It was hot in the bathroom. The heavy air combined with steam made it almost like a sauna. Seiji was relaxing in the bathtub. The hot water touched his body, making him feel warm...
However, even despite that calming moment, thoughts were swirling in the programmer's head.
'Hideaki was completely out of control tonight...' Seiji sighed, staring up at the ceiling, trying to piece together the events. 'One moment he's clinging to me, and the next, he's ready to choke me out. This isn't the first time he's snapped like that... but tonight felt different. More unhinged.'
He ran a hand through his damp hair, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing on him. 'It's not just the alcohol. There's something deeper here - something he's not telling me. How much longer can I handle this? I'm not his therapist, but... at this rate, he's going to end up hurting me - or worse, himself.'
His eyes narrowed as he reflected on how quickly Hideaki's mood had shifted from playful to violent. 'That switch... It's like he doesn't even realize how dangerous he is sometimes. Or maybe he does, and he doesn't care. But how long can I keep making excuses for him? I can't let this continue.'
Seiji let out a slow breath, the warmth of the water doing little to ease the tension in his mind. 'He was drunk... but that doesn't explain everything. He said he wanted to kill me, laughed about it like it was some kind of joke. Maybe to him, it is. But I have to be on my guard around him... constantly. It's exhausting.'
A bitter thought crossed his mind. 'How did it come to this? Living with a killer... I've known for a while, but each time he loses control, it's like a reminder. He could snap at any moment. I need to stop pretending like it's not a threat, no matter how much I want to help him.'
His grip on the edge of the tub tightened slightly. 'I said I'd protect him, but what if I can't even protect myself from him?'
Seiji's mind wandered back to the moment Hideaki had passed out on the couch, snoring away like nothing had happened. 'He's asleep now... peaceful, like the chaos never existed. But tomorrow, or the next time he drinks, or the next mood swing, it could happen again.'
The steam thickened around him, and he closed his eyes, trying to let the heat wash away the worry. But even in this quiet moment, he knew: 'Something has to change. I can't keep living like this, waiting for the next outburst. Sooner or later, it'll catch up to both of us.'
Suddenly, Seiji heard the bathroom door creak open.
'Here we go,' Seiji thought, feeling the heat of frustration bubbling up. 'Of course, he's wandering in here after drinking all that sake. As if I didn't warn him...'
He listened as the footsteps came closer. 'He'll probably head straight to the toilet,' Seiji reasoned, relaxing slightly, but then... the footsteps stopped at the bathroom door.
Seiji's eyes snapped open.
'You've got to be kidding me.' His thoughts sharpened with irritation as the door opened fully, revealing Hideaki.
Hideaki, completely oblivious, looked worse for wear - sweaty, disheveled, and more drunk than Seiji had anticipated. His eyes were half-closed, and he staggered slightly, clearly struggling to stay upright.
'Why in the hell is he in here?' Seiji thought, glaring at the man who hadn't even registered his presence. Hideaki started undressing right there in front of him.
'Okay, this needs to stop,' Seiji reasoned.
"Hideaki! Get out. I'm in here." Seiji's voice was sharp, but Hideaki didn't seem to hear a thing. "Hideaki! Hïdēæ- - - ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~dekeksaij fchdfsihf sadjahiu wjdakdjw gfyuhwudwa" the killer's ears heard only some indistinct sounds. Hideaki hissed in irritation and scratched his head hard.
"Tch, fucking sake..." Hideaki muttered, oblivious, still undressing like he had all the time in the world.
Seiji's irritation turned into something closer to disbelief. 'Is he seriously stripping right now?'
"Hideaki!" Seiji raised his voice, still clinging to the hope that this would finally get through.
Nothing. Hideaki tossed his clothes aside and made his way toward the shower. Seiji could barely believe his eyes. 'I swear this guy gets more insufferable by the day,' Seiji thought, watching in dawning horror as Hideaki headed straight for the bathtub.
By the time Hideaki leaned too far forward and toppled into the tub, Seiji had reached his limit.
"Are you serious right now?" Seiji muttered under his breath, utterly exasperated. Hideaki was now sprawled out in the water, completely oblivious, seemingly relaxing.
Hideaki, still half in a drunken daze, shifted and accidentally brushed Seiji's hand.
"Why are there... hands?" Hideaki muttered, his sluggish brain barely catching up. Then their eyes locked.
The realization hit Hideaki all at once. 'S-S-Seiji?! He was here the whole time!?'
Seiji, on the other hand, looked at him, unimpressed. "Hideaki... for the last time... get out."
But Hideaki wasn't moving. He was frozen in place, clearly trying to process the situation.
'He's just sitting there, isn't he...' Seiji thought, feeling his patience fray. "Fine, I'll go," he muttered, standing up, grabbing his towel, and swiftly exiting the bathtub before Hideaki's brain could fully catch up.
Unfortunately, Hideaki's eyes suddenly landed on Seiji's penis. This made the murderer turn even redder with embarrassment 'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!' he shouted from panic in his mind.
Seiji wrapped the towel around his waist, not giving Hideaki another glance as he left the bathroom. He stormed into his room, slammed the door shut, and dried himself off.
Sitting on his bed, Seiji rubbed his temples, frustration settling in. 'What just happened...?'
'He... He saw me naked!!' Hideaki realized, still sitting in bathtub. 'He... s-saw... m-my... penis! It's so embarrassing!!' he cried.
The whole situation was a shock for him. He didn't expect that Seiji would ever see him completely naked... Or he would see Seiji in the same state! He had disturbing thoughts in his head that the programmer had seen too much...
'Since... how long has he been in this bathroom...??? W-why didn't he say he was here???? I... I...' Suddenly, images of Seiji's down parts appeared in his head. He hid completely under the water with blushes of shame on his cheeks... 'MAKE IT STOOOOOOOOOOOP!!'
***
The next day they both sat in silence with their heads down, eating breakfast. Hideaki however didn't feel well, due to hangover he had after the yesterday's drinking.
Suddenly Seiji spoke... "Hideaki..."
The murderer glared at him, his voice tired and uncertain, "H-hmm..?" He still felt a lingering shame from letting Seiji see that side of him.
"Let's completely forget what we witnessed last night... okay?"
"M-mhm..." Hideaki agreed, also thinking that this would be the best solution after that shocking and indecent night in the bathroom...
YOU ARE READING
Everyday Life with a Murderer
ActionA adult Japanese man, Seiji Sekiguchi was devastated by his life. During one rainy evening, he went to the rooftop of a building to commit suicide. Unexpectedly, on his way he meets a man, who apparently wants to kill him. Prepared for certain death...
