For the first time in a while, I was at a loss for words.
A tense silence made its way between us. The confusion on my face was all but visible as I looked at her under the soon night sky.
It was only until I finally managed to compose my thoughts for a bit that I could finally answer.
"You… want to die?"
She gave a courteous nod.
"Mm hmm."
"..."
"Can you tell me why?"
Yuna blinked, her lips parting a little.
It was as if she didn't expect a question like this to come from me.
Regardless, she gave her reply swiftly.
"I'm just tired. I really am." She sighed. "I don't really want to go on living like this anymore."
"Like the other you." I said in a way that asked for clarification. "The one that does all the bad stuff."
"Yeah."
The dullness in her eyes as she spoke told me more than her words could at this moment. It was like she wasn't really focusing on anything in particular.
She really is tired- No.
More like she doesn't have anything to look forward to.
"But don't you have anyone you care about? Someone who would be sad to see you go?"
A sensitive question.
Something that someone like me didn't really have much of a right to ask given our relationship.
But still, something inside of me nagged to say it.
So I did.
Yuna's gaze shifted up as she went into contemplation.
"I guess… maybe my mom?"
"What about your dad?"
"He's… not in the picture anymore."
"Oh. Sorry…"
Yuna tilted her head to the side.
"Are you trying to convince me to do something else?"
"Well… is it working?"
A small giggle came from her lips.
"Not really." She sighed. A stray hair that covered her face was brushed aside as she looked at me. "But I thought you would be willing to do such a thing. Since… y'know…"
I complained with a bit of annoyance. "Hey, I don't like killing people randomly, y'know? I just do what needs to be done."
"Oh…" She nodded in understanding. "Sorry about that again." Her gaze shifted to the floor. "I didn't want to be a bother."
…
I am kinda terrible at this, aren't I?
Wheel.
Give me an adaptation for this NOW!
I shook that thought out of my head.
"About your mom, wanna talk about her?" I asked softly.
"My mom?" A smile came onto her face seemingly involuntarily. "She's nice."
I nodded. As my lips parted to speak, I was cut off as Yuna suddenly took initiative to say more.
"A lot of the time, she brings me snacks when I'm studying. After school, she gets me some water along with some daifuku too."
"When I oversleep she's the one who wakes me up too. I don't really need to worry about things too much when mom is there…"
"She can be a bit naggy sometimes though. She scolds me a lot when I oversleep. The chores can take up a lot of time too…"
"I'd usually get kinda angry about those things but right now?"
A haze covered her eyes.
"I really don't mind…"
She wiped her eyes a bit.
"Sorry. I just suddenly feel like I want to see her again."
"You don't need to say sorry. I get it."
Her gaze returned to me, eyes slightly puffy now.
At this moment, I knew I had her full attention.
I wanted to empathise with her, tell her that I knew what she was going through. But right now, maybe it wasn't the right thing to do.
So I pivoted.
"Look." I began, rubbing the back of my head. "I know we don't know each other that well."
"I'm not the best guy to tell you how you should live your life, or how you should feel. Honestly, I probably am the worst for that."
Yuna laughed softly at that.
However, I kept going on.
"But."
"If you have things on your chest… things you wanna talk about…"
I leaned back on the bench.
"I guess I wouldn't mind listening right now."
Yuna didn't give me a reply.
She just stared at me, making me feel like she thought I was some kind of alien or something.
Not gonna lie, it wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world.
Yet saying this right now made me feel pretty good.
"Y'know…" She spoke, her voice wobbly,
"Yea?"
A full fledged, hopeful smile graced her lips once more.
"You're actually really kind, Gojo."
I just shrugged.
"I suppose I am the kindest, most magnanimous, most understanding person in the world."
She giggled, clearly not caring about what I said.
And then, she talked.
And talked.
And talked.
Until the moon shone fully in the night sky.
—-----------------------------------------------
I brought Yuna to the base in Schicksal and told Himeko about what had happened.
Funnily enough, it seemed that the red haired woman had been to HQ to make a report in Theresa's place. That was why she wasn't here during the whole debacle.
Of course, convincing Himeko wasn't an easy job considering what Yuna did before that, but given my… track record with Mei, they trusted me.
Needless to say there was some form of supervision and security measures.
However, they weren't inhumane, and Yuna didn't object to any of it.
So now, after a hard day of work, I'm finally back home.
It was around 9pm at this time, which meant that the others were probably just doing random stuff by now.
Man… no Mei's meals-
Huh? What's that smell?
Do I smell lamb chops?
"Are you guys still cooking?!" I shouted out as I dashed into the kitchen like a kid who saw presents during Christmas.
"Gojo. You're back."
Mei gave me a bright smile as she flipped the lamb chops on the grill.
"Kiana got hungry. Plus, you weren't back yet so I decided to make some more."
I gasped.
"You're the best Mei!"
"The Bronya is helping out as well."
"And so am I!"
Theresa was busy prepping some mashed potatoes as well.
"Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to still be in the hospital for a bit?"
"Psshhh. I'm perfectly fine already."
I just shrugged.
"If you say so."
"Why is Gojo ignoring the Bronya."
"Oh hey. Didn't see you there."
"..." She did the best glower that she could. "The Bronya doesn't want to make Gojo's portion anymore."
I laughed her off as I went to the living room.
Since they were making some lamb chops, I guess I should bring out the good stuff. After all, what else could go better with lamb chops than some alcohol.
Mmm wine.
I opened up a bottle of Chateau Lafite Rothshild and poured myself a glass. I had a bottle of Moutai that I could have opened, but that one was better suited for a colder season. (Plus it isn't really wine anyways).
"You're drinking something nice without inviting me, aren't you!"
Kiana's accusation suddenly filled my ear as she sat beside me on the sofa.
"Did you get kicked out of the kitchen?"
"How did you know that?"
I just gave her a deadpan, causing her to laugh awkwardly.
"Want a glass?" I offered as I handed an extra glass over.
"Is that… alcohol?"
"Wine."
A sneer came across her face.
"Heh. You're trying to get me drunk right? I knew you would bare your fangs on a pretty girl like me eventuall-"
"I'm keeping the bottle."
"Ah. I wanna try it!"
She looked around the room for a bit. Then she moved closer to my ear.
"Just don't let Mei or Auntie know."
One extra glass later, Kiana was busy chugging the glass like it was a cola or something.
"Kiana. That's not how you drink it…"
"Bah! I can drink it however I want!"
Sigh
What a waste of good wine.
As we drank, I just slowly sipped my wine while Kiana kept asking for more and more due to the speed she drank at.
I guess I humoured her.
It was kinda funny after a bit not gonna lie, but I made sure she drank slower after the second glass.
"Oi! Why are you such a… softie tonight?!"
Kiana's voice was slightly slurred, but she didn't seem particularly drunk. Perhaps a bit tipsy, but that was all.
"Softie?"
"Yea! You don't let me drink your nice stuff a lot of the time!"
Oh yeah. I guess she was a bit more shouty as well haha.
I leaned my head on the back of my hand whilst I swirled my wine.
"I guess I just heard some stuff that made me think tonight."
Yuna's mom… seeing her again was the reason why she chose to live huh?
I wonder…
Do I still have a family that I would choose to live for?
"Hey! Don't just go sit there and act cool like that! You're leaving me hanging!"
"I think you're actually drunk now, Kiana."
"I'm not drunk!"
"Can you tell the time?"
"Of course I can!"
She pointed at the clock.
"Hey! I'm not drunk!"
"..."
"Ok… maybe I'm feeling a bit sleepy…" Kiana finally admitted as she collapsed on the sofa. "I… think I'm gonna take a nap for a bit. Wake me up when the steak is done."
"Mei is making lamb chops."
Kiana's slightly blushing face morphed into a pout.
"I knew that!"
Then, she curled up beside me.
"Y'know Gojo…"
"Hmm?"
"I like you a lot."
"..."
"Hehe. You got flustered, didn't you?" She giggled. She moved a bit closer to my shoulder as her warm breath brushed against me. "But seriously…"
"You're my best friend."
"..."
"Zzzzz"
Kiana's snores filled the room, but for some reason, I wasn't as annoyed as I usually was with her noise.
A smile broke on my face as I leaned back.
"I guess I like you too."
"Just a little bit though."
(A/N: Powerstone deal time. 1k powerstones for an extra chapter. SInce we're at almost 600, just treat it as reaching 1600 powerstones for the extra chapter.
If you guys enjoyed the chapter, please do comment and give powerstones. Give reviews as well if possible)