Never Not
Ch. 27: Haunted by Guilt

In the afternoon, Shohei prepares to pick up Seina. They will be dating to the Sumida aquarium located on the fifth and sixth floors of the Tokyo Skytree tower. Standing in front of the mirror, the man stared at his appearance while tidying up his hair.

He picked up the phone, took a picture of himself and sent a picture of him to Rai via the Line app.

Shohei

Is my appearance good?

^^^Rai^^

^^^Your hair is too tidy, like the fathers. Try letting your front hair look a little messy naturally.^^^

Reading Rai's reply, Shohei returned to the mirror. He ruffled his front hair according to the advice of his colleague. Shohei returned to photograph his face with a tense look and sent it to Rai again.

Rai

Haha-haha .. What expression is that? Don't tell me, that's how your face looks when you meet your boyfriend.

^^^Shohei^^

^^^^ Certainly not!^^^

Shohei hurriedly looked at the mirror. He changed his face with a variety of expressions. Starting from a thin smile, a wide smile, to a smile that shows a row of front teeth.

Rai

Happy dating. By the way, have you guys been open to each other? If not, do it today! Haha-haha ....

^^^Shohei^^

^^^Don't worry. We have been open and honest with each other since we decided to date.^^^

Rai

It's not open like that, Baka! What I mean is your clothes. Have you guys done it? Moreover, this is the right season to be romantic in bed.

The message Rai wrote made Shohei glare at the eyes while clucking his tongue.

This kid ... his brain is all about the bed!

Shohei kept his phone in his pocket. He rushed to pick up Seina at his house. As soon as he arrived at Mr. Matsumoto's residence, the girl really stunned him. He felt an abnormal heartbeat.

Seina truly represents the definition of a beautiful and graceful girl. Wearing a short skirt combined with a blouse and a long coat below the knee, makes it fashionable even in winter. Her long hair, tied together to form a ponytail and her face was dressed in a thin, minimalist makeup.

The two got into the car and drove to the destination. Arriving at the Tokyo Skytree tower, Seina was even aghast. Because, of some aquarium attractions in Tokyo, Shohei instead choose aquarium tours located inside the Tokyo Skytree tower.

Of course this place made him remember the figure of Black Shadow. Where their second meeting is in this tower. Not only that, the mysterious man who always spread camellia petals said that Seina could meet him in this tower after he finished uncovering cases.

"Why ... Why should this place be?" asked Seina with a stiff face.

"Sorry, I don't really know a good date. I just go to this building a lot and see some couples spending their weekends," Shohei replied, "does Seina-chan not like it?"

"It's okay." Seina tried to brush off the shadow of Black Shadow that was beginning to interfere with her thoughts. He held Shohei's friendly hand and entered together.

They both look like lovers in general. Their eyes are spoiled by hundreds of species of fish in large aquariums that fill the entire wall to the ceiling. It's like being in a sea tunnel. They can even come into direct contact with penguins and seals.

"During my time as a police officer, I have dealt with several human characters.Sometimes humans are just like the fish in an aquarium" Shohei said, looking at the variety of fish.

"Eh?" Seina looked in surprise at Shohei.

"Yes, look at the fish in this aquarium! They are of various types and properties. Some are aggressive, friendly, and quiet. They also have different ways of swimming. There are those who use the hand fins there are those who use their dorsal fins, and there are also those who swim in an upside down way. Like humans who have their own ways to survive, fish are also often involved in fights. For the sake of fighting for food, a partner lives, and becomes the master of their habitat, not infrequently they attack each other," said Shohei while watching a group of fish that swim quietly, then scatter when a large fish comes preying. Shohei turned to Seina and said, "Are we not like that too? People often fight for money, power, and a life partner. Just like a fish fighting over food, no matter how much it will continue to devour regardless of other fish that have not yet obtained food, so does the nature of some humans who often maintain selfish."

When Shohei said those words, Seina was only able to flinch with a glare fixed on the man's face. It was like looking at the other side of that ten-year-old man.

"Come to Tembo Galaria. We can see the view of the city from a height of 450 meters," Shohei asked as she gently pulled Seina's hand.

Seina gasped with bated breath. Of course it still lingers in his memory if that's where Black Shadow kissed him a second time. Shohei turned slowly when Seina decided not to move.

"I don't want to go there!" Seina shook her head.

They also watch a dolphin show playing a ball. Beside them, there was a husband and wife who also watched with their toddler son. The couple seemed happy and occasionally captured their holiday moments on camera.

Shohei watched Seina who kept staring at the little family while smiling faintly. Shohei reached into his pocket and took a cell phone to invite Seina to take a photo together like a couple. However, just about to say it, Seina first asked him a question.

"Shohei-kun, may I ask you a question?"

"Yes, please!" Shohei saved the phone back and undoes his intentions.

"What made you decide to get engaged to me?" ask Seina slowly.

Shohei looked at Seina's beautiful pair of eyes. "I want to know you right. If we get married, I want to always fall in love with you. Because getting married is falling in love many times with the same person."

Seina was stunned to hear Shohei's reply. To be honest, he began to feel depressed in a relationship with his girlfriend. It's not that he doesn't like Shohei. Wasn't it! It's just that he's haunted by guilt. He felt that he was kissing the man because he had kissed another man. Worse still, the man who had snatched away his kiss continued to control his mind.

Yes, it was inevitable that Black Shadow would become the talk of everywhere. Even at the Seina campus his friends did not escape talking about the mysterious man! So inevitably make Seina continue to remember the figure that makes her curious. The shadow of the man's face kept guerrilla in his memory. Of course along with the thing that happened between the two of them.

They did not feel like they had spent five hours together. Shohei stopped his car right at the gate of Seina's house. Both of them were both silent for a few seconds, there were only two pairs of eyes glancing at each other bashfully.

"Arigatou gozaimasu," said Seina breaking the silence between them.

"Is Seina-chan happy?"

"Gum." Seina nodded while making a smile. "Very happy!"

"Thank God you're happy! I also felt—" The sentence that Shohei spoke came to a halt just like that as Seina approached and landed a brief kiss on the man's cheek.

"Oyasumi (good night)" said Seina who immediately opened the car door and ran into her yard.

Shohei. The man's bead was perfectly widened. He held back his cheeks which gave off a blushing red color, as if spring was taking place in his heart right then and there.

For a moment, he remembered something then rushed to pick up the phone to call Rai.

"Moshi-moshi."

"How was your date?" ask Rai as soon as the phone is connected.

"Successful! We know each other better, and I love him more and more" she said excitedly, an aura of happiness emanating clearly on the man's face. "Oh, yes, can I ask you a favor?"

"What's that?"

"Please find a good condo¹ in the Omotesando area. He and I will stay together after getting engaged. I want to find a dwelling not far from his father's house so that he can visit anytime to his parents' house."

"Okay, what about the design and interior?"

"That's what I'm giving you. I rely on your taste. Choose a good one for us."

"Where can that be. That place will be occupied by you two. Emm... If you may know what your lover is like? So that I can adjust the contents of the house to his personality."

Shohei seemed to think while imagining Seina's face. "She is gentle, warm, understanding, and also feminine."

"OKAY. In this way, I can ask interior designers to arrange your home."

"Arigatou gozaimasu, please find the best and comfortable to live in. I wanted to surprise her, "Shohei ended their conversation on the phone.

Rai throws his cell phone on the bed, then picks up a cigarette and a lighter.

"Wedding, living together, getting married, then having children. Perfectly perfect!" muttered the man with a wry smile painted on his lips.

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condominiums: like apartments but have ownership rights