“I told you before, didn’t I? I’m a kind girl who rescues young people in pain. This activity is, of course, a part of my project. Please, rest assured, nothing bad will happen. Okay?”

It was a dubious explanation. Still…

“Anyway, with this, our contract is in force! If you break it, the penalty is a million yen, okay?” Misaki pocketed the contract and smiled blindingly. Right then, I started getting nervous. I had the feeling I had made some gigantic mistake.

Just how much legal force did this contract have? I should have asked my friend from college who had studied law.

Contract for Escape from Hikikomori Life and Support Therein

Name of hikikomori: Satou Tatsuhiro.

Name of escape supporter: Misaki Nakahara.

Defining the hikikomori as party A and the supporter as party B, the following has been contracted between the two parties.

A will confess to B all anguish, complication, complaints, whines, and every other inward thought concerning escape from hikikomori life.

B will do everything in his or her power to aid A’s escape from hikikomori life and to make his or her return to society (noted as C) succeed. Additionally, during the process toward C, B will attempt to preserve the emotional stability of A.

Conversely, A will speak politely to B.

A will obediently do anything that B instructs.

Furthermore, A will not treat B as an obnoxious person. A will not treat B cruelly.

Naturally, violent acts, such as hitting or kicking, shall not be performed.

Counseling shall take place every evening at the Mita Fourth District park. Come after eating dinner.

If A observes the contract, A should move toward C.

If A breaks the contract, the penalty is one million yen.

Remembering the contract’s contents, I was attacked by severe anxiety. “Forget about it! Give me back the contract!”

But Misaki had long since departed.

I had been left alone, at my absolute limit.

Chapter 07.
The Revolving Rock

Part One

Before I knew it, I had gotten run down, both socially and emotionally; it was that kind of summer. Before I knew it, I had been locked in a kind of cage, with no hope for escape; it was that sort of July. I tried calling, “Help me!” Nothing—not love, dreams, hope, effort, friendship, or victory—could save me. I was in real trouble.

At least Yamazaki had some opinions about his future. Even though he was shouting, “Arghhh! Don’t screw around with me”, at least he had some sort of ambition. He’d been thinking about his family’s business since he was little.

“I’ll get out of this shitty countryside and make a name for myself in the big city! Y-y-you hypocrites! Just watch and I’ll show you all! I have talent! I may not know what kind of talent, but I have it!”