Chishiya doesn’t listen all that closely to Kuina. He sits beside the pool with her, swirls his drink, hums, nods.
Niragi is nowhere in sight.
Which doesn’t have to mean much, given that he can turn into flame. So why not water, fog, the cheery little party umbrella in Chishiya’s glass.
When he walks back to his room, he still doesn’t feel observed.
Weird. Not unwelcome. But weird.
He immediately knows why when he rounds the last corner and finds a slumped figure directly in front of his door, rifle across his back.
Chishiya slows as he approaches, giving him a wide berth at first.
Niragi doesn’t budge. His breathing is deep and even, his head dropped toward his chest. Almost peaceful.
So much for no next time, then.
Chishiya crouches in front of him and waits through a few breaths before picking up a strand of black hair between two fingers. He lifts it a few inches and lets it fall.
Niragi really fell asleep in front of the door of the person who must have lured him into some kind of trap before. Stabbed him in the back. Outsmarted him somehow, because this man does not allow anyone to simply walk up and set him ablaze.
It’s quite stupid. Careless. Pathetic, perhaps.
Threatening to patrol Chishiya’s door and then losing consciousness beside it like an abandoned guard dog that doesn’t need a chain to remain anchored.
Chishiya sighs quietly, then draws in a deeper breath.
He was tired, and he chose to stay outside.
There are footsteps farther down the hallway, laughter. A shriek dissolving into giggling.
Chishiya nudges Niragi’s shoulder.
He pushes him a second time before standing and unlocking the door.