Take Two, Pt. 4

The walk back to the apartment room was quiet, save for our footsteps. Usually, it only took me five minutes to get from one to the other. After all, the park was just right across the street. This time, however... It felt way longer than that.

When we made it, I unlocked the door and pushed it open for her to go in first. She managed to get only one step through before she froze completely. There was no reason, at least none that I could see. She was just standing there.

"Megumi...?" I mumbled to no response. "I-if you're having second thoughts, then you don't have to stay here. I'll find some other way to make sure you get home—"

"No. I'm fine," she said. "It's just... It's been a while since I was last here. That's all."

"Oh. Right..."

Megumi took her shoes off and went in as I shut the door. I watched as she slowly turned her head left, then right, as if she were reminiscing. That made the swelling in my chest hurt a bit more.

"I'm gonna shower first," she said. "Is that okay?"

"Huh? I mean... Yeah. Go for it. Let me grab you a change of clothes."

I went over to the living room and opened up a cabinet. Inside was an array of folded clothes. I grabbed the first ones I saw and rushed back to hand them to her.

"This..."

"Yeah. It's your clothes. You left them here."

"Why didn't you just throw them out?"

"That's like asking why I didn't forget about you. Simplest answer is that I just... couldn't. No matter how hard I tried."

We locked eyes for a moment before she let out a sigh.

"Well... Thanks for keeping them. How about my underwear?"

I blinked.

"Under... wear?"

As if that triggered her guilt radar, she crossed her arms and raised a brow, glaring at me as if I'd just committed something heinous.

"W-wait!" I blurted, raising my arms defensively. "It's not what you're probably thinking! I didn't even know you had underwear here! N-never seen them, never touched them!"

"So, what? You thought I was just walking around your place without panties and bras?"

"...It just... never crossed my mind."

Megumi scowled at me for a bit longer until suddenly... she let out a slight chuckle. For the first time tonight, she smiled.

She walked past me and around the corner to the living room. From behind, I heard the cabinet doors creak open, followed by the sound of rummaging. She came back and marched into the bathroom, but not without turning to give me the side-eye.

"Well, that confirms one thing. I had my underwear set in a very specific pattern, so either you really didn't know... or you're just very meticulous."

"What the... I can assure you it is not the latter."

"Pfft. Alright. I'll believe you."

With that, she clicked the door shut while I collapsed to the floor. I'd never had a heart attack before, but that might've been the closest I've ever gotten.

Is there a secret compartment in my own cabinet that I don't know about? I probably shouldn't try to find out.

After collecting myself, I went into the kitchen area and pulled open the freezer. There was a small container with three uneaten curry breads — the ones I made last week but couldn't finish. I had stored them for a later day, but I never got around to finishing them. Didn't have the appetite, I guess.

I rested them on an aluminum sheet before sticking them in the oven. I could just use the microwave to heat them up faster, but they would've been soggy instead of crispy. And besides, knowing Megumi, it's gonna take more than half an hour for her to finish up.

Once the oven was on, I grabbed some clothes from my room and sat on the couch, waiting.

For the fifth time today... Or was it the fourth time? I already lost count. Anyway, I checked the time. 1:38 AM. We'd been out there for more than an hour, soaking in rain, colder than ice.

When the oven dinged, I took the curry breads out and set them on a plate. Right then, Megumi came out of the shower, a trail of steam following behind her as she was wiping her hair with a towel.

"Phew... That felt good. And..."—she sniffed once, then twice—"That smells good, too."

Megumi skipped over and hovered just behind me.

"Ohh~ Is that what I think it is?"

"Um... Y-yeah. It's pre-made, so... I hope it doesn't taste too off."

She glanced up at me, her amber eyes seemingly reflecting the ceiling lights.

"...For me?"

"Yeah, that's... right. I figured you might've been hungry or wanted a snack, so... you can have them. Or don't. U-up to you."

Without waiting for a response, I grabbed my clothes from the couch and went into the bathroom.

Only now did it finally hit me... Megumi's back. Even after everything that's happened... Even after three straight months of not seeing her, it almost feels like nothing's changed — and that thought scares me more than it comforts me.

Maybe not for long, but that's totally fine. I'm not expecting anything to come out of this, nor do I want to be forgiven. At least, not so easily.

One nice and very hot shower later, I stepped out with a towel over my shoulder. After spending nine long hours in the cold, I really needed that.

First thing I noticed... Megumi wasn't here. I checked the plate at the dining table to find it empty, save for a few crumbs.

Looks like she ended up eating it. So where...?

I turned toward the living, and that was when I saw her.

Megumi was sitting on the floor, slouching against the couch with her head resting on top of her folded arms. Her eyes were closed, and she was breathing slowly.

She's... sleeping.

Makes sense. After all, it's almost two in the morning.

Quietly, I picked up the dirty plate and planted it in the sink. With that done, I reached for a folded blanket sitting atop Megumi's cabinet. As slowly as I could, I lowered the blanket onto her, making sure to cover everything except her head.

Then, I sat next to her, dropping my head onto the cushion and just... watched her. Even like this, she was still so beautiful.

When I noticed a stray strand of hair, my hand reached over. Didn't even realize it till I forced myself to stop.

I shouldn't overstep my boundaries. This much... is enough for me.

"Hey, Megumi... You awake?" I whispered.

Nothing.

"Good. Stay like that for a minute, because... there's something else I wanna say. Something that... I'll probably never have the guts to say while you're awake."

I waited for her to move, react, or say something — but when it became clear that she was still deep in slumber, I continued.

"Those things you had said — about wanting to be your own person and wanting to be happy. Was that what was on your mind back then, too? Were those the things you couldn't say when you were standing on that bridge? And if they were... did you ever find your answer? Did you find it... in me, of all places?"

I waited for a reply I knew wouldn’t come.

"Well... Here's me giving it to you straight, Megumi. You are your own person. That's not something you should ever have to reaffirm. Not to anyone, and especially... not to me."

I shook my head, a small, humorless chuckle slipping out.

"But the truth is... I'm scared that I'm gonna lose you again. And this time, it'll be forever. No more second chances. That's why, at this point, I'm willing to do everything I can for you. More than anything, I... I want you back. Here. With me."

I paused, the words feeling heavier now that they were out.

"So if you're still looking for somewhere to belong—?!"

Suddenly, she stirred. One of her arms unfolded from under her head and dropped, grazing my leg before staying there.

For maybe the thirtieth time today, my body froze.

I waited. And wait. My heart was beating so loud I could practically hear it in my chest.

Thankfully, it seemed like that was it. She didn't move again, and I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief... till her eyes flickered open and pierced through mine.