【Mustard】Combined for a long time must be divided

He realized that the most important thing he should do now was to wash his face.

Atsushi Nakajima let out a long breath and stood in front of the mirror in a rare mood to relax. Ryunosuke Akutagawa leaned against the door to watch him, and he could clearly observe his expression through the mirror.

It's so relaxing, he squinted his eyes and looked at the upright and desperate Saburo who was skipping work, and suddenly remembered something irrelevant: Ichiyo Higuchi met him in the toilet earlier, this time Akutagawa Ryunosuke blocked him in the toilet again, and he What's wrong with the toilet?

Ryunosuke Akutagawa was still watching, and Atsushi Nakajima pouted, "My eyes are swollen."

"Ok?"

"——how can you go out to meet people?" Atsushi Nakajima complained a bit, "you should take responsibility anyway?"

"I didn't make you cry. In the final analysis, it was because of your own wild thinking that you became like this. Don't you think you should reflect on yourself?"

"Why should I reflect on it again? Of course I will reflect on the wrong work or the driver's license, but this time you are also responsible, why don't you reflect on it?"

Hearing this, the other party raised his eyebrows with great interest, but did not speak.

Atsushi Nakajima felt that there was no need to pay special attention to the matter of bickering with Ryunosuke Akutagawa, it was a matter of course. Although he did like each other, but he couldn't think of how to warm up with him when he opened his mouth. He just wanted to refute subconsciously. What is so weird Magic magnetic field?

Then he thought, since he likes it, someone should accommodate him.Akutagawa Ryunosuke was able to give him trust for him to let go of his posture first, and push the opportunity back to him when he almost chose to give up. If not, they must end up missing each other.

He will not forget this matter, even when he thinks about it, he will feel a little lack of confidence, so he said angrily: "...Okay. I will retaliate..."

"I will also reflect on it."

Akutagawa Ryunosuke interrupted him.

"About the decision-making and choice of each step, although I haven't thought it through yet, there must be something wrong. I will reflect on it, but in contrast, you must also clear those thoughts that should not be out of your mind. "

What he says is what he thinks, to the point where it almost seems heretical to him.Things at work can still be corrected even if mistakes are made; but feelings are different, some things that shouldn’t be said or done can’t be recovered once they happen.Emotions are not things that can emphasize efficiency. Love, dependence, and mutual acquaintance should not be taken blindly, and should not be paid blindly. Put yourself in the right position and show love with an equal attitude. If Atsushi Nakajima can recognize these things, work will be better It's something more insignificant.

After all, Akutagawa Ryunosuke likes Atsushi Nakajima, a real person, not this job that he works so hard to give himself more choices.

Atsushi Nakajima was stunned for a moment, he was not used to Akutagawa Ryunosuke making concessions to him.But the other party said so, and he didn't feel that he should deny it. At least the two of them are now trying to express clumsily for the sake of getting along. They haven't gotten used to it yet, but it's natural.

They always try to change themselves for a life that can go hand in hand in the future.

"...That's it. I will work hard." Atsushi Nakajima nodded, glanced at Ryunosuke Akutagawa in the mirror, and then at himself in the mirror.

"Just one more thing..."

He turned around, barely leaning against the edge of the sink, his expression a little embarrassed and a little tangled.

"What about Higuchi-san?"

"Nothing. She will do her part well."

"I'm not talking about that kind of thing," Atsushi Nakajima felt that he didn't understand what he meant at all. "You didn't feel it, did you? She still likes you very much, but I have to tell her clearly about my affairs."

"..."

For Akutagawa Ryunosuke, Higuchi Ichiyo has participated in his past life after all, and he doesn't hate her, but she is always a person who is not expected.It is not too easy to deal with Higuchi Ichiyo's feelings. Akutagawa thought that time could bring Higuchi a different hope from his own, but...

She still seems to keep her original promise, instead of giving up, she once again showed her love for Akutagawa Ryunosuke.

Perhaps it would have been better to reject her straightforwardly at the beginning, Akutagawa thought, but he was advised by everyone at that time: to watch others and give others a chance to catch up. A silver lining.

In fact, no one is to blame for this. No one expected that Atsushi Nakajima would suddenly appear in the near future. The so-called aloofness of Akutagawa Ryunosuke was completely reversed. Maybe he really didn't follow him before. I put things in my eyes, but Atsushi Nakajima really changed him.

It’s not impossible for him to change himself. People in the office also lamented his stubbornness in maintaining himself after he made friends with Higuchi Ichiyo and separated, but that was only because he didn’t meet the right person, and that person was not Higuchi Ichiyo , so the two will separate.

Akutagawa Ryunosuke hopes that Higuchi can understand that the person she should be attached to is not herself.

"I see. I will make it clear to her." Akutagawa Ryunosuke said.

"Hmm..." Atsushi Nakajima nodded hesitantly.

"What do you mean? Think I can't handle it?"

"No. Just a little worried."

"No need. I'll explain it properly."

"I'm not worried about you," Atsushi Nakajima sighed, "I'm a little worried about Miss Higuchi."

Akutagawa Ryunosuke called Higuchi Ichiyo when he was about to get off work. His tone was flat and he didn't make any clear intentions: "I have something to tell you after get off work. Wait for me in the coffee shop downstairs."

Higuchi was obviously a little flustered, but quickly adjusted himself, and answered "yes" vigorously, with a bright expression.

Before she went to see Akutagawa, she specially touched up her makeup. The white foundation, honey-colored lip gloss, and meticulously groomed hairstyle may not be perfect, but they are enough to make her confident in front of the person she admires.

Ryunosuke Akutagawa's figure was so eye-catching that he didn't even need to look for it.He is like a morning star, just sitting in the crowd will shine; that light guides Higuchi Ichiyo across thousands of mountains and rivers from a more distant past, and overcomes many obstacles. She gave everything she could , just to come before one person.

She got it and lost it again; but she never gave up. To this day, Higuchi Ichiyo still likes Akutagawa Ryunosuke.

She didn't rush to express her heart again. When she left half a year ago, Higuchi hadn't learned to suppress her sadness and disappointment, but now she has enough patience to wait, waiting for the opportunity that might come—waiting for the opportunity of Ryunosuke Akutagawa to accept herself again.

But the variables were unexpected.

She didn't know when Atsushi Nakajima appeared and when he had a substantial impact on Ryunosuke Akutagawa. It seemed that it was just a trick of the gods, and he suddenly made himself feel a sense of crisis, and even directly Showdown to your opponent.The result was exactly as she expected. Higuchi Ichiyo didn't know whether she should be happy for her overly sensitive premonition or annoyed by her potential competitor. Before she could sort herself out, the other party just gave in and declared "I quit".

But Ichiyo Higuchi knew he was lying.Atsushi Nakajima admittedly said to himself "I don't like him", but liking someone's appearance cannot be faked.If he really doesn't like it, there's no need to force a smile in front of him, and there's no need to leave in a hurry, as if running away; most importantly, if Atsushi Nakajima really doesn't like Ryunosuke Akutagawa - why bother to say What about the phrase "I can't compare to you"?

That kind of bitterness, that kind of humbleness, that kind of cautiousness, I am too familiar with it.

How many nights she hid in the quilt and cried anxiously, feeling that she was ordinary and dull, just a dusty ordinary person, even if she really stood beside Ryunosuke Akutagawa, it would only make him dusty, instead of adding icing on the cake, it would Pulled the opponent's hind legs.

Facing such an excellent Akutagawa Ryunosuke, ordinary people who like him will naturally feel inferior, so Higuchi knows that Atsushi Nakajima is not ignorant, he understands his feelings for Akutagawa—he really likes him, and he doesn’t even like him. It is inferior to the overly strong feelings I had at the beginning.

But people are selfish, how painful it is to give up someone, Higuchi Ichiyo almost feels the same as Nakajima Atsushi; if he doesn't like Akutagawa Ryunosuke, she will definitely advise the other party not to give up, secret love is a It is a long and endless war, and the one who perseveres until the end will win. As long as you stick to your heart, you will get what you want in the end.

She had had the opportunity to say this to him, if the person he liked wasn't Akutagawa Ryunosuke.

Winning without a fight made her feel a little despicable, but when she saw Akutagawa, all the guilt and anxiety turned into her hardest armor, only for one person to be invincible.

"Senior," she greeted Akutagawa with a smile before she sat down, "have you been waiting for a long time?"

"No." Akutagawa Ryunosuke shook his head slightly.

"I used to chat with you here on a date," Higuchi Ichiyo said in a nostalgic tone, "Although it has been a long time, it feels like it happened yesterday."

She meant something, of course Akutagawa Ryunosuke could hear it.Those days when Higuchi Ichiyo was with him are rare embellishments in an unchanging life, but memories will eventually become memories, and the past will eventually pass.

"...You don't need to be reluctant to part with those things," Akutagawa Ryunosuke said slowly after a long silence, "People need to look forward, and dwelling on the past is the most useless escape."

Higuchi pursed his lips: "You are right. But the reason why I look back at the black and white past day and night is all because you are only in the past stories. Since the past is useless, of course I also want to focus on the present— —But I can’t find the figure of senior at all in my present.”

"Does my presence or absence make any difference to your prospects?"

"Of course there is. My wish is to spend every day with my seniors in the future, as close as I was a year ago. Maybe what I say now will disturb you, but——but I can still have the same relationship with you again Is there a chance to be side by side?"

When she said these words, her eyes never flinched, she looked straight into Akutagawa's eyes, and the meaning behind her words was almost nakedly expressed.

Akutagawa Ryunosuke looked at her, seemingly moved, but unmoved.He said: "You are a very good work partner, Higuchi. But it is best for my relationship with you to stop at a work partner. This is for the sake of both of us."

"..."

Higuchi Ichiyo bit his lip, frowned narrowly, and did not answer.In the coffee shop, Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of Flowers" is played on a loop. Clara rides the Nutcracker and his prince through the endless snowy ice fields of the Snow Country, and dances together in the land of candy, which represents fairy tales and dreams. A song represents marriage. Ritual pas de deux, she loves him.But she had a premonition that he would disappear after all—so the girl woke up in the middle of the night, the prince was gone, and all Clara had was a nutcracker that could dream.

Is that a dream?Why can't sweet dreams go on forever?

"Is it because of that person?"

she asked suddenly.Akutagawa Ryunosuke didn't answer her, so Higuchi showed a little sadness, and continued to himself: "Actually, I guessed it, I guessed it from the very beginning. I have never seen you show that kind of expression - he is obviously contradicting You, but you are not only not angry, you can even be called enjoying it. Women's intuition is always the most unreasonable. I think something must have happened, so I went to confirm it face to face, and declared war in a despicable way. Even thought I could win the game on this—”

"But you chased after him. Obviously he chose to give up on his own, but you chased after him regardless. He is really lucky. Unlike me who was abandoned, he is really loved."

As she spoke, she suddenly laughed at herself.

"—But I can't be reconciled, I really can't be reconciled. Why him? Where am I not good enough? Whether it's the mood I want to give, or the love I have for you, it's obvious that I met you first, but why? Him? Can’t it be me?”

Higuchi Ichiyo's eyes were gradually covered with mist, but the tears did not fall, and her voice was soft, containing more grievances than doubts.

Akutagawa Ryunosuke flicked the left hand holding the coffee cup.He listened to the girl's questioning every word, but his mood became helplessly clear—it was because he seemed to understand a feeling.

"It's not like that, Higuchi," he shook his head, "not because of 'you can't do it', but because of 'it's not him'."

"Whether I like it or love it, these illusory things have a real direction, which is ridiculous, but I can't resist. It may sound absurd, but Atsushi Nakajima is the one I need, only him, there will be no more The second person."

When he said this, he kept paying attention to Higuchi Ichiyo's expression. For a moment, he thought that this beautiful girl was about to cry again, but Higuchi opened his eyes, sniffed suddenly, and raised his head to look at the ceiling.

"Even if you say that... I'm still very unwilling. But I won't cry, I want to let you know that during the days when I'm away from you, I'm really growing—"

She smiled ugly.

"—and if you cry, your makeup will be messed up."

If you want to be a strong person, don't be defeated by Akutagawa Ryunosuke's words.Although she still loves him, she is no longer blindly chasing after Akutagawa's back, dedicating all she has regardless of whether the other party needs it or not.Higuchi Ichiyo is really thinking about herself now.

Akutagawa Ryunosuke suddenly realized that she had indeed grown up.

"Higuchi," he said, "I've worked hard all these years."

"Your goal doesn't have to be me. You can look higher and pursue what you really want—I don't know what that is, but for you now, what you need most is definitely not me."

It is clear and well-founded, just like what Ryunosuke Akutagawa would say every time he calmly analyzed logic in the past.But this is one-third of her life. The ideal land and tender land, love and uneasiness, tenderness and fear, tears and heart, all of which she strives for are all attributed to Akutagawa Ryunosuke.

——Can you really let go?

"...I don't know," she murmured, "I really don't know."

"You will understand one day after all." Akutagawa said.

Higuchi Ichiyo sat on the sofa in a daze, and many images appeared in front of her eyes; but she didn't seem to see anything, and her mind was blank, as if an important puzzle piece was missing.

With all these years of admiration and hard work, she thought she would be invincible, but in the end she was defeated, in front of Akutagawa's love.

"Can he really do better than me, senpai?" Higuchi Ichiyo finally asked.

Akutagawa Ryunosuke rarely smiled when he heard her ask this question.He shook his head: "He doesn't need to be better than you. He just needs to be himself, and that's enough."

"...It's really a complete loss," Higuchi smiled wryly, "Although I'm mentally prepared, I still feel so unwilling to cry when I hear you say that."

She lowered her head, her shadow was reflected in the porcelain cup in front of her, her makeup was exquisite, and she suffered a crushing defeat.

But she has no way to fight for anything anymore. She likes Akutagawa Ryunosuke, but she doesn't need to beg her to give her a piece of love.

She's just sad.

"I think," then Higuchi raised his head and said, "I may not be able to come to work in the company for a while. Can you grant me a few days off?"

"Of course." Akutagawa replied.

After Higuchi Ichiyo left, Akutagawa seemed to be in deep thought, picked up his coffee and took a sip, when a voice came from behind him: "You are so heartless, manager."

"The last thing I can do for her is to be more unfeeling. You don't even want to be jealous of this, do you?"

Atsushi Nakajima slapped the newspaper that was used to cover his face on the table, and turned to look over the back of the sofa to look at the top of Akutagawa's hair: "Who wants to be jealous?! I followed because I was worried about Miss Higuchi, you Don't be too sentimental!"

"In that case, she hasn't gone far, you can catch up and take care of her."

"you……!"

Nakajima got angry and walked to the seat opposite Akutagawa Ryunosuke where Higuchi was sitting before.

"You can treat girls so unfeelingly. I don't know if you will go too far when it's my turn."

What he said was a bit of anger; or even worse, before his thinking mode could be transformed into that of ordinary people, he might still be afraid of being abandoned after confirming his mind in Akutagawa.

Akutagawa Ryunosuke put down the coffee, his tone and expression were serious.

"There won't be that day."

"..."

Atsushi Nakajima looked at him.

Akutagawa Ryuunosuke let him watch, anyway, he could stand the look, not to mention being looked at twice would not lose a piece of meat; but Atsushi Nakajima, who was thinking of something, stared straight into his eyes Full of desire to speak.

He could hold his breath, and finished his coffee contentedly. When the cup bottomed out, Atsushi Nakajima finally spoke.

"I don't seem to have told you yet." His expression was a bit awkward, but he was awkward and firm.

"say what?"

"I like you."

"……I know."

He then added in his heart, I like you too.

Turning left from the coffee shop is the exit of the parking lot. Higuchi Ichiyo felt tired, but he didn't want to expose his weakness. He straightened his back and walked slowly, step by step, on the sidewalk in high heels.

She took two steps forward, paused, continued to move forward, and stopped again after two steps.

Higuchi turned around, took back the few steps he had just taken, and then stood beside the black Highlander who had been following behind him and knocked on the car window.

Kajii Keijiro rolled down the car window: "Hi, what a coincidence."

Tachihara Michizo and Hirotsu Yananami, the co-pilots, greeted Kajii together.

"What are you doing with me? Is there something wrong?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"I just... I heard that you haven't got off work yet," Michizo Tachihara leaned over to the driver's seat, "It's all right, all right."

Higuchi Kazuyo's expression remained unchanged, Kajii Kijiro and Tachihara Michizo looked at each other, and said at the same time: "Akutagawa and Nakajima..."

"Higuchi-kun," Hirotsu Yanagi interrupted them suddenly, "Do you want to go to the bar for a drink?"

The two sitting in the front seat nodded like chickens pecking rice.

Higuchi Ichiyo stared quietly at the three people in the car, without blinking his eyes, until they all felt that the silence was too long, Higuchi finally laughed.

She got into the car, untied the rope, and closed the car door as if letting go of any restraints.

"Of course. If you don't get drunk, you won't return."

THE END