Midnight Talks

Seiji couldn't sleep. After turning over for what felt like hours, he sighed quietly, pushed the covers aside, and got up.

The oppressive stillness of the night clung to him, thoughts swirling in his mind.

Tea would help, or at least give him something to do.

As he descended the stairs, he spotted Miyumi by the window, gazing at the stars. The faint scent of roses hung in the air.

"Nakano-san?" Seiji said evenly, keeping his voice low.

Miyumi flinched, spinning around. "S-Sekiguchi! You scared me."

"Sorry," he replied, moving to the kitchen counter. "Couldn't sleep. Thought some tea might help."

She gave a small laugh, still a little startled. "Same here. I was just... clearing my head."

He nodded, setting the kettle on the stove. "It's a good night for that. Quiet."

Miyumi glanced back at the stars, her expression softening. "It is. Peaceful."

Seiji leaned against the counter, arms crossed. "How is your..." he started and then paused, feeling a bit awkward to ask about it.

"It's fine. The bleeding has stopped. I'm okay." Miyumi replied calmly.

Seiji nodded and then asked another question, to avoid further anxiety,
"You're working late?" He asked, noticing tossed cleaning cloth near her.

"Not really," she said, smiling sheepishly. "Just making sure things are ready for tomorrow."

"You shouldn't overdo it," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. "Rest is important."

Her cheeks flushed slightly. "I'm fine. My boyfriend's coming by soon to help out."

For a moment, Seiji's expression froze, but he quickly masked it. "Boyfriend, huh?"

Miyumi nodded, her smile widening. "Yeah. He's from Saitama. Visits a lot to help me with the shop."

"I see," Seiji replied, his voice even. 'So she is already taken... Damn...' He turned slightly, letting his gaze drift to the window. "That's good. Support makes all the difference."

"It does," she said softly. "But enough about me. What about you? How's everything going?"

"Complicated," Seiji admitted. "Work's as frustrating as ever. And my roommate... well, let's just say things haven't been smooth."

He began to pour himself some tea into the cup.

Miyumi tilted her head curiously. "Your roommate... The one you came here with, right?"

He took a sip of the tea, then nodded. "Yeah. It's been... a challenge. Let's leave it at that."

Miyumi replayed scenes from today.
All interactions that Seiji had with Hideaki. Even the smallest ones.

She stepped closer, her voice soft. "You seem like you care about him, though. Even if it's hard."

Seiji's gaze shifted to her, his expression unreadable. "Caring doesn't make it easier."

She smiled faintly. "No, but it might make it worth it. You just have to wait."

He exhaled tiredly "Patience isn't my strong suit. Sometimes... I just want to give up with everything..." Seiji said at last, his voice quieter.

"Don't say that. Look, sometimes it takes time," Miyumi replied, leaning slightly against the counter.

"I know, but does wanting someone to change have to take so much time?"

"People don't change overnight. But they can and will change eventually. Don't worry."

Seiji smirked dryly "Maybe." He said, not only thinking about Hideaki right now, but also about his bullies.

For a moment, the two stood in silence. Then, almost without thinking, Seiji spoke. "You look... different under moonlight. Softer. Really beautiful."

Miyumi flushed, laughing nervously. "Oh, no, no, I'm not!" she said, waving her hands shyly. "That's just the lack of sleep talking." she added with a bashful smile.

He stiffened slightly, realizing how it sounded. "Right. Forget I said that. That was... inappropriate."

She waved a hand, still smiling. "It's fine. You're too kind. Really."

'Maybe that's the problem. I'm trying too hard. Investing too much effort into fixing something that might not be repairable. His behavior, the killings...'

Seiji exhaled through his nose.

'He's a serial killer. That means his actions were — and will be — repetitive. No matter how much longer I'm willing to sacrifice my time to fix him, the system stays the same. 

He's structurally destructive. Maybe it's not about me being the right person. Maybe no one is. 

I got myself into this sick deal of my own volition. After that, he'll go back to the same environment. Same triggers. Same outcomes. 

So does it even matter anymore?'

The thought lingered longer than it should have.

'…Maybe the only rational option is to give up — to finally say fuck it all and walk away from him and dissapear like I intended to do at first place.'

His decreasing hope surfaced again. He gritted his teeth and shook his head, trying to shake off the thoughts.

'No.'

He gazed at his empty cup with sharp eyes.

'I can't afford to think like that. If I don't fix him, no one will.'

Seiji exhaled, shaking his head. His eyes turned on Miyumi, who now looked more tired than before.

'She's gonna go to sleep soon. I'm not gonna bother her anymore.'  He stated.

"I should probably get back upstairs." He said putting the emptied cup in the sink. "Thanks for the tea."

Miyumi nodded. "If you say so. Then, good night, Sekiguchi-san. And... don't give up, okay?"

He paused in the doorway, glancing back. "I don't intend to."

---

As he was back in their sleeping room, he exhaled heavily and slided down on his futon.

Leaning with his back against the wall, he glanced back at Hideaki again, his gaze unreadable.

'Now, we're both at an impasse.'

Seiji ran a hand over his face.

'We need to communicate better. I have to find a way to reach him... without all the anger and hostility.'

A bitter laugh escaped Seiji's lips, but it was hollow.

'After all, we're roommates from quite some time. We should be able to talk, to understand each other needs. But sometimes... it's like we're speaking different languages.'

He leaned back on the futon, eyes closing for a moment as exhaustion crept in. But the more he thought, the more he knew he couldn't just let things stay this way.

'I'll apologize for what I said. I need to give him the chance to respond, and maybe we'll start from there. It's the only way forward.'

[Morning]

Both men went downstairs after a quick morning routine. Seiji, now dressed back in his dry clothes, looking more composed, though his usual sharpness lingered in his posture and gaze.

At the kitchen table, the atmosphere was less tense than the previous day. Hideaki seemed quieter, calmer even. They exchanged brief words with Miyumi over breakfast before heading toward the exit of the general store.

---

Seiji bowed politely "Thank you for your hospitality, Nakano-san. We appreciate it."

"It was no trouble at all!" Miyumi responded with a warm smile "But next time, maybe without the drama, huh?"

Seiji smirekd faintly "That would be preferable." He casted a quick, subtle glance at Hideaki, who maintained an uncharacteristic neutrality. To Seiji's surprise, Hideaki bowed slightly toward Miyumi.

"Thank you..." Hideaki said calmly.

Seiji raised an eyebrow briefly but said nothing.

Miyumi grinned "And thank you! I hope to see you again... for my sweets, of course!"

Hideaki had a rare, fleeting smile "Yes."

As they left the shop, Miyumi called out, checking the clock.

"You two better hurry, or you'll miss your train!"

Seiji nodded with his usual straightforward tone "We'll make it."

They headed to the train station, but before they disappeared completely from the sight, Hideaki quickly turned around and waved widely. A rare cheerful smile appeared on his face.

"Bye, Nakano-san! Your shop is really great!" Hideaki said, cheerfully.

Miyumi laughed at his comment "Good to know! Take care!"

***

On their way to the station, Seiji walked with a brisk, purposeful stride, his mind already scanning for potential issues.

As his gaze drifted to Hideaki's disheveled look - the hospital gown still visible under the jacket Seiji had lent him - his brow furrowed slightly.

'Great. Bloodstains and a hospital gown. Just the kind of attention we need.'

The sight irritated him, though he chose not to comment directly. It wasn't worth the argument. Instead, he formulated a plan.

Once on the train, Seiji deliberately nudged Hideaki toward an isolated seat near the window, away from prying eyes. He pulled a local travel magazine from the rack, handed it to him, and spoke in a low, firm tone.

"Hold this. Pretend you're reading." Seiji said.

Hideaki blinked, confused "Huh? Why-"

"Just do it. Less staring, fewer problems." Seiji's voice left no room for debate.

Hideaki opened the magazine, though it was clear he wasn't reading a word. Seiji leaned back in his seat, his phone in hand, giving off the aura of someone who was too busy to notice the rest of the passengers.

As the train rattled along, the tension between them settled into an uneasy quiet.

Seiji observed Hideaki out of the corner of his eye, noting how his roommate stared out the window, lost in thought.

'He seems calmer today...'  he thought.

Finally, he spoke, his tone measured and calm.

"I've been thinking."

Hideaki turned to him, slightly startled "A-about what...?"

"Yesterday. I was hard on you. Too hard, maybe."

Hideaki blinked in surprise "You... think so?"

Seiji nodded slightly "Yes. I pushed too much. Especially after you said you had that... issues with the hospital... That was... unreasonable. I shouldn't have said it that way. Don't understand me wrong. It isn't that I take back what I said, but... I could've held my tongue. It's visible that it hurt you. And for that, I'm sorry."

Hideaki looked away, his voice was uneven "I... I'm sorry too. F-for yelling... hitting... and... s-saying stuff I d-didn't mean."

Seiji studied him for a moment. He smiled faintly, though his voice softened slightly. "Apology accepted."

Hideaki nodded unsure. He shifted uncomfortably and returned his gaze to the passing scenery, the magazine still forgotten in his hands.

As they neared their stop, Seiji leaned back, closing his eyes briefly as Miyumi's words from the previous night echoed in his mind.

'Patience,'  he reminded himself. 'I've handled worse challenges than this. Hideaki just needs time... and structure. Less chaos. More stability. And maybe I need that too...'