In Excess (Itafushi)

Chapter 7

The rain had finally slowed to a small drizzle, bringing with it a cool, damp freshness that hung in the air. Yuji and I stepped out of the dining hall, our conversation lingering in the space between us, sticking to the heavy moisture in the air. As we strolled down the street, I found myself enjoying his company more with each passing moment.

"So, did you enjoy your lunch?" Yuji asked, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation.

"It was great," I replied honestly, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "The food was terrible, but the company made up for it."

Yuji chuckled softly, his eyes brightening with a mixture of relief and satisfaction. "I'm glad you had a good time. I'll have to actually take you out somewhere nice next time."

As we continued walking, the familiarity of his presence felt comforting, as if we were easing into a rhythm that was becoming increasingly natural. The tension I had once felt around him seemed to dissolve with every shared laugh and exchanged glance.

"Hey, Megumi," Yuji began, his tone gentle yet earnest. "Would you like to come over to my place again? We could maybe watch a movie or something?"

His invitation hung in the air between us, unspoken implications spinning around my head. I hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flickering in my mind. The last time I was at his apartment, I made a total fool of myself, inducing anxiety about returning. I suppose I knew that if anything between Yuji and me were to progress, I would end up at his apartment again. I just didn't expect it to come so soon.

Yuji must have sensed my hesitation, his expression softening as he added, "It's totally okay if you'd rather not. I just thought," he paused to take a deep breath, "Well, I enjoy spending time with you. I've been having such a good day, I don't want it to end just yet."

His vulnerability mirrored my own, and in that moment, I realized that my fears were unfounded. This was Yuji, a person who had been nothing but kind, patient, and understanding since the day we met. He wasn't asking for more than I was willing to give, he was simply extending an invitation to a friend.

"I'd like that," I replied finally, a smile spreading across my face. "Let's go to your place."

Yuji's eyes lit up with a mixture of relief and happiness, and together, we continued down the street, our steps falling into sync as we made our way toward his apartment. Each moment we shared worked to bridge the gap between friendship and something more, as the afternoon sun broke through the thinning cloud cover and cast a warm glow over our path.

Despite the sogginess of the afternoon, tables were set up outside of the apartment building, small puddles forming on the white plastic tabletop. There weren't any groups of people lingering outside or music vibrating the walls yet, so either it was remnants of a party some nights prior or it was a setup for what was to come.

"Are they having another party tonight?" I asked as Yuji unlocked the door to his apartment.

"Probably, it's Friday after all." My eyes lingered on the table on the lawn. "Do you want to go if they are?" Yuji put a comforting hand on my back, petting casually.

"No, no," I shook my head and followed him into his apartment. "I was just curious if Will was going to be there." Yuji held both of my hands in his, walking backwards up the stairs.

"I'll tell you what, if you decide you just want to check if your roommate is there, at any point in the night, I promise, at any point," he reiterated, "I will go over there with you, only if you agree to be my partner in crime." He reached the top of the steps and pulled me close, close enough that I felt his breath on my face.