Coding

[Next day]

Seiji stirred from sleep, groggy and barely awake, as his phone's insistent ring cut through the quiet morning. He glanced at the screen before answering.

"Hello...?" he muttered, still half-asleep.

"Hey, Seiji. Sorry to bother you, but I'm going to be a little late. Can I be there around 1 PM? My dog had an emergency, and I've been stuck dealing with that and some other stuff," Ken explained, his voice rushed but apologetic.

Seiji sighed softly, rubbing his eyes. "Yeah, that works... See you at 1," he yawned, hanging up the call.

When he finally checked the time, his eyes widened.

11:45.

"Shit!" he cursed, throwing off the covers. He had slept way longer than planned, and Ken would be arriving soon.

In a rush, Seiji dressed and bolted into the living room, only to freeze in his tracks when he saw Hideaki.

Hideaki leaned casually against the kitchen counter, but there was nothing casual about his expression that was one of these thinly-veiled annoyance.

Seiji swallowed, eyes freezed on Hideaki's face. 'Great. Just what I need.'  "Uh, Hideaki? Mind moving? I need to get something done fast," Seiji said, keeping his voice calm, controlled, while holding hidden stash of knives, forks and other sharp tools, inside his blouse large pocket.

Hideaki's eyes narrowed. "Give me breakfast first."

Seiji exhaled sharply, trying to keep his patience. "I will, in a bit. Just let me handle something first."
'I need to get him occupied with something.'

"Tch... it better be quick or I'll gut you right here," Hideaki growled.

Seiji's pulse quickened, but he kept his calm, giving a short nod. "I hear you," he said flatly.

As Seiji moved further, suddenly Hideaki's stomach rumbled.

'Of course.'

Seiji sighed hearing the noise from his roommate's belly.

'Hungry again. I really thought that all this curry he ate yesterday will stuff him up at least till the noon but...' then he paused

'He is hungry... Wait...' he grinned and moved toward the fridge.

The cold blast from it sent a shiver through him, but it helped sharpen his focus.

Inside the fridge, a silver pot caught his eye with the leftovers of the Japanese curry rice.

Seiji lifted it out and placed it on the counter. Additionally, he had to keep the knives and forks tightly.

'Shit...'

He cursed, feeling Hideaki's gaze, sharp and predatory, locked on his every move.

'He's watching me like he's ready to pounce... better stay careful,'

Seiji thought, glancing nervously at Hideaki.

Just then Hideaki's eyes widened, when he remembered what was in that pot.

His mouth practically watering at the sight.

"Curry," he whispered, his tone almost reverent. "Give me some."

"Alright," Seiji said, grabbing a bowl and heated it in microwave. "Here. This will be your breakfast. Don't say I never did anything for you."

Hideaki didn't waste a second. The moment Seiji handed him the meal, he tore into it like a starving animal.

Seiji just shook his head, watching as Hideaki devoured curry with alarming speed.

Seiji glanced at the clock – 11:58.
"Damn it, I've got just over an hour left..." he thought, feeling his heartbeat quicken.

Hideaki was devouring curry at the table, completely absorbed in eating. It was the moment Seiji needed.

Step 1 – Cutlery.
Without hesitation, he opened the kitchen cabinets, pulling out most of the sharp utensils from his hoodie. His movements were quick, nervous, but silent – he didn't want to draw attention. He left only a few ordinary utensils and one kitchen knife in the drawer so that everything looked natural.

He glanced at Hideaki. The guy kept eating, eyes fixed on the bowl.

Step 2 – Locks.
Seiji exhaled sharply and moved to the front door. Every scrape of metal sounded suspiciously loud to his ears. He pulled out a screwdriver and quickly got to work on dismantling the extra bolt. The screws resisted, sweat dripping from his forehead.
"Faster... faster, damn it."
Finally, the lock gave in. He set it aside, tucked it into the shoe cabinet. Then he crouched over the second one – the balcony door lock.

And then he heard a rustle.

He turned his head – Hideaki had lifted his gaze from the empty bowl.

"What are you doing there?" he asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes.

Seiji froze for a moment, then shrugged, forcing his tone to sound casual.
"The lock was loose. Just checking it so you don't fall if you get the idea to open the balcony with all your strength."

Hideaki licked the spoon, silent for a moment, then scoffed.
"Tch... Mhm."

Returning to his bowl, he allowed Seiji to continue.

Step 3 – Time.
12:20. Locks removed, cutlery in the drawer. Seiji estimated he had just under forty minutes left. Enough to tidy up the apartment and wipe away traces of tinkering.

But the biggest problem still sat at the table. Hideaki.

Seiji clenched his jaw.
"Cutlery – done. Locks – done. Cleaning – done. Now just him. I have to keep him busy before Ken walks in. If he starts babbling nonsense, if he shows even a glimpse of his true self..."

He looked at the clock again. 12:27.

Ken was due in half an hour.
And the play he had planned was only just beginning.

"Alright. Let's begin."

Step 4 – Atmosphere.
12:28. Seiji set curry on the stove, straightened the couch where Hideaki slept, and watered his plants. He drew the curtains slightly so the light was softer. The apartment already looked normal, almost welcoming.

But he knew it was just a facade. Because the real threat sat five steps away.

12:39.
Seiji was just finishing the setup when he suddenly felt a pang of hunger.

"Damn it... I didn't buy rice for today!"

He cursed inwardly – it was a small detail, but he knew Ken would probably stay for lunch. Without rice, it would look odd, and after all, he was doing his best to make everything seem normal. And on top of that—

Step 6 – Distracting Hideaki.
12:42.

He glanced at Hideaki, who was half-lying on the couch, picking his nose out of boredom.

Seiji checked the clock. 'Just over ten minutes, the store's right under the block... I can make it.'

Then he looked again at the pot of curry. Suddenly, an idea struck him.

'That's it.'

He turned to Hideaki.

"I'm heading out for a bit. I'll be right back. In the meantime, can you watch over the curry while it heats up? Don't let it get too hot. We don't wanna burn our tongues. Mix it with a spoon that is placed next to the pot. I'll be back shortly,"

Seiji said, moving toward the door.

"Remember. Stay here, watch the food... without eating the rest of it, and don't burn my pots again. Got it??" he threw in firmly, putting on his shoes.

Hideaki didn't even lift his head. "Mhm," he muttered sluggishly.

Seiji shook his head, "Like hell he's going to listen..." He muttered to himself.

Seiji paused for a second at the doorway, his gaze flicking to the balcony and the knives he had shoved deep into the cupboard. It was reckless — he knew it. The alarms in his head screamed.

'Wide open. Too easy. One wrong move and he could ruin everything.'

He exhaled through his nose, shutting it down.
"It's just rice. Five minutes there and back. He looks half-asleep — he won't even move. Too sluggish to make a move. The bigger danger is Ken walking into a mess that doesn't add up."

He twisted the knob and stepped out, locking the door behind him, but the knot in his stomach lingered.

Then, with a dry twist of a smile, he added silently: 'Brilliant, Seiji. The man who triple-checks deadbolts just left a killer alone with sharp metal and an exit. Good choice...'

He sighed and added in his mind

'But now I can't do much about it... Best I can do is have a hope that he, at any necessary, won't discover all the regulations I've made... or worse.. get his hands on the knife...'

The moment Seiji was out the door, Hideaki scowled.

"Tch." He suddenly heard another stomach growl and door lock turning.

"Stupid idiot..." Hideaki mumbled.

His eyes shifted to the remaining amount of the curry on the stove.

'He left the apartment and he hasn't made me breakfast! Curry isn't a typical breakfast! I wanted some onigiri, udon soup or omaraisu!'  he glanced at the silver pot again. 'Not something that could be given for dinner! Tch! And besides that...'  he sighed and glanced at his stomach 'I'm still feeling hungry...'

Hideaki growled through his teeth and this time, without hesitation, grabbed another bowl, shoving it into his mouth in defiance. "Fucking idiot," he muttered through a mouthful of the the curry.

***

A decent amount of time had passed, and Hideaki was occupied between watching TV, pacing and finishing yet another bowl of curry.

Just as he was about to grab more food, the doorbell rang.

"Tch! I can't open the door. This idiot made double locks everywhere!"

A moment of silence.

Then another doorbell rang.

"Tch!" Hideaki hissed irritated "Why he keeps ringing!? Did he lost his key or what!? It's not that I could open it!!"

Hideaki put away bowl and walked over to unlock the door from the inside. Then with gritted teeth, pulled the doorhandle strongly expecting to not making anything to get them open, but then...

The thing didn't make any resistance to him...

'Huh..? It can be open now?'  he thought and carefully opened the door, expecting Seiji. But instead, he was met with a tall, black-haired man.

"Who are you?" Hideaki asked, his voice cold and suspicious. The TV played in the background.

The man smiled and bowed politely. "Hello! I'm Kiminawa Ken. I was supposed to meet Sekiguchi-san today."

"Uh-huh..." Hideaki stared at him with an unblinking gaze, sizing him up, his instincts flaring with distrust.

'This guy must be Seiji's roommate he told me about... To be honest, I thought he'd be much taller.'  Ken shifted uncomfortably under the weight of Hideaki's stare. "Uh, can I come in?" he asked, nervously scratching his head.

"Seiji isn't here yet."

'This guy is already calling him by his name!?'  he thought clearly shocked by Hideaki's way of addressing. Then, being more calm, added "No worries! I will wait for him! Um.... Where did he go?"

"I don't know," Hideaki replied flatly, his tone dark.

"O-oh.. Well.. okay." Ken, sensing the tension, tried to remain calm. "So, uh... mind if I wait inside?"

Hideaki scanned Ken's figure from head to toe.

'He doesn't seem as if he could attack me any moment... but you'll never know... Tch!'

After a long pause, he finally said,

"Fine... Come in."

He stepped aside but mentally prepared himself to act if this stranger posed any threat.

Ken entered, taking off his shoes and seating himself at the table.

"Sorry to intrude! I'll be here only for a short while." Ken said, smiling in an attempt to lighten the mood.

His politeness contrasted sharply with Hideaki's rough demeanor, making the atmosphere even more uncomfortable.

Hideaki, however, didn't respond, his eyes trailing Ken's every movement while he began to clean up used dish. The silence stretched until Ken spoke up, trying to break the awkwardness.

"So... you must be Seiji's roommate, huh?"

"Huh!?" Hideaki paused cleaning,

'So he knows about me!? What did Seiji told him exactly about me!?!?'

He put away the dish and went back to the living room...

There, he turned off the TV, slowly gazing back at Ken with distrustful look

"What did you say???" Hideaki snapped back, his voice low.

Ken was visibly startled. "Uh, n-nothing, really-"

"Tch! Yeah... sure.. And now..." The aura around Hideaki seemed to darkened even more, giving him even more terrifying look "You better fucking tell me more what he told about m—" he paused and corrected himself "uh... I mean, s-someone living with him right n-now,"

He closed up the distance between them in seconds, "or I'll kill you before he even gets back!" He whispered with his eyes flashing dangerously.

Before Ken could stammer a response, the door opened,

Seiji stepped in, breathless, carrying grocery bag.

"Fuck. I got late. Everything because of this damn old man at the register arguing over a discount coupon..." He shook his head, irritated. "Five minutes turned into fifteen..."

He set the bag on the counter, exhaling through his nose before finally noticing the extra pair of shoes by the door. His gaze flicked sharply to the living room.

"...Ken?"

He quickly removed his shoes and stepped into the kitchen-living space, scanning the scene in a split second.

Ken sat stiffly at the table, posture too straight, while Hideaki leaned against the counter, arms crossed, expression blank — too blank.

A tight knot twisted in Seiji's stomach.

'Shit. How long has he been here? Did Hideaki try anything? Did Ken notice something?'

Keeping his tone even, he set the bag down.
"Sorry I'm late. I went shopping." His eyes flicked deliberately toward Ken, then briefly back to Hideaki. "Didn't expect you this early."

Ken laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I uh... I came by to wait for you. Hope I didn't intrude."

"Not at all," Seiji replied calmly, though his eyes narrowed ever so slightly at Hideaki.

'Answer me without answering me. Did you behave, or am I about to clean up a mess?'

Hideaki's lips curled into the faintest smirk, as if sensing Seiji's silent interrogation, but he said nothing.

'I will consider it as a yes... Eh for fuck's sake with him...'

He sighed and went to the kitchen counter.

As Seiji put away the bag, he glanced at the curry pot,

"Where's the rest of the curry?"

Hideaki grinned maliciously, pointing at his belly. "Here."

Seiji's brow furrowed.

"Seriously? I was gone for what - fifteen minutes? And you ate almost the whole leftover curry?"

"It was good." Hideaki said, unapologetic.

Seiji groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You won't get any more curry. Not after that."

"I don't feel like eating curry anymore. What did you buy there?" Hideaki began rifling through the grocery bags as if he had a right to know.

"Don't expect to find some treasure there. It's only rice. And meat for supper." Seiji said.

"Tch! I fucking see!" Hideaki responded angrily.

'He turned from being extremely offensive towards me, to being extremely indifferent...'
Ken analyzed silently from across the room.
'What a strange guy.'

Then being amused by their exchange, asked. "Are you always like this?"

Seiji glanced over his shoulder, giving a small, exasperated smile. "No, I don't always have curry. But if you're asking if he's always this annoying and disobedient, then yeah, pretty much."

Hideaki, clearly irritated, snapped, "Hey!"

Seiji remained unbothered, his tone dry. "What? It's the truth. Also, be kind and put the meat in the fridge, will you?"

"Shut up, idiot. Say one more thing and I'll strangle you." Hideaki replied angrily, but he did as Seiji said.

Seiji sighed and turned to Ken. "See? I get to deal with this every day. Lucky me."

Ken smiled awkwardly, but he couldn't help but ask, "But you two seem to be getting along better now, right?"

Both Seiji and Hideaki turned to him with the same sharp glare. "No," they said in unison, their voices flat and cold.

Ken blinked in surprise, then burst out laughing, covering his mouth to muffle the sound. The sheer bluntness of their response was too much for him to handle.

Hideaki scowled, clearly annoyed. "What's so funny, you moron?"

Ken wiped away a tear from laughing so hard. "I just... can't believe how much agreeable you both are at this statement!"

Hideaki gritted his teeth, growling like a angry dog but before he could snap again, Seiji flicked his nose lightly. "Hey, behave. He's our guest."

Don't sweat it, Seiji," Ken said, still chuckling. "It's fine. Actually," he turned to Hideaki, "uh... I introduced myself earlier, but you haven't told me your name yet."

The question, seemingly harmless, immediately put Hideaki on edge.

Hideaki's eyes narrowed, staring intensely at him.

'M-my name? What did Seiji tell him about me?? If I say it... would he report me to the police!?'  His mind raced with paranoia.

"Why do you need my name??" Hideaki snapped.

Ken, sensing the tension but keeping his smile, answered softly, "I just want to get to know you better. That's all."

Seiji watched Hideaki's reaction carefully, then cut in with practiced calm. "He's not great with introductions, don't take it personally," he said smoothly, his tone light but deliberate.

"Tch!" Hideaki hissed at Seiji's remark.

Seiji's thoughts remained sharp and calculated. 'If Ken's heard anything about Hideaki from the news, this could get complicated. I'll have to keep this under control.'

Then, after a pause, he added casually, "Still... refusing to introduce yourself at all is a bit rude. But if you're not comfortable, it's fine.

"Oh..?" Ken blinked in mild surprise at the sudden turn of the situation.
'Is he shy? Well, I'm sure we can break the ice pretty quickly.'

With a bright smile, he said, "I'm Kiminawa Ken! Nice to meet you — again, hehe." He gave a small bow once more.

He hoped the heavy atmosphere he'd felt when first meeting Seiji's roommate was just a misunderstanding — maybe nothing more than the awkwardness of two strangers.

Hideaki glared at Ken with sharp, anxious eyes, hesitation still gnawing at him.

'What if Seiji really did tell him I'm wanted by the police? This idiot would definitely try to expose me... tch!'

His thoughts spiraled as he kept his gaze locked on Ken.

'But... on the other hand... if I don't greet him, and he doesn't know I'm being hunted, he might get suspicious. And then — he could alert the authorities out of sheer doubt! D-damnit!!'

After what felt like an eternity, Hideaki exhaled softly and stole another glance at Ken, trying to convince himself it was safe. Finally, he bowed — cautiously, stiffly.

"N-nice to meet you. I-I'm M-Miyahara... Hideaki," he stammered, as if still uncertain about exposing himself.

'Oh... he actually took the first step.'

Seiji was momentarily taken aback by Hideaki's choice, though he kept his composure on the outside. He drew in a slow breath and decided to focus on Ken's reaction instead.

Ken smiled kindly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miyahara-san."

'I don't see any shocking reaction from Ken...'  Seiji thought 'Maybe he just haven't heard of the criminal haunt in news...'  he breathed a sigh of relief. Then he turned his gaze on Hideaki.
'I need to get Hideaki occupied one more time. I don't trust him with leaving him alone when everything is unlocked.'

"Alright," Seiji said, shifting gears, "now that we're all introduced, Ken, did you bring your project?"

"Yup." Ken replied and then pulled out pendrive out of his pocket. "Got it right here."

"Okay. Come to my room. Just don't be scared by the view of the terrarium. I have my pets there hehe."

"You've got some lizard here? "

"Oh, no no... Hehe. Just some tarantulas."

"Cool!" Ken replied both excited and a bit of scared from the fact that he will see a huge tropical spiders.

"Hideaki, you too." Seiji added turning to him.

"Huh!? For what?" Hideaki asked surprised.

"I want to show you how the program works." Seiji said casually but firm.

Hideaki's eyes narrowed.
"Tch... Why the hell would I care about that? I'm not interested."

"It won't kill you to watch for a few minutes," Seiji replied evenly, his gaze locking on Hideaki just long enough to make his point. "Besides, you might actually learn something useful."

Hideaki crossed his arms, scowling.
"I don't feel like it."

Seiji's voice didn't change, but there was a subtle edge to it.
"Good. Then it won't take any effort."

For a moment, silence hung in the air. Ken glanced between the two, sensing tension but unsure if he should comment.

Hideaki finally clicked his tongue, muttering under his breath.
"Fine. But I'm not promising I'll pay attention."

---

Seiji and Ken sat at the desk, talking about the project Ken had brought on his flash drive. The computer screen lit up their faces, and the clicking of the keyboard filled the room.

Hideaki sat on the bed, clearly set apart from the others. He leaned his back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, glaring at the monitor — pretending not to listen.

But his attention wasn't on the computer at all.

Above the desk, right over Seiji's head, stood glass terrariums. Inside, the large, hairy bodies of tarantulas moved. Some lazily climbed the branches, while others lurked motionless in the shadows of their hides.

Hideaki swallowed hard.
"T-tch... those monsters... why does he even keep them in his room?! They're staring, watching..."

His eyes traced the glass, as if it might crack at any moment. Every sudden twitch of a spider's leg made Hideaki's muscles tense instinctively.

Seiji glanced discreetly, noticing how Hideaki's gaze was fixed on the terrariums. He knew it distracted him, but didn't say a word. He preferred Hideaki being scared of spiders rather than dwelling on stupid ideas that could put them all in danger.

Ken, meanwhile, didn't notice Hideaki's tension at all, absorbed in presenting his project.

Hideaki stared at the terrariums for a long moment, feeling cold sweat slowly trickle down his neck. Spider legs slid across the glass, and he had the dreadful impression they would crawl out any second and start creeping all over him.

He couldn't take it anymore. He suddenly jumped up from the bed.
"...I'm going to get something to drink," he said curtly, avoiding Seiji's and Ken's eyes.

Ken didn't even lift his gaze from the screen.
"Yeah, sure," he muttered absentmindedly.

Seiji, however, froze for a second. Inside, a familiar unease tore at him.

'He just wants to catch his breath... just to get a drink... But what if he's lying? What if he goes for a knife instead?... The kitchen drawers are widely open... With how impulsive he is he can do it...'

Even though his heart skipped faster, his face stayed perfectly neutral. He cast Hideaki a sideways glance and gave a short nod.
"Alright, just don't make noise."

Hideaki didn't bother to answer. He left the room in a rush, closing the door behind him.

For a moment, silence settled in, broken only by the clicking of the mouse. Seiji sat stiffly, trying not to show that his thoughts were already far away from the conversation with Ken.

'I have to trust he's really just pouring water. Ken can't notice anything. If I stand up and follow him, he'll suspect right away...'

He let out a quiet breath, steadying himself, and leaned closer to the screen as if nothing had happened.

"Alright, show me the code," he said calmly, though half of his focus stayed in the kitchen with Hideaki.

Hideaki meanwhile went to the kitchen and clutched his hands to the edges of the kitchen counter, breathing heavily.

"S-stupid spiders... I hate them! They're so creepy!"

He muttered under his breath. He tried to steady himself.

Hideaki closed his eyes and breathed with ragged breath, but it didn't help.

Restlessly, he began pacing around the kitchen, his nerves refusing to calm. He leaned against the counter, then, almost without thinking, started opening the kitchen drawers one by one.

And then suddenly...

He saw a knife.

His gaze froze on it. The blade glinted under the lamp.

A shiver ran down his spine — a mixture of fear and an odd fascination. He reached out hesitantly, fingers trembling.

A strange smile began to creep across his lips. "A knife..." he murmured, almost to himself.

He chuckled softly at first, a nervous, twitchy sound. Then the chuckle grew louder, sharper, more unhinged.

"A knife!! Ehehehe!!!" His laughter twisted into something maniacal.

He picked it up and gazed at the wide blade.

"So wide... So metallic shiny! Ehehe!"

Suddenly, an even more ominous smile than before, appeared on his face,

"Hehehe! I wonder how quickly this knife would cut through skin!"

The psychopathic grin began to dominate his face.

The urge of trying to play with his new toy was getting on the top of his head now more and more...

He started walking towards Seiji's room with a terrifying smile, like a beast looking for its prey...

Seiji and Ken were sitting at the computer, engrossed in their conversation about coding.

Suddenly, Hideaki appeared soundlessly as a shadow before them, causing them to jump in surprise at his alarming visage.

Seiji quickly noticed Hideaki's insane facial expression and sharp knife gripped tightly in his right hand.

He quickly got up from his desk to intervene, but unfortunately, he was too slow.

In seconds, Hideaki jumped closer to Ken and pinned him against the wall by his foot, laughing like a psycho,

"EHEHEHE!!!! Give me your arm!!!" the murderer grabbed Ken's hand firmly and was about to try the blade of the knife on it.

Ken gasped in panic. "W-W-What!? S-Seiji what is he on about!?" The sight of the mad Hideaki frozen his blood.

He didn't know what was going on, he just felt like he wanted to run, but the shock that overcame him was so strong that he couldn't move.

Seiji rapidly stepped forward, holding the tarantula in his hand. "Hideaki," he said evenly, "look what I have."

"HUH...?" Hideaki looked away from Ken, his manic grin faltering the moment he saw the spider. His eyes widened in terror.

"S-S... S-SPIDEEEEEEEEER!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!" He started screaming in panic, releasing Ken from his grip, "FUCK OFF! PUT IT IN THIS CAGE BACK! DON'T COME CLOSE TO ME WITH THIS MONSTER!!!" he waved a knife blindly to defend himself from the spider.

Seiji's voice remained cold, but his words held a quiet threat. "Put down the knife, or I'll put this spider on your face."

"N-NO!!!! NOOOOO!!!!!!"

"Then put the knife down!"

Hideaki was breathing rapidly, his heart was beating mercilessly fast, and his hands began to shake. He couldn't take any longer. He felt exactly like he was experiencing his first meeting with Seiji's spiders.

He dropped the knife and with doing muffled panic squeaks, ran in a panic to the bathroom, locking himself inside.

Seiji watched him leave and breathed a sigh of relief. He put the tarantula back into the terrarium and checked to ensure that the spider hadn't released any stinging hairs.

"S-Seiji... w-what was t-that!?" Ken asked, still recovering from the traumatic events from moment ago.

"Sorry about that," Seiji said nonchalantly, as if this were just another minor inconvenience.

Ken's voice was shaky. "B-but what the hell just happened? Why did he try to attack me with a knife?"

Seiji sat back down, his expression unbothered. "He's... unpredictable. I'll handle it."
'He fucked up things again... Now Ken will start asking questions. This could complicate things...' Seiji thought silently, weighing his options.

"Who the hell do you live with..."

Seiji picked up the knife, inspecting it briefly. "With him..."

"Does he scare you like that often?"

"Sometimes... He... He's just very explosive with his behavior, but it's not always like this. That's all." Seiji tried to explain Hideaki's behavior in every other way, but admitting that Hideaki is a wanted criminal.

"S-Seiji, he is insane!"

Seiji sighed, pausing a bit choosing his words carefully. He knew he couldn't reveal the full extent of Hideaki's situation.

"He does have issues, no denying that..."

Seiji remembered the mad look on Hideaki's face.
'First the night attacks, then this... Someone like him should be actually treated in psychiatric hospital...'  he mused.
"Anyway... let's put this behind us for now. I'll take care of the knife, and we can finish what we started. There's still some curry left." His tone was dismissive, as if everything could simply go back to normal.

"What about... him?" Saying this, Ken pointed towards the bathroom

"He'll get over it. In a little bit. I'm sure."

"U-uhuh... If you s-say so..." Ken looked worried. 'How Seiji can take it with such calmness? What's going on here?'

"Coming right up." Seiji stood and headed to the kitchen, where he quietly returned the knife to its drawer, as though nothing unusual had happened at all.

Then, Seiji carefully took two clean bowls from the cupboard, placing a portion of Japanese curry rice on each. His movements precise, methodical.

'When Ken leave, it's no doubtful that I will have to montage all those extra locks and take the sharp tools again from the apartment. This guy is unpredictable with his behaviors...'

He thought.

As he made his way back, a loud crash echoed from the bathroom.

His eyebrow twitched slightly. "Hmm...?"

He paused for a moment, interest piqued, but didn't rush. He returned to the desk, handing Ken his portion with a calm demeanor, setting his own bowl down as well. His gaze then shifted, steady and focused, toward the bathroom door.

"Ken," Seiji said, his voice even, "I need to check on something."

Ken, already uneasy from the earlier incidents, noticed Seiji's gaze fixed on the bathroom. His throat tightened. "Are you sure you want to go... in there?"

Seiji nodded, his expression unreadable, but there was a controlled determination in his eyes. "Yes. I'll be quick. It's just a quick look. I won't be long."

Ken shifted uncomfortably in his seat, the earlier incident fresh in his mind. He swallowed hard, the tension clear in his voice. "Alright... but, Seiji... He's... dangerous, at least. If something goes wrong... yell. I'll help."

Seiji's lips curled slightly, a faint, calculated smile. "I appreciate it, Ken. But it's fine. I've got this under control."

Without further hesitation, Seiji calmly made his way to the bathroom, his steps measured.

He carefully opened the door and walked over to the bathroom noticing the chaos inside.

The cosmetics scattered across the sink and floor looked like a storm had swept through.

In the midst of the mess, Hideaki sat on the floor, face buried in his hands, shaking in silent tears.

Without hesitating, Seiji stepped inside and closed the door behind him with a soft click.

He looked down at Hideaki, his expression unreadable. "What happened?"

Hideaki's voice came muffled, "L-Leave me alone."

Seiji ignored the protest, crouching down beside him. "No. Tell me what's up. You're all in tears."

"N-Not true!" Hideaki snapped, his voice cracking, as he covered his face even tighter.

Seiji, always observing, sighed slightly. "You're not hiding anything by covering up like that."

After a moment of resistance, Seiji placed his hand on Hideaki's shoulder, his movements deliberate and slow. "Let me see your face."

Hideaki flinched at the sudden touch, hesitated before making any action. Then he asked, his voice now more irritated "W-why you want to see my face?"

"I just need to check something real quick." Seiji replied calmly. "I won't hurt you. I promise."

"How I have sure that you won't throw a spider on me this time?" Hideaki asked shaking.

"I don't have a spider with me." Seiji assured him, by showing his hands "Don't worry."

Hideaki hesitated again, but eventually, slowly and carefully lowered his hands, revealing his tear-streaked, flushed face, trembling with leftover panic.

Seiji nodded acknowledging the situation "That's what I thought. You panicked because of the spider, right?"

"I-I... I.." Tears welled up in the Hideaki's eyes again. He clenched his teeth to keep from bursting into tears in front of Seiji again. He sniffled, not meeting his gaze, but his reaction was confirmation enough.

Seiji's voice remained calm, but with a hint of rationality creeping in. "I didn't mean to scare you. But you were out of control - there wasn't another option."

"Tch..." Hideaki grit his teeth, visibly trying to suppress more tears. Seiji's bluntness was not helping.

Seiji sighed and stood up. His gaze landed on Hideaki again.

"Alright... Get up. Wash your face. We need to clean up this mess."

He wanted to get him to work to let him help get focus on something other than a images of spider and ease his stress.

Hideaki didn't move right away, still simmering with emotion. Seiji extended a hand, practically forcing him to stand.

He gazed at him one more time.

'Damn it all... To the top of that, I will need to explain some things about him with Ken... and making sure he didn't report him to the police.'

As soon as Hideaki was back on his feet.... he lashed out, punching Seiji hard in the gut.

"Agh!" Seiji staggered back, wincing. "What the hell was that for?"

Hideaki stayed silent, avoiding eye contact, offering no explanation.

"Hideaki" Seiji's voice had a sharper edge now, but still restrained,

As the silence stretched he got a bit impatient.

"Hideaki, answer me." Seiji demeaned, but again, he received a long moment of hair-covered silence.

"Miyahara!" Seiji tried again.

Hideaki turned his head on side, looking all sulky.

"You—" Seiji paused. It became clear he wouldn't get an answer.

Seiji let out a frustrated sigh. "Whatever," he muttered, his composure returning. "Let's clean up." he ordered.

They started picking up the scattered bottles and containers in silence. While doing so, Seiji's thoughts drifted, analyzing Hideaki's behavior.

'What triggered him this time? Panic attack or something deeper...? Well... either that or something different, he again, acted like a completely maniac out of reason. Are all serial killers so insane?'

Hideaki was focused on cleaning, without looking at Seiji. After couple of minutes, they finished cleaning the bathroom and get Hideaki together.

Seiji looked at the killer again "Are you calm now?"

"M-Mhm.."

"No more sudden action like the one before happened?" Seiji asked, with a raised eyebrow, his tone both questioning and subtly warning.

"Y-Yes..." Hideaki replied, still avoiding eye contact.

"Okay... Now come on. We'll go back to the room, you'll apologize to Ken."

Hideaki stiffened, clearly uncomfortable with the idea, but Seiji's firm tone left little room for argument. He led Hideaki back to the bedroom, where Ken was waiting, still visibly shaken.

Hideaki struggled for a long moment, words catching in his throat. Seiji, standing behind him, shot him a look that was more of a command than encouragement. Finally, Hideaki muttered a barely audible, "I'm sorry..."

Seiji folded his arms, observing the interaction closely, ensuring the apology happened loud and clear - another small victory in managing the situation, at least for now.

[Later]

Hideaki retreated to the living room, collapsing onto the couch, overwhelmed and exhausted. He pulled a blanket over himself, cocooning away from the world, seeking solitude.

Seiji returned to explaining what his colleague couldn't do at work, though his mind was elsewhere.

Ken sat visibly shaken, clutching coffee. The silence between them was thick, tense.

Ken finally broke it, his voice uneasy, "Seiji... I don't know how you're dealing with this. That guy... Miyahara-san..? He's insane." Ken, gazed at his hands, fingers were rubbing of each other from stress. "So, what's the deal with him? You keep saying he's your roommate, but... saying that his behavior is weird is an understatement. What's really going on?"

Seiji leaned back in his chair, his face calm, though a trace of unease flickered in his eyes. He exhaled quietly, trying to project his usual composure.
"He is unstable, yes... probably from whatever happened before I met him. I've been watching him, and I think... he..." He paused

'Quickly, think. Some believable excuse for both why I keep someone like Hideaki, and explaining his behavior!'

Then he continued

"He...deeply needs help... It's just... it looks like no one has given it to him yet. But he's not a threat to you, Ken. He's a mess, not a danger."

"A mess? Seiji, he nearly stabbed me! You can't just brush that off. And to the top of that, before you came back, he acted very hostile towards me.
Like a paranoid man.
And when you came, he suddenly changed his behavior as he wasn't literally trying to jump on me with teeth.
At first I thought that he is just stressed, a little bit strange because he literally met someone new, but... He seems like he just flips with one extreme to another out of nowhere."

Seiji glanced toward the living room where Hideaki had retreated, his thoughts spinning as Ken's words hit harder than expected. He composed himself, meeting Ken's worried gaze.

"I get it, Ken," Seiji started, his voice steady, "You're right, he did almost stab you. He is acting like some weirdo among people. I'm not downplaying that. But..." He paused, searching for the right words, "he's not... completely in control of himself sometimes. He reacts impulsively, without thinking. It's not calculated, just... chaotic."

Ken frowned, gripping his cup tighter. "So what are you saying? That I should just stay out of his way?"

"I'm saying that he's unpredictable because he's probably got a lot of issues he's never dealt with," Seiji responded, leaning forward slightly. "It doesn't excuse his behavior, but it explains some of it."

Ken shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "But... do you think he could get even more dangerous? To you, I mean? If he loses control again?"

Seiji took a moment to think.

His mind juggling the need to protect Ken from the truth while trying to avoid lying outright.

"I don't think so. He's not a danger to me, or to you. He's not someone looking for trouble, but... he can't handle pressure well."

Ken shook his head, unconvinced. "You're saying he needs help and is no danger, but what happened today... doesn't say that he isn't looking for trouble. What if he flips out again? You can't keep brushing it off. People like him are possible danger to society. Acting all weird and impulsive... I know he's your roommate, but... I think that we need to report him. to the police. For everyone's safety."

Seiji's jaw tightened. He weighed his next words carefully.

'Ken has a point but also considering the consequences of exposing Hideaki... It could end fatal. For both of us. And for completing our deal.'

"I understand your concern. Believe me, I'm not blind to the danger, but... You don't know everything. He's... he's more than just what he showed us today. He's... broken, in a way that most people don't see. Reporting him... it could make things even worse."

"What do you mean? How could it be worse than this?" Ken paused, being confused. "It doesn't make sense, Seiji."

Seiji took a deep breath, trying to find the right words...
"I can't explain everything, not right now. But I know that if we hand him over to the police, they'll most likely treat him like a monster, not like a person who needs help. And that might push him over the edge."

'Seiji... what are you not telling me?' Ken quietly whispered in his mind. His brow furrowed. "You took a literal stranger from street. The guy almost committed a crime, and you... what? You're just going to let him stay here?"

Seiji nodded "Yes." his tone softened, sincerity creeping into his voice. "I'll handle him. But for now, trust me. I'm not letting anything happen to you, to other people or to him."

Ken sighed. "That's a dangerous gamble, Seiji." he hesitated, then slowly nodded, though doubt still lingered in his expression. "I trust you, and if you say you'll handle it, I believe you... But if something else happens... I can't promise I won't call the cops."

Seiji nodded, keeping his face neutral. "Fair enough."

The tension slowly eased as Ken looked down at his coffee, sighing, though the unease between them remained palpable.

'Maybe Seiji have right... maybe his roommate really just needs some help. But then... that knife? It was very extreme...'
He sighed again, but this time heavier, clearly looking torn as much as Seiji was at this moment.

Then, looked at his friend's monitor, showing the written code. "Alright... Let's go back to the thing I came to you in first place."

"Sure." Seiji replied, and after saying that he resumed explaining programming things to Ken.

Suddenly Ken interrupted him.

"And Seiji... don't hesitate to call if you need me. Even if we know each other for a few months, I still value you. Not only as a programmer and co-worker, but as a person." Ken added,

To this Seiji weakly smiled "I'll keep that in mind. Appreciate it."

They came back to their work.

Meanwhile, Ken wondered more and more, who Seiji had actually brought into his life...