𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙥𝙚 | 𝘢𝘬𝘪 𝘩. ᯓ ᡣ𐭩

˚⊱ 31. | ᴀ ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ⊰˚

Kishibe's car pulled up to the apartment complex, the headlights illuminating the dark building. Touko, who had been released from the hospital just that night, was in the passenger seat, her body still somewhat weak and fragile after being out of commission as a hunter for the past month. She was trying hard not to show her vulnerability, but she couldn't hide the exhaustion and anticipation that lingered in her eyes as Kishibe's car came to a stop in front of the apartments.

He looked over at Touko as they came to a stop, seeing the exhaustion and anticipation in her eyes. He could tell that she was trying to appear strong and unbothered, but he knew her too well to be fooled by her act. "You look nervous, kid." he said, his tone gentle but firm. "You just got out of the hospital. You just need to rest for the rest of the night."

Touko's thoughts raced as she took in the sight of the apartment building. It felt strange to be back after such a long absence, yet at the same time, it was a bit of a relief.

The past month in the hospital had been a nightmare. She had felt helpless and vulnerable, having to rely on the others to take care of her, and it had been a constant source of frustration. Now that she was back, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and anticipation mixed with nervousness.

She knew that she would see Aki again once she returned to the apartment. She couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions at the thought. She had missed him, more than she would ever admit. But she also felt a pang of guilt, knowing that she had put herself in danger, and that Aki had been worried about her.

As she stared at the front of the building, her heart began to race, a mixture of anticipation and nerves coursing through her veins. What would Aki say? Would he be angry with her?

Touko nodded in response to Kishibe's words, knowing deep down that he was right. But the thought of just resting, made her feel uncertain. She wanted to see Aki, but at the same time, she was hoping that he would be asleep so she could avoid coming face to face with him until the next morning. "I'm okay," she said, her tone softer. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She turned to Kishibe, her expression determined. "They all might be asleep, anyways."

Kishibe looked at her for a moment, sizing her up. He could see the determination in her eyes, but he also saw the hint of nervousness. He could tell that she was torn between wanting to see Aki and wanting to avoid him. "Yeah, they might be," he said, his voice low. "But they might not be, too. Are you sure you're ready to face them? Especially Aki?"

Her heart beat faster at the mention of Aki's name, but she nodded firmly. "I'm ready," she said, her voice calm but firm. "They're my team, it'll be okay."

He studied her for a moment, gauging the sincerity of her words. He could tell that she was putting on a brave face, but he also knew her well enough to know that she was nervous about facing Aki.

"Alright then," he said, his tone reassuring. "But if things get too tense, or if you need an out, let me know. I can make an excuse to get you out of there."

Kishibe knew that Touko was strong enough to face Aki, but he also knew that their relationship was complicated. He didn't want things to explode between them, especially not after Touko had just been discharged from the hospital, his protective father instincts kicking in.

She nodded gratefully, appreciating his concern. "Thank you, Kishibe." she said, her voice soft. "I'll keep that in mind."

With that, she took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, steeling herself for the possible confrontation that was about to come.

Kishibe stepped out of the driver's seat and waited for Touko to follow. She opened her door and slowly got out of the car. As she stood up, she took a moment to take in the sight of the apartment building. She felt a pang of nostalgia and relief. It felt good to be back, even if she was apprehensive about seeing Aki again. He waited patiently, letting her gather her thoughts and her bearings. He could see the mixture of emotions on her face, and he could tell that she was nervous but also determined.