Memento Vivere

The night deepened, and neighborhood lights winked out one by one, slipping into darkness. Crow’s apartment lingered a little longer before succumbing to silence.

The ceiling fan whirred gently, stirring curtains and rustling plastic bags filled with snack wrappers and empty cans.

Dylan sprawled on the floor near the TV, his arm over his face, snoring.

Yuzu curled up tight on the couch, hugging a large pillow.

Melissa occupied the pull-out bed, arm draped across her eyes.

Meanwhile, Crow’s bedroom was anything but calm.

He lay stiff beneath the blanket. He swallowed hard, trying to ease the knot in his throat.

A foot from him, Hinata was tense on her back, clutching the comforter tightly to her chest.

Neither moved nor spoke.

Crow’s mind raced. “Was this too close? Was it okay?”

He risked a glance. Hinata didn’t look at him.

“…You can have the bed. I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“No,” she immediately retorted. “This is your house, and the floor is cold.”

“…Okay.”

His posture relaxed. Her shoulder eased slightly.

Not awkward. Just peaceful and full.

— • —

“I’m sorry you got sick.” Hinata’s voice was low with a tinge of regret, her gaze drifting across the ceiling.

Crow let out a long breath. “No. I was reckless. That’s on me.”

Hinata’s fingers gripped the edge of the blanket.

“I’m sorry I ran away…”

Crow remained still.

“Hey, it’s all good,” Crow assured, not looking at her.

She took a breath.

“That night. The dinner. It was great.” She sat up and tucked her chin between her knees. “Then it just hit. Melissa was right. I had nothing you can trust.”

Crow sat up as well, drifting a little closer to her.

“I’ve been walking around for work. They asked me for IDs, records. I had none, so they had to turn me away.” She said, fidgeting beneath the blanket. “Then, there were bullies. I scared them off. And I got stares. Even at the hospital, I couldn’t understand those papers. Dylan had to do it.”

Hinata let out a sigh.

“I understand if everybody felt uneasy around me. I used to care less.” Her voice frayed at the edges.

“But lately, I was trying not to be so useless. I didn’t expect it to hurt this much.”

She glanced at Crow. “Back then, did it hurt when I didn’t trust you?”

His jaw clenched, lips scrunched in thought.

“I didn’t care about that at all.”

Hinata glanced at him with glazed eyes.

“I just knew you had a tough day and needed rest. It would grate on me if I didn’t do anything.” Crow said.

She scoffed, half-chuckling. “You do have a thing for strays.”

“Resting death-face, remember?”

Hinata tapped his arm with a fist. “So, I have a resting death-face?”

Crow grinned nervously. He gently flicked a finger on her nose.

“You little sh—” Hinata grumbled, shaking her head at herself. “Tch. Never mind.”

Silence lingered longer this time.

“You know, I didn’t lock my bedroom door when you stayed that night.”

Hinata raised her eyebrows. “What? Why?”

“Not sure. It just felt that if I didn’t do that, I’d be alone again.”

Her heart skipped. This was utterly stupid. Something she couldn’t have done herself.

Trust unearned. Unasked. Given freely.

“And who the hell cares about memories. Let’s make new ones together. And laugh at them.”

Hinata felt her walls crash, heat rising to her face. She felt the urge to tear her hair off.

“Here he goes again… ‘together’ and all that…”

She coughed, clearing her throat.

“What if I stabbed you in your sleep, dumbass?”

“Hmm. Just hug me and I’d die in peace,” he said.

She huffed—amused yet incredulous.

“Unbelievable. Dammit, why am I so stuck with you?”

“Correction. You stayed. Part of the deal,” Crow said.

“You asked me, idiot.”

Laughter broke through the apartment’s peace, soft as a breath. Dylan snored. Melissa squirmed. Yuzu shuffled.

And that tiny space they filled felt like home.

— • —

The next day, Crow and Hinata found themselves basking under the warm morning sun.

Hinata blinked. The ramen shop lady stood before her, holding out a neatly folded bundle. She took it carefully, fingers slightly trembling as she unfolded it.

An apron and matching cap—clean, simple fabric, embroidered with the ramen shop’s logo.

Her eyes widened. She stared at the gift, then at the ramen lady. Finally, her gaze fell to the little girl she had saved—bouncing on her toes, grinning brightly.

Crow’s eyes met hers—soft, proud, like he was watching her take her first step all over again.

The ramen lady mimed the apron’s strings being tied. Hinata hesitated a heartbeat longer, then slipped the apron carefully over her head, tying it behind her.

Suddenly, the little girl rushed forward, throwing her arms around Hinata’s waist in an enthusiastic, joyful hug.

"So cool!" she chirped, squeezing tight.

Hinata froze, then slowly relaxed into the embrace, her eyes glowing with gentle wonder.

She lifted her head once more, meeting Crow’s gaze.

She smiled fully—bright and real. The warmth wasn’t just from the sun anymore. It was hers. Her memory.

In that instant, Hinata knew—she belonged.