Taste of Poison Paradise

Chapter 10

It's Monday. Shinobu blinks. It becomes Tuesday. She blinks again, and it's Wednesday. She has yet to return to UA for classes, but she doesn't really care. She knows most of it already.

She finds it hard to do anything these days. The moment All For One took his last breath, all the fight and spirit in her body vaporized. As soon as the battle with All For One concluded, she collapsed and slept for a week straight. And the week after that?

Nothing. She did absolutely nothing.

What is she even supposed to do now? Fighting's all she's ever known; in this life and in the past. The instincts for battle are ingrained in her very being, woven together so intricately that she has no hope of unraveling the two. Every time she swallows, the aftertaste of wisteria stings her tongue.

Shinobu hasn't dreamed since her last life, before her parents were killed. Dreaming only occurs when your body is completely relaxed while asleep, and she hasn't been able to let her guard down. Too easy to wake, too aware of everything around her.

Footsteps pad from down the hall and her body sharpens. "Shinobu," Mitsuri whispers, knocking lightly on the door. "I have to go to class now. There's rice in the rice cooker and kimchi in the fridge. Feel free to use anything here if you're not in the mood."

"Thank you, Mitsuri," Shinobu responds, rolling over onto her back. "Have fun."

"I'll see you later!"

The door to the apartment closes, and Shinobu is alone. She raises her phone to her face and it flickers on.

100+ missed calls. Even more texts and voicemails. A quick scroll shows calls from her parents, Mirio, Nejire, Tamaki, and the rest of their classmates. There are even some from Yushiro. She stares at them for a moment, sighs, and shuts off the device.

She'll respond at one point.

Probably.

Shinobu peels herself off the bed and decides to go for a shower. The hot water is soothing against her aching limbs, and once she steps out, she already feels much better.

The kimchi in the fridge is calling her name, and her chopsticks are halfway to her mouth when tentative knocking and an actual call of her name sounds. Groaning, she sets down the chopsticks on a nearby napkin, returns the kimchi to the fridge, and opens the door.

...And nearly slams it closed again at the sight of icy blond hair. Unfortunately for her, Douma manages to slip his foot into the gap between the door and frame, resulting in a bruised foot instead of a door to the face.

"Ow," he deadpans.

"Why are you here?" Shinobu sighs, walking back with no remorse to the fridge for the kimchi. Douma follows her in, removing his shoes, donning slippers, and shutting the door behind him.

"Came to check up on you," replies Douma offering a soft smile. "Kanroji-san says you haven't left the apartment for a week, except to buy groceries. I brought you food, by the way." He raises the plastic bags in his grip.

What is in those bags smells appetizing, so she abandons her journey to the fridge in favor of walking half a meter to the left and taking out plates. "Thanks, I appreciate it."

Douma opens the takeout containers to reveal Chinese food, and the corners of Shinobu's mouth tick upwards. They settle into a half-comfortable-half-awkward silence as they savor the flavor of the food.

Chopsticks are set down with a clink. "So..." Douma begins as their food is almost all gone, lacing his hands together.

"What?" Shinobu's good mood is already ruined again and the word comes out more harsh.