know thus leaving me with no other choice but to contact my only friend, Okami Katsuo.

He was the only person in college who pestered me so much that I had no choice but to become friends with him. While I was studying hard for an exam three months away, he was working hard on finding a different girl to bring on his bedroom instead of studying for an exam the next day.

Complete, polar opposites, yet our friendship wasn't strained by it at all, which confused me, but I appreciated it.

"Is he busy with another girl..." I tapped my foot impatiently as the phone besides my ear rang for the fifth time before being answered by a familiar voice.

"Hello? Hello? Katsuo here."

"Can you stop banging a girl when your so-called best friend is calling you."

"Tsk, tsk Tomodachi. I wasn't doing any of the sorts"

"Eh? Who are you trying to trick Playboy?"

"Trust me, Tomodachi, I was just planning who to bang!"

Go figured.

"Why did you call anyway? It hasn't been two months since the last time you contacted me. Did you kill someone?"

"Wow, I'll just ignore how much you insulted me there."

"Hey, that was a genuine concern."

"Moving on," I immediately cut him off before he could start ranting on how bad of a personality I had and cut to the chase.

"I need help. You live in Shinjuku, right?"

"Yeah? What of it?" I heard some rustling from his end, presumably him crumpling up some papers or folding some clothes.

"My first job is in Shinjuku, so I need a place to stay in for a while until I get my first paycheck."

"Oh?? And you're planning to crash in my place in the meantime?"

"Is that a problem?" I asked in a monotonous voice, something I had noticed that happens whenever I feel worried or any other negative emotions.

"Hmm... Well, I wouldn't really call it a problem or hassle, but.. what do I get out of it?"

"Wow, some kind of Tomodachi you are."

"Shut up, you only call me that when you need something but that ain't working this time."

Crap. I could hear the seriousness in his voice.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down to think twice about what to say to him. It was obvious that he had wanted something from me, but what?

"I'll do your chores for the entire month and cook three meals out of my own pocket money."

"Ugh, dude, that's something that I want a girl doing for me, not my male best friend."

"Then what the hell do you want from me?"

"Attend a group blind date with me tonight."

"Goodbye."

I clicked my tongue in frustration and immediately pressed the end call button despite his complaints.

"That wasn't helpful at all."

He of all people should know that I disliked blind dates the most. Even though I never had any thoughts of dating or meeting up with people, I wanted my romance to be something close to the books I've read.

Something that comes from out of nowhere, when it happens it just happens without me moving or attempting to look for it. I also wanted the connection with whoever I'd be interested in to be genuine, something that would branch off of getting to know them first instead of a crappy first impression on a blind date.

Katsuo's name flashed on my phone once again and answered it out of my morals despite him being dead to me.

"Hello?"

"Don't say no the idea when I haven't finished speaking!"

"You all people should know that kind of things doesn't entice me."

"Look dude, I'm in a pickle here just like you are. I promised this girl I'll be bringing a friend along but my other friend ditched me without notice."

"Let me guess, you scared him to say yes, and now he got cold feet."

"... I don't like how you can guess things easily."

"It's supposed to be my job, but I still don't see a good reason on why I should go with this."

"Because I heard the other girl is just your type!... Probably." Katsuo chuckled nervously, probably imagining what kind of look I was giving him.

"Oh? My type? And pray tell how you know what my type is when I always dodged your questions about it?"

"Dude, you're as transparent as a glass pane when we talk about girls."

I could hear the exasperation in his voice, which irritated me even more. How could he know what kind of girl I liked when I didn't even myself?

"... I don't have a choice, do I?"

"Nope!" He answers almost immediately.

"Tsk, fine. Fine." I sighed and shook my head, already regretting my decision, but even I know I can't be stubborn in this.

"Good, good, Tomodachi. We'll be meeting up at the Shinjuku Sanchome . Make sure to dress nicely for the date, okay?"

Right, dress nicely when I don't have a place to even change or take a bath in.

"Sure, sure, I'll go check in a hotel for now. I'll meet up with you later."

"Sounds good, see you later,"

I nodded to myself as the call ended, staring at the clear, blue sky.

"... I wish a storm would come later."