Volume Up

Ch. 19: Healio

Aizawa called a cab for Tigris and escorted her home. They waited out back the entire time, no talking between one another. Shota studied her carefully, though drunk, he could see she was embarrassed, and disappointed in herself. Reassurance wasn't his thing, but he couldn't shake off feeling a bit bad.

The cab dropped both of them off at her home. She walked forward unlocking her door and heading inside.

"Thanks for taking me home, Aizawa, I really —" Upon looking back she saw that the cab was gone. "Where's the cab?"

"Gone."

"Why? You need to get home too."

"Don't worry about me. Let's get you inside."

She rolled her eyes and walked up the steps then into her home. At first glance, she spotted Koku asleep in his tiny bed in the corner.

"What time is it?" She kicked off her heels then yawned.

"Around 1 AM."

"So what are you staying, are you going, what's the deal?" She turned to face him.

"I can't tell how you're feeling so I don't know." He shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Well since this," Tigris signaled to her face, "Can't show you, I will." She took a deep breath, "I'm exhausted, disappointed, embarrassed, anxious, irritated, don't really feel like dealing with tomorrow and depressed, but the depressed thing is every day."

"Huh, sounds like an average Saturday night." He shrugged.

"Can't I just move away again?"

"Where would you even go this time?"

"Europe somewhere. I don't know I have a lot of countries I could live in."

"You can't just run away every time something doesn't go right, Tigris."

"It's worked before," She walked towards her bedroom, "I'm changing, make yourself at home."

She walked into her room and changed out of her dress into shorts and a t-shirt. After a brief yawn, she wondered into her closest and pulled out a pink sleeping bag for Shota.

"Do you have a blanket for me?" He called out.

Tigris walked into the living room and tossed the bag at him, "Something better."

"Didn't I get you this?"

"My first Christmas here, yeah. I haven't found a spot for it since moving, but I'm sure it's up to your standards."

"Of course it is, I bought it." He unzipped it and began pulling himself inside until it was zipped up to his neck.

"Are you alright?"

"Perfect."

______________________

"Alright. Yes. I understand. I'll be down shortly." Shota's voice woke Tigris up from a dead sleep.

After seeing the morning sun peak into the window she was immediately hit with the headache of a lifetime.

"What the fuck..." She spoke to herself while rubbing her eyes. "Aizawa!"

"Stop yelling." He called back walking back to her room. "You look awful."

"I feel awful. Don't you have a hangover too?"

"Apparently not as bad as yours." He leaned on her doorway. "I have to go. Thank you for letting me stay the night."

"Where are you going?" She yawned.