- Do you really have to go home already, Takuma?

I asked him as we walked down the street, towards his home. I had volunteered to tag along, just to get some extra time with him.

- Yes.. I'm sorry. Mom had something planned, apparently,

Takuma responded.

- She said she'd make curry again today. Maybe that was her surefire way to get me to come home,

he added, laughing a little.

- Oh...

was all I could bring myself to say. I almost asked if I could invite myself for dinner, but held back. Just about. I barely knew his mom, and maybe I would have just made it weird. I wasn't sure why that felt like such a big deal to me, out of all the people. I could always get people to relax, but now.. I just was feeling like this would be the one dinner I should not attend. So we just kept walking in silence, Takuma's arm briefly touching mine every now and then.

Way too soon we stopped in front of Takuma's place. He stood there for a bit, looking at me. I did the same, looking at him. I said nothing about it, but I wanted to kiss him so bad. After that awesome day we'd spent in the amusement park that thought crept into my mind more and more often. I was holding onto a hope that he felt the same way. He was the one that had kissed me back then, after all. I looked into his eyes, trying to read into his expression. What was he thinking right now? He seemed to hesitate. Well, I did, too. So instead of a kiss we just hugged each other. It was a really tight embrace. I held onto him for as long as I could. But way too soon we had to let go and say goodbye for now. I stood there on the street, watching as Takuma turned. From the steps he waved his hand and said he'd text me later. Then he was gone.

I already felt so alone as I turned around and slowly started making my way back home. I was dragging my feet because I didn't want to go home and into my room which would feel so quiet and empty without Takuma there with me. I kept walking, step after another, not really seeing or hearing much of anything. I was in my own world, which now felt emptier. It was stupid, of course. I could literally reach out to Takuma whenever I'd need to. But still I felt alone. I passed by all the strangers, not focusing on any of their faces, and eventually made it home. Mom had gone somewhere, which right now was a very good thing. I could just be by myself, without having to explain to anyone why I was like this. I dragged myself to my room and closed the door behind me. I stopped momentarily right after and looked around. The popcorn and chip bowls were still there on the floor, left from when we'd watched a movie. I forced myself to move forward and saw that there were still some chips left. I reached down to grab a couple and shoved them in my mouth, barely even tasting them, or caring how they tasted. I might as well have been eating cardboard, which was an odd sensation for someone as food-motivated as me. Now I simply shrugged, pushing the bowls aside as I moved past. I'd pick them up later.

Then, all of a sudden I saw something. There, on my futon I spotted something familiar.

- Takuma's hoodie..

I said in slight confusion, staring at it.

- He forgot it here..

I already, instinctively started to reach for my phone to let Takuma know. But then I stopped and gave up on that. It could wait a little.. So I put the phone away. Put it on mute, too. I just needed some time on my own. After this I went to lie down, taking Takuma's hoodie and holding it against my chest. Hugging it as tight as I could. We'd only just waved at each other not that long ago at all, yet it still felt like an entire day had already passed. I closed my eyes, breathing in and out. Picturing Takuma's face in my mind, him smiling at me. That brought a small smile on my face as well. No one ever really got to see this side of me. This sad creature who just had curled himself up tightly, hugging a piece of clothing like his life depended on it. People knew me as a happy-go-lucky person who never looked before he leapt. And I did my hardest to keep this side hidden away. No one ever stopped to even think that Minoru could ever be sad. Well, except Takuma. He knew, had known ever since that one night in the Digital World, when I'd really opened up to him about how I felt about a number of things. How I wasn't just smiling and laughing all day and night. Really, for a person with such a positive look on life I could get really miserable. I'd learned to hide it so well. Suddenly a lonely tear slowly made its way down my cheek and eventually landed on Takuma's hoodie. I held it even tighter, if possible. It made me feel like he really was here right now, instead of being back home, doing something else. Probably eating dinner with his mom in a bit. I finally opened my eyes, feeling comforted in a way.

- Takuma..

I whispered, already closing my eyes again. Eventually I actually passed out, still quite tired after last night. I slept peacefully, holding onto the hoodie like a lifeline. Something that kept me above the surface day after day.