Going Home

The way back was very silent. At least no one said a word. The elevator that took them back to heaven was still as noisy and hot as before, but neither of the three seemed to really notice it this time. When they were back at the surface Ose brought them to the door, but then told them he had to go back and deal with the after math. Also something about being chewed out most likely. He told them he was very sorry again as well. The street they found themselves on looked like it did before and it seemed like nothing could ever change that, but apparently Ose just prevented a demon from potentially attacking it. It made it seem like this place was quite vulnerable after all and not the perfect paradise you would think of heaven as.

Aida and Michio slowly walked back the street they came from. They still hadn't said a word to each other. Michio was stealing glances at Aida from the corner of his eye and he could see that she was slightly shaking. But he was also looking at his own hand and it was shaking as well. Going to hell took a toll on them after all. Michio felt like it was his fault again, since he was the one who told Aida about Ose and his ideas. Even though Aida wanted to go along with it. It was a mess again. 

He looked at Aida once more and she still seemed to be slightly shaking and suddenly he couldn't hold himself back and he grabbed her hand and held it tightly. She seemed surprised but didn't object. He felt how cold her hand was and so he squeezed it even tighter. And it felt to him like she was squeezing his hand back. His face went all red and he was embarrassed about what he had done, but he had also no intentions of letting go of her hand, at least until they were back at their house. He looked at Aida again and her face seemed red as well and she looked to the side, but she was also still holding his hand very firmly. They were walking very slowly as to prolong the time they had until they reached their home. Michio wished again that the circumstances of them seemingly becoming closer were different. If it put Aida at ease he would be happy to do whatever it took anyway, but he still couldn't help but wish for them to walk along together hand in hand just because they both wanted to. Because it made them feel happy. 

But at last they reached the house and he let go of her hand after all to open the door and when they got in they stood in the living room not really sure what to do with themselves. It was already late so they probably just should have gone to bed right away, but there was so much to talk about it felt weird to just leave it like that. They both stood next to each other, but back to back so neither could see what the other one was doing and so neither of them could see the other looking at the hand they were holding each other with mere moments ago wondering what that had meant. In all that time they still hadn't said anything to each other and at this point it felt strange to say anything at all. But they had to say something, right? Michio felt like this was an important moment and he wanted to get it right, but at the same time he had no idea what that could even mean.

“Should I make something to eat?” Michio finally said. They both still stood back to back and the words sounded stange after they left his mouth. Even though he spoke with his normal voice, they sounded way too loud after they were silent for so long. Especially since heaven also was pretty much totally silent.

“I'm not really hungry, but thanks anyway.” answered Aida.

“That's alright. I'm not hungry either.” Michio didn't know how to continue after that.

“Thanks for holding my hand Hino.” Aida said after some more silence. The words hit Michio like a brick. “I felt bad after we came back and it really made me feel at ease.” she continued.

“T-That's good to hear. I'm glad because I did it without saying anything, so I didn't know whether it was okay.” Michio had difficulty getting the words out now, but he managed it somehow.

“I was surprised, but it felt good so I didn't mind. I've never held anyone's hand like that before.” Aida said and Michio still couldn't believe what he was hearing. She never talked to him in that way before. “It was my first time as well. Holding hands I mean.” Michio answered. Now both their faces were bright red, but they still didn't face each other so they neither realized it still.

“I think I will go to bed now.” Michio said. He wasn't really tired at all, since the adrenaline from their encounter with the demon and more so holding Aida's hand was still rushing through his veins, but he just didn't know what else to do in this situation.

“Michio.” Aida said in return. “Do you want to sleep with me tonight?” If her words before hit him like a brick, this was like a brick wall collapsing onto him. “W-what do you mean Yoshida?” he finally spluttered. Aida seemed to realize what she had said and corrected herself. “I mean you can sleep in the same bed if you want. I just don't want to be alone tonight. Don't make it weird.”

She almost sounded like her usual self by the end, but her offer still sounded serious.

“I would love to Yoshida if you don't mind. I guess I wouldn't mind the company either.”

“Okay then, then let's go.” Aida said in return and so they both took the stairs up to the bedroom and even though Aida had made it clear what she meant, Michio's heart was still racing like never before in his life.