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He hears knocking at the door. Normally he would have been annoyed, but that was before. Before, when people actually came to visit him and his family. It used to be for hangouts, then to check up on him, and now nobody bothers.
(It suits him just fine. Nobody understands what’s going on anyway, what’s really going on. The spiral, it’s the spiral, the spiral is everywhere– )
Now, however, the only person who visits him is Kirie. So, he has grown to love the sound of her knocks (it also warms his heart that she still knocks, even when he gave her a copy of his house key).
He stands up, a bit shakily (when was the last time he ate, or slept? He doesn't know) and makes his way to the door. When he opens it, he's greeted with his girlfriend's beautiful face.
He gives her a smile, small but genuine. “Hey, Kirie. Come in.”
She smiles back, bright and lovely, and walks in. Turning to him, she holds out a big bento box. “I made dinner, enough for both of us.”
“Thanks.” Shuichi lets her lead him to the dining room. They settle down, and begin their meal. At first, they eat in comfortable silence. Shuichi absentmindedly notes how well-cooked the beef is.
Kirie is the first to break the silence. Giving him a worried, inquisitive look, she asks, “How have you been doing, Shuichi?”
He shrugs. He doesn't know how else to reply.
She accepts his answer without any more pushing; she knows about his deteriorating state. Mentally and physically, though the latter is easier to see.
Swallowing down another bite of diced potato, he decides to return the question, “How are you, Kirie?”
Unlike him, she gives an actual answer, “I'm fine. My family's fine, too. School's okay, you haven’t missed much. I don't hang out much with my friends anymore, but in light of everything that's happened. . .that might be for the best.”
His mind flashes to Yamaguchi and he asks, “Has anyone been bothering you?”
She shakes her head, and he nods, relieved. They continue eating, Kirie making conversation every couple of minutes and Shuichi responding with short sentences or nods.
When they are finished, Shuichi offers to clean the bento box but Kirie brushes him off. He feels a prick of guilt when he sees that she washes the rest of the dishes in the sink as well.
With some effort, he stands up and makes his way to one of his boarded-up windows. He peaks in between the boards and first sees streetlights ominously reflecting off houses, then the darkening sky masking the stars, a taste of things to come.
“It's getting dark, Kirie. You should go home.”
“Oh.” She dries her hands with her skirt and walks over to the dining table, where she left her bag. She slings it over her shoulder and walks slowly to the door, prolonging her leave for as long as acceptably possible.
Shuichi watches her linger at the doorway, fidgeting with her bag's strap. He waits patiently for her to finish whatever argument she is having with herself.
She turns back to him, a pleading look in her eyes. “Shuichi, can I. . .can I stay the night?”
Without hesitation, he steps forward and gently grasps her hands. “Of course.” This time, he is the one to lead her through the living room and down the hall. They go past the master bedroom (he doesn't like looking at it; too many bad memories) and into his bedroom.
His eyelids are getting heavier and heavier, and he wants to just lay down on the bed and give into sleep, but he forces his eyes open. Looking at Kirie, he asks, “Do you want to change? You can use my clothes.”
She nods, and Shuichi goes to sit on his bed, facing away from her. Looking around his room, he feels some regret for how messy it is. He didn’t particularly care either way, but maybe he could pull together some energy and clean it up tomorrow.
He feels a tap on his shoulder and turns around. His lip twitches upward. Kirie looks really cute in his oversized shirt and pants. (Ironic how his clothes don't fit him, either.)
It takes a minute, but the two of them settle down into a comfortable position; her back against his chest and his arms wrapped around her midsection. Kirie’s right hand finds his and she intertwines their fingers. He kisses her on the cheek and closes his eyes. Usually, it takes Shuichi a while to sleep, but he finds himself getting drowsier. The sound of Kirie breathing is very comforting.
However, just when he thinks he might slip into sleep, Kirie shifts in place. He gets the feeling that she’s about to speak, so he keeps his eyes focused on her even though she can’t see him.
“Shuichi.” She speaks in a whisper so small, so fleeting, Shuichi wouldn’t have been able to hear her if their heads weren’t so close together. “Shuichi, I’m scared.”
Shuichi’s grip around her waist tightens. She continues, “Things are getting worse and worse. . .I don’t know how much longer till we can’t handle it.” Her voice wavers a bit, leading Shuichi to believe there were tears in her eyes. He pulls her closer to him, if that is even possible. He presses his lips against her neck and though he knows it’s futile, whispers back, “Kirie, we can still escape the spiral and its influence. We can just go and never come back.”
He feels her shake her head. “I can’t leave my family, Shuichi. You know that.”
Shuichi sighs, heavy with grief and dread for what’s to come. “Then at least stay with me. I can’t say anything about the future, but I can promise that you’ll be safe here in my arms.”
Kirie squeezes his hand. “I know. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
For the first of many nights, Shuichi and Kirie sleep soundly.