Shiki lowered his head. His right hand still clutched his left chest. Shiki gradually tried to calm his racing heart. His heart was pounding fiercely from the shock of falling from the building. The pain of dying from the impact of hitting the ground still lingered in Shiki's body.
"Yes... I'm alright now," Shiki replied, his head still lowered.
Teacher Aoi looked at Shiki with sorrowful eyes. Then, Aoi gently sat down on Shiki's bed. Aoi's left hand rested on Shiki's right hand, which was still clutching his chest. Then, Aoi gently placed her right hand on Shiki's head and softly stroked Shiki's long black hair.
"Are you really alright...? You can tell me... Humans are creatures who always rely on each other... Even those who say they don't rely on anyone still depend on others in one way or another... You're more than just a student to me. If you want to talk about something, please do. Don't hesitate. I'll be here to listen to whatever is on your mind..." Aoi said, stroking Shiki's hair.
Shiki's heart gradually calmed down at Aoi's words. Shiki released his right hand from his chest and gently held Aoi's left hand. Shiki slowly raised his head and said, "Yes."
Aoi also took her right hand back from Shiki's hair and rested it on the bed. Shiki turned his face towards Aoi.
"Thank you, Teacher Aoi... I'm fine."
Aoi chuckled softly and smiled. "Just call me Aoi at home, like usual... Did my previous words make you think you were at school?"
Shiki also chuckled slightly. Shiki's black hair was long enough to reach just below his eyes. Aoi noticed that there was something unusual about his hair and his black eyes, something different from usual.
His hair has grown quite long... And were his eyes always this dark...? Aoi wondered.
As Aoi was thinking this, suddenly, something like a blue light moved in a circular motion in the center of Shiki's black eye.
"Huh?!" Aoi exclaimed suddenly and rubbed her eyes. The small blue circle of light had also vanished instantly.
Shiki was puzzled because Aoi suddenly stared at him and blurted out "Huh?"
"What's wrong, Aoi?" Shiki asked, looking directly at Aoi.
"Nothing!"
"Really...? You were just staring at me so intently... Did you suddenly fall for me?" Shiki asked with a teasing tone.
Aoi blushed at Shiki's teasing. However, Aoi touched Shiki's left cheek with her left hand and gently stroked from below his ear down to his chin with her fingertips.
"What if I did...?" Aoi replied, looking directly into Shiki's eyes.
Shiki also blushed at Aoi's response. Shiki suddenly looked away.
"..... I surrender this time..." Shiki said shyly, looking away.
"You're so cute, my little fool..." Aoi said with a soft laugh and a smile.
Then, Aoi got up from Shiki's bed and stood beside it. She rested her right hand on her hip.
Shiki looked at Aoi. Aoi was wearing a thin white shirt and short denim pants. Shiki's sweat had stained Aoi's thin white shirt, and Shiki could see through Aoi's shirt. The short denim pants were tight around Aoi's thighs.
She's quite a charming woman... I'm a pretty lucky guy too.
[Game Mode actives!]
[Choose One!]
[1. Tell Aoi that your sweat stained her shirt]
[2. Ask a different question]
...... I've been playing too many games, Shiki thought.
"I'll go get dinner for you, okay? Wait a bit!" Aoi said, still with her hand on her hip.
"Dinner...?" Shiki was confused again when he heard that word.
"I just made noodles with what was in the fridge. I haven't been able to go out because I've been taking care of you."
"You haven't been able to go out? Didn't you go to school this morning?"
"That was yesterday. Today, I took leave to take care of you. I even slept here next to your bed last night... You can really sleep soundly. You've been asleep since yesterday and just woke up now."
"Ah..." Shiki didn't even know what to say. Shiki wasn't surprised anymore, but he was still confused by these things.
"Take a shower before you eat, okay?" Aoi slowly leaned closer to Shiki's ear, bent down, and kissed Shiki's forehead.
"Yes," Shiki replied with a smile.
Then, Shiki got out of bed, neatly folded his blanket, and placed it beside his pillow. Then, he took the pajamas hanging beside the wardrobe and went into the bathroom. Before entering the bathroom, he took off his clothes and put them in the basket next to the washing machine. Then, he pushed the glass bathroom door open to the right with his hand. After entering the bathroom, he pushed the door to the left to close it.
Then, he stood in front of the sink and mirror. Shiki looked at his reflection in the mirror and noticed that his hair had grown longer.
"Has my hair been growing faster than usual...? I bet that's why Aoi was looking at me so intently earlier," Shiki said, playing with his dark hair with his hand.
"I'll just wash my hair while I shower... I need to hurry so the noodles don't get cold!"
There was a very strange thing on Shiki's body that no one, including Shiki himself, had noticed. This was because it was located on Shiki's back. It was a scar in the shape of an 8-inch long gash, which suddenly and mysteriously disappeared while Shiki was showering.