The Girl Nextdoor

Chapter 7: Intern Kiyotaka (I)

The couple ate their dinner while occasionally having conversations.

"Say, Kiyotaka, will you be for real this time?"

"For real this time? What is that supposed to mean, Ai?"

Genuinely curious about what Ai said, Kiyotaka reflexively asked in response while he tilt his face to the side as he ate. The sudden shift in Ai's attitude which previously started from laughing to a serious expression brought worry to Kiyotaka.

Could it be my overthinking? He asked himself.

He recalled his actions in the past hours and concluded that that's most likely what Ai is talking about, especially since he avoided talking about it earlier with a flirtatious response.

"You've been spacing out for far too many times just in the past four hours..."

Called it... Kiyotaka thought to himself.

"...If there is something that is bugging you then I would like to hear it. Of course, that is if you want to. I have long resolved myself to be someone who will stand by your side until the day we reach the end of the line, so if you let me I am more than happy to be the one who can help you stand on your feet when you feel like falling apart. I don't mind sharing the weight of the burden you are carrying."

Her eyes shone as if a fiery passion were lit up in her eyes. Kiyotaka was slightly taken aback by Ai's resolve. This provoked a smile from him.

Seeing Kiyotaka's smile, Ai felt a sense of relief. She thought that maybe the things Kiyotaka thought were nothing but the stereotypical things she heard about the nature of the boys where they tend to shut their brain out and just stare into space without anything particular in mind, or he was just thinking about stupid things.

Knowing him and his ignorance about the world maybe he was thinking about something childis...

"?!!"

Ai's thoughts immediately came to a full halt. She remembered that Kiyotaka grew up in a facility deep in the mountains without ever going out to the cities. This thought process led her into thinking about Kiyotaka's father who just passed away in last night's tragedy.

Right, maybe despite how strained their relationship is Kiyotaka might still have remaining affection for his father even though he's not showing it. Ai reminded herself.

She got up from her chair and gave Kiyotaka a sudden yet affectionate embrace and kissed him on the forehead.

This act left him perplexed, "...Ai? What's gotten into you?"

"You don't have to say anything, Kiyotaka," she tells him, "you can let it out, just like the last time, I'll stay beside you and I will not judge you for crying. After all, it's only normal, right? Maybe in your eyes, despite what he had done to you and the children in the White Room, you still look at him as your own father."

Kiyotaka both felt thankful and somewhat happy that these were Ai's line of thoughts because this showcased how Ai view Kiyotaka in her own eyes: a lonely kid who only wants to live a normal life and receive the love of his parents.

But then he thought to himself, How would Ai react if I tell her that's not exactly the thoughts that preoccupied my mind rent free?

Realizing this, he didn't want to betray the image Ai portrayed of him. Yet at the same time he wants to be genuine to her, he no longer wants to hide any secret from her.