[FLASHBACK]

"Excuse me."

Kai enters a cosy looking office with bookshelves. He's wearing a dark blue apron and has a bento with him "I have brought your lunch."

"Ohh, thank you. Kai, you got a minute?"

Kai tilts his head. "Y...Yes?"

The office chair turns around and faces Kai. It's a middle aged man in a casual blue yukata. He looks very calm and relaxed. "Kai. How many years it's been since you came here?" Kai rubs his chin. "Hm... How many indeed... Surely, it's been quite a long time." The man laughs. "Gahaha! That's why I want to give you this, you hard-worker." He gets a wrapped up box from his desk and hands it to Kai. "What is this...?" Kai asks as he opens the top. "Go on, go on, try it on." The man responds. Kai nods and takes off his blue apron.

He puts on the red and orange apron.

"Whoa! Suits you pretty well, eh?" The man pats Kai on the back. "What, er... What exactly led to..." Kai fumbles with his words. The man shakes his head. "C'mon now... It's a present. My wife and Sara live safely thanks to you." Kai starts to get flustered. "E...Er... So you mean to state your feelings of gratitude...?" The man shakes his head again with a warm smile. "Nope. This isn't about gratitude as your employer. That apron...belonged to my own mom. In other words, it proves your initiation into the tradition of homemakers!" Kai tilts his head. "Homemakers...?"

The man puts a hand on Kai's shoulder. "As well as...your bond with the Chidouin family." Kai is taken aback. The man continues with a warm smile. "To me... You're family." Kai just stares back in disbelief. "I am...family...?" The man nods. "My wife thinks the same way. She suggested I give you that as a gift, in fact." Kai looks down and pulls away. "...S-Surely you jest... Someone such as me..."

Kai covers his face with his frying pan. The man holds his hands out. "Whoa! What's the matter?"

 If you listen close, you can hear sniffling.

Kai puts the frying pan behind him again to reveal that he has pink, wet eyes. "...I-It is nothing..." He puts a strand of hair behind his ear. 

"Gahaha! Your eyes are red! Don't tell me you were cryin'!?" The man laughs. Kai looks away. "W-Whatever are you saying..." The man crosses his arms with a grin. "...Makes me happy. Gahaha..."

There's a moment of silence as the man's expression turns serious.

"...If it comes to it, I'm trusting you with Sara." Kai's eyes widen and the man sighs. "Someday that girl...will learn I'm not her real father. That girl's destiny has so much potential for change that I've put my own life on the line... It's far from trifling." His tune changes and the smile is back on his face. "But I've got no worries. Because our family's got a hero who'll protect her from the shadows." Kai looks down. "...Please don't say "hero". I am nothing but a traitor... I will remain a shadow, never known...and just continue to protect miss Sara... Such is my affection."

Kai looks at the apron as he holds a piece of it in his hand. "...But. This...this apron..." A smile shows on his face. "I will use it with care... I will treasure it...!"

"Affection...?"

The man older man becomes furious. "I may have trusted her to you... But I won't give you my daughter... Never..." 

Kai stares at him. "...E-Err, master?" He fidgets with his hands behind his back. 

"Daughter...daughter..."

As the man rambles on Kai starts to have his own train of thought.

'...When it comes to miss Sara...he loses sight of all else, indeed. From this angle as well... I must continue to watch over miss Sara. I wonder if she is focusing on her studies now...?'

[FLASHBACK END]

I wake up and immiedietly feel like death.

"Ugh..."

I groan as I rub my eyes. I think I had a dream but I can't really remember what it was about...

"Hey... You're awake."

I whip my head around to realize Keiji is sitting next to my bed in a chair.

Wait, bed?

I look around and see a hotel-looking bedroom with a closet, lamp and everything. There's even a window with a sky full of stars. I'm laying on a soft bed with Sara asleep on another one next to me.

"...Where are we?" I ask him. Keiji stands up and sits down on the edge of my bed. "I'll explain that once Sara's awake. How're you doing...?" He asks. I feel my eyes get wet again and I rub my tears away. "...Bad..." Keiji rubs his neck. "As expected..." 

After forcing myself to not cry, I look back up at Keiji. "...Can I please have a hug?" I ask. He stares at me for a second before smiling. "Sure, kid." He holds an arm out and I hug him. Despite myself, I start crying again. "...If you need to vent your emotions, then go ahead." He encourages.

Thank God he's here.

I cry quietly and keep talking about how unfair it is that Joe and Kai died and how much I wanted to save them both, even though it was physically impossible. 

I basically had another emotional breakdown while hugging a grown man who's only an acquaintance.

I pull away from him and spot a tissue box on my bedside table so I take it, blow my nose and wipe my tears. "Thanks Keiji... I appreciate you being here..." I admit. "You don't have to thank me. This is bad trauma for anyone and especially someone your age. You're around Kanna's age, right?." He asks. I nod. "Yeah... I mean I'm (Your age), in high school, and Kanna's in middle school so I'm not much older... She acts so innocent though that I treat her as if she were way younger..." I attempt at a laugh but it sounds kinda dry.

Keiji frowns and pats my back. "Look... I know what happened is horrible, but we need to move forward. You want to get out of here and come home to your parents, right?" I nod. "You're right... I know you're right... It's just...hard...to move forward..." I mumble. "Well you'll do fine. Just keep busy with whatever they throw at us." Keiji advises. I manage a small smile. "Thanks..."

There's a moment of silence.

"Hey. I need to tell you something." Keiji states. I narrow my eyes at him. "...What is it?" He gives me a serious look. "Promise me you won't freak out or do anything irrational." I tilt my head. "...Should I be scared?" He just looks at me and waits for an answer to his question. "Alright, fine. I won't freak out, I guess. Now tell me." I say impatiently. Keiji looks back at Sara to see she's still asleep, then leans over to me. "Alice told me something about his crime." 

Okay, now I'm intrigued. 

"Well?" 

He looks me dead in the eyes.

"He said the name of the man he killed was Sou Hiyori."

...

My eyes have never been wider, believe me.

We both back away. "...Are you serious?"  I whisper shout. He nods. "Wouldn't lie about something like that." I snort. "Yeah. You're not Sou." His eyes widen and he laughs. "Glad to see you're getting your spirits back, kid." Keiji grins and ruffles my hair. 

We suddenly hear gasps beside us.

Sara woke up and she's struggling to breathe!

"Sara! Are you okay!?" I ask.

No response.

She looks around but she doesn't seem to even acknowledge, let alone notice us...

Suddenly she stands up and her eyes widen.

"...No..."

I listen closely to what she says. "I just...had to...move for...ward..."  Tears are leaking from her eyes. "I did...the most I...could..."

Okay I need to stop this!

I put my hands on Sara's shoulders and shake her. "Sara! Snap out of it!!" She keeps muttering and crying things while looking at the window. She then tries to run out the door but ends up running into it. I hold her in place with my arms around her waist. 

I try to snap her out of it but nothing is working! 

She's gasping for air again! "Keiji help me!! She can't breathe!!" Keiji runs over to us and grips Sara's shoulders firmly. "Sara. Get a grip!! ...Sara!" 

She finally opens her eyes fully and breathes heavily. 

"Can you understand me?" Keiji asks. "Ah... Kei...ji...(F-F/n)..." She barely manages to speak. Keiji flashes her a smile. "...Yep. In the flesh." Sara looks around again.

She seems to have calmed down a bit after noticing us.

Keiji lets go of her and I embrace her tighter. "I'm so glad you're okay." I wheeze out. She fakes a smile. I frown. "Don't smile if you don't feel like it." She stares at me for a moment before nodding with a sigh. She then winces in pain and touches her shoulder. "You ran into a door so no wonder it hurts... The pain should stop soon." I muse. 

"So, what happened?" Keiji asks. Sara looks down. "Um... I saw an illusion of Joe." I hug her tighter and she hugs back. "So you had...a hallucination of Joe." Keiji corrects. "...Yes" Sara nods reluctantly. Keiji ruffles her hair. "Glad you didn't get any major injuries. C'mon, sit down on the bed."

Sara ignores his suggestion. "...Where is this place?" She asks. "This is the third floor. There's rooms prepared here, one for each person. In other words ''get some rest''." Keiji rubs his neck. "Oh, I see... Thank you very much." Sara says as she looks around the room. 

Keiji smiles. "Don't mention it... But I think you both should sleep a little longer." Sara shakes her head. "I don't want to worry everyone..." I frown. "Sara, that's nonsense! We all need sleep after what happened. It's completely understandable." Keiji nods. "Yeah, besides, everybody else is resting too. No need for you alone to push it. You've come this far without a break. You at least deserve to sleep." I gesture to him with my thumb. "He's right, ya know." 

Sara looks down. "...I don't...want to sleep." 

Keiji and I both look at her confused. "What...?" He asks. Sara looks back up at Keiji. "...Please stay...with us." Keiji raises an eyebrow. "Isn't (F/n)'s company enough?" Sara doesn't answer. "Just stay with her, ya doof. She needs the comfort. Plus, for the record, you have an air around you that makes people feel safe. At least I feel it!" I comment with a smile. Keiji's eyes widen and he smiles again. "Alright, I'll stay in your room. So sleep easy." Sara shakes her head. "...No... I don't want to lie down."

Keiji thinks for a moment before cracking a smile. "Whew... Alright, fine." He sits down at the end of her bed. "I'll lend you a shoulder. Rest just a little more." Sara nods. "...Understood." She grabs my hand and walks us over to the bed. She sits down next to Keiji and I stand awkwardly. "Umm..." 

I feel like I'm intruding... AGAIN.

"Can you sleep next to me too, please?" She asks. 

Damnit, I can tell she's depending on me and wants my comfort as well... 

Curse you, my good heart.

I smile. "Alright. Lend me your lap, then."

The small smile on her face is worth being a bit uncomfortable.

I curl up next to her and lay my head on her lap. She combs her fingers through some of my hair and leans against Keiji. "'Night, guys..." I say with a yawn. Keiji responds with "'Night." and Sara with "Goodnight."

I close my eyes and after a while manage to fall asleep.

[SOME TIME LATER...]

...

Sara and (F/n) are both asleep but Keiji is wide awake.

He turns his head to look at the two girls.

"...Sara, (F/n)."

He doesn't get a response from neither of them.

"...Both nodded off, eh..."

He chuckles and sighs.

"Well, shucks... You too, huh, Sara...? Surprised (F/n) is doing so well..."

He keeps staring ahead at the wall.

"...You can't...acknowledge the hallucinations. Once they're burned into your brain..."

An unfamiliar red hand places itself on Keiji's free shoulder.

"...Don't end up like Mr. Policeman."

-----------------------

[Author's Note]

Chapter 2 is here boiiiisssssss!!

Poor Mr. Policeman. Wish you could comfort him more honestly.

All the love for Keiji!!! 

Anyways, I hope you guys are looking forward to this Chapter! It's my favourite so far :)

Kaja is finished here ^^

[Word Count: 2125]