Just Get Through Today, Pt. 3

After a long day of dragging my feet through lectures and barely surviving a surprise quiz, it was nice to unwind with Koga and Yue. We grabbed some drinks from a cheap bar near campus, laughed over stupid stories, and let the weight of the day melt off our shoulders.

Eventually, we ended up in front of a convenience store — the usual parting point.

"Get home safe, you guys," I said with a smile, hands tucked in my pockets.

"You too, Taka!" Yue beamed, wobbling just slightly on her feet. She was a lot more tipsy than she’d let on. "And don’t you dare start sulking about Chiaki again, you hear me?! You deserve way more than a bitch like her!"

"Haha. I got it, I got it. Koga, take her home before she suplexes a stranger or something."

"Will do, boss," he grinned, already bracing himself as Yue latched onto his arm.

"Suplex?! Who’s suplexing?! I know your ass ain’t talking about me!" she snapped, eyes narrowed as if trying to focus through a kaleidoscope.

"Not at all, love. You're as elegant as ever. C'mon now. No, not that way! The sidewalk is this way. This way, babe!"

“Taka is such an idiot! Going after Chiaki like a fool! He could do so much better, couldn’t he?!”

"Yes, yes, of course he could."

I stood there for a moment, smiling faintly to myself before turning the other way. The cool night breeze brushed against my cheeks. My steps echoed in the quiet, almost like the day was finally exhaling with me.

Yue had always been a little too overprotective. She'd seen every pathetic side of me — every failed text draft, every nervous plan to ask Chiaki out, every breakdown after being rejected. She was always there, ready to remind me that I deserved better. That Chiaki wasn't the girl I thought she was anymore.

I should've listened to her. Even for just a second, I should've taken those words seriously.

Eventually, I made it back to my dorm building just after a crack of thunder. Unlike the main dorms on campus, mine was off-site — cheaper rent, more peace and quiet, and a bit of a walk to school every day. Not that I was complaining. Except when I was running late. Then those three flights of stairs turned into a stairway from hell.

I trudged up the steps, feet heavy and body sore. When I finally reached the third floor, I dug my keycard from my pocket and tapped it against the scanner. A soft beep, followed by a click. The door unlocked.

I pulled it open, and there she was.

Megumi no Hana, perched on a stool by the counter like a cat who owned the place. She was steadily cutting the skin from an apple with a knife.

I waited until she was done before making my presence known by knocking on the door. She turned, and the moment her eyes fell on me, a lazy smile danced on her face.

"Oh. Welcome home, Shohei."

"...Hi."

"Hmm? Why the lack of enthusiasm? You've got the Megumi no Hana sitting in your apartment, welcoming you home as if she were your wife."

"W-wife?"

"Mhm! Isn't that what this looks like? And yet, you're standing over there like an edgy main character trying to act nonchalant when there's an absolute beauty"—she raised an arm elegantly—"right in front of him."

I took a second to just... take this all in.

"Are you always this melodramatic?" I sighed, shutting the door behind me.

"Oops. Force of habit. Apart from modeling, I starred in a few drama shows over the last couple of years. Once you get into the groove of acting, it becomes a part of you. So, Shohei Taka, if you ever find yourself questioning whether or not I'm acting, just assume I'm acting."

"That totally doesn't sound ominous. Nope, not at all."

I dropped my school bag on the kitchen counter next to Megumi. I was about to head for the fridge when I noticed something.

Megumi wasn't wearing that ridiculously oversized jacket. Instead, she was wearing one of my plain white T-shirts — probably while her clothes dried from yesterday's rain. It hung loosely on her, still a bit big for her frame, but...

"What are you staring at me so hard for?" she asked, leaning in with a playful smirk.

"I... It's nothing."

I darted past her like I suddenly remembered I had a five-course meal to cook. I rummaged through the cabinets, opened the fridge — anything to look busy. Still, she wasn't buying it.

"Heh. Exquisite acting, Shohei. I might've believed you if I were just a tiny~ bit dumber."

"It's not acting," I mumbled, setting a skillet on the stove.

"Convincing stuff. Don't forget that I'm an actress myself. I can pick apart these things pretty quickly. Well?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"That you were admiring me."

I turned to stare at her as she sat there, head leaning on her arms, with the smile of a woman who had all the confidence in the world. Maybe a little too much for her own good.

"Cuz that's clearly what you were doing, no?" she added.

With a deep breath, I poured a bit of oil on the skillet and turned the gas knob.

"Fine," I said. "I was admiring you. Happy?"

"Hmm... Not really. When you say it with a tone like that, it makes it seem like you don't actually mean it."

"Maybe I don't. Anyway, what've you been doing all day?"

"Sleeping."

"...That's it?"

"Yeah. I mean, what else am I supposed to do? You didn't exactly give me any house rules. I didn’t wanna touch your stuff without permission. Otherwise, I'd be out of a home again."

I raised a brow.

"Huh. You're surprisingly considerate."

"It's the least I could do. I mean, take a look outside. It's storming again. If it weren't for you, I'd be spending another day out there... just like yesterday. Guess I should finally say 'thank you', huh? Since I didn't get the chance last night."

"No need. Long as you're still alive."

"Pfft~ That's not a very high bar to clear."

"You were the one who set the bar that low. Anyway, quit distracting me. I need to make dinner."

"Yes, sir!"

And just like that, she sat back down on the stool, picked up the same apple, and began slicing it into perfect, even pieces — seemingly unfazed by this strange situation we were in.

I've always been pretty good at hiding my emotions. Being around Chiaki for seven straight years did that to me. It might not have looked like it, but I was steadily losing my mind here.

I mean, I'm in a room with a complete stranger, trying to go about my night as if this wasn't the most ridiculous thing that's ever happened to me. Anything could happen — and no, not in the indecent sense. She has a knife in her hand. If she really wants to, she can kill me right now, and no one will ever know.

Why did I have to walk across that bridge yesterday?

No... that's a horrible thing to think. If I hadn't been there, this girl wouldn't be alive right now. Maybe it was because she's a pretty girl that I let her in so easily.

Sure. I won't lie to myself.

At the very least, I kept someone from killing themselves. That should be enough, but still...

I glanced over at Megumi. She stabbed one of the apple slices with the knife and lifted it to her face. After inspecting it for a moment, she bit off the tip with an almost exaggerated grace.

"Hey. Use a fork," I muttered. "You're gonna cut yourself."

"Wouldn't be the first time."

"...Dude."

"Pfft~ I'm messing with you, Shohei. Don't worry. I know my way around a knife."

"To be honest, I'm less worried about you hurting yourself than the simple fact that you've got a knife in your hands."

She bit half a slice.

"What? You think I'm gonna murder you or something? Would you be scared if I said that that was my primary goal all along?"

"Probably, yeah."

"Then I won't say it."

I reached into a drawer for some seasoning jars, but her words echoed in my head a beat too long.

"You serious...?"

Megumi smirked, slipping another slice through her lips.

"Don't know. Guess you'll have to wait and find out."

I braced my hands against the edge of the sink, letting my head hang over it. And behind me, Megumi let out a soft grumble.

"You don't gotta sound so disappointed. You're making me feel bad."

"As you should. The risks I'm taking just to keep you from throwing yourself off another bridge... My life is at stake here."

"Oh~ Steak? I love steak. Are we having that tonight?"

I paused again, rubbing my face with both hands.

"What have I gotten myself into...?"