6

“Do you still live alone?”

“Of course I do. What am I supposed to do, magically revive my parents?” Hikaru replied to her question. He was walking home with Ren. “You know well enough that even if I figured out how, their bodies would’ve finished decomposing already.”

Ren adjusted the strap of her bag, her footsteps light against the pavement. "You ever think about getting a roommate or something? Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have someone around."

Another moment passed. "Then again, it's probably better that way," she shot back. "I bet your home’s a disaster zone."

He feigned offense. "Hey, it's organized chaos. I know where everything is."

"Sure you do."

For a while, they walked in companionable silence, the sounds of the city filling the gaps between their words — distant car horns, snippets of conversations, the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze.

Ren spoke again, quieter this time. "It must get lonely, though."

Hikaru's steps faltered for just a second before he brushed it off with a shrug. "You get used to it."

"That doesn't make it less lonely."

He didn't respond right away, eyes fixed ahead. The sky was starting to shift into hues of orange and pink, signaling the approaching sunset.

"You sound like you're worried about me," he teased, trying to keep the mood light.

Ren scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself." But her tone lacked its usual sharpness.

"You know," Hikaru said after a moment, "I kinda like it when it's quiet. Gives me time to think."

"Think about what?"

He hesitated before answering. "Stuff. The past, mostly."

Ren glanced at him from the corner of her eye, noting the rare flicker of something more serious in his expression. "Still carrying all that baggage, huh?"

"Yeah," he admitted softly. "Guess some things don't go away, no matter how long it's been."

They reached a fork in the road, where their paths diverged. It was only a coincidence that she lived nearby without him having to move homes again. Ren slowed down, then stopped. "Well," she said, her voice carefully neutral, "if you ever get sick of being alone... you know where to find me."

Hikaru blinked, momentarily surprised by the offer. He smiled faintly, the usual teasing edge gone. "Thanks, Ren."

"Don't mention it." She turned on her heel and started walking down her path.