I was surprised.

  Mayoki and I were asking each other the exact same question at the same time, and she stared at me, equally surprised.

  I asked,

  “Hey, you don’t even have money, so how did you end up spending it all?”

  Mayoki squinted her eyes and looked around.

  With a nervous laugh, she said,

  “Oh, my money.

  Well, on the way here, the bus stopped at a place.

  I saw many clothing shops there,

  and they looked so nice that I ended up buying quite a few things.

  Later, I realized I didn’t have much left.”

  Stolen story; please report.

  I thought to myself—she’s completely lying.

  It’s obvious from her expression that she’s pretending to tell the truth.

  Suddenly, Mayoki asked me the same question,

  “How did you run out of money, Hiroshi?”

  I froze at her question.

  Tension ran through me.

  My money had run out as soon as I arrived in Chittagong.

  I couldn’t tell her that.

  I had to make up a little lie.

  With a light laugh, I said,

  “Oh, my money.

  Don’t say another word.

  I came to this beach for a walk, put my backpack down near the water, and somehow all my money got stolen.

  Only the money in my pocket is left.”

  Mayoki said,

  “Oh, I see. That’s unfortunate then.”

  She paused for a moment.

  After a while, she leaned toward me with wide eyes, clasped her hands, and shook them slightly.

  “Can I tell you something? What if we combined our money?”

  I felt a little confused.

  I didn’t understand what she meant by “combining our money.”

  Her words went over my head.

  I asked,

  “I’m not sure I understand.

  You mean, what would happen if we combined our money?”

  Mayoki said,

  “I mean, if we take the money you have and whatever I have, and use it together to rent a house, how would it work out?”

  I started thinking.

  It wasn’t a bad idea.

  I could even get a place to stay.

  But living with a girl—just the two of us—felt awkward.

  It seemed like we would be proper co-living.

  Thinking about that, I felt a blush creep across my face.

  I said,

  “Your idea makes sense.

  But if a boy and a girl live together in the same house, wouldn’t it feel strange?

  I mean, it would be like proper co-living.”