Love Is Blind

Chapter 3.5 - Stress

Misato ran her fingers through her hair as she thought about what happened in that visit. It was certainly different, to say the least. 'What happened to Akiyama-san, anyway?' Misato wondered, worried for the male. Misato never thought of Arata as someone capable of crying.

'Then again, all I've seen so far of Akiyama- san was his sarcasm and smile, so I couldn't possibly know what he's capable of doing.' Misato thought, letting out a small laugh at her thoughts.

The more Misato thought about the hug she'd given, she began to worry about what Arata would think then. 'Would he be weirded out by such a forward action?' Misato wondered, worrying that this such action ruined their possible friendship.

Misato looked to her half eaten lunch, her thoughts only digging deeper into her concerns. 'Was the omelette what triggered the reaction?' Misato thought, soon realizing that she had little to no background on him.

'Although, it has only been two days.' Misato shook off the thought, Arata's embrace still radiating in her mind. Misato stared down at her fingertips, which recalled the feeling of Arata's arms around her.

Arata rubbed his hands as he laid in bed, his mind lingering on the moment between him and Misato. He could practically feel her embrace on his fingertips. Arata sucked in a breath, the action shaky as he lightly touched his bandages.

He remembered how his bandages found their place in the crook of Misato's neck as he cried over such a simple gesture of her's. 'It was simply a kind gesture of hers- through pity.' Arata grit his teeth, his nail soon coming in contact with his teeth as his habit came into place.

He'd thought about the moment between him and Misato. Or more specifically, her embrace. How her arms wove around him - the warmth especially - reminded him of his mother.

His mother.

As simple as it may be, a mere memory of his loving mother could make Arata shake in regret. Not only because of a memory, but a reminder that came with it. A reminder of how worthless Arata had been as his mother writhed in agony. How he sat there ignorant of his mother's pain as he allowed himself to indulge himself in her kind gestures. How he asked for more kindness from his mother, taking what's left of her strength as her sickness took a turn for the worse.

Arata touched his bandages, grazing his fingertips over every fold. He let out an exasperated sigh, reminding himself not to linger on the saddening things so much.

Instead, his mind focused itself on Misato once again.

How warm her embrace was, how kind she is.

Nevertheless, Arata smiled to himself as he thought about how Misato acted. He found himself longing for her touch once again, to feel her warmth and her comforting words. It's okay. The world can wait. Arata could hear her words echoing in his head, her voice putting him at ease.

Even though her voice calmed him, her words did otherwise. It reminded him of his mother, once again. Misato's very existence seemed to remind him of his mother, all because a simple hug. Arata almost laughed.

'These are delusions, aren't they? Wishful thinking of mine.' Arata thought bitterly to himself, waving his hope away. 'Misato has been acting quite like mother, hasn't she?' Arata reasoned, suddenly angry at Misato for seemingly copying his deceased mother.

Arata clenched his fist, his angry thoughts soon disappearing as his reasoning took place. 'It's just complex connections I thought up. Don't blame her, you prideful bastard.' Arata thought, cursing at himself for his doubt.

Either way, his entire being remembered Misato's embrace- and he wanted more.