Track 2

Huh? What’s this ticket for again?

(...Ah, right. That bathhouse ticket Raito-san gave me. Guess I totally forgot about it after telling him I’d go if I had the time.)

(It’s still valid, huh. Well, no point letting a free bath go to waste.)

(Heh~ Not a bad place they’ve got here. Nice and roomy, pretty clean, too…)

(Well then, guess I’ll go for a quick dip… Hm?)

(What the. What’s he doing here?)

Say, sir. What do you think is the best way to get on good terms with college students these days?

Aw, c’mon, Raito-san! What’re you asking an old geezer like me for? You’re a lot closer to their age than I am!

Well, you mentioned having a son, didn’t you? That’s why I thought you might have some advice.

Besides, I’ve come to realize that simply being close in age doesn’t necessarily make it easier to connect with someone…

I see… Well, college kids are still kids at the end of the day. Guess it ain’t always easy figuring out how to deal with ‘em.

…

Ten is quite capable, but I can’t help feeling like he’s still keeping me at arm’s length. Every time I try to get closer, he somehow manages to dodge my advances without ever giving me a straight answer…

But then again, that’s part of what makes him an interesting guy!

…

(Why does he care so much about me… What’d I even do?)

Hah! If even you’re having trouble getting through to him… That Ten kid must be a real tough nut to crack.

Since he’s college age, why not grab a drink with him? Or maybe get him to talk about his hobbies…

Hobbies, hm… We do share a love for bathhouses. I’d hoped that enjoying a good soak together might help us find some common ground!

Actually, I even gave him a ticket to this very bathhouse.

Ah, so that’s who you meant when you said you’d invited someone to the Yufuin event!

(...)

Ah, alright! I’ll be waiting for you at the bathhouse.

(Don’t tell me—)

It’s been five days since the Yufuin event, huh? And you’ve been coming here every single day, waiting for him. Man, what a tearjerker of a setup.

(No way. Sounds more like a horror story to me.)

Well… Truth be told, I figured from the start that he wouldn’t show up to the event.

And sure enough, he sent me a message saying that he wasn’t feeling well.

Still, since it’s him, he might just drop by here on a whim. And if he does, my gut tells me it’ll be right about…now.

…

(Ugh… How does he imagine total nonsense for every detail and still land on the right answer?)

Though, I must admit. I’m on a 5-day losing streak so far!

Still, waitin’ around for someone like that… Sounds like that Ten fella’s gone and completely stolen your heart!

Yeah, perhaps he has.

(Uh, I don’t remember stealing shit. Can I please return this thing?)

…I’m going home.

Haaah… Guess I should kiss that bathhouse goodbye now.