Kotonoha put her head down on his shoulder.

Makoto had come over to her house this time. All in all, it had gone pretty well. There was still some tension between him and her dad though.

Even so, Kotonoha couldn't help but feel like…

"It's getting late," Makoto said. "I should go."

"No, stay," Kotonoha insisted. She wrapped her arms around him.

"Yeah," Manami said. "Why don't you stay over tonight?"

The tension went up visibly.

"Stay over?" her dad asked.

"In the guest room I meant," her mom quickly added.

"Hm." Her dad rubbed his chin.

"Don't be so hard on them," Manami said. "You're gonna have to-"

"Fine."

"Huh?"

All of them were surprised at that.

"You're right, it's getting late," her dad said. "He can sleep in the guest room."

Before they could say anything, her dad stood up and left them.

"See," Makoto said. "I told you he'd come around."

"Yeah," Kotonoha said, still unsure.

"Well, I'm going to bed as well," Manami said.

The door closed.

"Too bad we can't sleep together," Kotonoha said.

"Don't expect miracles right away," Makoto replied. "Give him some time. We're moving forward aren't we?"

"Yeah."

"Will you be okay by yourself?" he asked.

"I sleep alone quite a lot, Makoto," she pointed out.

"I mean… Do you still have nightmares?"

"Y-Yes," Kotonoha admitted. "But it's okay."

"If it gets really bad, you can come to me," he said.

"But, my dad-"

"Won't notice," he finished for her. Makoto wrapped his arm around her.

"Okay. Thanks for being there for me." She put her head down on his chest.

"No problem."

They held each other for a while. He softly brushed her hair.

"You need to overcome your nightmares," he told her.

"I'll try," she promised.

"Come on, let's go to bed."

"Hold on."

She kissed him.

There was a certain desperation in her kiss. It didn't take long before she was pushing her tongue past his lips. Her hands opened up his pants and slipped in his boxers.

Makoto didn't touch her back though. He simply let her be.

"Makoto?" she asked between kisses.

"Hm?"

"That thing you promised last time…"

"What thing?"

"Well…" he really didn't remember?

"Look, I'm all for having some fun, but this is not the right place. What if your dad comes down to ask why we're still up?"

"Yeah, you're right. We should go to bed."

"But if anything happens you come straight to me, okay?"

"I promise."

They kissed one last time and then went upstairs to get ready for bed.
After brushing her teeth, Kotonoha changed into a white tank top and panties. She got into bed. If Makoto had been with her, she would have probably slept naked.

It was really annoying to sleep alone when she knew Makoto was in the same house. But eventually, after lots of tossing and turning, she fell asleep.

She wasn't sleeping very deep and after a few hours, she woke up again.

There was a sudden urge to pee.

Kotonoha knew resistance was futile, so she threw back the covers and went to the bathroom.

When she was done, she decided to go down to the kitchen. She turned on the lights. There was no one here, obviously.

Kotonoha filled a glass with water and drank deep.

That was better.

"What are you wearing?"

Kotonoha almost dropped her glass. "D-Dad?"

She was mistaken. There had been someone in the living room. But the lights were off, so her dad must have been sitting in the dark.

"I feel like that Makoto-boy has a bad influence on you."

Kotonoha quickly put down her glass on the counter.

Her dad moved closer. She noticed he was still fully dressed so he hadn't even gone to bed.

This didn't make sense.

Was she dreaming?

That had to be it. This was a dream. One of her usual nightmares.

"Dad, I'll wear whatever the hell I like," Kotonoha said. She tried to put steel in her voice.

"Is that how you talk to your father now?"

"Yes." This was a dream anyway. "I love Makoto, and I don't care what you think about me."

"Kotonoha." He put his hand on her shoulder.

"Don't touch me." Kotonoha slapped his hand away.

She had to do something. She had to overcome her nightmares.

He was really angry now.

Her father pushed her against the counter. His face was very close.

"I'm done with that attitude of yours."

"Me as well," she shot back. Kotonoha gave him a shove.

He blazed with rage now.

She reached back. Her hand closed around something.

"Listen to me, young girl. You're gonna-"

He gasped for breath.

Kotonoha's eyes widened. She looked down and found she had stabbed her father with a kitchen knife.

She retracted it. Blood spurted out of the deep wound.

Her father stumbled back. His hand knocked Kotonoha's glass of the counter. It shattered on the floor.

He fell down on his back and stopped moving. A pool of blood slowly formed around him.

Kotonoha was shocked for a moment, but then she remembered she was dreaming. None of this was real.

In fact, this was a good thing. She had overcome her nightmares. She had stood up against her dad. Well, not in real life of course, but if she could do it in her dream, she could do it in reality as well.

But why did she feel so…

Kotonoha put the knife on the counter. Her head was spinning.

Makoto. She had to go to him.

Kotonoha went up the stairs. She entered the guest room.

It was dark inside, but she knew the layout well, so it was easy to navigate to the bed.

Kotonoha touched the covers. She found his shoulder.

"Makoto? Makoto?"

"Huh?" She felt him move. "Kotonoha?"

They couldn't see each other, but there was no need.

"Sorry," she said. "I had a nightmare again."

"Oh. No problem. Hold on." She heard a click and the lamp on the nightstand turned on.

She shielded her eyes against the sudden light.

When her vision got clear again, she found Makoto looking at her with a very strange look on his face.

Was that… fear?

"What's wrong?" Kotonoha asked.

"Why," he swallowed hard. "Why is there blood on your top?"

Kotonoha looked down. He was right. There was blood on her top. It was pretty obvious since her tank top was white.

"Like I said," she explained calmly. "I had a nightmare."

"Kotonoha," he was very serious now. "Tell me what happened."

She explained her dream. The longer she spoke, the more worried he looked.

"What's wrong?" Kotonoha asked. "I know it sounds scary, but it was just a dream."

Something in the back of her mind told her there was something very wrong, but she resisted it.

He touched her cheek. "Do you trust me?"

"Of course."

He swallowed hard. Then, suddenly, he slapped her cheek.

"Ah." A tingling pain shot through her. "What was that for?"

"Not so loud," he said calmly.

"Why did you hit me?" she repeated softly.

"To establish you're not dreaming right now."

"Well that's obvious," she said, annoyed.

"So where is the blood on your top coming from then?"

She looked down. It suddenly felt very cold in here.

Kotonoha tried to speak, but no words came out.

"Kotonoha?"

She swallowed her fear. "W-Will you slap me again please?"

"Okay."

He slapped her other cheek.

"Harder please."

He did as she asked.

"Thanks," she said.

Now she was absolutely sure she wasn't dreaming anymore. She still felt the afterpain.

Kotonoha looked down again. The blood was still there. "T-This isn't possible."

"Stay calm."

"But… if I wasn't dreaming then…"

"I'll fix this," he said. "Don't panic."

"I…" she was starting to breathe harder.

He touched her shoulder. "In… and out."

Kotonoha breathed on the rhythm of his voice.

She calmed down again.

"I'll fix this," he said once again.

"You can't." She looked down.

Makoto touched her chin and forced her to look at him. "Do you trust me?"

"Y-Yes."

"Everything is gonna be alright," he assured her. "But you have to do exactly as I tell you to."

"O-Okay."

He rubbed her tender cheek for a bit. "Take off your clothes."

"N-Now? Makoto, I'm not-"

"Fine. Then figure it out yourself."

He got out of bed and opened the door.

Kotonoha was frozen in place.

"Get out," he said. "I'm going back to bed."

"N-No, you can't…"

"You're the one who made this mess," he said. "Why do I have to clean it up?"

She embraced him tightly. "Please. Don't leave me alone."

"I hope you understand how serious this situation is." His voice was hard.

"I do."

"No, you don't. There is a dead body in the kitchen."

"Don't say that please." She felt tears stinging in her eyes.

"I'm not gonna sugarcoat it, Kotonoha. If anyone finds out, you're done for. The cops will never believe your story. Either you're going to jail for murder, or they'll declare you insane and you'll be put in a closed ward."

She bit back her tears. "I'm scared."

"You have every reason to be scared."

"Please don't leave me," she begged.

"I want to help you. But then you need to cooperate."

"I will."

"Then do as I say. Get undressed."

"Okay." Kotonoha pulled her top over her head and handed it to him.

He studied it. "We'll have to get rid of this. There is too much blood on it."

Kotonoha fidgeted.

"Kotonoha," he spoke calmly. "What did I tell you to do?"

"Undress," she mumbled.

"Well get on with it then. Give me your panties."

Scared, she pulled them down and handed them to him.

He studied her panties carefully. "Hm, no blood at first sight, but I'll wash them anyway to be sure. We have to get rid of all traces."

"Okay."

He took off his shirt and handed it to her. "Now, I want you to go downstairs and outside. Go to the pool and use one of the showers there. Wash yourself carefully. When you're done, put on a bathrobe and meet me in the living room. Use my shirt to open the doors on the way there. Make sure you don't leave blood anywhere."

"I… I can't-"

"Kotonoha. Look at your hands."

She did as he asked. There was blood all over her hands and arms.

"You want to go to jail?" he asked.

"N-No."

"Well then. Do as I say. Get rid of all traces. Make sure you wash yourself properly, I don't want to see a single drop of blood on you when you return. I'll be checking."

"O-Okay."

"And be quiet on the stairs. If anyone wakes up we're screwed."

Kotonoha nodded.

She went to the hallway. Slowly, she took the stairs down.

Kotonoha walked through the living room and opened the glass doors to the garden.

It felt incredibly scary to walk through the garden completely naked. Of course, she knew there wasn't anyone who could see her, but she couldn't help but feel exposed.

Kotonoha reached the pool. She used one of the showers outside the sauna. She didn't wait until the water warmed up. Maybe the cold would wake her from this nightmare.

It didn't, sadly.

When she was done, she got dried off and went to the living room.

There was no one there.

"Makoto?" she knocked on the door to the kitchen.

"Stay there," he said. "I'm coming."

"Okay."

About a minute later he came in.

"Okay," he said. "Drop the robe."

"Makoto, this is really not-"

"The right moment to waste my time," he finished. "That's the last time you've argued with me, Kotonoha. Next time I'm going home and you can clean up your own mess."

"No, please-"

"You have any idea what I'm doing for you here? I'm helping you get away with murder."

"It's not… I didn't mean to…"

"The result is the same. And the cops won't care about your intentions."

She looked down. "I know that."

"You want my help?"

"Y-Yes." There was no way she could solve this on her own.

"Then do as I say."

"Yes, Sir." She didn't know why she suddenly called him that.

Kotonoha loosened the knot and pulled it off her shoulders. It fell down.

She did not cover herself up.

"Why couldn't you do this straight away?"

"Sorry, Sir."

She realised what she was doing now. By calling him like that he felt more like an authority. Like she had no choice but to obey his orders. It was a trick to keep herself from arguing and second guessing everything he said.

Makoto carefully studied her body.

"Okay, raise your arms."

She did as he asked.

"Now turn around."

He moved her hair away so he could study her back.

"Okay," Makoto said. "You're all clean. You can put on the robe again."

She slipped the white bathrobe on again and loosely tied the knot.

"What do we do now?" she asked. She hoped he had a plan because she had nothing.

"Where does your mom keep her car keys?"

"In her handbag. In the hallway."

"Okay. Go to your room and get in the bed. Stay there."

"Don't leave me alone please."

"There is something I need to do. When I'm done, I'll come to your room. Just wait for me there."

"O-Okay."

"Don't look at the time. Get under the blankets and don't come out."

She nodded.

"Is that understood?" he asked firmly.

"Yes, Sir."

"Go then."

She went to her room. Once there, she dropped her robe and got into bed naked. She pulled the blankets over her head and waited.

Somehow, it felt safer this way. She knew it was silly, but hiding beneath the blankets did help.

She had no idea how long he stayed away. But eventually, she heard the door open.

"Makoto?"

"Shh."

He got under the covers with her.

She touched him. He only wore boxers.

"Turn around," he said.

She obeyed.

Makoto wrapped his arm around her.

They automatically started spooning. He only wore boxers.

"Are we safe?" Kotonoha asked.

"We are," he said. "Now try and get some sleep."

"I don't think I can."

"Yes you can. I'm right here."

"I love you, Makoto."

"Me too."

She closed her eyes.

No way she could fall asleep after what had happened. It was simply…

She yawned. So tired.