Chapter Three; A girl called Yui, Part 2

Has it really been that long since she gave it to me?

It seemed like it was just yesterday.

"You... can come in now..." I heard from the other side of the door.

Yui, calling me.

I put the blood-stained cloth back in my pocket, wiping myself off completely.

And after that, I opened the door.

She was wearing a small pair of shorts and a very thin blouse.

"I'm sorry... as you could see... I don't have any clean clothes left."

It's true, when I went to change the sheets, there was a pile of clothes.

"Don't worry..." I said.

This time I couldn't say it didn't affect me.

I still felt a bit... strange.

But I made sure to put on a poker face.

I led her from where she was to sit on her bed.

She was wearing a bathrobe.

A bit short, only covering up to above her knees, and some of her breasts were exposed, which, although I was dismayed, I could deal with.

I said that...

But my gaze was drawn to the ends of her legs.

Damn it...

"Don't worry... I'm wearing something underneath," she told me.

She had noticed.

"I'm sorry..." I said.

"Don't worry, I know it's cruel to invite a single guy into this kind of situation," she said, looking at me.

She was sitting on her bed, I took her temperature, it was 38.2.

It had gone down.

"Well... you're right, your fever has also gone down," I said.

I looked at the time, it was already 7:10 pm.

"Eh? Am I right?" she asked.

"In what?"

"Are you single?"

"Oh..."

Silence filled the room for a moment, I was left with nothing to say to her spontaneous question.

"It's... complicated..." I said.

"Then do you have a girlfriend?" she asked.

Her voice sounded a bit more lively now.

"I don't know, we haven't talked for 6 months..." I said.

"So you don't have one?..."

"You could say that..."

"I see..."

"What do you see?" I asked.

"Nothing..."

"I think... you're feeling better now, aren't you?"

"A little... at least I think I'm not going to die," she said.

She chuckled a bit.

"Don't joke about that... please..." I said.

I wasn't the type to be delicate about anything, but those kinds of jokes... I can't stand them.

Death is not something to laugh about.

"I'm sorry..." she said.

I reached out and gave her a pat on the head.

She looked surprised, she turned to look at me.

This time... I did something, I thought deep into my mind.

"It would be sad if something happened to you," I said.

She remained totally silent, hiding her face, on my part, I lowered my hand and turned around, getting ready to leave the room.

"I'll call my uncle and tell him we won't go, after all, he owes us several days off, right?" I said.

"You're right..."

"Would you like something for dinner?" I asked.

"Ti..." she whispered.

I didn't hear it well.

"Huh? Speak louder," I said.

"Nothing, whatever you want..." she said.

"Alright..."

I went through the door and closed it.

Once again, outside the room, I collapsed.

Even though I acted tough.

Going through such a situation... it's not easy at all, after all.

I took a deep breath and stood up.

"I guess I'll first take out the laundry and put some more to wash..." I said.

About two hours later.

After going to the store, bringing some things to prepare dinner, and calling my uncle, telling him we wouldn't go to work, that Yui was sick and I would take care of her, I returned to Yui's house.

I had to go back home to get my phone.

The number that had been calling me repeatedly stopped after I called it and it stayed silent, really strange...

I knocked on her door, just as I put my hand in my pocket, I heard footsteps heading towards the hallway.

When I heard those steps, a curious thought entered my mind.

"i didnt saw any computers..."

The doorknob turned, and the door was opened.

Yui, standing there.

"Hey, why are you standing?" I asked.

"Welcome..." she said.

"I'm back..."

If anyone saw this, they would say we're a newlywed couple.

Back to the point...

"Why are you standing?" I asked.

"I feel much better," she said.

She was playing with her hands.

I touched her forehead.

I felt my hand much colder than it was when I touched her two hours ago.

Her recovery had been really fast.

She was dressed, her hair was tidy.

I looked into the background, and there was a small white cat.

About 4 months old.

"Are you going to come in?" she asked me.

"Uh-huh... yeah..." I replied.

I entered, and she stepped aside.

She followed me, giving little hops.

"You've... improved," I said.

"I just needed rest, thanks Ryu!" she said.

I stood there with the bags I was carrying.

As I walked, the cat started rubbing against my right leg.

"Is it yours?" - I asked, standing up -

"No, it's a stray," she said.

"Mhm, it's cute" - I said, crouching down and petting the cat.

She was looking at me somewhat impatiently.

She approached me, took the bags from my hand, and headed to the kitchen, leaving them on the table and on a bar on a half wall, she stood there and looked at me.

"You can sit down..." she said.

"But... aren't you still sick...?" I asked.

"I've improved a lot, I feel much better," she said, with a smile on her face, showing me the thermometer.

It read 38.6.

Truly... she had improved.

My heart felt relieved.

"Then I'll go..." I said.

"Don't go!" she said.

She had returned to her usual self.

She had really... recovered... I felt so relieved, that I could die, but I felt that if I stayed, something really bad would happen.

Besides, having her in front of me made me feel a little embarrassed, murky memories flooded my mind almost immediately, although I pretended it didn't affect me, her figure had been burned into my mind.

"But..."

"Don't you want to try my cooking?" she asked.

I turned to look at her, to tell her that I had something to do... but... her eyes, they looked at me with such intensity, asking me to say yes, mentally cornering me to say yes.

"Alright..." I said.

Finally, I stayed.

I started scrolling through social media, looking here and there.

While listening to a song being hummed by Yui, apparently moving around happily in the kitchen.

Although her attitude was like this, even with the lights on, I could see the loneliness emanating from this apartment.

Covered in dust, things that seemed like they hadn't moved for years, dirt on the floor, of course, it wasn't as dirty as my room, it was the same difference between heaven and earth, but definitely... something was wrong.

Both of us ignored this, seemingly on purpose and aware of it.

It seemed like she just worked and came home to sleep, woke up, ate, and went back to work.

At least, from my room you could say I'm a lazy slob who doesn't clean and spends his time drinking soda and eating delivery food.

But... from this apartment... you couldn't say anything.

Tidy?... no, there's dust everywhere.

Abandoned? No, you could see used dishes.

You could only say one thing.

Loneliness, absolute and complete loneliness.

Damn it... now I want to know a little more about Yui.

But... I'm afraid to ask her, afraid that she'll ask me things too, afraid that once I tell her my misfortunes, she'll decide it's better to stay away from me, afraid... afraid that she'll grow fond of me even more.

I don't want that.

Ring my phone rang.

When I bought the things, anyway, we lived nearby, I had gone for my phone.

It didn't ring a second time, I answered almost immediately.

It was Lily, Haru's younger sister.

"Hello?!" she spoke on the other end of the phone.

Right, I promised to go out with her the day after tomorrow, along with her sister Nae.

Surely, she would give me the details of our outing, two days in advance, as usual...

I muted the phone.

"I'm sorry, I have to take this," I said.

Yui didn't say anything, she just stayed there.

I went out to the balcony of the apartment.

"Hello?"

"Hello..." she said.

"Lily?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Good evening.." I said awkwardly.

"Good evening..." she said, a little confused with my double greeting.

"So... Lily-chan," I said.

"Tell me, Ryu-onichan," she replied.

For some reason, every time she called me that, my heart felt a little joy.

It was very nice for someone to call me big brother.

I didn't have younger siblings, but for me, they are.

"Tomorrow I'll come to your house, I'll bring some things," I asked.

"Yes..." she said.

"Will Nae come?"

"No..."

"Why?" I asked, normally she would always come.

"Tomorrow... she'll visit Haru..."

My mind blanked for a moment upon hearing Haru's name.

"Ah, Haru... I see...."

"Yes...."

"Alright, see you on Sunday, Lily," I said.

"Actually... Ryu...."

"Hmm?" I asked.

"It's... nothing," she said.

She hung up.

"Huh?"

Something... strange.

I looked back.

Yui, watching me with a somewhat darkened face, staring at me while holding a ladle in her right hand, her face resting against the glass of the balcony exit.

Something... a little strange.

"What do you want, Yui?" I spoke to her nervously.

"It's... nothing... I just want to say... that dinner is ready," she said.

She said dinner, but in truth, I brought something pre-made for dinner.

"Well, shall we eat?" I asked.

"Hm."

It was almost 10 pm when we both sat down, one at each end of the table.

We talked about unimportant things, about work, about shows she followed and I casually knew.

Until there was nothing left on my plate.

"I'm sorry...." I said.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"I have to go...." I commented.

"Oh, it's late after all."

"Yeah...."

Wait... I thought that... maybe she would oppose or try to keep me here... was I too conceited?...

It has to be that...

Wait...

Was she expecting something else?...

Damn it, what's wrong with me?.

I walked towards the hallway.

She accompanied me.

It made me happy to see her walking cheerfully and a little playfully.

It was clear that she was happy.

Maybe... I'll come more often, who knows....

"See you tomorrow..." I said.

"See you tomorrow..." she replied.

I stood in front of the door, still open, with her in front.

"Hm?" she said.

"Sleep well..." I said.

"You too.."

She was closing the door, just stopped halfway.

"Hey..." she said.

"Hm?"

"Are you coming tomorrow to fix my computer?" she asked.

She closed the door before I could say anything.

The cat, which came out with me, followed me until I went downstairs, grooming itself on my right leg.

Just as I started down the stairs, the cat turned back on its path...

"Is it Yui's?"

I wondered to myself.

It was a bit skinny.

Maybe I'll bring it something to eat tomorrow.

A few hours later.

Sitting on my bench, where I usually went out to get some fresh air.

While "that" was happening.

The same as always, my neighbor, who apparently had infinite stamina, as every two or three days he brought a different girl to his house, doing everything but disguising it a bit.

Now I understand why the rent is so cheap... and why there are only three people in that apartment...

It's just that... after all, who would want to live there?

Lately... I'm seriously considering Yui's offer.

But every time I remember my promise to Chie, my mind hesitates.

It's not that I want anything with Yui.

Simply moving in with her would solve many of my problems.

Like... some kind of "seal" to my recent bad habits.

And above all...

I want to take care of Yui.

Despite how it may appear on the outside, I've learned that she's a very weak person... and a bit soft.

Above all...

The pills I saw, they stirred up a certain feeling towards Yui.

A somewhat controversial feeling, a little inflamed and dangerous.

Something that no one should feel for another, but after all, it was impossible to avoid feeling it.

Nothing more, nothing less... than pity.

AD's, how trapped must that poor girl feel to have to take that kind of thing?

I wonder...

How long has she been doing it? Why has she never told me anything?

At work, she looked... happy.

I've been through this before...

My chain of thoughts was interrupted by a flashlight that pierced through my eyes, penetrating them, making me feel a stabbing pain in my eyes.

I turned to look and the silhouette of an adult person, a man, loomed from behind the flashlight.

Fortunately, the bench lamp didn't turn off this time.

"Well, if it isn't you, old man," I said.

It was Harutake, the policeman from a few days ago.

"You're still around? Go to sleep."

He left his bike where he usually did and approached where I was.

"Well, this time you're not smoking or anything weird, huh?"

"You sound... a little disappointed," I joked.

"No, man, not at all, if anything, I'm glad," he said, adjusting his officer's cap.

There was something about him that always made me uncomfortable.

His eyes, they were deep and penetrating, but they didn't seem to reflect anything other than sadness and disdain for everything around them.

It was... unsettling.

"This time I found you earlier," he said.

"I didn't have work today..." I replied.

He knew I was underage, although old enough to make decisions, anyway, it's not like it would be better to follow the rules...

The rules, in this case, would imply spending the whole day and night at home locked up, doing nothing...

Because... I really don't want to do anything, that's why I look for ways to spend the whole day sleeping, working at night.

That way I don't have... to think about anything, I don't have to search for anything, nor do I have to say anything.

"Well, that's good," he replied.

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

"I..."

He said.

It seemed like he was going to say something, but in the end, the words didn't come out of his mouth.

As if he wanted to change the subject, suddenly, with a cheerful tone, he spoke.

But...

Despite his tone, his eyes remained the same as always.

But when he started speaking, his eyes not only seemed like those of someone dead inside, with no reason to be or to do, but they darkened.

They emitted all kinds of malevolent feelings.

But despite all that...

I couldn't feel hostility coming from him towards me, it just seemed like he was containing all of that.

And what I felt was simply what escaped from the pot...

Like that humid smoke that seeps through the pressure cooker's whistle, something that warns that the pot is about to whistle... or explode.

"This is my daughter, isn't she beautiful?" he said.

While he took out a photo of a quite attractive young woman from his shirt.

She was a girl with ash-white hair, with blue eyes, quite similar in these aspects to the old man.

"Hm, she's... attractive," I said.

"Hey, hey, you're quite bold," he said to me.

"She looks like you, old man," I commented.

He laughed heartily.

The tense atmosphere I felt gradually dissipated.

After he finished laughing, he simply got up from the bench.

"See you soon," he said.

I returned the farewell.

I watched as his back disappeared into the darkness of the street that went up a staircase.

"Finally..." I said, resting a bit.

Although his mood influenced this rest, my rest was because finally...

I could smoke outdoors.

Once he left, I hurried to take out a pack of cigarettes I had stored in the bench where I sat, and some soda cans.

I hurried to take out a lighter I had in the small pocket above the big pocket.

A trail of smoke distilled from a glowing red point.

The lamp stopped working.