At first, it was like Hisao wasn't able to move. Of course, he wanted to go after her. But to say what? To do what? Everything that came to his mind would surely just make things worse. She was right. He didn't know her. Not anymore. Or perhaps he and never known her. Perhaps she had been so good at keeping him out that he, in reality, had no idea who she really was. Perhaps in his mind, he had made her into something she wasn't.

He took a step forward and something clattered across the floor. An old half-empty bottle of whiskey. So it hadn't all been in his mind. What could have happened for her to be like this? Drunk on a workday. Working a temporary job as a cleaner. Of course, he felt sorry for her, but truth be told there was nothing he could do.

It was time to give up on this unhealthy fantasy. It wasn't good for him and there was no chance in hell the two of them would ever end up together. Yes, the best thing was to leave this be. And she obviously didn't want to be with him. Not really. A quick tumble in a shed perhaps, but not really be with him. Not like he wanted. Hisao picked up his things and made ready to forget it all and continue on with his life.

But then just as he had decided to leave it all be he heard her cry out in a yelp of pain. And in that moment all the things he had convinced himself of just flew out like dust on the first day of spring cleaning and it all became clear. She was in pain. To hell with thinking. Who cares about reasons and reasoning. Why was he even still in here? He yanked the door open and sprinted out of the shed with all the energy he could muster.

Emi was lying on the track. She wasn't supposed to be lying on the track. She was supposed to fly across it. But that yelp of pain had somehow cleared Hisao's mind and as he ran he had somewhat of an epiphany. What the fuck had he been thinking? His thoughts drifted back to just after his own divorce. Who had been the people he had avoided the most? The faces he had hated the most. The ones who looked at him like his life was over. The ones who acted like there was nothing to him but sorrow now. 'Oh, poor Hisao'. 'You must be so devastated'. Yeah just rub it in will you. And who had really helped him? The ones who were simply there. Not the ones who pitied and wanted...wanted to fix him. Now, where had he heard that before?

So she obviously wasn't in the best place right now. If he really cared about her he needed to keep his own feelings in check and give her what she needed. And that sure as hell wasn't pity. And what gave him the right to look down on her in the first place? Truth be told perhaps what she had needed was what she has had in mind in the first place. Well, something told him that was off the table now.

Winded he stopped just next to her. Between wheezing breaths, Hisao managed to stammer.

"Having a rest?"

The joke was a huge gamble. She was a mess, her mascara running down her cheeks, eyes red and puffy. Looking down he saw that one of the straps holding her legs in place had snapped and the entire leg had buckled under her. The walking legs were not meant for moving quickly. She had probably pushed them too hard in her rush to get away from him. And being drunk probably didn't help.

At first, she looked pissed, then stunned. And then she managed a half sobbing laugh. He sat down next to her.

"Well if you are going to slack off, so am I"

Emi stopped crying. She looked at him half wary, half intrigued. At first, she hesitated. But then they started walking down the familiar path of jabs and insults.

"Look who's talking. At least I have this stupid thing to blame" She struck her broken walking leg with an open palm. "What's your excuse?" Her speech was slightly slurred but she recovered with amazing speed. Like she had a great tolerance for booze. Or had build one up. Hisao pushed those thoughts out of his head. Instead, her stretched out on the ground next to her, making himself comfortable.

"Me? Having a heart attack. Obviously." He stretched and yawned like a cat. Continuing in a theatrical lazy voice he droned. "Oh, aoh, it hurts so much I think...yawn...I am going to...AUCH!" The last one was real as she poked him in the stomach mid-stretch. They both smiled for a short instant before the awkwardness of the situation reared its ugly face again.

"So...how is your heart doing?" she asked carefully.

You tell me.

"Actually it is a lot better these days." He said in earnest. Then continued in a more joking voice. "Must be all that exercise when I was younger. Had this real slave driver..." Her free leg kicked him.

"Sounds like that ''slave-driver' saved your lazy ass!" She noted smugly.

"She sure did." Hisao looked up into the sky as he said it. If he would have said it to her face the moment would be over. And he wasn't ready for it to be over.

They sat there in silence for a while. The sun was still behind the treetops and the red morning light drizzled through the treetops. It was pretty darned romantic. Hisao fought back the instinct to take Emi's hand. The pink morning clouds hung in the air like rose petals strewn across the sky. From far away a ringing clock broke the spell.

"So you think we have had enough exercise for one day?" This earned him another laugh. He offered her his arm. For an instant she paused but then she let him support her as she stumbled up the hill towards the school buildings. Even though thirty minutes ago she had been all but naked and willing in front of him, this felt like the closest she had let him come to her in ten years. As they approached the main building and flat ground she started to dry her running makeup off her face and asked tentatively.

"Do I look ok?"

No. You look divine.

"Yeah, don't worry. You look ok."

"Look. I'm sorry for what happened back there. I just have a lot going on right now."

If everything you think of saying is crap then perhaps staying silent was a valid solution. Hisao tried it. I worked surprisingly well, earning him a weak smile.

"I guess this is it, I think I can make it from here. Thanks for helping me out. If there is anything I..."

"Go on a date with me." Where he got the confidence from Hisao would never know. It's was like all the sudden he didn't have anything to lose anyway.

"Hisao..."

"Just listen. No commitments. No serious stuff. Just fun. I promise. I know just the thing."

Emi looked at him, her mouth half open. Behind her eyes, a terrible war was fought. The scales were just even. All he needed to do was to tip them ever so slightly. Begging would do him no good. Nor would confessions of love. But something else just might.

"Unless of course, you have grown too old and lazy for a little challenge." He said casually, a mock haughty look on his face. Hisao couldn't help but smile at himself when he saw the fires flare in her eyes at his words. And the punch he got was almost as sweet as the passionate kiss they had shared not an hour ago.

"You ass! You're on!"

Revision note: Spelling error fixes.