It's been two months now and I still can't hear Kurosawa-san's thoughts. I have started to get used to his random visits as well. Like the other day, for example.

It was Friday evening and I had just finished writing a particularly difficult part of the story, when the doorbell rang. When I opened the door, I was greeted with a plastic bag dangling in front of my eyes.

“What’s this?” I asked, knowing perfectly well whose face was hiding behind the bag.

“It’s beer and snacks. I thought we could hang out and have a little chat.” Kurosawa-san replied, shifting the bag out of the way and revealing a wide smile.

“Go away. I’m busy.” I said, about to shut the door in his face. But Kurosawa-san was quicker than me and managed to slip through the crack and enter the apartment.

“Don’t be like that.” He said while placing the bag on the kitchen counter. “It’s Friday evening. It’s the perfect time for friends to have a drink and just talk.”

“Who’s your friend here? I don’t see anyone.” I snarled, leaning against the door, which was now rendered useless. It appeared that it couldn’t keep away a slippery person like Kurosawa-san.

“You may brandish your sharp tongue at me, but I know that you are really a nice guy.” he said, obviously ignoring my annoyed expression.

He turned his head and gave me one of his dazzling smiles. Even the corners of his eyes crinkled. 

At this point, there was nothing I could do. He was already inside, and simply throwing him out didn’t seem possible. There was only one thing to be done, take a deep breath and try to relax. Besides, I couldn’t hear any weird thoughts from him so there was nothing much to worry about.

Without sparing a single moment, Kurosawa-san took my kitchen as his own. He placed the snacks in bowls, grabbed the bag with the beer cans and brought everything into the living room.

“Oh, before we start drinking, I have to ask.” Kurosawa-san said, stopping before he opened his beer. “Have you had dinner yet? If not, you should probably eat something. Drinking on an empty stomach is unwise.”

“I already ate.” I replied simply, taking a seat across from him at the short table.

“Really? Did you eat instant noodles again?” he questioned with a slight frown between his eyebrows.

“I had takeout. Yakisoba and ramen.” I replied, picking up a can of beer and opening it.

“Oh, that sounds like a hearty meal. I’m glad.”

“Why do you care so much whether I eat food or not? It’s not like you owe me anything.” I asked, feeling half curious and half confused. Really, what was inside this person’s head, caring so much about a stranger.

“Of course, I care!” he yelped. “You are our most prized author, so it’s only natural to take good care of you. Besides, if anything happened to you, Kota-san would have my head on a spike.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

“Actually, I am not.” He said, opening his beer and taking a big gulp. Then, he looked up and continued to speak calmly. “Before I first came to see you, Kota-san told me to take good care of you. He also said that after Haruka-san left you will find it difficult to adjust to someone new.”

“That meddlesome person.” I grumbled, taking a large gulp of beer. What was Kota-san thinking, telling this guy all this stuff?

“Perhaps, but that just means he cares about you.”

I didn’t answer and he didn’t push me for a reply either.

After that, we spent several minutes quietly sipping our beers. If I had to be honest, I would probably say that it felt strangely comfortable. Sitting at a table with Kurosawa-san, drinking beer and simply chatting like this… it wasn’t so bad, I guess.

Maybe it was the alcohol getting to my head, or perhaps it was Kurosawa-san’s honest behavior, but I soon found myself loosening up. Before I could stop myself, I opened my mouth and asked him something more personal that I normally would have.

“It’s Friday night. Don’t you have anyone waiting for you at home, Kurosawa-san?”

He looked at me, a little confused at first, before he began laughing and shaking his head.

“This old man is married to his job. There is only an empty house waiting for me.”

Usually, when people talked like that, they would sound lonely and in need of comfort. But when Kurosawa-san said those words he sounded like nothing was the matter; as if life was just as it should be.

“That’s a bit sad, isn’t it?” I couldn’t help but ask, glancing at him from over the beer can.

“Not really.” 

He shrugged, gulping the beer until he finished the entire can in one go. Then, he smacked his lips together, a look of contentment appearing on his face. Glancing up he looked straight at me, a playful smile curving his lips. His voice was calm, but there was a subtle teasing hint to it.

“Besides, you shouldn’t be the one to talk. Aren’t you doing the same thing? Living all alone in this apartment, keeping to yourself and spending your time writing and playing with a cat. It doesn’t get any lonelier than that, now does it?”

No, I will not succumb to your prodding. This kind of provocation is beneath me and I will not respond the way you want me to! 

Besides, it has been many years since I have last talked to someone about my circumstances. It isn’t like people are willing to believe someone can actually hear their thoughts.

“Not really.” I said, looking away disinterestedly. “I am perfectly happy with the way things are. I have everything I need.”

“Hmmm, if you say so.” He hummed, opening another can of beer and taking a big sip.

“What about you? How did you end up in this field of work? You don’t really look like the type of person who likes to read.” I said, trying to steer the conversation away from me.

“Yes, I’ve been told that many times.” He chuckled, leaning back slightly.

Several seconds passed without hearing a reply from him. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye and was a bit startled. 

If I wasn’t mistaken, there was a look of nostalgia in his bright eyes. In all this time I have known him, I have never seen him wearing that expression. It was a mixture of warmth and sadness that is impossible to describe in words.

Could it be that I have said something insensitive?