Dual Minds, Singular Fate

Chapter 3

The tension in the air was palpable as Ayanokoji and Horikita stood in their dorm room, their shared consciousness grappling with the implications of their merged state. Horikita could still feel the remnants of Tsukishiro's gaze weighing heavily on her. But now, her focus shifted to a more personal matter—one that had been nagging at her since they saw Ayanokoji's memories.

"What is your relationship with Kei?" Horikita asked, her voice echoing in their shared mind, tinged with confusion and curiosity. She had seen glimpses of Ayanokoji's life over the past two months—snippets of laughter and stolen glances, moments that felt intimate and personal.

"I'm using her as a textbook of love" he replied, his thoughts steady and calm.

"What? A textbook?" she shot back, frustration rising within her. "You can't treat her like that! She's your girlfriend!"

"Girlfriend is a label" Ayanokoji said, unperturbed. "I need to understand emotions better. Observing her interactions provides insight."

"You're missing the point" she countered, a hint of desperation in her thoughts. "Feelings aren't something to analyze from a distance. They're messy and complicated. You can't just... use her like that!"

Ayanokoji fell silent, his mind focused on her concerns, but he offered no rebuttal. He really doesn't get it, Horikita thought, her heart racing as she realized their different perspectives on relationships would be a recurring theme in their shared life.

As they stood in the dorm room, the reality of their situation sank in. The mundane tasks of daily life awaited them, but they faced a unique challenge: how to navigate these activities as a single entity.

"Let's start with the basics" Ayanokoji suggested, breaking the silence. "We need to shower."

"I can't do that! It's... it's too embarrassing!" Horikita replied.

"Then we can't keep clean" he replied pragmatically. "We have to figure it out together. Remember, we're in one body now."

After a few moments of hesitation, Horikita finally nodded. "Fine, but we need to keep it efficient."

They moved to the bathroom, the small space feeling even tighter with their shared presence. As they stepped into the shower, the warm water enveloped them. Every drop on their skin sent shivers through their merged body, amplifying her embarrassment.

"Just focus on washing" Ayanokoji instructed, his voice calm despite the awkwardness. "We have to adapt to this new reality. We're sharing everything now."

"Easier said than done" she thought. With Ayanokoji guiding their movements, they managed to wash themselves, but the sensations were overwhelming. Every brush of the soap against their skin felt intensified, every shared breath a reminder of their closeness.

"Just... get it over with" Horikita urged, her voice strained in their minds.

As they worked together, the conflicting emotions swirled inside her. The proximity was challenging, and she could feel Ayanokoji's calmness juxtaposed against her own embarrassment. Every splash of water, every touch of their hands as they washed felt like an electric current coursing through their shared body, amplifying their connection.

Once they were clean, they moved on to the next challenge: cooking. As they stood in the kitchen, Horikita glanced at the array of ingredients laid out on the counter. "You can't cook, can you?" she asked, realizing that Ayanokoji had never demonstrated any culinary skills in his memories.

"No" he admitted, a hint of acknowledgment in his voice.

"Great. Then it's up to me" she sighed, stepping forward. "What do you want to eat?"

"Something simple. We need to maintain our energy" Ayanokoji replied, his focus shifting to practicality.

Horikita took charge, her mind racing with the details of the cooking process. We'll make a stir-fry. It's quick and easy.She began chopping vegetables, her movements fluid and efficient, while Ayanokoji just observed letting Horikita take full control.

"You're good at this" he observed, watching her with a mixture of interest and admiration.

"Of course I am. Cooking is a basic skill" she replied, her tone slightly defensive.

They finished cookong the meal, and as they sat down to eat, the aroma filled the air, a comforting reminder of home.

"Not bad" Ayanokoji said, taking a bite of the stir-fry. The flavor exploded in their mouth, and Horikita felt a rush of satisfaction at their culinary success. "You have potential."

"Thanks" she replied, her spirits lifting slightly. "But it's just basic cooking."

As they shared the meal, every bite resonated through their shared body, and they felt the flavors more vividly than either could alone. The crispness of the vegetables, the warmth of the rice—it all became a shared experience, creating a unique sensation of fullness and satisfaction that they both reveled in.

"It feels different, doesn't it?" Horikita remarked, her voice softened by the pleasant experience.

"Yes" Ayanokoji replied, his tone contemplative. "It's more intense. We experience everything together now."

"Maybe it's not all bad" she mused, a hint of a smile playing on their mixed expression, a blend of Horikita's initial embarrassment and Ayanokoji's calm curiosity. "This is... nice."

After they finished eating, the day began to wind down. Horikita felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. "What do we do now?" she asked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

"We should sleep" Ayanokoji suggested, his tone practical.

"Sleep? Together?" The intimacy of it struck her, and she hesitated.

"We need rest" he stated firmly. "And it's more efficient if we sleep now instead of worrying about it. Remember, we're in one body. We can't just push our needs aside."

"Fine" she relented, though her heart raced at the thought. They settled into bed, the shared space feeling both comforting and awkward. As they lay there, Horikita noticed how the sensation of the blankets felt different with Ayanokoji's presence. She could feel the warmth radiating from their shared body, enveloping her in a sense of security.

"This is going to be strange" she thought, glancing at the ceiling.

"It's just sleep" Ayanokoji replied, his voice soothing in her mind. "We'll figure it out. We're in this together, after all."

"What if we dream differently?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"We will experience both" Ayanokoji reassured her. "Just like everything else."

As sleep began to take over, Horikita felt the boundaries of their minds blur. The sensation of drifting off was overwhelming, and for the first time since their merging, she felt a sense of peace.

"Goodnight" she murmured, letting the heaviness of sleep pull her under.

"Goodnight" Ayanokoji echoed, his voice a calming presence in the darkness.

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The next chapter will be released on Wednesday