Chapter 5

I jumped back from Fumiko in a panic. What the hell was that? What was that?

“What the hell was that?” I said, with panic in my voice. “You literally just… died. What the hell did you just show me?”

“Something that I have been battling with ever since that moment happened.” Fumiko said, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I knew I had to find you again, Kiyoshi. To start over. I owe that to you.”

“I should say the same thing. I don’t want that to happen again. That was too graphics and such a horrific end to your life.”

“Not necessarily,” Fumiko said smiling. “We have now got another chance to make things right and do things correctly this time around.”

“Do things correctly?” I said, confused. “What do you mean?”

“Eh? Did you not see what happened? Did you not hear what I told you before I died? You have selective hearing or something.”

“I heard you. You just wanted to be love for who you are. I mean, I could do that. But why me?” I asked, looking at Fumiko.

“Because I saw something in you I didn’t see in myself. A forever person.”

“I wish I could say the same thing.”

Fumiko scrunched her face at me, “Hello? I’m standing right here in front of you!”

“…”

“…”

“You meant me? Again? Didn’t I screw up last time?”

“You didn’t screw up last time, Kiyoshi. I just wasn’t ready for someone to love me as much as you did. You did nothing wrong. I promise.”

The surrounding area around us was really quiet. I checked my phone and saw that it was 10:30pm.

“Ah shit, it’s 10:30! My parents are gonna kill me.”

“Why do you say that?” Fumiko said, puzzled.

“Because I already missed half the day at school and now, I’m coming home extremely late. And the reason I’m coming home late is not necessarily a valid enough reason to come home.”

“What? Wanting to save a girl from killing herself?”

“Don’t say it like that. It sounds morbid and depressing.”

“I mean, I am naturally a morbid and depressed person, Kiyo.”

“Kiyo?”

“Yeah, Kiyo. My new name for you. My Kiyo. Doesn’t it sound great?”

“It’s something. What should I call you? My Fumi?”

“Absolutely not, that is weird and doesn’t ring a bell like my Kiyo.”

“I see. Fine, I’ll just call you Fumiko and think of a name for you in the future.”

“Sounds good to me. Now come on, let’s go.”

Fumiko grabbed my hand and started to run but realized I wasn’t moving.

“Eh? C’mon. What are you waiting for?” She said, pouting.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“Well, we’re going to your house.”

“Wait, we’re going to my house?”

“That’s right. As a new couple, I feel like the best way to get properly acquainted with each other is by living with each other. Do you live by yourself or with your parents or something?”

I was completely red in the face. Why did Fumiko want to live with me? Did we live with each other in the other universe that she was in? And also, how was I going to explain to my parents that I would bring a girl to live with us?

“I don’t technically live with my parents per se,” I said, stuttering. “I live with my younger sister and my parents pay for the apartment that we live in. They are away right now. But they said to not bring anyone to our house, so with that being said, I will see you later.”

Fumiko grabbed my collar and reeled me back towards her. “Wait a minute. You think you can pull the wool over my eyes, Kiyoshi Sazuya?”

“Umm… no?” I said, anxiously awaiting whatever answer she was going to give me.

“Good! I wasn’t going to do anything to you. So, stop looking all timid, okay? Everything will be fine, I promise. Now c’mon, I wanna go to sleep. We have to be up in the morning for school. You can’t be late again.”

Fumiko smiled and kissed me on the cheek and pulled along as she walked toward my apartment.

***

5.2

The clock struck midnight as we finally arrived at my apartment. Thankfully, my sister was asleep, so it wouldn’t as hard to sneak Fumiko into the apartment unseen. As we approach the building, I saw that our apartment lights were on. Which was rather strange because my sister should have been asleep.

“Something doesn’t seem right,” I said, concerningly. “Usually, my sister is asleep around this time.”

“Hmm…,” Fumiko murmured. “Maybe she was waiting up for you and wanted to say goodnight to you.”

“Maybe. I did forget to tell her I was going to be late coming home, but that doesn’t mean that she should still be up wandering around. Something could happen to her.”

“You’re quite the protective big brother,” Fumiko smiled. “Hopefully, you’re just as protective as a partner.”

Fumiko jumped in front of me and ran her finger across my chest and smiled at me, “What’s wrong? Never heard a girl say that to you before?”

I was completely red in the face, once again, “It’s not that, it’s just… why are you rubbing your finger across my chest like that?”

“Because I find it attractive, silly.” Fumiko smirked. “Isn’t it nice?”

“Fumiko, we’re still outside. In the open. Where people can see us.”

Fumiko pouted and pressed her fingers together. “You really know how to kill the mood, huh? You’re no fun.”

“Maybe not, but we have to go inside.”

“M’kay.”

We walked inside the apartment complex and entered the elevator. We arrived on my floor and walked towards the apartment. I was for certain that my sister was still awake, but I couldn’t help but be a little concerned because it was midnight and we lived in the city. So, the probability of us getting robbed was pretty high, even though we lived in a pleasant apartment.

“We’re here.” I said, nervously. “Please, for the love of all that is holy, don’t do anything sexual or flirtatious.”

“Then what’s the point of being a girlfriend?” Fumiko pouted. “I wanna be flirtatious and sexual.”

“Fine, you can those things. Just not right now!”

“Hehe, gotcha.”

Lord, I wish I had the confidence to tell a woman no without coming out like a douchebag.

I opened the door to see that my sister was not in the living room. It was weird because the lights were still on in the living room and kitchen.

“Hmm…, it looks like she’s asleep, but must’ve left the lights on.” I said, looking around for her.

Fumiko stayed where she was near the door, looking too afraid to step into the apartment.

“Got cold feet?” I said, jokingly.

“Oh, shut up,” she said, blushing. “I didn’t actually think you’d let me in your apartment.”

“Well, you seemed to be the one that insisted that you make your presence known around here. So, welcome home. Make sure to take your shoes off before walking onto the carpet or into the kitchen.”

“I may be new in your life, Kiyo. But I know proper home etiquette.”

“I’m glad you do.”

Fumiko pouted and rolled her eyes at me, and I giggled to myself. Apparently, the confidence was coming in just fine.

“Kiyoshi…” Fumiko said, shyly. “Where will I be sleeping?”

“Umm…” I said, now blushing once again. “You can sleep in my room, and I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“Eh? Are you sure that’s going to look okay to your sister?”

“It should be alright, it’s not like she’ll be up before us. I hope.”

Fumiko's eyes widen at the sight of my sister walking into my room expecting to see me but seeing Fumiko instead. She would have a heart attack if she saw her.

“We really need to get some sleep; we have to be in the morning.” I said.

“Sounds good. I’ll take your room?” Fumiko asked.

“Yep, and I’ll take the couch and/or the floor. Depending on which one is more comfortable.”

“Don’t sleep on the floor,” Fumiko said. “It’s dirty and uncomfortable.”

“Didn’t know you cared.”

“Of course, I do. Sleep on the couch, pretty please?”

“Okay, okay. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“Yay, thank you.”

Fumiko took off her shoes and walked over to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

“A kiss on the cheek for just sleeping on the couch?” I asked, blushing.

“Mhm, just for sleeping on the couch.”

Just as she said that, I heard a door open, and my sister walked out of her room.

“This will not end well.” We both said.