With Hayashi’s ex-boyfriend behind bars, she was finally free. For the first time in a while, she began venturing outside. Her first stop was a real estate agency; it seemed she planned to take her time finding a new place to live.
From that point on, whenever she wasn't busy with housework, she was on the tablet searching for properties. She clearly had no intention of returning to the apartment she had shared with her ex. It was a place steeped in painful memories, and I couldn't have agreed with her more. She told me she only planned to go back once to retrieve the belongings she had brought with her when they first moved in together.
"Yamamoto, do you have some time today?" Hayashi asked one day, with Obon just around the corner.
"What is it?"
"There’s somewhere I want to go."
"Do I have to go too?"
"Yeah. I’d really like you to come with me."
I looked at her with a hint of suspicion. She had gone to the real estate agency on her own without asking for my company, so why did she suddenly want me to go somewhere with her now?
"Does it have to be me?"
To be honest, a part of me found the request a bit of a drag. Or rather, since I still didn't quite understand her personality, it might be more accurate to say I was being a coward. If she told me she wanted to go to some beach crawling with the party crowd, I wouldn't be able to handle it.
"Yes. It has to be you."
Whether she sensed my hesitation or not, Hayashi looked me straight in the eye and spoke with total sincerity.
That alone was enough to make me toss aside my previous reluctance, my heart giving a small, unexpected thud. I had put a lot of effort into helping her through this whole ordeal, after all. Maybe she wanted to do something to thank me. In other words... was she thinking of this as a date?
...No, definitely not.
"Where are we going?"
"I want to go buy a smartphone."
"Got it. Sure."
"Sorry. You just seem like the type who knows a lot about tech and stuff."
"I’m not that much of an expert. Though, I definitely know more than you do."
"Ugh, you're so obnoxious!"
We laughed together and headed out. We made our way to a nearby mobile phone shop. When I asked, she said she didn't have a preference for any specific carrier. Since she was fine with just signing a contract at the most convenient location, I led her to the closest shop in the area. Unfortunately, I didn't actually know which company offered the cheapest plans or anything like that.
"Welcome. Please take a numbered ticket and wait to be called," a member of the mobile phone shop staff said as we entered.
"It’s surprisingly crowded in here."
"Now that I think about it, it's Saturday. There are probably a lot of working adults here today."
"I see."
We took our ticket and started browsing the displays for a phone to buy.
"By the way, what kind of phone do you use?"
"A So*y."
"Huh. Not the one with the Apple mark?"
"Japanese people tend to buy the Apple mark phones without a second thought, but they're only second in global market share."
"Wait, really? Then is So*y number one?"
"No, So*y isn't even in the rankings."
"What?"
In the smartphone market, domestic brands were struggling significantly. With new models being announced twice a year, each adding some new gimmick, Japan’s current technological edge just couldn't keep up with the reality of the market.
"Then who’s number one?"
"Samgyetang."
"What manufacturer is that?"
"Korea."
"Heh, you really do know your stuff."
I was tempted to point out that she just knew far too little, but from her perspective, there were probably things she considered common knowledge that I was completely ignorant of. There was no point in making a comment just to put her down.
"I told you, didn't I?"
"Yeah. For the first time, I actually respect you."
Hey, what happened to not making comments just to put the other person down?
"...Anyway, if a Japanese person is buying a phone, I think the Apple mark is perfectly fine. I'd even recommend it. The best part is that the selection of cases and accessories is insanely huge."
"Ah, that's true. They have dedicated sections for them everywhere."
"Right? That's how it is."
"...Wait, then why did you choose a So*y?"
"The Apple mark... I just don't like it because everyone else has one, you know?"
"What a pathetic reason all of a sudden."
"And Samgyetang is... well, you know."
"Hmm."
"At the end of the day, I just like domestic manufacturers."
"I see. ...I was wondering what I should do, but the Apple mark phones are really expensive, aren't they?"
Looking at the price tags beneath the colorful displays, the Apple mark phones were indeed a bit pricey. In fact, everything that manufacturer made was expensive. They were clearly looking down on Japanese consumers. There was no doubt about that.
"Okay... I’ve decided."
"Which one?"
"The So*y."
Hayashi gave me a wide, mischievous grin.
"Now we're matching."
I had bought my phone right after graduating high school, so it was already one generation old, but it was still on the shelves. Buying a model that was one generation behind kept the price lower than the flagship models. That was likely why she had picked it.
"Don't do that. We'll end up mixing them up."
I wanted her to stop because... well, it was embarrassing. But I couldn't say that, knowing she'd just tease me for being self-conscious.
"I'll have to make sure I don't look at anything weird on mine, just in case we do swap them by mistake."
"Give me a break..."
Just as I let out a sigh of exasperation, Hayashi’s number was called from the counter. She hurried over and officially purchased the smartphone.
Now we're matching.
On the walk back, that smile she had given me wouldn't leave my head.
I immediately shook it off. She would be leaving my apartment soon. When that happened, we would go back to being mere acquaintances. I couldn't let myself get the wrong idea.
That was the lie I told myself.