Hibiki

Chapter 24 | Reunion

I opened my eyes, and those glimmering dark green eyes of his greeted me. We stared at each other's eyes for quite some time before finally breaking off.
          He smiled as we continued on walking. Akari, shifting his attention to nothing in front of us, his face, beet red.

          "Are you sick?" I asked. Right after asking the question, he quickly looked away from me. "No. Don't worry about me." He said in a shy manner.
          As we crossed a pedestrian lane, the raindrops fell, dropping down the street. I said,
          "I see."

⁰-⁰

        We arrived at an apartment building, we quickly entered and got in the apartment. Now I find myself sitting down in Akari's bed.
          "Hey." Akari who was looking for clothes in his drawer, called out. "Here, now give me your wet clothes. I'll dry it."
          He gave me his clothes and I quickly started stripping.
          "H-Hey, I'm still here." He exclaimed as he turned red.
          I gave a confused look. "It's fine, we're both boys. Anyway, are you sure you're not sick?"
          "Yes, right, right. Now go change in the bathroom."

          After a few minutes I finally finished changing. Looking at the mirror, I only then realized that his clothing really is big on me, but I don't really have the right to ask for another change right now.

          I came back to the bedroom to find him only to see him gone. I waited for a few minutes and he came back with a steaming bowl of ramen.
          With a proud look in a proud voice, he handed it to me saying, "Ehem, sir?"
          Extra meat and eggs like how I ordered it last time. "Thanks."
          I looked back up only to see a weird reaction. "You really aren't like the Hibiki I got to know before."
          I slurped the noodles, as I ate. "Tell me."
          "Tell you what?" He asked.

I continued on looking down at my food. I feel like I shouldn't look at him right now. "About myself."

...

          I felt the bed move as he sat beside me. His voice, turning soft. "Forgotten something?"
          I hesitated with my answer for a second, which rarely happens. But he seems like a good person, who knows a lot about me so.. "Everything."

          As I spoke that one word, I also slowly looked beside me to see his face.
          He wears an unexplainably gentle, soft yet painful, sad look. Looking at his face, his eyes right now, I've come to realize that I've never really learnt every emotion there is that one can feel. Or maybe I have but this is really just actually what it looks like in person.

          Tell me, why are you looking at me with such begging eyes?

          He quickly smiled and laughed. "Really?" He then took my bowl that was already  finished. He stood up and turned his back on me towards his kitchen. "You didn't forget me did you." He suddenly said in a lifeless voice.

          I didn't dare answer. I don't want to hurt him even though I do really not remember him, but not being given a proper answer would be better for people that are clearly broken to receive.
          After a few seconds of silence, he turned to look at me then smiled. "Your clothes are about to be done drying."
          I nodded in response. I don't know why, but I feel.. uncomfortable right now. Maybe not uncomfortable but it does feel unpleasant.

          As I wore my shoes at the entrance of his apartment, wearing my heated clothes and a small plastic bag of leftover food. I felt Akari staring intently behind me.

          I looked behind me but focused on my shoes again, "Is there something wrong?"
          "No." He replied, then took a deep breath. "With how many months you disappeared, I don't know when I'll see you again."