"Let me know if it becomes too much," I said as Chishiya had been carrying my extra weight for quite some time now.

I was mostly worried about whether his stitched wound would hold up. It had been over a week by now, but I was sure that Chishiya often pretended he wasn't in any pain.

"We're almost there anyway," he panted, straining.

When we finally reached the house, Chishiya set me down on the lower steps of the stairwell. Then he sank, exhausted, against the corridor wall.

"I'm really sorry about all this," I said sympathetically, seeing him so completely drained.

"Not your fault."

"Well... I can manage the rest on my own somehow," I said confidently and stood up.

"Wait," Chishiya said, getting back to his feet.

He walked over to the elevator and pressed the large button next to the door. I was quite stunned when the doors actually slid open.

"The elevator's been working this whole time?" I asked, baffled by this revelation.

Chishiya wore a sly grin.

"I never said it wasn't working. The backup generator powers the whole building. I just thought it was a waste to use it. After you," he said, gesturing toward the elevator.

A bit awkwardly, I hobbled inside and immediately leaned on the side railing for support. Chishiya followed me in and pressed the button for the fifth floor. The elevator clattered loudly as it moved. Smiling, I glanced over at Chishiya, who stood on the opposite side of the cabin, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets.

For a brief moment, we were both completely still. It felt strange to be alone with him in an elevator, and as he made eye contact with me, scenes of shameless sex from various Hollywood movies instantly flashed through my mind. A wild tingle spread through my belly, slowly drifting downward. I felt my cheeks grow instantly warm, and I bit my lower lip to chase away those thoughts.

Chishiya raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat surprised. Embarrassed, I lowered my gaze and nervously ran a hand through my hair. Instead of looking at him, I focused intently on the small indicator beside him that displayed what floor we were on, trying to distract myself from my inappropriate thoughts. The elevator jolted slightly, and the doors swung open. We both exited in silence. Without a word, he pulled out his key and unlocked the door. An awkward silence hung in the air.

"Sit down first," he said tonelessly when we entered, to my surprise, gesturing toward his futon bed.

Blinking in mild surprise, I limped over and sat down hesitantly on the mattress, already starting to remove my shoes and socks.

Meanwhile, Chishiya fetched the first-aid kit and searched for a suitable bandage and ointment. Then he went to the fridge and took out a blue ice pack, which he wrapped in a dishcloth. Only then did he return to me.

"Here. This should help with the swelling for now."

He squatted down and pressed it firmly against my ankle before indicating I should hold it myself. I bent my knee and rested it on the mattress, making it easier to reach my foot. Chishiya tore open the bandage packaging. Then he opened the ointment and took the ice pack from me again. Gently, he spread the ointment on my ankle.

The tension between us was still palpable. I had imagined things would be different after how caring he had been earlier, but at the moment, he seemed almost indifferent, which left me puzzled.

"Chishiya?" I asked as he reached for the bandages.

He looked up at me briefly but didn't say anything. "Why are you so quiet? Did I... do something wrong?" I asked hesitantly.

He sighed.

"No, it's... it's me."

I paused, frowning.

"You?"

He looked up at me again, studying me intensely.

"I'm... not good at these things, Tsuki. I don't want you to be disappointed afterward because it's not what you imagined."

For a moment, I just stared at him speechlessly, unsure how to respond.

"What do you think I imagined?" I asked softly after finding my voice again.

Chishiya briefly looked into the distance and then said, "I know exactly what you were thinking when we were in the elevator. Your body language said it all."

My cheeks instantly burned again. Had my gestures really been that obvious?

He took the bandage and expertly wrapped it around my foot.

"Is thinking forbidden now?" I muttered stubbornly.

"Listen... what I'm trying to say is-"

Before he could finish, I gasped in shock and dramatically placed my hands over my mouth.

"...You're a virgin?"

Chishiya rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed.

"No, that's not what I meant."

I giggled a little at his reaction.

"So, are you or aren't you?" I teased.

"I've had sex before, but... that's not the point, Tsuki."

"Chishiya," I said a bit more seriously now. "Earlier, you said you wanted to start over and hinted that you wanted that with me. But now you're telling me that it was just something you said?"

Chishiya shook his head and suddenly grabbed my hand, startling me.

"I meant every word I said. I just... I'm not good at all the... stuff that comes with it."

I smiled softly.

"Believe me, Chishiya. I've known that for a long time. But it doesn't have to stay that way, does it? Maybe you're better at it than you think."

He gave me a faint, wary smile.

"You're always so unbelievably optimistic."

"A few days ago, you would've called it naïve."

"True. Looks like you've already had a negative influence on me," he said dryly, placing the ice pack back on my bandaged ankle.

"You mean a positive influence," I corrected him.

"No."

He smiled cynically and stood up. I glanced over at the spot where my futon mattress had been until recently, which was now empty. Chishiya followed my gaze, and I quickly looked away again, feeling embarrassed.

"Should I set it up for you again?" he asked, amused, crossing his arms.

I bit my lower lip and looked up at him shyly.

"Depends," I replied hesitantly.

"On what?"

"Whether you want me there or not."

"What do you think?"

I shrugged slightly in response. Then Chishiya suddenly turned away from me and walked over to the chest.

He pulled out a blanket and pillow, tucked them under his arm, and returned to me. Then he dropped both onto his bed. Chishiya didn't have to do much to send my pulse racing. He wanted me to sleep next to him. In his bed. Together. Him and me.

The thought made me grin triumphantly. I scooted farther onto the mattress and then let myself fall back onto his pillow, still grinning at him playfully.

"I've always wanted to do this."

"As if you haven't done it already..."

Indignantly, I sat up.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I found your hair on my pillow. Denying it would be pointless."

Caught, I giggled.

"Oh, that... I just... tripped."

"Sure. Tripping seems to be your specialty," he said with a skeptical glance at my foot.

"You know what? I'm really hungry," I complained, rolling onto my stomach and hugging his pillow, which still smelled strongly of him.

"And how is that my problem?" he asked dismissively, though smiling slightly.

"It will be your problem if I annoy you with it."

Chishiya groaned.

"Alright. What do you want?" he asked, opening the cupboard with the supplies.

"I'd love some breaded chicken fillets," I sighed wistfully.

"Be realistic," he growled, giving me a stern look.

"Then... a kiss?" I asked, smiling charmingly.

His expression turned doubtful.

"I was thinking of something more nutritious."

"Two kisses?" Chishiya gave me another stern look. "Okay, fine, then... onigiri?" I sighed, disappointed that my kisses hadn't worked out.

"That could work," he said, glancing into the cupboard and taking out a few things. "And keep cooling your ankle," he added sternly, noticing that I had already set the ice pack aside.

"You're so strict," I grumbled but did as he said and placed it back on my foot.

Then I watched him curiously as he prepared something for us to eat.

"So, about that game earlier... were you the only survivor?" I asked, as I couldn't remember seeing any other players outside the courthouse.

Chishiya paused briefly in his movements.

"Yes," he said shortly, putting on a pot of rice.

"What was it about?" Completely lost in thought, he stared at an empty spot on the wall without answering. "Chishiya?"

His name pulled him back to the present, snapping him out of his trance.

"I'll tell you another time."

I was a bit surprised by his response. What exactly had happened there that he didn't want to talk about? Normally, nothing seemed to faze Chishiya, but this time, he seemed visibly unsettled as if something had deeply disturbed him.

"That's okay," I said understandingly, getting up from the mattress. Dragging my foot behind me, I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his body from behind. "I'm just glad you made it out."

Chishiya remained still while I held him tightly, resting my forehead against the back of his neck.

It was an indescribably wonderful feeling to be so close to him, and the fact that he allowed it still felt like a miracle to me.

"You should really try to rest your foot a bit more," he finally said.

I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, Doctor," I muttered but had no intention of letting go.

"Besides, I can't cook properly with you clinging to me like this."

He gently shook me off, and I made an exaggerated pout. He then pulled out some dishes from the cupboard and handed them to me.

"If you want to do something useful, go ahead and set the table."

My expression darkened as I reluctantly carried the dishes to the table and started preparing everything. But, I must admit, I was hurt by his distant behavior. How could this be the same Chishiya who had pulled me into his arms and kissed me just earlier at the playground? Was he worried that I would pounce on him after he had guessed my indecent thoughts in the elevator?

Strangely enough, he seemed more distant since then. And honestly, for now, I would have been content just with a kiss or being held in his arms. I had to admit, since the incident with Niragi, my sexual desires had become more restrained.

It's not that I never wanted it again, but for some time after the Beach, I hadn't felt any desire at all. In fact, earlier was the first time in a long while that I had entertained such thoughts. And I knew that if I ever wanted it again, it would definitely be with Chishiya. Now, he came over with the onigiri and placed them on our plates. I had to admit, they looked much better than when I prepared them.

"I hope they turned out okay," he said, taking one and biting into it.

I followed his lead and tried one with tuna.

"They're really good," I complimented, not just to stroke his ego, but because it was true. "Did your mother teach you how to cook?" I asked, hoping to hear a bit more about him.

"No, I taught myself," he replied flatly.

"Oh..."

I wasn't sure what to say. Maybe he didn't have parents anymore, and I had just reminded him of that. But I wanted to know so badly...

"So, your parents..." I began hesitantly.

"They're still alive. If that's what you wanted to know. At least, they were before we came here."

"Oh, that's good. Maybe I'll get to meet them one day," I said optimistically.

"I don't know if that would be such a good idea."

I looked at him, puzzled.

"Why not?"

"They're both doctors and... let's just say they're difficult by nature. But I haven't had much to do with them in a while anyway."

Apparently, I had a knack for bringing up the wrong topics in his presence.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to- I just wanted to know... never mind..."

"We don't have to talk about our past, Tsuki."

I looked at him, somewhat confused.

"Then what? The future?"

He smiled faintly.

"Yeah, why not?"

"Okay, so if we ever get back, do you plan to continue studying medicine and become a doctor?"

"I'm not sure yet. But maybe... though I think I'd want to do things differently."

"Like what?" I asked, intrigued.

"I want to start making decisions for myself and not just go along with everything. Mostly, I want to learn how to stand up for something and fight for it, like you do, Tsuki."

"Me?"

I pointed at myself in disbelief, unsure of what to say. Instead, my eyes grew misty, touched by his words.

"Yeah, you've shown me that you shouldn't give up, no matter how hopeless things seem. For that, I thank you."

I never would have imagined that Chishiya, of all people, admired me. Me. It was absurd.

"Well... you're welcome, I guess."

"What about you? What do you plan to do if we get back?" he asked, to my surprise.

I thought for a moment.

"Hmm, I guess I'll just pick up where I left off. Finish my degree and finally become a teacher. Then, of course, I want to publish my webtoon. And..."

When I didn't continue, Chishiya raised an eyebrow.

"And?"

I giggled nervously, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Well, this might sound cheesy, but... I'd like to find someone who wants to spend their life with me."

"I see..." he replied, raising an eyebrow. "Well, good luck with that."

Chishiya abruptly stood up and started clearing the table.

"Wait a second. What do you mean by that?" I asked, whining a bit.

"Exactly what I said."

I stood up as well to follow him but forgot for a moment that I had a sprained ankle and immediately collapsed again. Only seconds later, Chishiya was by my side, helping me back to my feet.

"What are you doing?" he asked a bit harshly.

"I forgot I can't walk normally," I said with an awkward chuckle, clinging to his jacket.

He sighed and briefly pressed my head against his chest, which sent my heart racing.

"You really can't be left alone. How did you manage to survive this long?"

"Well... I guess I had more luck than sense," I mumbled against his neck, catching that faint scent of tea tree oil once again.

Chishiya stroked his fingers through my hair, and I closed my eyes, savoring the moment as much as possible.

"You... you're not going to send me away again, are you?"

I looked up at him hopefully. Chishiya studied me unusually long before he responded. Then, he lifted his hand and gently tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. That tiny gesture alone was enough to make me weak.

"I wasn't planning to."

I sighed with relief and smiled.

A little later, we had finished tidying up the kitchen together, so I went to prepare my bedding.

"Which side do you prefer to sleep on?" I asked Chishiya.

"Just pick one."

"Hmm, alright, then I'll take... the right side," I decided. "Or maybe the left?"

"Well, I'm going to the bathroom now, so you'll have plenty of time to make that important life decision," he said, closing the door behind him.

After much deliberation, I finally settled on the right side. I placed my pillow and blanket on my side and moved Chishiya's bedding to the other side. Then, I snuggled under my blanket, already imagining what it would be like once he was lying next to me. A dreamy smile spread across my lips.

Then, I realized I didn't even have any sleepwear. I definitely needed to try to get my bag back tomorrow, as I currently owned nothing but the clothes on my back, which wasn't much. And sleeping in just underwear didn't seem like the best idea at the moment, though the thought did have its appeal. I grinned like an idiot as I imagined Chishiya's expression if he came out of the bathroom and found me in just my underwear.

"Are you high?" Chishiya suddenly interrupted my absurd thoughts.

I flinched, startled, as I hadn't heard him enter the room.

"Uh, no."

"For a moment, it really looked like it."

I smiled awkwardly.

"I'm fine."

"Yeah, clearly too fine, judging by that grin."

He sat on the edge of his side of the bed and fluffed his pillow.

"I'm just happy to be here with you. That's all."

"You're really easy to please," he remarked, lying down on the mattress, which made my heart automatically beat a few notches faster.

He was only a few inches away from me now, and all I had to do was reach out to touch him. However, Chishiya simply lay there a bit stiffly, staring up at the ceiling, while I watched him from the side.

"Aren't you going to turn off the light?" he asked, turning his head toward me. "It's on your side, after all."

"Hmm, but then I won't be able to see you anymore."

Chishiya groaned softly and turned away from me.

"You're really exhausting sometimes."

A little frustrated, I turned toward the bedside lamp and switched it off. I knew, though, that I wouldn't be able to sleep in his immediate proximity.

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I stared at his back for some time, wondering if he had already fallen asleep.

Hesitantly, I slid closer to him, but he didn't move. Then, without any warning, he turned his head toward me. I stared at him in surprise as he almost boldly grabbed my arm and wrapped it around his torso. His hand intertwined with mine, and my heart nearly leapt out of my chest.

"Now try to sleep," he said softly but firmly.

Overjoyed, I pressed myself tightly against his back, without letting go of his hand. Sleep was the furthest thing from my mind at that moment.