I am so sorry in advance this is one of those dumb long chapters I mentioned T_T.

Anyways, let's watch Ataru deal with some consequences :D (Fun fact, an alternate title for this chapter was Comeuppance)

CHAPTER 8: PERSPECTIVE

Ataru had only been out for half an hour when he decided to go home. It was an unexpected choice, fostered chiefly by a chance discovery on the main thoroughfare that cut through Senshoo. Here, in the heart of the old town, touches of the modern world had managed to stake their claim with contemporary stores, cafés, and even a movie theater. Opposite these attractions stretched a wall adorned with rows of posters broadcasting their existence, among other things. That was where Ataru came across yet another Ad, and in doing so, lost his will to hunt.

Ever since that peculiar night in Rokuyō over a week ago, Ataru noticed an influx of advertisements for this company he'd never even heard of before. He saw them on street corners, the sides of buildings, buses and bus stops, and even in magazines. Lum was just everywhere, almost overnight! Ataru hoped he could escape her in quiet, quaint little Senshoo, but no such luck.

Sour-faced and pouting he stared at the poster that dared infiltrate his peaceful corner of the world. Lum was half reclining on the golden sands of a beach who knows where, staring dreamily out over the glittering sea into a pristine blue horizon. This one must be new, he thought, taking note of the improved design work and layout. They'd finally gotten rid of that awful brush stroke font and were using more flattering colors and typography in the overall composition. Burgundy and blue really brought out her - wait what the hell was he thinking!? Screw the color scheme! Ataru's face flushed red with frustration, and he knew there was no salvaging his mood or the afternoon. Better to go home; try to unwind. Maybe unpack the rest of his tapes and listen to some music. Then he could try again in the evening; head straight to the park and pick up chicks there. Not his ideal way to spend a Saturday, but it wasn't like he planned for this to happen. Begrudgingly, Ataru embarked on the return journey, muttering as he revisited the same tired arguments he always did when his head and his heart were at odds.

One of the first things Ataru noticed as he rounded the last corner, was the presence of two vans and a few taxis parked along his street. People were milling about, nearly all of them burdened by boxes or large pregnant sacks tied around their shoulders. At first he thought maybe someone was moving in, but a cursory examination of the group told him no, people were leaving. And not just one family by the look of things. At least four families were either heading down the road away from him or loading taxis. Curiosity gave way to suspicion. His steps quickened and immediately his eyes roamed the side of the building for some sort of explanation. What he saw was enough to chill his blood and sink his stomach.

Mrs. Miwa was standing in his doorway, and from her mannerisms he could tell she was talking to someone inside. What...what the hell was going on!? Now in a dead run Ataru streaked past the other tenants, unaware of the glares they spared him, and bounded up the stairs two at a time. Mrs. Miwa heard him coming and turned to pin her sharp eyes on him with such ferocity Ataru thought his heart would leap out of his chest from fear.

"It's about time you showed up." The old woman huffed, arms crossed and eyes blazing like twin coals.

"What-," Ataru's voice cracked, so he cleared his throat and tried again. "What are you doing in my apartment?" He half demanded, gathering his courage. Didn't landlords need permission to enter?

A smirk was his answer, and Ataru became restive under her unrelenting glare.

"Didn't read your lease agreement, did you?"

Silence. He hadn't. In fact, Ataru wasn't even sure where he put the damn thing. Mrs. Miwa wagged her head disapprovingly.

"There has been an infestation." She began, going on to quote policy with mechanical recitation. "During any and all infestations I retain the right to enter any unit necessary until the cause is found."

As if on cue two men dressed in white protective suits exited his apartment through the open door, each carrying sacks of garbage that rattled and clanked. At once Ataru remembered the growing pile of boxes, cans, and bottles in his kitchen. The blood rushed from his face, leaving it ghostly pale blue and devoid of all emotion save terror. Mrs. Miwa glowered at him sternly.

"I knew you'd be trouble."

"I-I can explain!" Ataru floundered desperately, only to be silenced by the swift rise of her hand in his face.

"Don't bother! You kids always have some excuse for your negligence, and I don't want to hear it."

"Y-You're right," Ataru clasped his hands together, bent his back to her, and pleaded, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Though it burned him to grovel, the indignity of it was no match for the panic her harsh words and stony eyes inspired. Mrs. Miwa merely snorted at his attempted appeasement.

"You will be." She promised in a threatening tone. "Since you're going to be the one paying for all this." With a sweep of her hand, she gestured to the men in white - exterminators - and the residents he'd inconvenienced. Although Ataru had never been gifted with math, even he knew his wage, though good, wasn't enough to cover the implied costs of everything.

A tide of hopelessness rose around him, and in his mind's eye manifested the destruction of everything he'd accomplished up till now. All his hard work, whatever money he'd managed to save, his apartment, his freedom, all of it crumbling into nothing.

"B-but..." Ataru sputtered miserably, eyes wide and glistening with suppressed tears. "But there's no way...I..." He couldn't afford to cover this and pay all his living expenses. He'd have to move back home! And even then, he'd be beholden to Mrs. Miwa anyway! How was he supposed to save for a home? For his future? In this rising sea of despair Ataru felt like he was drowning.

"I'm not stupid boy, I know you can't afford this outright." Mrs. Miwa admitted, not bothering to hide the bitterness from her voice. "Which is why I'll be doubling your rent starting next month." I that she seemed to take great satisfaction, evidenced by the grin spreading across her wrinkled face.

What Ataru didn't know when they'd first met, was that Mrs. Miwa was a bargain hunter herself. The first number she'd put out there was on the higher end of market value (more than even she thought the unit was worth). Ataru haggled her down far below what she expected to charge, but it was still within the realm of acceptable and she didn't stand to lose any money – or make any, unfortunately. Doubling his rent now meant she'd have more than enough to cover the costs of the unit plus extra. Insurance would cover the fumigation and additional associated costs, and she could use the added income for other projects around the unit. However troublesome this boy seemed to be, now at least she could turn a profit off him. And judging by how pitifully he was groveling, Mrs. Miwa didn't suspect he'd make any more foolish mistakes.

"D-double?!" The haggler within him reeled and the beginnings of an argument formed on his tongue. "That's-!"

"Generous!" Mrs. Miwa barked abruptly. "Or would you rather be out on the street?"

When she put it that way, the wisdom behind her decision became much clearer to Ataru, who swiftly dropped to his knees.

"N-no no! You're right!" he bowed his head deeply, more than once, praising her as he did. "Super generous! So generous! Thank you, thank you!"

Seeing him kowtow before her tickling something inside the old woman. Her grin widened all the more into her cheeks and her chest swelled. Oh yes, he definitely wasn't repeating this mistake again.

"That's more like it." She scoffed, adding with a wag of her finger over his bowed head, "You're just lucky it wasn't the whole building or-"

"Thanks for putting us up Mrs. Miwa." The soft voice of a young man gently eased into their conversation. Mrs. Miwa turned to see one of her tenants standing there with his wife and a small child sandwiched between them, clutching a stuffed doll as if her life depended on it. Much like the others Ataru noticed they had bags packed at their sides, and now he knew why.

"I'm so terribly sorry for the inconvenience, Mr. Ikari." Mrs. Miwa bent forward, her voice adopting a kindly lilt that had been absent seconds ago.

"Not at all," Mr. Ikari smiled appreciatively. "It's not your fault."

"Thankfully we caught it early. You should be able to return by tomorrow evening." She assured him, straightening her back with a few encouraging bumps from her fist.

"Thank you so much." Mr. Ikari reiterated his gratitude, then led his family down the open hallway - but not before he and his wife fixed Ataru with a hateful parting glare. Not that he noticed or cared. All he'd gotten out of the exchange was that the landlord arranged other accommodations for the night.

"Oh, you're putting us up somewhere?" Ataru shuffled closer to Mrs. Miwa, his voice still meek and demure. "That's kind of yo-"

"You can find your own arrangements." Mrs. Miwa snapped coldly, "I'm not spending a penny more on you." Now promptly aware of the exterminators waiting behind her, the landlord thrust a crooked finger back toward the stairs. "Now get out of here, you're in the way!"

Knowing he was beaten and with no recourse available, Ataru ducked his head and slunk past Mrs. Miwa and the exterminators with nothing more than the clothes on his back and what few items he'd left with that afternoon: his keys, wallet/money, and of course his date book.

After taking a moment to curse Mrs. Miwa and her entire lineage back to the founding of their country, Ataru set his mind to the task of figuring out where he could stay. Right away he knew going back home wasn't an option. Absolutely not, out of the question. Not only would he have to endure the agonizing chastisements of his mother, but Lum, no doubt, would pile on him as well. If Ataru was a betting man he'd wager his entire life savings that she'd use this incident as leverage in the argument against his independence. And then there was Ten! Ataru visibly seethed as he thought of that little cretin making fun of him for getting kicked out. As if that spoiled little brat knew anything about how hard it was to live alone! No way! Going home was out of the question!

So then, where to? Ataru pondered this as he meandered through the quiet streets of Senshoo under the blazing sun, and it wasn't long before a name and a face leapt to mind. Of course! Shinobu! His childhood friend and the first girl he'd ever thought about as more than a passing fling! Without a doubt she'd come to his aid! Ataru snickered devilishly to himself; he'd always wanted to spend the night with Shinobu, ever since they were dating. Who would have known such an awful day could turn out so well! As sordid visions danced through his head, Ataru dashed toward the center of town where he knew there'd be a few pay phones. Even after all this time he still remembered Shinobu's number by heart, and as luck would have it, he had more than enough change for the call.

Ataru nabbed the first phone he could find and immediately dug out the change from his pocket, slipping the coins one after the other into the coin slot with gusto. The receiver pulsed to life in one hand, while the other skipped over the number pad. One ring followed another, and then the voice of an older woman sounded with a cheerful greeting.

"Miyake residence."

"Oh hi Mrs. Miyake," Ataru replied, adopting a polite, almost saccharine tone, "is Shinobu there?"

"Shinobu?" Mrs. Miyake repeated with a touch of surprise, followed by a wistful laugh. "Oh my, no, she moved out quite a while ago."

Shinobu moved out? Well, that made sense. For a woman as savvy and goal-oriented as Shinobu of course she'd seek to spread her wings. Good for her! Good for him too.

"Oh, darn. Well, would you be able to give me her number?" Ataru kept his voice steady, but inside he was squirming with delight at the thought of spending an evening with her, one on one - no parents to meddle in their time together. And if she happened to live in a different town that was even better! No risk of Lum finding him or gossip finding his parents! Oh it was too good to be true!

"Who is this again?" Wisely she asked.

"Moroboshi, Ataru. You remember me right?"

There was a stretch of silence over the phone.

"Ah. Yes." Some of the cheer seemed to have left her voice. Then, after another, slightly longer pause, Ataru heard a rustling of papers that didn't sound very genuine. "It seems I've misplaced Shinobu's number, I'm so sorry."

"What?"

"Goodbye!" Before he could even process what was going on, the call abruptly ended, the disconnect pulse buzzing in his ear. Ataru hung the receiver and glared dubiously at the phone in place of Shinobu's mother. Well that was uncalled for! What reason would she have for lying to him? So, maybe, he had a bit of a reputation in his old town. Even so, he and Shinobu had been friends since they were kids! That woman practically watched him grow up! Didn't that count for anything?

Anyhow, whatever way he felt about the matter didn't change the fact that he was back at square one. Ataru applied some creative thinking to the situation, and remembered an old inn at the other end of the shopping district. It was dated and in need of some repair from what he could tell, but it was far and away better than sleeping in the park or something. Or, so it would have been, if the innkeeper hadn't informed him on arrival that all rooms were occupied. An unprecedented event, he went on to say; evidently there had been a bug infestation in an apartment downtown, and all his remaining rooms were filled for the night. Ataru got the feeling this was fate's way of balancing out all the good fortune he'd enjoyed as of late.

Square one again, and the question of the day repeated: where to go? Ataru paced briskly, without aim, through the lonely streets with the sun hot on his back. He hadn't missed the stretch of shadows signaling evening, or the way his clothes were sticking to him. It was hot, and he was running out of steam. Ataru pulled at his shirt to generate some air and checked his surroundings with a sweeping glance, spying an awning two shops ahead. Not perfect but good enough to get the sun off him for a while. August really was a brutal month.

Beneath the shade Ataru took stock of his situation. Unless he seriously wanted to sleep on a park bench, he needed to come up with something fast. But what? Who could he turn to? His coworkers? Hm. Maybe not. Yamagata was, honestly, a little intimidating. Ataru wouldn't get anywhere with Minami, she'd probably just think he was lying to spend a night with her. Tenjou...no. And he'd barely said three words to Tachibana in all the months they'd worked together. Ataru heaved a deep sigh and slouched to one side. A hand flew up to wipe the sweat from his forehead, and in doing so he turned just enough to catch a display in the store window. It featured a gorgeous brunette in a yellow one piece enjoying a swirl of vanilla and chocolate soft serve - he was in front of an ice cream shop. Suddenly Ataru's face beamed with an idea: girls! That's it! Right now in his back pocket was a book with, at minimum, three pages worth of girls he could call! One of them was bound to take him in! Son of a bitch, why hadn't he thought of this first? With renewed vigor Ataru dashed back out into the summer heat in search of the nearest pay phone, clutching the money in his pocket as if it were gold.

After finding one, Ataru piled the remaining change from his pocket on top of the phone box so he could grab what he needed unfettered. He yanked the book from his back pocket, opening it with a flourish, and read off the first number to himself. One by one he would go down the list until someone said yes.

It wasn't a long list, but it still took a bit of time to get through the whole thing. And to Ataru's dismay each girl had a reason for denying him. Overwhelmingly they cited a lack of closeness (apparently one or two dates wasn't enough to instill trust), while others justified their refusal with inadequate space or uncooperative roommates. By the time he hung up with the last girl Ataru's pride was bruised and his hopes dashed.

Square one - sort of. There was another list he could pull from. This one comprised of his friends from Tomobiki. Ataru leaned against a perimeter wall near the phone booth to weigh out his options.

Let's see, off the top of his head he could exclude Ryuu, since he had no idea where she was living now (that, and he wasn't too keen on sharing space with her father or Nagisa). Cross Mendō off the list as well...although, staying there meant access to Ryoko. Which was very tempting. Oh, but then that bastard Shingo lived there too, didn't he? Ataru still fumed any time he thought of that thieving loser. And Asuka wouldn't be there either. So really there was no point in going. Best to avoid the Mendō estate entirely. Ran would have been a great choice, if only she'd stuck around post-graduation, rather than flying off to work on her relationship with Rei, dammit.

Then it occurred to him - Sakura! Ataru swooned at the thought of spending a night alone with her, even despite her off-putting mother. She was nowhere near as awful as Cherry himself or Mr. Fujinami. Oh yeah, Ataru could absolutely put up with her if it meant sleeping under the same roof as Sakura. So it was settled! He'd take the train into Tomobiki and spend the night at Sakura's temple, and, maybe, if he was lucky, they'd get to do a little more than sleep.

Really this bug dilemma was shaping into a wonderful turn of events! Stupid Mrs. Miwa, and she thought she was punishing him. Well, the joke was on her now wasn't it?

"No." Sakura's answer was firm and unbending as the wooden porch she rested upon.

"What why!?" Ataru protested from his seat in the grass below her. "Can't you see I'm desperate?"

"You're not desperate." She scoffed at his claim. "You have a perfectly good home you can go back to if you need a place to stay."

"I can't go back there! My mom's -!" Ataru ransacked his mind for a plausible excuse. "- renovating! She can't take me in right now."

"Oh?" Sakura cocked an amused brow. "Let's pay her a visit then and see what she has to say." Her hands came down to brace against the temple porch, as though she were about to rise, when Ataru's voice leaped to stop her.

"N-no no!" he stammered, quickly retracting his claim once Sakura called his bluff without an ounce of reservation. "Okay, I lied, I'm sorry. But I can't go back home."

"And why is that?"

At this his mind became silent. All manner of plausible excuses abandoned him, so he was reduced to fidgeting nervously beneath her expectant gaze.

"Moroboshi," Sakura gave a fatigued sigh, "you're not a child anymore. And I'm not going to help you run from your problems."

"I'm not running from my problems," Ataru declared academically, turning his nose aside at the accusation, "I'm avoiding them strategically." Which was true, and he was proud of that in his own way.

"The answer is still no." Came Sakura's decisive reply. Ataru looked at her with doleful eyes and leaned earnestly toward her on his hips.

"So you're okay with me sleeping on the street?" Covertly he studied her reaction, hoping for a sign that he'd appealed to her caring nature. Ataru couldn't imagine she had it in her to turn away from such obvious distress, even if it was, somewhat, manufactured on his face.

"If you would rather sleep on the street than at home that is your choice." Sakura did not relent, meeting his gaze without any hints of guilt or consideration.

"Miss Sakura, I never knew you could be so cruel." Ataru pouted, wilting before her like a parched flower.

Sakura snorted at the performance.

"Moroboshi, I know you far too well to fall for that."

Thus the game was lost, and Ataru, having no more cards to play, folded with a guilty laugh and hiked shoulders. Well, she couldn't blame him for trying even if he'd been foolish to do so. Just as she'd said, they knew each other very well. A fact Ataru clung to, taking her admission of their closeness as a consolation prize so he could bear the loss of an evening spent under her roof.

Seeing he had nothing more to offer, Sakura claimed a busy schedule and bid Ataru goodbye. And Ataru, having already conceded the game, wished her the same and retraced his steps back to civilization beyond the woods encircling her temple.

Ataru stared out into the western horizon where the sun was staring to descend. The air was pulseless and thick and he could hear the first heralding croaks of the suzumushi. He was no closer to finding a place to stay, but, well, he had gotten to see Sakura again. And giving in to the memories of her, being back in Tomobiki, and the atmosphere, Ataru became wistful. Nostalgia filled his head and he toyed with the idea of wandering blindly through Tomobiki, if only for a chance at crossing paths with his friends. Ah, but he might also run into Lum. Then he'd really be in trouble. How would he explain away his lack of communication? He could always play with the truth and blame it on not having a phone (another necessity he'd yet to acquire thanks to his foolish spending habits and absence of money management skills). Yeah right. As if that would work! Even if it was the truth, Lum would just cite his appearance as tangible evidence that he had the means to reach her. Ataru heaved a deep sigh and decided to abandon the idea of wandering through town. Which was too bad, it would have been nice -

Wait a damn second!

How had it taken him this long to realize there was another option! One that was so obvious he struck his own forehead in disbelief of his oversight. Armed with this new plan Ataru raced down the sunlit street to yet another pay phone he'd passed, eyes keen for change along the way since he spent everything calling those useless girls. Through dumb luck he managed to scrounge enough money from the streets to make one phone call, which was all he needed. It was a short call, marked by apprehension and uncertainty, but ultimately it ended in victory! At last Ataru had a place to stay for the night! So it wasn't his first choice; who cares? Life's many disappointments had given him a healthy appreciation of good fortune. A bed was a bed, and he'd be in good company. After the day he'd had, those two things were more than enough to lift his spirits.

About half an hour later Ataru arrived at the western end of Tomobiki, walking streets he only vaguely remembered, eyes passing curiously over each house number until one sparked recognition. Here! Ataru practically skipped up the front walkway to the door, rapping on it gently. It took a few seconds before he heard the telltale shuffling of activity. The door opened to reveal a sweet-faced older woman, her hair tied up in a messy bun, an apron strapped over her modest home attire. Seeing Ataru there, her expression dropped.

"Hey Mrs. Shirai! Remember me?" Ataru greeted her cheerily, flashing his hand with a quick wave.

"Unfortunately yes." She responded without enthusiasm. Ataru was a bit perplexed by this and wore the expression plainly. He hadn't long to ponder her unwelcoming reaction when Kosuke, followed by Hokuto, descended the stairs behind her with eager greetings.

"Yo Ataru!" Having spent more time together post-graduation, Kosuke traded Ataru's surname for his given name.

"Yo!" Hokuto echoed from behind Kosuke, waving over his head.

"Yo!" Ataru greeted them in return.

Mrs. Shirai stepped away from the door, perhaps a bit swifter than was polite, and left the boys to handle themselves while she retreated into the kitchen. She was no stranger to the gossip surrounding that Moroboshi boy, and while she thanked the heavens she had no daughters to worry over, he wasn't exactly the sort of man she liked her son associating with. Nevertheless, Mrs. Shirai was not an intrusive woman and trusted her son to make good decisions. Besides which, she was a gentle and caring soul herself who found it near impossible to ignore the plight of others. When her son asked if Ataru could spend the night, explaining the situation as it was given to him, she reluctantly agreed. Still, that didn't mean she was thrilled about the situation. Hence she isolated herself in the kitchen.

Meanwhile the boys made their way to Kosuke's room, where Ataru brought them up to speed on the story in full, expanding upon the shortened version he'd given over the phone. Both Kosuke and Hokuto were sympathetic to his misfortune, and also awed at how quickly things seemed to escalate.

"Wow that bad huh?" Hokuto remarked, half to himself. "Do they know how it happened?"

Of course Ataru hadn't revealed himself as the cause. All they needed to know was that there had been a bug infestation that required fumigation.

"Beats me." He shrugged, feigning ignorance.

"Why didn't you just go home?" Kosuke gave voice to the most obvious question on everyone else's mind – his, Hokuto's, and his mother's too – though for different reasons.

Not wanting to risk a repeat of his debate with Sakura, Ataru opted to sidestep the question entirely. His sharp eyes caught sight of a book on Kosuke's desk that he recognized as a series they both enjoyed, Mison Ikkoku. A quick appraisal of the cover revealed it was the issue after the last one he'd bought.

"Oh is this the newest issue?" He asked irrelevantly, picking it up for a closer inspection.

Hokuto and Kosuke traded suspicious glances.

"No that one's old." Kosuke admitted, taking note of the swift amazement warping Ataru's face.

"What!?" He yelped, double checking the number on the cover.

"Yeah, here." Glancing over his shoulder, Kosuke reached back onto his bed to fetch another book for Ataru to examine. He took it, stared, and then sighed in amazement at how far behind he was.

Kosuke squinted questioningly.

"Haven't you been keeping up?" They both loved this series, so the fact that he was three issues behind, and further, that he wasn't even aware of it, was strange to say the least.

"Money's been kind of tight." Ataru muttered, half absorbed in a quick examination of the pages within. Being back in Tomobiki had erased all the weeks he'd spent in Senshoo. But this book right here was a tangible reminder of how long he'd been gone. And it called some unexpected attention to his spending habits too. Not only had his feverish hunt for women kept him from properly furnishing his apartment, it also inadvertently caused him to neglect his own hobbies. Sure, arguably, chasing women was a hobby. But there was more to him than that, and he fondly recalled many afternoons spent with his friends discussing the curious predicaments of Godai and Kyoko et al., theorizing what would happen next, griping about their misunderstandings, and speculating over when the next issue would release. Those were good days. And Ataru realized with a wave of sadness that he missed that part of himself.

"Damn." Kosuke was sympathetic if unsurprised.

"Well what did you expect as an editor?" Hokuto was far more straightforward with his opinion.

"Hey!" Ataru's pride came roaring forward. "I get paid extremely well!" He huffed imperiously, placing the book down to point accusingly at Hokuto. "There's a lot of things you have to buy when you live on your own you know." Then his finger wagged between the pair of them. "You two have it easy, wait until you move out, then you'll see."

Ataru's outburst seemed to inspire more suspicion than compassion.

"I bet." Kosuke side eyed Ataru.

"You just spend it all on women don't you." Once more Hokuto went straight for the throat, smirking as he unapologetically called out his friends spending habits. Ataru winced.

"Not...all of it." In their company he felt less inclined to continue the charade. So he claimed guilt with a somewhat bashful smirk and careless shrug. To this both boys laughed and the puzzle came together. Ataru was still and all Ataru, and they should have expected nothing less from him.

"Maybe you should move back home." Kosuke offered after they settled down.

"No way! I love living on my own! It's great! Wouldn't trade it for anything!" Ataru barked, almost aggressively, defiantly, his arms folding together across his chest. Kosuke and Hokuto shared another glance, each reading the others understanding and smirking among themselves. Of course they knew better than to take him at face value, especially now. Ataru seemed ready to argue further, but was cut off by a very insistent grumbling from his stomach which had been patiently waiting for food until it could wait no longer. All eyes rested on his midsection. Kosuke wasn't really surprised he came hungry, nor was he surprised by the pitiful sadness in Ataru's eyes as he stared imploringly at his friend. Kosuke had to break the news to him that they'd already eaten dinner, but there were leftovers he could have.

Together they infiltrated the kitchen, much to Mrs. Shirai's displeasure, and began making a mess of things. The leftovers were unboxed, at about which time Kosuke decided he could eat again. Hokuto agreed, and soon the three of them were fixing plates. Mrs. Shirai discreetly mourned the loss of tomorrow's lunch but maintained her silence.

Huddling in the Livingroom around a small table facing the TV, Kosuke scanned the channels for something to watch. They settled on a movie they'd seen before – Hokuto had only seen half of it, he revealed – and the trio ate in silence punctuated by occasional commentary over the actors and story. Ataru wasn't so much paying attention to the movie as he was relishing the act of watching TV.

"I've missed TV." He sighed reflectively. Kosuke looked on him with amazement.

"You don't have one?" How had a TV not been his very first purchase?

Ataru sighed even more miserably than before and slouched against the table. Kosuke's face brightened as a thought dawned on him.

"Do you want one?"

Ataru sprang to attention, eyes bright and hopeful.

"Really!?"

"My dad got a raise," he gestured back to a man hidden somewhere within the confines of his home, "so we're getting rid of this one."

Overcome with emotion and gratitude, thinking he'd scored a win, Ataru clasped Kosuke's shoulders with both hands and bowed his head.

"You're a true friend Kosuke."

Kosuke laid his hands on Ataru's arms companionably.

"I'll charge you fairly."

Ataru registered his words in the silence that fell, and his eyes narrowed.

"You're not just going to give it to me?"

"Why would I do that?" Kosuke asked, still maintaining a friendly demeanor.

"You said you're going to throw it out!" Ataru added with growing indignity.

"We are. So do you want it or not?" Kosuke smiled relentlessly.

"I do. If you're willing to give it to me." A strained smile stretched over Ataru's face. He didn't want to seem unappreciative. At the same time, he didn't exactly want to be taken advantage of either. Who charges someone for trash?

"Sure thing! I'll give you a great deal on it." Kosuke had nothing to lose in this situation, and it wasn't like Ataru really needed a TV. If he could get some cash out of the deal, why not go for it?

"I'll pay you whatever it would cost to throw it out."

Their eyes locked and their smiles stretched joylessly back into their cheeks. Then, for no outward reason, the two succumbed to a fit of laughter. Kosuke found it hard to argue against Ataru's quip, and Ataru admired his friend's instance on being paid. Hell, he would have done the same! And in that altercation, they took stock of the bonds that brought them together and rejoiced in their friendship, which hadn't seemed the least bit affected by the passage of time. From the outside looking in, though, to Hokuto, they just looked unhinged.

"You guys are weird."

Once they'd finished eating and dispatched their plates in the kitchen for Mrs. Shirai to wash, again, to her dismay, the trio retreated back to Kosuke's room where they whiled away the hour catching up on events. Ataru regaled them with the finer points of his job and home life, doctoring his journey in a way that highlighted his freedoms. Any difficulties were only mentioned as a means to underscore his tenacity and ability to overcome adversity. Ataru basked under their quiet concentration as they hung on his words. Rarely was he ever on the receiving end of such positive attention, and even when he was, it was seldom from anyone other than Lum. To say Ataru was glowing with pride would be an understatement. The man was practically radiant! Some part of him, unvoiced, even considered this a better outcome than if he'd stayed with Sakura or some other chick. The respect of his peers, who knew all sides of him both good and bad, carried far more weight than admiration born of ignorance.

Eventually the tide of their conversation shifted, as conversations are wont to do, and it was Ataru's turn to listen as Kosuke and Hokuto uncovered the elusive secrets of university life. From what he could gather it wasn't much different from high school, at least in terms of learning, keeping a schedule, minding the teacher (well, ok, that was different), and completing assignments. Something that did strike him as interesting though, was the existence of consequences. Unlike compulsory education, college was a choice, and they could easily be expelled if they failed to meet expectations. In that regard he could relate, and for the flash of an instant, Ataru relived the horror of his lecture in the Tosa's office. Be that as it were, he didn't regret his choice to forgo another round of National Exams in favor of immediate employment. University seemed to have all the worst qualities of school and work combined, without any of the perks from either. So why wait? If only for these reasons, Ataru felt validated.

After both sides had spoken their piece, a lull fell over the group, which was presently interrupted by Hokuto.

"Oh, did you tell him yet?" he nudged Kosuke with poorly restrained excitement. Kosuke stared at him briefly before a light of understanding flashed in his eyes.

"No," he shook his head. "He's usually working so I didn't get the chance."

Ataru injected himself between the two with a finger pointed at his own face.

"Well good thing he's right here." This prompted a laugh, but neither offered an explanation. "So what is it?" Ataru pressed impatiently.

Kosuke seemed to struggle beneath the attention. A smile fluttered across his face and he looked altogether pleased and anxious in the same instant.

"I'm moving abroad in October."

Wide eyed and slack jawed, notes of astonishment gathered on Ataru's face until he was staring dumb at his friend.

"What?" It was the only thing he could think of saying, followed by the obvious: "Where?"

"America." Kosuke saw an even greater shock register in Ataru's eyes and added quickly, "Not permanently, just for two semesters. There are some programs over there my college doesn't offer. Plus, it's good experience. And..." His voice trailed off and he fussed nervously, scratching his neck and avoiding eye contact. Ataru studied his friend intently, and he could swear Kosuke was blushing.

"He'll get to meet his girl's family and take their relationship to the next level." Hokuto teased with a suggestive inflection in his voice.

"That's not the only reason!" Kosuke barked at once, his blush much more apparent now.

Hokuto continued to pester him with jocular remarks over his true intentions while Kosuke took to defending his stance with aid from a nearby pillow. Ataru, meanwhile, was still processing the news that had just been dropped on him. Not so much that Kosuke was moving – which wasn't permanent by his own admission; just a couple of semesters. Rather, it was the reason behind the reason that tripped him up. Ataru couldn't imagine uprooting his entire life, even temporarily, for a girl...or school for that matter. It was just insane! Thank goodness Lum chose to stay on Earth, he thought at first – and then for a surprise twist Ataru's mind fed him the same sentiment in reverse.

Lum was the one who uprooted her life for him. She moved away from everything she'd known since birth, to a planet that didn't speak her language, with a culture she was only familiar with via research (so she claimed), far from her parents and people (wasn't she a princess or something?), to live among an entirely different species that was, comparatively, underdeveloped. With confidence Ataru knew that he could never stomach such an upheaval. Yet that's exactly what she'd done for him and, somehow, it never occurred to him before tonight. This whole time he'd only ever been concerned with what he had to give up because of her – namely his freedom to chase women and ability to do anything independently – when in reality, Lum was the one who sacrificed the most for the sake of their relationship. Now, that revelation hit him much harder than Kosuke's little trip abroad.

Suddenly and with great embarrassment, Ataru realized he was being watched. Hokuto and Kosuke quit their lighthearted bickering once they noticed their third friend had been sitting stock still with a vacant expression, staring blindly off into nothing. And now they were looking at him with searching, questioning eyes that held just a pinch of uncertainty.

"W-what?" Ataru stammered beneath their combined gaze.

"Gee, I didn't know you'd be this upset." Kosuke puzzled over the reaction, releasing a bit of the tension he'd adopted in his shoulders.

"What - no!"

Kosuke instantly feigned offense.

"I mean! I'm just surprised!" Not a lie. Ataru honestly was surprised. "Going halfway around the world for a girl and all."

For a second time Kosuke's temper flared.

"That's not the only reason!" He defended himself with ardent refusal! It wasn't just about a girl! Well it was a little bit about the girl. But there really were classes at her university he'd actually researched that would help him graduate on time without having to take summer courses! A consequence he'd put upon himself thanks to a few failed classes in his first semester. Evidently, Ataru hadn't been the only one among his peers who needed to learn some discipline.

"Right?" Hokuto agreed eagerly. "It is pretty unexpected."

"It's really not the only reason." Kosuke repeated with less enthusiasm, since he knew there was no point trying to argue with either of them. Or himself, really.

"C'mon it's just us, you don't have to be modest." Hokuto aimed a playful jab at Kosuke's shoulder, which he suffered through in good humor, considering he had no other options. Although, he really wished they'd let it go. Fortunately he wouldn't have to endure their teasing much longer as Hokuto, with one simple remark, shifted the conversation in Ataru's direction.

"But yeah, we kind of thought you'd be the first one of us to get serious, on account of Lum and all."

Ataru, who was decidedly not prepared for that, froze on the instant. He searched for the tell of humor in Hokuto's eyes but found only honesty. For Hokuto and Kosuke, and the other men of 2-4, it was only reasonable to assume Ataru would have hit certain milestones first. No matter how hard he tried to deceive the lot of them they'd seen the unspoken sentiments behind his words and recognized the act for what it was. In all their assumptions they'd been correct, minus their belief that he'd mature enough to make those moves after high school.

"Not me," Ataru shut the very notion down with an upturned nose. Get serious (and all the things that implied)? As in, move in together? Devote himself strictly to one person? Start sharing holidays or visiting her planet or other wild notions? Basically start settling down, as they say? No thanks. Even going out with the same girl more than twice felt like a burden on his time. Besides, traditional logic didn't apply to the two of them. Lum's level of devotion was unparalleled. It alone had seen them through the worst trials bad luck and his wandering eye had thrown their way. He knew she was always going to be around, so why bother rushing into anything? "I'm not interested in all that."

Both his friends shared a knowing smirk.

"That's one way to phrase it." Kosuke quipped, almost under his breath.

"You mean you're procrastinating." Hokuto swung with confidence. For too long he'd been an outside observer to their game of cat-and-mouse, enough to know Ataru's true colors.

"I mean, I'm not about to let myself be tied down. We only get one life to live and I for one am trying to enjoy it!" Ataru had no intention of validating their insinuations, nor was he going to be led into a debate over how he did or did not feel about a certain someone. He wasn't stupid enough to put himself in such a vulnerable position, or one where honesty could slip out in a moment of frustration; a consequence of the disconnect between the voices in his head and the whispers of his heart.

Something about the scorn in his words rubbed Kosuke the wrong way. What did Ataru know about proper relationships anyway? He couldn't even handle his own feelings. And the way he held onto these outdated notions of the 'ball-and-chain' and miserable relationships, as if they were objective facts, was just pitiable. Sometimes, no matter how compassionate he tried to be, it was downright annoying.

"Say whatever you want." Kosuke's cavalier attitude caught Ataru's interest. Hokuto's too. "You just don't understand." The challenge in his words put Ataru slightly on guard, until Kosuke added something he didn't expect: "I'm actually happy."

And...he was. There was no mistaking the touch of it on his face, which had been endowed with a gentle sincerity that comes of knowing your world now encompasses two. It wasn't an expression Ataru had seen before and combined with the warmth of his words he felt oddly struck by the scene.

Happy wasn't generally a word he associated with committed, monogamous relationships. Even so, he had to give credit to the core of Kosuke's argument. Ataru really didn't understand. All his experiences were limited to television dramas or farcical manga storylines. Watching his parents struggle through all aspects of their marriage didn't help either. As a result, Ataru found himself plagued by the question of why. He studied Kosuke's expression and involuntarily recalled other instances where he'd seen something similar reflected in the faces of others. What a strange coincidence, he thought. Or maybe he was simply defending himself from a moment of self-reflection. Hm. Better to drop the subject right now. Besides, whatever the reason may be, Kosuke was clearly happy with everything. They were friends, he wanted him to be happy. Ultimately, that's really what should matter. It was both a convenient excuse, and the truth.

"Well that's that then." Putting aside his reservations Ataru gave Kosuke a supportive pat on the shoulder. "If you're happy then I'm happy for you too. Even if I don't get it." The sentiment in his voice was genuine and seemed to soften Kosuke back on his friend.

"Thanks." Then they shared a silent exchange, each appreciating the other's friendship over the years and harboring a knowledge that they'd miss one another. And then, growing nervous under the weight of their closeness, Kosuke and Ataru shared a hearty laugh, laying heavy hands on each other's shoulders and backs.

The moment passed, and the conversation moved on.

As only good friends could do, they whisked through the night, reducing hours to minutes in their recollection. So when the clock struck a distinctive twelve each of them were left to wonder and theorize where the time went. And amid this mystery that has plagued all mankind since the beginning, Hokuto announced he had to leave. Chatter was idle as he collected himself; the usual promises of future get-togethers and reiteration of the fun they'd had in each other's company, plus a feverish elation at having the ever-elusive Ataru join them for once. They took turns poking fun at his absence and alleged 'busy schedule' he kept going on about. He couldn't fool them, who'd been locked with him in friendship for a good portion of their lives and knew his penchant for excuses and alibis. And in this way, jovial yet quietly respectful of Kosuke's parents sleeping somewhere within the house, they saw Hokuto off.

"Guess we'll see you in another few months right?" Hokuto snuck in one last jab at Ataru who huffed and turned his head with an indignant snort.

"Maybe in a year." he carried the joke further, least they think he'd lost all humor to the daily grind.

"I believe that more than anything else you've said all night." Kosuke quipped with a smirk, immediately cowering as Ataru whirled on him.

"I was just kidding." He whisper-yelled.

"Alright, see you guys around." Hokuto turned from them with a wave that was mirrored by his friends. "Tell Wren I said hi," He spoke first to Kosuke, and then to Ataru, added, "Lum too."

Ataru paused, is hand static in the air.

That's right...neither of them knew he'd been avoiding her.

"Will do," Kosuke answered back, and made to close the door when he noticed Ataru hadn't yet moved. He was standing there quietly, his hands dropped to his sides, staring and yet not staring off into the distance. Kosuke regarded him suspiciously, musingly. "When was the last time you saw Lum?"

This immediately roused Ataru from his soupy thoughts. Swiftly his head turned to Kosuke, who could only really describe the look as one a deer might give at the sudden sight of a wolf. Ataru recovered enough to break eye contact, puff a pent-up breath, and scratch pensively at his head as if in deep thought. All this culminated in a shrug that could have meant anything from uncertainty to dismissal. Kosuke decided not to press further, and the two retreated back upstairs.

But Ataru's mind was still stuck on Hokuto's parting words; say hi to Lum (in effect). And then Kosuke's own question reverberated 'when was the last time you saw Lum?' Even to himself he didn't want to answer. Not that he could accurately measure the days without a calendar in front of him. It was like that with most things nowadays. Ataru lost all concept of time. Every day was the same. Every weekend was the same. Same. Same. Same. Again, the questions repeated, and for a second time Ataru refused to estimate the weeks or months. So, his mind involuntarily posed a different question - how much longer would he wait?

"Well, I'm beat. I'm going to bed." Kosuke announced, his voice strained as he stretched out the fatigue from his arms and back. Ataru grunted his assent.

"Where am I sleeping?"

"Oh right." Kosuke disappeared into the hallway, returning with a stack of blankets cradled in his arms. He kicked away a few miscellaneous items crowded on his bedroom floor and spread out the futon and blankets, tossing them unceremoniously. "Hope you don't mind the floor."

"This is how I sleep anyway," Ataru assured him as he straightened the blankets and placed his pillow. Kosuke nodded, remembering the Moroboshi's lived in a more traditional home than some. More traditional than his own family at any rate, who had invested in beds and chairs.

In unplanned unison they slipped into their bedding and drew the covers over themselves.

"Night Ataru." Kosuke yawned.

"Night."

Kosuke reached over and pulled a cord on his desk lamp, plunging the room into darkness, the only light available to them supplied by a stream of moonlight through the window. Ataru roamed the night sky from his bed on the floor, his dark searching eyes passing over flecks of starlight and distant galaxies. Could one of those twinkling lights be her ship? Was she...looking down at him too? Did she ever look down and wonder where he was? Hah. What a stupid question to ask, he told himself. Of course she did. She...probably thought about him all the time. Even...right now, maybe.

'When was the last time you saw Lum?'

When would he see her again?

Ataru never mapped out a timeline. Instead, he was relying on some gut feeling to come out of nowhere, telling him he was ready. Now the idea seemed foolish. And the longer he waited, the more foolish it felt. He was tired. Tired of many things, but today in particular, he was especially exhausted. He'd run across Senshoo at least twice and been denied or shut out by everyone he'd turned to for help. Except for Kosuke. Good old reliable Kosuke. Ataru regarded his sleeping friend with a smile before turning back to the star-laden sky. Yeah, he was pretty tired. Too tired to fight against the longing in his heart or the vivid memories playing behind his eyes. They became his lullaby, and in those few moments hovering between wakefulness and sleep, he conceded to his pining soul.

When would he see her again?

Soon.

If anyone guessed it was his kitchen garbage pile that would lead to trouble you guessed correctly! Ya'll can thank Reddit for inspiration here again. While researching life in Japan one thing I kept seeing over and over were warnings about keeping apartments clean otherwise roaches become a problem. With a set-up like that I couldn't resist!

Anyways a lot happened in this chapter. Mrs. Miwa gets her revenge (and more money), and Ataru gets a healthy smack of reality once again. Only this time, it's a lesson in loyalties and consequences with a dash of introspection. His reputation came back to bite him when he needed help. But good old Kosuke, even if he wasn't Ataru's first choice mostly due to the fact that he's not a woman lol, he was the one who came through.

Not only that, but their little conversation has given him some food for thought as well. It's finally starting to dawn on him that Lum has made considerable sacrifices just to be with him. And, thanks to Kosuke, he's also seeing that being with someone can bring about more than misery or missed opportunities: it can actually bring happiness! Further, and I think this is very important, Ataru is starting to look at himself as a dynamic individual. He's a guy who likes manga (apparently Shoujo?), movies and music, and loves the outdoors. There is more to him than chasing girls, yet that's all he's clung to on his time off. For the first time he sees how one-dimensional he's become – I work, I hit on chicks, I do chores – the end. And that sort of lifestyle doesn't appear to be very fulfilling now does it?

All these little things came together in his sleeping mind, and it seems we're finally starting to see him warm to the idea of reaching out to Lum!

The real question is, how soon is soon? And will the decisions he made half-asleep stay with him when he's fully awake? The next chapter will be a sort of part 2 to this one, so maybe we'll get some answers :3