For someone as thick-headed as Kaizaki Arata, the guy knew when the right timing would be put into motion and can immediately sense if there's a sinister aura in the environment. That is why when he heard three consecutive knocks on the door of his apartment door, he knew it would be anything but good.
He can already imagine Yoake behind it, smiling like he usually does with something in hand, possibly to share with him a few drinks or continuously tease him about his sparkling love life with Hishiro Chizuru. The blonde-haired guy knew no bounds but still kept his distance fair sometimes. Arata feared that one day he might actually enjoy his presence more than he does now.
He was so confused by what he was currently thinking that he didn't even walk straight towards the door and look through the peep hole like he always does.
"Yes?" He said, opening the door only to a tiny smudge to see a person he didn't expect to be at his doorstep. "Oga Takuomi?! You're here?"
"Yeah. I've been thinking about your sudden proposal since last night. I'm… kinda wondering if it's okay to talk to you about it in further detail." He couldn't believe his test subject was standing right in front of him nicely dressed. It looked like he had stepped out of a magazine! Arata on the other hand took a good look at himself, noticing that he was wearing a wrinkled black sweater with boxers, a faint sight of a miniscule stubble existing on his chin. He pursed his lips in embarrassment and shut the door, surprising his subject just outside of it.
And he was the adult here for crying out loud.
"Hold on a moment!" Arata yelled as he went to his cabinet to get fresh casual clothes all whilst troubled by the fact that Takuomi Oga actually had the bravery to go outside his home.
Wasn't he a shut-in?! Oh, I probably shouldn't be telling that to him directly!
When he had finished cleaning and wearing new clothes, he welcomed Takuomi again and gently told him to come inside, recovering from shame.
He's a bit sensitive so I might have to tone it down with the way I talk. Coming here right now would probably mean he's come to a decision. Wearing these clothes instead of my suit would be best since I don't really want him to think this is all about business.
"Take seat on the floor, it's not really the best but it's comfortable." The young man obliged, planting himself down on the floor looking like a person that doesn't care for the world. Arata did the same, albeit differently, a welcoming smile on his lips.
"So, have you come to an answer?" Arata asked him, grabbing onto his phone. In the present, he would always clench his phone in his hand because deep inside, no matter where she was, Chizuru was there for him. "During the ReLIFE process, you will revert back to a time where you can erase the decisions you regret and start over, hereby agreeing to grant yourself new opportunities. A lot of people wish they can go back and fix their mistakes but at the same time they think it's too troublesome and let it be instead as the past is what makes their present."
"But even so, people can learn from their mistakes and grow to be better or for worse. In ReLIFE, there's no room for worse. There's only for the better and Takuomi Oga…" Arata held both of his hands, surprising the subject one more time with his composure. "I believe you can be better. This is something you possibly cannot let go of. Chances like this come rarely and the effect it will give you will really be life-changing."
"I…" He uttered, a pause lingered in the air. Arata genuinely wanted to help this person. He knew the pain of not being able to succeed and he saw what the effects were. It had broken him into pieces and caused him to even be shunned. He didn't want this person before him to suffer that fate. "I'm…"
000000000
"Did he accept?" Chizuru was on his bed, both hands on her knees as she calmly observed her boyfriend laying down on the floor.
"It's not like I anticipated it or anything but for reasons I knew he was going to accept the offer. Living life being sheltered in your own sadness isn't really healthy for starters. From an adult's point of view, he should quickly understand why by now." Arata stated, overlooking the ceiling transfixed in his own thoughts.
"I have no idea how to guide someone through the straight path. In the past, I've always been the same person, always clinging onto my ideals and in the end people didn't agree with me even just a little bit. Even right now, I still have those beliefs, the will to help others and do what I think is right. When…" He sat up, staring at his girlfriend whom was also gazing at him with a loving expression. "I was in the ReLIFE experiment, I didn't care about anyone but myself, I wanted to strive right away and erase my mistakes-"
"You're wrong, Arata." Chizuru disrupted his confessions, bursting with her own. "Because of your ideals, it led to me wanting to change. Not only me but to the people you met."
"Eh?"
"The will to help others and do what you think is right… Even before you were this person who decided to work for such an association… you were already cool… You might not fully understand it Arata, but your words… can really change a person's view."
Cool, huh? That's… cool I guess… He… he…
"Just like how you taught me many things with our friends… Teach Oga Takuomi what you think is right and help him if necessary."
All of a sudden, Arata could only see Chizuru and nothing else. His vision had quickly minimized and focused only on one single person. There was no more need to consider his surroundings as he pushed the jet black-haired woman against the bed, her locks of hair spread out, cheeks flushed from Arata's actions.
"Chizuru…" He softly mumbled, delicately enjoying saying her name it sends shivers to the both of them. Chizuru could only hold his hand as a response, her face the color of a tomato. "You're really… I love you."
"I love you too." Rapid but so sure, she said it with such promise and devotion. Their hearts beat for one another as they close the space together.
Closer…
"Chizuru… I'm fortunate to meet you. Though I wish I was older." He chuckled lightly, caressing her hair as gently as he could with one hand while holding her shoulder, providing as much comfort as he can so she wouldn't leave his apartment just yet. She moaned under the touch, a smile evident on her lips as she encaged him with both of her arms never letting go. "There's no one I'd rather be with…"
He was now randomly spewing out anything by this point. Anything and everything related to the person he loved the most. That was how much he cherished her, how much he cared for her. Kissing wasn't the only way he could express his feelings to her.
"This hand of yours, I shall not let go."
"Have you been reading fantasy books lately…?" Due to the heat, Chizuru wasn't able to ask him properly as he only heard 'fantasy'.
"If we're talking about fantasy. I guess you can say I'm living the dream."
"A-arata…" She uttered so adorably he couldn't stop from cuddling with her. They decided to sit next to each other and be in one another's arms as they continued being mesmerized by their passionate gazes.
Chizuru's expressions… I want to see all of them… Happiness, sadness, anger, all of it…
He is… sweet, gentle… warm…
"Hey… let's say you and I go on a date tomorrow."
"Won't we have work, dear?" She nuzzled his neck before resting her head against his chest.
DEAR! DEAR MY GOSHHHHH!
Arata couldn't hold back the blood that was threatening to push itself outside his nose. He hugged her tightly, loving the way her skin was so soft and delicate.
KEEP IT TOGETHER!
Right, there was work. He slapped himself in the face internally, wishing that he would at least have a one day holiday with his girlfriend.
"Let's… just be content and spend the night here to sleep." She looked at him in the eye. He knew himself that that would be a bad idea. Chizuru could clearly understand by the expression on his face that he was up to something. She poked his nose playfully, a teasing smile directed at him.
"No funny business."
"I-I got it! What do you take me for? I wasn't thinking anything inappropriate so… yeah, never mind."
"Idiot." She covered her mouth, holding in her laugh. "Just give me a kiss already."
He didn't waste any time at all as soon as he heard those words.
Waiting for Next Report
Normal – Kaizaki Arata
Italics – Hishiro Chizuru
Bold – Onoya An
Underlined – Ryo Yoake
I have this urge to disturb them and at the same time just leave them be…
We did buy food for them, we might as well knock right?
