Icy slush bit hard at Aoi's bare toes as he tip toed down his apartment steps, flakes plummeting from above. He kept a firm grip on his coffee cup as he checked the mailbox, newspaper tucked firmly under his bicep while he filed through the envelopes with his fingertips.
Junk. Bill. Bill. Bill. Hm. . Nothing interesting.
Aoi left his mailbox and headed back up the steps to his home, feet beginning to go numb from the snow. Despite this uncomfortable sensation, he took his time in climbing the steps and reaching the door. Once inside he tossed the mail aside and sat down unceremoniously on the couch, a blank look about him. Without much thought he drank from hip cup and found himself without any to consume. Annoyed, he got up once again and got himself a refill, making it his sixth cup that morning thus far.
A silence too loud for his liking rang out while he stood there with drink in hand. He was quick to retrieve the television remote, and soon found a show to engross himself in. Climbing on the couch with his coffee, Aoi wrapped a blanket around his small thin frame and stared at the brightly lit screen. Sip by sip the minutes ticked by and the chilly day turned into a crisp night that had Aoi turning the heat up. Muttering profanity under his breath, the youth cursed the cold weather while still seated on the grey couch.
The battered cushions sagged under his weight, springs creaking as he turned on the spot and leaned over the back of the couch. Slim fingers parted the curtains that hung from the window, and Aoi peeked out and into the dimly lit street. Large flakes still fell from the cloud cluttered sky, covering everything in site. Aoi was certainly grateful he didn't have to work any of his jobs today. Just as he was beginning to snicker at any unfortunate souls who had to walk or drive in such weather, Aoi noticed someone turn the corner and head straight for the apartment building. He didn't recognize them with the light being so poor outside, and he chose to simply close his curtains when he saw the person walk up the apartment steps; he didn't exactly want to be known as the neighbor who watched people in the dead of night.
As he sat there Aoi could hear the urgency in the persons steps from outside, however, he wasn't sure what to expect when there came a pounding on his door. His heart jumped high and landed back down hard, thumping in his chest when the knocking continued for a second round. Quickly jumping to his feet, Aoi moved to the door, palms already sweaty as countless assumptions raced through his mind. Who was here at such a late hour? Given the kind of past he harbored, the answer to that question could yield several results.
The knocking continued, though this time it seemed more polite than forceful, so Aoi stepped forwards and peeked through the peephole.
". . ." What?
Immediately he scowled and before Aoi knew it he was whipping the door open and staring at a cold and damp Junpei Tenmyouji. Junpei stood there shivering, the eye contact with Aoi making the atmosphere even colder than it currently was. Despite the bone chilling weather and ice cold expression on Aoi's face, it was apparent that Junpei was glad he found the Kurashiki residence. Junpei's smile didn't cause Aoi's scowl to falter.
"Hey Santa."