A/N: So after thinking about it for awhile, I've decided to actually give names to the roles that Takashi, Saeko, Hirano and Shizuka will be playing in the show. It's just easier to write that way. Takashi, Saeko and Shizuka's characters will be named Junichi, Miyuki and Yukari, respectively; all of which come from the names of their real life seiyuus. I actually toyed with making Shizuka part American and giving her a Western name. Hirano, on the other hand, will be named Nagumo. Because, according to the Hotd wiki, that was the name he was originally going to have in the manga. Having said that, it's not sourced, so it could be complete bullshit for all I know... Eh, oh well.

As always, thanks for taking the time to read/review. Look forward to hearing more from you!

Corpsing

Take Six: Proxemics

For the better part of the past week, Saeko couldn't seem to shake the feeling that Komuro was avoiding her. She hadn't seen him since their last session together, and the few times she had tried calling there hadn't been an answer.

She had hoped that he might be there when she arrived on set for her first day of shooting, even though he hadn't be due to come into the studio that day. She had been feeling nervous and hoped that he might have been able to offer her some support.

Though, admittedly, that wasn't her only reason for wanting to see him...

Unconsciously, her fingers reached out to trace the contours of her lips.

Saeko wasn't entirely sure what had come over Komuro that night, when he had kissed her. And judging by the panic that rested in his eyes the moment they separated, apparently, he hadn't known either.

She had watched him, rigid, bewilderment holding her frozen in place. Saeko could not find her voice, could not form a coherent thought to vocalise with it. It was all she could to do to focus on the wide, startled globes of his eyes.

The expression on his face was familiar to Saeko, one that she had seen reflected in her own eyes many times before. She knew the feeling that accompanied it, that jarring sensation of being pulled abruptly back into reality from a higher, unconscious plain. The clarity was returning to Komuro, shock overtaking him, as he slowly pieced together the significance of what he had just done.

The kiss had not been a measured, conscious decision on Komuro's part, but an urge, something he had acted upon without thinking. In the time they had worked together, Komuro had never struck Saeko as particularly impulsive. Seemingly everything he did was not without thought or motivation behind it, something that had developed naturally from having played so many different roles.

Yet, for him to break this habit in her presence, struck Saeko as surprising. On some level, it seemed she had managed to penetrate the guard that Komuro surrounded himself with; the filter through which he scrutinised his every action.

She supposed she could see the reason for this. They had grown more comfortable around one another and trusting in the other's presence, to the point that exposing a more vulnerable part of themselves didn't seem so daunting anymore. She had been able to open up to him, revealing her doubts and insecurities. Saeko had always seemed guarded and aloof in the way she carried herself, her instincts as a fighter shining through. Though, she never felt afraid about letting Komuro in. That bond, that deep, emotional connection she had established with him was something she would forever cherish.

She had been surprised by how pleasantly soft his lips felt, and how they stirred an unfamiliar pang of exhilaration within her. The sensation of being so closely joined with him, despite taking over her so abruptly and unexpectedly, wasn't at all unsettling to Saeko. Komuro was caring and attentive. There was a quiet confidence in his touch, perhaps born of the experience and past relationships that she lacked.

Everything Komuro did seemed so genuine and authentic, as though he was truly kissing her with feeling. The way his warm breath stirred with her own, his hands gently framing her face, threading through her hair and tucking any errant strands behind her ear. It made her wonder if he really had just been acting. Was it the mark of a truly convincing performance or born of something tangible, something real?

It would be difficult to continue performing alongside him in such a close capacity, especially considering some of the intimate scenes that would involve their characters in the future. Saeko was concerned that these feelings might only grow stronger and more heated, along with her urge to, in some way, acknowledge them.

Yet, she knew that she couldn't. In spite of what had happened between them, she knew that she needed to stay strong. With her extensive discipline and training, she had more than enough practice fighting off the urges of her body.

.

He found the courage, and time, to approach her around the middle of the day; when most of the other cast and crew were off having their lunch break. This way, Takashi figured, they could at least have some privacy.

Saeko was standing alone, off to the side of the set with her bokken in hand, as she ran through a set of strikes. Her eyes were closed, a calm setting in as she lost herself in the familiar flow of the exercise.

It surprised Takashi to find her practicing and he wondered why now, of all times, she had decided to. Perhaps they would be filming an action sequence with her later on and she was warming up?

Though, as his eyes followed the steady, measured movement of her arms, Takashi could recall Saeko telling him, not that long ago, how the exercises helped to relax her. It made him wonder, if perhaps she had been feeling tense that day. It was, after all, her first time shooting. Almost anyone would have felt nervous in that situation.

Takashi could fell guilt pooling in his chest as he recalled the number of missed calls from her, still clogging his phone's history. Calls that he had seen, and knowingly ignored, too stubborn and cowardly to face what would await him on the other line. Knowing Saeko, all she had probably wanted was some last minute advice or tips going into her shoot.

Takashi grit his teeth, suddenly deeply frustrated with himself. He'd actually thought he'd made some progress recently, setting aside his differences with Rei. But apparently, he was still very much set in his ways.

He had been selfish, favouring his own apprehension over doing what had been asked of him. He was supposed to be helping Saeko, for god's sake. Takashi normally prided himself on being reliable and professional in his life of work. Yet, all he'd done was ignore her. Just days after kissing her. Way to send mixed messages, Takashi thought.

There was still a chance he could make things right. After what had happened between them, it only made sense that Saeko would want to speak with him. She was entitled to an explanation, and he could give it to her... He just wasn't sure how.

It was pretty apparent, now, that Takashi was attracted to her. It would pretty hard to get around mentioning that. At the same time, he wasn't sure what the appropriate way to address those feelings was. He needed to be careful.

Clearly, Saeko was unbelievably gorgeous, and her unique beauty was part of what had drawn him to her. Yet, at the same time, he didn't want her to think his attraction to her was purely physical. She meant so much more than that to him.

In the short time they had spent together, he'd really come to look forward to the lessons they shared. Learning about the difficulties she'd had forming meaningful relationships growing up, made Takashi truly appreciate the close-knit friendships he'd been so fortunate to have, and how stupid it would be of him to just let them fade away. She'd given him the resolve and motivation to rekindle those bonds that he, once thought, were beyond repair. It hadn't been scary, it hadn't been uncomfortable. If anything, it had made him feel better about himself.

He knew there was a, likely, chance that Saeko would feel upset, or uncomfortable around him now, and she had every right to. He had fucked up. He had gone against every rule he had set for himself and fucked up. But now, it was up to him to make it right.

It was fortunate that he had managed to catch himself before he fell back into the same pattern he had with Rei; deliberately avoiding confrontation and letting the problem fester. That wasn't healthy. He couldn't allow himself to make the same mistake again. He really didn't want to jeopardise his relationship with Saeko... At least, not any more than he may already have.

At the very least, he needed to apologise to her, and explain himself. Saeko was his friend. Or, at least she had been. He wasn't sure where things stood now, it was complicated. Still, he couldn't let that scare him.

He needed to start taking some responsibility for his actions.

"Saeko-san." Takashi began, his voice probing cautiously.

She froze, in the midst of drawing her arms back for an overhead strike. He could make out her shoulders rising, her body tensing as she registered his voice, hearing him speak that one, lone word. Saeko's head turned as she lowered her bokken, eyes drawing upward towards his own carefully.

"Komuro-kun." She answered softly. "What are you doing here? I thought you weren't scheduled to come in today."

Takashi frowned, conscious of the way Saeko was standing before him. Her knees remained slightly bent, carefully balancing the weight of her body. It was unusual to see her standing in such a guarded manner, as if calling upon her instincts as a fighter, her body adopting a defensive stance.

"I wasn't. But I thought it might be interesting to watch Shizuka-san…" Takashi answered. He trailed off, noticing the actress standing by the craft services table from the corner of his eye. She was wiping in between her cleavage with a napkin, apparently having just spilt jam on herself biting into a doughnut

Takashi grimaced, realising now how his words might be misconstrued. He looked back to Saeko, offering a small, hesitant smile.

"And also," Takashi admitted, breaking eye contact as his hand kneaded at the back of his neck. "I wanted to see how you did on your first day."

Saeko's gaze lowered as she secured her sword in the hilt slung around waist.

"I was impressed by your performance, Saeko-san. You really have shown potential in such a short amount of time."

"It means a lot to hear that from you, Komuro-kun." She answered, and though he believed the intent of her words had been sincere, they still felt strained. A forced pleasantry, unlike the natural, genuine conversations they had shared in the past.

The silence was punctuated by the set they stood alone on; a void they felt compelled to fill. Yet, there was an apprehension on the part of both parties, to address the discomfort between them and the reason for why it lingered. Takashi exhaled briefly, his fingers reaching up to massage his scalp. He knew the situation was no one's fault but his own, and now the onus fell on him to fix it, yet he had no idea where to begin.

One of the things that had always appealed to him about being an actor was how easy it was to speak freely when embodying a completely different persona. It was never truly your own, no matter how deeply entrenched you became in it. The consequences of their words and actions were not ones that he would ever have to face. Regardless of what he felt when delivering them, regardless of how convincingly he performed them, they existed in completely different realms.

It was odd to think that the performance Takashi would struggle the most with was the lead role in his own life. Having to decide his own lines and actions, facing the consequences of them. Evidently, Komuro Takashi was a character he was still having trouble figuring out. He wasn't entirely sure of his motivations, or desires. They hadn't been outlined in the notes of a script for him.

"Listen…" Takashi spoke, though his voice had lowered noticeably. Saeko bit her lip uneasily, already sensing from Komuro's tone where he was trying to steer the conversation. Despite the hesitance she displayed, Takashi willed himself to continue, knowing that if he faltered now, he may never find the courage to speak up again.

"I just want to apologise for what happened between us… Last time. And for not speaking with you about it until now... It was completely out of line of me. I wasn't thinking straight. I- I acted rashly, and I'm sorry, okay? It was wrong of me to break your trust and do something like that. And then to just completely ignore you altogether. I know we have obligations to be around each other, but I'll understand if you don't want to see me outside of work anymore."

Saeko eyes widened, feeling as though her ears may have been deceiving her. She had suspected that Komuro might react this way and offer some form of apology. Though, Saeko had never imagined he would resort to something so drastic. The thought of completely cutting Komuro out of her life had never entered Saeko's mind. While she was concerned that things might be awkward between them for a time, she wasn't sure that actively avoiding one another was a pragmatic solution.

"I appreciate you saying that, Komuro-kun, but I don't think that will be necessary."

She paused, noticing the way Takashi glanced up at her, his eyebrows raising. Her answer had surprised him, bringing a barely perceptible flash of light into his eyes. Though he tried his best to contain it, Saeko could tell there was a small, more optimistic part of him clinging to the hope that what she was saying was true. It compelled her to continue, wanting to alleviate any doubts he may have held.

"While you're actions certainly were…" Saeko paused, deciding tactfully on her next words. "Bold, and what you did took me by surprise, I wasn't upset... I think I understand where your intentions lay."

"I- Is that so?" Takashi asked, conscious of the flush building in his cheeks. So, she knew? She had realised that he'd developed feelings for her?

"Your training has helped me exponentially." Saeko continued, apparently not picking up on the nervous tremble in his words. "But I still have room for improvement and will need to if I wish to continue working on this project. So, if it's alright with you, I would like for you to continue teaching me."

"Really?!" Takashi exclaimed, his voice carrying loudly throughout the studio. He ducked his head, sheepishly, noticing that he had drawn the attention of the people around them. Saeko raised an eyebrow at him, her lips pulling into a grin. "I mean, well… That's great and all, but... Are you sure?"

"Of course. It would be foolish of me to turn away such an effective teacher."

"That's not what I meant… What about- Well, what about us..?" Takashi trailed off, unsure of a more eloquent way to phrase himself.

"Us?"

"After what happened between us… before, are you sure that we'll still be to work together, professionally? Aren't you at all concerned that may have changed the way things are between us? Because if you any doubts, please… You shouldn't be afraid to let me know."

Saeko's gaze lowered, exhaling with a low sigh.

"I don't think that we have any other choice, Komuro-kun. We need to continue working together, there are so many people depending on us. I appreciate that you took the time to speak with me, and apologise, but I don't think we should dwell on or feel concerned about what happened between us. After all, from the way you reacted I can tell that it just a mistake, something that you would take back, if you could… Isn't that so?"

"Yeah…." Takashi answered reflexively, the words seemingly bypassing his own thought, instinctively opting for the safest answer. "Just a mistake."

Saeko didn't stay much longer, being quickly ushered off to prepare for her next scene. It hadn't struck Takashi how much time had passed, until he saw the flow of activity returning to the studio, cast and crew returning from their break. She bade him goodbye with a quick wave, a satisfied smile gracing her lips.

This should have made him happier.

For all the ways in which this scenario could have possibly played out, this outcome was definitely the best.

Saeko had been more than accepting and understanding of his apology. If she had been upset with him, he wouldn't have noticed. Outwardly, she appeared as calm and rational as always.

There would be no complicated, romantic relationships tied to his work, he would still be able to spend time with Saeko outside the studio. If all Saeko wanted was to be his friend, then Takashi would be more than willing to be there for her. Honestly, what more could he ask for? Their relationship could continue as it always had; friendly, but strictly professional. Unchanged.

Supposably.

This should have made him happier.

It was the way he'd always wanted things to be, right?

Or at least, it had been.

.

They continued down the hallway, stumbling as quickly as their bodies would allow. Nagumo's movement was hindered, as he helped to support the weight of the survivor he'd found on the roof; who could barely hold himself up.

Although, Nagumo probably possessed enough firepower to take down the few that were near them, he wanted to avoid resorting to it, if possible. From what he could tell, their sensory perception had been significantly impaired upon turning. He had already managed to move by several groups of them undetected. However, they appeared sensitive to sound, and even the slightest noise could garner their unwanted attention. If he were to fire a gun, he could easily give away his position and bring a small army of undead shambling towards them.

The numbers were against them, and they would be easily overwhelmed in combat. If they wanted to escape unscathed they could only engaging the zombies who posed an immediate threat.

Not to mention, the survivor he had stumbled across wasn't in any condition to fight. After waiting up there for god only knows how long he had grown. Honestly, there had been some brief moments were Nagumo wondered if he was really worth the trouble of saving, but he did his best to drown those thoughts out.

No matter how dark and disturbed the world outside seemed, he didn't want to lose himself amongst the horror. He wanted to maintain at least some semblance of humanity.

Nagumo continued to walk gingerly down the stairwell, eventually finding himself overlooking the main entrance to the school building. His eyes lit up, finding comfort in that momentary relief. There were almost there. They had almost made it outside.

Admittedly, there was no way of knowing what waited for them on the other side, and just because they made it out on to the school grounds it didn't necessarily mean that they were safe. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. One that Nagumo was willing to take.

He glanced down over the railing, his eyes catching a small horde of them were clustered around the doors on the lower floor, blocking their way out. He cursed to himself, before reaching for the gun slung over his other shoulder. He really hadn't wanted to resort to using it, but it looked like there wasn't much other choice.

Resting his friend against the wall, Nagumo knelt down by the railing and slowly removed the safety from his gun. From the upper level, he had a good vantage point and could make out the entire group as he glanced through the weapon's sight.

As his finger reached for the trigger, Nagumo took a moment to focus; to calm his breathing and steady any shaking in his grip.

He knew this first shot would immediately give away their position and that he couldn't afford to waste it. He needed to kill at least one of them, otherwise he would be putting them in harm's way for nothing. With the years of training he'd taken overseas in America, he was more than confident in his aim. However, he'd never fired a gun under this kind of pressure before. He'd never been faced with a scenario where, if he missed a shot, his very life could be in danger.

If anything, he should let that pressure drive him. He had to make the shot.

His focus was broken, however, upon noticing a door opening on the opposite side of the second level, as two women stepped out into the hall.

His eyes were drawn to one of them who was wearing a Fujima Academy school uniform, and carrying a wooden sword. Something that struck Nagumo as unusual. Perhaps she had been a member of the kendo club and had already had it with her? He wondered with a shrug.

He was surprised to come across other people. That is, ones that weren't running around helplessly shrieking or being torn to shreds by their monsters that were once their peers. He thought he'd found the only survivor that was hiding out on the school grounds. Though, this was not the time to dwell on it. He could always ask questions later.

What mattered to him right now was that from the way this woman held her sword and the confidence in her stance, she looked as though she'd be more than capable of supporting him in a fight. With her, they might stand a change at taking them down in close-combat and wouldn't have to resort to using a gun at all. The question was, would she be willing to?

Nagumo caught her eye and with a jerk of his head, motioned for her to take the left side of the room. The silent message received, she nodded, raising her sword and stepping out.

He moved after her, his gun raised. Still weary that the rounds firing might draw a larger horde, he adjusted the safety, turned the gun and cracked the butt over one of their skulls with as much strength as he could muster. It slumped heavily against ground. In his peripheral vision, he could make out the other, blonde woman running towards his friend, steadying him as he lost his balance.

"I think that's the last of them" The swordsman spoke, upon striking down two more of them.

Nagumo nodded, his eyes scanning the remainder of the hall, confirming that they were safe for the time being.

"We can't stay here, there will be more of them soon…" He glanced over as the blonde woman approached them, the survivor's arm looped over her shoulder as she helped support him. "and he's not looking so good."

"Has he been… bitten?" The warrior eyed him suspiciously, adjusting her grip on her bokken. Nagumo grimaced, startled by how readily she raised her weapon at the slightest hint of danger. Though he supposed such an attitude was necessary given their current situation.

"It doesn't seem like it." The blonde said, closely inspecting his skin for any breaks or bite marks. With the dilligence and care of her examination, Nagumo suspected she must have been a doctor or nurse of some kind. That could definitely come in handy. Not only would she be able to assist one of them if become injured, but maybe they she might have some theories as towhat had caused these people to turn in the first place.

The nurse's diagnosis appeared to placate the other woman, who lowered her weapon with a nod. Nagumo let himself relax slightly.

"I think if he'd been bitten he would have turned by now," He explained. "I found him hiding out on the roof. I think he's been up there since this whole thing started."

"Oh my. He must be terribly malnourished!" The nurse exclaimed.

"We need to find somewhere to lay low for the time-being." Nagumo explained. "From what I could make out on the roof, 'the city doesn't look safe anymore. I don't know how far we'll be able to get with him like this, though. The sun will probably be setting soon and I'm not sure it will be safe to travel during the night."

The sword woman paused for a moment, considering what he'd said before eventually turning to her companion.

"Nurse, do you have a car?"

"Well, yes… But a compact one." She answered. "I don't think it will be able to fit all of us."

"What about those buses out on the grounds?" Nagumo asked. "Would you be able to drive one of those?"

"I... I might be able to." She replied, hesitant.

"I don't think we have any other options." The purple haired warrior continued, her voice level and measured, not wanting to incite any further panic. She turned calmly to the nurse. "Do you know where the keys are?"

"T-They should be in the staff room."

"Understood." She nodded, readjusting the grip on her weapon. Nagumo moved to follow her, but she glanced over her shoulder, holding up a hand to halt him. "There's no need for us all to go together, we'll be more likely to make noise and attract unwanted attention. You stay here and keep an eye out for him and Nurse Yukari. I'll be back shortly."

"Alright, but I'm going to hold you to that. I don't think I'll be able to clear a path without your help."

"You have my word." She nodded, slowly making her way back up the stairs. "If I do not return, take the nurse's car and leave without me. There should be enough room for just the three of you. There is no need for you to put yourselves in danger by waiting any longer than necessary."

.

"When did Takashi say he would be here?" Rei asked, her hands buried in her pockets as she hopped up and down on the balls of her feet, trying to fight off the chills wracking her body.

Hisashi watched her silently, a fond, adoring twist to his lips. He slipped off his jacket and moved towards Rei, his hands resting on her shoulders and holding her in place.

Rei glanced up at him, her eyes wide with surprise as he placed the jacket over her shoulders. Transfixed by the expression on her face, Hisashi leant forward, pressing a soft kiss against her forehead. His breath trailed in thin mists as his lips left her skin.

"He messaged me saying he was just around the corner, he was just meeting with a work friend of his." Hisashi said, glancing down at Rei. "They should be here any minute now."

Rei smiled brightly at him, reaching up to clasp his hand gently. She pulled closer towards him, drawing in the warmth and comfort of his body. Hisashi gently threaded a stray lock of hair behind her ear, before lowering his head, lips seeking hers. Rei's eyes fluttered closed.

"Hisashi! Rei!" A familiar voice called, halting the couple before they drew any closer.

"Looks like Takashi's here." Hisashi smirked against Rei's lips, before pulling away from her with a grin.

"He always did have a knack for showing up at the worst times." She sighed, with a roll of her eyes.

Hisashi squeezed her hand with a soft smile, before turning as Takashi approached them. Rei's attention, however, was drawn to the young woman standing beside him.

"Hey guys, there you are!" Takashi said, slowing his pace. "Sorry I'm late."

"It's fine." Hisashi smiled. "I'm just glad that we can finally do this again, the three of us. It's been too long."

"So, I guess some introductions are in order," Takashi said, holding out his hand to the woman across from him and gently coaxing her forward. Their eyes meet and she offered Rei a hesitant yet warm smile.

"Guys, this is Busujima Saeko. Saeko-san, these are some of my friends from high school, Igou Hisashi and Miyamoto Rei."

"Greetings, Igou-san, Miyamoto-san." Saeko said, bowing formally. "Komuro-kun, has spoken highly of both of you. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise." Hisashi said, watching Saeko pensively. "Although it's strange, I can't help but feel like I've seen you from somewhere before."

"Well, she's competed in National Kendo Tournaments before, maybe you've seen her around."

"Oh, okay. Maybe that's it, then."

"Hisashi teaches karate at a dojo not far from here." Takashi explained to Saeko. "He went to a lot of competitions himself growing up."

"So, Takashi mentioned you were working together." Hisashi said, turning towards Saeko. "Are you an actress too?"

"Well..." Saeko trailed off, glancing downward. "Not originally."

"What do you mean by that?"

"It's a whole thing." Takashi shrugged. "She was brought in initially to give me lessons on wielding a sword and also direct the fight choreography."

"Well, my father was, actually." Saeko corrected. "But he's away on business and asked if I could fill in for him at the last minute."

"Right." Takashi nodded. "Anyway, Saeko must have caught the director's eye, because he decided to cast her in the show. As one of the main characters, no less."

"Because she doesn't really have acting experience, I was asked to show her the ropes. So we've been helping each other out. Mind you, her acting chops are already much better than my sword skills."

"That's not true, Komuro-kun. You've been showing a lot of promise."

As their conversation carried on, Rei was particularly conscious of the contact, no matter how fleeting, that was exchanged between Takashi and Saeko.

She had never realised before, but; in all the time they'd know each other; she had never seen Takashi being so close with another girl before. There was Takagi, but even while they had known each other for years and were still close, they had never been particularly physical with one another. The only one he'd ever shared such familiar contact with before was her.

Though Takashi had introduced Saeko as his friend, Rei couldn't help but feel that their brief exchanges hinted at a deeper connection between the two; almost a yearning for something more intimate.

It was the way Takashi's hand would brush over Saeko's shoulder, the way their eyes would hold for just slightly longer than necessary and the colour that would tinge their cheeks when they noticed.

It was unsettling to Rei; a sharp pang wrenching through her chest. The longer the sensation lingered and the more time she had to process it, it was becoming harder for Rei to deny what she felt was jealously. At the mere thought, she found herself overcome with guilt, upset at herself for feeling this way.

What possible reason could she have for feeling jealous? She and Takashi weren't together anymore. In fact, she had been the one to end their relationship. Takashi didn't have to answer to her anymore. He was his own person, and had every right to find someone else. She had, after all. She was with Hisashi and couldn't have been better. So, why did seeing Takashi together with another woman make her feel like this? Shouldn't see be happy? Wasn't this what she had wanted?

Was this how Takashi had felt after they'd broken up? Was this how he had felt every time he had seen her and Hisashi, one of his best friends, together? It certainly would explain why he had seemed so cold, why he had distanced himself from them for all those years.

She had never been in the position Takashi had been, seeing her and Hisashi together. She had moved on from their relationship much faster than him, their separation bringing her more in the way of relief than it had pain. At the time, she had grown tired waiting for him, tired of feeling as though their relationship served only to preserve the innocent memory of a naïve childhood promise. After thinking long and hard, Rei made the decision to break up with Takashi and came to terms with it. She allowed herself several days to decide exactly what to say; the most careful, delicate way in which she could let him go. There had been time for her to adjust to the idea of breaking up with Takashi, so that when the words left her lips and she expressed her desire to do so, it didn't feel too painful. However, for him, the news came as an abrupt shock.

Though, just because they had gone their separate ways, it did not mean that Rei no longer cherished her relationship with him. In fact, it pained her to think that Takashi might not hold the same affection for her as he once did. That he might no longer see her in a romantic light. As though any chance that may have remained of them was being snuffed out, right before her eyes.

There was a helpless sense of tragedy, and permanence in her realisation. That, with the loss of Takashi's feelings for her, the last of their connection to that innocent childhood love had been completely severed.

"Rei, are you alright? You were spacing out for a minute there."

"Oh… No, it's nothing. I'm fine, Hisashi."