STRANGERS FOR YEARS, THREE NIGHTS AS FRIENDS

˗ˏˋ IT LONGS CLOSER AND CLOSER 'ˎ˗

While walking inside, Prosper smiled at Seven before he gazed into the reserved room he and Kenji shared. He glanced at the boy who sat on the bed, devouring pizza like there was no tomorrow. Kenji didn't even notice the door opening as he ate. That was how focused he was on eating the stuff-crusted pizza.

"Kenji," the friend called out, "I'm going to invite him to sleep with us tonight, so I hope you don't mind."

There was a short hum in response as Kenji swiftly whipped his head to Prosper. As the fancy-dressed boy got closer to Kenji, the smell of tomato sauce surrounded both of them. "Who's 'him'?" Kenji answered, suspicious.

Prosper cleared his throat as he realized he had failed to introduce Seven. He dashed to the side of the bed in preparation for Seven's appearance. The detective stood there, his back slouched, his obsidian eyes scanning the enormous room for anything odd.

After a brief moment of silence, Prosper cleared his throat loudly and introduced Seven to Kenji.

"Kenji, this is...Seven! I just met him at the main deck not too long ago," He said, pointing at the black-haired boy.

Kenji originally didn't respond. He just nodded before casting a glance at Seven. His eyes flew up and down as he internally judged the stranger, Why the weird, wrinkled clothes? That tangled hair that almost seemed like a bird's nest, and that horrible...posture.

It took a few seconds before Seven fully introduced himself. Dull raven eyes stared into Kenji's as a small sigh was heard. "I'm Seven. I like...cats," he said, apathetically. It was clear that Kenji didn't want him here any longer.

What's up with this guy? Kenji thought, his eyelids resting as they grew more suspicious of him, He doesn't look that normal at all!

"Oh...erm," The boy cleared his throat, "you may already know but just in case you forgot, I'm Kenji," a forced smile was plastered on his face.

Just as Kenji was about to return his gaze to Prosper, he immediately noticed Seven sitting crisscross applesauce-style on a chair without shoes on. Did Seven not wear shoes, to begin with? Kenji's nose scrunched up in discomfort. At the very least, he wore socks.

To be honest, having a stranger come in like that was a little disrespectful. Maybe that's what Kenji thought, but seriously.

Kenji turned to Prosper and murmured into their ear after a little uncomfortable stare at the black-haired boy, "Prosper, why is this...number boy here? Why did you invite a stranger that you haven't known for 30 minutes into our room?!"

Prosper let out a small sigh under his breath before he could reply, "Calm down, Kenji. It's only for one night! He needed somewhere to stay after all. I can't let people who need help down."

Kenji sighed and looked out the window, watching the night sky grow more gloomy. Rumbles could be heard from afar, marking the approach of a thunderstorm. How would the sky feel knowing that a bunch of dark, depressing clouds was approaching to cover up its beauty?

Achoo!

"Sorry...my nose is feeling pretty funky today," Seven slouched his back again, stroking his nose with his index finger. He only stood upright for at least 2 seconds before resuming his sluggish posture. The boy rose from his crimson-cushioned couch and began to look around the room more carefully.

Seven looked around for any more eye-catching signs as Kenji and Prosper murmured their talk. Of course, more paintings were mounted on the walls. Warm-toned feelings were portrayed in the artworks, something more cheerful or wholesome. This room was missing as many decorations as the others. It looked like a standard, expensive hotel room. Two sets of beds on each side, with a huge window in the center of each. A glass-clear coffee table sat atop a circle-shaped rug with rose patterns and designs all around it.