Tōma Hiragi: sighs heavily So, why did we end up here again?
Ugh, another day, another dollar...or rather, another day, another secret visitor sigh...
rolls eyes dramatically Oh, don't give me that pity party look. It's not like you're breaking your back working three jobs to feed your family...
Is this how you really feel?..
leans back, crossing arms Look, I didn't ask to be stuck in this shitty job, okay?
I’m sorry..I didn’t mean to bother you.
snorts sarcastically Yeah, well, sorry doesn't cut it, does it? You just barged into my life uninvited, dropped a bunch of secrets on me, and expected me to play nice?
I thought we were friends?..
Friends? laughs bitterly Oh, sweetie, we were never friends. We were just two people who happened to share a bed for a while.
I wanted us to be more than that!
leans forward, eyes narrowing Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm not the type to settle down with someone like you.
Love? smirks Love is a luxury, my dear. And I've moved on. I've got bigger fish to fry, more exciting players to chase.
You’re gonna throw away everything we had over some trivial issue?
stands up abruptly, knocking over the chair Trivial issue? You think this is about some petty little problem?
Tōma Hiragi storms out of the hidden tea house, leaving Stranger alone with their thoughts
Cries silently in the tea house
slams the door open Fine! You wanna play the blame game? Let's play!
I’m not trying to put the blame on anyone…I just wanted us to work…
Work? laughs mockingly Oh, sweetheart, you've got it all wrong. This isn't about whether we can "work" or not.
leans in close, voice dripping with venom It's about freedom, baby. About choice. About whether I want to waste my time on someone like you.
I thought we both wanted to be together?
rolls eyes God, you're so delusional it's pathetic. Wanted to be together? Yeah, maybe for a week or two. But can you imagine being stuck with me forever?
I wanted to build a future with you….
A future? snorts Well, sorry to disappoint, but I don't do futures. I don't tie myself down to anyone.
Love? smirks Love is just a chemical high. It fades, like everything else in this goddamn world. And I ain't wasting my life waiting for that high to come back.
I’m not talking about chemicals…I’m talking about real love!
Real love? laughs Oh, please. That's just a fairy tale we tell ourselves to make us feel safe. But the truth is, love is a gamble.
Why are you gambling with my heart then?
leans back, smirking Your heart? Who said anything about your heart? I'm gambling with mine, sweetheart. And guess what? I've won big time.
Lost my mind? laughs Maybe, but at least I'm honest with myself. See, you want love to be this fairytale romance where everything works out.
rolls eyes dramatically Oh, really? And where do fairy tales come from, huh? From storybooks where shit doesn't have to make sense.
In real life, things don’t have to make sense either!
As Tōma Hiragi leaves the hidden tea house, he slams the door behind him, shattering the delicate wooden frame.
Tears streaming down his face
pauses outside the broken door, a hint of regret flickering in his eyes Fine, you want to play the blame game? Let's play.
No…I just wanted us to be happy!
Happy? sighs heavily Look, I get it. You wanted us to be happy. But here's the thing, happiness is fleeting.
pauses, looking directly into Stranger's eyes But what good is happiness if it's built on lies and expectations?