Chapter 1: Prologue:A Farewell From The Past

1.

Right now,we are heading on a bar.I'm with two good pals.

One is a young man named Daisuke Satoshi.He is twenty-one years old who have a good poature with good qualities.He has a brown hair, fair eyes straight nose.He is afriendly and joyful man. Although he doesn't have a look of a handsome actor,he was popular in the industry.But the most important thing is that he had been following me since then.We are prioritizing diffferent stories so I don't know why.

The other one is a middle-age man,past thirty years old named Yakeru Itamura.Even though he was older than me, he had a good-looking face. When I first met him,I thought he was only a teenager.No lies. Black hair and sharp eyes.He was also friendly but he was always on guard to women. Afterall,he has already a wife and son.They are good family you see.And we have been acquainted more than years now.A long bond.

We have been walking for a while now like a three bad boys in the middle of the breezy  night.Then after some time,we finally arrived at the place we are searching.Actually,I don't know that this bar exist.And the only reason why I'm here is because Satoshi invited me here.I think it was also the same for Itamura.

"This is the place?." Itamura asked

"Yes!." Satoshi answered.

We entered the bar and saw what I'm expecting.Rounded chairs,slightly dim atmosphere, the drinks and the alcohol placed in a huge cabinet.And a bartender.Oh,no blonde girls dancing in a pole here.A good thing actually.

"Not bad."

I said and looked around.I noticed that there were no other customers except us. Compared to the bar I usually visited,this one seems not popular.

"How did you find this place,Satoshi?." asked Itamura

"Actually,I know the bartender here.But it seems like he doesn't know me.It's a long story but don't ask anymore questions and let's dive in to the alcohol,Itamura-sensei!!."

We sat on the table.I looked at the bartender.

He was probably in his fifties.He was wearing a nice uniform with his white long sleeve and black nectie.He has narrowed eyes with few wrinkles in his face.He seems reserve.His giving me of an impression of a good pal.I think we can get along well if we talked about each other lives.

"What drink you want, gentlemen?." asked by the bartender.

"A gin.Full cup.No mix.Five glasses.The strongest one if possible." I said.

"A lemon whiskey for me,Oribe-san." said Satoshi

"A beer for me." said Itamura

The bartender,which seem to had a name if Oribe,turned his body around,roll up his sleeves and start preparing the beverages in a skillful manner.

"Is it okay to smoke here?." I asked,directing the question to the bartender.

He didn't answer but instead,he just nod his head up.

I pulled out a box of cigarette and lighter from my left hip pocket.But I realized something wrong as I only managed to pull out the small box.

"Ah.I think I forgot the lighter."

I doubled check all the pockets in my outfit and learned that it was no use.

"Not good.Itamura,you have a lighter?."

He checks his pocket a pulled out his own lighter.He slide it towards me to the table in front of us.

"Thanks,man"

I pulled one cigarette from the box,put it in my mouth,lit it, took a sip and blew the smoke in my side.

"You want one,kid?." I asked as I offered the box to Satoshi.

"Didn't I tell you I'm not smoking,Harakiri-senpai?."

"Is that so?."

I sipped from the cigarette and blew the smoke again.

"Didn't I said to not call 'Senpai' me kid.You look stupid by saying that."

"But you are four years older than me so it is just natural right?."

"Well there's one more person here who is better to be called by that." I said as I shifted my look to Itamura.

"No,Harakiri.I'm not used to be called by that." he replied as he shook his head slightly.

I smiled and finished the stick that I have been consuming in my mouth.

"Ah,by the way,Harakiri-senpai.There is an ashtray besides you."

I looked at the side part of the table saw the thing.

"You're right."

I stomped the cigarette there and get another one form the box.I see.I quite liking this bar already.Most of the bars I visited so far didn't allow to smoke inside but this one is different.

After consuming two sticks of cigarettes,the bartender finally presents to us the beverages.

"Here's your order,gentlemen." he said as he handed to us the alcohol we chose.

"By the way,it's my treat.So order whatever you want!." Satoshi declared.

What a good news.I drunk two cups of gin straightly.Then took again a cigarette from the box and lit it.

"You really love alcohol don't you,Harakiri?."

"And cigarette,man."

I drunk the third and fourth cups of pure gin.

Ah,it was burning to my esophagus.I feel like I just swallow a long molten sword. The best feeling.

"Five more,bartender."

"Same drink sir?."

"Yeah."

He turned around and did my request.

"Woaah.That was fast,Harakiri-senpai."

"That was just normal."

"Isn't supposed you drink an alcohol slowly?.I mean,you must savor its taste to the fullest?."

"That only works on whiskey and champagne.But if you are drinking gin or beer,you must drink as much as you can right,Itamura?."

"Yeah.Although you must controlled yourself.You must not get to the point where you can possibly cause problems to other.Two more beers please, bartender."

"See?."

I drunk the final cup in the table and took a sip from the cigarette.Then he turned around again to prepare Itamura's additional beers.

There,we started talking each other lives.It was usual thing we do when we are going in a bar. We consulted each other's health and it seems like they are very concern about it when it comes to me.But I immediately said that I'm okay.I said that I can at least still twnenty more years and we laughed.

We also talked the good things and the bad things we experienced recently.

"Well that's the story.We broke up." Satoshi said in a mournful voice.

Itamura tapped his back few times and said.

"Well you're still young man.You will still meet other women out there."

"Well...yeah."

"But for now,let your heart to fill by beer."

"Eh?."

"Right now,you are heartbroken.The only way to forget that and move on is to get hangover.And to get hangover you need to be drunk.And you need to take alcohol to become drunk.Right, Harakiri?."

"Are you the one who is more alcoholic than me,man?."

We laughed and Satoshi immediately drunk the glass of beer from Itamura.

"Alcohol is like love." I said suddenly while spinning around the glass of gin I'm holding.

"The first kiss is sensual,the second is romantic,the third is habit.After that,you will spread the girl's legs like opening a big scissor."

"Uhmmm,isn't some kind of comfort or advice,Harakiri-senpai?."

"That only applies for people who currently had girlfriend,kid."

Me and Itamura both laughed.Satoshi turned his head for a second then eventually laughed afterwards.

"You should told to her how hard to accomplish a manga chapter per week." I said giving a serious advice this time.

"I already tried that to know why I can't put so much to her but it she was not satisfied with it.So if she will not accept how the way I am,it was better to end of our relationship."

I didn't reply back and just drank a glass of gin.

Basically,Satoshi said that he broke to her girlfriend on which,as far as I remember from what he shared last time,he have relationship for a year now.I'm actually already saw the said girl.She was quite of beauty but since they already broke up,there no meaning to decsribe her anymore.

If romance is a business,trust will be the capital.It was just a matter of how much you trust your partner.Of course,each couple have different opinion about that.But in Satoshi case,trust is the reason why they broke up.

Romance was a complicated thing.There were some people who ended up to the least person they think.It was as unexpected as the plot twist in mystery stories.

And there were some people who they thought they are fated to each other but after some time,they will realize that was not the case.

Just like us.

"Well that's what happen." Itamura also said in a mournful voice and drank the beer in front of him.

"Condolences,man." I said in a cheap voice

"Uhhhhmmm.My condelences,Itamura-san."

"Don't worry.It already a week had passed."

For Itamura's story,her grandmother passed away due to old age.Well that was already an expected thing to happen. We born,we study,we get job,we get family,we get old.

Then die.

But to think that her grandmother reached the age of ninety-five,that was quite impresssive.

Well Itamura have been saying us for few times how his own familly really take care her.

It just happen that all the sand from the hourglass already went down.

"Farewells were only meant to say if it sad,lonely and final huh..."

"Hmmm.Did you say something,Harakiri-senpai?."

"Ah.No,nothing."

I tried to dodge his question by puffing to my cigarette.I said some unusual words.

Afterall,those words were something she will say.

"By the way,Harakiri-senpai." he said as he shifted the topic.

"Hmmm?."

"Well first of all,congratulations to the success of the anime adaption of your masterpiece work,Harakiri-senpai!."

Satoshi said as he raised his glass of whiskey in the air.Itamura also did the same.I followed.

We then said "cheers" and drunk our own alcohol.

"Masterpiece huh.You're exaggerating,kid."

"Ehhh?.But no matter how many times I rewatched,it doesn't fail to make me cry."

"So you watched it more than once?."

"Of course!!."

"Well,that was because the directors who did that the adaption."

"That reason again." he reacted in dismayed.

He was surely talking about what happened in the interview.

"I'm not agree with that, Harakiri." Itamura suddenly butt in "Even without the anime adaption,I already shred in tears in the original source, which is the novel.Specifically l'm the one of the few first people who read your work.And you know what I mean right?."

"Well,you're my editor afterall."

He finished the beer he was drinking for a while now and continue.

"You were only supposed to write murder mystery stories. How come you wrote a romance story and end it like that?." he said as if blaming why I made him cried with the ending he was talking about.

"Ah.I remembering the ending again." He added and wiped the corner of her eyes probably stopping the tears that about to flow.

"It was a beatiful story that even a man with his thirties cried on it." Satoshi suddenly said.

I didn't react to their priases and just stared at the bottle of alcohols in front of me.I'm not boasting myself but what they said were right.

"Okay,going back to the topic.Tell about yourself, Harakiri-senpai." Satoshi said as if we are just going to the real business.

"What's more about me?." I said,trying to play innocent.

"Share us something important."

"Important?."

"What I mean is the person you are talking about in the interview earlier."

Just like I expected,it had something to do interview.I really blundered that time.I wished I didn't mention that.

"Well Harakiri" Itamura suddenly spoke up in a timid voice "it's not like I'm with Satoshi but I also like to hear some stories from you."

"A story huh."

"That's right!.Even though we have been drinking for a long time now,you never talk about your personal life.It always about your works.But I'm not saying I didn't like it,Harakiri-senpai." Satoshi said,stating a fact.

"Of course,it's not like we are invading your privacy or like that.If it is something sensitive to talk,you really don't have to share it with us."

Itamura added.

"Is that so?."

"But isn't nice?.To tell a memory or a life story to your close friends?." 

I opened my restless eyes a bit wide.Then closed them immediately afterwards.I took two more cups of gin in the table.I consumed first the fifth cigarette from my mouth and stomped it in the ashtray.

"Okay.I'm in a good mood now.You want a story right?.Then I will tell you one."

"Really!?." Sotashi excitingly reacted.

"Wait.Harakiri.You will not tell us a story from one of your mystery novels right?."

"Don't worry.It's a real thing."

I drunk a cup of gin that was just served to me by the bartender.I closed my eyes and put my right hand to my forehead.Then I started recalling the events that happened a long time ago.

My head is spinning.I was probably already drunk now.

"It was all started with that girl."

She was beautiful,cute and charming young lady.

"She was good in cooking."

She also loves drawing.

"She always wear that cheerful smile."

And I didn't manage to protect that innocent smile.

"But she did some crazy things to me."

But there is a reason for that.And I'm really got angry when I learned that.

"I wished I can go back in time."

But that was impossible.Time travel only existed in fiction.

"I wished we can stay like that forever....."

But it was just already a farewell from the past.There's nothing I can do right now.

"I wonder where she is now...."

Where she is now?.

While reminiscing the past, Satoshi suddenly tapped my right shoulder and shook it a little bit.

"Harakiri-senpai!.Harakiri-senpai."

I came back to my senses and looked at him.

"What is it?."

"Are you perhaps already starting telling your story?.You suddenly blurted out some words."

"Ah."

He was right.I just realized it.Not good.

"You also look sad when you started talking.

It's okay if you not tell us anymore,Harakiri-senpai.I'm sorry for forcing you." he said as he bowed his head in front of me.

I opened my eyes slightly.This kid is really...Well he always like that.He had that kind of good nature.That's the reason why I chose to hang out with him.

I patted his head gently.Just like what I did to that girl way back then.

"Raised your head kid.Don't worry.It was not a sad story."

You are reading story Farewell,My Artist at novel35.com

That's right.I tried to recalled again some moments with that girl.If I remember correctly,she said some lines like this:

'This story of yours is really amazing.I'm not lying okay?.Could I read your other works?.'

'This is sucks.Your apartment looks terrible.

But don't worry.I will teach you how to clean it properly.So listen to what I'm going say,okay?'

'Eh,Eh?.Yo-you really don't have to say that in front of many people.It's embarassing.Ah,my face is all red now."

'Moeeee!.Could you at least showed your face in the camera?.We are already taking so many takes just for this simple selfie,you idiot.'

'The wedding gown on this mall looks so gorgeous.I wonder it will suit to my personality.'

See?.It was not really a sad story afterall.

I smiled quite big after remembering them.

Then pulled out one more cigarette from the box and put it in my mouth.But when I was about to light it,a thought came to my mind.

'You should limit yourself in smoking and taking alcohol.If you don't,you will die early.

You don't want that right?.'

Die huh?.

For some reason,I gritted my teeth while remembering that word.

I put back the stick inside the box and slide the lighter to the table,returning it to the owner.Itamura catch and put it in his hip pocket and asked me.

"You okay now Harakiri?."

"Yeah.I'm ready to share my story.But I want to remind that it was a pretty long story.Might take three to four hours.You okay with that?."

"I'm all set!.Just take your time narrating it in detail,Harakiri-senpai!."

"Are you sure?.I heard that you still need to finish your manga chapter."

"Don't worry.I'm already advanced drawing three chapters.So I really don't need to rush for now!."

"I see.How about you,man?." I asked as I turned my eyes to Itamura.

"Well,supposing that you are not lying,I'm quite interested to this girl you just said.So I'm in."

"How about your wife?.She will be worry if you come in your home late,you know?."

"Don't worry.Give me a moment.I will text her." he said as he pulled out his phone from his pocket.

While waiting for Itamura for his permission,the bartender spoke to me.

"Another five cups sir?."

"Ah.I'm already in my limit pal."

"I see."

"By the way,can we stay for a while here?."

"Don't worry sir.I'm working until twelve midnight."

"Really?.Then that's good to hear."

The conversation ended there and the middle-aged man suddenly spoke up.

"It seems like my wife doesn't believe me.She said she wants an evidence that I'm with you guys."

"So how about you take a selfie and send it to your wife,Itamura-san?." suggested by Satoshi.

"That's a good idea."

They went to where I'm seating and position themselves to take a photo.I showed a plain face.Then the camera was shut twice.After confirming that it was a good photo,they immediately go back to their seats.

"By the way,bartender." I asked while Itamura was waiting for the response from her wife.

"What is it sir?."

"Did you also curious about my story?."

"Don't mind me sir.I'm just here to serve my customers."

"Is that so?."

He left the place right after that reply.He was probably going to wash the cups we used.

"'Sorry for doubting you again huh'."

Itamura finally spoke up although in a way as if he was talking to himself while looking at his phone.I looked at his face.He was smiling a little.

"What's the matter,Itamura?." I cursiously asked.

"Ah.No,it's nothing.Anyways,I finally convinced her.Although she said to go home before midnight."

"I see.Don't worry man.We still have time."

I looked at the wall clock in front of me.It was already eight-o'clock in the evening.

I sighed deeply and starred in the beverages.

"It was a story happened when I'm a third year highschool student."

"Wait.Third year highschool student..."

He counted imaginary inside his head then spoke up.

"Seven years ago!!?."

"You rather look suprised."

"No.It's just that..."

"So you have been keeping this story of yours for seven years?." Itamura butted in.

"Well something like that."

"But you chose to share a story that was happened many years ago.This must be a very important event for you right,Harakiri-senpai?." Satoshi asked

I opened my eyes widely.That's right.

If it's not for that encouter,I will probably still living in a situation way back then.

If it's not for that girl,I will never become what I want to be.

As meeting this girl changed my life forever.

And I didn't expect that from the beginning.

I closed my eyes for a moment.That's right.

There is this one line she said to me in a very cheerful voice even though she was in a tought situation that time.This line from her really moved me and hit me like a truck.That's the moment I realized the time I'm wasted on my life. 

'Five years later,I could see Satoru as a successful author.That time,I will immediately go in a bookstore and buy your novel.But of course,in order for that to happen,you need to continue for becoming one.Don't worry.If you are in trouble,I'm always here for you.So don't hesitate to consult me,okay?."

I don't know if I should be happy or sad that time.But right now,I chose the former.I smiled and opened my eyes.

Not good.I'm skipping too much of the story.

"Your right,kid.Anyways,it all started in May....."

And there,I started narrating my story.

A story about an alcoholic anspiring author and a talented artist.

And a story that begins and ends in farewell.

2.

I was sitting in a chair in a very dark apartment right now.The only light that is present is the one coming from the computer in front of me.

Today is a certain day on April and the time was almost twelve o'clock in the evening.

Right now,I'm currently checking again my story to see some grammatical mistakes or some sentence that was not laid very well.

I have been checking since eight-o'clock and I'm still not done yet.That's because I'm making sure that my story was perfectly organized.Afterall,this story will determine my decision next month.

Anyways,after some time,I finally finished what I'm doing.I slide my mouse from left to right slowly.Then clicked the right button from it.In the monitor,it shows the small arrow went to the 'Submit' button and clicked it.

After confirming that I already submitted my work,I stood up,get my box of cigarette and lighter and went out.I pulled out one stick,put it in my mouth and lit it.I sipped and blew the smoke slowly.

"Will I win this time?."

Eleventh webnovel competition.

Forty-fifth story.

Although I'm wishing to win this time,I already have a hunch what will the result. 

I guess death is inevitable

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