A Close Call (Explicit Self-Harm References)

     Opening the door, Hoseki's hopeful eyes grew dull. Sneering, she looked to the side and tried to close the door. Great, the last person she wanted to see. Stopping the door from fully closing, Kei kept his hand on it and pushed it open as she backed up. 

    "What are you doing here?" She spoke cautiously. Panting, he locked eyes with hers. Concern? Him? Highly unlikely. 

    "That call," he told her bluntly, anger flickering in his dark eyes. Hoseki's eyes widened, fists tightening as she looked to the other side. She knew that voice sounded familiar. 

    "What of it?" she snapped, anger bursting through her core. "Come here to make fun of me? You'll be sadly mistaken if you think your words mean anything..." Hoseki started but stumbled back as he embraced her tightly, hand to the back of her head, and held her onto his shoulder. A wave of relief washed over her, lifting the heavy burden of her emotions. Breath stuck in her lungs, she processed what was happening and shakily exhaled. 

    "Why didn't you say anything? I understand not someone like me, but not even Arata? Were you going to leave without even a simple goodbye? Without letting anyone try to stop you?" Though his voice rang low and surprisingly deep for him, Hoseki felt a moment of relief. It was short-lived as she moved her hands to his chest to push him off her. He wouldn't let go. Her breath shook. 

    "Get off of me! I wasn't going to do it. I already changed my mind." Her body trembled. 

    "I don't believe you." His grip tightened, his breath picking up again. Pulling her as close as he could to himself, he sighed loudly. Were those choked tears? No way. "How could someone I looked up to, a woman who's gone through so much pain and has only gotten stronger, fall so close to that edge?" 

    "Because I'm human." 

    "So that means you do something so weak and selfish?"

"Do you know how hard it is to feel that is what you need to do? Do you think it is an easy decision to come to? To leave you all behind hurts, but this pain doesn't stop. It tortures me every waking second of every waking day! The thinking, god, the thinking never stops! Do you know-" 

    "There is no greater pain compared to losing you!" Kei's voice raised, bringing her thoughts and words to a halt. 

    Feeling out spoke, her arms dropped as he held her. Wet, his tears dripped down onto her shoulder, a comforting warmth in her numbness. That one feeling opened a floodgate for her emotions, tears pouring down her face. Weeping loudly, Hoseki couldn't stop crying. Without anymore words being shared between them, Kei leaned against the wall and slipped down it carefully with her in his arms. He shut his eyes, listening to her sobs as he stroked her hair. She wailed, relief and peace washing over her. Soon, sleep embraced the tired girl. 

    "Stupid," Kei breathed out as her breath calmed. "The glass doesn't need to be half full or half empty. You just need to tell us when." 

    Hours seemed to pass quickly, Kei adjusting so her head lay in his lap. Arata busted through the door, hair hastily pulled into a ponytail. His eyes darted around the room, filled with worry, and then fell to Kei and Hoseki. A wave of relief washed over him as he saw Hoseki safe in Kei's arms. Kei placed a finger to his lips, and Arata exhaled deeply. He kneeled his long legs down and put his bag next to him. 

    "I just finished my last final. It looks like she is okay. Thank you for taking care of her, I mean." Arata muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. Kei sighed. 

    "Worried?" 

    "Not really," Arata grunted, though his messy appearance and beaded sweat across his forehead said otherwise. 

    "She's your best friend. Of course, you were worried." 

    Arata said nothing in response, his hand lightly fixing her hair. Kei sighed again. 

    "You know, the brightest flames burn the fastest. Constantly burning with no break will make it burn out." 

    "I know." Arata swallowed, moving his hand away from her. "She's always burning quite vividly. Her motivation and conviction sometimes make me forget." 

    "How do you two even function? She has all these big dreams, and you just shrug things off. She is fire, while you are like water. I know that makes steam, but doesn't that get exhausting?" Kei laughed. Arata looked between him and Hoseki, his eyes lingering on her. 

    "Sometimes, but it's fun. Lots of people have said we would grow tired of each other. However, sitting in the dark and talking to her is one of my favorite pastimes. She can breathe life when I'm not feeling so lively. I can't picture my life without her now. Well, I can, but it is pretty monotonous.." 

    Kei watched Arata as he trailed off, his eyes growing a bit darker. He wished he could talk about her like that. That he could be that close to her. 

    "You need to make sure that light doesn't go out. I grew closer to Hoseki tonight and understand or at least relate. My mom burned out, and I was too young to help her." 

    Arata took a deep breath as Kei ended his words. 

    "As long as I'm here, I'll try my best."