Sick, sick, sick! (EPISODE END)

Letting Chisaki know I'd be heading out, I drive over to the supermarket as fast as I can. My intermittent coughing makes it a bit more annoying, but it's not like I haven't driven while sick before.

Let's see... she said we'd meet up by the front, where all the shopping carts are.

There she is. Messing around with the buckles for the children's seats.

"Why do they always let these things get jammed? I never could figure that out." She grumbles.

"It's so the carts don't separate when they're being pushed around by the employees." I speak confidently, but I genuinely don't know. That's what logically makes sense to me, at least.

"See, Asahin, that's why yer' the smart one, and I'm..."

"The cute one."

"Yer' words, not mine." She gives a wide grin. "So what's up?"

"Let's move somewhere private-- where we can't be seen."

"You're not seriously suggestin' we-"

"No, I-" I punch her in the elbow. "I just don't want anyone walking in on our conversation."

"Fair, fair. I'll follow yer' lead, then."

The two of us head out to the side of the building, where employees would often smoke on break. Thankfully, with the time I'd arrived, it's just the two of us out here.

"Thank you for this."

"No problem."

"I'm... I just..." I struggle to articulate my words. God, why is this harder than when I confessed my love to her?

She rests a hand on my shoulder. "Take yer' time."

I sigh, taking off my gloves. "It'll be easier just to show you." I show her my hands. They're... swollen. No, that's not right. They're... just, bigger.

Micchan places her hands onto mine, feeling the texture-- the consistency. Then, her expression darkens, eye turning pale. "You... when did this start happening, Asahi?"

"Since we saw Sonora again. It... it's why I'm coughing so much. I think this is what it's like when someone's starting to turn-- as opposed to how Chii-chan turned all at once, I mean."

She pulls me into a tight hug, causing me to drop my gloves onto the floor. "I won't let you turn, you beautiful fuckin' bitch. You d-don't have my permission to do so." She sniffles, choking back tears.

"I won't turn. We- we'll take on Sonora before then."

"Are you... sure you'll be able ta' hold onto yer'self before then?"

...

I hesitate. I need the help, don't I...? But... at the same time... I want to be able to do this on my own. I know we're supposed to help each other, but this is my battle, isn't it?

She pulls me closer. "Say yes... please say yes... I can't lose ya, Asahi...."

"I won't... I-I won't lose myself. So you won't lose me. I promise."

She pulls back, smiling. "That's all I ask."

I chuckle, amused. "My Christmas present to you. Just... don't tell the others about this. I don't want to worry them."

"Oh, but you want to worry me?" She huffs. "Kidding-- I appreciate ya' lettin' me know."

We lock eyes for a moment. Then... we think. About each other. Our feelings. How long we've known each other, and how long it's taken for us to advance our relationship this far.

How impermanent and short life is... and how we need to make up for lost time.

Almost as if in sync, our faces move together, inching closer and closer...

Before we kiss.

Time slows to a crawl as we share a passionate embrace, blocking out everything in the world that isn't each other. We were interrupted before... we won't be interrupted now.

We keep our lips locked, feeling each others' warmth for what feels like an eternity, before eventually breaking things off, allowing time to resume once more.

"Jesus, yer'... so warm, Asahin."

"Is that a problem?"

"Not at all-- I like it a lot, actually."

I flick her forehead. "Dork." Then, I pick up my gloves and put them back on, pulling her into another hug. "Love you so much, Micchan."

"Love you too, Asahin~"

I smooch her one last time, exercising restraint as I've actually got other things I need to do before I head back to Fue-chan's place.

This time, I've got to make it back to my place. ...My parents are on their yearly vacation, right about now-- so I don't need to worry about answering to them. They almost didn't go, since they were worried about the Anxi epidemic, before I convinced them otherwise. It's probably safer being out of town, anyway.

It almost backfired on me, though. They'd asked if I'd wanted to join them, this time around. Thankfully, I used the excuse of taking care of Chii-chan to get out of that. ...I'm too busy this year, and I'm also not exactly interested in being witness to them getting drunk and smashing each other while I struggle to figure out what to do with myself.

But enough of that. I'm here to find something. Let's see... It'd probably be in the attic, right? That's where we tend to dump things we don't immediately need. I pull down the drawstring, dropping down the rickety-ass stairs. God, I wish I had the ability to fly, right about now.

...The attic's so stuffy. I might end up overheating, if I'm not careful.

...

I'll just take off my shirt, I think. I'm the only one here, fuck it.

Stripping down to my undergarments, I begin the trek up the stairway. I've fought countless Anxi before, but man-- this stairway is what gives me true fear.

Making my way up, I'm immediately given pause by the mirror I end up standing beside.

I'm... turning at a faster rate than I realized. It's creeping up onto my arms-- which seem a bit longer than they should be.

I... don't want to face Sonora, do I...?

She's... she was supposed to be in my past. I'd pushed her way as much as I could after everything happened. I healed. I got better. That's why I'm with Micchan now.

...

The sludgy consistency on my arms tell me that maybe I hadn't healed as much as I'd thought I did.

But... I can't get sidetracked. I'm looking for something, aren't I?

...Ah.

There it is.