Boredom in Kodoka Ⅰ

Burnout: Kuromi

[Warning: Implied dark themes ahead]

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Just one more layer & you're done with the episode.

I told myself.

I don't remember the last time i've went to sleep. It's been a while now. The stream is still on & my work is due in one hour. My skin is oily & my eyes are dry. My lips are crusty & my stomach is growling for a lunch break. The music playlist I've put on has long halted.

At last, my pen made the final stroke for the project.

It was done.

I'm free.

But not yet.

I saved & began rendering the file. For 15 minutes, I was still stuck; trapped. My head feels light-weighted. My limbs feel numb. My eyes are burning from looking at my tablet for such a long time.

How much time has passed anyway?

Finally, the file was ready. I opened my emails & sent the file to Meloetta. I said my goodbyes to the stream & stopped recording. At last, my tablet, webcam, & computer can rest. I pressed restart, staring at the loading icon on the personalised teal screen.

The screen turned black. I am liberated.

I got up & took a long stretch. My stiff back loosened up & some air bubbles in joints popped.

"Kuromi, are you there?" Someone called from the door.

Yes. I answered. My mouth felt too stiff to talk.

The being opened the door to reveal themselves to be Shiromi.

"You've been here for a week," Shiromi spoke. "why have you not gone out? Why haven't you returned any of or calls?"

"Wha-" I stared at her, bemused. What calls?

Shiromi went over to my desk & handed me my phone. I looked at the notification center.

-14 missed calls from Mai Waifu💖

-11 missed calls from Lubby Chudder💘

-7 missed calls from Tanjiboi

-4 missed calls from TriT

"Oh," I'm too tired to say anything else.

"Com'on," Shiromi stood me up. "you need a break; a really nice one, that is."

I yawned before collapsing in her arms. I feel so weak & airheaded.

"It's time for you to rest," Shiromi tucked me into my bed before laying next to me. "we can have dinner after you wake up."

She stroked my hair as I relaxed more.

"You should really stop putting your phone on silent mode without a set limit," Shiromi suggested. "It's really hurting you in the long run."

Shiromi pecked my forehead before pulling herself closer to me.

My eye began to feel heavy as I slowly drifted off into the dream world with the warmth of Shiromi's body. My bed feels so soft & cozy that I might as well stay here forever.

And then, everything went black.