—Just so you know this takes place in an AU (alternate universe) where Hatoful House still exists and Hitori and Nanaki are living with each other again, just so you know, and both of them being professors for St. PigeoNations. And, yes, Nageki is mentioned slightly but he doesn't have a part in this story—
—This story is kind of based off of one of my friends and me so please be gently when reviewing—
It was another day… just another day… where my students made fun of me, I get sensitive, and they'd apologize with that laughing tone… I didn't find it funny…
I didn't find any of what they said funny…
I'd go back to the apartment to see Hitori's happy face and cry again.
He'd call me pathetic… over sensitive…
I know he wants me to be strong but I don't know how too…
I felt like I should die again…
It's so scary though…
I-I don't know what to do...
I felt like no one is ever going to love me…
I'll only have Hitori…
It was a winter day, I was walking back home from the store downtown today. Hitori had asked me to go there and buy some extra food for the children at Hatoful House with the money we had left.
While I walked home, which I wasn't even sure if I was, I had been depressed in my own thoughts that I had no idea where I was going... until someone bumped into me… or I bumped into them.
"Ah!"
We both fell over with me spilling the food all over the cement.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
We looked at each other to notice we were crying out in unison… in the same scared tone of being yelled at.
We stared at one another until she finally spoke, "Ah! I'm so sorry, I-I wasn't watching where I was going and I-"
I stopped her and told her the same.
… Why wasn't she making fun of me? Is this another joke?
She looked at me surprised, "R-really? D-don't blame yourself, it was well as my fault."
"Don't say that! A-are you ok?"
Frankly she didn't look hurt but I didn't want to stick onto the subject of faults for too long.
"No, I'm fine but I don't think I can say the same for your groceries though..."
"Huh?" I looked over to see that most of the foods were bruised. I felt my heart pang, "O-oh no! H-Hitori's going to be mad at me…!"
"I'm so sorry… Let me help you," she began to pick up the fruit and a carton of eggs.
… This was too weird… She's being nice to me… This had to be a prank.
"… This is a prank isn't it?" I suddenly asked. Already I felt tears in my eyes.
She looked at me, stunned, "Of course not, I'm trying to help you," she stared at me as if I was a math problem then her eyes grew a fraction.
"… Oh, I get it… Don't fret, I would never do such a thing to a stranger," she smiled sweetly towards me, "I guess I've been through the same as you."
I looked at her through distrustful eyes. Truthfully I was scared. Was I going to die again…?
Her smile faded into a perfect linear.
"I'm sorry," she apologized again as she placed the groceries back into my bags. Without another word she stood and began to walk away.
I watched her leave... I watched her as she opened her sack and her emotion turn into panic as she frantically looked around.
She looked scared… I felt compelled to help her… but I was scared too.
Abruptly she glanced back to me and ran back over, "I-I'm sorry but have you seen an old stuffed rabbit?"
She looked and sounded like she was about to cry.
I was surprised…
I shook my head in responds.
"Well… Th-thank you…" she quietly began to look around the area, quietly calling out a name.
Slowly I stood. I wanted to leave. I wanted to get back to Hitori… I felt terrified. Why was she being so nice to me…?!
I felt something soft under my foot. I looked down to see a rabbit made out of old fabric and stuffing was spilling out from its side. I removed my foot and picked up the plush.
I guess that this was what she was looking for.
"H-Hey," I called out nervously, "is this it?"
She looked in my direction and smiled, "Y-yes! You found her!"
Instantly she reached out but stopped herself and stood there in silence.
Was she scared that I wasn't going to give it back?
I forced a smile, "Here," I extended the stuffed animal towards her.
She was hesitant at first but soon she grabbed it and squeezed the plush in her arms, "T-thank you."
I nodded.
Suddenly she held a free hand out. I stepped back. Was she going shock me with a Taser gun? Or pepper spray?
She tilted her head as her eyebrows knitted, "are you afraid of a hand shake?"
"Ah…" pausing I returned the gesture and we gently shook hands.
She smiled again, "Goodbye, mister, thank you again."
I wasn't able to say anything after she had waved and left the opposite way.
My eyes followed her until she turned a corner.
Quickly I turned, grabbed my bags and ran back home.
When I entered the apartment Hitori was standing next to the over with some of the ingredients out and looking at a cook book.
He heard me coming in and looked up, smiling, "hey, did you get the stuff I asked…?"
He studied my expression and sighed, "You dropped them again didn't you?"
I slowly nodded, "I-I bumped into someone… I-I'm s-sorry…!"
"P-please don't start crying!" He rested his head on his hand in thought, "… I guess we can order something cheap… again…"
"I'm sorry…"
He exhaled again as he put the receiver of the phone to his ear, "It's alright, Kazuaki, don't worry about it."
I didn't tell him about the brunette from before… I didn't tell him anything… what difference would it make? I probably will never see her again… It was just a coincidence… a stupid coincidence…
Hitori got off the phone, sighing again. He opened the refrigerator door and scanned the trays, "… well… we don't have much… Let me see the bags, Kazuaki."
And so I handed him the bags and he placed them on the counter and took the foods out one by one.
"… Yup… most of the fruit are bruised…"
"I'm sorry," I whined pathetically.
"I told you It's alright…" his voice was filled with distain.
"… Y-you hate me…"
He jumped, "I-I don't hate you! I'm just disappointed… quit blaming yourself, Kazuaki."
"But it is my fau—"
There was a knock on the door.
"Eh? Weird, I already paid the rent this month…" Hitori walked over and opened the door, "W-what the-?"
"Wh-what is it?" I crossed over to him and looked down. There was two bags on the welcome mat which was filled to the brim with groceries.
"I-I think someone's looking out for us…" Hitori peered out the door and looked around, "H-hello?"
He withdrew his head, suspicious but nonetheless picked up the bags and brought them inside.
"This is odd… it's all the things we needed…" He exclaimed after looking through the bags. He glanced up at me, "Was anyone following you while you were coming home?"
I shook my head, "I-I don't think so…"
"Hm… the guy you said you bumped into…"
"I doubt it…"
I was surprised myself of what I said… true or not I still felt skeptical about her.
"Is there any way to test the food for poisoning or something?"
Hitori let out a laugh, "I'm no doctor, Kazuaki… and I don't think Isa would be of any help… Let me try…"
"H-Hitori no!"
He took a bit of the apple, chewed and swallowed. Suddenly he collapsed, the apple clutched in his hand.
"AH!" I fell by his side, shaking him. H-he wasn't breathing…
No.
No.
No.
NO!
THIS ISN'T HAPPENING AGAIN.
I cried out his name in vain, "Hitori! Hitori! UZUNE!"
He suddenly flinched, "Geez you're loud."
My heart stopped, "Y-you're not—?"
"Of course not," he said sitting up.
"That-… That was cruel Hitori!" I glared at him through teary eyes.
"Heh, sorry…"
"It's not funny! I though you actually died!"
"Well, I'm not, so calm down, please. I think you deafened my hearing."
I sniffled and sat there in silence as he stood up, rubbing his head as he walked over to the oven. He glanced towards me, "Well are you going to help me or not?"
Slowly I stood letting the last of my tears fall from my face.
He smiled gently as he wiped the tears from my eyes, "…now, I need…"
And so I helped Hitori with cooking… I wasn't much help since I am practically a fire hazard in kitchen.. but our dinner was finished and… we didn't die…
Night fell and Hitori was already asleep in the other bed… I wasn't… my thoughts were only on of what had happened earlier…
Just who was that girl anyway?