Once inside his apartment he threw his coat on the coat hanger and went into the kitchen where he unloaded the junk food. He put the water boiler on and went to drop of his bag by the table in the living room. His apartment was small but it was comfortable and had all he needed. The interior was typical Japanese with touches of western style here and there. The one paying for his stay here was his mother who had married into a wealthy family. Kazuo was not accepted by this family however so his mother placed him here. The life he once had with his family was long gone and it had made him sour. He went back into the kitchen and poured the hot water on his cup noodles. He sat back down in the living room slurping on his noodles whilst reading a magazine. As he was reading he couldn’t help but to think of what had happened on his way home. What was it she wanted to ask him? Was she really crying? Kazuo snapped back again telling himself not to care. Suddenly he heard his phone ringing from somewhere in the apartment.

*- Oh, that’s right, I forgot it in the coat pocket. * Kazuo went to get the phone. He found the pocket and pulled out the phone.

“- Hello, this is Nagahama. “

“- Good evening, It’s Kayano... “

*- Ugh, what does she want…? * Kazuo sighed before he answered.

“- What is it? “ Kazuo spoke harshly.

“- I saw you dodge Haruka earlier… Did she say anything to you? “ Kayano sounded bothered.

“- Nothing in particular, what of it? “ Kazuo didn’t know why he followed his answer up.

“- I thought you didn’t care. “ Kayano could easily match Kazuo’s harshness.

“- Ah, that’s true, goodbye then. “ The call ended. Kazuo felt annoyed as he walked away from the hallway.

*- Why does she have to come back into my life like this? * Kazuo felt even more annoyed as he entered the living room again and realized his noodles were probably soggy. Suddenly as he sat down he heard a loud crash from outside the apartment.

*- What the hell is happening now. * Kazuo went to the back to the hallway and opened door. He looked outside, down the stairs and saw someone lying with one of his blankets over them.

*- What the actual hell… * Kazuo looked disturbed. He took careful steps out of his apartment and peeked down at the fallen person. He noticed they weren’t moving.

*- What the fuck... * He sighed and went down the stairs. Upon coming closer, he noticed light- brown hair peaking out from under the blanket.

*- NO, this is not happening. * Kazuo grabbed the blanket and pulled it away. What he had just revealed for himself was nothing short of shocking. He could feel drips of sweat running down his shocked and worried face.

*- God-sama! why have you cursed me!? * Kazuo thought nervously as he stood there in front of a knocked out Haruka with his blanket in hand.

*- Should I call Kayano? *

*- Ugh… I can’t be asked… * Kazuo looked strained as he threw the blanket over his shoulder and proceeded to carry Haruka up the stairs. He nudged the door open with his foot and angled his upper body in order to get her legs in first without bumping her head in the door frame. He carried her over to the living room, put her down on the floor whilst sliding a pillow under her head.

*- Now I’ve really done it... * Kazuo stroked his face whilst overviewing the situation.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

*- Holy hell… what has just happened? This is outrageous… * Kazuo walked to close the door. He comes back from the hallway and stopped in the kitchen where he switched on the water boiler again.

*- I only have cheap tea. Guess it’ll do… * The water boiler flicked and Kazuo finished up the tea. He brought the cup over to the living room table. He sat down by the table on the opposite side of the unconscious Haruka and slurped on the remaining noodles that had started to go cold as well. He imagined the scene for himself. He had just been reunited with someone he thought he’d never see again. He didn’t always have such a cold relation with that someone thought. Before what happened three years ago when Kazuo’s family split they were really good friends even though they ticked each other off, that all changed as Kazuo himself changed for the worse. Now he was stuck with someone he had forced himself to forget a long time ago.

*- How'd she even manage this...? What an absolute idiot... * Kazuo held his palm to his forehead whilst resting his elbow on the table.

*- Right, should probably grit my teeth and call Kayano so I can clear this up… * He glanced towards Haruka. The cup of tea he made was just sitting there. Kazuo reached for his phone. Suddenly Haruka made a noise as Kazuo was just about to call.

“- Hnng, w-what happened? Huh!? Where am I!? “ Haruka sat up in a haste. Kazuo suddenly felt stressed out as Haruka checked around her and noticed him.

“- Hi again... “ Kazuo’s face was blank. Haruka seemed very surprised but also looked a little annoyed.

“- H-how…? Why am I here…? I was just outs-... oh, right... “ Haruka looked down. Kazuo still didn’t know what to do with a more and more strained face.

*- If she starts to yell at me I’m gonna fucking snap… *

“- I’ll call Kayano so you can get out of here… “ Kazuo still with a blank face.

“- WHAT! NO, DON’T DO THAT! “ Haruka was suddenly standing.

*- Ugh, idiot…! * Kazuo gripped his phone as he felt the irritation build up.

“- Why the fuck not? I don’t want you here. “ Kazuo was trying not to yell himself.

“- N-NO! You can’t… “ Haruka's face turned desperate.

“- Well… Why don’t you start off explaining why then? “ Kazuo didn’t go easy on her.

“- I left home… Just like you… Kayano can’t know… “ Haruka looked down again and her voice had a slight waver.

“- What…? You left?! Is that why you’re here?! “ Kazuo was surprised yet still irritated.

“- Well… Where else should I go!? “ Haruka looked up at him with a face filled with emotions.

“- I don’t know, maybe Kayano!? “ Kazuo didn’t bother to actually think why she would go to him in the first place.

“- I just told you she can’t know! “ Haruka finally sat down again.

“- Well… Why then? “ Kazuo realized he was being no better than Haruka yelling so much.

“- You know how much the Akesaka’s dislike my parents… If they find out I left home like this then they are not gonna hold back on my parents any longer… “ Haruka also stopped yelling.

“- Ah, your parents again… You never told me why they are so disliked by the Akesaka’s. “ Kazuo started to sigh again as he calmed down.

“- And I never will because you would never understand, idiot… “ Haruka pouted and looked away, Kazuo noticed she hadn't changed much over the last three years.

“- Whatever, you’re not staying here anyways. “ Kazuo finished his tea like he was drinking beer.

“- Come on… Where am I supposed to go? “ Haruka collapsed on the table.

“- Go back home. If you stay here we’re only gonna be at each others throat plus it’s not easy having you come back after three years… “ Kazuo disliked having to be this open with his feelings.

“- I won’t go home, I’m gonna stay here, with you. “ Haruka put her stubbornness forwards and decided to ignore anything else Kazuo would say.

“- Haruka… Please, I can’t deal with you now… We would even have to keep this secret from Kayano… “ Somewhere deep inside Kazuo there was a part of him that would like her to stay but it didn’t get any air. It was quiet for a moment before Haruka suddenly stood up again, she looked at Kazuo as she stepped towards him until she reached him and grabbed his shirt with all her strength.

“- HEY! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU ACTING ALL DEPRESSED?! DON’T YOU KNOW HOW I FELT BACK THEN AND STILL DO?! AFTER YOUR PARENTS SPLIT YOU JUST GAVE UP AND MOVED AWAY BY YOURSELF, LEAVING ME! STOP SHUTTING ME OUT GOD DAMNIT! “ Haruka’s eyes grew teary as she looked down on kazuo, gritting her teeth trying to hold back her tears. Kazuo was at a loss for words trying to grasp what Haruka said as her hoarse voice echoed through his head over and over again. After a couple of moments of intense silence Haruka released her grip and walked of to the kitchen wiping her tears.

“- I’m staying! “ Kazuo heard Haruka from the kitchen but he was still too shocked to answer.

“- We’ll talk later… About me staying here, what I need and so on. “ Haruka rattled around with something in the kitchen. Kazuo still felt the impact of Haruka’s outburst and still couldn’t find any words so he decided to just let things go for a moment.

“- Alright… “