@truthfulfool liked for a starter [x]
The Dojima house feels cold without Nanako’s presence. Maybe that’s why Adachi’s been taking it upon himself to stay over more often than not - like his presence should make any difference at all. Really, that should make the house feel colder.
They’re all worn thin. Maybe just having the extra body around helps. Nanako should be out of the hospital soon, that’s what the doctors keep saying (and Adachi knows this, he’s heard it a million times because he’s been at the hospital twice a week since November, sometimes with Dojima, sometimes stealing off by himself), but it’s getting harder to believe them as the harsh winter slips away.
It’s worry, probably, that’s plaguing everyone else, but guilt is what keeps Adachi up at night.
He stays up late-late, until the only interesting thing playing on the TV is a rerun of the evening weather forecast, and sits in the dark living room rolling an empty beer can between his hands until he hears footsteps descending the stairs. It’s easy to pick them out, with the TV volume set low in an act of kindness towards a probably sleeping Dojima. The flickering screen is the only light in the room, and Adachi squints in the direction of the stairs, then huffs and leans back against the couch when, yes, it turns out to be Seta rather than Dojima.
“Ahh, c’mon kid. Don’t you have school in the morning or something?“ He clicks the TV off, and for just a second the screen looks like it’s going to glow back to life. It doesn’t. The glass is dark and empty, but the room seems somehow darker. “Or something better to be doing instead of bugging me?“