@dioscural
Minako opens her bedroom door, expecting to see the row of doors stretching across the corridor. Her view looks out into the living room, decorated moderately to bring a sense of home in an unknown world. Minako fixes her tie, smooths down her skirt, and shuffles her way into the kitchen. Regardless of location, she misses being able to see her friends first thing in the morning. Their rushed breakfast together gave them all a sense of normalcy before the sun fell.
As she indulges on a bowl of cereal, reflecting on the recent events that occurred. Jumping into Akihiko’s way, barreling into Mitsuru upon her arrival, and crying into Shinjiro’s back. All her seniors welcomed her home, and yet, she feels lonelier. She hums, tilting her head back, thinking about what she can do. The dorm kept the loneliness at bay, all the members of S.E.E.S. gravitated towards the common room. Now, she must gravitate towards them.
Minako cleans her bowl quickly after finishing, and she sprints out the door. No longer does she have to rush to catch the train to school, now she has the freedom to do whatever she desires. What she desires most is to be with her friends.
Upon reaching Shinjiro’s door, she raises her knuckles. Her hand hovers over the door, and she tucks her hand against her stomach. The moments they shared began in the common room, when he had the availability. Behind the closed door, she’s cannot discern whether he’s open to spending time with her. She nervously shifts before the door, her arm extending and retracting in periodic phases.
The tenants that wander in the corridor take notice of her, leaving a lingering glance of confusion. Thirty minutes pass by without any advancements. She huffs a sigh, turning half-away. She bites down on her lower lip, contemplating whether it’s safe to approach him. The memories she bears weigh heavily upon her. Thousands of happy, joyful memories swaddled within the grasp of horrific trauma. She takes a soft breath before turning to face the door again.
Courage surges through her as she lifts her fist. Then, it hovers, hanging over the door. Minako releases the breath she holds, and she raps at the door. Her eyes close, squinting tightly, begging for Shinjiro to open the door. She suddenly realizes that his roommate be the one to greet her. Frantically, Minako smooths down her hair, fixes her skirt and jacket. She hopes she looks presentable. Minako shakes her head. She’s not trying to impress his roommate, but him! She pinches her skirt, looking down with dismay.
“I should’ve worn something else.”
IT'S A PRETTY LARGE SPACE to have all to himself, at least for the time being. while he hardly needed the room, the quiet was appreciated, and it isn’t such a pain using the communal kitchen either. it felt like the dorm again, though with no other’s company but his own; it was home to no-one and nothing, but him, and the ghosts of his mistakes. he had hoped his thoughts would be a little lighter, without the burden of another’s life weighing on his mind, toiling alone in his isolation, just as he’d always done... and yet, that feeling crawling up his back begs to differ. it’s the same as always; the moment he dares to consider his loneliness a reprieve, it bites him in the ass.
he had been alone for so long, the warmth of another’s company faded from his finger tips, but after being permitted a taste of that comfort once again, it’s... strange to be without it. it’s colder here, without them.
bracing his hands against the counter, heavy with memories, shinji hangs his head. he had been perfectly content dying alone before they came along--- at least there would’ve been no-one left to disappoint that way. but the second he saw ken’s face that night, one final meaning tethered him to what poor excuse for a life he had left. maybe i can make everything a little better before i go, he thought, but without the kid here, what does he have left? mitsuru, akihiko, minako... he can’t pretend that he doesn’t give a damn anymore.
“ those idiots... ” he seethes, for there really is no heavier burden than a heart.
a knock on his door breaks his focus, and it dawns on him that he’s still wearing an apron. looking around frantically, he tears it off and tosses it into a cupboard under the sink. closing up the few containers waiting out on the bench and filing them away in the fridge again, shinji reluctantly approaches the door.
who the hell could be knocking on my door this early...?
he spoke too soon, as once opening it, it’s suddenly not so surprising. the tension falls away from his posture, relaxing at the sight of her, and he raises a brow. it’s not with exasperation that he addresses her, despite how it may sound, but relief.
“ ---minako, huh? ” it feels... weird to look her in the eye, after what happened the other day, “ what is it? you need somethin’? ”
