âŒÂ  There was a part of Akira that truly loathed the repelling magnifications of the public Ryo painted in his dismissive musings. Glancing back Fudo caught an audible fraction of two women conversing over a blouse. Their faux sugar-coated chatter seemed rehearsed and overwhelming. A momentary frown lined his lips at the thought of the employee trying to affirm a false truth to push product. The ideation reared memories of his former struggles with second-guessing himself so frequently. Why people allowed white lies to be so common place would never make sense to him, though he discarded the train of thought and followed on behind the blonde.
âSounds like a planâ he murmured, emerging from his thoughts to watch Ryo awkwardly interact with none of the pleasantries the other customers seemingly employed. Flashing the cashier a couple of awkward grins that Asuka lacked, he took the bag up into hand trodding toward the automatic doors with haste.
Once they had returned to the worn vehicle Akira lobbed the plastic bag in the back before giving a relieved leap into the cushions himself. Wiggling into place he leaned foward, arms crossed over the back of the drivers chair to give a snicker Ryoâs way. âSometimes I completely get why people are unnerved by you. You couldnât even make small talk with that girl in there. She was kinda cute ya know? Asking how your day was and all.â Rearing back to recline with a smug grin Akira swatted the bag aside nodding to agree with his friendâs remark.
âI canât say it exactly feels right to sit down and enjoy simple things harboring the information we do. I mean hell, anything about monsters on TV seems so unappealing now.â he admitted with a sigh. He used to really enjoy a few of these as well. Oh well, little sacrifices for the greater good right? Linking arms behind his head he eyed the road tearing by, the skyline was cluttered with gloomy formations of dampened cotton clouds. Seemed it wouldnât be long before rain whipped through the window. Ryo always seemed to leave the left side down. Perhaps it was for his smoking? He wasnât sure. âBathing is pretty important man, itâs not like you can go skulking around smattered in blood. You get onto me about it enough as is. I can sit around and take a breather while you do or something.â Akira concluded, scrunching his nose up at the first raindrop dotting his cheek as expected.
He actually cracked a smile at Akiraâs remark. Amusing that his friend continued to insist on him ever talking to women. He had once or twice told him before he wasnât interested, but had to remind Akira that with their current situation he just didnât have the time or energy for it. For whatever reason it just seemed childish for him to even consider the idea.Â
âThatâs kind of something sheâs gotta do with her job you know, if you thought she was that cute then why didnât you go and try talking to her?â he actually managed to sputter out a small laugh. âWhat was I supposed to say? If I tell anyone Iâm doing just fine itâs kind of a huge lie yâknow? And I canât walk around and telling everyone Iâm not fine and  in just constant paranoia about things that would just sound crazy elaborating on.â
With the weather starting to turn rainy, the traffic on the way to his house thinned out, making the drive pleasantly calm as the road curved up the steep hills. It didnât occur to Ryo until just recently how odd the location of his house was. Of course with it being tucked away in a remote location made it ideal and peaceful for his father to base his research in, but now it just seemed like an eerie atmosphere to step into.Â
The Asuka estate wasnât remarkably huge. For only two people it definitely gave Ryo and his father plenty of room to somehow avoid each other in their day to day activities and it seemed even more vast now that Ryo was living alone. Ever since his fatherâs death there were some rooms he hadnât stepped into for months. The master bathroom was one of the more lavish areas that Ryo was able to indulge in.
âEven when Iâm not dripping around in blood and slime I still like to bathe every day,â he slid his hand along the wall for a light switch, squinting his eyes as soon as they turned on and glowed over the porcelain sheen of the bathroom interior. âIâm amazed that your girl and I always get on your ass for bathing every day like any normal person should,â he snorted.Â
Ryo noticed he had forgotten to clean off the sink area, hoping Akira didnât see, he shuffled over to hide away the contents piled on it. There wasnât much he could do about the dried blood stains and gauze draping everywhere around it, but the torn off old band-aids and makeup products should better just be left entirely unseen.Â
