Chapter 292

A Long Night

"Airu-chan?" Takashi asked, bewildered.

I was speechless.

Have you been here this whole time?"

Her cheeks were red from the cold, a white toque pulled low over her eyes.

I could tell she was shivering. What was she thinking?

She nodded after a moment.

"What were you thinking?" I asked. "You'll catch a cold or something."

"You could've waited inside at least. You wanted to talk to Seiji right?"

She remained silent.

Chapter 293

A Long Night

Then, "I don't know...I wasn't sure he would talk to me..."

Her voice was barely a whisper. I couldn't be sure if it was because of the cold.

"Come on," Takashi started.

I cut him off. "I'll see her home." I offered. It was the least I can do right now.

My friend looked troubled, glancing from me to Airu before giving a short, curt nod.

"I'll see you at school tomorrow then."

Chapter 294

A Long Night

We walked in silence once again like we had weeks ago.

She was still shivering and sniffling here and there but I was unsure of what to do.

To offer her my coat would be too suggestive, wouldn't it?

People were streaming past us every now and then,

their frosty puffs of breath joining the clouds in the night sky.

The lights on the city streets blurred as cars darted this way and that.

Even late on a wintry night the streets of Tokyo were bustling with activity.

The snow hasn't fallen yet.

Would we have a white Christmas season this year?

"Sorry.." She suddenly broke the silence between us,

her words written in white on the midnight air.

I remained quiet.

"Sorry for trying to take you away from Aoi."

Chapter 295

A Long Night

Her words only spoke of truth. That was what we were tempted with.

How vulnerable are human beings, that a single second can remove the life in us.

That it is so easy to fade from the world, from someone's memories. Even from our loved ones.

In the timeline of eternity, our existence is nothing but a speck of dust.

The moments in life are so quick and fleeting that we never are able to cherish the moment.

But after it has past we desperately try to cling on to it and drown ourselves with it.

Somehow within a few months someone was already tugging at my immature heart.

Will Aoi fade from my memories by next year? Will she stay in one place for all of eternity, abandoned?

The truth of it all was too painful. But all the more it is forcing me to grow up.

All the more that I must be responsible for us both.

Chapter 296

A Long Night

Then she was gone like the wind.

I saw her in the distance, walking briskly, head tucked down, away from the cold.

I could only see her retreating back. What must be on her heart, I would never know.

Could I trust her?

Did she hate me? Or did she hate Aoi?

Aoi who was asleep was more important to me than she could be.

Chapter 297

A Long Night

I saw her stumble, her figure now but a spot in the distance,

weaving now and then through pedestrians.

Perhaps it had been too cold waiting outside the cafe...

I was not quite sure why I was so concerned. She was only a friend right?

Something was pulling at me. But what I felt for her couldn't be love.

It was so different than what I felt for Aoi.

No I hadn't fallen for her.

Then there on the street, she fell.

Chapter 298

A Long Night

I ran to where she was, cursing under my breath.

Passerbys glanced at me as if running was a terrible crime, disturbing the little peace we had left.

I didn't know why I was running.

If I hadn't been watching her leave I would never have felt so guilty.

If I hadn't been so concerned.

Shouldn't I be angry that she was trying to ask me to abandon Aoi?

But I couldn't walk away and leave her as she was on the sidewalk.

It was the least I could do.

Chapter 299

A Long Night

"Oi, Airu! Get a hold of yourself."

She had collapsed right there on the sidewalk, barely conscious by the time I got to her.

Her eyes fluttered open for a second and a smile crossed her face.

"Seiji..." Her voice was breathless. "You came..."

"Well I can't exactly leave you as you were." I said with a pause.

"Come on, didn't I say I'd see you home?"

Chapter 300

A Long Night

I helped her sit up, her shivering body cold and clammy.

"Are you okay? Why on earth did you wait outside?"

I put one hand against her forehead. "Are you stupid?"

She smiled weakly. Her forehead was burning.

"Can you walk?"

I helped her stand, one of her arms over my shoulder.

It was oddly comfortable.

We managed a few steps but soon her legs gave way.

"Here." I turned around to help her get on my back.

Chapter 301

A Long Night

I sat her down on a seat on the train, but in such poor of a condition was she,

that she couldn't even sit up straight, doubling over as if she had to throw up.

In the end, I had her lean on my shoulder.

I couldn't guess what she was thinking at the moment.

Though she probably was not in a state to think straight.

I dialed my house number knowing my mom would still be awake waiting for me.

I told her I was off work but would be hanging out with Takashi for a bit.

She said I should get some sleep. I assured her I would.

The train arrived at her station in fifteen minutes and I crouched down to help her on my back again.

Someone glanced at us but there was nothing to do. It was all I could do for a friend.

Any friend.

Chapter 302

A Long Night

She was staying in her own apartment in the south side of

Ikebukuro station, while her parents stayed in the north.

Rich enough were they to afford two estates in the city.

"Hey, where are your keys?" I asked as gently as I could.

"Right..pocket." She muttered.

I used one hand to reach behind me to her coat pocket.

It took a bit of digging before I fished out the keys,

a mass of keychain attachments jangling this way and that.

Chapter 303

A Long Night

We were in a few moments later.

I threw on the lights and looked over a spacious western styled living room, spotless and well lit,

with barely any trace that it was inhabited, other than a fashion magazine on the coffee table.

Ever her own room was not decorated, save for a few insignificant stuffed dolls and a plant.

It was a polar opposite from Aoi's room.

I lay her down on her futon as gently as possible and helped her out of her coat and hat, finding her hair damp with cold sweat.

Her body was trembling and shaking uncontrollably.

I tucked her under the covers and went to wet a facecloth.

"Poor girl." I said out loud.

She only moaned painfully in reply.

It would be a long night.

Chapter 304

A Long Night

She was still shivering when I came back with the towel

and some medicine I found in the cupboard.

"Here, sit up."

I heaved her up with my arms, but she curled up into my

shoulder, tears of discomfort streaming from her eyes.

"I brought you some medicine."

She shook her head and wedged her eyes shut, her

hands in a tight ball. Nevertheless, I pushed her up and

got her to open her mouth.

After she swallowed the pill, she calmed down a little,

settling back into bed with a small sigh.

It must have been psychological too.

Chapter 305

A Long Night

With the towel I soaked placed on her forehead,

I turned to leave the room to let her sleep.

Instead, there was a small tug on my sleeve.

"Seiji...please don't leave yet.."

I gave her a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. You need to get some sleep."

But she was hysterical. "That's what they always say! "

"But they never come back. Even when I was sick they never came back.."

Fresh tears poured out of her soul like a waterfall.

I've never seen her like this before. What had she been going through?

"I won't sleep." Her fist clenched tighter on my sleeve.

"I know you'll leave if I fall asleep."

Seeing I had no choice, I told her I would sit right there and not move.

Chapter 306

A Long Night

It wasn't until the sky started to light up that she finally fell asleep.

By then the medicine had worked its magic and her fever came down.

I thought of leaving her, but her last words stuck in my mind.

Somehow, I pitied her.

There was something that must have caused her such pain.

I decided to wait for her to wake up before finding out more.

And so, I settled down on the armchair in her bedroom and spent a while trying to fall asleep.