Lonely Rock for the Blind.

.........

Splash splash splash splash~

Water droplets trickled down the woman's purple hair, then dripped onto her back and chest.

After being bathed in hot water, Hiroi Kikuri regained some consciousness.

"... "

You're in... Is that inappropriate?

No… that’s absolutely inappropriate.

Hiroi Kikuri dried herself off with a disposable towel, then put on the white t-shirt that Nekoya Shiki had kept from her.

"... "

With her eyes lingering on the bathroom she had visited countless times, Hiroi Kikuri bit her lower lip and stepped outside.

"finished Wash?"

"Um…"

Kikumi Hiroi said softly, the warmth of the room's heating making her face feel warm as well.

"I didn't hear the hairdryer..."

"I didn't blow it... I was too lazy to blow it."

Hiroi Kikuri walked to the table, where several bottles of beer were placed.

"That's for me?"

"Ah."

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded.

"Thank you, Xiao Qing..."

Hiroi Kikuri opened the jar and swallowed the liquid.

The emotions I feel right now must be more complex than I've ever experienced before.

While drinking, Hiroi Kikuri glanced at Nekoyashiki Haru on the sofa next to her.

He sat quietly on the sofa, lost in thought.

"... "

The things I love are still there.

It was there before, and it is still there now.

The future is uncertain.

She really had considered this situation and this possibility a very long time ago.

I just didn't expect there to be so many people.

Hiroi Kikuri is truly self-aware, unlike Nekoyashiki Haru.

She and I are not complementary; I would become a burden to each other.

"Qing... how have you been lately?"

Hiroi Kikuri laughed.

"pretty good."

Haru Nekoyashiki gave a matter-of-fact answer.

"It doesn't seem like you're showing off, that's really good."

Hiroi Kikuri's smile deepened even further.

"But actually, I wanted to ask something a little deeper... Are you happy lately?"

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru tilted her head.

"I have no idea how to define happiness, but I don't hate my life right now."

"Is that happiness? How wonderful! I'm so envious of you, kid! *gulp gulp*"

Hiroi Kikuri gulped down her beer.

"Ah~ Ah~ I'm so happy right now."

Kikuto Hiroi sighed.

Because of the alcohol?

"Nekoyashiki Haru asked."

"Yeah, yeah... because of the alcohol~"

Hiroi Kikuri put down the sake jar.

"Unfortunately, once I sobered up, I couldn't feel happy anymore."

"...Is such fleeting happiness truly happiness?"

"Of course...it definitely is..."

Hiroi Kikuri lay down on the table.

"Even fleeting happiness is happiness, and I'm very happy to have this..."

From a health perspective, it's best to avoid alcohol...

"I don't care about the future, as long as I have wine now..."

Kikuri Hiroi pursed her lips.

"I understand everything you're saying, don't really think I'm stupid."

Kikuri Hiroi opened the next can of beer.

"Xiao Qing must think I'm in a bad mood right now, that's why she prepared so much beer for me, right?"

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded.

"Hmm... Actually, there's no need to worry, because... the reason I'm in a bad mood has absolutely nothing to do with you, Xiao Qing."

Hiroi Kikuri smiled brightly.

"So, if Xiaoqing is sleepy, she can just go to sleep."

"... "

"Okay, okay, stop being so quiet, go to sleep!"

Hiroi Kikuri stepped forward, grabbed Nekoyashiki Haru's hand, and dragged him to his own room.

"I'll just sleep like this. I'll go out and have a few drinks, then I'll lie down on the sofa and sleep."

Hiroi Kikuri laughed.

"Do you need me to close the door properly for you?"

Hiroi Kikuri asked.

Nekoyashiki Haru, who had been pushed onto the bed, shook her head.

"I never turned it off..."

"I'll turn it off for you."

Hiroi Kikuri laughed, then walked out the door, closing it behind her.

Goodnight...

Kikuto Hiroi said softly, then walked toward the beer on the table.

...

……

.........

Glug glug...

The woman swallowed the wine little by little.

Hiroi Kikuri looked at the empty space in front of her and opened her mouth.

She plans to stay out drinking until dawn tonight.

This warm, heated home, like this, isn't what I want...

But... it's not that I don't want it.

How far has things progressed for Qing? Since he says he doesn't dislike his current life, which means he's happy... then that means everything is going smoothly, right?

Kikuri Hiroi is truly a person who is completely devoid of happiness.

Her innate tendency to worry and overthink makes her afraid to step forward at any time.

In the past, when I practiced, I would rush to escape as soon as I finished.

She actually knew that the other party had good intentions.

But she could never shake off her pessimistic thoughts.

Such a person will not feel happy, and therefore is destined to be unhappy.

The malice of the past, the malice of the present, the malice of the future—these purple eyes seem to see only bad things.

So I started drinking... At first it was just as a way to boost my courage, but now it's a necessity.

I can only find a trace of "happiness" in alcohol.

"... "

Hiroi Kikuri suddenly found it difficult to breathe.

The world's borders were bound by black lines.