September 23

After Kakeru's death, we learn from Kakeru's grandmother that he attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself on this day. This was the reason he was hospitalised and didn't come to school for the next few days. It seems that he had met up with his old friends from Tokyo just the day before.

Persuade Kakeru to not meet with his friends, and work to prevent him from attempting to hang himself.

"So, everyone, I guess you all know that this meeting is about Kakeru. So, did everyone's letter talk about this? Kakeru committing suicide?" Naho, the convenor of the meeting said.

All of them gave an affirmative yes.

"So, what should we do about this? Any ideas?" said Naho.

"Hmm… How about we try to ask him out on that day that he planned to meet up with his old friends?" Suwa suggested.

"Old friends?" asked Azusa.

"Didn't your letter said anything about him meeting his old friends before he attempted suicide?" Suwa replied.

"Well, not mine either." said Hagita.

"But mine did. Takako?" said Naho.

"Mine did." Takako answered.

"Well, anyways, my letter hinted that his suicide might have a connection with him meeting his old friends the day before. It might have no connection either. My letter wasn't conclusive." said Suwa.

"It seems like a good idea anyway. We could ask him out that day. And watch over him until night. Make sure he doesn't end up killing himself. Ensure that he has a good time. Whether or not he ended up meeting his friends, if we can prevent him from forming such thoughts, it might work." said Takako.

"This idea sounds good. Let's go withit." said Naho. The others nodded in agreement.

"Hey, Kakeru! Are you free on the 22nd of September? Wanna hang out?" asked Suwa.

"Why so sudden? And on such a specific date too? My birthday is over, right? So, not a surprise birthday party. Hmm… Sounds fishy." said Kakeru.

"What? Nothing so fishy about this. I just want to hang out with Kakeru. No?" said Suwa while making a pouty face.

"Oh! I hear something interesting. It has been some time seems we all hang out together. Can I join too?" said Takako.

"Well, I was about to ask everyone else too." said Suwa.

"Well, we would all love to join." said Azusa and Naho.

"Me too." said Hagita.

"Then it's all set." said Suwa.

"Wait… I haven't even said yes." said Kakeru.

"Unless, you have other plans?" asked Suwa.

"No, I don't. Well sure, I'm free to hang out on the 22nd of September." said Kakeru.

"Then, everything isgood." said Suwa. Still, he couldn't push away an uneasy feeling. Didn't Kakeru have plans to meet up with his old friends? Has the future changed again?

It has been a week since September 23. Somehow or another, their plan must have succeeded, since, Kakeru did not end up trying to kill himself. He came to school as usual. Still, Suwa was slightly worried. Kakeru's depression was a ticking time bomb. It might explode at any time.

Worrying wouldn't do him any good, so he decided that he might just as well message Kakeru and ask him what he was doing now.

'I'm meeting with some of my old friends from Tokyo.' Kakeru's replied him. Eh? Didn't they manage to prevent Kakeru from meeting with his old friends? Wait… There was a flaw in their plan. They planned their September 22 trip way too early. Before his old friends asked to meet up. That's why he accepted their invitation to hang out so easily. So, maybe, he ended up meeting up with his old friends on a later date?

What could he do? Stop the meeting? But, he's probably already meeting up with them, or have already met up with them. Asking him to cancel the meeting or walk out from the meeting now is probably absurd, and Kakeru will wonder what's wrong with him.

'Where are you meeting your friends?' texted Suwa.

'PARCO shopping mall. We probably going to eat at the McD there."

Well, he was going to stalk Kakeru. Hopefully Kakeru doesn't notice him. Now, if only he has some wig. He would have to make do with a hat. Some sunglasses? Might be odd to wear some in the middle of the night. Seat nearer or further away? If he sat nearer, he might be able to hear the conversation clearer, but the risk of being noticed by Kakeru is higher. Vice versa for further away.

For clothes, hmm… Maybe he should choose a set of clothes that Kakeru have not seen before… Obviously, but which clothes have Kakeru seen before, but… probably not something to weird, lest it attracts unwanted attention…

Suwa can't believe that he would be doing something so Azusa like. Stalking. He messaged everyone about this matter, but they haven't reply. He checked his disguise. It was probably ok. He hoped so.

Ok, Kakeru spotted with a bunch of guys. They were ordering their food for now. He should go order his food too.

After ordering their food, the bunch of guys sat at a good spot, defined by Suwa as a spot where it was easy to get a place that was near them but still good enough to remain hidden. Suwa chose a seat near them and sat them. For now, Kakeru hasn't yet realised his existence, which was great.

"So, how's life in Nagano?" guy A asked.

"Yeah, yeah! Are you still playing soccer?" guy B added.

"Yeah, I am." Kakeru answered.

"Oh, the seniors don't bully you there, do you?" guy C said.

"Yeah, we were sorry to see you transfer school. Was it because of the bullying by the seniors? We wanted to do something about it, but we were powerless in front of the seniors…" guy D said.

"Well, it was my mother's decision. She wanted to move to Nagano all of a sudden. I don't think it was related to the bullying by the seniors. And no, they don't bully me there." Kakeru said. Suwa pondered upon this new information. Was Kakeru afraid of being bullied by the seniors, that was why he refused to join the soccer club?

"Well, sounds good. Naruse, you are stronger then you look, eh? Able to overcome to trauma and fear of being bullied and joined the soccer club." said Guy A.

To that comment, Kakeru merely laughed lightly. "Well, I have a good friend that wanted me to join the soccer club."

"So, Naruse, you met good friends eh?" said Guy C. Kakeru nodded in response.

The conversation passed on to about Kakeru's old friends' life in Tokyo, without anything important happening.

Finally, Kakeru's old friends decided to leave. Suwa followed Kakeru towards his home after a distance. Suwa thought that despite the innocent sounding conversation, there still might be the possibility of an event triggering Kakeru to attempt suicide.

Maybe, he could try message Kakeru?

'How was your meeting with your old friends?' Suwa sent a text to Kakeru.

'It was fine. But a bit tiring.' Kakeru was not revealing anything through text. He needed to meet up with Kakeru and ensure that his state of mind was sane.

'Are you still at PARCO? I happened to be there for something. Wanna meet up for a while?' Of course, he knew that Kakeru was still at PARCO, but he needed to feign ignorance.

'Sure? Where are you?'

'Wait for me in front of the supermarket.'

"Suwa."

"Ah, hi Kakeru." Just after sending the message, Suwa realised that he was still the sunglasses and the hat. Luckily, he realised that immediately. Still, he didn't have other clothes to change into. He can only hope that Kakeru didn't notice a person wearing this set of clothes just now.

"So, what are you doing here, Suwa?"

"Err… I was trying to find… a certain brand of chocolate from the supermarket." Suwa was caught slightly off-guard. He has forgotten to create a reason and had to make one on the spot.

"Ahahaha. I was wondering if you were stalking me. Such a coincidence eh."

"Ahahaha. Not at all." Did he know? Or not?

"So, where is the chocolate? I want some."

"Eh… Well… It sold out."

"You're being suspicious, Suwa."

"You are just overly wary, Kakeru."

"But having such a caring friend that stalks me because he worries that my old friends might bully me is nicee toooooo"

"Kakeru, you are being dramatic. I was not stalking you."

"Really? I'm sad now."

"Ok ok, that's enough of acting."

"You're no fun, Suwa."

They exit the mall and walk towards their home.

"Anyway, what did your old friends want?"

"Nothing really. But it was really tiring talking to them. I'm not really close to them, actually, so it was slightly boring."

"Eh, then why did you agree to meet up with them?"

"What do you expect me to say to them? 'No, you cannot visit me.'? "

"Well, I guess that's true too."

"Then, are you feeling okay, Kakeru?"

"I'm fine. What's with that question?"

"No particular reason."

"Well, I'm happy now because I get to see Suwa. Ahahahaha."

Suwa made a motion of attempting to slap Kakeru, which Kakeru playfully avoided.

"Seriously, being friends with all of you is the best thing that happened to me, you know." said Kakeru.

"Okay, bye Suwa, I'm going that way."

"Kakeru!"

"Yes?"

"Do me a favour. Message me first thing tomorrow morning."

"Why? Are you worried that I might attempt to commit suicide?"

A split second of quietness.

"Are you going to?" Suwa said.

"It's just a joke, Suwa. Don't worry. No… …day… … way."

"What did you just say?"

"I'll message you, don't worry."

Still, Suwa can't help but worry.