Kiriai looks up at the apartment building as her sister pulls into the parking lot. She hadn’t actually seen the place before, and didn't have any idea where it was- She was so lost in her thoughts she hadnt paid any attention to which direction they had gone, or even how long they’d been driving. It was 7:30 now, but she wasn't sure what time they had left.

It was a pretty standard building by all standards; A small courtyard bounded by a rectangular complex of apartments, each lined with small balconies, bounded by fences on the ground floor. Small gardens of flowers sat in front of the walls, each finished with white stucco and terracotta roofing. “Wait here, I’ll go get checked in.” Kiya told her sister, opening the door and getting outside. The rain had let up, leaving a dense mist all around. Kiriai leaned back in their chair before deciding to get out and stretch her legs, sitting on the front of the car.

She felt as though she hadnt gotten fresh air in ages, so she just leaned back against the windshield and closed her eyes, savoring the simple feeling of air against her skin. Before she knew it, she heard the characteristic gait of her sister approaching and flicked an eye open, looking around at them.

“Alright, got the keys. Lets go get unpacked, shall we?” Kiya waggled the key in the air and tossed it before catching and pocketing it, prompting Kiriai to jump up to their feet, eager to help.

Opening up all the car doors, Kiriai helps carry the first load in, taking her own belongings as well as a pillow stuffed under her arm, as Kiya unlocks and opens up their place- Room 221. It's a modest living space, with a kitchen and bedroom detached from the main room. A leather sofa sits in front of the T.V., with a hexagonal glass table between them.

Kiriai sets down their belongings and heads out to the car to collect another load, repeating the process until everything is up in their room and they can close the door. Kiya collapses down on the couch with an “oof”, while Kiriai awkwardly stands there before sitting down on their suitcase. Now what? It was still early- well, early-ish- and it wouldn't be until tomorrow that she had to go back to college. She supposed she’d need to find a new route to get there- she hoped it wasn't too much farther than before…

Kiriai shrugs and supposes she better figure that out before she does anything else. She gets up and opens her suitcase, taking out her laptop and navigating to the kitchen, sitting up at the counter and opening her laptop there. “Hey, Kiya, did they give you the passcode?” She shouts at her sister in the other room.

“Uh, yeah, it's ‘RainyDay221’. The R and D are both capitalized.” Kiya called back, grunting as she unpacked something.

“Thanks!” Kiriai replies, plugging in her computer and getting logged on. After turning on location search, she opened up Firefox and started looking for a public transit route to college. With a sigh of relief, she saw she was closer, not further away- Though the route back required her to get on the bus an hour earlier, so she wouldn't have time to study at school after class. Kiriai leaned back, satisfied, and then shut her laptop to go and help with the rest of the unpacking.

[...]

Kiriai and Kiya unpack their belongings and take a look around the place, getting everything put away and finding out where everything is.

“Hey, I think the place has a jacuzzi. You wanna go hit it up with me?” Kiya asks, pointing a thumb outside.

“H-huh? Oh, yeah, sure.” Kiriai responds, shaking off their distraction. They’d been deep in thought yet again, not really paying attention. Had Kiya been talking to her that whole time..? She honestly didn't know.

[...]

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After changing, Kiya and Kiriai head down to the pool and spa. Without even giving a second glance at the pool, Kiya ignores it and heads straight to the spa after unlocking the gate leading in, slipping in and leaning back, sighing. Kiriai tests the water with a toe before more timidly stepping down the stairs and sitting down across from her. There was no-one else around, despite it being a sunday. Lucky us, I guess. Kiriai thought to herself.

“Ah, that hits the spot. I’m glad I get at least a day to relax and settle in before I have to head back to work.” Kiya states, her face looking truly serene as she sits there leaning back against the wall. Kiriai silently repeated her sentiments inwardly, though ‘relaxing’ wasn't so much what was on her mind. She hadnt even explained to mom and dad that she was going to be moving out with Kiya, though she supposed that her hasty packing and rushing through the house right before Kiya left would show that well enough… But the point still stood, that she had just rushed out here without thinking. She couldn't explain it, she just…

She didn’t know. Couldn't stand the thought of Kiya going off on her own, maybe? At least mom had dad around and vice versa, but Kiya being all alone…

But when she blinked her eyes shut and sunk down into the water further, she knew that couldn't be it either. She hadnt come along for Kiya’s sake, who seemed quite fine regardless. No, whatever reason she had come was for herself, but she couldn't quite tell what that reason was.

“...Hello, earth to Kiriai. We’ve lost all contact!” Kiriai blinked her eyes open again in confusion to see Kiya waving at her trying to get her attention. “Gosh, you're pensive today. You ok? Is the hot water affecting you?” Kiya asked, half jokingly and half concerned.

Kiriai shivered despite the hot water and nodded. “Y-yeah, sorry, I’m fine, I’m fine, just deep in thought! I came out here kinda all of a sudden, you know? It's just such a sudden adjustment.” Kiriai replied, almost defensively. Kiya gave her a concerned look.

“All of a sudden? You had time to pack all your stuff, it couldn't have been that sudden.”

Kiriai blushed slightly, thinking back to how she had actually made up her mind- Just looking at a picture and then haphazardly packing while Kiya was pulling out of the driveway. “Uhm, uh… sure. Yeah, let's go with that.” Kiriai laughed a little. “Whatever, it's fine, I’ll think about it later. What were you trying to talk to me about just now?”

Kiya laughs and pokes Kiriai’s cheek. “Man, you really are out of it, huh? Maybe the hot water is too relaxing for you.” She teased, smirking a little. Kiriai batted her hand away, embarrassed, and sunk down deeper in the water.

“I was just asking you if you wanna play some super smash bros, once I get the switch set up.” Kiya states, stepping back to their side of the jacuzzi and sitting down again.

Kiriai blinks. It had certainly been a long time since they had done anything together, and she had nothing else going on for once in her life… Well. She supposed she should probably study, but… Surely she could take just the one day off, right? So she nodded hesitantly. “Uh-huh, sure.”, and then unsure if she had gotten the point across enough, she nods more emphatically.

Kiya nods, satisfied, and Kiriai curls her legs up slightly more. The silence lasts longer and longer, and she peaks over at Kiya just to see them relaxing contentedly. Well, at least the silence wasn't awkward for one of them, but to Kiriai it felt… Odd. She kept thinking of things that maybe she could say- mostly meaningless pleasantries- and then shooting them down in her mind.

[...]

Kiya eased one eye open- subtly- and looked at Kiriai, frowning almost imperceptibly. She had hoped Kiriai would come out of her shell a little more now that they were out here, but instead she was as reserved as she had been for the past few years. It was written plain on her face; Kiya could see her opening her mouth as if to say something, then closing it again over and over again. Finally, with a sigh, Kiya stretched and stood up in the hot water, the air feeling cold against her skin.

“Alright, that's enough of that. You can stay here a bit longer, I’ll go set up the game so it’ll be ready when you come up, alright? I’ll leave the door unlocked for you. You remember what room we’re in?” Kiya asked

Kiriai nods. “Uh-huh, Room 221.” Kiya nods back, satisfied, and climbs up the stairs, shivering in the cold air as she wraps herself up in a towel before heading back