Notes So I'm back for more. Chapter 2 is from Misaki's perspective. I thought seeing life from each characters POV would balance the story out. Again, read and review if you can!


I wonder what time it is. It's really dark out, so it must be really late; or really early, depending on how you look at it.

That movie was way too long. It's no wonder I fell asleep halfway through. But it's over now and it's gone back to the menu screen. That really annoying theme song is playing over and over. That's probably what woke me, so I turn it off with the remote.

We're still curled up together on the couch. It looks like he hasn't moved. But it's not like he has much of a choice, because I've sort of got him pinned underneath me. He's pressed into the corner, and I'm snuggly leaning across him.

An eerie silence fills the house. Looking over to the front door, I notice that aunt and uncle's shoes are still gone. They haven't returned yet, which worries me a little. They should be home by now. I flip open my phone to find one missed call and a message waiting. I listen to it; my aunt's voice is warm in my ear:

Misaki, we won't be back until tomorrow morning. We ran into an old friend, so we will be out catching up. He will be leaving town on business tomorrow, so we will spend the night at his residence. Remember that you can call if you need anything.

I settle back comfortably, laying my head against his shoulder. I can hear his breathing and heartbeat, and it's soothing. This is what I've been searching for; being worth enough to someone to be allowed this close I mean. But it couldn't have been anyone. In the end it needed to be him, because he's like me.

"I need a smoke."

I jolt up and let out a girlish "eek", startled because he so rashly broke the silence.

"You're awake? For how long?" I question.

"I dunno, a while I guess," he responds groggily.

"Why didn't you say anything?" I ask.

"I dunno, was I supposed to?"

"Um, yeah! Don't let me think you're sleeping when you're not!" I demand.

"Okay. Next time I'll say something. " he says resolutely.

"You better!" I scold him.

"Alright, but if you're asleep when I say it, don't blame me if I wake you up. It'll be your own fault."

"Fine."

"What's the big deal whether you know I'm asleep or not? Worried I'll catch you doing something embarrassing?" he asks teasingly.

"Yeah right! I mean honestly, what could I do that's embarrassing at this hour?" I scoff.

"Well, you do talk in your sleep for starters…" he insists, the words trailing off as if he's uncovered some secret.

"I do not!" I protest. Secretly, I'm flustered about what he may have heard. But could it really be something embarrassing? I want to find out.

"You sure do! Wanna know what you said?"

There's no point in arguing about it, I just want to know what, if anything, I said. I don't tell him to continue, because I know he'll do so anyway.

"You said something about a door, first of all. You said my name too. Well, at first you said it, than you shouted it. I guess I must have done something to upset you in your dream, huh? You sounded pretty peeved! You woke up a little bit after that."

So, I guess I do talk in my sleep. That does sound like the dream I was having. I decide to explain to him the whole thing, or at least the parts I remember. I tell him how we stood in a door way. I was on one side, and he was on the other. I was waiving for him to come through, but he didn't acknowledge my gesture. Next, I remember saying his name, then shouting it to get his attention, but he didn't seem to hear me. After that, I remember having a really awful feeling, because it was as if he couldn't see me at all. It felt like no matter what I did, he wouldn't follow me through the doorway. I explain that I had a burning sensation on my cheeks, as if I'd been crying. I think that's about the time I woke up.

"So what's it mean?"

"Huh?"

"Oh come on! If ever there was a time for you to play psychoanalyst, this is it," he says jokingly.

He's got a point. What have I read about the symbolism in the dream I just experienced?

"Well, doors often symbolize entry points into new stages of life. Often, they might symbolize a person entering a better chapter in their life." That sounds like a description of both of us.

"And what about me?"

"You?" I respond.

"Ya, me. Why do you think I wouldn't follow you, or I couldn't see you, or whatever?"

"Maybe I'm secretly scared that you'll abandon me to…" My words come out as a whimper. It hurts to say them, but I can't deny that my subconscious might still be afraid of being thrown away again.

"That's not gonna happen," He says tenderly.

"I know that. But the subconscious mind is a complicated thing."

He responds in exactly the way needed to squish my subconscious fears. He gently turns my head until our eyes lock. He moves in slowly, and I do the same. When our lips meet, I have all the reassurance I need. He wants to be here with me, as much as I want to be with him.

"I'll follow you through that door," He responds.

We sit together in silence. I'm getting sleepy again.

"But seriously, I'm dying for a smoke," he says pleadingly.

"Smoking is prohibited at this time," I decree.

He moans, but he doesn't try to get up.

I'm happy that he accepts my ruling. It's not that his smoking would bother me at the moment; I simply don't want him to get up. I don't want him going anywhere, maybe not ever. I nestle in deeper. Soon there is an arm around me, and a second arm follows suite. I close my eyes.

"Are your aunt and uncle gonna flip out if they walk in? I mean, they said I could come over for cake, not, um, I mean….what impression are they gonna get if I'm still here? Are they gonna assume, you know…stuff?" he asks, with nervousness in his voice.

I look at with drowsy eyes. "…stuff?" It's comes out sounding more like a statement than a question. I'm still pressed against him, so I notice that his heart beats a little faster.

"Stuff?!" I say again, "But we haven't been….!" I know I'm blushing deeply, so I take a breath. I don't want to come across like I'm angry. It's simply that I'm not used to this kind of…attention.

I pause to consider my next words.

"I don't think they'd have a problem, because they like you," I begin to explain. "They like what you do for me. They only want what's best for me. They helped enrol me in school, and allowed me into their home and even gave me a job too. They even tried to help me fit in and make friends when I moved here. But…I couldn't."

There is a moment of silence, but he doesn't say anything; he knows I intend to continue.

"You're the only person that I've ever invited to this house, did you know that Satou?"

He doesn't say anything now either, he only pulls me closer in his arms.

"That's why they would be happy to see you here. You're what's best for me. You're my proof that I am worth something and that I do matter. That's all they've ever wanted me to know. Now I know, thanks to you."

He's grinning now. Maybe he's happy to hear how important he is to me.

"Let's go upstairs. It's warmer in my room," I suggest.


There's a large window in my room, with a windowsill big enough to sit on. I used to plant myself there, with my back leaning against the wall, and peer outside for hours on end. When I first dropped out of school I spent days on end sitting there, looking to the horizon. This is where I was sitting when I found him too. I lead him to the window when we enter the room, and we look out into the darkness together.

"It seems almost funny now, all the time I spent sitting right here whishing I didn't feel so hopeless. The whole time, what I was looking for was just outside my window," I say as I turn to look at him.

"Well, I'm just glad you were able to spot me from up here, for both our sakes."

We both sit down on the windowsill.

"The words I used to say when I watched you, "at least I'm less worthless than him," or "it's not as bad for me as it is for him" feel like someone else must have said them now. I don't know how I used to think such horrible things. Neither of us is worthless, right Satou?"

"Are you telling me, or asking me?"

I pause briefly and weigh what he said. Was it a question? Do I still think that I don't matter? No, of course I don't think that. I know I matter. I matter to him, to my family and to myself. I just need to be more confident, there's no need to be so melancholy all the time.

"Remember, we're in this together. We're contractually bound after all. If there is ever doubt, I'll be right here." He says, comforting me.

I smile. "There's no doubt. It's just old habits dying hard. But that doesn't mean you're free to leave my side!" I joke with him. "But it is funny you mention that, because I have one more contract. I need a witness to make it officially binding."

"Another contract? It's not like I'm gonna run away or skip out on you at this point. Don't we know each other well enough to use the honor system by now?" he asks.

"This one is just for me. It's a contract with myself. I want you to be my official witness. That way, you can make sure I don't break the terms," I assure him.

"I wouldn't want you fining yourself 10 billion yen!" He says with a goofy grin. I smile in return; I like sharing this feeling.

"There won't be any penalties like that this time. I guess it's not really a contract in the legal sense."

"I don't think any of 'em were contracts in the legal sense," he says, still wearing that grin.

I chuckle. "Maybe not, but I still want you to see it so I can feel like I'm being…..honest."

He looks at me intently for just a moment then nods once. My witness!

I get up from the windowsill and walk to my dresser. I grip the handle of the top drawer and slide it open. Resting inside is the contract; a single sheet awaiting signatures from me and my witness. I take it in my hands carefully and turn to face him at the window. I take one deep breath before going to him.

Climbing back on the windowsill, I sit cross legged with my back against the wall. He follows my lead and arranges himself the same way, across from me. Between us, I place the contract. We both lean forward and look down at the paper. We're basically face to face, separated only by centimeters.

"What does it say," he asks. He only needs to whisper because we're so close.

"It's very simple" I whisper back. I read the short contract aloud:

This contract stipulates that Misaki Nakahara, hereafter referred to as Party A, will adhere to the following clauses:

I. Party A will remember that she is not worthless.

II. Party A will take every opportunity to tell her aunt and uncle that they matter to her.

III. Party A will take every opportunity to let Satou know that he matters to her.

IV. Party A will ask for help if she ever feels sad or lonely again, because she knows the aforementioned people care about her enough to help.

It's not much more than a promise to myself to let the people that I love know how important they are to me, and not to let my fears get the better of me. But, I wouldn't have been able to do any of this a few months ago, so it feels important.

"That's all pretty reasonable, where do I sign?"

"Right here," I point to the blank line and hand him a pen. He scribbles his name.

"Your turn," he says, passing the pen back to me. I take it and sign my name.

"Feel any different?" he asks.

I think about it for a moment. "No. But that's okay, because I felt good in the first place."

"Do you want to watch the sunrise?" He asks, out of the blue.

"It's not going to come up for a few more hours," I respond.

"It'll be worth waiting for. I think so anyway."

I smile.

"Sure, let's stay up to watch it."

We spend the next few hours looking toward the horizon, waiting patiently. As the light of a new day arrives, I can't help but think that we'll be able to face anything. Anything at all.


And that is The End. I felt like continuing this because I wanted look at things from Misaki's perspective. Also, I am still going through withdrawals from finishing this series. It was so damn good! So, if you like my story, a few nice reviews would be much appreciated.