Chapter 24 - At Kiyoshi's Place

Later before lunch time, the two men are walking down the street towards Kiyoshi's apartment because Kiyoshi suggested to Daku to have lunch at his place instead of going to a restaurant.

And as they stood just outside of the apartment building, Daku raised a question, "Is this where you lived?"

Nodding to say yes, Kiyoshi answered back, "Yes, ever since I was born. I grew up here."

"I see," replied Daku back.

Not long after, they went in, and went to the third floor of the building, before they had arrived at Kiyoshi's apartment unit. Kiyoshi then unlocked the door using his key, and he and Daku went in, before Kiyoshi closed the door shut. Inside, both men then took off their shoes, and Daku was marveled at the unit's layout and interior.

"Wow, your place looks so clean and decent," Daku commented.

"Thanks," Kiyoshi happily responded back. He then went to the kitchen to cook curry for lunch as Daku sat down at the dining room. While the curry was being cooked, Kiyoshi prepared the table for himself and Daku. Over half an hour, the curry was now ready to be eaten. All this time, Daku passed the time by reading books. Seeing that his food is now ready, Kiyoshi turned off the stove and opened the lid of the pan, causing the aroma to permeate across the kitchen and dining room. Daku then sniffed the curry from the dining room, giving him partial comfort. Kiyoshi then put some of the hot, delicious curry into a big, blue ceramic bowl, before getting some freshly-steamed rice as a partner for the curry. He then served it to Daku, who then put aside the books he had been reading. Kiyoshi then settled down, and he and Daku made a prayer gesture while closing their eyes and said, "Thanks for the food." After that, they opened their eyes and eat up. Tasting his friend's curry, Daku was allured by its taste and texture, reminding him of his mother's cooking when he was a child.

"This dish…," Daku said to Kiyoshi.

"What is it, Daku-san?" Kiyoshi responded while looking at him.

"…reminds me of my late mother," Daku completed his sentence finally.

"Really?" Kiyoshi replied back.

"Yes, she used to cook that dish for me," Daku explained in response. "All those years before I became a monster."

"Wow, I…I understand how you feel," Kiyoshi replied back.

"What makes you to say that?" Daku asked a question.

"I can tell by their faces and words," Kiyoshi responded with an explanation.

"Oh, I see," Daku responded back. "Thanks;" he then resumed eating his meal.

Later, while Kiyoshi was washing the dishes, Daku resumed reading Kiyoshi's book collection. The atmosphere around was calm.

"Wow, you had quite a strange collection of books here," Daku commented.

"Well, I was interested in psychological thriller books," Kiyoshi responded with an explanation, "as well as genres that makes me calm."

"I see then," Daku replied back; he then resumed reading while listening to music in his smartphone. This then followed with a short silence.

"So, Daku-san," Kiyoshi asked breaking the silence.

"What is it?" Daku responded back.

"I saw your home was quite shabby and crappy," Kiyoshi made an opinion regarding Daku's home.

"Oh, um, yeah, it's true," admitted Daku with a bit of sad emotion and tone. "I never had a job nor the money to move out. I'm having a hard time paying for my food and drinks, and my savings is now running dry."

"Wow, I didn't know you're having a hard time," Kiyoshi responded back. He then turned off the faucet and said to Daku, "But, I saw you are smoking at your place. Are you spending your savings on cigarettes or something?"

"Well, sometimes," Daku admitted again. "And always on convenience store food and water."

"Oh, I…I understand you," Kiyoshi responded back.