"Find ecstasy in life ; the mere sense of living is joy enough." - Emily Dickinson

Eriri is in her room, lying on the bed.

"What a great morning!" She told herself, "I don't need to go to work!" She got up and poured cereal in a bowl before pouring milk.

After that, she went to take a shower and came out in a causal green t-shirt and short pants. She was about to go out and take a walk in the park when her phone rang. It is George.

"Hello, doctor." She answered the call joyfully.

"You sounded so happy today. Anyway, can I meet you? Like now?"

"Now? Why?"

"I just want to talk to you about something."

"Can you come over to my house instead?" Eriri asked, "I'm lazy to move. Besides, I want to enjoy my freedom."

"Alright." George sighed before ending the call. A few minutes, someone knocked on her room's door.

"Come in." She said. George entered the room and walked to her.

"Eriri, this is serious." George turned her to his direction and held her shoulders, "Your friendship's on the line."

Eriri gave George a surprised look.

Aftermath

Episode 5

After making tea for George, Eriri sat down on her bed, George sitting beside her.

"So you knew about it already?" She asked.

"Megumi told Masaru, and he told me." George said, "Look, I know you want to insult Masaru because he did a lot of wrong things. But think of Utaha-senpai. She still loves Masaru. Besides, you and her are best of friends. Surely you girls don't even talk to each other because of that?"

"She started it first." Eriri complained, "She couldn't take the insults about that stupid jerk! I don't understand why she still loves that son of a bitch! He hurt Utaha, yet she's so forgiving. I don't even care what reason he has, but he can't just kidnap his girlfriend like that!"

"That was some time ago already, Eriri." George said, "Masaru had already apologized for his mistake. Let bygones be bygones."

"I just can't! He kidnapping one of my best friends just like that isn't something that I could easily forget."

"Eriri, listen to me." George held her shoulders, "If you treat Utaha-senpai as one of your best friends, then apologize to her. I'm sure she'll apologize to you as well for all the insults you girls hurled at each other. Stop insulting him too. He isn't worth for you to keep insulting. Let the past be gone. Get on with the present."

"What about Utaha? Is she going to apologize to me?"

"I'm sure she will. Someone else will convince her to do so. Probably Tomoya Aki."

In Utaha Kasumigaoka's house, she was preparing to go for work. She slipped her legs into her heels and adjusted her pantyhose before walking out.

As she stepped out, she saw Masaru leaning against the wall beside her door. She looked at him and he looked at her awkwardly.

"You know, we're not going to stare at each other here. I'm here for a reason." Masaru said.

They went back into her house. He sat down on the sofa as Utaha poured him a cup of water and then sat beside him.

"So, m...may I know why you came here, Masaru?" Utaha asked, looking at him with confusion.

"I'm not here to savage our relationship." Masaru said, "I had to get that off my chest lest you get the wrong idea of why I'm here."

"I see." Utaha said them with a tinge of sadness in her voice. Inside, she felt like her heart was ripped apart into many different pieces.

"You quarreled with Eriri over me?" Masaru asked. Utaha nodded her head.

"How can you?" Masaru asked angrily, "She is your best friend. She's been with you through thick and thin. And you fell out with her because she insulted me?"

"I just can't take the insults she spurted out! Nobody's perfect, and I know you did it for a reason."

"Yet I was still sent to jail for it." Masaru folded his arms, "Anyway, make up with her. Apologize to her for your behavior. You and her are best friends. Don't fall out with each other just because of me. I'm not worth it."

"No, you're..." As Utaha was about to finish her sentence, Masaru stood up and left the house.

A few minutes later, George sent Eriri to work.

"You sure this would work out, George?" Eriri asked with doubt, "What happens if that dark-haired weirdo refuses to accept my apology?"

"She will. I guarantee you that."

Both of them got into the car and went into the office. They saw Tomoya Aki doing work in his office room. He looked up and saw Eriri.

"Eriri." Tomoya stood up, surprised by her appearance, "What brings you here?"

"I'm here to join the company." Eriri said, "I know I've said I wanted to quit yesterday, but I've thought it through, and decided I'll come back."

"Have you patched it up with Utaha-senpai?" He asked.

"Nope, but I hope to do so."

The three of them then heard the sounds of heels. They went out to the living room and saw Utaha.

Utaha and Eriri stared at each other for a while.

"Sorry." They both said in unison. They looked at each other.

"I should be the one saying sorry." Eriri said, "I kept insulting Masaru that I forgot how you will feel about it."

"No, I should be apologizing." Utaha uttered, "I got angry with you insulting Masaru. I know you feel indignant for me when I was kidnapped by him."

"I..." Tears started flowing from Eriri's eyes, "I'm sorry!" She then ran to Utaha and hugged her. Utaha looked at Eriri with watery eyes and hugged her back, "I'm sorry too. Please forgive me."

George and Tomoya smiled at them.

"I'm so glad they're back as best friends." Tomoya said, "We can finally continue work. Blessing Software's going to be successful again."

George took out his phone and messaged Masaru.

"Mission accomplished."

In a building, outside an office, Masaru was looking at his phone while Megumi is adjusting his tie. He is going for a interview to work in a clothing store.

He grinned at the message George sent him.

"What are you grinning at, Masaru-san?" Megumi asked curiously.

"Eriri and Utaha have forgiven each other, and Eriri decided to work back in Blessing Software." Masaru replied.

"It's a relief to hear that." Megumi straightened his blazer, "Masaru-san, I know you haven't gotten a proper job interview before. Blessing Software's interview is just a short one. Remember to always greet the interviewer and bow down. Maintain a steady posture, and always smile. Never frown. I'm sure you did your research, so answer every question with pride and confidence. After the end, greet him or her goodbye and walk out in a steady manner."

"Wow, that's a lot of tips right there, Megumi." Masaru teased, "I wonder if you're advising me or teaching me a lesson here."

"All right, it's going to be your turn soon." Megumi said, "Save your energy to talk. I'll be waiting for you outside."

"Well, aren't you supposed to go back to work?"

"I want to see my childhood friend go for a job interview, so I told Tomoya-kun to allow me to have an off-day. Besides, wouldn't you want someone to cheer and support you on?"

"Yeah, you gave me the confidence to go for a job interview." Masaru said. The announcer then spoke his name out.

"Alright, it's your turn." Megumi smiled at him, "All the best, Masaru-san!"

"Thank you, Megumi." Masaru smiled at her back before he went into the office room.

In Liam's house, Lucy is waiting for her guitar mentor. Her father told her that a teacher is coming to teach her guitar lessons.

"Is the teacher always this late?" Lucy muttered to herself. Sounds from knocking the door then could be heard. She opened the door to see Michiru with her guitar.

"You must be my new mentor." Lucy said, "Come in."

Michiru walked into the house and sat on the couch as Lucy sat beside her.

"So, have you ever learned how to play the guitar before?" Michiru asked.

"I have, but I decided to drop it as I got lazy walking to the centre."

"Bring out your guitar." Michiru said. Lucy went to her room and brought her guitar out.

"Why don't you play me a song?" Michiru asked Lucy. She shrugged her shoulders, "I didn't go for much lessons."

"Then how did you get interested in playing the guitar?"

"It looked cool when people strung the strings."

"So is this passion for playing the guitar real or not?"

"It is." Lucy whined, "It's just that I want to learn, but I don't want to move my ass around and learn at the same time."

"Alright." Michiru took her guitar, "I'll teach you a song. Learn this song within a week, and I'll teach you for free for the rest of my lessons."

"Really?" Lucy asked excitedly, "What's the song?"

"Hey, Soul Sister by Train." Michiru said, "I'll play it once for you. You'll see me, and then you'll try to copy and learn from me. I'll test you a week later, and it must be the exact same. Understand?"

"Okay!" Lucy replied. Michiru tuned the guitar a little and started strumming to the tune of the song.

After the interview, Masaru came out from the office room. Megumi stood up and ran to him.

"How's the interview, Masaru-san?" She asked.

"They said they would hire me." Masaru responded, "So I will get the job and start work this Friday."

"Well done, Masaru-san!" Megumi smiled at him, "I'll personally patronize your store whenever I'm free."

"Is that some kind of encouragement?" Masaru asked.

"Of course. You got to be glad your childhood friend's rooting for you all the way."

"Well, of course I'm glad. But, Megumi, are you sure me not joining Blessing Software is okay for you?"

"I feel sad, of course." Megumi replied, "Our games will get bugs and glitches. But it's your choice. I don't want to force you."

"I see." Masaru nodded his head, "Want to eat lunch together?"

"All right!" Megumi exclaimed happily as she walked with Masaru.

At the evening, Utaha walked into her room in her house and sat on her bed. She searched for her drawers and saw a photo. It was taken with Masaru.

She took it out and looked at it, while on the verge of crying. She really missed Masaru. All the times they spent together. They even shared a kiss together. All of that was broken when he decided to break up with her.

She got out of her room and went to the kitchen. There, she saw her mother, Mrs Utaha, slicing some carrots.

"Kasumigaoka, do you want anything from the kitchen?" She asked.

"Yeah. This." Utaha took a bottle of red wine and a glass cup before going back into her room. She locked her door and looked at the red wine.

"I hope this taste nice." She opened the bottle and poured the wine into her cup. She then drank it.

She continued pouring wine and drinking. Her father, who just came back from work, came into the kitchen.

"Where's Kasumigaoka-chan?" He asked his wife.

"I think she's in her room." Mrs Utaha said.

"Do you know what I heard from our friends?" He asked. She shook her head.

"Our daughter had told some of our friends that we are currently fighting and seeking a divorce. I think she might want it to spread. This must be one of her ruses again to attract that jerk's attention."

"Why is she so attracted to that asshole?" She shook her head, "Even though he kidnapped her."

"I don't know, but I'm going to find the guy and slap the shit out of him." He growled, "He's made my daughter suffer so much."

"Oh yeah, she's in the room. She took red wine into her room."

"Red wine?" He rushed to her room and tried turning the doorknob of Utaha's room door, only to realize the door's locked.

"Utaha Kasumigaoka!" He screamed as he knocked on the door. Mrs Utaha ran to him and stopped him.

"She's already depressed as she is." Mrs Utaha said, "Trying to wake her up is just going to drain your energy. You have already seen it for yourself for the past six months."

"This girl!" He then stormed off to his room. Mrs Utaha shook her head.

The next morning, Megumi, Tomoya, Eriri and Michiru were in Blessing Software's living room, all calling Utaha.

"Can anyone of you reach her?" Tomoya asked. The girls shook their heads.

"She must be drinking again." Megumi said, "She's started drinking like a month ago. She was so depressed that Masaru won't even come back to her."

"And the worst part is that Masaru said to her that he doesn't want to repair the relationship with her." Michiru added on.

"Masaru's a jerk." Eriri clenched her fists, "If I ever see him..."

"Enough, Eriri. You've promised Utaha not to get angry over him again." Tomoya said.

"Hello, are you guys looking for a coder?" A guy stood at the door. The four turned to look at him.

"Yes." Tomoya stood up, "May I know who are you?"

"My name is Eddy Florence."

To be continued in Episode 6