Telling the Truth - Ryo

He knew there were only words of a feverish delusion, but Ryo couldn’t help but feel happy about them. It might be trash behavior, but how could he not feel happy when she curled up against him and asked him to stay with her? Even if it was just feverish nonsense.

Her body still felt like it was burning up, but he hoped the pill had helped the worst of it. At least enough to help her relax and rest.

As much as he wanted to give in to the softness of having her close, he couldn’t allow himself to fall asleep even for a moment. She needed rest and he would not risk bringing nightmares her way.

“Roommates, huh?” Ryo hadn’t heard the door. His mind had been too occupied with the woman beside him. “Sorry it took so long. I had some things to do at work while I was out.” Aki’s father stood in the hallway, two bags in his hands. “I take it she woke up?”

“Only for a moment.” Ryo tried to play it cool. He didn’t want to show her father how much he enjoyed having her this close. “The fever got worse, but she took the pill and drank all of the electrolytes.”

“That’s good.” The man chuckled to himself and went to the kitchen. “I’m glad she trusts you.” Ryo almost didn’t hear the man over the rustle from the bags he was unpacking.

The man soon returned to the living room and handed Ryo one of the peach milk bottles Aki had bought yesterday. “I guess this is for you?” He sat down beside Aki.

“Thank you.”

“What did you do?” Ryo’s confusion must have shown for the man continued. “She seems even more peaceful. What did you do to keep them away?” He opened a can of coffee.

Stayed awake. What was he supposed to tell him? He turned to look at her peacefully sleeping beside him. “Why do you think she has them?” He turned back to her father. It seemed like her nightmares bothered him a lot.

“We figured out that they likely belong to her person. But we never managed to understand why she always had their nightmares and not the other way around. And she also never seemed to have that comforting feeling you get when your person is in your dreams. I guess you know what feeling I’m talking about?” He looked at his daughter. “Finding her person might answer some questions but we never figured out who they are.”

“She did find him.” Ryo still hadn’t decided just how much he would tell the man, but he could provide some answers. The nightmares was his fault, after all. And if they had caused so much pain, it was the least he could do. “Somehow her connection is very one sided and he doesn’t have that ability.”

“Well, that sounds like bullshit.” Her father laughed. “”I guess it would make sense, but I have never heard of someone not being able to have a connection. So either he lied or he isn’t really her person.”

“She seemed really sure that he was the right person.” Could it really be that she was wrong? That he wasn’t her person after all. “And from my understanding, there were reasonable circumstances.”

“I guess she might have an explanation I can’t even imagine. But unless he’s a centuries old vampire or something, I can’t even imagine how it would be possible.” Hiraoka’s eyes were glued to his daughter.

“That’s pretty close.” Ryo owed the man a proper explanation. “But more like a time traveler from centuries ago.”

“Huh.” The man leaned his head against the back of the couch. “I guess that could make sense. But why would he be connected to a person in this time?”

“I’m not sure but my guess is that it’s also his time. Do you know about the man who invented time travel?”

“Doctor M?” He slowly turned to face Ryo, his eyes widening. “She’s connected to his son? The hero who got lost in time.”

Ryo couldn’t help but cringe at the title. He never considered himself a hero. He never even wanted to be one. He only did what Aki was doing now. He was just the first to do it.

“This is big. That means we live in the time he got stuck in.” He turned back to his daughter. “The poor kid must’ve seen a lot of bad stuff.”

“Who are you talking about?” Aki moved at his side and sat up. “Dad? What are you doing here?”

“How do you think you got home?” The man’s voice sounded more tense than it had right before. “I wasn’t going to let both our top engineers disappear for the day, to take you home. Especially not after you and Shiaki decided to split up.”

“What?” Ryo hadn’t heard anything about what had happened, more than that she had collapsed. What did Kumi had to do with it? And he had been under the impression that the two of them were inseparable.

“We needed to.” Aki stared at Ryo for a moment before she let out a sigh and leaned back onto his shoulder. “Dad, could you get me a bottle of tea from the fridge?”

“Of course, princess.” He stood up and went back to the kitchen.

“Does this have anything to do with why you were so stressed this morning?” Ryo wrapped his arm around her again. “And does it have anything to do with me?”

She rubbed her eyes with the palm of her hand. “Is it that obvious?”

“You leave tense, then you come home unconscious and your father tells me you collapsed. And you separated from Kumi?” He shrugged, but was careful not to shake her too much. “Why not let the man in? Maybe he could help?”

“You sound like Kumi.” She pulled the fish closer. “I’ve already bothered him enough.”

So, Kumi had suggested the same? He sighed. “Children are supposed to bother their parents. Just like I am clearly supposed to bother you.” He nudged her slightly. She still seemed a bit tired, so he didn’t want to push her too much.

“Fine.” She grabbed hold of his shirt. “But can you help me fill in the gaps? My brain still feels a bit foggy.”

“I’m right here with you.”

“What are you two whispering about?” Her father returned with a bottle of tea. “Also, is it true that this guy is only your roommate? You seem a bit closer than that.” His eyes fell on the space between them. Or, more precisely, the lack there of.

“Dad, you might want to sit down for this. And also, I need you to not tell anyone about this.” She gave her father that slug smile she sometimes had. Only, this time, Ryo could see hints of nervousness in her eyes. “Ryo is my roommate, yes. But he’s also my person.” She looked at him, he assumed it was for approval. After he gave her a nod, she continued. “He’s also that guy who got lost in time and we can’t let that be known to the public.”