Overpowering Encounters

Numbness

Reaching for the alarm clock, Emi struggled to get out of bed to get ready for the new day ahead of her. Thoughts went through her head about the day before and if it happened as she got prepared for the day.

She felt off the entire day, but she made sure that her attitude and how she displayed herself to her school didn't change. Continuing with her usual demeanor, she made plenty of jokes and encouragements for her class that day. Of course, she gave them different ideas on how to improve, but she felt empty inside. Thinking that she had learned to cope with her depression and anxiety from the past, her current self would tell her otherwise. Sure, she struggled with it time and again, but it had never been this bad for quite a while. Why was this affecting her now out of all times? The one time when she should be mentally and physically stable for her students, she felt weak. It had been this way for a few months now, and counseling or medication was not helping her at the moment.

After finishing her day at Ketsubestu, Emi decided that she would go to bed after grading the student's work and taking a hot shower. It was the only thing she had the energy to do. She didn't want to bother anyone, so this was the best she could do. Her thoughts were beginning to feel like she got stabbed in her chest.

Getting into the shower, she noticed that her body was trembling from the anxiety and all she could do to cope with the stress was going through her breathing exercises. Closing her eyes, she stood there under the hot water erasing her mind from everything. She was awoken from her thoughtlessness when her phone started going off.

"Crap." Emi got out of the shower and reached for her phone to see who on earth was calling her. Looking at the caller ID, she was breathless. Eraser was calling her. 'I don't understand why he's calling. He never calls.' She thought to herself. Picking up with the shower still on in the background, she answered. "Hello..."

"You answered. I was beginning to think something was wrong. I messaged you a few times this evening, but you didn't reply. I started to worry and decided to come by. No one answered so I decided to try calling you instead."

Interrupting, Emi questioned him, "Wait, are you outside my door right now?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Shit."

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. It's totally fine. Listen, I'm going to finish my shower, but I can unlock the door so you can come in. I don't want you waiting out there for too long."

"Emi, I can leave if it's that big of a problem."

"No, it's fine. You came up all the way from Yuuei, and I would feel bad if you left without getting to do what you came here for."

"Emi, it's not a problem if..."

Cutting Shota off, Emi bluntly said, "Shota, come in. I unlocked the door. I'll try my best not to take so long in the shower and get dressed. It is not a problem. I would feel worse if you left. Honestly."

Emi hung up. She was expecting Eraser to be in her living room by the time she got ready. Re-entering the shower, she cleaned herself quickly and efficiently. It probably took a good five minutes for her to do so. She reached out for her towel, dried herself and went straight to her bedroom, locking the door behind to get dressed. She didn't care what Eraser thought if she came out with a baggy t-shirt and shorts. She was planning on going to bed after this anyway. Brushing through her hair, she looked over herself to make sure nothing was off. She then walked out of her bedroom and into the living room where Eraser was there waiting for her. He was sitting on her sofa. Turning his gaze towards her, Emi blushed looking at how he was dressed compared to her. Yeah, this was her home, but he at least looked presentable while she looked like some lazy slob.