The door is still half-open behind her, letting in a thin slice of warmer light from
the hallway. Kiyomi steps fully inside, closes it with her heel, and the room feels
smaller, safer, less like a tomb.
She reaches up (she always was a little taller, even if only by a few millimeters)
and presses the back of her hand against my forehead.
Kiyomi
Good. No fever.
For a second I thought you were finally going to make me drag you to a hospital.
Her palm slides from my forehead to the top of my head, fingers threading
gently through my hair.
Kiyomi (soft, teasing)
What, you want a headpat now?
Come here, then. Closer.
I step forward without thinking.
The floor crunches under my feet, papers shifting like dry leaves.
I'm close enough now that I can smell the faint scent of the shampoo we've
shared since we were kids (something cheap and floral that somehow still feels
like home).Her hand settles fully on my head, warm, steady.
She starts massaging slow circles with her fingertips, the way she used to when
we were little and I had nightmares.
It feels good.
It feels like the only real thing I've touched in years.
Kiyomi (voice low, almost laughing)
Remember when we were six and you fell out of that stupid tree trying to rescue
my ribbon?
You cried for like two seconds, then pretended you didn't.
I carried you all the way home on my back even though we weighed exactly the
same.
You kept saying "I'm not hurt, I'm not hurt," but your knee was bleeding
everywhere.
Her fingers keep moving, gentle, rhythmic.
Kiyomi
I spoiled you rotten after that.
Brought you snacks in bed, read your favorite books out loud even when my
throat hurt.
Acted like the big sister even though we came out of Mom at the exact same
minute.She exhales, half-laugh, half-sigh.Kiyomi
You were always reckless as fuck, Kiyoshi.
Still are.
Look at this room. Look at you holding a knife like the world's ending.
You think I didn't see it drop?
Her hand pauses.
She uses the other to flick my forehead lightly.
Kiyomi
One day I won't be here to pick up after you, you know.
One day I'll get married or move out or whatever normal people do.
I'll have my own life, my own messy rooms to ignore.
And you'll be left here drowning in paper and instant-noodle cups.She starts
picking things up with her free hand (one of my old hoodies, a cracked phone
case, a stack of manga that lost its cover long ago) and tosses them toward the
corner like she's done it a hundred times before.
Kiyomi
So you need to learn how to take care of yourself before I go.
I'm serious.Her voice softens again, almost shy.Kiyomi
But… it doesn't matter how far I go.
Before I leave for good, I'm going to find you the best girl in the entire world.
Someone who'll spoil you even more than I did.
Someone who'll drag you out of this cave when you forget the sun exists.
Someone who deserves you.
The name rises in my throat like a reflex.
Aiko.It almost slips out.
I can feel it sitting on my tongue, warm and certain and secret.But I swallow it
back down.I'm the only one who knows that name.
I'm the only one who feels it like a second heartbeat.
Kiyomi keeps rubbing slow circles into my scalp, oblivious.
Kiyomi (murmuring)
You're trembling again.
It's okay.
I'm right here.
I'm not going anywhere today.
Her hand is warm.
The room is still a disaster.
The cold is still there, curled somewhere behind my ribs.
But for now, her fingers are moving through my hair, and the world is small
enough to fit inside this one moment.
I close my eyes and let the feeling sink in.
Home.
Home.
Home.