[Shuichi]

While I was in the shower, I heard the door to the dorm open. I knew that Kichi was worried about the motive videos, so I made a mental note to take faster showers. I finished, dried off, and tried to get dressed. The fabric of my clothes kept clinging to my skin, so it took even longer.

I put my ear on the door of the bathroom, making sure that the motive video was finished before opening the door. If I walked out without making sure, I would risk breaching Kichi's privacy. And I don't do that.

"I'm finished." I announced. 

He didn't respond.

"Kichi?"

I walked to the entrance to the pillow fort. There, huddled in the corner, was my Kichi. His motive video was on the other side of the fort.

{Art is mine, felt like redrawing it - Aug 13 2022}

"Kichi?" I moved slowly, trying not to overwhelm him. I placed my hand on his shoulder. He flinched violently, his fearful eyes meeting mine.

"Kichi, it's me...It's Shuichi...it's me." I said softly. 

"Shu...ichi?" He hesitantly asked.

"That's right. It's Shuichi."

He suddenly grabbed me. I can only describe his expression as desperate, though I didn't know what he was desperate for. I was afraid that his trauma got the better of him, that he was desperate for escape, which would be fine by me, except if he killed me now, he wouldn't get away with it. 

"Shuichi...Please...I don't want them to come back..." He dropped the stutter... I might just be dead. 

"Did they hurt you?" I asked. I had no idea who 'they' were, but I had a feeling. 

He nodded, tears streaming down his face. I slowly wrapped my arms around him, my eyes closed knowing how risky this was. But when I felt him bury his face in my shoulder, his tears soak my clothes, I knew I had made the right decision. I played with his hair, singing Season 2 Episode 3 by Glass Animals. We fell asleep like that.

Time skip brought to you by me vibing in a corner, drawing for hours.

I woke up, my arms empty. I somehow got on the bed. The pillow fort had disappeared, and there was a burning smell. I shot out of bed and rushed to the kitchen, to be met with some burnt waffles, and an annoyed Kichi.

"Oh, Atua, Dangit. I burnt the waffles!" He said, pouting.

"Hmm, I should probably help you before you break out the gosh-diddly-darns." I teased before pulling the waffles out of the toasterand putting them on a plate.

"O-Oh, Shuichi! I'm sorry d-did I wake you up?" 

"No, the smell of crispy waffles s u m m o n e d m e."

"I-I wanted to say s-sorry by making them."

"Sorry for what?" 

"For making y-you worried, and k-keeping you up, and being weak, and-"

"Aww, Kichi! You don't need to be sorry for all that!"

"B-But-"

"No buts! None could compare to yours anyway, but that's beside the point." I commented. He blushed in response. "Kichi, you don't need to be sorry for the things that happened to you. I'll always be here for you!" I said, giving him a warm smile. 

"T-Thank you.." He said. "I guess we can't eat these, huh?" He said, gesturing to the hocky-puck-wannabes on the plate.

"I guess not. Did you want to go to the cafeteria today?" 

"Sure. I h-heard that Kirumi makes good breakfast."

"Okay!" I said, grabbing my hat. "Whatever happened to Miu's goggles?"

"She stopped by this morning, that's what woke me up." He hesitated, then continued, "It was sorta odd. She looked at me with...pity? I couldn't tell, but it was suspicious behavior."

"That is odd." I motioned to the door. "Shall we?"

"Yeah, w-we should." 

Authors Note

Not me, having to snatch my moms tablet to get this out for yall. Nope. Couldn't be me, haha