Void Adjacent

Naomi sat motionless. The weight of the story sat heavy in her chest as she eyed her half finished tea.

“After that I trained him myself,” Tsubaki finished, snubbing out her cigarette. “He didn’t go to school that first year. Couldn’t. The Sight and his new powers hit him hard. If I hadn’t helped him stabilize them, they could’ve driven him mad.”

Naomi looked down, hands trembling slightly.

“Senpai was just a kid…” Naomi sighed, gripping her cup tighter.

“Still is, in some ways,” Tsubaki said. “But he never backed down. Never ran. When I eventually presented him to the exorcist council he didn’t waver a single bit,”

Naomi’s throat felt tight. Her voice was soft.

“Do you think… he’ll really come back to us?”

Tsubaki looked toward the hallway. Her gaze was distant.

“You know, I haven't been away for that long… but to see Eiji has someone that cares for him so deeply….”

Naomi’s face reddened.

“It surprised me. Sometimes I even thought that if it weren’t for his exorcist duties, he would stop caring for the world altogether.”

Naomi smiled, “That does sound like him…”

“So to answer your question.” Tsubaki straightened, “I’ve never met anyone as stubborn as Eiji. If there’s even a sliver of a reason for him to return… he will.”

The woman sighed, “I choose to believe he will.”

Naomi nodded slowly.

“…I’ll give him one more reason, then.”

Tsubaki turned to her. “Hm?”

“I’ll be waiting,” Naomi whispered. “Even if it takes forever.”

There was a ghost of a smile on the woman’s face as she heard that.

The clock on the stove read 6:02 AM.

Tsubaki glanced at it, her eye narrowing.

“…Shit.”

She stood, stretching her arms behind her back. Her body ached more than she expected, and the lack of sleep was already setting in. She grabbed her blazer off the chair and slid it on, buttoning it loosely.

“Looks like I’ve got to get ready for work.”

Naomi stirred slightly, snapping out of her thoughts. “You’re going to the station?”

“Yep. Can’t exactly call in sick when half the department’s waiting on reports.”

Naomi looked toward the hallway—the one leading to Eiji’s room. “Can I…?”

“You can stay here as long as you want.” Tsubaki interrupted gently. “Come and go whenever. I’ll leave a spare key by the door.”

Naomi blinked. “You would do that… Ishii-san?”

“I trust you.” Tsubaki’s voice was quiet but firm. “He would probably want you here.”

For a moment, Naomi couldn’t speak. The gesture hit her harder than she expected. It really was a tiny thing but it meant so much. She looked down, swallowing the lump in her throat.

“…Thank you.” Her fingers brushed against the cup nestled between her hands “But I should go home for now. My mom’s probably freaking out.”

“That’s probably for the best.”

Naomi gave a small nod and slipped on her shoes.

She paused at the door, hand on the knob. “If… if anything happens—”

“I’ll call you first.” Tsubaki promised.

Naomi offered a faint smile, then opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

⌁◉⌁

The apartment elevator groaned as it descended. Naomi stood in silence, arms hugging her bag close. It was still early—the city hadn’t fully woken up. The lights were dim, the streets quiet.

But the silence around her wasn’t peaceful.

It was empty.

Eiji never talked much in elevators. He’d just lean against the back wall, hands in his pockets, his presence silent but undeniably there. Naomi had never realized how much she relied on that silence. How safe it made her feel.

Now, without him standing there, the space beside her felt like it was screaming for something.

It was the first time she truly felt his absence.

And it hurt more than she expected.

“I miss you, senpai…” she whispered. “Please come back.”

The elevator dinged.

⌁◉⌁

Back in the silent apartment, Tsubaki leaned against the kitchen counter, now fully dressed in her dark slacks, blazer, and loose necktie. Her hair was tied up, a bit messier than usual. She reached for the cigarette pack, only to find it empty.

“Tch. Just my damned luck.”

She sighed and closed the cabinet, pressing her fingers to the bridge of her nose.

“Maybe one more cup of coffee before I—”

She stopped.

There was no one in the kitchen. No one in the hallway. The apartment was silent. It was just her now. And that realisation hammered against her chest.

She looked at the room Eiji was lying in. She could bare witness to that sight for days, weeks, months… even years, before there would be any news of his condition. Worse, he might even stay like this… indefinitely.

That’s when the mask cracked. Her shoulders tensed. Her throat tightened.

“…Damn it…!”

Tears slipped down her face before she even realized she was crying. One after another. Her hands clenched the counter’s edge. She clenched her jaw, her teeth almost ready to snap by sheer force alone.

For years, she thought she’d saved Eiji.

But the truth was…

He saved her.

From loneliness. From regret. From fading into a routine that ate at her from the inside out.

He was the one thing she had left that mattered.

And now, he was lying in that room… silent, unmoving, too close to being gone.

“You idiot… I need you too…” she choked, wiping her face.

⌁◉⌁

“Dinner’s almost ready!”

A familiar, soft and soothing voice reached Eiji’s ears, as he stirred from sleep.

“Eiji? Still sleeping back there?”

Hifumi’s voice rang from the kitchen, melodic and warm once more, accompanied by the rhythmic clang of chopsticks and the low murmur of TV chatter.

“Ugh…” The eleven year old kid groggily opened his eyes, yawning and stretched his arms with a groggy grunt. Across the small room, the television played an old anime rerun.

Onmyouji Yakuin

It was one of his favorites.

He looked around the room, Hifumi cooking away while Asahi was grinning at him from next to her.

For a second the scenery felt… odd. That dream he was probably having had made his head spin as he rose.

“Oi, Asahi, where’s the juice?” he called half-heartedly.

“Fridge. And don’t drink straight from the carton again,” came Asahi’s usual reply.

“I make no promises.”

“Eiji!” Hifumi barked with a sharp, motherly edge.

“Alright, alright…” the boy muttered, dragging himself to his feet and strolling toward the kitchen, scratching the back of his head.

Asahi was leaning against the kitchen counter, peeling carrots in the clumsiest way possible. Hifumi stood beside him, apron tied up, flipping something golden in the frying pan.

“Omurice again?” Eiji grinned.

Hifumi rolled her eyes. “You know the drill by now. Easy, tasty, your sister’s specialty all in one!”

Eiji shrugged.

Asahi raised his head from his chore, that he tried to make happen but failed miserably.

“What? No snappy remark this time, boss?”

“Uh…” Eiji yawned again.

“Had a nice dream?” Hifumi smiled over her shoulder.

“I bet he was fighting monsters.” Asahi joked, yet Eiji nodded absentmindedly.

“…Pretty much.”

“Really?!” Asahi dropped his carrot, “You definitely need to tell me about it over dinner!”

“Sure thing.”

“Asahi! The carrot!”

“Oh…”

It was an ordinary evening. Nothing strange. Nothing off. Just home.

⌁◉⌁

“Eiji-senpai won’t be joining us today!”

Naomi stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, wearing the brightest grin she could stitch together.

Honoka looked up from her desk. “Oh?”

“Yup! He’s… sleeping in! Probably. He’s such a sleepyhead, right? Always late! Classic senpai!”

Honoka tilted her head. “I thought he left early yesterday?”

“He did!” Naomi chirped too quickly. “Left early. Came home early. Slept early. Super healthy. I should do that too, right? Early bird gets the—uh—specter?”

There was a short silence.

Naomi chuckled. It didn’t sound like her.

“…Naomi-chan,” Honoka said softly. “Is Eiji-kun okay?”

“I—” Naomi’s voice cracked. She swallowed.

“I tried to be strong about it, but… I’m scared, Honoka-senpai. Senpai hasn’t woken up. Tsubaki-san said it was some dangerous exorcist technique but… he looked so pale! Like he wasn’t even here anymore.”

Naomi’s voice trembled, the mask she wore crumbling in slow motion.

“I talked to him, you know? I did, I tried... Even if he can’t answer. I know it’s stupid, but… I keep hoping maybe he’ll hear me…”

Honoka stood without a word. In one smooth motion, she crossed the room and wrapped her arms gently around Naomi’s shaking frame.

Naomi didn’t resist.

Her arms gripped Honoka’s uniform tightly.

“I-I can’t do this without him, Honoka-senpai… I c-can’t…”

“You won’t need to,” Honoka whispered, resting her chin on the smaller girl’s shoulder. “He’s not the kind to give up. Not when he has us waiting for him.”

Naomi sniffled, nodding wordlessly.

“I just…”

“I know.”

⌁◉⌁

Fourteen days.

That’s how long it had been since the fight. Since the specter. Since Eiji collapsed.

At school, the days moved on without him, painfully normal. Teachers returned to handing out homework. The sun still rose on Shina’s tired skyline. Honoka brought sweets to go with the tea they drank at the club room every morning to try and cheer her up. But to Naomi—everything felt too quiet.

She still visited him every day after school.

She told him what had happened in class, about how her history teacher clearly had it out for her or how Honoka’s tea tasted each and every time.

She smiled when she entered his room, always with a small lunchbox or thermos tucked under her arm. She knew Eiji hadn’t woken up, but she still knocked every time. It felt wrong not to.

It felt rude not to, despite Tsubaki’s hospitality. The more time she spent with her, the more she realized why Eiji acted the way he did. She was a kind woman, even though she could be rough around the edges, and have a foul mouth most times.

She didn’t show it, but she grieved for Eiji in her own way, Naomi observed.

She fluffed his pillow, combed his bangs when they fell across his forehead, and left the windows open so the light would filter in gently. She even kept track of the weather.

He always looked the same. Sleeping, but never peaceful. Like he was stuck somewhere too far for her voice to reach.

The clock ticked softly.

Naomi sat beside Eiji’s bed, legs tucked under her. She placed a small bento on the side table. It was shaped like a cat today.

“You should’ve seen how long I took cutting these sausages,” she murmured with a small laugh. “They’re supposed to look like little octopi, but they look more like… worms? Yikes...”

Her voice was tired.

She leaned her arms onto the edge of the bed and rested her chin on them.

“I talked to your mom, by the way. Wait, not your real mom—I mean Tsubaki-san. She yelled at some new rookie for botching a case, apparently.”

She chuckled, but it sounded thin.

“I wish I could tell you I was doing great. You’d probably roll your eyes. Or say something like ‘don’t talk so much’.”

She smiled faintly, her fingers gently tracing the line of his blanket.

She tried to smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“I don’t mind. I’d talk forever if it means you’ll hear me.”

The room was quiet. The only sound was the soft rustle of the curtains. Naomi looked down at her hands. She fidgeted with the sleeve of her school uniform, voice trembling.

“I know you’re fighting. Somewhere far. I can feel it. Even if no one else can.”

She paused, then shook her head.

“I just wish I could go there too. Not to help fight or anything—’cause you’d probably yell at me for being in the way—but just to be nearby. So you wouldn’t be alone.”

She hugged her knees a little tighter.

“I keep thinking—if I’d been a little stronger, or a little smarter… maybe I could’ve stopped you from getting hurt. Or maybe I could’ve done something after. But… all I can do is sit here and hope. Just like I did with Hazuki…”

She gently reached out.

“…I don’t know what I am to you, senpai. But you mean a lot to me. A whole lot.”

Her voice broke into a small, breathy laugh.

“I mean, I’ve been talking to you every day for two weeks… That’s gotta count for something, right?”

She leaned forward, resting her forehead lightly on the back of his hand.

“So… please. Come back soon.”

She closed her eyes, her next words barely audible.

“…I’m waiting.”

⌁◉⌁

To young Eiji, it had already been days—maybe weeks—since he came to stay with Hifumi and Asahi. His parents were away on work, the two of them had told him. The boy didn’t really mind. His sister always cooked delicious meals. Asahi always had a dumb joke to tell. It felt enough.

Why would he think otherwise?

When he once asked Hifumi if their father had ever left them—really left—she just laughed. Ruffled his hair like she always did and told him not to worry about things like that.

And he hadn’t. Not until now. Yet whenever he lay his head down to sleep he’d always have the same dream. A dark, cruel, twist of the reality he knew. He was alone. Alone in a dark, dangerous world.

He didn’t want to be alone.

The sun was bright that afternoon. The cicadas cried lazily from the trees as Eiji sat on the park swing, kicking the dirt with his heels. It was quiet. Familiar.

It felt like an eternal summer. Warm, full of nothing to do and solo adventures to be had all around. No responsibilities. Nothing. Despite that very fact bugging his young mind, Eiji didn’t question it.

Then the quiet broke. A shrill voice. A scuffle.

“H-Hey! Gimme that back!”

Eiji stood up, instinct awakening. He saw two boys, older, pushing around a girl maybe his age, maybe younger. Her bright yellow backpack was ripped off her shoulder, her tiny hand failing to pull it back.

“Oi, didn’t you hear her?” Eiji called out.

The two boys turned. Sneered.

“Oh great, a hero.”

He didn’t let them finish their mockery. Eiji charged.

It wasn’t much of a fight, but it ended with two older boys limping off and Eiji with a scraped knee, a bruised lip and a grin that was far too smug for someone his size.

The girl sniffled as she picked up her bag. “Thank you…”

Eiji shrugged, brushing dust from his shirt. “It’s whatever. They were jerks.”

The girl looked up. Her eyes were soft, bright and golden.

“My name is Naomi,” she said. “What’s yours?”

Eiji froze.

Something about that name tickled the back of his mind. A weightless whisper, like déjà vu.

“…Kanzaki. Eiji.”

Naomi smiled. “Will you be here tomorrow too?”

Eiji blinked. “Huh? I guess…”

Naomi didn’t answer right away. She stepped forward, brushing dirt from his elbow. “You saved me, so I’ll wait for you here. Okay?”

He stared at her. “You will?”

“Yeah… I’ll wait. For as long as it takes,” she said with a warm, matter-of-fact smile that didn’t belong to a stranger.

A wind passed through the park. Eiji turned away just for a second—but when he turned back…

She was gone. He was alone on the playground.

“Naomi…?”

That name. That face. Why did it feel so real? Then it hit him. That girl belonged to his dream. The same dream he was having day after day. It was just as he remembered, save for a tiny little detail…

He wasn’t alone in that dream. He may have been in a scary unforgiving world. But… she was there, right beside him the whole way. She, alongside others.

Something felt off. Very, very off.

His mind seemed to quake as his thoughts physically burnt. The feeling of endless summer. The repeated days… his family’s unity… it all felt constructed.

Just like that his surroundings came down like a house of cards as a voice echoed in his mind.

It wasn't friendly, nor familiar. It was a deep, foreboding and heavy voice. To the young Eiji it would have almost felt scary. But this wasn’t the young Eiji anymore.

It was the young man who had faced and seen death multiple times.

“For how long will you keep taking the easy way out?”

“Huh?” He uttered, looking around the total darkness.

“These falsehoods you’ve been fed are nothing but lies to comfort your stay in a world that’s not your own.”

“Falsehoods…?” Eiji muttered back.

“For how long will you stay ignorant? For how long will you live a lie while the destroyer of your peaceful future roams free?”

“Destroyer…” Eiji looked at his hands. They were wet. Slick with a heavy liquid. Fiery, crimson.

“Your reality is incapable of ever looking like that ever again. And it’s all because of something you’ve yet to stop! The one who took the life of your sister and her unborn child! Now I ask of you, Kanzaki Eiji!”

The voice boomed like thunder, raw and powerful.

“Will you let that monster roam free or will you stop him before he ruins more?!”

Eiji’s skull burnt with fury as images came back to his mind, seared hot like an iron pressed against his skin.

The voice was right. This wasn’t reality. He had to go back….

And make things right.

For Hifumi. For Asahi. And… for the ones who still believed in him.