Chapter 5:

Half-Naked

ANTIMATTER

As he enters the scene, sunlight pours in on an early Saturday afternoon, petrichor still lingering.

The girls welcome him with warm smiles. Despite his plan of interrogating Sakura, he eases up a little.

He looks to Emika. "What's she doing here?"

"I called her."

"You got her number?"

"You bet."

They're already this close?

Sakura sits up, excited to show him what she's brought, pushing a bag toward him.

"Hungry?"

"I'm a breakfast skipper. I need my coffee first."

She pouts. "Once it gets cold, it won't taste the same. Even if we reheat it."

"Look, I appreciate it, but I can't. I start my day with coffee. Two sugar cubes. A drop of milk. Never skipped it. Not ever, not now."

She looks down, then back up, regaining her smile. "I respect that. Sorry for trying to force this on you."

Kagari chuckles. "It's not that serious. Plus, I will eat it later. Won't go to waste. What did you bring, by the way?"

"Miso ramen!"

Kagari is taken aback, but regains composure and poses a question.

"Why that specifically?"

"It's my favorite food."

While Sakura keeps talking, Kagari phases out. Was... was it a prophecy? A coincidence? A delusion? I...

"Hello! Are you listening?"

He comes back. "Uh, yeah, sure."

"Hmph. Alright, then. What did I just say?"

"Uh, something about your favorite food or something."

Sakura looks to Emika. "He wasn't listening!"

Emika chuckles. "He does that sometimes. Takes after his father."

Sakura gets curious. "I'm sorry, I hope I'm not rude, but I have to ask."

Emika sighs. "It's not what you might think. He works abroad. That's all."

Sakura eases up. "Oh, right. That's what I thought." She lies back on the couch.

Kagari goes in the kitchen, and Sakura follows.

He turns the espresso machine on, then picks out a cup.

Suddenly, Sakura lunges toward him, arms wrapping around his neck from behind. She grins, breath warm against his ear.

"Startled?"

"Get off."

"You're so cold. Meanie."

"And you're a liar."

"What did I lie about?"

He escapes her embrace, turning to the espresso machine.

"Cat got your tongue?"

He ignores her.

"Fine. Be like that. I'll go chat with someone who appreciates my presence. Enjoy your loneliness."

She begins walking away, but looks back, expecting a reply.

Nothing.

She exhales deeply, shoulders slumping just a fraction, giving up.

Kagari finishes making his coffee and heads to the balcony, branching out straight from the living room.

Sakura watches him through the window, eyes glued to his moves.

Kagari takes a lighter and a pack out of his pocket, pulling out a cigarette. He flicks the lighter, the small flame catching instantly in the warm sunlight. He brings it to the tip, inhales slowly, letting the smoke curl through his chest and out into the air.

Sakura turns to Emika. "He's a smoker? I didn't smell it on him."

Emika chuckles. "Sort of. He only smokes two, paired with the first coffee of the day."

"I didn't take him for a smoker."

"Me neither, but here we are."

"Well, at least it's not a pack a day, right?"

"I guess so."

"But you don't smoke, do you?"

"I don't. His father does. I'd rather not throw blame, but he might've influenced him."

Sakura smiles. "I don't think he's that easy to influence."

Kagari looks back through the window. Sakura catches his glance, gesturing at him.

"Can I come and have one?"

He shrugs his shoulders.

"I'll take that as a yes."

She skips to the balcony and sits next to him, brushing against his shoulder.

"Small space, right?"

No answer.

Sakura grabs the pack off of the small table, pulling a stick out. She lights it up, trying to puff it, and ends up coughing violently.

Kagari chuckles. "Dumbass. You're not supposed to inhale the first puff."

She chuckles back. "How am I supposed to know?"

"Why did you even do it?"

Sakura smiles. "To understand you better. It seemed like a good idea in my head."

"I don't think you should."

"Oh, are you worried about me?"

"No, but these things cost money. You'll set me back a good penny."

She laughs. "Right. I did bring you food, though. I should be entitled to one of these."

He smiles. "You're right. I still think you shouldn't."

"Are you really that cheap?"

"No. But addiction takes you by surprise. You might think you'll smoke one and never again, but that rarely happens. You're more likely to repeat."

She smiles and looks down. "This is a side of you I've never seen."

"We've known each other for what, three days? No shit."

"Again, that sounded better in my head."

They both chuckle.

"So, Kagari, what's your deal?"

"My deal?"

"Yeah. Do you have any friends? A job? A dream?"

"Does it matter?"

"Your dream does. The other questions are just curiosity."

"I don't have friends, no. I could, but I don't. People are exhausting. They're too much work. There are some upsides to having friends, sure, but if you're self-dependable, you realize they don't bring much to the table. People keep friends in case they need help, when I'd rather help myself.

"I can relate to that. Still, some things can only be enjoyed to the fullest when you've got someone else beside you. Would you agree?"

"I don't disagree. Question is, are those rare moments worth the hassle?"

"If that person is special enough, I would say so. What about work?"

"You might not believe me."

"What is it?"

"I've learned programming and developed an app, then sold it."

"So you're loaded."

Kagari chuckles. "Not really. I just didn't have the patience. I took the first offer that seemed decent. Enough to keep me unemployed for a while, without worrying about living expenses."

"Do you find enjoyment in that?"

"In what?"

"Not doing anything?"

"Do people find enjoyment in work?"

"Some do."

"But they usually don't."

"Yeah."

"So it's the same thing, except I choose how to spend all of my time."

"Makes sense."

"Your turn."

"My turn? I don't really have friends either. Maybe enough to go out once in a while. Nothing serious. I don't have the time."

"Why?"

"I'm always on the job. Work is all I know. I don't even take vacations."

Still, she finds the time to come over here.

"What do you do for work?"

"I'll keep that a secret."

"Are you embarrassed by it?"

"Not at all. But it's too soon to tell you."

"Fine. I'll let it slide this one time."

"Thanks. What about your dream?"

"I'll keep that a secret."

"Touché."

They laugh together, and the talking momentarily ends.

They share the warmth, the smoke, and the silence for a couple of minutes.

Then, Sakura looks at Kagari, her gaze holding fire.

"Hey, Kagari."

"What?"

"Do you like me?"

For the first time on the balcony, Kagari looks her in the eyes.

"What does that mean, to like someone?"

"Do you feel something, anything when you look at me?"

"Like what?"

"Like what I feel for you."

"What's that?"

"Heat moving through your body. The thought of me lingering in your mind. Attraction pulling you in. Curiosity deciding your actions. My voice sending vibrations to your chest. My silence being entertaining enough for you. Do you feel any of that?"

"I..."

Three knocks to the window, in quick succession, cut the intimate moment short. It's Emika.

"Guys, I can smell gas! Quickly, come!"

They immediately stand up and rush in.

Kagari knows it's bad. "We have to go."

As they rush out, Emika turns apologetic. "Was it me? Did I leave something on? There's no way! We didn't cook food or anything!"

Sakura grabs Emika's arm, steadying her. "Gas spreads quickly, it doesn't have to be from here."

As they make it to the hallway and pick up the pace, Kagari's instincts flare.

"DOWN!"

As they throw themselves onto the ground...

BOOM!

The neighboring apartment erupts in a massive fireball, flames licking the hallway walls.